Chapter 220 - 190: Shude Zhenli Chenzunfei

The main hall of Jianzhang Palace.

Muffled groans occasionally escaped the delivery room—

Worried she might scream her voice raw or waste her energy, the Empress bit down on something for nearly the entire time to keep from injuring her lips or tongue in the throes of agonizing pain.

Liang Yuyin and seven palace maids knelt silently in a corner, serving as little more than decorations.

There had been eight of them, but one, too terrified to maintain her composure, had broken down in tears. At a subtle glance from Liang Yuyin, she was dragged out to be punished.

The Empress Dowager had sent someone over, but Xie Che persuaded them to return.

He was in a foul mood and had no patience for anyone else. If his Mother Empress were present, he would have to tend to her feelings, and he also feared she would discover that Jiang Xian was in the delivery room. So, he simply had her rest in Changle Palace and await good news about the Empress.

In the meantime, a short eunuch slipped in and whispered a few words to his godfather, Liang Yuyin. Liang Yuyin’s expression changed instantly. His heart hammered in his chest, and he inwardly cursed the person causing trouble outside and their ancestors for eight generations.

An icy gaze fell upon Liang Yuyin’s forehead. He had no choice but to shuffle forward on his knees, kowtow, and report in a steady voice, "Consort Ji has fainted outside, overcome with worry."

’Of all the times to faint, she had to do it now!’

Whether it was an act or a genuine faint, Liang Yuyin had already branded her useless in his mind. He stole a glance at the Emperor’s face, which was impassive, betraying no emotion. After a moment, Xie Che said coldly, "Tell the concubines who feel unwell to return to their quarters to rest. Have Consort Ji carried back to Yizhu Pavilion."

’Just having her carried back? It seems he isn’t truly angry, then.’

Liang Yuyin acknowledged the order. But just as he started to rise, he heard the Emperor add, "Since Consort Ji’s constitution is so frail, have her name-plate removed from the tray. It can be returned once she has fully recovered."

’...So much for that. He’s clearly had enough of her.’

As time ticked by, Xie Che toyed with his thumb ring, twisting it so relentlessly it seemed ready to throw sparks.

Finally, the loud, clear cry of a newborn infant was heard, followed by a flurry of hurried footsteps. Fu Jin knelt and joyfully announced, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Empress has given birth to the Eldest Princess! Both mother and daughter are safe and sound!"

"Is it true?!"

Xie Che shot to his feet, a wave of ecstasy and relief washing over him. Without a single glance at the kowtowing attendants on the floor, he strode toward the delivery room door. His action so terrified Fu Jin that the eunuch nearly threw himself to the ground to block him. Fortunately, Jiang Xian emerged from within at that exact moment and ran right into him.

"Xian’er, is the Empress all right?"

"The Empress was so exhausted that she fell asleep. She won’t be able to answer Your Majesty for a while, so you should let Her Majesty rest well..."

Before Jiang Xian could finish, Xie Che pulled her into his arms.

He whispered "I’m sorry" in her ear, over and over.

Jiang Xian was stunned for a moment, and then she understood. The Empress was a dear friend to them both. He had allowed her to enter the delivery room, tasked with saving the mother, while he had clearly promised the Empress beforehand to prioritize the child. An emperor is forced to make countless difficult decisions. While waiting outside, he was not only worried about the Empress but also terrified of the ordeal Xian’er was enduring inside.

"I was the one who insisted on going in. The kindness the Empress has shown me is no less than yours, Your Majesty,"

Jiang Xian had never seen herself as a victim.

’Besides, she was saving her best friend. What did a man have to do with it?’

However, she quickly realized this was a chance to curry favor, so she softened her tone. "A moment ago, I was at my wit’s end in there. Thankfully, I saw you the moment I came out, Your Majesty, and I instantly felt I had a pillar to lean on."

’This ’project’ really couldn’t have happened without you, Your Majesty!’

’It was all thanks to the Emperor for that crucial Y chromosome.’

After calming down a bit, Xie Che nodded. "I have already sent all the concubines outside to wait. As for the palace attendants in the main hall, none of them will dare to speak carelessly." Because if anything had gone wrong, he would have ensured they could never speak again.

Everyone was genuinely relieved that the ordeal was over without any real disaster.

Seeing Jiang Xian look up at him with such a sweet smile, Xie Che felt a wave of residual fear and helplessness. "You probably have no idea. If anything had happened to the Empress, you, having been in there, would never have been able to clear your name, even if you’d jumped into the Yellow River."

’The Empress trusts her, the Emperor trusts her, and let’s just assume for a moment that the Empress Dowager trusts her too.’

The incident would be brought up again and again. Future generations would suspect her of foul play, of causing the death of Yan Chi’s Empress. Because of that, she might have remained a Zhaoyi for the rest of her life. Even if the position of Empress became vacant, it would never fall to a concubine suspected of having a hand in the previous Empress’s death.

A funeral for one of the Imperial Palace’s three most powerful figures...

If you were even remotely involved, a passing dog would get kicked for it.

As they were speaking, a midwife brought over the Eldest Princess, who had been quickly cleaned, to be presented to the Emperor.

The doors and windows of Jianzhang Palace’s main hall were shut tight, and a silver thread charcoal basin had been brought in to radiate a gentle warmth. Jiang Xian explained, "The Empress’s constitution is a bit weak, but she carried this baby very well. Look, Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess is truly beautiful."