End of text. I am truly amazing!
After sleeping for a day and a night, Xiao Yu opened his eyes.
I slept all day, but my lower body feels slightly numb, and my stomach still hurts.
Xiao Yu twitched his nose slightly, smelling the rich aroma of wine in the room. He turned his head and saw Wei Shuang standing by the bed like a chick pecking at rice.
Wei Shuang stood by the bedside, but there was no sound of a baby crying in the palace. "Where is my prince? I had such a difficult time giving birth to him!"
In his haste, Xiao Yu's movement to get up pulled at his lower abdomen, and he groaned as he fell back onto the bed, the dragon bed creaking loudly.
"Your Majesty!" Wei Shuang suddenly looked up, her arms returning to protect Xiao Yu even before she could think of anything.
"Are you trying to crush me to death?" Xiao Yu asked expressionlessly.
"You're awake. I'll go and fetch the imperial physician." Wei Shuang slipped away from Xiao Yu in a flash, leaving Xiao Yu alone on the dragon bed with a bewildered expression.
Is it really necessary?
"...I just had two princes, what's the big deal?" Xiao Yu reprimanded him.
Soon, a lively chorus of footsteps crowded into the bedroom.
The two imperial physicians, also sporting bruises under their eyes and looking just like Wei Shuang, had lost all their vitality. They carefully examined Xiao Yu's pulse to assess his condition.
Congratulations! Your Majesty is in good health. In the next month, as long as you rest and recuperate and eat more, you will recover completely.
After the imperial physician took his leave, two milky scents filled the room. Two palace maids were holding the imperial heir that Xiao Yu had given birth to after a near-death experience.
Xiao Yu looked curiously in the direction of the child.
"I want to see the child."
Wei Shuang carefully helped Xiao Yu up and helped him sit on the dragon bed.
The two little ones, who couldn't even open their eyes yet, were taken by Wei Shuang, one on each side. When Wei Shuang walked over, Xiao Yu couldn't help but hold his breath.
When Xiao Yu saw the two little ones sleeping in Wei Shuang's arms, her breath caught in her throat.
So small.
It's all wrinkled.
These two tiny things are causing me almost unbearable pain.
"Does Your Majesty want a hug?" Wei Shuang asked softly.
Xiao Yu nodded, then shook his head, reluctantly shifting his gaze away from the little cub: "I won't."
Moreover, his stomach hurt a lot, and he couldn't carry the two little ones.
"Don't be afraid, hold them one by one, Your Majesty. I will help you hold them." Wei Shuang saw through Xiao Yu's thoughts at a glance and called over a palace servant to help hold one of the children.
The newborn baby was carefully cradled in Xiao Yu's arms.
The newborn baby was so light it felt like it had no weight, so Xiao Yu boldly bounced it around.
"My belly is so heavy, yet these two little ones are as light as if they haven't eaten enough." Xiao Yu took the other baby, while the older one, whom he had just held, returned to Wei Shuang's arms. The younger one, with his eyes closed, sniffed Xiao Yu's scent and nuzzled against his chest. Xiao Yu suddenly blushed, as if remembering something. "While I was unconscious, did the children eat... eat..." milk...
"Before His Majesty's due date was approaching, Eunuch Feng began looking for wet nurses for the little prince. Now, both wet nurses are in the side hall." Wei Shuang noticed Xiao Yu's embarrassment and changed the subject with a smile.
"...That's good." Xiao Yu's face remained hot; he was extremely uncomfortable from the little one in his arms, feeling very full. He looked up at Wei Shuang, his gaze darting away, "Have you fed him today?"
"Judging by the time, it's time to feed him again." Wei Shuang naturally shifted her gaze away from Xiao Yu's slightly damp chest.
"Since I'm awake, I'll... I'll let these two little brats off this time." Xiao Yu held the little guy who was wriggling around in his arms, his cheeks burning red. He glared fiercely at Wei Shuang, who immediately turned her back and dismissed all the palace servants.
The two little ones feasted on their food, sucking their fingers and then falling into a deep sleep. Both little ones were very quiet, neither crying nor making a fuss.
Xiao Yu's curiosity was satisfied, but he frowned and sighed that the hard work of nursing the dragon fetus should still be left to the wet nurse. Male Kun people don't produce much milk, and those like Xiao Yu who are weak all year round are even less likely to satisfy the two hungry little mouths in the room.
After feeding the little darling, Xiao Yu turned his gaze back to Wei Shuang, staring intently at her chest.
"Will a woman who has conceived a child produce breast milk?" Xiao Yu began to wonder.
Wei Shuang: "..."
here we go again.
"No." Wei Shuang decisively nipped the emperor's curiosity in the bud.
"That's a pity." Xiao Yu turned her gaze to Wei Shuang's lower abdomen.
Wei Shuang held the child in one arm and raised her hand to cover Xiao Yu's eyes, which were wandering around.
"How dare you cover my eyes!" Xiao Yu's reprimanding voice was tinged with amusement.
