Chapter 88: Giving Birth
After browsing the silk shop, Yun Kui bought a little bib and tiger-head shoes for the child. She then went to the gold shop and bought a small gold lock and a gold bracelet. After half a day, her legs still felt light, but her heart felt like it was weighed down by a stone, and she felt a great sense of responsibility.
Although she had never been anxious about having children before, it was undeniable that, being in her position and having only one concubine in the Emperor's harem, having children was always an unavoidable topic. With the Emperor's favor every night, she secretly hoped for the arrival of a child.
Now that it's really happening, I'm overjoyed, but also a little lost. I never imagined I'd become a mother so suddenly. It feels like I'm carrying a golden nugget inside me. I avoid people wherever I go, afraid to speak loudly for fear of disturbing the little one inside.
Huaiqing and Huaizhu were even more cautious than her. The matter of the imperial heir could not be neglected. The Empress was carrying the heir to the Great Zhao Dynasty. The two were afraid that she might bump into something and suffer a bad accident. They kept a close watch on the crowds coming and going on the street.
After entering only two shops, Huaiqing suggested, "Is Your Highness tired? Why don't we go to a teahouse to rest?"
Yun Kui was both amused and exasperated. Before she knew she was pregnant, she was always bouncing around and he would keep her up at night. Now that she was pregnant, she had suddenly become very precious.
However, for the sake of her child, Yun Kui returned to her family's teahouse to rest. The snacks were all brought from the Sheng Mansion by Huai Zhu, as she was not comfortable with ingredients from outside. She also couldn't drink too much tea, so Huai Qing specially asked the kitchen to make honey milk, which was then poured into bamboo tubes for her to drink outside.
Yun Kui took a bite of the jujube paste pastry. These days, only eating light and sweet snacks can prevent her from feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit.
Huaiqing sighed softly. It's been several days already, why hasn't His Majesty come to fetch the Empress yet?
She exchanged another glance with Huai Zhu, who couldn't help but advise, "His Majesty must be very busy with state affairs these days. Why don't you return to the palace sooner? It's safer there. If you can tell His Majesty the good news sooner, the palace can prepare more quickly."
Yun Kui listened to the storyteller listlessly, took a sip of milk, and her gaze dimmed slightly.
She thought he would come to take her back to the palace yesterday, but he is still nowhere to be seen today. In the past, no matter how busy he was with government affairs, or how late he worked, he would stay overnight in Kunning Palace. Even if he came secretly at night and went to court secretly in the morning, he would always stay by her side.
"Is he upset just because I stayed home for two days?"
"If that's the case, this person has an extremely bad temper."
Xiao Qi'an stared at her retreating figure from afar, gritting his teeth. He took a step forward and grabbed her wrist tightly. "You've been out having fun, and you're blaming me for being short-tempered?"
Huaiqing and Huaizhu had no idea that His Majesty would suddenly appear from behind. They thought some madman had come up to offend the Empress, and they even drew their swords halfway from their waists. When they realized who it was, they were so frightened that they quickly stepped back and bowed.
Before Yun Kui could explain, he had already picked her up and carried her horizontally without saying a word, leaving Huai Qing anxiously watching from behind.
"Your Majesty, please be careful not to touch the Empress..."
Xiao Qi'an's anger intensified. His empress hadn't returned to the palace for several days, and he couldn't even touch her?
Yun Kui was so angry at his aggressive manner that she almost laughed. She patted his arm and said, "Your Majesty, put me down."
Xiao Qi'an didn't want to listen. He tightened his arms and strode forward, carrying the person into the carriage without any room for argument.
Yun Kui struggled and kicked her legs twice, "Put me down quickly, I have something to say to you."
Xiao Qi'an angrily said, "Why don't you say what you have to say in the palace? Or do you simply not want to go back? You're so attached to the outside world, wanting to come out every few days, and now you don't even want to go back to Kunning Palace, you'd rather live outside. Do you even have me, your husband, in your eyes anymore...?"
"You're going to be the emperor."
Yun Kui interrupted him softly before he could finish speaking.
Xiao Qi'an's angry and cold expression froze instantly. After a long while, he regained his composure, his voice cooling down with a barely perceptible hoarseness: "What did you say?"
“I said,” Yun Kui winked at him, “My husband is going to be a father, and I’m going to be a mother too.”
Xiao Qi'an felt his blood freeze, and a jolt of electricity surged in a corner of his heart. He looked down at her flat stomach and asked, "You...are pregnant?"
