Chapter 87 It's born!
Inside Zhaoyang Palace, Ruan Huan, who had been demoted to the rank of concubine, smashed objects with red eyes.
"Useless! All of you are useless!"
She vented her anger fiercely.
"That idiot Fangfei! She actually got caught red-handed by the Emperor!"
There was no one else in the hall except her. The remaining palace servants of Zhaoyang Palace kept their distance, fearing that they would be implicated by the hot-tempered Consort Li.
Exhausted from smashing, Consort Li leaned against the cold pillar, panting. A question arose in her mind.
Why would that wretched maid, Shui Xian, know that Zhang Mama had a problem?!
If Fangfei were by her side, that would be wonderful. Fangfei is so smart and resourceful; she would definitely be able to help her think of something.
Consort Li's thoughts were mixed; she couldn't tell whether she resented Fangfei more or hated her more.
The only thing that remained unchanged was his anger towards the narcissus.
Just then, the palace door was gently pushed open a crack, and an unfamiliar palace maid walked in with her head down.
"Get out!"
Consort Li was in a fit of anger and scolded him without even looking at him.
"Who let you in? Get out of here!"
Unlike the others who retreated in fear, the young palace maid stepped forward and lowered her voice to a whisper.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Don't upset yourself. I think things might still turn out for the better."
Consort Li suddenly looked up, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the little palace maid.
"What turning point? I'm currently confined to this Zhaoyang Palace, and I don't even have a single reliable person by my side! What turning point is there?!"
The young palace maid kept her head down, her voice resolute.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Although Your Majesty has been demoted, you are still the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Ruan."
"A temporary setback is nothing. The Emperor's current rage is only because of the dragon child in Consort Jin's womb... Whether it is a blessing or a curse is still unknown."
These words were spoken in an extremely cryptic manner, and Consort Li looked at the unfamiliar palace maid with suspicion.
"Whose person are you? Who gave you the right to say these things to me?"
A young palace maid stepped forward, leaned close to Consort Li's ear, and whispered a name that shocked her immensely.
——
A few days later, inside the Yongle Palace.
The night was deep, and Emperor Zhaoheng, who had been dealing with state affairs for days, was now fast asleep in the arms of Narcissus.
Narcissus rested her head on his arm, but her sleep was not peaceful. The occasional feeling of heaviness in her abdomen made her furrow her brows slightly in her sleep.
Suddenly, she felt a warm liquid gush out from beneath her, instantly soaking the bedding.
She suddenly came to her senses. Her previous life's experience with childbirth made her take a deep breath and forcefully suppress the tension that surged within her.
Narcissus gently nudged the sleeping emperor beside her: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, wake up."
Emperor Zhaoheng slowly awoke, his warm palm gently caressing her shoulder, his deep voice still carrying the hazy feeling of a dream.
"Xian'er... what's wrong?"
Narcissus tried to make her voice sound calm: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for disturbing your peaceful sleep."
"I don't want to wake you, but... I think I'm about to give birth."
Emperor Zhaoheng's sleepiness vanished instantly. He sat up almost immediately, lifted the brocade quilt, and saw that Narcissus's body was indeed soaked.
His heart tightened, and he immediately raised his voice: "Quickly! Consort Jin is about to give birth!"
The entire Yongle Palace was instantly illuminated, as bright as day.
During this period, everyone in Yongle Palace was well-trained, and the palace servants seemed to have been waiting for this moment, and they all began to take action.
Yinzhu was the first to rush in. Seeing Shuixian's condition, she immediately stepped forward to carefully support her, while speaking rapidly to Emperor Zhaoheng.
"Your Majesty, the delivery room has been prepared and is located in the East Warm Pavilion. This servant will assist Her Majesty there immediately!"
Emperor Zhaoheng quickly put on his outer robe and watched as Shuixian was surrounded by people and moved towards the already prepared delivery room, his brows furrowed.
He had never experienced childbirth before, and at that moment, his instinctive urge was to follow her in: "I..."
"emperor!"
Yinzhu quickly stopped him.
"The delivery room is a bloody and filthy place. According to the rules, His Majesty should not enter it, lest he offend him."
"Please wait outside, Your Majesty. We will do everything in our power to protect Her Highness and the Imperial Heir!"
Emperor Zhaoheng stopped in his tracks, looked at Shui Xian's pale but composed profile, suppressed his anxiety, and nodded.
"Very well, I will keep watch outside! Report any developments immediately!"
Shuixian was helped by palace maids and placed on a birthing bed covered with thick, soft cushions.
The newly selected reliable midwives quickly surrounded the palace maids, checked the situation, and methodically directed them to prepare hot water, scissors, and other items.
Emperor Zhaoheng paced anxiously in the outer room. Every time he heard Shui Xian's suppressed cries of pain coming from the delivery room, his heart clenched.
Before long, the Empress entered, supported by her maids. Her face still looked pale and sickly.
Upon seeing Emperor Zhaoheng, she immediately stepped forward to comfort him.
"Your Majesty, please do not worry. I heard that Consort Jin has gone into labor, so I came to see her. Consort Jin is blessed with good fortune and will surely give birth to the imperial heir safely."
Emperor Zhaoheng was somewhat relieved to see the Empress arrive so late at night: "Your Majesty is so kind. But you are in poor health, why did you have to make this trip?"
The Empress gently shook her head and said softly, "Consort Jin has made a great contribution to the royal family by bearing children. As the Empress, it is my duty to do so."
