Chapter 323 Production

The old lady stepped forward and helped Cheng Zhiyuan up: "Zhiyuan, nothing else matters, you must come back safely."

"Don't worry, I will definitely do that. I'll even attend Shu'er's wedding." Cheng Zhiyuan looked at his son who was standing upright. "Shu'er, take good care of your grandmother and aunt for your father."

After spending some time together, Cheng Shu's alienation from his father had disappeared, and he nodded in assurance with a serious expression.

Cheng Zhiyuan patted Cheng Shu's shoulder and said, "You little bastard, why are you so bitter and resentful? Your father went out to make money, not to dig coal. Wait for him to earn more betrothal gifts for you so that you can get married."

Cheng Shu grinned: "It won't take that much betrothal gift."

Cheng Zhiyuan slapped him: "Silly boy."

If it weren't for the elders' decision, the silly son would probably have been destined to be a bachelor.

Cheng Zhiyuan looked at Han Baocheng and Lin Hao again.

Lin Chan is now in her advanced stage of pregnancy, so she is not allowed to come.

"Baocheng, Prince, you are both good children. I won't say much. Just take good care of the family."

The two said in unison: "Don't worry, we are at home."

Cheng Zhiyuan nodded and then looked at Lin.

In the past, Lin wouldn't have thought too much about it, but now that her brother-in-law put her last in the conversation, she could sense something was wrong.

"Wanqing, thank you for taking care of my stepmother."

Lin always cried and laughed freely, but at this moment, she found it difficult to laugh: "It is my duty to take care of mother, but big brother, you must take care of yourself after traveling across the ocean."

"I will." Cheng Zhiyuan looked at her deeply, thousands of words still remained in his heart, and finally he just said, "Then I'm leaving."

Everyone stood on the shore and watched Cheng Zhiyuan board the boat.

It was a majestic four-story ship, making humans look as small as ants.

Compared with the vast rivers and the boundless ocean, the ship seems small.

The old lady sighed as she looked at her unenlightened daughter, not knowing whether to speak to her or to herself, "The power of heaven is unpredictable, the road ahead is long, and I don't know when I will be able to return."

Lin's heart was shaken, and she acted faster than she thought, chasing after him and shouting, "Brother!"

Cheng Zhiyuan stopped as he was about to board the ship, turned around and strode towards Lin.

"Wanqing, is there anything else?"

Lin took off the peace locket she was wearing and slapped it into his hand: "Wear this to keep you safe."

The warm jade buckle still carried the other person's body temperature. Cheng Zhiyuan looked at Lin in astonishment and said, "Is this for me?"

He had been away from the capital for too long, and he didn't know if the meaning had changed. When he was young, giving a peace locket as a gift was often between lovers.

"Of course it's for you. Let's go quickly, the sooner you go, the sooner you'll come back." Lin was not a shy person. Although she gave the peace locket to Cheng Zhiyuan in a fit of rage, she did not regret it after she came to her senses, nor did she make excuses to cover it up.

Just give it to him, as long as he can come back safely.

"Wanqing, you know what this means, right?" Cheng Zhiyuan tightly grasped the jade button, so nervous that he even forgot to breathe.

Lin's face flushed and she glared at him: "I'm an adult, how could I not know this? Stop dithering and leave now."

Cheng Zhiyuan's grin widened, his eyes brightening surprisingly: "Okay, okay, I'll leave now!"

He turned around, took a step, and then turned back again. Reason firmly prevented him from hugging the person he had secretly loved for half his life. He suppressed his surging joy and said, "Wait for me to come back!"

The fleet set sail and gradually disappeared from the sight of the people who were seeing them off.

Lin Hao looked at his grandmother who was grinning from ear to ear, then at his mother who seemed a little uncomfortable, and came up with a guess: It seemed that she was going to have a father?

With Cheng Zhiyuan's departure, the General's Mansion returned to peace, and the reshuffle and division of the interests of all parties surrounding maritime trade were put back on track. The attention of civil and military officials was also withdrawn from this and turned to the palace.

Calculating the time, it’s almost time for Concubine Wu to give birth.

Whether Concubine Wu's baby is a boy or a girl concerns countless people.

It was a bit cloudy that day. Concubine Wu, who was walking in the garden with the help of a palace maid, was worried that it would suddenly rain, so she walked back slowly.

Nothing is more important than the baby in her belly, so she can't be careless.

As soon as Concubine Wu returned to her bedroom with a group of people, she had a fit.

Midwives were prepared long ago, a total of six, and several imperial doctors with different specialties were on standby at any time two months ago.

Emperor Tai'an, who was attending court, heard the eunuch's whispered report and immediately ended the court meeting and hurried to Concubine Wu's residence, leaving the ministers looking at each other in confusion and gathering together to speculate.

"This is the first time the Emperor has left before the court meeting is over."

"It seems that the lady has made some moves."

"Is the day coming?"

The ministers dispersed from the court, but their thoughts remained in the palace.

Concubine Wu's position has not been promoted for the time being, but she has already moved into Hua'an Palace, which is very close to the Qianqing Palace. Everyone knows that once Concubine Wu gives birth to a prince, she will become the owner of Hua'an Palace.

At this time, Hua'an Palace was busy but not chaotic, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

In such an atmosphere, Emperor Tai'an stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the door.

He hadn't felt this nervous for a long time. The unborn child in the room was too important to him.

Concubine Zhuang also came and stood silently beside Emperor Tai'an, tactfully keeping silent.

Perhaps because she had no children, she really hoped that Concubine Wu could give birth smoothly.

The royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty desperately needs a prince.

In the delivery room, Concubine Wu kept yelling. She was a first-time mother, and even with the patient guidance of the most experienced midwife, things were still not going smoothly.

When it got dark, at the advice of Concubine Zhuang, Emperor Tai'an went to the main hall of Hua'an Palace to rest. Every quarter of an hour, a eunuch would come in to report on the situation in the delivery room.

"Why hasn't the baby been born yet?" Emperor Tai'an's face was gloomy and full of anxiety.

Concubine Zhuang gently advised: "Don't be anxious, Your Majesty. Giving birth is always like this. It won't happen that quickly."

"Really?" asked Tai'an Di Baba.

Seeing the emperor, who was almost fifty, showing a rare look of anxiety, Concubine Zhuang sighed inwardly and comforted him, "I was also like this when I gave birth."

"That's good, that's good..." Emperor Tai'an murmured.

The night was cold in early winter, and Emperor Tai'an had no intention of resting. He waited until midnight when he suddenly heard a scream.

This is very rare in the imperial palace with its strict rules.

Emperor Tai'an's heart skipped a beat and he strode out, where he met a eunuch who came in a hurry to report.

"What's wrong?"

The eunuch's legs went weak and he knelt down, saying tremblingly: "Reply, reply to the emperor..."

Emperor Tai'an didn't bother to listen and quickly walked out of the delivery room.

The delivery room was quiet, with no women's shouts or babies' cries. With the arrival of Emperor Tai'an, a sea of people knelt down.

"How is Concubine Wu?"

The person kneeling beside him lowered his head and replied, "The queen has fallen asleep."

"Then...where is the child?" Emperor Tai'an never felt that it took courage to ask a question.

The door opened, and the midwife came out holding a swaddling cloth and knelt down, her face as pale as snow.