Since Emperor Kangxi has brought it up, Xiuning doesn't need to rush to Kunning Palace to suffer in the cold.
Furthermore, childbirth is never a pleasant experience, especially since it was Hesheli Fangyi's first time giving birth.
With Chunyu's help, Xiuning changed her clothes and sat down at the octagonal table for breakfast.
These dishes were specially prepared by the imperial kitchen to suit Xiu Ning's pregnant tastes. While ensuring that they were delicious and visually appealing, they also cost Xiu Ning a considerable amount of money.
After filling her stomach to her heart's content, Xiu Ning got up, took Chun Yu's hand, and headed towards Kun Ning Palace.
The winter weather was still cold, and even though Xiuning was dressed warmly, she couldn't keep out the cold wind that was blowing into her body.
Furthermore, there were still some snowflakes left on the road ahead that had not been swept away, which made the sedan chair carrying Xiuning move very slowly, about the time it usually takes to brew a cup of tea.
"My lady, we have arrived at Kunning Palace."
The sedan chair landed smoothly, and Chunyu, supporting Xiuning, carefully helped her into the palace gate.
The Kunning Palace was orderly, and although there were many palace servants coming and going, it did not appear chaotic at all.
Carefully avoiding the palace servants who had something in their hands, Xiuning held a handkerchief to her lips and concentrated.
Well, although the courtyard was some distance from the delivery room, her sense of smell was so sensitive that she could still smell the blood in the air.
"Go to the main hall; the Emperor and the others have probably already arrived."
Xiu Ning whispered a few words to Chun Yu, then lowered her head and walked into the main hall step by step.
The atmosphere inside the main hall was noticeably more lively compared to outside.
A group of women sat together, with Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager seated at the head of the table.
"This humble concubine greets the Emperor and the Empress Dowager."
Xiu Ning bowed and greeted them, and after being told that she was exempt from the formalities, she got up and sat down on a chair to the side.
“My sister is a little late,” Consort Nara’s voice came from Xiu Ning’s left.
Xiuning turned her head and smiled slightly, "I was delayed on the way here."
"Oh dear, has something happened to my sister?" Consort Nara blinked, her startled reaction drawing the attention of everyone around her.
"Sister is joking. It's just that the roads are slippery in the snow, so we're being careful," Xiuning glanced at Consort Nara's pregnant belly. "How is Her Majesty the Empress?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Nara looked up at the window and said, "Everything is fine."
Is everything alright?
Judging by the time, the Empress had been in the delivery room for at least an hour, and with no news of any movement, Xiuning really couldn't see what was wrong with her.
Xiuning stopped talking, lowered her eyes to relax, and paid attention to her surroundings.
At the same time, the scene in the side delivery room was somewhat tense.
Hesheli Fangyi's face was contorted with pain, but despite this, her birth canal was still not fully dilated, and the delivery seemed a long way off.
"Granny, what should we do about Her Highness's condition? We can't delay any longer."
Tan Yun tugged at the midwife's sleeve, her eyes constantly watching her master's changing expressions.
Seeing her master's voice growing weaker and weaker, Tan Yun couldn't help but feel panicked.
It's been so long, and we still haven't seen the little prince emerge. Could it be a difficult birth?
Tan Yun was worried, and the midwife in charge of the delivery was also a little anxious. She had clearly fed the Empress a bowl of nourishing soup before, so how could she have lost her strength so quickly?
"Miss Tanyun, quickly cut two slices of ginseng for the Empress to suck on."
"Your Majesty is currently exhausted, and the little prince won't be born anytime soon. Your Majesty is also in danger."
The midwife clapped her hands, almost asking Tanyun to ask the Emperor for permission to prescribe labor-inducing drugs. Fortunately, Li Mama stopped her, saying that she should try ginseng slices first, as prescribing labor-inducing drugs at this time would be detrimental to the health of the Empress and the young prince.
Labor-inducing drugs are not a good thing, so it's best to delay labor as long as possible.
Granny Li was the wet nurse of Consort Hesheli Fangyi, and to a certain extent, she could make decisions about matters in Kunning Palace.
The midwife wasn't insistent on doing anything in particular. Hearing that someone was making the decision, she quickly nodded, "It must be done as soon as possible; Her Highness's condition cannot be delayed."
As the saying goes, delays can lead to problems; some things, if put off, may turn out to be a happy event or a tragedy.
The sliced ginseng was stuffed into Hesheli Fangyi's mouth, and Tanyun stood at the head of the bed, trying her best to cheer her up.
The hoarse cries of agony emanated from the delivery room, clearly audible to everyone sitting in the main hall.
Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but get up and walk around. His brows were furrowed, and he was clearly agitated.
At such times, apart from the Empress Dowager who could speak, no one else dared to offend Kangxi. Especially when Kangxi's gaze swept over them, everyone lowered their heads, trying to escape his sight.
Kangxi: ...
Kangxi stepped away, thinking of going to the delivery room to inquire about the situation. The Empress's childbirth was a matter of great importance to the court, and it wasn't just a few people who were paying attention to the harem.
"Your Majesty, please don't be hasty," the Empress Dowager said, stopping Kangxi who was about to leave. "The fact that there's no movement from the Empress's side is the best news. Be patient and wait; news should arrive soon."
"Your Majesty, your son..."
Kangxi paused, glanced behind him, and then sat back down in his seat.
"No rush. It takes time for a woman to give birth, especially since this is the Empress's first pregnancy," the Empress Dowager said softly, then waved for her maid to go and check on the situation.
The maid left quickly and returned just as fast, speaking a few fluent Mongolian sentences that left some of the concubines bewildered.
Xiuning, on the other hand, had studied Mongolian before and vaguely understood what the other person meant: there was no movement outside the delivery room.
Everyone waited in the main hall until the Empress Dowager arrived, but there was still no news from the delivery room.
Alright, Emperor Kangxi couldn't sit still any longer and simply sent someone to knock on the door and inquire about the situation.
This question, however, led to the discovery that Hesheli Fangyi was experiencing a difficult labor and needed to be given oxytocin immediately.
"What are you all standing there for? If you can't protect the Empress and her child, you don't need to come out either."
Emperor Kangxi angrily waved his sleeve, his whole demeanor becoming extremely irritable.
The Empress Dowager fiddled with the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, offering no words of comfort, merely watching the spectacle with cold indifference.
Inside the delivery room, Granny Li tenderly poured a potent labor-inducing drug into the mouth of the delirious Hesheli Fangyi.
"Your Majesty, this is medicine. It will be good for you and the young prince. Please swallow it quickly."
Hesheli Fangyi could no longer hear what was being said; she only felt a bitter taste of medicine spreading in her mouth. She subconsciously tried to spit it out, but was forced to swallow it instead.
As her strength gradually returned, Hesheli Fangyi belatedly realized what was happening and grabbed the figure beside her tightly, crying, "Child, child..."
"Your Majesty, the young prince is still here. Please hold on, he has already shown his face."
Granny Li held Hesheli Fangyi's wrist, constantly telling her the latest developments.
Hesheli Fangyi gritted her teeth. She felt as if her body was being crushed by a heavy object, her bones shattered and then forced to recombine.
"ah!!!"
Amidst a piercing scream, the sound of a baby crying suddenly came from beneath her, where there had been no movement for quite some time.
In the delivery room, everyone breathed a sigh of relief; finally, the baby was born.
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