Chapter 85: The Imperial Power
The lively New Year's Festival was over, and it was the tenth day of the first lunar month. Gu Wen and the Du couple came to Prince Qi's Mansion that day, and Zhang Shinan also came with them.
Zhang Shinan smiled and said, "An An is in good health and the child is not too old. You don't have to worry so much."
Even so, she still couldn't rest easy until the child was born. Madam Du said, "Please take An An's pulse so we can feel at ease."
Zhang Shinan had come to the palace to take the prince's pulse. After carefully examining it, he said, "The pulse remains the same. Eat, drink, sit, lie down, and do your daily routine as usual. The due date is almost here."
The female doctor standing by nodded, it was indeed time for the fruit to ripen.
They said it would be in the next few days, but no one could say for sure when. Gu Youan touched his stomach and said, "It's better to hurry up. I haven't been eating or sleeping well these past few days. If I eat a few more bites at the New Year's Eve dinner, Zhou Qi will have to stop me."
Madam Du coughed lightly, not daring to criticize Prince Qi. She only said to her daughter, "I'm taking care of you for your own good. When the baby is born, you can eat whatever you want."
Gu Youan didn't believe her mother's words. What delicious food could there be during confinement? It was just some tasteless soup.
Gu Youan sighed softly, looked at Zhou Qi and asked, "What are we having for lunch?"
"Fish in Hot and Sour Soup?"
"That's fine."
Zhou Qi knew her taste, so he would cook the same dishes in different ways in winter. Although he didn't allow her to eat too much, he didn't treat her badly.
After the consultation, everyone sat together to drink tea. There were no snacks on the table, mainly because they were afraid that Gu Youan would look greedy and feel uncomfortable.
Gu Youan didn't drink ordinary tea either. She drank Ophiopogon japonicus tea, Five-Black Soup and the like prepared by the female doctor, which were very bland.
After taking two sips and putting it down, Gu Youan asked her mother, "Why didn't Xuan come with us?"
"She went to the Duan family with your eldest sister-in-law. There are several young ladies of her age among the Duan family's grandchildren. She gets along well with them. Whenever she runs into someone else as a guest, she always sits with them and they have endless things to talk about."
Gu Youan smiled and said, "That's great. Xuan should make more friends at her age. It's boring to stay confined at home."
Mrs. Du said, "Who restrains her? When she's alone at home, she takes her servants out for horseback riding in the suburbs or hunting in the northern mountains every time she has a break. She's very free."
The Gu family has been living a better life in recent years. They can afford to keep horses and have no shortage of money. Mrs. Du is very generous in spending money on her youngest daughter's hobbies.
Mrs. Du smiled and sighed, "Axuan is a lucky child. She came at a good time for our family."
The suffering of exile did not leave any trace in the girl's heart. When she talked about the hard days of exile, she did not feel bitter. She only remembered that she had walked a long way and the dry biscuits were so unpalatable.
Gu Youan was talking to her mother, while Zhou Qi was discussing the official road with her father. Gu Wen was the general manager of the official road construction, and he knew everything about it. There was no need for King Qi to ask any more questions, as he started talking nonstop.
Gu Wen also had his own thoughts. When Prince Qi was away, An An was in charge of this matter. An An was about to give birth and needed to recuperate after childbirth. Since Prince Qi was in Songjiang City, this matter should be handed over to him.
After listening to his father-in-law, Prince Qi said, "An An said that the city guards are well-manned and have nothing important to do on weekdays except training. She suggested that after the beginning of next spring, some of the city guards be transferred to build the official road."
Gu Wen thought it was a good idea: "It would be a good idea to withdraw some of them. There are tens of thousands of city defense troops. If we divide them into two or three teams and take turns, it won't delay anything."
The western grasslands were stable with the Northeast Army leading the way, and the Songjiang City behind no longer needed the city defense troops to be on guard every day.
Prince Qi mentioned the matter of the military doctor to Zhang Shinan: "This prince and An An both feel that the number of military doctors in the city defense army is too small. The palace is planning to build a military medical clinic. We would like to invite Doctor Zhang to be a teacher at the military medical clinic and teach the methods of ulcer treatment. What do you think?"
