Chapter 127 First, let me give birth to a child.
Zhao Deyi understood and immediately ordered the eunuch behind him to find suitable instruments of torture, then asked for instructions.
"Your Majesty, after the punishment, what should be done with this person?"
Jiang Nan listened to Wan Liuha's vile curses and spoke calmly.
"I said I wouldn't kill her, so naturally I won't let her die immediately. After the execution, drag her to the Cold Palace. Whether she lives or dies will depend on her own fate."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
Zhao agreed with satisfaction.
Before long, the eunuch brought over a rather rough and heavy-looking wooden board, the size of which roughly met the requirements.
Jiang Nan glanced at it and, with a hint of dissatisfaction, instructed Zhao Deyi.
"After this matter is settled, go to the Imperial Household Department and find Su Jing. Ask him to prepare some finer, more comfortable wooden boards specifically for the 'One-Zhang-Red' (a type of traditional Chinese wedding dress). If you encounter any fools in the inner palace again, the 'One-Zhang-Red' sounds elegant and is also cheaper to use."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I have noted it down and will certainly take care of it."
Zhao responded with satisfaction and then took the heavy wooden board.
He walked up to Wanliuhashi, who was being held tightly by two strong eunuchs, and gave them instructions in a deep voice.
"Hold on tight!"
Then, he lifted the heavy wooden plank.
As Wanliuhashi saw the horrific instruments of torture approaching him, he let out a final, mournful curse.
"Guarjia clan, you will die a horrible death!"
The heavy wooden planks slammed down with a whooshing sound.
The dull thud and Wanliuha's screams mingled together, echoing in the courtyard.
Jiang Nan sat upright in her chair, watching calmly.
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Just as Wanliuhashi's screams slowly turned into weak groans.
Chunlan, who was standing beside Jiang Nan, suddenly changed her expression and leaned down to whisper.
"Your Majesty, your water has broken, you are about to give birth."
Jiang Nan was engrossed in watching when she heard this and was startled. She subconsciously looked down and saw that her skirt was already wet.
She let out a soft "ah," with a hint of belated surprise.
All the palace servants in Yongshou Palace immediately erupted in chaos.
Even Zhao Deyi, who was carrying out the execution, subconsciously told the eunuchs to stop quietly and looked at the Empress with concern.
Wanliuha's groans ceased. Jiang Nan frowned, raised her voice, and gave the order, her tone remaining calm.
"Zhao Deyi, what are you standing there for? Continue the punishment. The caning cannot stop until I have ordered it to."
Zhao Deyi was stunned by the Empress's actions. Shouldn't she be busy with childbirth at this time?
After reacting, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and signal the executioner to continue.
After giving the instructions for the execution, Jiang Nan slowly turned to Chunlan, who was pale and panicked, and curiously touched her belly.
"Chunlan, am I... going into labor? But I don't feel any pain."
She blinked, looking rather puzzled.
"Isn't childbirth supposed to be excruciatingly painful? Why haven't I shown any signs of labor?"
Chunlan was so anxious that she stomped her feet and spun around on the spot.
"Oh dear, Your Majesty, childbirth is just the beginning when the water breaks. The cervix will take some time to dilate, and the contractions will come slowly. We must hurry back to the palace to prepare; this is a matter of utmost importance!"
"Oh, I see. We need to warm it up first?"
Jiang Nan nodded in realization, her tone relaxed, and then said to Chang Shun.
"Chang Shun, go to the Qianqing Palace and inform the Emperor that I seem to be about to give birth. Keep your tone calm and don't make it sound like the sky is falling."
"Yes, sir!"
Chang Shun responded without delay and turned to run outside in a flash.
With the help of Fang Ruo and Chun Lan on either side, Jiang Nan slowly got up and earnestly asked for advice as she walked towards the bedroom.
"Now that I'm about to give birth, shouldn't I walk around a bit more to loosen up my muscles? Or should I order a bowl of shredded chicken noodles first? I've heard that childbirth is physically demanding, so I need to conserve my energy beforehand so I'll have the strength to deliver later."
As she reached the door, she suddenly turned back and added a sentence to Zhao Deyi in a clear voice.
