Pampered Consort's Acting Awards - Chapter 111

Five years ago, he missed Su Ling’s pregnancy period, so this time, aside from handling court affairs, Xiao Yu almost never left her side, attentively guarding her.

 

As the fourth month approached, Qin Ling gained some weight. Coupled with the hot weather, she often struggled to sleep well, waking up almost three times a night. Helpless, Xiao Yu took on the tiring task of fanning her during the night.

 

Qin Ling’s cheeks flushed, insisting she didn’t dare trouble His Majesty, refusing and refusing again. But in no time, she slept more soundly than anyone else.

 

Looking at the person in his arms, Xiao Yu was truly too lazy to argue. Her acting skills had worsened; compared to when she entered the palace, barely going through the motions.

 

With improved sleep came an improved appetite.

 

Xiao Yu had heard from more than one person that she was extremely thin when she last gave birth, so he always wanted to help her gain some weight.

 

Qin Ling liked sour foods. The small kitchen constantly prepared various dishes for her—vinegar-stewed chicken, duck, shrimp, and crab. Moreover, the Ministry of Rites specially made a heat-relieving sour plum soup for her, which she drank at least two cups daily.

 

If not for the discreet reminder from the imperial physician that pregnant women eating too much might hinder childbirth, he would have made her have five meals a day.

 

The beauty gained some weight, and her entire being radiated with a brilliant glow.

 

Xiao Yu naturally appreciated the benefits of this under the cover. Qin Ling glanced at his hand and couldn’t help but softly say, “Be gentler…”

 

Xiao Yu mercilessly teased her, “Gentler? Where, exactly?”

 

At his words, Qin Ling widened her beautiful eyes and glared at him.

 

The man remained unfazed.

 

He had experienced her passion before, whether it was annoyance or anger, he could tell at a glance.

 

The sharp Adam’s apple of the man slid up and down. The composed gentleman gradually changed his demeanor, his eyes heavily bearing down. Qin Ling immediately protested, “No, I’m about to give birth…”

 

He gently shook her slender wrist. “Are you now?” His voice was low, hoarse, and indulgently lazy in tone.

 

Qin Ling bit her lower lip but didn’t protest. Just as she hesitated, he restrained her wrist. He breathed against her earlobe, urgent and forceful.

 

Qin Ling’s ear was unbearably itchy. She turned her head, “Don’t, please, don’t…” All the unspoken words were cut off in the depths of her trembling voice.

 

***

 

Another half month flew by, and the hibiscus in the palace bloomed.

 

After they reconciled, Qin Ling seemed different. He could tell she was somewhat reliant on him even if she didn’t say it aloud. That was the dependency he had lost for so long.

 

One evening in the early fourth month, with the summer breeze drifting and willows swaying, Qin Ling suddenly woke up. Subconsciously, she reached out to find the person beside her. Xiao Yu, who usually slept lightly, would awaken at the slightest movement.

 

He watched her movements, feeling an inexplicable pang in his heart.

 

During the years she was away, he couldn’t count how many times he had sought her like this.

 

He propped himself up halfway and held her, saying, “Ah Ling, I’m here.”

 

Pregnant women’s emotions were always unpredictable, catching one off guard. Xiao Yu thought she was going to sleep again, but she suddenly whispered in a plaintive tone, “But whenever you returned before, you smelled of orchids.”

 

Li Yuan liked orchids, and the fragrance filled Changchun Palace from top to bottom.

 

Whenever Xiao Yu returned from there and leaned in to kiss her, Qin Ling felt suffocated. It wasn’t that she meant to give him the cold shoulder; she couldn’t bear that he had just been intimate with someone else before approaching her.

 

Mentioning the Changchun Palace, the emperor seemed only to have a surrendering stance. Afraid to stir up old issues, he stopped himself from saying more.

 

Xiao Yu redirected the conversation, reaching for her feet. “Your ankles seem a bit swollen… Let me massage them for you. Go back to sleep…”

 

On the 18th day of the fourth month, birds chirped, and the flowers were fragrant. After lunch, Xiao Yun carried the sour plum soup and walked over, carefully placing it in Qin Ling’s hands.

