Chapter 75 Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix
Chapter Seventy-Five: Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix
In early summer, the pomegranate flowers in the courtyard of Yongshou Palace are in full bloom, clusters of fiery red, symbolizing many children and much happiness.
After lunch that day, as usual, Li Qianche carefully helped Su Su as they strolled slowly along the corridor outside the palace.
Su Su's belly was as big as a drum, making each step difficult, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Li Qianche steadily supported her lower back with one hand, and intertwined his fingers with hers with the other, patiently matching her steps.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Su Su was about to suggest going back to rest when she suddenly felt a sharp, unusual pain in her lower abdomen, unlike the usual fetal movements. She couldn't help but hiss in pain. Immediately afterward, a warm liquid gushed uncontrollably from beneath her, instantly soaking her skirt.
Su Su paused, her face paling slightly. She instinctively gripped Li Qianche's arm tightly, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Your Majesty... I... I'm afraid I'm going into labor..."
Upon hearing this, Li Qianche's heart clenched, and almost instantly, an emotion mixed with immense anticipation and extreme fear gripped him.
He forced himself to calm down, and without saying a word, immediately picked Su Su up horizontally. Her body trembled slightly due to tension and the sudden contractions.
As he strode swiftly toward the inner palace, he shouted sternly at the panicked palace servants around him, "Quick! Summon the imperial physician! Call the midwives! Hurry up!" His voice was hoarse and filled with panic that he himself was unaware of.
He gently placed Su Su on the prepared delivery bed, held her cold hand tightly, and leaned down to whisper in her ear repeatedly, as if comforting her and reassuring himself: "Su Su, don't be afraid, I'm here with you. The imperial physician and the nurses will be here soon, don't be afraid..."
The well-trained midwives and imperial physicians quickly filed in. The experienced midwife, seeing that the emperor was still by the bedside, hurriedly stepped forward, and said with respect but firmness, "Your Majesty, the delivery room is a place of bloodshed, and we fear that it may be tainted with bad luck and harm your health. Please move to the outer hall to wait."
Li Qianche frowned, his gaze never leaving Su Su's brows furrowed with pain, and said resolutely, "I am not afraid of any bad luck! I will stay here with the Imperial Concubine!"
The midwife looked troubled but still advised, "Your Majesty, it is Her Majesty's first time giving birth, and she is already nervous. With you here, she will inevitably be preoccupied and unable to concentrate on the task at hand, which will be detrimental to the delivery."
Su Su, enduring wave after wave of increasingly intense contractions, struggled to open her eyes upon hearing this. Looking at Li Qianche, she weakly said, "Your Majesty... perhaps you should leave first? With you here, I... I really will be distracted..."
Seeing her speak, Li Qianche, despite his reluctance and worry, had no choice but to compromise. He squeezed her hand tightly, his gaze following her: "Alright, I'll go out. Susu, I'll be right outside the door, I won't leave your side. If you're in a lot of pain, or if you want to see me, just call me, and I'll come in immediately!"
Su Su knew his worries, and despite the pain, she nodded slightly.
Li Qianche then retreated from the inner hall, glancing back several times as he went. In the outer hall, Tang Wanqing, who had rushed over upon receiving the news, was anxiously waiting. Upon seeing the emperor emerge, she quickly bowed.
At this moment, Li Qianche had no time to care about such formalities. He just waved his hand haphazardly and focused all his attention on the palace door that separated the inside from the outside.
Inside the inner palace, after the midwife gave Su Su a bowl of ginseng soup, she began to guide her: "Your Highness, follow this old servant's rhythm, inhale... yes, exhale slowly... push down!"
Soon, Su Su's suppressed cries of pain faintly drifted from the inner hall. Each cry was like a dull knife, scraping cruelly against Li Qianche's heart.
He could no longer sit still. He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the outer hall, his anxiety evident in his expression.
His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his gaze was fixed on the direction of the inner hall, as if he could see through that door into what was inside.
Although Tang Wanqing was also extremely worried, seeing the emperor so distraught, she could only force herself to remain calm and stepped forward to gently comfort him: "Your Majesty, it is common for a woman's first childbirth to take several hours. Although Su'er is young, she has taken good care of herself during her pregnancy, and the baby is in the right position, so she will surely be able to turn misfortune into good fortune. Please sit down and do not worry too much. It is important to take care of your health."
Upon hearing this, Li Qianche took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, and said to Tang Wanqing, "Mother-in-law, please sit down. I... I'm fine."
Even so, his tense posture and the frequent glances toward the inner hall betrayed his inner fear.
