Chapter 174 The Grand Finale (Part 2)
The first day of the Lunar New Year.
Qin Ye finally kept his promise and accompanied Yun Si back to the Marquis of Yongyi's residence.
The mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year was strong.
Su Tangyue was waiting at the door early in the morning. When she saw her daughter and son-in-law, her eyes reddened with excitement: "You're finally back."
After what happened in the palace last night, she realized that Yun Si's situation was actually quite difficult.
He was framed and assassinated time and time again!
Fortunately, Qin Ye and A Wu were there to protect her.
"mother."
Yun Si quickly stepped forward, took her mother's hand, and said with a smile, "We just met yesterday, why are you so excited?"
"You brat, how dare you laugh at your mother?"
"No, I wouldn't dare."
Yun Si clung to Su Tangyue's arm and acted coquettishly.
Behind them were Lan Xin, Lu Yu, and A Wu, each carrying large and small bags filled with gifts that Yun Si had carefully prepared for her family.
Yun Shaoyou came out carrying his three-month-old son. The little guy was chubby and fair-skinned. When he saw Yun Si, he grinned with his toothless little mouth and even stretched out his chubby little hands to ask for a hug.
Yun Si's heart melted at the sight.
"Let Auntie hug me."
She carefully took her little nephew and kissed the child's soft cheek.
The little guy giggled and drooled all over her face.
Qin Ye stood aside, watching this heartwarming scene. His gaze fell on Yun Si's belly, and his cold and stern expression softened.
Yun Shaoyou patted his shoulder: "Come on, come with me to the study to play a game of chess. Father has been talking about wanting to have a match with the Crown Prince since early this morning."
At lunchtime, the family sat together.
Yun Si felt a warm glow inside as she looked at the table full of her favorite dishes.
Su Tangyue kept piling food onto her plate, saying, "Eat more, look how thin you are."
"Mom, where have I lost weight?"
Yun Si smiled and touched her noticeably protruding belly and thicker waist, frowning as she said, "You've clearly gained weight."
Seeing this, Gu Nian'an smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, little sister. You'll recover after the baby is born. Look at me, I've been eating the diet you gave me, and I'm much thinner than before, aren't I?"
"really."
The father took a sip of wine and suddenly said, "Your Highness, the Jiang family has fallen. Among the officials that Prime Minister Jiang personally promoted, I'm afraid some of them will still be..."
Qin Ye nodded: "Father-in-law, rest assured, I will not give anyone an opportunity to take advantage of me."
Yun Shaoyou snorted coldly: "Jiang Wanning has repeatedly framed Si'er. If it weren't for my status, I would have..."
"elder brother."
Yun Si interrupted him: "Let's not talk about these things during the New Year."
In the afternoon, Yun Si accompanied Su Tangyue for a walk in the courtyard.
Su Tangyue said softly, "I'm relieved to see that you're doing well."
"mother."
Yun Si took her mother's arm: "Qin Ye treats me very well."
"I can tell."
Su Tangyue patted her hand with a smile: "I've been through this before. A man's eyes can't hide whether he has you in his heart or not."
oh?
Yun Si glanced at Qin Ye not far away.
His eyes... gentle, affectionate, burning, and lustful.
It seems that's the case.
The wet nurse brought over her little nephew, who was waving his tiny hands and babbling in his swaddling clothes.
Yun Si gently touched her nephew's little face, a wave of tenderness washing over her.
In the evening, the family chatted and drank tea in the warm room.
The little nephew was placed on the soft couch, his round eyes wide open as he curiously looked around.
Yun Si sat to the side, gently teasing him.
"Look at this child, how much he likes his aunt."
Su Tangyue smiled and said, "When your child is born, these two little ones will keep each other company."
Yun Si looked at her nephew's innocent smiling face, her heart filled with anticipation.
The two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Before leaving, Su Tangyue secretly slipped Yun Si a good luck charm: "I got this from the temple to bless you with a safe delivery."
Yun Si carefully put it away and bid a reluctant farewell to her family.
...
Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.
The wedding between Qin Mu and Hu Yanyu was set for August 16th.
There are one month and thirteen days left until today.
The Eastern Palace.
With her large pregnant belly, Yun Si helped Hu Yan Yu Er choose headdress and wedding dress.
Compared to six months ago, Hu Yanyu'er now has a face full of happiness.
Moreover, Yun Si secretly took her pulse.
She is more than a month pregnant.
It's a double celebration.
Awu stood behind Yunsi, her gaze falling on the various wedding dresses, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.
Yun Si noticed this with her sharp eyes and sighed inwardly.
