Chapter 84: Childbirth

Chapter 84: Childbirth

With a series of clatters accompanied by the heavy fall of the copper basin, Qing Feng finally subdued Zhao Mammy. Ignoring the bloodstains on himself, he sternly accused, "Audacious maid, how dare you attempt to assassinate the Esteemed Consort Zhao!"

Seeing her plan foiled, Zhao Mammy remained silent, attempting to bite her own tongue. Qing Feng quickly stuffed his hand into her mouth, getting bitten in the process.

In a flash, by the time Doctor Lin reacted, Jiang Hui had already calmly seated herself back in the chair.

She didn't glance at the bound Zhao Mammy on the ground, instead smiling slightly at Doctor Lin, "Doctor Lin, are you alright?"

Trembling, Doctor Lin composed himself, feeling his age, before responding, "Thank you for your concern, Esteemed Consort. I am unharmed."

Jiang Hui nodded slightly, then fell silent.

However, Zhao Mammy's shouts weren't entirely false. Doctor Qiu hadn't emerged yet, indicating Zhao Shuren's childbirth might indeed be troubled.

After all, confined in the abandoned palace with minimal sustenance from the imperial kitchen and aware of the Emperor's intention to keep the child but not the mother, how could she not be despondent?

Approaching the evening, the Emperor and Empress finally returned to the palace with their entourage. Upon hearing of Zhao Shuren's labor, the Empress hurriedly made her way in the Phoenix Carriage.

Upon entering the side hall, the Empress noticed the bound Zhao Mammy and the composed Jiang Hui but only paused briefly, then entered with a smile. After praising Jiang Hui, she inquired, "How is Zhao Shuren?"

Rising to greet her, Doctor Lin respectfully reported, "Your Majesty, Zhao Shuren seems to be having a difficult labor. Doctor Qiu has entered the birthing chamber and has yet to emerge."

"Difficult labor?" The Empress frowned slightly and, after a moment, instructed Chunyan beside her to fetch ginseng before sitting down to inquire about Zhao Mammy.

"What is the matter with this bound person?"

Her gaze swept across everyone, pausing briefly on Qing Feng's indigo robe stained with blood, before settling on Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui also furrowed her brows, a mix of confusion and fear evident in her voice, "I have no idea. Everything was normal until suddenly, this mammy charged at me with the copper basin... It seemed she had gone mad, so we had to restrain her."

Before the Empress could say more, the Emperor's envoy arrived.

The Emperor was ruthlessly indifferent, sending only An Jing with a tray in hand. What lay on the tray was apparent to all present.

The midwives and the medical maidens always had the Emperor's secret orders. If they failed in their mission to eliminate the mother while saving the child, they would have to resort to the item in An Jing's possession.

Upon arrival, An Jing first bowed to the Empress and Jiang Hui before saying, "His Majesty says that Consort Zhao, due to your frail health, should return to Yao Hua Palace to rest."

Hearing this, Jiang Hui offered a faint smile, softly thanking An Jing, "That's thoughtful. Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty."

She then stood up, bowed to the Empress, and, disregarding Zhao Mammy still bound on the floor, gracefully led her attendants out of the Long Men Palace.

Everything that happened here would be known not only to the Empress but naturally to the Emperor as well.

Upon returning to Yao Hua Palace, Doctor Liu was already waiting in the floral hall.

Shan Zha approached to report, "My lady, His Majesty heard you were with Zhao Shuren for most of the day and sent Doctor Liu to check on your health."

Noble Consort Jiang gave a slight nod and entered the hall, sitting down as Physician Liu came forward to take her pulse.

Physician Liu concentrated on her pulse, then quietly said, "The dragon fetus is stable after taking the last prescribed medication for pregnancy. There's no need for additional medication, but Your Highness should continue taking the nourishing pills daily for your slight weakness."

The nourishing pills were originally a secret recipe of Physician Li, shared with Physician Liu for convenience in treating Noble Consort Jiang.

"Thank you for your diligence, Physician Liu," Noble Consort Jiang said with a smile.

Physician Liu bowed again and discreetly excused himself.

Finally having some rest, Noble Consort Jiang went straight to her chamber, changed into nightwear, and lay down on the bed. She instructed Qing Feng, "Wake me for dinner, and if Nian'er comes looking, keep him occupied."

She paused, seemingly recalling something, and added, "Everyone performed well today. Reward them, and include yourself in that."

"Yes," Qing Feng softly replied. She tucked Noble Consort Jiang in, lowered the double-layered curtains on the silver hooks, and quietly left the chamber.

With her eyes closed, Noble Consort Jiang listened to Qing Feng's fading footsteps, the gentle closing of the wooden window, and the soft sound of the pearl and agate curtains...

She intended to review the day's events at Longmen Palace but drifted off to sleep unwittingly.

She slept soundly.

When she woke again and called for Qing Feng, she heard no familiar footsteps.

Surprised, she sat up, saw a dim candlelight outside the curtain, and knew it was later than usual dinner time. She slowly prepared to lift the curtain herself.

Just then, a book half-pushed the curtains apart, revealing the Emperor's handsome face.

"Your Majesty?" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Did Huier just wake up?"

Emperor Xiao Sheng, dressed in indigo casual clothes and holding a half-read book, leaned slightly over the bed, gazing at Noble Consort Jiang more gently than his usual imperial demeanor.

Noticing her drowsy confusion, he gently touched her face and softly said, "I'll call your attendants."

The half-open book then retreated, and the embroidered bat-patterned brocade curtains closed again, obscuring Noble Consort Jiang's view.

Shortly after, Qing Feng and Wan Mang finally entered, rehanging the curtains on the silver hooks and swiftly attending to Noble Consort Jiang's washing and dressing.

Wan Mang knelt to help her slip into her pearl-tipped shoes, while Qing Feng assisted her to the dressing table. As she combed Noble Consort Jiang's hair, she whispered, "Your Majesty arrived around the hour of Shen."

Noble Consort Jiang, looking at her reflection with a frosty complexion in the bronze mirror, murmured in acknowledgment, then asked, "What time is it now?"

"The second quarter of You," replied Qing Feng.

Surprised, Noble Consort Jiang realized she had slept past the usual dinner time, wondering how she could have slept so long.

Qing Feng wouldn't have disobeyed her instructions, so the Emperor must have prevented her from waking Noble Consort Jiang for dinner.

"Has His Majesty had his dinner?" Noble Consort Jiang inquired.

"Not yet," answered Wan Mang, who was presenting jewelry for selection. "His Majesty said he would wait for you to wake up to dine together."

Noble Consort Jiang nodded and chose a jade lily hairpin, then asked about Longmen Palace, "Has Zhao's child been born?"

Qing Feng, having finished styling her hair, gently placed the hairpin and softly said, "Zhao gave birth to the Second Prince not long ago but succumbed to postpartum hemorrhage."