 

Eagerly looking at Qin Ling’s belly, he asked, “Is the little sister about to come out?” Qin Ling was momentarily unsure how to respond.

 

Momo Yuan chuckled nearby, saying, “If Her Ladyship truly gives birth to a princess, His Highness will dote on her endlessly in the future.”

 

Qin Ling whispered, “What if it’s not a princess…”

 

Before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Yun climbed onto the bed and covered Qin Ling’s mouth with small hands, speaking each word earnestly, “Mother, it’s a little sister.”

 

Qin Ling raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, she felt her son’s anticipation for a princess was more daunting than his father’s.

 

During this time, two significant events occurred: firstly, Minister Zheng Baishou retired, and Minister Su Huai’an took over the position.

 

Secondly, in the regions of Shaanxi and Shanxi, a group known as the “Suxi River Sect” emerged, assembling over eight thousand men, claiming to relieve suffering and aid the people, yet engaging in looting and violence.

 

The situation was tricky, so Xiao Yu returned slightly later today.

 

At three-quarters past the period of shi (9-11 PM), kneeling sounds echoed outside the Kunning Palace.

 

Xiao Yu lifted the curtain and stepped into the hall.

 

Qin Ling turned to look at him. “You’re back.”

 

Her jet-black, silky hair cascaded behind her. The strands on her temples were gently pulled back, framing her ears and accentuating her fair and delicate complexion.

 

Xiao Yu’s expression briefly reflected concern, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Mm-hmm.” Approaching her, he touched her slightly damp hair and said earnestly, “Your hair is still wet. Even in summer, you shouldn’t…”

 

Qin Ling hastily nodded and raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to stop speaking.

 

How noisy.

 

Xiao Yu chuckled softly at her.

 

By the time Xiao Yu finished bathing, Qin Ling was already too tired to keep her eyes open.

 

He quietly lay down beside her, and in the next moment, she leaned onto his shoulder.

 

The moonlight was deep, and the seconds ticked away.

 

Qin Ling was in a comfortable sleep when a sensation arose in her lower abdomen. Having given birth once before, she immediately recognized the signs…

 

She took a deep breath, paused for a moment, and a faint ache started in her belly.

 

As the pain grew, she clenched her fists instantly. In her past life, she had endured two full days of pain before Xiao Yun was born. That gut-wrenching fear surged back instantly.

 

Clutching her stomach, Qin Ling shook Xiao Yu’s hand. “Third lang, I think… I think I’m going into labor.”

 

Going into labor.

 

Xiao Yu froze for a moment, his expression suddenly changing.

 

On the 18th day of the fourth month, in the third quarter of the period of zi (11 PM – 1 AM), Xiao Yu helped her change clothes and then carried her sideways to the warming chamber.

 

Kicking open the doors, Xiao Yu urgently said, “Someone, summon the midwife.” Startled, Eunuch Sheng hurried off to fetch help.

 

Their lives were hanging on this night.

 

Imperial Physician Ning had been burning incense for almost half a month. Before leaving, he covered his bald forehead with his official hat and bowed to the Goddess of Childbirth.

 

As the empress was pregnant, Kunning Palace had been prepared for almost half a year. Though the labor commenced at night, the palace staff remained composed.

 

Hot water, midwives, scissors, braziers, and induction broth had long been prepared.

 

Qin Ling’s contractions stopped after a while. Before the actual birth, Xiao Yu stayed by her side, repeatedly reassuring her, “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

 

Evidently, both the emperor and empress were struggling with the process of childbirth.

 

Half an hour later, the contractions grew more painful with each wave. Tears welled in Qin Ling’s eyes, and she couldn’t help but speak the truth, “I… I’m a bit scared…” Though she said ‘a bit,’ Qin Ling’s lips had turned pale.