Yun Kui waited for three days just to see his shocked expression; it was much more interesting than sending someone to the palace to report.
Xiao Qi'an slowly put the person down, his sharp eyes replaced by annoyance and surprise. "How long has it been? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Even the people below kept their mouths shut!
No wonder Huaiqing was afraid of touching her when he picked her up earlier; it turned out he was protecting her stomach.
He reached out and stroked her lower abdomen, feeling a warm, soft sensation beneath his palm. Inside, a tiny thing had secretly taken root and sprouted...
Xiao Qi'an felt a mix of emotions, regretting his own rashness. "Just now... it was my fault. If you had told me sooner, I wouldn't have impulsively hugged you. If you had hurt or bumped into me..."
Yun Kui squeezed his hand and whispered, "You'd never hurt me, except when you're tormenting me in bed..."
She leaned closer to look at his expression. "I was waiting to tell you in person, but you didn't come to see me even after three days away from the palace. The child is over a month old and still hasn't seen its father."
Xiao Qi'an pulled the person into his arms and sighed, "Alright, alright, it's all my fault."
Yun Kui gave a soft snort and looked up at him: "Your Majesty, why aren't you smiling? Aren't you happy that we're having a baby?"
Xiao Qi'an said, "Of course not."
Yun Kui guessed, "Could it be that you feel you can't continue doing this, and that's why you're unhappy?"
Xiao Qi'an covered her lips.
Yun Kui immediately lowered her voice: "The baby can't hear this."
Xiao Qi'an sighed softly.
He hadn't actually expected it to happen so quickly.
Although she was annoyed by Xie Huaichuan and Sheng Yu's ability to strike with their first move, and her belly remained still untouched despite her nightly attempts to conceive, it was only a fleeting thought.
He didn't want his marriage to be tied down by the task of producing offspring. They were still young, newlyweds, deeply in love, and had suffered together for so many years. Now that they had finally overcome their hardships, he wanted to let her enjoy a few more years of happiness and take her on incognito trips to see all the beautiful landscapes of the country.
But now that the child has arrived, perhaps it is fate. The continuation of the bloodline gives him enough reason to silence the gossips of the court officials and the restless forces of all sides. For them, entering the next role ahead of time may be another kind of happiness.
He and Yun Kui share a similar background, both lacking parental love from a young age. The arrival of their child is a gift and comfort from heaven, allowing them to learn how to be parents while also making up for their own regrets.
“No, I like it very much,” Xiao Qi’an kissed her forehead, “but you’ll have to suffer in the future.”
The Empress's pregnancy was a matter of paramount importance concerning the stability of the country. After returning to the palace, the Imperial Hospital, the Imperial Household Department, and the Imperial Kitchen were all urgently summoned to ensure the Empress's comfort and well-being in all aspects of her life during her pregnancy.
The Imperial Medical Academy assigned two highly skilled physicians, especially those specializing in women's pregnancy preservation and childbirth, to be specifically responsible for the Empress's various care matters from pregnancy to delivery;
The Imperial Kitchen was responsible for the Empress's daily meals, as well as medicinal meals to regulate her body.
The Imperial Household Department then rearranged the Kunning Palace inside and out, replacing the previous incense with fresh fruits and bouquets, and the bedding with softer and more comfortable brocade.
The needlework bureau also regularly sent clothes and shoes to the Kunning Palace for the newborn prince or princess.
Even the number of guards at Kunning Palace has doubled compared to before.
Empress Huigong was murdered by a villain and died in premature birth. Yun Kui's mother also suffered from illness after childbirth and passed away early. Now that Yun Kui is pregnant, Xiao Qi'an has to be extra cautious.
Aside from a poor appetite, Yun Kui enjoyed her days very comfortably during the early stages of her pregnancy.
Xiao Qi'an would come to keep her company every night. Now that she was pregnant, he had no choice but to live a life of abstinence. Yun Kui, however, remained true to her original intention and liked to tease him at this time. Whenever she saw his deep gaze and tense body, she felt a sense of satisfaction as if she had gotten her revenge.
However, she genuinely likes it herself.
Xiao Qi'an practices swordsmanship every morning. He has broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with not an ounce of excess fat on his body. Yun Kui now finds even the old scars on his body incredibly sexy. She likes to gently bite his Adam's apple and trace the lines of his abdominal muscles. The key is that she can enjoy the delicious male beauty without having to put in any effort herself. Why not?
