Unparalleled Beauty

Chapter C101

"She's given birth, she's given birth! It's a little imperial grandson!"

The entire room was filled with joyous smiles. Granny Gong personally took the newborn, whose umbilical cord had just been cut, to cleanse and dress him. Meanwhile, under the watchful eyes of Linglong and the others, the midwives and female officials examined Mei Wushuang in turn, attending to her postpartum needs.

The sounds from within the room could be heard outside as well.

At this, Ji Yang could no longer remain seated. He rose and started to go inside, but Fusheng and Fulai quickly stepped forward to stop him.

Fusheng said, "Your Highness, please don't go in yet. Wait a little longer. A woman in labor cannot be exposed to the wind. Yes, a woman giving birth must not be exposed to the wind, lest you bring the wind in with you."

In his anxiety, time seemed to pass exceptionally slowly.

After quite a while, Granny Gong emerged, carrying the swaddled infant.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, it is a little imperial grandson."

Ji Yang didn't even glance at the child before rushing inside. It was Fusheng who stepped forward to manage the situation.

"Go, send a message to the Palace."

***

In the Imperial Palace, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was drawing to a close.

Emperor Taihe stood up, just about to say, "Esteemed officials, let us conclude our gathering for today," when suddenly, a chamberlain came running over.

Chamberlain Feng Xi was about to scold him when the little chamberlain announced, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! A message has arrived from the Prince Wei's mansion. Princess Consort Wei has given birth to a son!"

Emperor Taihe was taken aback, then delighted. "So quickly?"

"The people from Prince Wei's mansion said that Princess Consort Wei had an easy pregnancy, and the child was not large, so the birth was swift. But the little imperial grandson is very healthy, and his cries are quite loud!"

"Good! Good! Good! Princess Consort Wei has rendered meritorious service, a great service indeed! Reward Princess Consort Wei with ten thousand bolts of silk of various colors, five thousand taels of silver, and a pair of jade ruyi scepters. Furthermore, select some lingzhi mushrooms and old ginseng from the Imperial Pharmacy to nourish Princess Consort Wei."

Emperor Taihe not only said "good" three times, but also bestowed so many rewards.

In truth, the value of these rewards was only several tens of thousands of taels of silver, but the key was Emperor Taihe's attitude. When Princess Consort Qin gave birth to Emperor Taihe's eldest grandson, he had not been so delighted, let alone given so many rewards.

For a time, some people's gazes were surprised, others' were obscure, while some looked towards Minister of Public Works, Fang Xu. It should be known that Princess Consort Qin was Fang Xu's legitimate daughter. With His Majesty treating them so differently, how would Lord Fang feel?

Fang Xu hadn't felt anything at first, but after being looked at by these people, his old face couldn't help but darken.

The ministers stood up to congratulate Emperor Taihe, and for a time, congratulations were endless.

***

As expected, giving birth to the child brought much relief.

Though her lower body still ached, Mei Wushuang felt remarkably lighter.

She was truly exhausted, utterly drained, yet her mind remained exceptionally clear, as if she could still hear the rhythmically encouraging cries of the midwife, "Push harder!" echoing in her ears.

Suddenly, she felt a gaze upon her. She opened her eyes and saw him standing by the bed, seemingly wanting to reach out and touch her, yet hesitant to do so.

"Your Highness, the Princess Consort has not yet been cleaned up. Perhaps, you could step out for a while and return after she is settled? Granny Gong said that cleaning the Princess Consort must be done promptly, quickly wiping away the impurities with warm cloths, for once this surge of energy passes, she cannot be cleansed again," Linglong said, holding the warm cloth, with a hint of awkwardness.

Hearing this, and remembering how much she had sweated, her body still sticky, Wushuang hastily urged him, "You go out first, go see the child first, and come back after I've cleaned up."

Ji Yang had no choice but to leave, only then remembering to go and see his son.

A tiny little thing, his skin red all over, his features indistinct, and his eyes tightly shut. Wrapped in a red swaddling cloth, he appeared even smaller.

"So ugly."

Granny Gong chuckled, "The Little Highness is very handsome; it's just that he was just born, so his appearance isn't clear yet. When Your Highness was born, you looked just like this."

Ji Yang suspected she was lying. He looked like this when he was born?

He then saw the small fist tightly clenched, placed beside his face, and he reached out to touch it.

It was truly too small; his one finger was almost the size of the baby's fist.

"How does he already have fingernails?"

The peculiar thing wasn't that the baby had fingernails, but that to Ji Yang, the baby's fingernails seemed a bit long.

"They grow while he's in the mother's womb, so naturally they're long. But they can't be cut yet; they have to wait until he's a month old."