"I know Your Majesty has suffered greatly, please spare me."
"Considering that Wei Shuang pleaded with me, I will reluctantly consider it."
If it is so difficult for a woman to conceive, how much more difficult would it be for a man to conceive?
If Wei Shuang makes a mistake along the way, wouldn't I become a widower at such a young age?
It's not worth it to lose both the considerate and warm bed for the emperor and the empress who worries about the affairs of state. It's a bad deal, a very bad deal.
——
Xiao Yu rested on his bed for seven days before he was willing to move around a little.
Emperor Xiao Yu did not stand in the court again until the two little princes reached their one-month birthday.
Seeing that Xiao Yu had a rosy complexion and a slightly fuller figure than in winter, the courtiers were relieved.
Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Yu had suffered ten months of torment, and the entire court was filled with anxiety and fear, enduring an exceptionally difficult time, dreading the day when they would hear the bad news that Xiao Yu had passed away and the Empress would be ruling from behind the curtain with her young son.
Although she was still in power and listened from behind the curtain even though she hadn't passed away, there was still a difference.
Fortunately, Xiao Yu has successfully given birth to the imperial heir, and her energy and spirit are even better than before.
Everyone knew that Xiao Yu had given birth to an imperial heir, but no news had come out of the palace, so everyone had to keep quiet. Now that Xiao Yu had opened her mouth, all the officials held their breath.
"As you all can see, the Empress gave birth to two princes for me a month ago." Xiao Yu lied calmly, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally sweeping over Empress Wei Shuang, who was sitting behind the screen.
Staring into Xiao Yu's deep, golden eyes, Wei Shuang's throat went dry. He cleared his throat and said, "Yes, I gave birth to her."
After Xiao Yu resumed the morning court sessions, Wei Shuang, as a member of the inner palace, should not have attended court anymore. However, one of them was a willful young emperor, and the other was a former regent who was willing to enter the inner palace for Xiao Yu. The empress was not allowed to interfere in politics, but the regent concurrently serving as empress had never happened in any dynasty. The court of Liang was not in chaos at present, so it was better to let him be.
Everyone's attention was quickly drawn to the news about the two young princes.
Two! Their emperor truly lives up to his title of Son of Heaven, having two children in one lifetime!
Amidst the whispers below, someone stepped forward.
"Empress Wei is truly remarkable, having given birth to two princes for His Majesty in one fell swoop." Shen Que lowered his eyes and pressed down on the corners of his mouth.
"Indeed impressive." Yes, it made me suffer twice over!
Xiao Yu glared at Wei Shuang, unconsciously rubbing his stomach, which had been empty for a long time. A month had passed, and his belly was still big, like he was three months pregnant, even though he had already given birth.
"Is the Empress's health fully recovered?" Wang Ruofu asked, seeing Xiao Yu rubbing her stomach.
After being frightened by Xiao Yu's feigned illness several times, Wang Ruofu became very concerned about his student's health.
The sickly young emperor, having been tricked into becoming a concubine by the treacherous Wei Shuang, and even bewitched by this villain, personally gave birth to two princes. It was truly remarkable.
"I am well." Xiao Yu saw his teacher's kind face and his heart softened. He accidentally let slip that he was fine. Xiao Yu blinked and calmly made up for it, "The Empress is also very well. She can now attend court with me."
Wang Ruofu's eyes stung, and he raised the tablet in his hand higher.
"Twins are an auspicious sign. Let's add to the joy today. I have decided to appoint the eldest son as the Crown Prince." Xiao Yu withdrew his gaze, rubbed his fists together, and eagerly announced another major piece of news.
I'm really something! I've got an empress and a crown prince all at once. Becoming a carefree retired emperor is just around the corner!
"...Isn't it too early to decide on a crown prince so soon?" someone raised an objection.
"It's too early. My Empress injured her body during childbirth, and I will only have these two heirs from now on. Someone has to be the Crown Prince. We can always change him later." Xiao Yu said with a smile, as if he wouldn't listen to anyone's advice.
"Your Majesty," Wei Shuang spoke first, before the courtiers could offer their congratulations in agreement.
"Does the Empress have any objections?" Xiao Yulong turned his head with a slight displeasure.
"I think it would be better to remove this screen."
Xiao Yu: "..." Is this the time to discuss the screen?
Xiao Yu replied, "...What if I say no?"
"Then I have no choice but to go on strike along with the Crown Prince."
"You threaten me? I won't!"
The matter of the Crown Prince was thus settled. The infant, still in swaddling clothes, was unaware that he had quietly shouldered a heavy burden. The screen on the steps was also unaware that the Emperor and Empress would engage in a long tug-of-war over a single screen.
Therefore, Xiao Yu's return to diligence is truly a blessing for the Great Liang!
—End of main text.
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Author's Note: [Rainbow Praise] Finally, we can move on to the side stories! Thank you all for your support along the way, little angels! There are red comments on this chapter.
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