Lu Xi has been investigating the incident of Princess Yun Gui dying of childbirth, and days have passed by. However, apart from dealing with several palace maids and slaves involved in the crime, he has not found any useful clues.
Time quietly flows by, and soon it was the day of Yu Yaoyao's delivery.
The Honghua Hall, the palace of Emperor Jing of the Ming Dynasty, was tranquil and profound.
The night sky is like a vast piece of dark silk, heavily pressing down upon the palace.
The moonlight filtered through the carved window frames, casting a patchy glow on the expansive dragon bed, as if draping it with a silvery veil.
On the dragon bed, a man and a woman were sleeping in each other's arms.
The man had slightly raised his sword-shaped eyebrows, his narrow peach blossom eyes tightly shut, with a hint of seductive allure at the corners of his eyes. Under his high, prominent nose, his thin lips carried a subtle smile.
Even in his sleep, his face exuded a sort of enchanting charm that made women willing to be lost.
The woman's face was utterly beautiful, with fair skin, arched brows, eyelashes fanning under her closed eyes, lips slightly pursed, and her pregnant belly visibly protruding, adding to her gracefulness.
Yu Yao was sleeping soundly when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, followed by the wetness of amniotic fluid breaking.
She slightly opened her eyes, and with difficulty, she gently woke the man sleeping beside her: "Your Majesty, my lady is about to give birth."
Jing Emperor was in a deep sleep, and with her push, he suddenly awoke.
Seeing her pale complexion, drenched in sweat, and her expression drastically changed, he hurriedly got up, threw on his outer robe, and shouted towards the palace gate: "Send someone! Quickly summon the imperial physician and the midwife; Princess Jingzhao is about to give birth!"
The interior of the Honghua Hall was immediately filled with hustle and bustle. Lu Xi rushed in, directing the palace maids and eunuchs to prepare everything.
Huhu and Liuli were helping in a tense yet organized manner.
Xiao Qingzi was busy relaying messages, ensuring that the Empress' delivery would go smoothly without any mishaps.
The imperial physicians and midwives were summoned urgently, and they were in a mess as they carried Yu Yao to the nearby Qionghuang Palace, which had already been prepared as a makeshift delivery room. It was spacious and clean.
It's just a short walk through a corridor, turning a few corners to get there.
Inside the delivery room, the candlelight flickered, creating a tense and solemn atmosphere.
Eight or nine imperial physicians took turns examining Yu Yao's pulse, while the midwives began to check the position of the fetus in an orderly manner.
The palace maids stood carefully by the side, not daring to breathe a single word.
After a busy round of examinations, fortunately, the fetus was in the normal position, and there were no abnormalities.
The people present breathed a sigh of relief.
Yu Yao did not immediately lie down on the bed, but was instead supported by Huhu and Liuli to slowly walk around the delivery room.
Yu Yao was very familiar with giving birth; she hardly needed the midwives to say much, as she knew what to do almost instinctively.
Only when it was almost time, did she allow Huhu and Liuli to help her lie down on the bed.
And she quietly swallowed a painless childbirth pill.
But to avoid arousing suspicion, she still made a show of crying out a few times, causing Emperor Jing outside the palace gate to be on edge with worry.
Then it was time to go in.
"The palace is a filthy place, and it might harm the Dragon Body. Please wait outside for good news, Your Majesty."
Lu Xi was apprehensive in his heart but still dared to step forward and block the way.
"As the Son of Heaven, I don't mind dirt! Move aside!"
Jing Emperor's face turned a dark purple, and he pushed aside Lu Xi blocking his way, striding into the delivery room.
None of the palace maids or eunuchs dared to stop him.
Inside the delivery room, a strong mixture of blood scent and medicinal aroma assailed their nostrils.
Jing Emperor's brows were knitted tightly, but he did not pause his stride, heading straight towards the inner chamber.
The door was not tightly closed, and a faint beam of light seeped out from the crack, accompanied by Yu Yao's intermittent cries of pain. Each one felt like a sharp blade slicing at his heart.
"Yao'er..."
Jing Emperor softly called out, his voice full of heartache and worry.
He was about to enter the inner chamber when he was stopped by an elderly woman who looked like a midwife: "Your Majesty, men are not allowed inside the delivery room. It may offend the fetal spirit."
"I am the Son of Heaven, what fear do I have of ghosts and spirits?" Jing Emperor glared at the midwife, his anger evident in his tone.
The midwife's face turned pale, and she was about to argue when she was pushed aside forcefully, and the Emperor had already entered the inner room.
The night sky was as dark as ink, and within the Fengyi Palace, the candlelight flickered, casting a deep glow on the Queen's face.
"Your Majesty, Princess Jingzhao has gone into labor. She should be at the Qionghua Palace giving birth by now."
Qin Matriarch slightly bowed and whispered.
The Queen smiled softly, and in that smile were hints of coldness and disdain, "Have you arranged everything in order?"