Several times, he was driven to the point of no return, biting her lips and warning her, "You'll regret this."
She responded righteously: "It is the husband's responsibility to make the pregnant woman comfortable."
She's been outrageous far too often. It'll be at least a year before he comes to take revenge. Is she just going to waste this great opportunity by not touching him at all?
He even sent Huaiqing out of the palace to secretly find a gold shop to repair the gold chain that Xiao Qi'an had previously torn.
It was only then that Huaiqing learned the purpose of the gold chain from the goldsmith. She dared not say it openly, but the shock she felt reached Xiao Qi'an's ears.
Xiao Qi'an, unable to bear it any longer, sent the man to the outer courtyard.
Another Lunar New Year's Eve has arrived in the blink of an eye.
This was Xiao Qi'an's first New Year after ascending the throne. His ministers celebrated, and envoys from all directions came to pay tribute. They presented various rare and exotic animals and fine horses to express their respect and submission to this Great Zhao War God Emperor.
Xiao Qi'an was busy for several days in a row. On several nights when he returned to Kunning Palace, Yun Kui was already asleep.
On the night of the eighth day of the first lunar month, the banquet at Fengtian Hall lasted until late at night. After taking a bath, Xiao Qi'an was already close to four in the morning. Thinking that Yun Kui had already fallen asleep and was afraid of waking her up, he planned to rest at Yangxin Hall. Unexpectedly, the little girl came to find him in the middle of the night.
It was freezing cold. She was holding a hand warmer and huddled in a fluffy wool cloak, her nose still red.
Before she could come over on her own, Xiao Qi'an immediately stepped forward, hugged her tightly, and asked, "What are you doing here so late?"
Yun Kui pursed her lips and said, "I got up in the middle of the night and saw that His Majesty wasn't here. I thought you were still busy, so I came to warm His Majesty's bed. I didn't expect that you didn't plan to come and keep me company."
Xiao Qi'an said, "It's too late, I'm afraid I'll wake you up."
He ordered someone to add red charcoal to the stove and stuff several hot water bottles into the quilt before helping the person into bed.
Yun Kui crawled into his bedding, and when he came up, she clung to him.
Now that she is pregnant, she can no longer sleep on her stomach. She always needs to lean on something when she sleeps on her side, otherwise she will toss and turn and have trouble sleeping. Xiao Qi'an's strong arm is just the right firmness and can also be used as a heater for her, which is more comfortable than any soft pillow.
The moment the girl's sweet and pure aura approached, Xiao Qi'an's body tensed. Her soft cheek gently rested against his, and her warm breath brushed against his neck. Even a saint would not be able to remain completely unresponsive.
He gazed at the top of the tent, pondered for a long time, and then, with a slight thud, asked, "Have you been feeling unwell lately...?"
Yun Kui shook her head and smiled, "The imperial physicians and the palace servants who serve me are practically treating me like a goddess. Even when I sigh, someone will find something to say to cheer me up. My appetite is also much better than before. Don't worry, I'm in good health."
Xiao Qi'an was silent for a moment, then placed his hand on her lower abdomen, where there seemed to be a slight bulge. "The imperial physician said that we cannot have sex for the first three months..."
Yun Kui was slightly taken aback: "Hmm?"
Xiao Qi'an's Adam's apple bobbed. "Today marks exactly three months."
Yun Kui raised her head slightly and met his unfathomable phoenix eyes. Suddenly realizing something, she cautiously took a step back, but before she could take two steps back, the man grabbed the back of her head and then a passionate kiss landed on her.
Hearing the soft moan escaping her throat, the kiss between their lips and teeth gradually slowed down, transforming from an initial fierce and forceful one into a gentle, tender sucking and rubbing. They kissed for a long time, neither of them wanting to let go.
Yun Kui leaned softly against him, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her limbs limp like a puddle of water.
Xiao Qi'an asked her in a hoarse voice, "I want to see the child, is that alright?"
Yun Kui initially thought he was just looking at her belly, but when things progressed further, she realized that his "looking" meant breaking through all physical barriers and bringing the two little princes together.
He was very gentle, constantly soothing her trembling body caused by excessive nervousness, and gently glancing at the baby in her belly.
Yun Kui had never seen him so considerate in this matter before. It was a completely different experience from before. Her heart was pounding as she felt the grinding against her skin and every unspeakable sound from behind the quiet curtains.