Gu Youan heard this and quickly chimed in, "Uncle Zhang, the most common thing in war is external injuries. If these injuries are treated well and a high fever is avoided, many lives can be saved, which is a great deed. Besides, I don't ask you to teach them your family's unique secrets, just teach them the common ways to treat wounds."
Zhang Shinan laughed and said, "The abdominal medical book you gave me is a secret that cannot be passed on. You gave it to me just because you said so. Could I be more stingy than you?"
Gu Youan smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, have you agreed?"
Zhang Shinan nodded. A doctor's duty is to treat illnesses and save lives. He doesn't need to personally charge into battle; he can only teach a few students.
"That's great. We'll set up the military medical clinic after spring."
Gu Wen knew his daughter was always a successful person, so he asked, "Any other plans?"
"Yes, there are some arrangements, but they haven't been finalized yet."
Last week, Qi and Gu Youan did not have to visit relatives and friends during the New Year holiday. The couple got together and had nothing to do. They discussed things from time to time, thinking of ways to make up for the shortcomings of Songjiang City and build Songjiang City into a small but strong territory.
When it comes to strengthening a nation, Gu Youan, having witnessed the rise of a nation, is far more experienced than Zhou Qi. However, some of her ideas aren't applicable to Songjiang City, so Zhou Qi needs to be vigilant and manage the situation.
After hearing his daughter say this, Gu Wen stopped asking questions.
Gu Wen still had things to do, so he went back after having lunch at the palace, leaving Du at the palace to take care of his daughter.
Just as Gu Wen left, it started snowing in the afternoon. Gu Youan went to her mother's room and watched her mother and several embroiderers making clothes for the children.
There is no shortage of servants in the palace, and there is also Zhou Qi, the father, watching over him. Gu Youan thought that the baby clothes in the space would not be used anymore.
When she woke up on the morning of the 14th day of the first lunar month, Gu Youan touched her belly as usual. The feeling was a little strange. When she touched it again, the expression on her face unconsciously became serious.
"What's wrong?"
"My stomach feels a little hard and a little tight to the touch." Gu Youan was at a loss for a moment.
Zhou Qi quickly lifted the quilt and held her belly. It seemed that there was indeed something different.
"Someone come here!" Zhou Qi shouted.
In just a quarter of an hour, the couple washed, dressed, and sat on the low couch to ask the female doctor to touch their stomachs. After a while, Mrs. Du came and Zhang Shinan also came.
"The princess is about to give birth!"
Gu Youan guessed the same thing. Something had changed out of the blue, and there was no other possibility except that she was going to give birth.
Mrs. Du hurriedly called out, "Xiaoyue, take someone to fumigate the east wing, tell the midwife to get ready, and boil some hot water in the small kitchen."
Gu Youan held her belly and said, "Mom, they said the baby is coming soon, but they didn't say it's coming now."
Besides, I haven't had any contractions yet.
Mrs. Du didn't listen to her and ran to the east wing to watch the maid fumigate the room.
Gu Youan sighed and said to Zhou Qi, "They've been saying that the baby is coming, that it's in the pelvis, and that it's almost time to give birth since before the New Year. I've heard it so many times that I'm numb to it."
Zhou Qi smiled and said, "Ask my mother-in-law to prepare it. It won't take much effort anyway. Don't worry about it. Think about what you want to eat in the morning."
"Just eat anything."
Gu Youan said to just eat casually, but the food prepared by the small kitchen was not casual at all, with three kinds of porridge, four or five side dishes, and various buns with several flavors. You will feel full after just a little bit of each.
Zhou Qi was a calm person, not seeming panicked at all. After breakfast, he helped her stroll around the house, went to the study to read, and continued the conversation that they hadn't finished yesterday. He also asked Liu Zhong to come in and write down what they talked about.
Being taken care of by him, Gu Youan's anxiety was soothed. When she was resting at night, she thought that today was no different from the previous days, when her stomach started to move.
She suddenly grabbed the person next to her and said, "Zhou Qi, I'm giving birth!"