After much dawdling, Wushuang finally finished cleaning up, and the birthing bed was also tidied anew, warm and comfortable. For the next month, Wushuang would spend her confinement month here.

After sitting up to eat a little something, Granny Gong wouldn't let her sit any longer, telling her to lie down and sleep.

Ji Yang should also leave, but he was somewhat reluctant to do so.

"Why can't this Prince sleep here?"

Seeing that 'Prince Wei' had become unruly again, Fusheng hastily waved for everyone to leave, leaving only Wushuang and Ji Yang in the room.

"Didn't I tell you already? A woman needs to discharge lochia after giving birth," Wushuang said, also feeling a mix of shyness and annoyance, and urged him, "Go back to your main room and sleep. I can return once I'm out of confinement."

In truth, the birthing room was set up in the east wing, only a step away from the other side.

Seeing that her spirits were still relatively good, though her face was somewhat pale, and with someone constantly 'lecturing' him in his mind, Ji Yang thought it best not to linger. He touched her face and said, "Then you sleep. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

"Mm."

***

Zichen Hall

Emperor Taihe's spirits were high. Originally, according to custom, after drinking wine, he should have returned to his bedchamber to rest, but he instead returned to Zichen Hall to review memorials.

However, he occasionally fell into a daze while reviewing, indicating that his mind might not have been on the memorials.

"I wonder what the child looks like? Is he the same as when Yang'er was first born?"

Feng Xi's eyes flickered, and he said, "If Your Majesty wishes to see him, in a few days, we can have Prince Wei's consort bring him into the palace for Your Majesty to see?"

"A woman needs to observe the postpartum month after giving birth. Now that the weather is also turning cold, and the child is still small, what if he catches a chill?"

Feng Xi did not know why Emperor Taihe was so cautious about a woman's postpartum month, but he understood the meaning of his words. He quickly changed his tune and said, "Then we'll wait until the full month, when he's a bit bigger, to bring him into the palace so Your Majesty can see what the little imperial grandson looks like."

Emperor Taihe chuckled slightly and continued to review the memorials.

In truth, more than just one or two people were sleepless tonight.

Consort Dowager Hu had just returned to Shoukang Palace when a palace maid informed her that Prince Jin's consort had arrived.

"Why have you come?" Consort Dowager Hu was very displeased, but she concealed even her displeasure beneath her gentle face, tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"Has Your Grace heard that Prince Wei's consort has given birth, and that she bore a son?"

Consort Dowager Hu glanced at her and sat down on a chair. "I have heard. I heard that His Majesty is overjoyed and has bestowed many gifts upon Prince Wei's consort."

A trace of jealousy flashed across Prince Jin's consort's face. "Since Your Grace is aware, why are you still able to sit still?"

"Why would I be unable to sit still?" Consort Dowager Hu raised an eyebrow. "Prince Wei's consort giving birth is a joyous occasion. The royal family has gained a new member, and everyone in the palace should be happy."

Princess Consort Jin gripped her hand tightly. "Could it be that Consort Dowager Hu has forgotten what His Highness entrusted before departing the capital?"

Consort Dowager Hu scrutinized her with earnestness, until Princess Consort Jin grew slightly uncomfortable under her gaze, before finally speaking, "If even the Princess Consort is powerless, what can a dying person like myself accomplish? The Empress Dowager, under the guise of rectifying palace discipline, has been both killing and punishing, and has released a batch of people from the palace. How many were struck down during this time? Even if I had a few people at my disposal, little remains now."

She spoke slowly, "When the heavens wish to rain, and a mother wishes to remarry, these are things that cannot be prevented. Just like Princess Consort Wei giving birth. Instead of wasting energy dwelling on this, Princess Consort Jin should consider how to bear a legitimate son for His Highness Prince Jin."

"You—"

Princess Consort Jin wished to erupt in anger, but she retreated before the depths of Consort Dowager Hu's eyes, which were as still as a dried well, and instead, a sense of guilt arose within her.

Unable to utter words of weakness, she turned her head and departed.

After she left, Consort Dowager Hu finally frowned. "We should not have allowed Yi'er to marry her in the first place."

Tanxiang spoke from the side, "Marquis Wuding is a man of deep cunning, and he also oversees the Five Armies Camp. At the time, he was the best choice. Consort Dowager considered these factors before allowing His Highness Prince Jin to marry the daughter of Marquis Wuding."

"This woman is short-sighted, only knowing how to be jealous and bicker over petty gains, yet she cannot even produce a legitimate son! Does she not know how important the presence of a legitimate son is in the eyes of those ministers? If it weren't for her unreasonable behavior, if Yi'er had been able to have a legitimate son earlier, perhaps Yi'er would already be sitting on the position of Crown Prince!"

