Chapter 174: Birth "Congratulations, Madam, it's a little prince."...
When Cui Lingyan woke up, she felt weak all over. As soon as she opened her eyes, she heard Birou's joyful voice.
"You are finally awake, my lady. I was so worried about you."
Only when she forced herself to sit up did she realize what had happened.
Shupin was banished to the cold palace, Xiao Ze was imprisoned, and female relatives such as Zheng Suining and Cui Linghui were imprisoned in the clan house. The situation in the palace suddenly changed, and there was a big uproar in the front court and the harem.
After listening to Birou's words, Cui Lingyan was in a trance.
Seeing her expression and her hesitation to speak, Birou advised, "Your Majesty, the most important thing is to take good care of yourself. You don't need to pay attention to those outside. This time, Madam almost killed your Majesty and her unborn child. I think she would be too embarrassed to ask for a sign to come into the palace. Now that your Majesty lives in the East Palace and has His Highness protecting her, no one would dare to let her suffer any injustice."
As they were talking, they heard footsteps outside and the palace door was pushed open. Cui Lingyan looked and saw that the curtain of the inner room was opened soon. Cui Lingyan saw Xiao Bingzhi coming in from outside, wearing a suit with a golden dragon pattern.
Seeing the man in front of her becoming more and more majestic, Cui Lingyan felt that he had lost some weight and looked a little tired, which made her feel distressed.
Without waiting for Cui Lingyan to speak, Xiao Bingzhi stepped forward and held her in his arms.
Birou retreated tactfully, feeling happy that His Highness cared about and cared about the Queen.
"It's okay. It was my fault that I didn't check and let someone almost harm you and the child."
Cui Lingyan felt a pang of fear in her heart, and it was even more bitter when she heard these words. She subconsciously hugged his back tightly.
"Don't blame Your Highness. Who would have thought that someone would borrow..." Cui Lingyan didn't want to mention Qi, nor did she want to ask what the situation would be like at the Ningshou Marquis' Mansion now that she was living in the Eastern Palace.
Xiao Bingzhi knew what she was thinking, sighed softly, and hugged her tighter: "Qi almost harmed you and the child. From now on, as the Crown Princess, you should stay away from the Marquis' Mansion. The royal heir is the most important thing, and with me here, no one else dares to find fault with you."
Cui Lingyan had just nodded when footsteps were heard outside. A palace maid came in to report that the emperor had issued an edict to appoint the Crown Princess, but out of consideration for the Crown Princess's health, she didn't need to kneel to receive it.
This grace is enough to let everyone in the harem know that the emperor values Prince Xiao Bingzhi. In addition, with the current fate of Concubine Shu and the second prince Xiao Ze, the former dynasty and the harem will not have any contempt or objection to Xiao Bingzhi because he grew up in the Weiguo Mansion. Whether the emperor's attitude is out of regret or compensation, it is a good thing for Xiao Bingzhi and Cui Lingyan.
Xiao Bingzhi asked someone to put the imperial edict away and instructed Birou and the others to help Cui Lingyan wash up. When Cui Lingyan came out, the imperial kitchen delivered a light and delicious meal.
After the meal, Cui Lingyan felt a little more energetic, but she was pregnant and easily sleepy. After talking with Xiao Bingzhi for a while, she felt a little sleepy. Xiao Bingzhi accompanied her into the inner room to lie down and rest. Seeing that she was asleep with steady breathing, he went to the study to deal with palace affairs.
The days in the Eastern Palace were peaceful and tranquil. Because of the fates of Concubine Shu and Xiao Ze, and the decree to appoint Cui as the Crown Princess, everyone was more awed by the Eastern Palace. They saw more and more clearly how much the Emperor cared about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince because of the late Empress. I'm afraid that several princes combined could not compare to a finger of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
If the Emperor cared so much about the late Empress, why was he so foolish as to bring a new bride into the palace? All these years have gone by in vain. The late Empress is gone, the Emperor is heartbroken, and the Crown Prince grew up in the Duke of Wei's mansion. Now, Concubine Shu and the Second Prince have met the same fate. What a waste of time!
When Cui Lingyan felt better, she followed etiquette and took a sedan chair to pay her respects to the empress dowager.
The Queen Mother had always liked her very much. Now that she knew that Xiao Bingzhi's true identity was her own grandson, although she felt sorry that her daughter had no children, she was still happier in her heart. So when she saw her granddaughter-in-law Cui Lingyan, she became closer to her.
The Queen Mother and the Second Princess also came to pay their respects to the Queen Mother. The mother and daughter were low-key in the palace and had no intention of taking advantage of Cui Lingyan. Now, seeing the Queen Mother's attitude towards Cui Lingyan, the new Crown Princess, they wanted to get along well with each other so as not to offend her.
Fortunately, although the Queen Mother and the Second Princess were not very close to Xiao Bingzhi in the past, they had never caused trouble or offended him. Now that Xiao Bingzhi has become the crown prince, as long as the two of them visit the Queen Mother's palace more often and try to please her, Xiao Bingzhi will always give her and her daughter some respect, even for the Queen Mother's sake.
Coming out of the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager said to the Second Princess, "The situation in the palace has changed. You should get closer to the Crown Princess. The Crown Prince values her, and the harem will be in Cui's hands from now on."
The Second Princess nodded in agreement: "My daughter knows the importance of things and would never offend anyone. We must get along well with each other."