After the love potion between A-Wu and Qin Yan was lifted, Qin Yan would always leave the capital to do business in other places, and would not come back for one or two months at a time.
The two of them don't seem to have seen each other again.
However, An Ye, knowing that the love potion between A Wu and Qin Yan had been cured, began to have his mind active again after half a year. He often talked to A Wu and brought her delicious food.
Ah Wu understood his thoughts and had an open and honest conversation with him.
Since then, the night has appeared less frequently.
But the two still meet, just like friends.
"Your Highness, I like this. What do you think?"
Hu Yanyu pointed to a bright red wedding dress in the picture book and said.
Yun Si glanced at it and saw that the hem of the skirt was embroidered with gold thread intertwined branches, and the drooping skirt trailed on the ground, which was both luxurious and festive.
She nodded: "It's really good."
"Then this one will do."
Huyan Yu'er made her decision.
As the group chatted and laughed, Yun Si suddenly felt a wave of discomfort in her abdomen.
Something leaked out from under her.
“A-Wu”.
Yun Si said calmly, "Help me to the delivery room."
The delivery room was prepared well in advance.
The wet nurse and midwife had long been kept in the East Palace to watch over them at all times.
There were also imperial physicians. Although Yun Si herself was a very skilled doctor, in the late stages of her pregnancy, Qin Ye and Emperor Jiaqing both instructed that the imperial physicians come to check her pulse every few days.
It is essential to ensure the health of both her and the baby, as well as a smooth delivery.
"Sister, are you about to give birth?"
A-Wu hurriedly helped her up, both surprised and delighted, yet also somewhat flustered: "How could this happen so suddenly... Where is Lan Xin Lu Yu?"
She looked around and realized that the two people who had been outside the door were nowhere to be seen, and she immediately became anxious.
"Stay calm."
Yun Si patted her hand: "Don't panic, help me to the delivery room first. Yu'er, go and inform the midwife for me."
Hu Yanyu'er, who was standing to the side, was obviously also a little flustered. After Yun Si reminded her, she finally came to her senses and hurriedly ran out.
Awu carefully helped Yunsi to the delivery room next to the bedchamber. The whole way, she was extremely serious and tense, as if she were going to war, with her nerves on edge.
"Don't worry, I'm perfectly healthy and will be able to give birth soon."
Yun Si felt waves of regular uterine contractions in her lower abdomen.
When it hurts, stop and rest, and continue walking when the pain subsides.
"Remember to bring my medicine kit in later. It contains the birthing medication I prepared. Also, when His Highness arrives, remember to stop him and don't let him into the delivery room."
"Oh, okay."
Ah Wu carefully wrote it down.
She entered the delivery room.
The interior was spotless.
Everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared.
Because of the importance attached to it, the entire Crown Prince's Palace was on high alert.
But because we made thorough preparations, things proceeded in a relatively orderly manner.
Upon receiving the news, the three midwives and three wet nurses rushed over. They were experienced and did not panic at all.
"Your Highness, rest assured, the baby is in the correct position, everything will go smoothly."
Yun Si lay down on the bed, and the contractions came in waves.
"Take a deep breath and conserve your energy."
"good."
Yun Si was unaware of this at the moment.
A large patch of auspicious clouds quietly gathered above the East Palace, and purple mist surrounded the delivery room.
This unusual phenomenon attracted the attention of the palace staff.
Qin Ye and Emperor Jiaqing, who were discussing matters with several ministers in the Hall of Diligent Governance, also quickly noticed this scene.
"Your Majesty, Crown Prince, look!" a minister exclaimed, pointing towards the direction of the Eastern Palace.
As everyone looked over, they saw auspicious clouds enveloping the area, with fiery red light and shadows subtly floating amidst the purple aura.
"Auspicious omens descend from the heavens; this must be a sign that the Crown Prince has been born!"
"The Crown Princess is surely carrying a lucky star for the Great Qin!"
The ministers were all amazed by this scene.
Emperor Jiaqing was overjoyed and immediately ordered, "Quickly, prepare the carriage for the Eastern Palace!"
Qin Ye could no longer contain himself and was the first to rush out of the hall.
When he arrived at the delivery room, he heard Yun Si's suppressed cries of pain coming from inside.
“Yun Si”.
Qin Ye was about to push the door open and enter when Emperor Jiaqing stopped him, saying, "The delivery room is a place of bloodshed; men are not allowed to enter."
absurd!
Qin Ye ignored her and still tried to enter, but A Wu blocked his way in time: "Your Highness, my sister specifically instructed that you are not allowed to enter."
Hearing that it was Yun Si's idea, Qin Ye reluctantly stopped.
