Chapter 556: The Emperor in the Delivery Room

Chapter 556: The Emperor in the Delivery Room

Actually, there wasn’t much to see. A screen blocked the view, and the midwives were attending from below it.

Zheng Jinyu, in pain, cried and wailed, "Wuu, it hurts so much, I can't do this anymore, I can't..."

Xie Peiyu held her hand and said, "We can't stop halfway. We’ll finish this one, and then we’re done."

"This is all your fault."

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault. Don’t clench your teeth, bite me if it helps."

Much to everyone's surprise, he offered his arm.

In her haze of pain, she grabbed and pinched whatever she could, biting anything within reach.

In no time, Xie Peiyu's arm and hand were covered in marks.

The maids and midwives were too scared to speak.

These experienced midwives, who specialized in royal births, had never seen a man insist on entering the birthing room, much less offer his arm to be bitten.

In her pain, she lost sense of direction and had no control over her bite.

Yet Xie Peiyu was happy to see her like this. In the past, he had always thought she seemed like she was floating above it all, out of place, a completely different person.

Even when angry, she rarely showed much emotion, let alone these childish outbursts.

And at this moment, she had finally fallen from the clouds, every expression so vivid, a living person by his side.

After this wave of pain, Zheng Jinyu noticed he was still smiling and got even angrier.

Damn him, she was in such pain that she felt like she was dying, how could he still smile?

Before she could scold him, the next wave of pain hit.

Gritting her teeth in pain, she grabbed his arm and pinched it until it bruised.

Xie Peiyu kept talking to her, distracting her from the pain, and occasionally making her laugh.

The atmosphere in the birthing room became lighter.

Another hour passed, and finally, a loud cry rang out.

The moment the baby was born, it felt like a weight had been lifted, and her entire body felt light.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations, Madam Zheng, it’s a prince."

Zheng Jinyu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking about how she had been afraid of not giving birth to a son and having to keep trying.

Xie Peiyu held her hand and said, "It's a son, we can report to the Empress Dowager now. We’ll just have this one, no more, never again."

The news that the Empress had given birth to a prince spread quickly.

Outside the palace, Zheng Ji and Lady Zheng were also delighted for her. They began preparing gifts to bring to the palace for their new grandson.

Zheng Ji was also about to leave. His younger brother had asked him to wait until after the spring examinations, which were not far off. A little more waiting was acceptable.

However, he had already sent a message to his hometown, informing them that he was returning to retire.

A place will be prepared for him back in the hometown.

Some rejoiced while others fretted. Fang Jinxiu was jealous to no end.

"Why is she so fortunate? Not only was she born into a good family, but her grandfather also arranged a splendid marriage for her even before she was born. And she became the consort of Prince Chen. But that wasn’t the end of it. Prince Chen rebelled and succeeded, making her the Empress. Sure, she’s the Empress, but couldn’t she have failed to bear a son on her first try? Why did she have a boy first?"

Xia Lian was stunned by these words and quickly looked around to ensure no one else had overheard.

"Madam, please don’t say such things. If word gets out, it will be disastrous."

"What’s there to fear? I’m speaking in my own home. How far could it spread?"

"But Madam, don’t you remember when the Second Young Lady overheard you last time?"

"So what? If we deny it, does she have any proof?"

Xia Lian was terrified but could do nothing about it.

She nervously kept watch, listening to her endless rant, which only stopped after a long while.

After a while, Madam Lu handed a set of clothes to Fang Jinxiu and said with a smile, "Jinxiu, come and try this outfit."

"Mother, why are you giving me clothes all of a sudden?"

Seeing how luxurious the clothes were, she happily took them and held them against herself.

Madam Lu smiled and said, "The Empress has just given birth to a young prince. Your mother is going to the palace to congratulate her. You should accompany her and gain some experience."

Fang Jinxiu: "..." Go congratulate the Empress and gain experience?

Fang Jinxiu put down the clothes and said unhappily, "You know that I don’t have a good relationship with her. If I go to congratulate her, do you think she’ll receive me kindly? She’s sure to humiliate me."

"Oh, come on. That was such a long time ago. Do you really want to hold a grudge forever? The Empress isn’t that petty."

Fang Jinxiu: "..." What’s that supposed to mean? If she’s not petty, does that mean I am?

"I won’t go. If you want to go, go alone."

Thinking about having to bow to Zhen Jinyu, being deliberately embarrassed, and not being allowed to get up, only to be humiliated with words, she didn’t want to go. No matter what, she wasn’t going.

She wasn’t stupid. Why should she go and be humiliated?

Madam Lu was unhappy. "You haven’t gone back to see your mother since you came back. Are you really planning to cut off ties with them?"

Fang Jinxiu raised an eyebrow. "So what?"

"What do you mean ‘so what’? How can a woman survive without her natal family?" Madam Lu sighed, looking at her with a complex expression, then impatiently pressed the clothes into her hands. "Go try it on. If it fits, tomorrow you’ll wait at your mother’s door. When she goes to the palace, you’ll go with her. Understood?"

Fang Jinxiu wasn’t stupid. She immediately understood the hint.

To them, her value wasn’t just in having given birth to two sons, but in the special favor her adoptive mother had for her.

And the benefits that the Zheng family could bring to them.

If she didn’t maintain this connection, her life in the Lu family wouldn’t be comfortable.

"My mother is still angry with me for coming back. She’s still upset."

"It’s been so long. Even if she was upset, it should have subsided by now. If you don’t go and mend the relationship, once the feelings fade, it’ll really be over."

Fang Jinxiu wanted to speak but held back, thinking that it was indeed reasonable.

Can she really cut ties with Madam Zheng? Of course not.

She couldn’t bear to part with Madam Zheng, nor could she bear to lose her beloved older brothers.

So she has been behaving herself lately and hasn’t bothered them since.

However, Madam Lu had a point. Not maintaining contact for too long wouldn’t be wise, as their bond would weaken.

“I get it. I can visit my mother, but she may not agree to take me into the palace.”

“If she doesn’t agree, you should try to persuade her. It’s not just you who needs to go in.”

Fang Jinxiu arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”

Madam Lu then explained, “Take her to the palace to broaden her horizons.”

Fang Jinxiu immediately understood.

“Are you suggesting…?”

Madam Lu smiled. “The Empress has given birth to a son, and now it’s time for the Emperor to hold a selection of ladies.”

“But didn’t the Emperor say that he intended to focus on governance and that there won’t be a selection until the world is at peace?”