Chapter 63 The Joy of the Crown Prince
Perhaps it was the parents' deep love and expectations that moved the heavens, for in just over an hour, the loud cry of the baby broke the tense atmosphere!
"It's a baby! A little prince!" The midwife's joyful cry rang out.
The Emperor and Empress outside breathed a sigh of relief, their faces beaming with joy. However, before everyone could rejoice, less than a quarter of an hour later—
"Another one...another one! It's a little princess! My God! It's twins! A perfect match!" The midwife's voice, almost cracking with joy, rang out again, filled with unbelievable excitement.
"Twins of opposite sexes?!" The Emperor and Empress outside suddenly stood up, their astonishment quickly turning into overwhelming joy! Twins in the royal family are already rare, but twins of opposite sexes are an auspicious sign that appears only once in a century!
Xiao Jingzhan, however, forgot his joy and rushed in. His entire focus was on Su Jingyu, who was pale and exhausted. His hands trembled as he brushed away her sweat-dampened hair, his voice choked with emotion: "Yu'er... Yu'er, look at me..."
Su Jingyu opened her eyes wearily, gave him a weak smile, and comforted him with her gaze.
The wet nurse immediately brought over the two swaddled babies, which had been washed and wrapped. The firstborn boy was chubby and cried loudly; the second-born girl was pink and quiet, her big, dark eyes looking around curiously.
With red-rimmed eyes, Xiao Jingzhan carefully placed the two children side by side beside Su Jingyu's pillow, his voice incredibly gentle: "My dear, look, they're twins... You've given me another son and daughter..."
Looking at the two little ones beside her, Su Jingyu silently shed tears of joy and contentment. She gently touched their little faces, her gaze finally settling on Xiao Jingzhan's face, which was filled with heartache and lingering fear. With her last breath, she whispered, "Your Highness... I'm alright... don't worry..."
Xiao Jingzhan lowered his head and kissed away the tears from the corners of her eyes with utmost care, as if kissing a lost treasure that had been found again. "Thank you, my darling."
The good news spread like wildfire, instantly reaching both the palace and the court.
The Emperor, standing outside the delivery room, laughed heartily, slapping his thigh in approval. He immediately issued an edict: Consort Su was promoted to Crown Princess, granted the title of Golden Book and Golden Seal! The Crown Prince's second son was named "Chengye," and his eldest daughter "Anning," meaning "receiving the mandate of Heaven, shining brightly; securing the nation, achieving tranquility and far-reaching influence." Rewards poured into the Eastern Palace like a tidal wave, and everyone in the Liuli Pavilion received three years' salary!
The Empress was overjoyed and didn't know what to do. She went in to see her grandchildren, and holding Su Jingyu's hand, she couldn't stop crying: "Good child, you've worked so hard! You are a great contributor to the royal family!"
Xiao Jingzhan left all the congratulatory greetings and social engagements to others, staying by Su Jingyu's bedside every step of the way, personally taking care of her. Feeding her medicine, meals, wiping her body, changing her clothes... he handled everything himself, big or small, without allowing palace servants to get close. He postponed court affairs whenever possible, and when necessary, he moved them to the outer room of the bedchamber, constantly monitoring the activity inside.
When Su Jingyu woke up, she always saw him guarding her bedside, holding her hand, or gazing at her and the children's sleeping faces, with faint dark circles under his phoenix eyes.
"Your Highness, please go and rest. I'm fine now." She gently stroked his face with concern.
Xiao Jingzhan held her hand, pressed it against his cheek, and shook his head: "I'm not tired. Seeing you all puts my mind at ease." He was silent for a moment, his phoenix eyes filled with deep tenderness and lingering fear, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Yu'er, although this time it was twins and you are safe and sound, childbirth is still taxing on the body. Yu'er, Ye'er, Ning'er, we already have three children, that's enough. I... asked the imperial physician, and there is a mild contraceptive medicine that can temporarily help you recover. We... are not in a hurry. We'll discuss this further once you've fully recovered, okay?"
