Chapter 48: Childbirth

Consort Xuan smiled and said, “Alright, alright! With your current condition, whoever dares serve you crab is committing a crime. Just endure it for these last two months, and after your postpartum confinement, I’ll have them make whatever you want to eat!”

Wan Anran let out a sigh.

Just then, Ju Bai rushed in. “Mistress! Mistress! This servant heard from the Imperial Household Department that the Palace of Reserve Elegance behind us is about to be renovated too!”

“What’s so strange about that?” Wan Anran didn’t take it seriously. Just recently, they started renovating Jingyang Palace; before that, Fengxian Hall, the Princes’ Quarters, and the Imperial Study had all been refurbished. She’d also heard that His Majesty planned to allocate land from Qinghua Garden in the front court to build a summer retreat palace, though the project hadn’t started yet due to limited funds.

So this news didn’t seem surprising.

But Ju Bai lowered her voice and said seriously, “I heard the renovation of the Palace of Reserve Elegance is because… someone from the late Empress’s family is entering the palace.”

Consort Xuan widened her eyes.

She waved her hands repeatedly. “That’s impossible. If it were a girl of the Hesheli clan, that’s one thing. But among the late Empress’s family, there were four sisters. The only one not yet married should be the youngest, and when I saw her last year, she looked only seven or eight years old.”

At that age, what would she be doing entering the palace?

Ju Bai shook her head. “I only heard it from the people in the Household Department. I’m not sure of the details.”

Consort Xuan furrowed her brows.

She instead began to suspect that the Palace of Reserve Elegance was being renovated for Wan Guiren. Consort Xuan glanced at Wan Guiren, who was muttering about how salted egg yolk and crab were two different things, yet was still happily eating one thing after another, and fell into quiet contemplation.

Just looking at her gave Consort Xuan a headache.

She turned her face away expressionlessly, out of sight and out of mind.

Neither of the first two pieces of news had managed to surprise the mistresses.

Ju Bai wore a serious expression and clenched her fists. If not for her insistence on keeping her name, perhaps she’d have long been renamed “Palace Gossip.” As the top gossip in Xianfu Palace, Ju Bai decided to drop one last bombshell. “This servant still has one more piece of news.”

This time, neither Consort Xuan nor Wan Anran showed much interest. Only Nara Guiren looked intrigued. She asked with interest, “Don’t keep us in suspense. Quickly, tell us—what did you hear?”

Ju Bai lowered her voice. “Guo Changzai of Yikun Palace is pregnant.”

This news was genuinely shocking.

Just moments ago, Consort Xuan and Wan Anran were both unenthusiastic, but they suddenly perked up. Wan Anran did a mental calculation and sucked in a breath. “I remember Guo Changzai only entered the palace in early August. It hasn’t even been two full months… Doesn’t that mean she got pregnant as soon as she entered the palace?”

That speed, that efficiency—

There was only one phrase for it: impressive.

Consort Xuan was dumbfounded.

Nara Guiren gasped. “Then what about Consort Yi… this is just too…”

Consort Yi herself was utterly stunned.

She truly felt uncomfortable in her heart. After seeing the imperial physician off in a daze, she sat quietly in the main hall, lost in thought.

Consort Yi had always been very confident in herself.

It had only been three months since she entered the palace before she was promoted to the rank of Consort. To this day, she remained one of the emperor’s most favored consorts. Yet, after over a year, there was still no happy news. Behind her back, Consorts An, Jing, and others often spoke ill of her. Even the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were dissatisfied that she held favor but hadn’t borne fruit.

Why was it that her younger sister… succeeded on the first try?

Consort Yi’s mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and the palace maids around her remained silent. After a long while, she let out a long sigh and gently instructed them to take good care of Guo Changzai.

The old matron responded and softly comforted her. “Mistress, people often say pregnancy luck can be contagious. Just look at Wan Guiren in Xianfu Palace. She was sickly in Chengqian Palace but got pregnant after moving there! Perhaps you’ll catch some of that luck from Changzai too.”

Consort Yi smiled and nodded. “If only that were the case.”

Guo Changzai’s pregnancy attracted the attention of many concubines. Not out of concern for Guo Changzai herself, but more to mock the ever-proud Consort Yi.