"Oh, you're giving birth!"
Zhou Qi calmed down and turned around to look for something. He turned around several times. Gu Youan glared at him and asked, "What are you looking for?"
Zhou Qi finally came back to his senses. His eyes widened and his whole body shuddered: "It's time to give birth!"
Gu Youan gasped in pain and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! Send someone over!"
Before Zhou Qi could call for help, the maids and servants who had been on night duty outside heard the noise. Sister Wei pushed open the bedroom door and said anxiously, "My Lord, quickly carry the princess to the east wing and wrap her in a quilt to protect her from the cold."
After enduring the pain, a thin layer of sweat broke out on Gu Youan's body. She frowned and pinched the quilt, saying, "Carry me over there."
She didn't dare ask Zhou Qi to hug her in this state. She wouldn't be able to bear it if he dropped her.
Zhou Qi had already come over. He said, "Don't worry, I'll carry you out."
At this time, everyone outside started to move. Liu Zhong led a few servants to light the lanterns under the corridor. The dense lanterns squeezed out the dark night, and the main courtyard was brightly lit.
When Mrs. Du ran over from the next yard, Gu Youan was already lying in the east wing. The midwife didn't dare to speak, and Mrs. Du pushed Prince Qi out.
"Go wait outside and don't cause any more trouble."
The door of the delivery room slammed shut in front of him. Zhou Qi took a step forward anxiously, then stopped.
Xu Zhi whispered beside him, "Master, it's cold outside, shall we go inside and wait?"
Zhou Qi stared at the door of the delivery room. He said, "Go get a chair."
"Master, we can't block the door. It's inconvenient for the old woman to go in and out to fetch water."
"Then wait in the yard."
Xu Zhi couldn't persuade him any more, so he asked the servant to carry a chair and put it in the yard. He also asked the maid to go to the house and get two thick cushions to put on the chair. He went to get the prince's sable cloak and put it on his master.
Seeing this, Liu Zhong personally led people to the small kitchen to carry two braziers and placed them in front of the prince. The fire was burning fiercely, providing some warmth in this cold night.
The flames danced in the cold wind, but Zhou Qi wasn't afraid of the night's chill, so he just sat in the yard and waited. He was anxious but his face was cold, and only when he saw the delivery room door open and close did his expression fluctuate.
Inside the room, Madam Du wiped her daughter's sweat with a handkerchief. She felt distressed and anxious, but she also tried her best to comfort her daughter: "Don't be afraid, mother is here to watch over you. Prince Qi is also outside, and your father will be here soon. We are all here to watch over you."
Gu Youan, who had just endured another wave of pain, forced a smile and said, "Is Uncle Zhang here?"
"I'm coming, I'm waiting in the next room, don't worry."
Another wave of pain came over her, she clenched her fists and endured it, closing her eyes and thinking, she had done what she should do, and the rest will be left to God.
"Princess, take a break first. You can do it again after I give you my orders!"
Gu Youan tried to take a deep breath.
It was half an hour later when Gu Wen and Gu Wenqing, father and son, arrived. Zhou Qi stood up and said, "Xu Zhi, go to the door and ask why there's still no movement."
Gu Wen just stood up when he swayed weakly: "What do you mean? What do you mean there is no movement?"
The maid ran out and said hurriedly, "Don't worry, my lord. The princess is doing well. She doesn't like to cry. It's a good thing to hold back and wait for the birth."
Gu Wen and his son Gu Wenqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. They were glad that everything was fine. Prince Qi’s reaction just now really scared them.
Zhou Qi stopped sitting and walked step by step to the eaves. The cold wind blew in the middle of the night, and An An's painful whimpers seemed to be faintly heard through the gaps in the doors and windows. His whole body tensed up.
Zhou Qi didn't know how long he had been standing outside the door. The fur hat on his head and the fur wrapped around his body could not block the wind that penetrated through all holes, and his whole body was cold.
Xu Zhi came to persuade again: "Your Highness, let's go to the side room and wait. The princess must be worried if you get too cold."
