Chapter 194 Successful Delivery

Shui Xiu's arrival took everyone present by surprise.

She also brought a young woman with her, who looked very ordinary, no different from the most common young women in the capital.

Only her eyes, glowing a deep purple in the candlelight, revealed her as a member of a different race.

Shui Xiu noticed that everyone's attention was on the woman, so she introduced her, "This is Ana, she is..."

"Ana?"

Emperor Zhaoheng and Pei Jichuan spoke almost simultaneously, interrupting Shui Xiu.

Shui Xiu looked confused. She had been away from the capital for several days and had no idea what had happened in the imperial city recently.

In the delivery room, Shui Xian was almost on her deathbed. The midwife looked at Emperor Zhao Heng and then at the woman Shui Xiu had brought.

She knew perfectly well that this was not the time for her to speak, but if something really happened to the Imperial Noble Consort in the delivery room, and the Emperor were to order her to be executed in a fit of rage...

"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Pei... The Imperial Noble Consort is now exhausted. Should we administer ginseng soup made with dragon ginseng...?"

The midwife hesitated, her eyes fixed intently on Emperor Zhaoheng and Physician Pei.

Whoever it is, someone needs to come and take over!

She has been in this line of work for decades and has never encountered such a strange, even bizarre, production!

Just now, after the Imperial Noble Consort gave birth to her first little prince, her vitality visibly declined.

Neither the midwife nor the female physician knew about Narcissus's constitution; this secret about Narcissus's constitution was known only to Pei Jichuan.

The midwife habitually asked Pei Jichuan, but was given the order to do everything in her power to delay the Imperial Noble Consort's labor!

Emperor Zhaoheng didn't need the midwife to tell him; his heart was now completely focused on Narcissus in the delivery room.

At this moment, apart from the occasional sound of the female doctor, the delivery room was quiet.

"Your Majesty, please hold on..."

There were no other voices.

Emperor Zhaoheng's hands, hanging by his sides, were already clenched into fists, the knuckles showing their bony color from the force.

Shui Xiu noticed his gaze and, though she was initially afraid of the emperor, she couldn't care less about that now because of her sister's safety.

Fearing the Emperor would refuse, or even abandon his wife to save his son, she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Ana is my sister's only hope. She says she has a way to save her..."

This time, before she could finish speaking, Ana interrupted her again.

"Ana didn't say that she would save us when she arrived."

Apart from her eyes, she didn't resemble a girl of any other race, and when she spoke, she spoke Mandarin with a heavy accent.

Shui Xiu never expected Ana to say that.

She looked at Ana beside her with a surprised expression. "What? You never said that, Ana, that you promised to save my sister!"

"Ana never agreed; it was all just wishful thinking on your part."

As soon as Ana finished speaking, a doctor's exclamation came from the delivery room.

"Your Majesty...where's the ginseng soup?!"

"Quickly, bring me some ginseng soup!"

Pei Jichuan quickly suppressed his shock and jogged back to the delivery room, ordering someone to bring the last bit of ginseng soup made from dragon ginseng.

As soon as the curtain to the delivery room was lifted, a strong, almost overwhelming smell of blood hit the nostrils.

Even Pei Jichuan, a doctor, had never entered a room where the smell of blood was almost thick in the air.

He forced himself to remain calm and went to Narcissus's side to take her pulse.

The pulse was so weak that it was almost impossible to feel even when one was calm!

Pei Jichuan had the ginseng soup brought over, and personally tested it with a silver needle before letting the female physician drink the last of the dragon ginseng soup.

Pei Jichuan stood by the bedside, looking at the face that stood out even more against the bright yellow surroundings, pale and bloodless.

He placed his hand on Narcissus's barely perceptible pulse, and his heart sank to the bottom.

The effects of the dragon ginseng were rapidly diminishing within her body, like a drop in the ocean, utterly unable to stop the decline originating from the very foundation of her constitution.

Her breathing was so weak it seemed it would stop at any moment, and her face was ashen and lifeless.

Pei Jichuan struggled to look at Shui Xian's still protruding belly; he knew there was another child there!