Qin Matriarch bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the midwives by Princess Jingzhao's side were personally selected and arranged by Lu Xi. It was really difficult to bribe them. But I thought of a way; I had one of them killed and replaced with our own people."
The Queen listened and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. But immediately, a fierce look flashed in her eyes, "Very good. I want them both to die, and there must be no mistakes."
Only when that cheap woman is dead, will this harem be her dominion.
Better for her and the bastard in her womb to die together.
"Your Majesty, please be assured, the old servant understands."
Qin Matriarch bow again and answered respectfully.
Then she quickly retreated.
Jing Emperor rushed into the delivery room and saw Yu Yao lying on the bed, drenched in sweat, her face pale, and occasionally emitting cries of pain. His heart ached fiercely.
He quickly approached and held her hand tightly, soothing her in a gentle voice, "Yao'er, I'm here. Don't be afraid."
When Consort Yun gave birth, she also cried out in such a heart-wrenching way, but at that time, he didn't feel anything.
He just felt that the responsibility of the concubines in the harem to bear him children was normal, and that they should endure some pain.
But at this moment, hearing Yu Yao's heart-wrenching cry, his heart felt as if it had been viciously pierced several times by someone else, and the pain was unbearable.
The feeling was completely different; he would have liked to take her pain upon himself.
Yu Yao saw Jing Emperor rush into the delivery room and her expression changed. She quickly weakened and weakly advised, "Your Majesty, the delivery room is full of blood and gas, please go outside."
Jing Emperor did not leave, but held her hand tightly and comfortingly said, "Yao'er, as the Son of Heaven, how can I be afraid of filth? I must stay with you. I will not feel at ease until I see you give birth safely."
Yu Yao did not want Jing Emperor to stay there. Giving birth is the most ugly thing a woman can do, and many men might develop psychological shadows after seeing it.
"Your Majesty, please go out. I am fine. Women giving birth is the ugliest thing to do, and I don't want the Emperor to see that."
Jing Emperor hesitated at her words, then he was caught between laughing and crying.
He gently rubbed her nose with his finger and said, "You, at this time, still care about these things. I won't mind, I will stay here today, nowhere else to go."
Yu Yao was anxious and helpless. Although she had taken the painless childbirth pill, the slight pain was still there.
The contractions came one after another, and she had no heart to argue with the dog emperor anymore.
She bit her lip, sweat beads rolling down her forehead uncontrollably. She stopped talking and closed her eyes, focusing entirely on the delivery process.
Fortunately, her lower body was covered by a wide piece of silk cloth, so even if the dog emperor was here, he couldn't see anything.
Unless he deliberately stood by her feet to look.
She thought that the dog emperor should not be that perverted.
Who would do such a thing as to run to the feet just to watch someone give birth?
Yu Yao didn't know, but the dog emperor is not a normal person. He really is like that.
While wiping the sweat off her and encouraging her, he couldn't help but run to the back to watch her give birth.
She thought that the dog emperor would find it disgusting, but she never knew that he felt nothing but fascination.
Instead, he revealed a very worried expression and muttered, "How painful it must be..."
Yu Yao heard the dog emperor's words, both embarrassed and furious. She never imagined that the dog emperor could be so perverted.
But at this critical moment of the delivery, there was no time for her to think about it much, and she had no mind to argue over these things.
The pain waves came one after another, like waves, and she could only suppress the embarrassment and anger in her heart and focus all her energy on pushing the baby out.
The matron inserted by the Queen had originally planned to find an opportunity to harm Princess Jingzhao and her child.
Seeing that the Emperor stood beside her, the matron felt as though she were being pricked by thorns.
She secretly looked at the Emperor, and his stern face and authoritative eyes made her shiver.
Her legs trembled involuntarily, and all the treacherous means she had planned in her heart were driven away by fear.
Money is important, but life is more important.
Once the Emperor discovers that she harmed Princess Jingzhao and her child, her own death is not important. What she fears most is implicating her whole family.
With the Emperor watching, the matron inserted by the Queen had no choice but to give birth to Yu Yao's child sincerely.
In her heart, she did not give up her intention, thinking of an appropriate opportunity to strike.
The atmosphere inside the delivery room was still tense and heavy. The midwives kept encouraging her: "Your lady, put in more effort, the child is about to be born."
Time passed slowly.
With Yu Yao's loud cry of pain, the child was born.
With the cry of the baby's joyous laughter.
The midwife quickly took the baby, cut the umbilical cord, washed it with warm water, wrapped it in a quilt and respectfully handed it to the Emperor. Smiling, she said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Empress has given birth to a healthy prince!"
Jing Emperor was overjoyed to see the child safely born, his expression brightening as he announced, "Today, I have a son, which is indeed a joyous occasion."
His gaze fell on the baby in the quilt, its little face red and rosy, looking very cute, and its little arms and legs occasionally waved, very lively. It was obvious that it was a healthy child.
This was the son of his beloved woman, and he was so healthy. His heart was naturally overjoyed.
He wanted to hold the baby, but he didn't know how to approach it.