Time slipped by slowly in the anxious wait, as if it were passing exceptionally slowly.
Two hours passed, and the sun began to set. Finally, from the inner palace came the encouraging voice of the midwife: "Your Majesty, we see it! We see the little prince's head! Just a little more push! It'll be out soon!"
Immediately following was Su Su's desperate cry of pain, followed by a loud and powerful baby's cry, like the tolling of a bell at dawn, instantly shattering the tense atmosphere that had been hanging over Yongshou Palace.
"He's out! It's a little prince!" The midwife's voice was filled with joy.
Before long, a palace maid carrying a tiny infant wrapped in a bright yellow swaddling cloth came out quickly, a smile on her face, and reported to Li Qianche and Tang Wanqing: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Madam! The Imperial Concubine has given birth to a prince, and both mother and child are safe! The Imperial Concubine is also pregnant with a second child, and the midwife is still assisting with the delivery."
Li Qianche took a step forward and carefully took the small, blood-stained but loudly crying baby boy from the palace servant's hands.
The baby was wrinkled and red, but you could still vaguely see the resemblance between him and Su Su in his eyes and brows.
Overwhelmed with joy and a sense of relief, his arms holding the child trembled slightly as he repeatedly exclaimed, "Good! Good! Rewards! Rewards for everyone!"
He suddenly remembered Su Su, who was still struggling between life and death, and asked urgently, "Where is the Imperial Concubine? How is Su'er? Is she alright?"
The palace maid hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty is in relatively good spirits, but she is weak. The midwife is currently assisting Her Majesty in giving birth to her second child."
Upon hearing that her daughter was unharmed, Tang Wanqing finally dared to breathe a sigh of relief. She swayed slightly, but was quickly supported by the maid beside her, her face streaked with tears.
After about half a cup of tea's time, another commotion came from the inner palace, followed by the midwife's even more cheerful voice: "Your Majesty, push again! It's done! It's out! It's a little princess! Congratulations, Your Majesty! This is a very auspicious sign, a dragon and a phoenix together!"
Upon hearing the words "twins" and "princess," Su Su felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. The last bit of strength she had been holding on seemed to vanish instantly, and her vision went black as she fell into a deep sleep.
Li Qianche and Tang Wanqing in the outer hall heard it clearly. The four words "Dragon and Phoenix Bring Auspiciousness" were like heavenly music, which made their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, completely settle down, and joyful smiles bloomed on their faces.
When Su Su woke up again, it was already the next morning.
The warm morning light streamed into the room through the window lattice, and the air was filled with a faint calming fragrance and a subtle, almost imperceptible smell of blood.
The moment she opened her eyes, she met a pair of deep eyes, bloodshot yet brimming with tenderness and concern.
Li Qianche had been staying by her bedside the whole time, barely closing his eyes. When he saw her wake up, he immediately leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her smooth forehead, his voice hoarse from a sleepless night and filled with deep heartache: "Su'er, you're awake? You've had a hard night. How are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?"
Su Su felt the weakness in her body and the lingering pain in her lower abdomen. She gently shook her head, but her eyes looked around anxiously. Her voice was weak but full of expectation: "I'm alright... Where's the child? Where's our child?"
When Li Qianche saw that the first thing she did after waking up was to look for her child, his heart softened, and he quickly turned to signal her.
Tang Wanqing, who had been standing by, immediately stepped forward with a smile, followed by a wet nurse holding two swaddled babies.
Tang Wanqing first took the baby in pink swaddling clothes from the wet nurse and gently placed it next to Su Su's pillow. Her tone was full of love and joy: "Su'er, look, this is our little princess. Look at her eyebrows and big eyes, they are as black as grapes. She looks just like you when you were little. She is so beautiful."
Su Su turned her head and looked at the baby girl's fair and delicate face. Sure enough, she saw a pair of clear and bright eyes that were open curiously, without crying or making a fuss.
She then looked at the boy in Tang Wanqing's arms, who was wearing a bright yellow swaddle. The baby boy's features were more defined, and even at such a young age, one could see a resemblance to Li Qianche. He was sleeping peacefully and looked very well-behaved.
She reached out her weak hand and gently touched the two children's soft, warm cheeks. An indescribable warmth, mixed with immense happiness and a sense of accomplishment, instantly filled her chest, making her eyes slightly moist. Yet, the corners of her lips involuntarily turned up, and she softly murmured, "So adorable..."
Li Qianche watched this heartwarming scene from the side, his gaze lingering tenderly on Su Su and the two children. Hearing this, he chuckled softly, "Su Su is naturally the cutest."
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