Chapter 53 Chapter 53 The baby the Queen gave birth to is most likely stillborn...
As time ticked by, the cries of pain from the women in the delivery room gradually faded. Li Cheng's breath caught in his throat. Before he could even turn around, he heard the anxious, almost shrill, voices of the midwives: "Oh no! The queen is exhausted and has fainted!"
Without giving the imperial doctors a chance to react, bad news came one after another. Someone inside cried out, "The Empress is bleeding profusely. I'm afraid she's having a hemorrhage!"
"What should I do?"
The current situation is extremely tricky. Not to mention whether the safety of mother and child can be guaranteed, even Empress Liangyuan herself cannot be guaranteed to be safe. After all, the chance of death during childbirth is extremely high.
Li Cheng was so shocked by the successive bad news that his whole body stiffened, his face turned pale, and the blue veins on his forehead were clearly visible. He was like the last fallen leaf on a dead branch in autumn, swaying and refusing to fall.
His brows furrowed, the awe-inspiring majesty of a crown prince fully revealed. A hint of hope lingered in his eyes that Li Fu couldn't fathom. He tossed the corner of his robe and stalked directly into the delivery room. Despite the attempts of those around him to dissuade him, the crown prince remained resolute in his decision, unwavering.
He didn't care about the alleged filth of the delivery room, or the bloody consequences any man who set foot there would face for the rest of his life. He only knew that Liang Yuan was in critical condition. Not only would he lose his unborn child, but now he might even lose the child's mother.
A huge feeling of powerlessness washed over Li Cheng like a wave, his heart sinking as if a huge rock was pressing down on it. It was like being in the vast ocean, with the overwhelming seawater constantly pouring into his nose, almost drowning him.
Suddenly, he felt a sore nose. He wiped his face and realized that his eyes had been moistened without him noticing. The prince hurried inside. From outside the compartment, he heard the imperial physician's anxious instructions: "Quickly feed the Empress ginseng soup. Tell the female doctor to prick the Baihui acupoint. Make sure the Empress wakes up!"
The delivery room was already in chaos. The sounds of hurried footsteps, the clatter of copper basins, and the woman's suppressed sobs filled the small room.
There weren't enough female doctors, and their skills weren't as refined as those of the other imperial physicians. Listening to the repeated instructions from outside, they panicked, not knowing what to do. Li Cheng approached the leading imperial physician and delivered a fierce kick. His eyes were fierce and terrifying, and his voice carried the weight of impending storms.
"You promised me that you would definitely protect Liang Yuan." The prince spoke sinisterly, like an Asura from hell: "Now I allow you to go in and take charge of the situation. If you fail to protect Liang Yuan, you should know the consequences."
The imperial physician's lips were dry. Faced with the sudden change and the Crown Prince's majesty, he didn't care about the so-called strict rules between men and women or the offense to Liang Yuan, and walked in trembling. Li Cheng followed closely behind.
He was frozen in time until he saw the familiar figure on the bed. Sweat stained his temples, his face pale as snow, his thick eyelashes slightly curled. He lay there quietly, as if lifeless. The ice on his body seemed to have touched the warmest, softest spot, gradually melting into water, revealing the truth within.
It's full of love.
Li Cheng didn't know that childbirth was so painful for women. Not only could they lose their lives, but even if they were lucky enough to give birth safely, it was equivalent to losing half their life.
She must be in great pain at this moment.
However, no matter how much he was praised, how noble his character was, how dignified and steady he was, and how he was a qualified crown prince, at this moment, in front of the woman he loved, he was just an ordinary person, a person who had fallen into the dust. Faced with Liangyuan's childbirth, he felt nothing but regret, but no way to help her.
Li Cheng couldn't help but think, a lovely wife and child, and a successor to the country, is all this really what he wants?
The palace maids were still carefully feeding ginseng soup into Liang Yuan's mouth. Li Rong sat beside her, holding her cold hands. The corners of her eyes were red. Suppressing the pain, he pressed her white wrists against his wet face, and said in a trembling voice: "Zhang Niang, wake up. As long as you are safe, I won't care about all the unhappiness before."
"As long as you are still willing to stay with me."
