Chapter 1424 - 1333: A Daughter Is Born

He hastily reached for her belly and confirmed: "No problem, Your Majesty, just follow the midwife’s instructions and push."

The midwife also nodded repeatedly, "Yes, it’s just beginning. You only have to follow my instructions to breathe and push."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded, following the midwife’s rhythm, taking a deep breath and then pushing...

The delivery room was filled only with the commands of the midwife; both Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan remained silent, quietly experiencing the pain and the distinctive feeling, while the palace maids silently waited with items in hand.

Upon hearing the cheerful voices of the two midwives, the Imperial Physician also encouraged Zhao Hanzhang, guiding her to exert effort, and with one more breath, Zhao Hanzhang felt something departing from her.

Zhao Hanzhang seemed to see a burst of white light exploding in front of her eyes, a permanent white light, where everything around her was silent. The sound and pain disappeared, only the familiar solid arm she was tightly gripping remained, bringing her back from that state in a second. She blinked and returned from the illusion to reality.

The midwife gently lifted the baby’s head. Zhao Hanzhang tracked her gaze, feeling something wet dripping onto her face.

Raising her head, Zhao Hanzhang saw Fu Tinghan holding her, drenched in sweat, with tears rolling down continuously, mixing with sweat and snot on his face in a mess.

In a moment of weakness, Zhao Hanzhang said, "Why are you crying? I didn’t cry."

Fu Tinghan desperately held back his tears, choking as he hugged her, "Let’s just have this one, shall we? Your face wasn’t even this pale when you were injured in the refugee army."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "One won’t do, at least two. Otherwise, if an accident happens, it’s easily finished."

She doesn’t want the crisis of losing a child to happen to her.

The Imperial Physician, having already assisted Zhao Hanzhang with the aftercare, happily told her, "Your Majesty, the birth went very smoothly, and the postpartum condition is excellent. Just rest well, avoid stress and fatigue."

It was extremely smooth, even more so than the average healthy woman in childbirth; the emperor’s good health is indeed beneficial, possibly due to martial arts training?

The Imperial Physician thought that his daughters could also learn some physical strengthening martial arts; no doubt, it would reduce dangers during childbirth.

Zhao Hanzhang agreed, as the pain had faded away, her spirit restored somewhat. She raised her hand to let the Imperial Physician step back.

By now, the midwife had already cut the child’s umbilical cord and patted the sole of her foot. Initially, she didn’t respond much, only softly murmured twice. Zhao Hanzhang heard it, but the midwife didn’t catch it, and mistakenly assumed there was no reaction. Shocked, she gave a hard slap, causing the baby to cry out loudly...

The sound was abrupt and loud, tinged with anger.

Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, who was holding her, were both startled, shaking simultaneously.

Fu Tinghan, heart aching, reminded: "You can pat lighter..."

But the midwife was delighted, explaining to Fu Tinghan, "Imperial Consort, the louder the Princess cries, the healthier she is, which is a very good sign."

She quickly placed the baby in warm water for a wash, dried her off, wrapped her in swaddling clothes, and then brought her before Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan to see, "Your Majesty, look, it’s a Princess, so fair and pure. I’ve delivered so many children, yet it’s my first time seeing one so fair."

Zhao Hanzhang leaned forward for a closer look. She was not the typical rosy newborn, but fair and clean, her features...

She turned to look at Fu Tinghan behind her, compared briefly and said, "They say daughters resemble their fathers more, and now I believe it. She really looks like you."

Fu Tinghan also looked at her intently, his heart melting into softness, lightly pressing the swaddling at the edge of her cheek, wanting to see her more clearly.

The couple gazed at her with tender affection; it took Ting He some time before she reminded: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager and Historian are outside waiting for the news."

Zhao Hanzhang returned to reality, instructing: "The birth of the Imperial Princess should be announced to the world. For now, the child should be placed here, out of the wind. Please have the Empress Dowager come to visit."

Ting He took the command and went.

Fu Tinghan told the midwife: "Take the child to the outer room first; Her Majesty will freshen up."

Having just given birth, it wasn’t advisable to bathe according to tradition, and Zhao Hanzhang didn’t want to challenge thousands of years of postpartum practices, so she simply went to the washroom for a quick wipe, changed into fresh underclothes, threw on a comfortable coat, and headed outside.

Fu Tinghan, drenched in a mix of sweat, blood, and tears, also went to bathe and change clothes.

Mrs. Wang, dressed in fresh clothes, entered to see the child, repeatedly marveling. Upon looking up to see her daughter coming out, she widened her eyes in shock, "You, you, how did you get out of bed?"

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "The Imperial Physician didn’t say I couldn’t get up."

Mrs. Wang immediately abandoned her granddaughter to catch her daughter, hustling her back to bed, "You can’t be willful during postpartum confinement; you must lie down and stay still."

Zhao Hanzhang was now bed-ridden for three days, but by the third day, she couldn’t resist getting up, moving back to the main hall from the delivery room, even stepping into the front hall to handle the paperwork accumulated over the past few days.

The officials: ...

A bit terrifying, followed by an overwhelming sense of admiration. Seeing Zhao Hanzhang appear, the officials dared not slack off, eagerly reporting various urgent matters.

Autumn harvests nationwide had ended, marking another bountiful year. Zhao Hanzhang declared, "This year, labor requisition should not exceed fifteen days."

This refers to miscellaneous labor, not formal labor, which comprises minor projects like repairing official roads, canals, and paving some small bridges.

An official asked, "Then for larger projects..."

Zhao Hanzhang replied, "Pay money."

Understood, no formal labor is issued. For places like one’s village or county’s nearby official roads and canals, miscellaneous labor is assigned. But for large projects, like bridges and dikes that exceed half a month, they’ll need to hire laborers with wages.

"Your Majesty, this year’s cotton harvest is outstanding; the dried cotton seeds collected are as much as 368 pounds, suitable for planting about seventy-two acres of cotton. Next year, barring any adverse events, harvested seeds can increase to cover six hundred acres."

It sounded quite a lot. Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Are there seed degradation issues? Any failed seeds this year after drying?"

The official sweating, "There are some..."

Shen Ruhui said, "There are fourteen pounds and six ounces of failed seeds. Among 368 pounds, cotton seeds are divided into top, middle, and bottom grades, with only 129 pounds being top-grade. Indeed, there are seed degradation issues, but also superior seeds. At this time, if external cotton seeds could be introduced for hybrid cultivation, that would be ideal. Your Majesty, is there any news from the Western Regions envoy?"

Officials thought Shen Ruhui lacked insight; the birth of the Imperial Princess is such a great joy! At times like this, joyous matters should be emphasized, making the emperor happy; other matters can certainly wait.

Immediately an official interrupted him, "Your Majesty, with the birth of the Imperial Princess, a nationwide amnesty should be granted."

Zhao Hanzhang: ... Why do these people always want to grant an amnesty at every turn?

Zhao Hanzhang gritted her teeth, then forced a smile and said, "Alright, let the people celebrate as well; reduce this year’s labor requisition by another five days."

The officials: ...