Zhou Qi walked to the window on the porch, his throat trembling. He wanted to call her name, but suddenly a maid in the room shouted in surprise, "Ah, it's born, it's a little boy."
Mrs. Du was overjoyed: "I thank all the gods and Buddhas in the sky, and the Three Pure Ones. When spring comes, I will burn incense and express my gratitude to you all!"
"How is the princess?"
The door to the delivery room opened from the inside, and Xiaoyue hurried out to report: "To answer your Highness, the princess is fine and is still awake, but she is tired."
Zhou Qi was about to go in, but Xiaoyue quickly stopped him: "The princess said you are not allowed in, and no one else should go in either. It would be bad if you brought in dirty things."
Zhou Qi stopped and walked to the window again: "An An, are you okay?"
Gu Youan heard it and wanted to say that she was not feeling well at all, but when she heard his suppressed tone that seemed to be choked with sobs, her heart softened and she endured the tiredness and said softly, "Not bad."
He heard it, lowered his head and took a deep breath. He felt that he could no longer bear this kind of emotion. Anyway, he already had an heir, so this was enough.
Zhou Qi made a secret decision in her heart, but Gu Youan didn't know it. She was so tired that she fell asleep.
After knowing that mother and child were safe, Gu Wen waited outside the door with a smile on his face, wanting to see his grandson. Mrs. Du came out and snapped at him, "What are you looking at? It's so cold at night, what if the child gets frozen?"
Mrs. Du said, "Go back and rest. We'll talk about it tomorrow morning."
Gu Wenqing said, "Mother, it's already past midnight, it's the next day."
Mrs. Du said happily, "Oh, this child is born well. Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival."
Gu Wen clapped his hands and laughed, saying that it was a good birth and a good day.
Gu Youan woke up in the morning and was woken up by the piglets biting her. Even though she had planned to feed them colostrum, the pain was still unbearable.
Mrs. Du felt sorry for her daughter, so she said, "Forget it, let the wet nurse feed her."
Gu Youan hissed and inhaled, enduring the pain: "Tell him to suck, I will only feed him for three months, I will feed him during the day, and ask the wet nurse to feed him at night."
Mrs. Du didn't understand: "Since you are willing to ask the wet nurse to feed you, what difference does it make whether it is day or night? Why bother yourself with this?"
Gu Youan was not in a position to explain the benefits of colostrum to her mother and just said that she wanted to feed the baby. Mrs. Du couldn't persuade her and could only help her.
The first time she breastfed, she broke out in a sweat. Mrs. Du asked someone to bring hot water and wiped her daughter's body herself. Only after she was clean did Gu Youan feel better.
Zhou Qi changed into clean clothes and waited outside. Only after the room was tidied did Gu Youan call him in.
When Zhou Qi entered the room, he looked at her first. Seeing that she was in good spirits, he looked at the wrinkled, red-skinned child lying beside her.
Zhou Qi frowned and moved his mouth a few times but couldn't open it. Is this what he looks like?
Mrs. Du saw what he meant and said, "You young people don't understand. Newly born babies are all like this. If you take good care of them, they will grow up to be fair and pretty."
Okay, let’s raise it first.
Zhou Qi looked at the child and suddenly raised his head and asked, "What do you want to name the child?"
The postpartum meal brought by the maid arrived. As the small table in front of her was set, Gu Youan took a sip of the steaming but not scalding chicken soup and said casually, "Since she was born on the Lantern Festival, let's call her Yuanxiao."
Mrs. Du was shocked. "How can you choose a name so casually? The child has already been born, and you and your wife haven't thought about naming the child yet?"
The couple looked at each other. It seemed like they had discussed the child's name before. Well, it's not that they don't value the child, it's just that they are too busy and have not paid attention to it.
Gu Youan threw the question to Zhou Qi: "What's your name?"
He looked at the child and smiled, "Your nickname is up to you. I'll think about the real name."
Since he said so, she ignored it and concentrated on eating her confinement meal. Well, it was her first meal, and although the taste was light, it tasted pretty good.