A teardrop extended along his delicate jaw and dripped onto the woman's defeated face. The water droplets splashed, leaving her face wet.
I don’t know if it was some kind of mysterious response, but the ginseng soup that had been impossible to feed her before could actually be fed to her slowly. Although Liang Yuan had not woken up and regained consciousness, her lips moved and she subconsciously swallowed the ginseng soup in her throat.
Li Cheng was overjoyed, not caring about his own embarrassment, and said in surprise, "Liang Yuan is moving. I just saw her move!"
Everyone in the delivery room breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the patient was conscious, there was no need to worry about the baby not being delivered. The imperial physician, who had been panicking at first, had now become calm and composed.
As she spoke, Liang Hanzhang, who was extremely weak, finally woke up from her coma. Her blurry eyes saw the tall and handsome man beside her, and all the guilt and grievances she had felt before now found an outlet.
She called in a soft voice: "Your Highness..."
"I'm here, I'm here." Li Cheng ignored his excitement and trembled as he tucked her hand into his arms. He was usually calm, but now he was a little incoherent:
"Mother Zhang, just focus on giving birth and don't think about anything else. I will always be with you and we will never be separated."
The man's voice became clearer and clearer. Liang Hanzhang stared at his face for a long time, until he saw the moisture under his red eyes, and finally he couldn't hold back his tears.
The imperial physician hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Your Majesty is weak and powerless right now, so don't cry too much."
Now that the bleeding had stopped and the patient had successfully woken up, the Crown Prince's presence had become a hindrance. The imperial physician gently advised him to leave. Li Cheng knew he could not help much, so he could only look at the woman on the couch reluctantly and comfort her gently:
"You must be fine, I'll wait for you outside..."
Li Fu helped the prince out. He had been with the prince for many years, but he had never seen the prince so flustered, nervous and in pain, almost crying.
This Lady Liang Yuan is truly the apple of His Highness's eye. He only hopes that she can safely give birth to the little prince, and from now on, live a peaceful and stable life with His Highness, without any more trouble.
Li Fu's fat body stood still, his fat face full of solemnity. He stood beside the prince, with his head bowed and chanting Buddhist mantras.
After an unknown amount of time, they finally heard a low cry from inside, with a faint hint of laughter. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their backs straightened, their faces full of spirit, and they grinned as they announced the good news: "It's born, it's born! It's a little grandson! Mother and child are safe!"
Upon hearing this, Li Cheng stumbled and nearly fell. Fortunately, Li Fuji was there to support him.
Although today's hurdle was fraught with difficulty, Liang Yuan had finally safely given birth to the little grandson of the Emperor. Everyone in the delivery room had delivered a little grandson of the Emperor before, and with this child of noble birth in their arms, the midwives felt as if their status had risen.
Judging from how much the Crown Prince values his little grandson, they will have many more good days in the future.
But after the surprise, she discovered that the little grandson in her arms had a blue and purple body, and had not made any crying sound since he was born.
Could it be that the baby the queen gave birth to was stillborn?
The heart that hadn't yet been completely at ease was instantly lifted. The imperial physician immediately picked up the baby, patted his buttocks, and cleaned his mouth and nose with a soft cloth.
This was repeated many times, but the baby in her arms still did not move at all. Its body turned purple and swollen, and it curled up in the soft silk like a kitten, without a sound or a breath.
Before Li Cheng could even feel happy, he was suddenly told that Liang Yuan had given birth to a stillborn baby. This heavy blow was like a huge rock pressing down on his back, and he was so bent over that he could barely stand.
The momentary joy disappeared in an instant, and what followed was an even more serious panic.
Fear hung over everyone like a thick, dark cloud. Fetuses that hadn't cried since birth were considered "soulless," and rituals were required to call back their souls. These included burning talismans and herbs outside the delivery room, banging copper basins, and inviting shamans to perform divinations.
When Li Cheng heard someone suggest "calling back the soul," he quickly ordered people to prepare, regardless of whether it would be effective. After all, for a suffocating fetus, even a single breath of time is extremely precious.
The imperial physician in the delivery room forced himself to remain calm, not looking at the prince's face, which was almost twisted with fear. While carefully patting the baby, he continued to wipe his body with alternating cold and warm water.