Delaying childbirth is only temporary, but newborns cannot be delayed indefinitely!

If it really comes to that... I'm afraid he'll have to cut open his abdomen to remove the child himself!

Pei Jichuan, skilled in medicine, knelt beside the bed with a sorrowful expression, praying for the woman on the bed.

God... save her!

——

Outside the delivery room, Shui Xiu was so anxious that tears streamed down her face as she grabbed Ana's arm.

"Ana! Please! I'll give you anything, just save my sister!"

Ana's gaze bypassed Shui Xiu and went straight to Emperor Zhaoheng, who was radiating a terrifyingly low pressure.

She did not kneel down, but merely bowed slightly, and spoke clearly and calmly in Mandarin with a foreign accent:

“Your Majesty, Ana is willing to give it a try. But there are two conditions.”

Emperor Zhaoheng gritted his teeth, lowered his eyes to look at her, his eyes filled with anger.

"explain!"

“First,” Ana held up a finger, “when Ana performs the procedure, absolute silence is required, and no one is allowed to spy on or disturb the delivery room.”

"Secondly, if Ana is fortunate enough to succeed in rescuing the Imperial Noble Consort and the two princes, we request His Majesty the Emperor to issue an edict, exceptionally granting Ana, as a woman, permission to serve in the Imperial Hospital."

A glint of ambition flashed in her purple eyes. "And I request His Majesty the Emperor to proclaim this matter to the world."

A woman was admitted to the Imperial Hospital? And it was to be announced to the world?

Upon hearing this, even Feng Shunxiang gasped in shock.

This is simply unheard of!

However, a barely audible, deathly moan from Narcissus in the delivery room shattered all of Emperor Zhaoheng's hesitation.

His gaze fell on Ana like lightning; though he agreed, a warning lingered in his narrow eyes.

"I grant your request! As long as Xian'er can be saved, I'll give you anything, not just the Imperial Hospital, but even a title! However..."

His tone suddenly shifted, his killing intent palpable, "If anything happens to her or my son, I will ensure that you and everyone connected to you suffer a fate worse than death!"

Ana made a gesture of greeting from a foreign tribe with both hands and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, since Ana has spoken, she will do everything in her power to live and die with Her Highness."

"good!"

Emperor Zhaoheng suddenly waved his hand, "Everyone, leave the delivery room! Pei Jichuan, wait outside!"

At the command, the midwives and female doctors, as if granted a pardon, filed out one after another.

Pei Jichuan stood guard at the door curtain, ready to deal with any unforeseen events.

The delivery room door was tightly closed.

Outside the door, Emperor Zhaoheng stood with his hands behind his back. His figure appeared upright, and from the side, he still looked like an emperor who had everything under control.

But upon closer inspection, one can see that his hands, which are behind his back, are clenched into fists and even tremble slightly.

Behind Emperor Zhaoheng, Shuixiu nestled nervously beside Tinglu, feeling her hands grow icy cold.

Feng Shunxiang and the other palace servants all stood with their heads bowed, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Inside the door, there was initially a deathly silence, which was then followed by a low and strange chanting sound.

The melody meandered and twisted, carrying a kind of inexplicable power, as if communicating with an invisible being.

Immediately afterwards, a strange fragrance mixed with various herbs wafted out from the crack in the door. Feng Shunxiang looked at Emperor Zhaoheng with concern.

He was afraid that the unknown smell would affect Emperor Zhaoheng, but Emperor Zhaoheng did not seem to be able to go to the side hall at the moment, so Feng Shunxiang had no choice but to walk to Pei Jichuan's side and whisper some instructions to the young imperial physician.

Time ticked by, and just as Emperor Zhaoheng was about to lose his temper and force his way in...

The ancient chanting in the delivery room finally stopped.

Immediately, a loud and clear cry of a newborn baby pierced through the door and resounded throughout the entire Qianqing Palace!

Next, Ana emerged from the delivery room, looking exhausted. Her body and hands were stained with bright red blood—the blood of Narcissus.