Rarely seeing Consort Dowager Hu so angered, Dongkui, who was at her side, also advised, "It is said that Secondary Consort Bai is already pregnant. Consort Dowager, you should not be too angry. Perhaps this pregnancy will produce an imperial grandson."

Consort Dowager Hu took a deep breath and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Indeed, why should I concern myself with such a foolish person? She probably won't come again anytime soon. You all be vigilant. The Empress Dowager is watching closely now. By all means, do not be overheard, lest it create unnecessary trouble. I just wonder when Yi'er will be able to return."

"The task that His Highness Prince Jin is leading is the simplest. If anyone is to rush back, it should be him."

Initially, those princes only wanted to choose tasks with great merit. Prince Jin did not want to compete with them, and in truth, he couldn't compete. He ended up with a major case of corruption that led to the extermination of a family, which greatly angered Consort Dowager Hu at the time.

A major case of corruption that led to the extermination of a family?

No matter how major the case, Prince Jin was not a judicial officer. Even if he succeeded, he would only fall into the lower ranks. Who knew that the situation would take a turn for the better? Now that everyone has realized this and is eager to have him return to the capital, Prince Jin has instead gained an advantage.

"I hope he can return soon. I just fear that His Highness, in his happiness… it shouldn't be. With His Majesty's character, he knows that proposing the establishment of a Crown Prince at this time would likely invite countless objections. He is usually cautious in his actions and will not act lightly without absolute certainty."

"One Noble Consort obstructed my son, and one Consort Chen obstructed Yi'er. The men of the Ji family are born into the imperial family, yet they are inclined to be sentimental. If Prince Wei does not die, no one else can rise to the top. Why won't he die? Sometimes I wish he would die, even if Yi'er cannot win against others, it would still be better than this stalemate…"

***

When Princess Consort Wei gave birth, His Majesty immediately bestowed countless gifts.

During the third-day bathing ceremony, there was another round of rewards, and the Emperor even bestowed a name upon Prince Wei's son – Zuo.

If the previous rewards only aroused envy, this bestowed name caused an uproar.

The meaning of the character "祚" (zuo), is understood by anyone who has read books. Even Wushuang, who had read the "Female Precepts" since she was young, could not help but feel a little panicked and asked Prince Wei what her imperial father meant by this. 

Well, Mei Wushuang actually knew what this meant, after all, in her previous life, Prince Wei had ascended the throne and inherited the great position.

She was simply afraid. There were already those who constantly sought to harm her, and now with Emperor Taihe's actions, they, mother and son, appeared even more conspicuous. She even suspected that someone was sticking paper effigies with needles to them, mother and son, at home, just wanting to curse them to death.

"You don't need to worry about these things, just properly focus on your postpartum confinement," Prince Wei said.

"But…"

"You and Zuo'er will be safe within the Prince's mansion. Focus on recuperating."

The implication being that leaving the Prince's mansion might be dangerous.

However, Wushuang was inherently carefree. She admitted to being timid, she acknowledged her cowardice. If she was afraid, then she simply wouldn't go out. If going out was unavoidable, then she would make thorough preparations.

Thinking about it this way, there was nothing to be afraid of. Seeing the infant in the swaddling clothes whimpering again, she hurriedly picked up the baby before Linglong could come, and opened her garment to nurse her.

Seeing Prince Wei staring at her, she quickly grabbed a handkerchief from the side and covered the expanse of white skin and the baby's face.

Prince Wei cleared his throat and said, "Why are you nursing yourself? Wet nurses have already been prepared; just let them feed him."

Seeming to sense his displeasure, Wushuang gave a dry laugh and said, "Once I'm out of confinement, I won't nurse anymore."

In truth, Wushuang hadn't initially planned to breastfeed the child. In the capital, no wealthy family would have the Madam nurse herself.

But whether it was because she had drunk too much ginseng soup or was simply being nourished too well, her milk came in the very night after giving birth. The female physician told her that even if she wanted to dry up her milk, she had to wait until the milk came in, otherwise, it would be bad for a woman's body to have it blocked.

At the time, she was so uncomfortably engorged that the female physician helped her massage and express the milk, which was quite painful. Later, she brought the baby to suckle, and after the baby suckled for a while, the milk ducts cleared. It was the middle of the night, so she simply nursed herself directly.

And once she started, she couldn't stop.

It was also strange, whenever the baby cried, her milk would come in. Perhaps it was a mother's instinct, but she enjoyed watching the little infant struggling to suckle with all his might. So she discussed with Granny An whether she could nurse the baby for a while first, and then stop after the confinement period.

Of course, the wet nurses weren't idle either. Usually, when the wet nurses were coaxing the child, they would feed him. When she felt engorged, she would hold the baby and nurse herself.

Ji Yang was fine with her breastfeeding the child herself, but Prince Wei seemed rather unwilling.