His clenched fists showed restraint with each painful cry from the delivery room, his court robes soaked with cold sweat.
From the very beginning, Qin Ye decided that regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl, he would only let Yun Si give birth to one child.
At this moment, hearing Yun Si's suppressed and painful cries, his idea became even more firm.
He always knew that childbirth was like a brush with death for a woman.
Hearing those groans of pain with his own ears made him realize even more deeply that this was not just danger, but also a pain as if his bones were cracking...
Qin Ye was the most nervous and anxious person present.
As time passed, perhaps half an hour or an hour, finally, a loud cry of a newborn baby came from the delivery room.
As the sound rang out, the entire Eastern Palace was enveloped in auspicious clouds.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Xiao Yi was kneeling reverently on the ground, facing the direction of Yun Si's delivery room, as if welcoming her true master.
"It's born! It's born!"
"Great news, Your Majesty!"
"Auspicious omens have descended from heaven; our Great Qin will surely prosper!"
The ministers all offered their praise and congratulations.
Qin Ye stared nervously at the door.
Emperor Jiaqing also gripped the armrests of his wheelchair tightly.
The moment the door opened, Qin Ye rushed into the room.
He was so fast that even Ah Wu didn't have time to react before he disappeared from sight.
Emperor Jiaqing quickly stepped forward and said to the midwife who came out, "Quickly bring the child over so I can see him."
Ah Wu stood by the door, glancing into the swaddling clothes.
When she saw the baby's face clearly, she was slightly taken aback.
The midwife respectfully stepped forward and handed the child to Emperor Jiaqing.
The Jiaqing Emperor held the baby in his arms with great affection. Seeing the baby's fair and tender face, and noticing that the baby's eyes were still open, he exclaimed repeatedly, "Good, good!"
The ministers dared not approach, but stood at a distance and watched.
Seeing the little guy's big, dark eyes, seemingly looking around curiously, everyone felt a bit incredulous.
Wasn't it just born?
How come she looks so fresh and cute!
The hearts of a group of old guys were completely melted by this.
Emperor Jiaqing was beaming with joy: "Reward them all! Reward everyone!"
Inside the delivery room.
Lanxin and Lu Yu, along with several palace maids, quickly removed the blood-stained sheets and tidied up the basins and other items.
Yun Si lay on the bed, feeling somewhat exhausted. Lu Yu was wiping her face with a clean handkerchief when Qin Ye walked in from outside.
She was slightly startled and was about to get up to greet him when Qin Ye stopped her, signaling her to keep quiet.
Qin Ye walked over at a steady pace, took the handkerchief from Lu Yu's hand, and wiped the cold sweat from Yun Si's face.
His movements were gentle, and his eyes were full of heartache.
Yun Si had been resting with her eyes closed when she sensed a familiar presence. As soon as she opened her eyes, she met Qin Ye's dark eyes, which were filled with tenderness.
How did you get in?
She smiled slightly at him, reached up to brush a damp strand of hair from her cheek, and said shyly, "I look......"
"It's beautiful."
Qin Ye interrupted her, took her hand, and looked at her with heartache and deep emotion: "Thank you, Yun Si, for being willing to bear children for me. You've worked so hard."
A hot tear fell onto the back of her hand.
Yun Si then noticed that Qin Ye's eyes were very red.
He actually...cried?!
"Close your eyes and rest!"
Qin Ye quickly reached out and covered her eyes. His voice was low and calm, showing no trace of crying. He said, "Get some sleep. I'll stay here with you."
You cried, and you're still embarrassed?
Yun Si curled her lips into a smile, but didn't expose him.
She wasn't actually sleepy, just a little tired.
"Have you seen the child?"
"I... haven't had time yet."
Qin Ye's mind was completely focused on Yun Si, and he didn't remember the child at all. He was a little annoyed and quickly got up and walked outside: "I'll go and bring it in."
Yun Si watched his departing figure and shook her head helplessly.
That was the child she went through so much trouble to give birth to, how could this man be so indifferent!
When Qin Ye left the delivery room, he sensed that the atmosphere had become somewhat strange.
Emperor Jiaqing was still holding the child, with several ministers standing to the side. The midwife and wet nurse seemed tense, completely lacking the ease and joy they had shown at the beginning.
"What's wrong?"
Qin Ye glanced at everyone with a puzzled look.
No one spoke.
He walked up to the Jiaqing Emperor and said, "Father, please give the child to me."
"Um."
Emperor Jiaqing carefully handed the child over, his expression revealing nothing unusual.
But the atmosphere was definitely not right.
Qin Ye glanced at the baby in his arms, and his cold expression immediately softened.
This is his and Yun Si's child!