He had never held a child before. Even the son born to Consort Yun, he had never held or even looked at a few times.
The child looked small and weak, he feared that he would become emotionally attached after seeing him too much, and that would make him feel uncomfortable in the future.
So he simply did not look at the child and instructed Concubine Zhen to take good care of him.
Jing Emperor was hesitating how to hold the child when the midwife whispered, "Your Majesty, just hold the back and buttocks of the second prince."
Jing Emperor did as she said, holding the child in his arms with great care, his eyes full of tenderness and love.
At this moment, another midwife laughed and said to Yu Yao, "Your lady, you need to exert more effort. There's still one more in your belly."
She nodded slightly and took a deep breath, preparing to focus again on giving birth.
Jing Emperor held the newly born second prince with great care, and he did not leave the delivery room, remaining there.
He heard that Yu Yao's belly also contained another, and his gaze was directed over there, his expression tense.
In the delivery room, everyone held their breaths and focused their attention on Yu Yao again.
The matron inserted by the Queen, seeing that the first child had been safely born and that the Emperor's vigilance seemed to have relaxed slightly, began to fidget again.
As the first child was successfully born, the second one came out quickly and without much effort.
This time a little princess was born, her cries resounding throughout the room.
The midwives hurriedly picked up the little princess, skillfully cutting the umbilical cord, gently washing her with warm water, and then carefully wrapping her in a small quilt.
Jing Emperor was overjoyed and laughed loudly, "Listen, my daughter's name sounds so clear, she must be healthy."
His expression was very joyful.
He held the little prince in one hand and, with the other, he couldn't help but wipe the sweat from Yu Yao's forehead. Seeing her pale and weak, he was incredibly compassionate: "Yao'er, you've worked so hard. Thank you for giving me such adorable children."
While speaking, he couldn't help but take a glance at the newly born daughter.
Seeing the Emperor's busy appearance, Yu Yao's heart warmed up.
Yu Yao weakly smiled and softly said, "Your Majesty, it is my blessing to give birth to offspring for Your Majesty."
At this time, the midwife was giving Yu Yao postpartum cleaning.
The matron inserted by the Queen saw that the Emperor's attention was focused on the children and Concubine Jingzhao, with no attention to herself. She thought that her opportunity had come.
She had a medicine hidden under her fingernails that could cause excessive postpartum bleeding in the mother.
She took advantage of the opportunity while cleaning, trying to get the medicine out.
Yu Yao was talking to the Emperor when she suddenly smelled a strange drug smell. She was very sensitive to various medicines and could easily smell them.
Her eyes turned cold, and she kicked out with all her might, hitting the midwife in the abdomen. The midwife let out a cry and fell to the ground.
"Your Majesty!"
She didn't forget to alert the Emperor as she caught her breath, "This person is suspicious!"
The Emperor's face changed abruptly, and he immediately gave a cold order, "Send someone to check her!"
The female doctor quickly approached and carefully examined the midwife's body. Eventually, her gaze fell on that pair of seemingly ordinary hands.
She gently peeled back the midwife's thumb, revealing a small amount of powder hidden under the nail.
"Your Majesty, this substance is a poison that causes severe bleeding in people, hidden under the nail. It's hard to detect without careful examination."
The female doctor's tone was serious.
The midwife's face turned white and she cried out in innocence, "Innocent! How could I dare to do such a treacherous act!"
Jing Emperor's eyes were like knives, his anger overflowing.
He dared not imagine what would have happened if Yu Yao had not discovered it in time, perhaps following the footsteps of Consort Yun.
Thinking about it this way, his anger boiled over again. He kicked the midwife hard with his foot, his voice as cold as frost, "You worthless dog! How dare you lie? Who ordered you to harm Consort Jingzhao?"
Yu Yao was taken aback at the mention of "Consort Chen", but she quickly understood and realized that her status had been upgraded.
But she didn't pay much attention to it. Now she is almost exclusively favored, with no distinction in status.
She only focused on the midwife, trying to find out who was plotting to harm her.
The midwife was momentarily stunned, then began knocking her head against the ground with a bang, shouting in innocence: "Your Majesty, I'm innocent! The old servant doesn't know what's going on. I had no intention of harming Consort Chen!"
Jing Emperor's face was as dark as the bottom of a well. He paid no attention to it and was determined to find out who had instigated this midwife.
"Send someone to remove the midwife's jaw, and lock her in the heavenly prison. She will be severely questioned. I want to see who has such audacity to harm Consort Chen under my nose!"
His voice was ice-cold, like a sound from the depths of hell, chilling those who heard it.
The midwife saw that the Emperor was not listening to her explanations and became increasingly anxious, banging her head on the ground and shouting in innocence: "Your Majesty, I'm innocent! The old servant is truly being wronged!"
Jing Emperor showed no sign of being swayed, and said coldly, "Lock her up!"
Luhui hurriedly brought the eunuchs in, grabbing the midwife, and quickly led her out of the delivery room.
From a distance, the sound of the midwife's cries for injustice could still be heard.