"Zhao Deyi, you continue to oversee the execution. As I instructed, once the execution reaches the level of 'one zhang red' (a severe punishment), then send the person to the Cold Palace."
Zhao sighed inwardly, thinking that his master was truly a living Yama.
Even at such a crucial moment as childbirth, she remained so calm and composed, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.
He bowed in response.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I understand and will not fail in my duty."
Fangruo and Chunlan, one on each side, carefully helped Jiang Nan walk towards the inner hall.
Chunlan kept trying to comfort her.
"Your Majesty, please calm down and don't panic. You are in good health, everything will surely go smoothly..."
Jiang Nan chuckled upon hearing this, her voice as clear as a silver bell.
"Nonsense, having a child is nothing to worry about. What haven't I seen? Why would I panic?"
She even tilted her head and asked Fangruo, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
"Fangruo, do I look like I'm panicking?"
Fangruo found her mistress's expression both amusing and helpless.
"Your Majesty, please speak less and save your energy. We servants will take care of everything, so please don't worry."
Jiang Nan nodded in satisfaction.
She was genuinely calm and had an unusually comfortable pregnancy, without even experiencing the usual morning sickness or backache.
She had a premonition that her childbirth would be extraordinary.
If it weren't for the pain when she pinched her arm, she would almost suspect that she had acquired some kind of indestructible body.
This special physique bestowed upon me by time travel is quite substantial, even bringing a buy-one-get-one-free surprise.
Sometimes she would suddenly have the idea to make a small cut on her arm to see how quickly the wound would heal.
But in the end, his fear of pain deterred him.
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In the front courtyard, the remaining palace servants of Yanxi Palace looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to them anymore, Nara wisely whispered to Qingzhu.
“Let’s go back to Yanxi Palace. Right now, Consort Jin’s delivery is the most important thing. The Emperor will be coming later, so no one will have time to look after us.”
Qingzhu quickly agreed.
The master and servant rose silently and passed by Wanliuhashi, who was still being tortured and had fallen silent.
Nara paused slightly and glanced at it.
A hint of pleasure flashed across her eyes.
This bloody and mangled end was a sacrifice for her unborn child.
Qingzhu glanced at it with mixed feelings, then quickly lowered her head and helped Nara slowly leave Yongshou Palace.
Zhao Deyi glanced at the last remaining anxious people in Yanxi Palace and raised his voice.
"Alright, you've all benefited from Her Majesty's good fortune. Now go back to Yanxi Palace. From now on, behave yourselves and remember that?"
The crowd felt as if they had been granted a pardon and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Eunuch Zhao. This servant will remember this."
He then hurriedly got up and fled from Yongshou Palace as if running away.
After everyone else had dispersed, Zhao Deyi stared anxiously at Wan Liuhashi's caning punishment.
Soon after, a series of hurried footsteps could be heard at the palace gate.
Turning around, I saw that the emperor was practically running into Yongshou Palace.
Kangxi immediately saw the execution still taking place in the courtyard. His brows furrowed, and his tone was filled with anxiety and dissatisfaction.
"You bastard! What time is it, and you're still carrying out executions? Why aren't you looking after your master?"
Zhao Deyi quickly knelt down to report.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It was the Empress's strict order that he must be flogged before being sent to the Cold Palace. This servant dares not disobey."
When Emperor Kangxi heard that it was Jiang Nan's idea, he waved his hand helplessly.
"This Nan Nan... well, well then, hurry up and clean up properly. Don't startle my little prince. It would be disgraceful to have him covered in blood."
After saying that, he didn't care about anything else and hurriedly rushed to the inner hall.
Liang Jiugong quickly jogged to catch up, calling out to him.
"Your Majesty, please slow down and watch your step."
Zhao Deyi dared not delay and urged the executioner to speed things up.
He looked towards the inner palace, his heart burning with anxiety, wishing he could fly in immediately to protect the Empress.
Seeing that Wanliuha was on the verge of death and that there was enough blood on the ground to cover an area of about ten feet in diameter, he immediately waved his hand.
"Alright, you two drag him to the Cold Palace. There's no need to come back to us again."
After giving his instructions, he jogged towards the inner palace.
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Jiang Nan: When you give birth, you should eat noodles first, chicken noodles, without beef.
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