In a weary yet steady voice, she said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort has safely given birth to two princes. Both mother and children are safe and sound."

As soon as Ana finished speaking, the Qianqing Palace fell into a deathly silence.

What followed was the ecstasy of everyone from Emperor Zhaoheng down to the midwives and female doctors!

"She's given birth! Two princes... My sister is alright!"

Shui Xiu burst into tears of joy and embraced Ting Lu.

Emperor Zhaoheng's tense body suddenly relaxed, and he staggered, but was caught by Feng Shunxiang in time.

But Emperor Zhaoheng still maintained his composure and gestured for Pei Jichuan to go in and take a look.

At Emperor Zhaoheng's behest, Pei Jichuan rushed into the delivery room.

A moment later, he strode out, his face flushed with excitement, and knelt down to report: "Your Majesty! Heaven has blessed us! Although the Imperial Noble Consort's pulse is weak, it has stabilized..."

"Although the two little princes are less than a month old, their cries are loud and clear, and they are not in any serious condition for now!"

"well!"

Emperor Zhaoheng finally relaxed and said "good" twice, feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart.

The usually decisive emperor was now as if he were exhausted, and for a moment, tears welled up in his dark eyes.

His sharp gaze fell upon Ana, who stood with her hands at her sides. In his eyes, this mysterious woman from another race was truly capable and talented!

"Feng Shunxiang!"

"Your servant is here!"

"Issue my decree!"

Emperor Zhaoheng's voice was filled with barely suppressed joy, "Witch Ana, you have rendered meritorious service in saving my life, and I hereby bestow upon you a thousand taels of gold!"

Upon hearing the mention of a thousand taels of gold, Ana's expression didn't change much. It wasn't until Emperor Zhaoheng finished speaking that she gave a weak smile.

Emperor Zhaoheng: "The Imperial Household Department shall immediately draft an edict, specially appointing Ana as a physician in the Imperial Medical Academy, and she shall take office on a selected date! This extraordinary appointment shall be publicly announced to the world to show that I am eager to seek out talented people and am not bound by convention!"

In his ecstasy, he proclaimed, "Imperial Noble Consort Jiang has rendered meritorious service to the country, ensuring the continuation of my imperial lineage. Her labors and contributions are immense. I hereby bestow upon her ten thousand taels of gold, ten bushels of pearls from the East Sea, and one hundred bolts of Shu brocade..."

"His daily rations and ceremonial regalia are provided in accordance with those of the Empress!"

Overjoyed, Emperor Zhaoheng bestowed such a favor.

In this harem, everyone has gold and silver treasures, but the ceremonial regalia that symbolizes status... is the most prestigious reward that can highlight the emperor's favor!

"To celebrate the birth of the First Prince and the Second Prince, and to pray for the Imperial Noble Consort's good health, I hereby grant a general amnesty! Except for the ten most heinous crimes, all others may have their punishments reduced as appropriate!"

"Issue this decree to the six palaces: The Imperial Noble Consort needs to rest and recuperate in peace. No one is permitted to disturb her at Lihe Palace without my written order!"

Upon receiving the decree, Emperor Zhaoheng could no longer contain himself and, disregarding the lingering blood in the delivery room, personally entered the room.

While he was drafting the decree, the delivery room had already been simply cleaned up.

Even so, a faint smell of blood still lingered in the air.

This was enough to give a glimpse of the danger that had just occurred.

Narcissus lay exhausted and asleep on the couch, her face still pale, but the deathly pallor between her brows had faded, and her breathing was steady and long.

Emperor Zhaoheng sat gently on the edge of the couch, reached out and very carefully stroked Shuixian's sweaty forehead, gently brushing away a strand of hair that clung to her cheek.

"Xian'er... my Xian'er..."

He murmured to himself in a low, hoarse voice, his eyes filled with a myriad of tender emotions for what he had lost and then regained.

"I will stay here and watch over you."

Outside the window, the first rays of dawn dispelled the long night, and the golden light illuminated the Qianqing Palace, which had just experienced a perilous ordeal.

A new day has begun...