Changning gave birth in quick succession. Although both the Bai family physician and the Zhou imperial physician assured her that Consort Chun was in excellent health, far better than the average woman confined to her home, Yinzhen was still worried and planned to have her complete a full two-month postpartum period.
Changning was speechless. She was already annoyed enough about being in postpartum confinement, and now she couldn't wash her hair or take a shower. Summer was coming soon, and she felt like she was going to spoil.
It's strange, but if this were in Northeast China, Changning felt he could go ten days or half a month without showering, though he might get a bit muddy. But in Beijing, he felt uncomfortable not showering for even a few days.
Seeing her reluctant expression, Yinzhen could only coax her: "Don't worry, just bear with it for these two months. It's cool here in the manor, and there are bamboo trees all around you, so it's very shady in the summer. If you feel unclean, just have them wipe you with a hot towel three times a day."
Changning was nearly driven to madness: "There's still hair!"
"Isn't there dry shampoo powder? Use that. Doesn't Atractylodes macrocephala have a lot of herbal shampoo powder? Use that powder puff."
Changning rolled her eyes at him, as if he wasn't in postpartum confinement.
She thought it, and she said it out loud.
Yinzhen's face froze for a second, then he said helplessly, "Then I'll stay with you during your postpartum period? I won't shower or wash my hair either. Don't worry, I'll eat the same things as you."
Oh no...
Changning thought about the scene. Yinzhen's germaphobia was much worse than her own. If he didn't bathe or wash his hair, he would probably be miserable.
And neither of them washed, it smelled awful!
She was afraid the fumes would affect the child.
So Changning quickly shook her head: "No, no, you'd better not. I can take care of myself during my postpartum period."
This made Yinzhen feel even more sorry for her.
Yao Xian had worked hard to give birth to five sons and one daughter for her, and now she had many children, all thanks to her.
After thinking for a moment, Yinzhen looked around and, seeing that no one was around, said in a low voice, "I'll have Physician Bai prescribe some contraceptive medicine for men."
Changning was very surprised, her mouth almost forming an "O" shape. She really didn't expect that Yinzhen would be willing to go to this extent for her.
To be honest, in ancient times when it was believed that having many children meant many blessings, there were very few men who would let their wives have children slowly, let alone actively suggest contraception.
Moreover, he was not an ordinary commoner; he was a prince, the future emperor.
Changning initially thought he was joking, but Yinzhen's expression was particularly serious: "It's true, Yaoxian, you have already given me many healthy and lively children. It's already quite remarkable that they can all stand on their own. I can't neglect your health. You hold a more important place in my heart than any of my children."
Changning's eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to get emotional: "Ugh! Stop talking! You can't cry during your postpartum period!"
"Alright, alright! I didn't make you cry! Don't shed tears." Yinzhen tenderly wiped away her tears, his eyes filled with an overwhelming love.
Just as the two were deeply in love, the Seventh Prince suddenly burst into tears, shattering the atmosphere.
The wet nurse quickly came in and took the baby away.
Changning quickly composed herself, pulled on Yinzhen's sleeve, and whispered, "You can't touch it for the next two months. You don't need to take any medicine either."
Yinzhen raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, while Changning blushed slightly: "Having a child is a matter of fate, and there's no way to influence it. Besides, you see, Hongmin and Hongchen were conceived when Hongzhao was three years old, and I didn't get pregnant that easily either."
Finally, Changning sighed and said, "Don't worry. As for having children, let's leave it to fate and do what we can. If I'm not in good health, I won't force it."
Yinzhen nodded.
The two talked for a while before Changning finally felt a little sleepy.
With a smile, Yinzhen waited until she fell asleep before leaving, then held his beloved youngest son and coaxed him.
It must be said that although the Seventh Prince had just been born, he was already more handsome than the other children. He didn't look like a little old man at all. He had delicate features, and the more Yinzhen looked at him, the happier he became.
The children were quite happy to learn that they had another younger brother. Although they already had enough brothers, they all hoped for a younger sister.
But the younger brother is good too. He'll have a little follower when he goes horseback riding and hunting in the future. It'll be so cool to take him out, and he'll have someone to cheer him on in a fight. That's what Hongzhao was thinking.
Honghui and Hongyan glanced at their little brother briefly before leaving. They were going to continue their studies in the palace. Before they left, Yinzhen specially called them to his study and told them the story of the brothers Wang Mang and Liu Xiu at the end of the Western Han Dynasty.
The Oath of Tang states: "We seek the most sage, and together we will work with him with one heart and one mind to govern the world."
Without the unity of Liu Xiu and his brothers, and the alliance with Jiang Jun, Wang Chang, and others, the two armies would have merged and become even more powerful, and Wang Mang's elite forces would probably not have been annihilated.
Honghui and Hongyan were both intelligent people, so they naturally understood their father's meaning: to make the brothers work together.
Seeing that his two sons seemed to be deep in thought, Yinzhen didn't say anything more. He simply patted them on the shoulder and escorted them back to the capital.
Yinzhen sent the two princes back to the capital. For the time being, only Changning remained on the estate. She was still recuperating and had entrusted some trivial matters to Hutuli.
This also reflects the learning outcomes of Hutuli over the past few days.
Changning herself is in the postpartum recovery stage, and she has to go through this process every time she gives birth.
It is Bai Zhu's unique massage technique that can help restore a woman's figure to its former slenderness after childbirth, massaging away any excess fat and preventing the skin from becoming loose and affecting her appearance due to the stretching of the baby.
Although the result is wonderful, as evidenced by Changning's still slender figure after having so many children, the process was truly painful.
She even asked people to keep the children far away while giving her massages, otherwise she was afraid of scaring them.
"Ouch! It hurts so much!"
"Master, why don't you bite down on the handkerchief and bear it?" Bai Shu's subordinate was swift and ruthless.
At first, Changning could still make a sound, but after a while, she didn't even have the strength to shout anymore, and could only groan "ouch, ouch".
After enduring the pain for two or three days, Yinzhen returned.
Changning had just been tormented by Bai Shu's "ruthless destruction of flowers" and was particularly eager to see the culprit. Just then, Yinzhen also entered the room, and the two of them looked after their son together.
It has to be said, kids really do change every day.
When he was born a couple of days ago, all I could say was that my little boy was prettier than the average baby. But these past two days, even his features have become more defined.
Her face was chubby and delicate, with a perfectly oval shape. Her eyelids were slightly long, and her eyelashes were slightly curled, giving her the appearance of peach blossom eyes. Her lips were also slightly upturned. She was undeniably cute, but no matter how you looked at her, she seemed to resemble…
Changning looked at it again and again, and finally couldn't help but say, "Why does my youngest son look so much like a girl?"
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