Chapter 174: Previous Life (VI)
As Jiang Shuyi's pregnancy progressed, she could no longer travel back and forth, so Pei Yan went to Zhaoyang Palace to accompany her every day.
Pei Yan knew very early on that this pregnancy might not be smooth.
She vomited when she was a little pregnant, and started to want to eat everything she saw when she was five or six months pregnant. After the imperial physician reminded that mothers should not eat too much, Pei Yan imposed some restrictions. Jiang Shuyi lost weight, but the fetus continued to grow bigger and bigger, much larger than that of an ordinary woman of the same month, making it extremely difficult for her to turn over at night.
As the birth date approached, Pei Yan not only prepared imperial physicians and midwives, but also sought out a few skilled midwives from the public, just in case.
It's a difficult birth.
The fetus is large and in an erratic position.
Listening to Jiang Shuyi's screams in the hall and looking at the basins of blood brought out by the palace servants, it took Pei Yan a long time to react. His hands were shaking slightly.
After an unknown amount of time, Yuzhu came out, knelt on the ground and cried, "The Queen wants to see His Majesty, please come into the palace and accompany the Queen!"
Jinzhu also chased out, seeming to blame Yuzhu for being nosy, and scolded her: "The delivery room is filthy, how can your Majesty, who is worth millions of gold, set foot in it? Go back and take care of the queen!"
As soon as Yuzhu finished speaking, Pei Yan walked into the hall.
Jiang Shuyi was already exhausted. Her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, her eyes were red, and she frowned in pain every time she breathed.
At this moment, Pei Yan really wanted to burn the thing in her stomach into ashes.
The midwives were also busy and sweating, so they could only let Jiang Shuyi take a break and relax.
Pei Yan sat down beside the bed. Jiang Shuyi stretched out her hand tremblingly and he held it.
"I don't want to have any more children..."
Her voice was hoarse and she could only make a slight cry.
Pei Yan said softly: "Okay, I won't have any more children."
Jiang Shuyi looked at her bulging belly and cried even harder. Unlike her previous coquettish manner, she cried with sadness in her voice: "But it's already in my belly..."
Pei Yan raised his sleeve to wipe away the sweat and tears from the corners of her eyes: "Don't be afraid, the imperial physician said that she will be out soon."
Jiang Shuyi was slightly encouraged and tried for a while under the guidance of the midwife, but the baby still did not come out.
She fainted from exhaustion.
The imperial physician and the midwife were at a loss, and the midwives selected from the public were whispering to each other. Pei Yan saw it and asked them what they were talking about.
The midwife didn't dare to say anything again.
Jiang Shuyi's life was in danger, and Pei Yan had no time to play the role of a benevolent king. He ordered Cheng Shouzhong to beat them both to death.
The midwife was so scared that she told the truth. She could correct the fetal position, but it was risky. If she didn't do it, she would get no reward at most. But if she messed it up, the whole family would lose their heads, so she didn't dare to show off.
Pei Yan asked his trusted physician Wang if it was possible.
Doctor Wang’s answer was also very clear. Trying would only bring risks, but not trying would result in two deaths.
The two maids followed orders to correct the fetus's position, and luckily everything went well.
After Jiang Shuyi woke up, she continued to give birth.
It was getting dark.
Pei Yan couldn't panic. He had to comfort Jiang Shuyi. If Jiang Shuyi gave up in despair at this moment, she would have no way out.
Another half hour passed, and Doctor Wang wiped his sweat, knelt down helplessly and reported: "The heir has been in the womb for too long. Your Majesty, I would like to ask, do you want to save the queen or the heir? If you want to save the heir, I will no longer care about the queen."
Before Pei Yan could get angry, Jiang Shuyi was so scared that she grabbed his hand.
Her eyes were full of panic. She used up her last bit of strength and begged in a trembling voice: "No, Your Majesty, please don't abandon me. Your Majesty said that I will always be more important than the heir to the throne. Please don't abandon me..."