Time passed by in extreme depression, and almost everyone subconsciously held their breath, their faces filled with solemnity and subtle sadness.
Just when everyone thought that the little prince was destined to die young and ultimately could not be saved, the wrinkled ball in the imperial physician's arms suddenly let out a soft cry.
Compared to the sobs of an ordinary newborn, the sound was so subtle that it was almost inaudible. But when this sound came from the little emperor's grandson, it was like the sound of celestial Sanskrit to everyone.
The child was small and thin, with a soft voice. Curled up in the physician's arms, he looked like a restless kitten, humming softly to express his displeasure.
The Crown Prince, who had been holding on for so long, couldn't help but collapse to the ground, even with someone supporting him. In fact, it wasn't just the Crown Prince. Elders like Li Fu, who had been with His Highness for years, also felt like they had just survived a catastrophe. Beads of sweat covered their foreheads, but they couldn't hide the smiles on their faces.
The little prince escaped death and was finally brought back from the brink of death. However, even if he was born safely, he was still a premature baby, and his body was certainly much weaker than that of an ordinary baby.
Only with careful care can the little grandson be allowed to grow up safely.
Seeing the tiny ball placed in the crib by the midwife, Li Cheng finally dared to cautiously approach this fragile life. This was his and Zhang Niang's child, a child with his blood flowing through his veins, a child who had nearly died, and finally, safely arrived!
Li Cheng could hardly believe it. If the little prince had not been rescued just now, how would he explain it to Liang Yuan after she woke up?
Fortunately, God still favored him. Not only did Liang Yuan stay safe, but even the baby in her belly was born safely.
There seemed to be a clear spring in the prince's heart, bubbling out at this moment. The joy of becoming a father for the first time filled his chest, making him unable to recover for a long time.
However, the young grandson was frail, and before the Crown Prince could even take a moment to examine him, he was carried away by the nurses ordered by the Imperial Physician. Li Cheng returned to the delivery room and once again grasped Liang Hanzhang's slightly cold hand. After repeatedly asking the Imperial Physician Liang Yuan if she was in any condition, and receiving a negative answer, he felt relieved and sat down beside her. He gently kissed Liang Yuan's hand, his eyes becoming even more gentle.
He leaned over to Liang Hanzhang's ear, stared at the woman who was still sleeping, and whispered, "Mother Zhang, we are having a child."
If you woke up now, would you be as happy as I am?
It was said that on the night of the young emperor's birth, a golden ray of light suddenly appeared in the dark sky, shining through the dark clouds and illuminating the earth. The entire capital was shrouded in a dazzling light.
I don't know if this rumor is true, but the birth of the young prince in the Crown Prince's palace last night is a real event. People who have announced the good news have already scoured the entire Shangjing. The birth of a holy grandson is an auspicious sign.
The emperor granted a general amnesty to the country to accumulate blessings for the young grandson. Not only that, the emperor also granted a three-day holiday to all officials in the capital to celebrate the birth of the emperor's grandson.
The entire capital was like a drop of oil dropped into a pot, instantly creating a larger splash. Everyone was immersed in the joy of the birth of the emperor's grandson and the auspicious sign from heaven. No one remembered the recent assassination attempt by the virtuous prince.
As for the question of why Liang Yuan gave birth so early, which people were still discussing privately, no one knew the reason, and no one dared to discuss it openly. They could only suppress their curiosity.
It was like a festival both inside and outside the palace, especially in the East Palace, where servants inside and outside the palace received rewards. At the same time, rewards from the imperial palace also flowed in like water.
Liang Hanzhang slept until the next morning, then slowly awoke. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw the Crown Prince, still wearing the same outer robe from yesterday, sitting awkwardly on a shengti. His eyes were half-closed, his face haggard, his eyes dark, and a dense, wiry beard growing on his chin.
It can be seen that he did not have an easy night last night.
Hearing the noise, Li Cheng quickly opened his eyes. His gentle gaze met Liang Hanzhang's. A faint smile played on his lips. He asked, "Awake?"
Liang Hanzhang, still filled with guilt for what she had done, quickly turned her gaze away in panic. She nodded softly, still feeling weak, which showed how much this birth had taken from her.