He didn't dare to try for too long, afraid of really hurting her, but Yun Kui was already very satisfied. It was like a person who had been a vegetarian for a hundred days eating a bowl of fragrant braised pork rice. When her back ached and her whole body felt uncomfortable, someone gave her a full-body massage. The comfort was indescribable.
For the first three months of spring, whenever he heard her express any thoughts, Xiao Qi'an would try his best to fulfill them. However, he was afraid of disturbing the child, so he made all his movements very quietly. It was as if Yun Kui had returned to their secret base in the upstairs room of the teahouse, where they spent their days sneaking around together.
In February, the two also went to Longzong Temple to pray for blessings and enjoy the flowers.
Yun Kui asked him, "Does Your Majesty want a little prince or a little princess?"
Xiao Qi'an smiled and said, "That's all good."
Yun Kui prayed to the Bodhisattva for a son and a daughter. Her wish was simple: to endure the pain of childbirth and have two little children, one to inherit the family throne and the other to pamper her like the most precious and happy little princess in the world.
She and her husband had suffered enough in this life, and they prayed that their children would never have to endure even the slightest hardship.
By March, her belly had started to show. By April, it had grown even larger, making movement more difficult. However, in order to ensure a smooth delivery, she insisted on taking a walk in the Imperial Garden every day, taking advantage of the fine weather.
In May and June, her belly became even heavier, making it difficult for her to turn over at night. Xiao Qi'an would accompany her every time she got up at night.
Unable to sleep after leaving the latrine, Yun Kui sat on the edge of the bed and suddenly burst into tears.
Xiao Qi'an's heart tightened, and he gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips: "Why are you crying?"
Yun Kui sniffed, her whole being filled with pent-up tension and fear. "I'm a little scared..."
I'm afraid of the excruciating pain of childbirth, afraid of not being able to give birth, and even more afraid of what's described in books—that I'll be in pain for three days and three nights and still not be able to give birth, and in the end, I can only save one of the mother and child.
Xiao Qi'an: "...I'll protect you."
Yun Kui: "That's not what I meant..."
Xiao Qi'an held the person in his arms to comfort him, "It'll be alright. Let's only have this one child, and not any more, okay?"
Yun Kui asked, "What if it's a daughter?"
Xiao Qi'an said, "Then I will pass the throne to my daughter."
Yun Kui stared blankly at him. "Won't the ministers object?"
Xiao Qi'an said, "With me here, there's no point in objecting."
One night in June, Yun Kui woke up in the middle of the night and her belly started to hurt.
Xiao Qi'an noticed her abnormality and immediately summoned the imperial physician and midwife. Kunning Palace was instantly bustling with activity. Sheng Yu, upon receiving the news, also entered the palace overnight.
Xiao Qi'an stayed with her in the delivery room, refusing to leave no matter who tried to persuade her.
Yun Kui was in so much pain that she was covered in cold sweat. Every breath felt like a sharp blade tearing her flesh apart. She tried desperately to push down using the method the midwife had suggested.
Xiao Qi'an held her hand tightly, his heart pounding with anxiety, but he couldn't show it on his face. He calmly encouraged her in her ear, "After you give birth, I'll reward you with ten thousand taels of gold, then I'll take you to the north to see the snow, and to the south to admire the flowers. Whatever style of gold chain you like, I'll wear it for you. Whatever pattern you want, I'll give it to you..."
Yun Kui was both anxious and moved. She used all her strength and finally felt the movement below her. Accompanied by intense pain, her body suddenly felt empty, followed by a loud cry that entered her ears.
The midwife smiled happily and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! It's a little prince!"
Xiao Qi'an got up to check, and Yun Kui heard another midwife's voice: "There's one more! Your Highness, give it your all! Push harder..."
The sudden surprise left Yun Kui a little dazed. After she came to her senses, she took a deep breath, grabbed the handrail and pulled hard. A moment later, another clear cry rang out.
She lay exhausted in bed, but when she heard that the midwife was talking about a little princess, a smile immediately bloomed on her pale face.
The Bodhisattva indeed heard her wish and granted her the happiness of having both a son and a daughter.
The two little babies were born fair and clean, wrapped in swaddling clothes by the midwife. They were pitifully small. Xiao Qi'an had never seen such small and frail children before. Their eyes were still closed, like two fuzzy peaches, and their arms and legs were so thin that people dared not touch them.
He placed the child beside her pillow. Yun Kui looked at the child from left to right and gave a satisfied evaluation: "The son is as handsome as me, and the daughter is as handsome as you."
Xiao Qi'an smiled and said, "Mm."
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