His words were full of concern and consideration, not a forceful command. It wasn't that he didn't want more children with her, but witnessing the hardship of childbirth firsthand filled him with far more fear than joy. He only wanted her to be safe and healthy.
Su Jingyu was taken aback, then realized he was frightened, and her heart softened. She intertwined her fingers with his and said softly, "I know my own body well. With Your Highness's meticulous care and... those treatments, I am already much stronger than the average woman. But I understand Your Highness's heart. I will listen to Your Highness and focus on recuperating first. As for the child... let fate decide, I will not force it. As long as Your Highness, Yu'er, Ye'er, and Ning'er are by my side, I will be content."
Her words were gentle and comforting, showing that she understood his worries, expressed a laissez-faire attitude towards the future, and emphasized her satisfaction with her current children, which eased Xiao Jingzhan's tense nerves.
"Okay, I'll listen to you." Xiao Jingzhan lowered his head, kissed her forehead, and hugged her tighter. "Take care of yourself first. We'll talk about the rest later."
The arrival of the twins brought endless joy to the Crown Prince's palace.
In his spare time between official duties, Xiao Jingzhan's favorite thing to do was to look at his wife and children. He would carefully pick up his daughter, Anning, and the sight of that tiny, soft bundle in his arms would melt his hardened heart. He would also gently touch his son, Chengye's, little fist with his finger, watching the little guy unconsciously grasp his finger, filling him with a strange sense of satisfaction. His eldest son, Yu'er, would often lie by the bedside, curiously watching his younger siblings, babbling and trying to communicate.
The emperor and empress visited their grandchildren almost daily, showering them with gifts. Court officials also submitted memorials to congratulate them, saying that the crown prince's possession of this auspicious dragon and phoenix was a great fortune for the country.
In the stillness of the night, the Liuli Pavilion was filled with a warm and fragrant aroma.
Xiao Jingzhan held Yu'er in his arms and kept looking at her.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to rest?" Su Jingyu opened her eyes, met his focused gaze, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"Look at you." Xiao Jingzhan whispered, his voice particularly mellow and gentle in the night. He reached out, his fingertips lightly touching her cheek, his calloused fingertips gently caressing her delicate skin, from her brow bone to her eyelids, then to the tip of her upturned nose, and finally resting on her pale pink lips.
Su Jingyu felt a little shy under his gaze. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she tried to look away, but he held her firmly in his eyes.
"Yu'er..." he called her, his voice low and husky, filled with unyielding affection. He leaned down, his thin lips gently pressing against her forehead, lingering there for a moment. Then, his lips moved to her brow, the tip of her nose, her cheek... Finally, he stopped at her lips, not going deeper, but gently caressing them, feeling her warmth and her light, sweet scent, as if confirming her safe presence.
The auspicious dragon and phoenix symbolize the joy of the Crown Prince's birth and are also a testament to their unwavering love.
Su Jingyu's eyes glistened with tears: "Your Highness, I am really fine, I'm alright."
Xiao Jingzhan felt a surge of warmth in his heart and pulled her into a tighter embrace, letting her lean against his shoulder. "Sleep well, my darling, I'm here to protect you." He gently patted her back, as if coaxing his most precious treasure.
Su Jingyu found the most comfortable spot in his arms and closed her eyes peacefully. His embrace was her safest haven; with him by her side, she feared nothing. Soon, she drifted off to sleep.
Xiao Jingzhan, however, was wide awake, tracing her features again and again. His gaze lingered on her moist lips, where the traces of his tender kisses remained. He couldn't resist lowering his head again, pecking at those lips very lightly, then again, as if he could never get enough. Only when the person in his arms let out an unconscious moan did he reluctantly stop, smiling softly as he pressed his cheek against her hair, sighing contentedly.
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