Consort Yi knew exactly what they were thinking.

She completely changed her usual sharp-tongued demeanor. She ignored their ridicule and reduced her outings significantly. She focused wholeheartedly on caring for Guo Changzai. The Grand Empress Dowager was very pleased and even praised her generously.

Of course, many thought Consort Yi was just putting on a show.

Whether that was true or not, it was clear that Yikun Palace wouldn’t be lively for a while. At the same time, it was already the end of October.

The thirtieth day of the tenth lunar month marked the beginning of winter.

On the day the first snow fell, Wan Anran stood by the window, watching the fluttering flakes, and couldn’t help recalling the scene from when she first woke up.

Had it really already been nearly a year?

Due to her heavy pregnancy, the palace staff became even more cautious. Going out in snowy weather was out of the question—it was absolutely forbidden. Wan Anran lifted her gaze to the distant palace roofs and suddenly asked, “Any news from Chengqian Palace?”

Zisu hesitated and shook her head.

She said softly, “The mistress is in good health, so everything will surely go smoothly.”

Wan Anran gave a quiet “mm.”

She cradled her belly, nervous and uncertain, and murmured, “Baby, you have to fight your way out—hurry and come out!”

Her voice shifted on that last sentence.

Her lips turned pale in an instant, and she grabbed Haitao and Zisu tightly. “Quick, quick!”

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Chengqian Palace

For Wuya Changzai, this childbirth was anything but smooth. Labor had started the previous night, but even by early morning, there was still no good news. The entire Chengqian Palace was blanketed in tension.

Hearing her screams weaken from sharp to barely audible, and watching as basins of bloody water were carried out one after another, Consort Tong, who had never given birth before, felt dizzy and faint. Supported by three or four palace maids, she sat down, her face drained of all color. Her delicate, pale fingers clutched her prayer beads tightly, heart filled with fear and panic.

As much as she disliked Wuya Changzai, Consort Tong had never harbored any malicious intent. She quickly urged the maids to summon more imperial physicians and asked them to bring over Consorts Rong and Hui—both experienced mothers—to lend a hand.

With their help, the chaos in Chengqian Palace finally began to calm, and soon a midwife’s delighted voice rang out from within, “Mistress, just a little more—just a little bit!”

Success was close at hand.

From Consort Tong to Consorts Rong and Hui, relief washed over their faces, and they began chatting softly. For instance, Consort Rong mentioned that when she left the palace earlier, she heard Wan Guiren from Xianfu Palace had also gone into labor—it was quite a coincidence, the two of them delivering one after the other.

Inside the birthing chamber, Wuya Changzai was panting heavily, struggling like a fish out of water. Her hands clutched the bedding with all her might, trying to muster the last bit of strength to push her child out.

Just a little more. Just a little more.

As long as the child was born, as long as she had Fourth Prince Yinzhen in her arms, what did this pain matter?

At that moment, she heard a startled cry from outside:
“What? Wan Guiren has already given birth?!”

The breath Wuya Changzai had been holding caught in her throat.

Her entire face turned a dark, ashen purple. A tearing pain shot through her lower body, and with a final push, a large mass slipped out. The intense pain overwhelmed her, and her eyes rolled back as she passed out cold.

The outburst came from Consort Rong.

She clutched her temples and incredulously asked again, “You’re saying Wan Guiren has already given birth?!”

Even Consort Hui couldn’t believe it.

She shook her head repeatedly. “But Wan Guiren is a first-time mother! How could she possibly be done in just two or three hours?”

The palace maid delivering the message looked utterly confused. “But it’s true! His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and Her Majesty the Empress have all gone to Xianfu Palace.”

The three women looked at each other in disbelief.

Just then, a cheer rang out from inside. “It’s a little prince! Ah! Quick, quick! Mistress Wuya has fainted!”

Chaos erupted in Chengqian Palace.

Meanwhile, inside the birthing chamber of Xianfu Palace, a radiant Wan Anran looked just as confused. She locked eyes with Nara Guiren, who had just lifted the curtain and entered, and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth. “…Where’s the baby?”

“The Empress Dowager is holding him.”

Nara Guiren smiled and added, “The baby’s all chubby and plump—he’s absolutely adorable.”

