Chapter 177 - 153: A Heaven-sent Auspicious Omen

Xie Che mused, "Then allow me to escort Mother Empress back to Changle Palace."

Everyone at Bihua Palace respectfully saw the Emperor off.

Unexpectedly, after escorting the Empress Dowager back to Changle Palace, the Emperor made a surprise return to Bihua Palace and walked straight to the door of the birthing room. The Empress was startled and rose to block his path. "Your Majesty, no matter how anxious you are, you cannot put Gu Wanyi in such an improper position!"

If the Emperor were to burst into the birthing room, Gu Wanyi would become the target of public criticism.

"I know. I just want to say a few words to Gu Wanyi from outside the door..." Xie Che raised his voice. "Xian’er, can you hear me?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, I can hear you," came Jiang Xian’s feignedly strong reply from inside, though the slight tremble in her voice seemed to betray her true condition. "The nanny says it will still be a long while. Your Majesty should go back first. Don’t let me delay you from important matters."

The midwives found this strange.

Before the Emperor arrived, Gu Wanyi had been perfectly composed.

In their experience, the mother-to-be shouldn’t even have been in pain yet. And looking at Gu Wanyi on the bed... her complexion was rosy, her expression normal. So why did her voice sound so pitiful when she spoke to the Emperor? A sound like that could break even a heart of steel.

But would the Emperor fall for it?

"I will wait for you right outside. I’m not going anywhere."

...Xie Che really fell for it. He fell for it hard.

※

Ms. Zhang stayed by her daughter’s side, holding her hand.

Ms. Zhang comforted her, "Don’t be afraid, daughter. If you run out of strength, just ask the nanny to hand you some ginseng slices to hold in your mouth. They have medicine pills ready, too." She spoke from experience, "It feels like just yesterday that I was giving birth for the first time, and it wasn’t as painful as you’d imagine. For both of us, mother and daughter, to be going through a first birth together like this... it must be fate."

Just then, a nanny peeked over. "Madam, Your Ladyship, you should talk less. Save your strength instead of using it all on speaking."

Ms. Zhang was about to apologize, but Jiang Xian, on the bed, said it was unnecessary.

"I have plenty of strength. You needn’t worry about me."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ms. Zhang felt her daughter gently squeeze her palm, as if to reassure her.

...

Jiang Xian had purchased medical insurance from the system. She had also arranged for Sikong Rui to inspect Bihua Palace beforehand to ensure no one had tampered with it. If any bribed midwife or palace maid were to risk their entire clan’s lives to make a sudden move against her, the Hidden Guards would be able to stop them in time.

Only with these foolproof guarantees did she dare to give birth in the harsh medical conditions of ancient times.

But being safe and pain-free was one thing.

Appearing relaxed and happy was another thing entirely.

Based on Jiang Xian’s work experience, the more thrilling and arduous the final push of a major project, the higher her boss’s evaluation would be.

So, she activated both the Little Pitiful Halo and the Golden Voice, performing a show of pure vocal torture for the crowd outside the birthing room. It also made the midwives extremely nervous.

In their experience, when a woman in labor screamed like that, it usually meant a difficult birth.

’But looking at Gu Wanyi’s condition, she’s clearly doing just fine!’

Xie Che paced back and forth outside the birthing room. Seeing Noble Princess Consort Rong’s pale face, he took a moment to comfort her. "Perhaps you should return to Zhaoyang Palace, Noble Princess Consort. How can you endure such a fright?"

The Empress, standing to the side, glanced at this husband of hers.

’So I guess *I’m* expected to endure this fright, then.’

Noble Princess Consort Rong shook her head. She had never imagined that childbirth could be so painful. She... had never experienced real pain in her life; the worst had been when she sprained her ankle. "I want to stay here and accompany Gu Wanyi."

The system could only guarantee a safe and painless delivery, but the process of cervical dilation was still long.

Everyone waited outside the birthing room for a long time—so long that Xie Che had to leave for the morning court session.