Li Yan witnessed it with his own eyes, so he naturally knew it very clearly. So now, he was looking at her with pity and ordered his servants to bring up the prepared meal.
He stirred the soup with his bony finger bones and instructed in a gentle voice: "Your body has been exhausted from the premature birth this time. The imperial physician told you to stay up for two months of confinement."
Liang Hanzhang nodded sullenly. Still not daring to look up at him, he mechanically opened his mouth and swallowed the small spoonful of soup.
The prince seemed not to notice the woman's alienation and continued to chatter: "Do you want to see our prince? Although he is thin, he looks exactly like you. He is so cute lying on the soft silk."
"I just went to see him and he had his eyes open."
In fact, it is impossible to tell who such a small baby looks like. The reason why Li Cheng said this was just to make Liang Hanzhang feel happier.
Liang Hanzhang had very complicated feelings about this child. He was looking forward to his arrival, but also felt guilty because of his negligence, which led to his premature birth and forced him to come into the world in a hurry.
Hearing the prince say this, she raised her head cautiously, with a hint of hope in her eyes, as if asking Li Cheng, is this really okay?
Li Cheng didn't know why she had become so unfamiliar with him overnight. Her behavior was cautious, as if she was very afraid of touching something.
Obviously, she is the biological mother of the emperor. Why wouldn't she take a look at the child?
Li Cheng ignored the turmoil in his heart and continued to feed him: "Just be good and take good care of yourself, and you don't have to worry about the prince. If you miss him, you can ask the wet nurse to bring him to you at any time."
Having said that, he couldn't help but remind her, "But you are weak now, so you can't watch it for too long. You still need to rest for these few months."
Liang Hanzhang nodded slightly.
After the meal, the wet nurse received orders to carefully bring the little prince in. Because Liang Yuan had been unconscious since giving birth to the little prince, she was unaware of the dangerous situation that had nearly cost the child his life the previous night.
In order not to worry her, Li Cheng did not say much.
So, when Liang Hanzhang came into contact with the tiny baby, she was surprised that a newborn could be so small. The child had no idea that his biological parents were looking at him intently, and he remained lying softly on the soft bed with his eyes closed.
The baby was so tiny that Liang Hanzhang almost doubted whether he could really grow up safely. He was tiny and curled up in the corner. He should still be in the belly at this moment, but because of his negligence and impulsiveness last night, he was born prematurely.
Her brows furrowed, and she felt a faint urge to cry. The most taboo for women in confinement after childbirth was crying. Li Cheng noticed her agitation and quickly stopped her, "Don't cry. The prince is just a little small. He will be no worse off than other children if he is well raised."
Liang Hanzhang responded with tears in her voice, trying hard to suppress her tears. After a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, have you chosen a name for the child?"
Li Cheng shook his head: "Not yet. The naming matter needs to be decided after consulting my father. But don't worry, it will be decided in the next few days."
As he spoke, his eyes were shining and his voice was firm, "Mother Zhang, thank you so much for giving birth to this child for me. Don't worry, I, Li Cheng, will never let you down in this life."
Liang Hanzhang was already immersed in being deceived by Li Xuan and feeling guilty towards Li Rong. After hearing this, she lowered her head even more. Countless struggles flashed through her mind, but she finally decided to speak frankly.
She raised her eyes and looked directly at the prince, and said firmly: "Your Highness, there is actually one thing I have been lying to you about."
Li Cheng naturally knew what it was. In his opinion, that incident was indeed a thorn in his side at first, but after what happened last night, he no longer cared about it.
He didn't want to hear it again, which would only widen the gap between them. He said softly, "I know everything." His dark eyes held no room for argument as he stared at his beloved woman.
"Mrs. Zhang, you don't have to worry about this matter. I haven't cared about it for a long time. I know that everything you do has your own reasons."
"Now that you and I have a child, I just hope that you will focus more of your energy on me and the child, and not be distracted by passers-by. In the future, you will be a mother, and as first-time parents, you and I should learn how to be competent parents."
Liang Hanzhang couldn't stop her tears from welling up as she listened to his words. She had no choice but to lean in the man's arms to hide her tears.
She secretly swore in her heart that since the prince was so good to her, she would never deceive or betray him again in this life.
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