Mrs. Du disagreed: "Even though the child was born on the Lantern Festival, it's reasonable to use this as a nickname when he's still young. But when the child grows up, this name will be difficult to pronounce. It will hurt the child's reputation in public."
"Mother, what's your name?"
"Why not call me Yuan?"
Gu Youan nodded and said, "Okay, the little guy should have a decent nickname too."
After giving birth, her body was weak. After Gu Wen, Gu Wenqing, Duan, and A Xuan came to visit, Gu Youan felt tired. He just wanted to rest in the afternoon and didn't want to see anyone.
After the mother and son fell asleep, Zhou Qi stayed alone in the study. The desk was filled with open books and scriptures, and on the white paper next to them were written many good names that he thought were unique.
It was getting dark outside. Xu Zhi tiptoed into the study and lit a candle. A candlestick was placed in front of the table. The candlelight illuminated a piece of snow-white rice paper on the table. There were three words on it: Zhou Yannian.
The next generation of the Zhou royal family is named Yan. As a father, he is full of love for his child and has infinite expectations for his life. In the end, he only hopes that he will be healthy and live a long and happy life.
Xu Zhi glanced at his master secretly. The expression on his master's face was frighteningly gentle.
Back then, back then, he followed his master to Songjiang City to attend the funeral of the late queen. When his master knew that the late emperor had sent him away and passed the throne to Zhou Xuan, his master was as tense as a rare cold iron sword in the world, with a sharp edge as if to cut off everything.
Xu Zhi lowered his eyelids, a smile flashed in his eyes, it was really different.
"Heaven has not granted me a long life. My son's name is Yannian. It not only extends his own lifespan, but also the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Zhou Qi turned his eyes and looked into the void, southwest, and the Central Plains!
Xu Zhi looked up suddenly in shock!
Zhou Qi asked with a smile, "Xu Zhi, is the name I chose okay?"
"The name your Highness has chosen is naturally good, and the princess will probably like it too."
Zhou Qi nodded with satisfaction.
Prince Qi was delighted to have a son, and a small bow was hung on the left gate of Prince Qi's mansion. All the officials and people in Songjiang City knew about it.
On the day of the third day of the baby's bath, Zhou Chen, the chief officer of Prince Qi's mansion, was extremely busy. The gifts sent by various families blocked the gatehouse, and the servants at the gatehouse were overwhelmed, so Zhou Chen hurriedly called the guards to help.
Prince Qi's mansion never holds banquets, and only members of the Gu family can enter the mansion on the third day of the baby's birth.
Mrs. Duan brought her daughters over today. Both children were asleep. Mrs. Duan asked quietly, "It's freezing cold. Not only are you not going to hold a third-day bath, but you're not going to hold a full-moon bath either?"
Ah Xuan, who was secretly pinching her nephew's hand, said hurriedly, "Of course we have to do it. Other children have full-month banquets, so Ah Yuan should have one too."
Mrs. Du also said, "Don't mind the trouble, just do it once."
Gu Youan ignored her mother's nagging and insisted on getting out of bed. She held Xiaoyue and Xiaoju's hands and walked slowly. She said, "I haven't discussed it with Zhou Qi yet. I don't care. I'll see what he thinks."
Mrs. Du was no longer surprised that her daughter was named Prince Qi. She said, "Whether you do it or not, when the child is one month old, even if the mountains are blocked by snow and we can't go to worship the late queen, you must remember to set up an altar in the mansion and offer a remote sacrifice to her. The child is born and has settled down, thanks to the blessing of our ancestors."
"Okay, Xiaoyue, remember this and remind me when the time comes." In matters like this, Gu Youan's principle was to respect the customs of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Zhou Qi was talking with the Gu family father and son in the front yard today. After a while, someone came to report that someone was asking to see him outside the door. Zhou Qi was annoyed and asked Xu Zhi to tell Zhou Chen to forget about it today and not accept any gifts on the full moon day.
When Zhou Chen heard Xu Zhi's message, he smiled helplessly and said, "From what the prince said, the full moon banquet will be cancelled?"
Xu Zhi laughed: "How would I know? The prince didn't say it clearly."