During the morning court session, the officials below all noticed the Emperor was somewhat distracted. Calculating the dates, what major event could it be? They guessed it must be time for Gu Wanyi to give birth. Consequently, they all postponed any important matters, lest the impatient Emperor reject all their proposals outright.

The civil and military officials standing outside, unable to see the Emperor’s face, just went about their business.

...

"I can see the baby’s head! Your Ladyship, one more push!"

A midwife shouted.

Jiang Xian focused her energy in her Dantian and, at the same time, used the auspicious omen produced by the system.

The morning court session started extremely early; often, the sky was still pitch black when all the officials had arrived. Just then, a golden light blazed from the direction of Bihua Palace, shining so brightly it was as if the sun were rising from that very spot... This scene was witnessed by all the common folk in the Capital City who were up early for work. The more superstitious among them dropped to their knees in a great wave.

Seeing this auspicious phenomenon, the civil and military officials could no longer stand still, and they began to discuss it with fervent excitement.

"What’s happening?"

"I hear it’s time for Gu Wanyi to give birth."

"An auspicious omen from the heavens! Heaven blesses Yan Chi!"

This scene was, first and foremost, a huge boost for the Royalist Faction.

The Emperor’s lack of a son had always been a point of attack and gossip. Now, not only was his first child being born, but the birth was even endorsed by the heavens with an auspicious omen as celebration! Could it be that a Prince born with the Mandate of Heaven had arrived, destined to lead Yan Chi to an even more prosperous future?

Xie Che shot to his feet. "Has Gu Wanyi given birth?"

Liang Yuyin, who had been called upon, was for the first time at a loss for how to answer.

Gu Wanyi had indeed given birth, and a eunuch from Bihua Palace was already running as if his feet were greased to deliver the news. But a pair of human legs isn’t the same as sending a text message; there’s a time delay! So, Liang Yuyin didn’t actually know if she had delivered yet. He could only force himself to answer, "Judging by the hour, if all went well, she should have given birth by now. Your Majesty, do not be anxious. Someone will surely rush over from Bihua Palace the moment there is news."

"I have to go see," Xie Che said, then asked, "Are there any other urgent matters to report today?"

The officials all shook their heads in unison.

Judging by the Emperor’s expression, it seemed that whoever dared to say they had business today would be planning a funeral back home.

"If there is nothing, then court is dismissed."

The Emperor was already up and gone before the word "dismissed" was fully out of his mouth.

The officials respectfully saw the Emperor off, all wondering to themselves just what sort of incredible child Gu Wanyi had given birth to, to make the Emperor so anxious.

When Xie Che arrived at Bihua Palace, the Empress and Noble Princess Consort Rong had already had their first look at the Eldest Prince.

Before they married, both had seen newborn babies before and expected the usual red, wrinkly little monkey. But Gu Wanyi’s child was different. His skin was fair and tender, like a freshly steamed bun. He had let out a single cry at birth but had been quiet since, staring at people with his dark, round eyes, looking both beautiful and docile.

Noble Princess Consort Rong still looked shaken. "A moment ago, hearing how horribly Gu Wanyi was screaming, I decided I never wanted to give birth. But now that I’ve seen the Eldest Prince, I’ve changed my mind again."

She had seen Jiang Xian take a sword for the Empress Dowager.

There was blood everywhere, yet Jiang Xian hadn’t even furrowed her brow.

’A woman who seems forged from steel screamed so horribly... Just how painful *is* childbirth?’

"The Eldest Prince is indeed as lovely as jade and snow," the Empress nodded.

’It’s a good thing he’s a Prince.’

’If she had been a Princess, I can’t imagine what kind of man would be worthy of her.’

Before the Emperor rushed over, the two of them thought he would definitely be delighted to see the Eldest Prince.

However, Xie Che had already seen the Eldest Prince in his dreams, so what was there to be surprised about? He didn’t even glance at his son, instead making a beeline for the birthing room. He was narrowly stopped when Liang Yuyin grabbed him by the waist from behind to keep him from barging in. "What about Gu Wanyi? Is she alright?"