Chapter 344: Pomegranate Blossoms Reflecting the Belly, Waiting for the Child
Early summer in Prince Rong's mansion was always filled with the fragrance of locust blossoms. The pomegranate tree in the east courtyard was in full bloom, its scarlet petals falling to the ground like a carpet of finely chopped gemstones. Little Swallow leaned against the waterside beauty, a sour plum in her hand, watching her nurse carry the newly toddler Mianxin as she took her first steps in the corridor.
"Slow down, slow down! Don't fall!" she cried. Her belly was as big as a small watermelon, and she had to hold her waist and move slowly when she stood up. Her soft, light yellow silk nightgown was embroidered with lotus flowers, and the collar was loose, revealing a small piece of her fair neck. This pregnancy was much more tiring than the twins, and the imperial physician said it was because she was a little older.
"Princess, please don't stand all the time." Little Dengzi came over with the pregnancy-maintaining medicine and handed it to her carefully. "The prince specially asked someone to get a new prescription from the Imperial Hospital. He said it will help you relieve your gas."
Little Swallow frowned as she looked at the bowl of dark brown medicine. Her nose twitched: "It's bitter again?"
"It's got candied dates in it," Xiao Zhuozi chimed in, holding a storybook in his hand. "Little Chongzi just learned a new joke from the street. Do you want to hear it?"
The little bug immediately jumped out, patted his chest and said, "Wow, boom! I'm talking about that Monkey King..."
"Stop, stop." Xiaoyanzi smiled and waved her hand. She had just taken a sip of the medicine and frowned at the bitterness. "If you keep talking about Sun Wukong, the little guy in my belly will jump up and down." As soon as she finished speaking, her abdomen really moved slightly. She immediately smiled and pulled Yongqi's hand to press it. "Look, look, he's saying hello to you!"
Yongqi had just returned from official business, his moon-white uniform stained with dust. He immediately squatted down, his ear almost touching her stomach. "You're kicking me," he said, his eyes gleaming as he looked up. He reached out to wipe the medicine stains from the corners of her mouth. "Are you feeling unwell today?"
"I just feel tired." Xiaoyanzi leaned on his shoulder, watching Mianxin stumble into the arms of her nurse, and giggled loudly, "Where's Mianrui? Did he follow the guards to the martial arts arena again?"
"Yeah, he's pestering me to learn archery." Yongqi laughed. "He's only two years old, and he can't even pull the bow, but he insists on showing off. Just like you when you were little."
Xiaoyanzi patted him and said, "I was much more obedient than him when I was little." Even so, her lips curled up. The West Courtyard had been quite peaceful these past few months. After Zhihua was confined, Nanny Li was sold off, and Mian Yi was being taken care of by her wet nurse, so things were relatively peaceful. Emin seemed to have calmed down as well. Yongqi had sent people to investigate several times, but hadn't found any evidence.
"Oh, right," Yongqi suddenly remembered something and took out a small box from his sleeve, "The Emperor sent this to me." When he opened it, he saw a longevity lock made of red gold and kingfisher feathers, with several round pearls inlaid on it.
"Your Majesty is very thoughtful." Xiaoyanzi picked it up and weighed it. "It must be quite heavy, right? I'm afraid it will weigh down my little one's neck."
"It's a token of my appreciation." Yongqi helped her put the longevity lock back into the box. "Ziwei sent some new tea from Jiangnan yesterday, saying it's soothing. I'll have the kitchen make some for you."
As she was speaking, Mian Xin came running over, holding a pomegranate flower in her little hand. She held it in front of Xiaoyanzi and said, "Mom...flower..."
Xiaoyanzi reached out to take it quickly, but Yongqi got there first and picked up his daughter: "Run slowly, don't bump into your mother." Mianxin refused and kicked her legs to find her mother. The red silk ribbon on her pigtails made Yongqi's face itchy.
Xiaoyanzi watched the father and daughter quarreling, and suddenly felt her lower abdomen drop. A thin layer of sweat broke out on her forehead. "Yongqi..." She pressed her stomach, her voice a little tense.
Yongqi stopped immediately, his face darkening: "What's wrong?"
"It seems...it seems like I'm about to give birth." Xiaoyanzi bit her lip, and her other hand tightly grasped the railing that the beauty was leaning on.
This was complete chaos. Little Dengzi was so frightened that he trembled, and the medicine bowl in his hand dropped to the ground with a clang. Little Zhuozi ran out, shouting, "Go get the midwife! Get the doctor!" Little Bug and Little Wart tried to frantically help Little Swallow, but Yongqi stopped them, saying, "Don't move!"
He took a deep breath, carefully picked up Xiaoyanzi, and tried to keep his voice steady: "Don't be afraid, I'm here." His heart tightened when his fingertips touched the cold sweat on her back.
The East Courtyard was suddenly abuzz with activity. The midwife, who had been brought in long ago, heard the noise and rushed to the inner room, medicine box in hand. The imperial physician also arrived quickly, rushing in with his medicine box on his back. The wet nurse held the frightened and crying Mian Xin, trying to comfort her for a long time but to no avail.
Xiaoyanzi was helped to the delivery bed. She clutched Yongqi's hand, her face pale with pain. "Get out..." she gasped, her hair soaked through. "Men can't be here..."
"I'm not going out." Yongqi held her hand tightly, his palms sweaty. "I'll stay with you."
Outside the window, pomegranate blossoms were still rustling, and the sunlight filtered through the window paper, casting mottled shadows on the ground. When Mian Rui was brought back by the guards, he was so frightened by the scene that he dared not say a word, but only stared at his nurse with wide eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, a loud cry suddenly erupted from the delivery room, splitting the tense atmosphere like a thunderclap. The midwife came out holding a red-cheeked little one, beaming: "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness! It's a little prince! With such a loud cry, he's sure to be blessed in the future!"
Yongqi's legs went weak and he nearly fell to the ground. He rushed into the delivery room and saw Xiaoyanzi had fallen asleep from exhaustion, her face as pale as paper. He felt so distressed that he reached out and wiped the tears from her face.
Little Swallow opened her eyes drowsily and asked in a hoarse voice: "Child..."
"I'm here, I'm fine." Yongqi leaned over and kissed her forehead, his voice choked with sobs, "Thank you for your hard work."
Outside the window, the locust blossoms fell and bloomed again, while the pomegranate tree in the east courtyard bore its first ripe fruit. Mianrui clung to the edge of the cradle, curiously observing his brother's wrinkled face; Mianxin, held by her nurse, reached out for her brother's hand. Yongqi sat by the bed, watching the sleeping Xiaoyanzi and the newborn in the cradle, feeling that the turmoil and anxiety of the past few months had vanished in that moment.
Zhihua, who was in the west courtyard, heard the noise from the east courtyard and crushed the jade pendant in her hand. Mian Yi, standing behind her, asked timidly, "Mother, does my brother look good?"
Zhihua didn't turn around, but just stared at the family portrait on the wall, her eyes cold. In the end, she had lost this battle.
The candlelight in the east courtyard stayed lit until dawn.
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