Pei Yan suppressed his anger and looked at Doctor Wang coldly: "I just want Concubine Jiang to be safe."
Perhaps this incident aroused Jiang Shuyi's desire to survive, and she began to fight desperately.
Finally, when it was completely dark, the cry of a baby was heard in the hall.
Pei Yan also lost his strength at that moment.
*
He is a prince.
When Pei Yan was young, he read the story of Duke Zheng defeating Duan Yuyan. He felt that Jiang Shuyi had suffered so much, so he must have been resentful and disgusted with this child.
However, Jiang Shuyi loved him very much.
Even though she had a wet nurse, she insisted on breastfeeding and would rather restrict her diet for this.
Obviously she loves sweet and soft cakes, and spicy and delicious dishes, but in order to feed her well, we dare not put too much salt in her diet.
Pei Yan saw it, and his anger disappeared, he just felt calm.
It should be so.
Women like Wu Jiang are a minority. Most are mothers like their father's concubines, who are willing to devote everything to their children.
He couldn't care less and didn't want to care about Jiang Shuyi anymore.
Pei Yan promoted her to the rank of concubine and personally named the prince Yu, doing what an emperor should do for his favorite concubine.
Fang Chu and Doctor Wang, who had been ordered by him to develop spices, succeeded at this time and figured out a scent that could make women infertile and strengthen the body.
Pei Yan gave it to Jiang Shuyi.
This is not what an emperor should do to his favorite concubine, but he wanted to do it, so he did it.
*
When Pei Yu was one month old, Jiang Shuyi's half sister came to the palace to visit him.
Pei Yan knew exactly what they said, so when Jiang Shuyi came to ask for a meeting after Jiang Wanqing left the palace, Pei Yan's request to her was also expected.
"My younger sister will be 15 this year. Your Majesty has met her several times. Do you still remember her?"
Pei Yan looked at the memorial and said gently, "I don't remember."
Looking up and seeing Jiang Shuyi's surprise, he smiled and said, "I am busy with all kinds of affairs, and I really can't remember what every concubine's family and friends look like. You mentioned her. What do you want to do?"
Jiang Shuyi clenched her palms, knelt down beside him, and cautiously tested him: "In a few months, your Majesty will hold the first selection after ascending the throne. I want my sister to participate in the selection as well. Is that okay?"
Pei Yan said calmly: "According to the rules, when she reaches the age, she will be among those to be selected."
Jiang Shuyi pulled his sleeve and shook it, obviously dissatisfied with this answer: "I want my sister to be selected, Your Majesty, I only have this one sister, I don't want her to get married, I just want to be with her..."
Pei Yan closed one memorial and picked up another.
Jiang Shuyi continued to pester him and beg him.
Pei Yan was just wondering, if it were his father, or any previous monarch, whether they would agree to such a request made to the favorite concubine.
The answer is of course yes.
He said gently: "Okay, it's up to you."
Jiang Shuyi was extremely happy and kept saying, "Your Majesty is so kind~"
Pei Yan has discovered that his own character seems to be different from that of ordinary people. For example, if other monarchs were introduced to their sisters by their favorite concubines, they would be happy and would praise the concubines for their magnanimity, but he felt a dark shadow growing in his heart.
Not only that, when Jiang Shuyi, Miao Zhaoyi and others got too close, the same emotion would occasionally surge in his heart.
This is totally wrong.
Pei Yan needs to change and exercise restraint.
His life should go down in history and he should be a benevolent king praised by all generations.
How absurd it is to indulge in private affairs.
*
When Pei Yu was five months old, a newcomer entered the palace.
Jiang Shuyi has been enthusiastically decorating the palace for her sister and selecting servants these days. Pei Yan sees it all and knows that he should be pleased.
Whether it is that the favored concubine has no time to cause trouble anymore, or that the favored concubine can be reunited with her sister, it is a happy thing.
Something to be happy about.
Pei Yan began to focus on the previous dynasty. Wen Huan was the biggest hidden danger left to him by his father, and he wanted to get rid of him.
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