As she spoke, a hint of worry surfaced on her face. She asked softly, “Are you really alright, little sister?”

Wan Anran shook her head. “I’m fine!”

To be honest, she felt like she could get up and wrestle a tiger… okay, maybe not quite. But Wan Anran still energetically waved her arms to demonstrate her strength and vitality.

Nara Guiren’s lips curled into a smile.

Seeing Wan Guiren’s rosy complexion, she finally felt reassured. After instructing Wan Anran to rest well, Nara Guiren stepped out with a smile and whispered a few words to Consort Xuan.

Consort Xuan smiled too.

And so did the Empress. “That Wan Guiren… truly full of surprises.”

The Empress found it remarkable. From the moment she entered the room, it had only been the time of two—at most three—cups of tea, and she had already given birth? It wasn’t just the ladies; even the midwives were completely baffled, exclaiming how rare it was.

Outside, Kangxi and the Empress Dowager stood close together. The Empress Dowager was beaming with joy, cradling the baby in her arms as if he were her very heart. Wan Fu and Crown Prince Baocheng had somehow slipped in and were bouncing up and down, eager to see their little brother.

The Empress Dowager bent down to let the two children take a look.

A wrinkly, red little face, tightly shut eyes, and a fuzzy little cheek… Crown Prince Baocheng wrinkled his nose and couldn’t help but exclaim, “He’s so ugly!”

“All babies look like this at first,” the Empress Dowager said cheerfully. “Baocheng looked just as ugly when he was born… er.”

Renxiao had died from a difficult labor.

Everyone, even the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager herself, usually avoided the topic. The Empress Dowager’s face stiffened slightly, but Kangxi laughed lightly, “You were even uglier when you were born—wrinkled and bald, not even a strand of hair or eyebrows. When I first saw you, your father nearly fainted. But after two or three days, you turned all fair and chubby.”

As he spoke, Kangxi felt a tinge of bittersweet nostalgia.

He reached out to ruffle the crown prince’s head and sighed with emotion. “Our little Baocheng has grown so much already.”

The Empress Dowager also sighed with emotion.

After a few heartfelt sighs, she turned her gaze back to the tiny bundle in her arms. She poked the baby’s doughy little cheek. A tiny, soft hand gripped her finger tightly—surprisingly strong.

The Empress Dowager’s eyes lit up.

Her face overflowed with joy, and she couldn’t take her eyes off the little dumpling. Seeing her so delighted, Kangxi casually said, “If Royal Mother likes him so much, perhaps we should have this little prince raised in the palace?”

The Empress Dowager was briefly stunned.

Then she waved her hand. “No, no. A child should be raised by his mother. That’s what’s best for him.”

Saying that, she handed the baby back to Haitao. “Take him back inside. Let Wan Guiren have a good look. This child is bound to grow up handsome.”

Haitao smiled and acknowledged the order.

She turned around and brought the little prince back into the room. Wan Anran had been waiting eagerly.

No matter how many complaints she’d had before, the moment she saw the soft, cuddly baby, Wan Anran’s heart melted into a puddle. She looked him over again and again, finding every little detail adorable.

Cradling the baby close, kissing him on the left and then on the right, Wan Anran’s heart was blooming with joy. The emptiness she used to feel, like stepping into a void, completely vanished the moment she laid eyes on this tiny bundle.

“Speaking of which, has His Majesty decided on a name?”

“His Majesty said the formal name will be chosen later. As for the childhood name, it’s up to you, my lady.”

“I see…” Wan Anran pondered deeply. She’d heard that in ancient times, people liked to give their children humble childhood names, believing it would help the child survive. For example, Wang Xun’s childhood name was Jiao Bai, Xie An’s was Ah Da, and even Bai Juyi recorded his nephew’s childhood name as Ah Gui (Turtle)…

Wan Anran pondered carefully.

Naming him Turtle was clearly going too far. She stared at the baby’s fluffy cheeks for a long while, then a flash of inspiration struck her: “Let’s call him Maotao—Little Peach!”

First, his fuzzy cheeks made him look like a little peach. Second, Wan Anran hoped he could be calm and detached like Yinzhi from history, staying far away from any succession struggles.

The more Wan Anran thought about it, the more satisfied she became.

She nodded repeatedly. “It really is a wonderful name.”