Chapter 104 The Midwife Enters the Palace

Yuwen Che wrote several names on the Xuan paper, examined them for a moment, frowned slightly, and seemed not to be very satisfied with any of them.

Li Dehai whispered a reminder from the side: "Your Majesty, it's getting late. Shouldn't you go back to Guanju Palace to rest? If the Empress wakes up, she'll probably be looking for you again."

Yuwen Che waved his hand, his gaze still fixed on the paper: "Wait a little longer."

He picked up the paper and handed it to Li Dehai: "Li Dehai, take a look, what do you think of these names I've chosen?"

Li Dehai quickly took it with both hands and looked at it carefully. It had the words "Yuwen Zhang", "Yuwen Jin", "Yuwen Yao", and "Yuwen Yue" written on it.

He replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, this old servant thinks these names are all excellent, with auspicious meanings and elegant characters."

Yuwen Che shook his head, took the paper back, and placed it on the table: "I feel like... something's missing."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed in the direction of Guanju Palace, his voice deep and slow:

"If Xue'er gives birth to a prince this time, I hope that he will inherit the throne and be able to shoulder this vast country, but I also hope that he will live a peaceful and healthy life, and not suffer as much as I did from a young age..."

He paused, then continued:

"If it is a princess... I do not expect her to be very talented, I only wish her to live a peaceful and happy life, like her mother, pampered and carefree."

Li Dehai was deeply moved by His Majesty's heartfelt words and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty's compassionate heart is something the princes and princesses will surely feel. This name carries Your Majesty's heavy expectations and indeed requires careful consideration."

Yuwen Che nodded: "Yes, we need to think about it again."

He turned around and finally decided: "Alright, let's go back to Guanju Palace first. As for the name... let me think about it for a few more days."

Yuwen Che returned to Guanju Palace, changed his clothes in the outer room, and then quietly entered the sleeping quarters.

Fuling was standing guard by the bedside when she saw His Majesty enter, and she quickly rose to greet him.

Yuwen Che waved his hand and said in a low voice, "Go out, I'll stay here."

"Yes." Fuling bowed, quietly retreated, and gently closed the palace door.

Yuwen Che walked to the bedside and saw that although Su Luoxue's eyes were closed, her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was not sleeping soundly, and a few indistinct murmurs escaped from her lips.

He leaned down and placed a few gentle kisses on her slightly furrowed brow and cheeks.

"Xue'er, I'm here," he whispered to comfort her.

Seemingly sensing the familiar aura and warmth, Su Luoxue's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and she unconsciously moved closer to him.

Yuwen Che then carefully lay down on the bed, gently pulling her into his arms so she could comfortably lean against his chest, while his hand rhythmically patted her back.

In his arms and with his comforting presence, Su Luoxue's breathing gradually became deep and even, and she drifted off into a peaceful dream.

Yuwen Che planted a kiss on her hair, closed his eyes, and fell asleep with her.

As Su Luoxue's belly grew larger, her movements became increasingly difficult, and she often woke up at night due to fetal movements or discomfort, causing her constant unease. Yuwen Che saw this and felt deeply for her.

In the days that followed, he was terrified of any mishap. For example, when there was only one month left before his due date, in addition to the experienced midwives in the palace, several midwives from the common people, whom the Imperial Hospital and the Shadow Pavilion had secretly sought out, were also secretly brought into the palace, in accordance with Yuwen Che's previous decree.

That day, Yuwen Che was handling several urgent government affairs in the Sizheng Hall when Li Dehai quietly entered and reported: "Your Majesty, the six midwives from the common people that Chief Physician Zhang was ordered to find have arrived and are waiting outside the hall. Would Your Majesty like to meet them in person?"

Yuwen Che put down his vermilion brush, his expression serious: "Bring him in."

"yes."

Li Dehai led in six midwives, aged between forty and fifty, dressed in clean and simple clothes. They had clearly never seen the Emperor before, and were so nervous that they dared not raise their heads. They knelt down in unison, their voices trembling: "We...we, the common women, greet Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!"

Yuwen Che's gaze swept slowly over them, sharp as torches. He did not allow them to rise, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"I have summoned you to the palace for the reason why I have summoned you. You must know why."

"The safety of the Empress and the unborn child rests in your hands."

He paused, his tone suddenly turning cold, carrying a chilling edge:

"I'm making this clear: if the Empress gives birth safely, I will reward you handsomely and guarantee you a life of wealth and honor. But if anything happens to the Empress or the imperial heir during the process..."

His gaze, almost tangible, pressed down on each midwife:

"Whatever the reason, I will not let it go lightly."

He spoke the last four words very slowly, each word carrying immense weight.

The six midwives trembled with fear and prostrated themselves on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Majesty, rest assured! We will do everything in our power to protect the Empress and the princes and princesses! We would gladly die for them!"

Yuwen Che scrutinized their terrified yet respectful expressions for a moment before saying to Li Dehai, "Take them away and make proper arrangements. Provide them with the highest allowance for all their expenses. Without my decree, no one is allowed to approach them, and they are not allowed to move around freely."

"This old servant obeys the order."

Li Dehai led the six midwives, whose legs were trembling, away. Yuwen Che sat alone in the hall, knowing that a combination of kindness and severity was the only way to motivate people to work wholeheartedly.