"The prince didn't grow up in the palace. If he wants to have some affection, he can only rely on Cui."
The Queen nodded, took her daughter's hand and walked forward, whispering as they walked, "I have already made up my mind. When the Crown Prince ascends the throne, I will leave the palace and live in Huang'en Temple to worship Buddha. Because I am so considerate, the Crown Prince will be more lenient with you, his sister."
The second princess opened her mouth to say something, but thinking about her mother's situation in the palace over the years, she did not object.
Xiao Bingzhi's biological mother was the late Empress Dowager. If the Empress Dowager, the successor, didn't know what was good for her, she wouldn't have a good ending. With Xiao Bingzhi's personality, how could he be willing to serve his stepmother? Even if the Empress Dowager was given the prestigious title of Empress Dowager out of filial piety and etiquette, it's unlikely that she would develop any motherly affection.
Rather than being an eyesore in the palace in the future, it would be better to be more open-minded and stay away from the gossips in the capital. This is the queen mother's long-term plan and is also the best for them and their daughter.
When she gets married, she will definitely be in the capital. Going to Huang'en Temple to accompany her mother will be a different kind of comfort.
As the days passed, Cui Lingyan's body was completely recovered under the care of the palace physician. One day, Princess Chun'an came to the palace to talk to her, and when she was about to say goodbye, Cui Lingyan wanted to get up and see her off in person, but she suddenly felt a pain in her lower body, and her face turned pale immediately.
There was already a midwife in the Eastern Palace. Knowing that Cui Lingyan was about to give birth, she stayed in the palace every day. Seeing Cui Lingyan like this, she knew that she was in labor.
"The queen is about to give birth."
Princess Chun'an quickly sent someone to report to Xiao Bingzhi. The atmosphere in the palace was tense but orderly. The midwife and the nanny helped Cui Lingyan into the delivery room and lay down. Birou took the palace maids to prepare hot water, scissors and other items.
When Xiao Bingzhi learned that Cui Lingyan had launched the rebellion, he was talking to the emperor in the Qinzheng Hall. Upon hearing the news, he immediately got up and rushed to the Eastern Palace.
His behavior was a bit rude, but the emperor didn't mind at all. Instead, he found some fatherly feeling from this casualness.
After all, when Xiao Bingzhi was the prince of Weiguo, he was close to him every time he entered the palace, but he was more respectful to him.
Now, if it weren't for the fact that the late queen had some resentment towards him, and if he behaved so respectfully and closely like a son without any estrangement, people would think that he had been plotting for the throne for years.
When Xiao Bingzhi arrived at the Eastern Palace, he was stopped outside the delivery room by Princess Chun'an.
"There are midwives inside, and you can't help, so you'd better wait outside."
"The Cui family is blessed with great fortune. They will surely give birth to a royal heir safely and stay by your side."
Xiao Bingzhi was anxious, but he didn't think of going in. With his current status, if he rushed into the delivery room, it would not be a problem for him, but the emperor would definitely be dissatisfied with Yan'er, the Crown Princess. Although his eldest sister didn't say this, he knew it in his heart.
In the house
Cui Lingyan lay on the bed, her forehead covered with sweat due to the pain. The waves of pain made her clutch the mattress tightly. She could only listen to the midwife's words and adjust her breathing to conserve her strength.
After an unknown amount of time, Cui Lingyan felt almost exhausted and about to pass out when she felt a sharp pain in her lower body. The pain subsided, and Cui Lingyan's whole body was completely exhausted. Then, she heard the loud cry of a baby echoing in the hall, and the midwife's voice full of joy: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a little prince."
As the midwife spoke, she wrapped the little prince in swaddling clothes and handed him to Cui Lingyan.
Cui Lingyan was exhausted. She looked at the wrinkled baby and a smile appeared in her eyes. Then she fell asleep without any more strength.
After the midwife settled everything inside, she carried the little prince outside to announce the good news.
Soon, everyone in and outside the palace knew that Crown Princess Cui had given birth to a boy.
Some people were envious and some were jealous, but there was nothing they could do. After all, once the child was born, Cui's position as the Crown Princess became more secure.
In a dilapidated and desolate side hall of the Imperial Clan Court, Cui Linghui stood there motionless for a long time after hearing what the eunuch had said. After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly glared at the eunuch who had delivered the message, stood up and rushed over, saying frantically, "Nonsense! Who the hell is Cui Lingyan? She's just a despised woman from the Qi family. How could she be the Crown Princess? I'm the one who should be the Crown Princess, the one who gives birth to His Highness a son!"
After repeating this several times, Cui Linghui covered her bulging belly and rushed out regardless, shouting, "Your Highness, Your Highness! I am your wife!"
Her hair was disheveled and her speech was incoherent. As soon as she ran out of the hall, she fell on the steps and blood immediately appeared under her body.
Cui Linghui's eyes were filled with panic as she shouted, "I'm pregnant with Your Highness's child! Quick, call the imperial physician! Your Highness, Your Highness, please save me!"
The young eunuchs' voices reached his ears: "This Cui is crazy! What bad luck! If these reckless words get through to the palace, they will surely anger the Crown Prince. Why don't you shut her up quickly? How dare she say such nonsense!"
"She's regretting what she's ended up like this. She's dreaming. Where in the world is there medicine for regret?"
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