Tang Baozhu had no idea that while she was struggling to give birth inside, someone outside was after her life. If she had known, she would have taken that person's life first, to let her know that she was not someone to be trifled with.
Tang Baozhu had already made arrangements with Physician Zhang to create signs of a difficult labor, indicating that she would not be able to give birth again, and thus the baby would not be born so quickly.
Fortunately, the babies in my belly are quite lazy and in no hurry to come out. Even when I was pregnant with them, I was lazy, which seems to be influenced by the babies in my belly.
She wasn't in a hurry to give birth, but the emperor waiting outside was getting anxious.
Situ Rui was extremely anxious when he saw that Baozhu hadn't given birth yet after so long. He knew that Baozhu had given birth to her previous two children very quickly, but this time it had been two or three hours and she still hadn't come out. It was getting dark, so he was very worried.
Seeing that the Emperor and Empress Dowager hadn't eaten or drunk anything, and that it was past dinnertime, Eunuch Li cautiously reminded them, "Your Majesty, why don't you and the Empress Dowager eat something first? I imagine the Imperial Concubine should be giving birth soon."
Situ Rui didn't want to eat, since his whole heart was worried about Baozhu. However, when he heard Eunuch Li's reminder and thought that his mother was still there, it was okay if he didn't eat, but it would be inappropriate for his mother to wait there without eating.
"Mother, we don't know when Baozhu will give birth. You are so old, so please go back and rest first. We will send someone to inform you when the baby is born."
The Empress Dowager had been waiting impatiently for a long time, but she couldn't say she was leaving in advance. After all, she had waited for the Consort during her two previous pregnancies. Now that she heard the Emperor telling her to go back and rest, she didn't even bother to refuse and just left.
"I really can't hold on any longer. I'll go back and rest first. After the Consort gives birth, you must send someone to tell me."
"It was your son who did not notice that Your Majesty was not feeling well. Your Majesty, please rest early tonight. I will not send anyone to your place tonight. I will send someone to inform Your Majesty tomorrow morning."
"Alright, Your Majesty, don't wait too long. Go and rest early, as you have to attend the morning court session tomorrow."
The Empress Dowager doesn't care much about the children born to the Consort anymore. After all, back then, having none made them seem precious. Now that there are three princes, having a few more wouldn't make a difference; she doesn't care at all.
Tang Baozhu saw that it was already dark outside and thought that it was about time. Moreover, the pain in her stomach was getting more and more intense, so she knew that she was about to give birth.
Sure enough, the baby in my belly seemed to have its own consciousness. Those precious things weren't wasted, and soon the babies in my belly came out one after another.
"Yuxiang, quickly tell me what I gave birth to?"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! You have given birth to two princes and a princess. The princes are older brothers, and the princess is younger sisters."
"His Majesty's wish has finally come true; he has been hoping for a little princess."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a panicked cry rang out from the midwife who was tidying up: "Something terrible has happened! Her Majesty is hemorrhaging!"
Just as Situ Rui heard the palace servants report that the Imperial Concubine had given birth to triplets and that both mother and children were safe, he was surprised to suddenly hear the sound of the Imperial Concubine bleeding heavily inside.
He was in complete confusion, with all sorts of thoughts flashing through his mind. Suddenly, he realized he couldn't leave the pearl, so he quickly called the imperial physician to come in and treat him.
"Imperial Physician Zhang, I entrust the Imperial Concubine to you. You must ensure her safety. I will not accept any other option."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Physician Zhang wasn't nervous at all, but he still pretended to be very nervous. This was something the two of them had agreed upon; all he had to do was go in and use silver needles to stop the bleeding.
With so many good things in her possession, the Imperial Concubine will recover in no time, so there's nothing to worry about.
Soon, Physician Zhang stopped the bleeding with silver needles, took her pulse, and then went outside to tell the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has damaged her body during this childbirth, and it may be more difficult for her to conceive in the future, but it's not impossible. She will just need a very long period of recuperation."
Physician Zhang didn't make any definitive statements. What if the Imperial Concubine wanted to have another child someday? That would be a slap in his own face. He could just say that she had recovered by then.
When Situ Rui heard that Baozhu was out of danger, he breathed a sigh of relief. He sat down in his chair, feeling his hands trembling and his legs weak. He didn't care that the Consort was infertile, as long as her life was saved.
"It's alright, it doesn't matter if she can't have children. The Imperial Concubine has already given me five sons and one daughter, which is the most offspring among all the emperors of the Great Liang Dynasty. I am already very satisfied."
It seems as if the emperors of the Great Liang Dynasty were cursed, as each generation had an exceptionally difficult time producing offspring. One emperor was even adopted by his brother's family, and he now has six children, setting a new historical record.
When Physician Zhang heard the emperor's words, he nodded. That was indeed true. If it weren't for the Imperial Concubine, this emperor might have had to adopt another son. He didn't know why, but every emperor of the Great Liang Dynasty had so many concubines, yet had the fewest offspring.
"Physician Zhang, please take the pulses of the prince and princess and see how they are feeling."
Physician Zhang pretended to take the pulse, then said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, the two young princes and princesses are in excellent health and there is nothing wrong with them."
Upon hearing this, Situ Rui stood up and laughed heartily, “Little Li, each person in Changchun Palace will be rewarded with five taels of silver, each midwife with ten taels of silver, and each person in the Imperial Palace will be rewarded with an extra dish.”
"Your servant obeys the decree."
Eunuch Li was also happy for his master. Although he was a little disappointed to hear that the Imperial Concubine could not have children, he thought the same as the Emperor: so many princes and princesses were enough, and he had no regrets.
"Your Majesty, the Empress has gone through countless hardships to give birth to two princes and a princess. Would you like to reward her with something?"
"You don't need to tell me. I will choose for myself. Baozhu will definitely be satisfied. Now I need to go back to the Qianqing Palace to choose names for the little prince and the little princess, especially the princess's name. She is the only little princess, so we must choose a very good name for her."
Situ Rui's mood today was like a rollercoaster. Right now, his beloved concubine is fine, and his children are healthy and laughing non-stop. They are nothing like their usual expressionless and cold-faced selves.
"Little Li, remember to go to the Empress Dowager's palace first thing tomorrow morning and tell her the good news. I think the Empress Dowager will be very happy."
"yes."
Eunuch Li wasn't as virtuous as the Emperor thought. He saw through the Empress Dowager's little schemes. It was just that the Emperor's bias was too strong because the Empress Dowager was his mother.
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