Zhou Chen smiled and sighed, "Our palace has always been like this. Every family in Songjiang City has long been accustomed to it. It doesn't matter whether we do it or not. Even if we don't do it, we can save some trouble."
As long as outsiders know that their prince has an heir, nothing else matters.
Although the prince is still young, he is alone after all. When the news of the prince being seriously injured on the grassland reached Songjiang City last year, if the princess had not acted decisively and handled it properly, the chaos in Songjiang City would not have been just a minor one.
After the prince returned safely to Songjiang City, Songjiang City stabilized, and the princess's skills were also seen by those who were secretly observing. It was also because of the previous incident, when the prince led the troops to attack the Northeast Army, the princess was able to suppress everyone and also stand in the open to take charge of the overall situation.
The princess was recognized by everyone. With the princess around, the Qi Palace had become more stable. Now that they had the young master, their palace couldn't be more stable.
These words cannot be said openly, but everyone has a scale in their hearts. As soon as they knew that the princess had given birth to a baby boy, there was such a grand occasion in front of their palace today.
Xu Zhi patted Zhou Chen on the shoulder: "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Chen grinned: "You've worked hard too. Okay, I'm going to get busy."
Prince Qi had a successor, which reassured his subordinates and made them cling to him even tighter. Su Guang, Prince Qi's former teacher, sighed again: "Gu Wen gave birth to a good daughter."
Su Xiang went back to her parents' home to see her mother today. After hearing her father's envious tone, she was indifferent.
Madam Lu smiled, a rare moment, and continued, "I hope the prince grows up safely, and I hope the prince and princess have many children and grandchildren."
The full-moon banquet for Prince Qi was cancelled. A few days before the banquet, a secret letter was delivered to the capital Luoyang, across countless frozen mountains and rivers outside the Great Wall.
"Oh, Zhou Qi is so lucky!"
The door of Yuji Palace was closed tightly. After an angry roar was heard from inside the room, something heavy was suddenly heard falling to the ground, making clanging and banging sounds for half a minute.
Outside the Yuji Palace, Concubine Li came swaying and asked the eunuch at the door to go in and pass on a message.
The young eunuch hesitated and refused to go. Concubine Li glared at him, "How dare you! Just because Concubine Shen asked you to pass on a message, I can no longer order you around?"
Concubine Li was the younger sister of General Li, the commander of the Yunnan garrison. She entered the palace a year earlier than Concubine Shen. The prince she gave birth to was the eighth and one year older than Concubine Shen's son.
Concubine Li was very much favored by the emperor. The young eunuch did not dare to offend her, so he had to enter the palace cautiously and pass the message to the eunuch chief.
"Princess Li, the Emperor invites you in."
Concubine Li adjusted the delicate pink hibiscus flower beside her temples, a smile spread across her lips, and she stepped lightly into the room, calling out "Your Majesty" in a tender voice.
"I heard that you haven't had a healthy stomach these past few days, so I asked the imperial kitchen to prepare a pot of red bean soup for you."
Concubine Li narrowed her beautiful cat-like eyes slightly, with only the shadow of the emperor in her eyes. She didn't pay any attention to the chaos around her, which showed her deep affection.
Zhou Xuan's lips curled up slightly, and he smiled and said, "It's hard for my beloved concubine to miss me. I will definitely live up to her kindness."
Concubine Li smiled sweetly and took the Emperor's hand, gently shaking it: "The Emperor misses you so much. Will you come to my palace to see him today?"
Zhou Xuan pinched Concubine Li's cheek and said with a smile: "Only the emperor misses me, not my beloved concubine."
"Oh, the Emperor is so annoying!"
Zhou Xuan laughed heartily, drank a few sips of the wine to show his beloved concubine's love, and took her hand to the side hall to show their affection.
The chief eunuch Sun Zhang called a group of eunuchs and palace maids. They came in silently, bowed their heads and quickly cleaned up the messy hall.
The gate of the Yuji Palace opened again. On the high steps, this palace, which symbolizes the majesty of the imperial power, was still so solemn and inviolable.
The foundation of imperial power seems unshakable!
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