 

Xiao Yu’s face instantly darkened. The suffocating feeling from five years ago returned to his heart.

 

He shouldn’t have let her go through this.

 

He really shouldn’t have let her go through this.

 

The midwife, surnamed Zhang, instructed the head maid of Kunning Palace, Zhu Xin, “Zhu Xin, keep the hot water coming, don’t let it stop.”

 

Zhu Xin replied confidently, “It’s all arranged, you can rest assured.”

 

Zhang nodded and acknowledged before walking toward the empress.

 

Taking hold of the empress’ feet, Zhang said, “Your Ladyship, please lift your legs.”

 

Qin Ling instinctively trembled but complied.

 

At that moment, Xiao Yu was still holding her hand, looking at his posture, he was showing reluctance. The midwife quietly advised again, “The delivery room is unclean; Your Majesty should step aside.”

 

Qin Ling gestured for him to leave. “Just go outside.”

 

Xiao Yu whispered, “I’ll stay right out there.” 

 

Hearing his tone, several midwives exchanged glances involuntarily.

 

As the current empress of Great Zhou, although not the emperor’s first wife, she held a significant place in the emperor’s heart. Any mishap must be avoided at all costs.

 

Seeing the empress anxious, Zhang massaged her pressure points while reassuring her, “Your Ladyship, relax. It won’t be that painful. When the time comes, try not to scream loudly. Save your energy; it’ll be over soon.”

 

Qin Ling bit her lip, inwardly remarking, “You’re just deceiving those who haven’t given birth.”

 

***

 

“I see it, I see it! Your Ladyship, exert a bit more force; the baby is about to come out.”

 

“Keep going, push harder! It’s almost here, it’s really quick this time.”

 

Although unable to see inside, Xiao Yu could discern the commotion within.

 

Every word the midwife uttered made his scalp tingle.

 

Separated by a door, Qin Ling cried in pain inside, her eyes red. Xiao Yu outside felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles, his breath heavy, almost as if he were about to kill someone.

 

Within an hour, the emperor had inquired three times about the duration.

 

Xiao Yun nervously paced in circles, and Eunuch Sheng felt dizzy just watching the crown prince.

 

As the moonlight gradually thinned, faint morning light pierced through the dark clouds.

 

As the sun rose and the orioles sang, with a cry, everyone in Kunning Palace finally breathed a sigh of relief.

 

“It’s born!”

 

“It’s born!”

 

Before the period of chen (7-9 AM), the midwife emerged, announcing, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Both mother and child are safe. It’s a little prince.”

 

Both mother and child are safe.

 

Xiao Yu instantly breathed a sigh of relief. He stepped forward, ready to go inside, but Zhu Xin hastily interjected, “Your Majesty, please wait. We haven’t finished tidying up inside, the empress is still asleep. The physician said it will take at least an hour for her to wake up.”

 

Xiao Yu halted his steps and declared loudly, “Reward six months’ salary to everyone in Kunning Palace.”

 

Kunning Palace instantly knelt down in gratitude, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”

 

Only the crown prince remained frozen in place.

 

Eunuch Sheng smiled and said, “Congratulations, Your Highness, on gaining an imperial brother.”

 

Xiao Yun’s little face wrinkled in confusion.

 

An imperial brother meant… not a sister?

 

Xiao Yu knew his eldest son had set his heart on having a sister. He intentionally spoke up, advising, “Yun’er.” 

Xiao Yun turned around, whispering, “Father.”

 

Xiao Yu continued, “When your mother wakes up, do not mention anything about a sister.”

 

Xiao Yun pursed his lips and nodded faintly, saying, “I understand, I’ll remember…”

 

He might remember, but after eagerly anticipating a sister for several months, suddenly being told the sister was actually a brother, it was hard for him to accept. When Momo Yuan showed him Xiao Rui, Xiao Yun stubbornly lifted a corner of the little blanket. He stared at his brother’s private part, gazing for quite some time.

 

After a pause, he looked again.

 

It was still there.

 

Surprisingly, still there.