Wei Yuan nodded and took out a silver needle. "I will administer acupuncture to the Empress in a moment. You use the 'Thirty-Six Palaces' technique to massage her abdomen, clockwise, ten times. Do you understand?"
Shen Yue nodded. "I understand!"
"Esteemed Minister Wei, you must protect Yun'er."
Ji Hong was filled with worry but could offer no assistance. He could only tightly grip Zou Yun'er's hand and tell Wei Yuan to protect the mother if necessary.
"This subject will do his utmost to ensure the Empress and her child are safe."
The situation was not yet dire, far from the point of having to choose between mother and child. Wei Yuan inserted the needles. Shen Yue pulled back the blanket covering the Empress, removed her outer robe, and used the 'Thirty-Six Palaces' massage technique to assist Wei Yuan in correcting the baby's position.
Sweat beaded on Wei Yuan's forehead. Just as Zou Yun'er was about to let out an unbearable scream, he finally adjusted the baby's position. The midwife took over. Wei Yuan discreetly retreated behind the screen and wrote a prescription, handing it to Shen Yue. "Go and brew the medicine. Reduce five bowls of water to one."
"Alright!"
Shen Yue took the prescription and went to fetch and brew the medicine.
Time ticked by. Zou Yun'er was carrying twins, making childbirth inherently more difficult and dangerous than for ordinary mothers. Lights had been lit in the sleeping chambers at some point. The lamplight cast shadows of people and objects onto the wall, the flickering shadows creating a vexing atmosphere that could incite anger. Zou Yun'er was exhausted, her entire body drenched as if she had just been pulled from water.
"Has the baby not arrived yet?"
Ji Hong's eyes were bloodshot as he questioned the midwife.
The midwife wiped sweat from her brow, a sense of fear rising within her. If the esteemed Consort suffered from difficult labor and hemorrhage today, or if the little prince encountered any mishap, no one present would escape alive. To survive, they had to protect the Consort and the prince within her belly. "This is the Consort's first birth, and it's twins. The baby's head has already entered the pelvic basin; more than half the process is complete. However, the Consort has lost her strength and requires medicinal support."
Hearing this, Ji Hong called out from beyond the screen, "Wei Yuan, where is the medicine?"
Wei Yuan calculated the time and was about to answer when he caught sight of a figure. Shen Yue entered the doorway quickly, carrying the medicine. Seeing this, Wei Yuan also shouted back, "Coming!"
Shen Yue parted the curtain and entered. He gently supported Zou Yun'er's head, cooled the herbal soup, and fed it to her spoonful by spoonful.
Zou Yun'er gradually regained her breath and strength, and her body stopped trembling.
Seeing the Consort recovering some strength, the midwife urged, "Consort, take deep breaths. Yes, exhale and inhale. When exhaling, contract your abdomen and push the baby down. Yes, just like that… Consort, I can see the little prince's head. It will be soon, push!"
"Ah—"
With a piercing scream, Zou Yun'er felt a sudden release, as if a ball had rolled out from beneath her. The infant's lusty cries echoed through the heavens. The midwife held the baby, cut the umbilical cord, and was about to kneel to congratulate His Majesty on the birth of his son, when she remembered there was still another baby within the Consort. She quickly moved aside, allowing another midwife to take over.
Seeing His Majesty's eyes solely on the Consort, she turned to the prepared bathing tub, used warm water to wipe the blood from the little prince, and accepted the swaddling cloth from a palace maid. She skillfully wrapped the infant. As the second cry of the newborn rang out, the palace maids and wet nurses in the sleeping chambers knelt together and congratulated in unison, "Congratulations to His Majesty and the Consort on the joyous occasion of the birth of two princes, bringing fortune to the realm."
Ji Hong gently tucked a strand of sweat-dampened hair behind Zou Yun'er's ear. The servants in the sleeping chamber were all kneeling on the floor. He turned to look at the child held high by the midwife. He tightened his grip on Zou Yun'er's hand. Zou Yun'er turned her head and looked at the man whose eyes were red-rimmed. She raised her hand and touched his face.
"Your Majesty, you are a father."
Ji Hong's throat bobbed a few times as he suppressed the surge of excitement and joy that welled up. The word "father" had been absent from his life for a long time, so long that his own father's face had gradually blurred. And now, he was a father. A peculiar feeling filled his chest; he couldn't quite describe it.
He nodded heavily, repeating Zou Yun'er's words, "Yes, I am a father."
...
The Consort gave birth to the imperial heir, and the nation rejoiced.
The ministers, who had heard no rumors throughout the entire process, suddenly felt a chill run through them. From the time the Consort conceived the imperial son until now, the news had been completely sealed, not a single trace leaking out. The Emperor's revealed methods and character were truly alarming.
However, now that His Majesty had been on the throne for so long and finally had an imperial son, it was a cause for celebration for the court officials.
"Some people are probably unhappy now, aren't they?"
Liu Wanjun, sipping his wine, narrowed his eyes into a smile. The old man was getting livelier as he aged. Liu Lan watched his grandfather, wondering what happy events had transpired lately that his grandfather's smile had been so much more frequent.
Wang Qiancheng also laughed, nodding in agreement. "They might be so angry they'll smash their inkstones!"
Liu Cheng looked at the grandfather and grandson, who were speaking in riddles. The weather was warm and pleasant, and they were cooling off in the garden pavilion. He looked around but couldn't discern any maidservant with rebellious thoughts. Was it necessary to speak so vaguely at home?
"Eat!"
Liu Wanjun picked up a piece of pastry and placed it in Liu Cheng's palm, his face filled with affection for his descendants. Yet, Liu Cheng couldn't shake the feeling that his grandfather had just rolled his eyes at him.
...
Nan Mansion.
Nan Chaoyin sat in his chair, looking at the memorials spread before him.
The Consort gave birth to an imperial son, and a general amnesty was declared.
His Majesty issued four decrees: tax reduction, pardon, rewards, and salary increases.
The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works were drafting the册封 (册封 - investiture) for the Imperial Noble Consort. After Zou Yun'er gave birth to a son and a daughter, she was elevated to the rank of Imperial Noble Consort.
For ordinary official families, the rank of Imperial Noble Consort was akin to an equal wife. Even if an Empress were to later reside in the Eastern Palace, her status would only be slightly higher than that of the Imperial Noble Consort.
Moreover, this Imperial Noble Consort had now given birth to the Emperor's eldest imperial son.
Throughout history, the eldest son of the legitimate wife was usually the heir. Even if the Empress later gave birth to an imperial son, he might not necessarily be enfeoffed as Crown Prince.
Had the Emperor sealed off news of the Consort's pregnancy to guard against Ji Jinmo, or against him?
"Any news from Xilong?"
"None yet!"
"Investigate further!"
"Yes!"
The Emperor's general amnesty naturally included the Shen family.
The Shen family had not been convicted from the beginning. Now, through this event, they were pardoned. In the past, every time the Emperor clashed with the princes, it had ended with the Emperor's concession. Now, the Emperor was determined to protect the Shen family. The list was issued by the Central Secretariat. Within half a day, the Black Armored Army had escorted Shen Chong and others back to their residence, leaving a battalion to guard the Shen mansion.
The times were changing.