That's amazing.
She looks like a little pink dumpling, and there's a bright red mark on her forehead...
Qin Ye looked at it carefully and for some reason, he felt that the mark was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't remember when he had seen it before.
unimportant.
He carried the baby back to the delivery room and gently placed the little one in Yun Si's arms.
The little guy was unusually quiet, with dark, round eyes just like Yun Si's, and a fiery red mark on his forehead that flickered on and off, giving him a somewhat eerie look.
When Yun Si saw the mark, a look of novelty flashed in her eyes.
She gently touched it with her hand; it felt smooth, even, and without any flaws.
Such a peculiar mark, I wonder if it has any special meaning.
However, as long as it doesn't affect her health, Yun Si doesn't care.
"By the way, is it a boy or a girl?"
Yun Si looked at it for a while before remembering to ask the question.
The midwife didn't seem to have said anything.
Qin Ye shook his head: "I don't know either, it should be..."
He instinctively wanted to say it was a boy, but then he remembered the strange atmosphere outside and immediately changed his mind: "She's so pretty, she must be a girl."
The tone even carried a hint of excitement.
Qin Ye had said before that he wanted a daughter.
If it really is a daughter, then it would be a blessing for him.
"In that case, we'll have to have another one."
Yun Si smiled and said, "After all, there is a throne to inherit in the family."
"I will not give birth."
As a result, Qin Ye immediately rejected the idea: "Just this one, we won't have any more."
"..."
Yun Si knew he felt sorry for her, but...
Without a son, the old emperor would not agree; if they didn't have a son, trouble might arise.
Qin Ye saw her concerns and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, he only has two choices: either change the crown prince, or he can only accept the fact that I only have this one child in my life."
Yun Si looked at him helplessly.
"Anyway, the fifth prince will be having a child soon. If all else fails, let the fifth prince be the crown prince. That way, I can spend more time with you and the child."
Upon hearing this, Yun Si couldn't help but pour cold water on his enthusiasm: "You're dreaming."
It would be strange if the old emperor agreed.
"Then he has no choice but to compromise."
Qin Ye said indifferently.
Yun Si was once Qin Ye's Achilles' heel, and for Yun Si's safety, Qin Ye could only endure and back down.
But now, Qin Ye has already established a firm foothold in the court.
In the past six months, Qin Ye has been making most of the decisions, and Emperor Jiaqing has rarely interfered.
Moreover, it's not that Qin Ye wants to be the crown prince, but that Emperor Jiaqing needs him to be the crown prince.
He cannot do without Qin Ye, and the Qin Dynasty cannot do without Qin Ye either.
At this time, the Jiaqing Emperor, who was in a "weak" position, no longer spoke with the same authority as before.
The news that the Crown Princess had given birth to a princess quickly spread throughout the court and the country.
That's not the point.
The key point is that it was accompanied by another rumor.
It is said that the crown prince was assassinated and suffered from a chronic illness, rendering him infertile.
This child may be his only child in his life.
This news caused quite a stir throughout the government and the public.
The Jiaqing Emperor was also very upset about this.
The choice he faces is extremely difficult.
King Jing, Qin Mu, was a military genius, but he was not suitable to be the crown prince.
Prince Qin Yan is a business genius, but he is not suitable.
Only Qin Ye.
He has unique insights, is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possesses both intelligence and ability, making him the best candidate for heir apparent.
But he only has one princess, how can the officials and the people of the world accept that?
Emperor Jiaqing locked himself in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and pondered for a full month.
It wasn't until the day Yun Si was a month old that he publicly announced a shocking piece of news that reverberated throughout the country.
The Crown Prince's daughter, Qin Yihuang, was appointed as the Crown Princess.
After the decree to appoint Qin Yihuang as the Crown Princess was issued, even though Qin Yihuang was different from ordinary children, there were still some people in the court who opposed it.
Because the Qin Dynasty had never had such a precedent.
However, just then, the delegation from the Northern Frontier arrived, and when the head of the delegation saw the mark on Qin Yihuang's forehead, he immediately knelt down and shouted.
"Heaven bless the Great Qin! This is the reincarnation of the guardian of destiny!"
According to ancient legends in northern Xinjiang, infants with flame marks on their foreheads are destined guardians of peace.
This coincidence silenced the ministers who had initially opposed the idea.
At the full moon banquet, Emperor Jiaqing held his granddaughter and showed her even greater affection.
Qin Ye stood beside Yun Si and said softly, "It seems we're all stuck here."
"It doesn't matter."
Yun Si looked back at him, her eyes and brows full of smiles: "As long as the three of us are together, it doesn't matter where we are."
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