She paused, her tone conveying concern for Emperor Zhaoheng.
"Your Majesty still has the morning court session to attend, and must be tired. Why don't you go and rest for a while? Your Majesty can look after things here."
Emperor Zhaoheng resolutely refused, and said in a deep voice:
"No need! Xian'er is suffering inside, how can I sleep peacefully? I will stay here with her!"
The Empress's eyes flickered slightly.
"Your Majesty's affection for Consort Jin is profound and righteous, which is truly a blessing for Consort Jin... Then I will stay here with Your Majesty."
Soon after, Consort De, Consort Jing, and Consort Wan arrived with their palace servants upon hearing the news.
The large outer room suddenly felt somewhat crowded.
When Consort De entered, her gaze habitually swept around the surroundings. When her eyes fell on the pair of Qilin ornaments bestowed by the Empress on the table, she paused slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Is Consort De here?"
The Empress's voice brought Consort De back to her senses.
"Come and sit down. Consort Jin is inside, and she probably won't be able to give birth for a while."
Consort De snapped back to her senses and nodded slightly, "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
Time passed little by little.
The imperial physicians were already waiting outside. This pregnancy of Shui Xian was of great importance, and everyone from the head of the Imperial Hospital to the apprentices had come.
Emperor Zhaoheng's gaze swept over the imperial physicians, finally landing on Pei Jichuan, who stood at the very end and looked noticeably more haggard than when he served at Yongle Palace.
The head of the Imperial Medical Academy also noticed him at this time. He remembered that this young man had been in charge of Consort Jin's pregnancy care.
"Pei Jichuan."
The chief physician spoke up, "You are most familiar with Consort Jin's condition this time. Quickly compile her pulse diagnosis and previous medication records, and discuss the prescription with Imperial Physician Lu."
The physician Lu he mentioned was none other than Lu Baohua, Pei Jichuan's mentor in the Imperial Medical Academy.
Pei Jichuan respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Excellency."
Just as he was about to turn around to retrieve the record, Lu Baohua stepped forward and bowed to the judge and Emperor Zhaoheng.
"Although Pei Jichuan is my student, he is young and inexperienced. I have personally overseen the medical records and medications for Consort Jin's pregnancy every day and know them by heart!"
"This formula to aid labor and calm the nerves has already been carefully considered by me, and I am certain that Your Majesty will have a smooth delivery!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Pei Jichuan, thinking to himself: How could such a tremendous achievement be stolen by a mere apprentice who came from a lowly eunuch background?
What Pei Jichuan knew, Lu Baohua knew too! This credit should rightfully go to him!
Pei Jichuan stopped in his tracks after being interrupted, his lips moved, but in the end he just lowered his head silently, retreated behind Lu Baohua, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.
He knew that Lu Baohua usually paid no attention to Consort Jin's medical records. He was the one who made detailed records and reports each time, while Lu Baohua just glanced at them.
At this moment, in order to claim credit, he dares to be so shameless!
Emperor Zhaoheng's mind was entirely focused on the delivery room, and he did not notice the undercurrent between the master and disciple. He only said to Lu Baohua, "Then I will trouble Imperial Physician Lu. Please use the best medicine!"
Lu Baohua was overjoyed: "Your Majesty, I obey your decree! I will certainly not fail in your trust!"
After saying that, he immediately turned around to write out the prescription and get the medicine, acting like someone in charge.
The crowd waited from late at night until dawn, and then from dawn until noon.
Emperor Zhaoheng even skipped the morning court session and stayed in the outer room without eating a single grain of rice.
The Empress, Consort De, Consort Jing, and others were also sitting there, all looking tired.
Yinzhu directed the palace servants to serve tea and snacks, arranging everything in an orderly manner. However, her frequent glances towards the delivery room betrayed her inner anxiety.
The cries of pain in the delivery room rose and fell, sending shivers down one's spine.
Emperor Zhaoheng was restless and paced back and forth in the outer room.
The Empress gently comforted her, "Your Majesty, it is normal for a woman's first childbirth to take longer. Consort Jin is blessed with good fortune and will surely be safe and sound."
Finally, around 3:45 PM, a loud cry of a baby rang out in the inner room, relieving the anxiety throughout Yongle Palace!
"It's born! It's born!"
The midwife's joyful voice came from inside, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! It's a beautiful little princess!"
Princess!
The expressions of the people outside instantly changed.
Emperor Zhaoheng was taken aback at first, then a great joy welled up in his heart!
This is his first child!
He rushed to the delivery room door, his voice trembling with excitement: "How is Xian'er? How is the baby?"
The delivery room door opened, and the midwife came out carrying a tightly wrapped swaddled baby, her face beaming with smiles.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Consort Jin has given birth to the eldest princess! Mother and daughter are both safe and sound! Look how spirited the little princess is!"
Emperor Zhaoheng carefully took the soft lump.
The baby in the swaddling clothes had red skin, closed eyes, and slightly moving lips, emitting a soft cry.
He held his daughter in his arms with immense tenderness, his movements slightly awkward yet incredibly gentle, his eyes filled with the excitement of becoming a father for the first time.
"Good, good! I have a daughter!"
He laughed loudly; the usually composed and deep emperor was now beaming with joy, unable to hide his delight.
However, almost simultaneously, a terrified scream suddenly came from the delivery room:
"Something terrible has happened! Consort Jin is bleeding heavily!"
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