The Emperor and Consort Liang shared the sa confusion. He stood up, sat down, then stood up again, pacing to the door and peering inside. "Consort Liang, did you scream when you gave birth to the eldest princess?"
Consort Liang imdiately sprang up from her chair. This was her mont to shine. "Of course I did! How could I not? Has Your Majesty never heard the imperial physicians say that giving birth is like having ten ribs broken all at once? It’s excruciating! Didn’t the Empress scream a lot when she gave birth to the Crown Prince?"
The Emperor's heart tightened. "Then why isn’t she screaming now?"
How would Consort Liang know why the Empress wasn’t screaming? Perhaps Her Majesty had an iron will and could endure the pain?
Concubine Shi forced a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, there’s no need to worry. If anything were amiss, soone would have co out to inform you. With so many experienced midwives and skilled dical attendants assisting, Her Majesty will surely deliver the Seventh Prince safely."
The Emperor, his mind entirely focused on Jiang Xinyue, didn’t fully grasp the deeper aning of her words. He took them at face value and felt slightly reassured. His restless heart cald a little.
Consort Liang rolled her eyes and muttered to Consort Shu, "She’s always got sothing to say, doesn’t she? Acting like she knows everything. All that nonsense was just to imply that if the Empress screams now, it’s because she’s being dramatic, since so many people are already attending to her."
Consort Shu nudged her with an elbow. "She’s looking at you. She probably heard you."
Consort Liang rolled her eyes even harder. "Let her look. I’m not afraid of her. If she has the guts, let her co at . I’ll bite her to death."
"You’re not a dog."
"I’m the Empress’s loyal dog," Consort Liang whispered suddenly into Consort Shu’s ear. "And so are you."
Consort Shu was speechless.
How dare she insult her like that?
She was clearly the Empress’s beloved little undergarnt.
Inside the room—
Jiang Xinyue clenched her teeth, pushing again and again without making a sound.
Having gone through childbirth once before, she knew to conserve her energy.
More importantly, she no longer needed the Emperor’s pity to make him anxious for her.
"Your Majesty, push a little harder. Half of the Seventh Prince’s hair is already out."
"Really? You’re not lying to like last ti, are you?"
Xi Que leaned in, her eyes wide. "Your Majesty, it’s true. If I’m lying this ti, I’ll be a dog. The Seventh Prince’s hair is even thicker than the Crown Prince’s. He’s going to be so handso."
Jiang Xinyue didn’t deny it. Both she and the Xuanwu Emperor were good-looking, so their child was bound to be beautiful.
The pressure below was intense, but compared to her first delivery, it was much easier. She gathered all her strength and pushed hard, feeling sothing slip out of her body.
"It’s out! It’s out!"
"Quick, cut the umbilical cord."
"He’s so clean and adorable."
"Wait, co and look at this!"
The Seventh Prince, now swaddled, was carried out by Xi Que, while Nanny Xiang stayed inside to keep watch.
Jiang Xinyue didn’t trust the midwives or the scheming people in the palace.
That’s why the Crown Prince had Nanny Lü and Shuang Jiang guarding him, and only Xi Que was allowed to carry the newborn. Inside the delivery room, Nanny Xiang kept an eye on things, while Jiang Chuan and Xiao Xiangzi waited outside the screen, ready to carry out Her Majesty’s orders.
Yan the Imperial Physician was in the side room, ready to be summoned if anything went wrong.
Originally, the Emperor had wanted Yan to wait behind the screen, but Jiang Xinyue refused.
It wasn’t that she had anything against dical professionals; she just couldn’t get past the psychological barrier.
Having the midwives check how many centiters her cervix had dilated was already embarrassing enough. Imagining a male obstetrician delivering her baby was simply too much for her to handle.
Even if she tried to think of him as a cabbage, it didn’t help.
She also didn’t believe she was in any real danger. No one dared to harm her now.
After all, the consequences were more than anyone could bear.
Who in the common folk didn’t know that the Empress was ruthless and unyielding?
"Your Majesty! Congratulations, the Empress has given birth to another prince!"
"A prince?"
The Emperor was pleased but not overly excited. He glanced at the Seventh Prince, who was fair-skinned but slightly red, cradled in Xi Que’s arms, but made no move to hold him.
He calmly uttered one word: "Reward!"
The Empress had added another legitimate prince to the royal family, a great blessing for the nation and its people. Naturally, rewards were in order.
Consort Shu and Consort Liang were more excited than he was, crowding around to see the Seventh Prince. "Wow! He’s so adorable. His eyes aren’t even open yet, but his eyelids are so big. Doesn’t he look like a little girl? So pretty!"
"Let see, let see!"
"I think he looks like a little girl too. So beautiful, just like the Empress!"
"Look, look! He opened his eyes and glanced at . Does he agree with what Consort Shu said? Co on, smile for , little one!"
The Emperor glanced over. The tiny bundle had his eyes closed, his face small and delicate, with a pointed chin. He was noticeably fairer than most newborns.
But…
Consort Shu and Consort Liang were exaggerating. How could this little fellow compare to Jiang Xinyue’s beauty?
If he resembled her even a little, it was already a blessing.
"How is Jiang Xinyue? Is she alright?"
Xi Que smiled. "The Seventh Prince is considerate of his mother. Her Majesty delivered quickly this ti and didn’t suffer too much."
Hearing this, the Emperor felt relieved.
When she gave birth to the Crown Prince, her screams had torn at his heart. This ti, the absence of her cries had made him anxious and restless.
He had been terrified that sothing might happen to her.
Thankfully, everything was fine.
"May I go in now?"
Jiang Xinyue had trained her man well. He now knew not to barge into places she hadn’t permitted and even asked for permission.
"Xi Que! Xi Que, co in quickly!"
"What’s wrong? What’s wrong?"
The Emperor was more frantic than Xi Que, craning his neck to shout inside. "Is sothing wrong with Jiang Xinyue? Yan the Imperial Physician! Where is he? Get in there now!"
"Yan the Imperial Physician is here! He’s here!"
The tall, thin old man ran as fast as he could, about to enter, when a furious shout stopped him in his tracks: "Get out!"
"Right away!"
Yan the Imperial Physician, who had just crossed the threshold, imdiately turned on his heel and returned to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, Her Majesty’s voice is strong and full of energy. She’s clearly in excellent condition and doesn’t need ."
Xi Que quickly carried the Seventh Prince back inside.
"Xi Que, how is she? How is Jiang Xinyue?"
"Speak!"
Xi Que’s voice trembled. "Your… Your Majesty, there’s another one in Her Majesty’s womb!"
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