Good news came from inside the room, and the Emperor and Princess Fuxi, who had been waiting outside, both let out a sigh of relief.
The tension and urgency on their faces finally eased somewhat.
Before long, the door opened. Chenxiang came out carrying a swaddled infant and presented him to the Emperor and Princess Fuxi.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Princess. Noble Consort Cui has given birth to a prince.”
The Emperor asked, “What about the Noble Consort?”
Princess Fuxi cried, “What about Mother?”
Chenxiang said with a smile, “Noble Consort Cui is merely exhausted and has fallen asleep.”
As soon as Chenxiang finished speaking, the Emperor and Princess Fuxi rushed inside.
There was a smell of blood in the room. It was unpleasant.
But no one cared.
With red-rimmed eyes, Rongyao ran to the bedside and looked at her weak mother. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
Mother’s face was so pale, as if she had suffered from a serious illness.
Uneasily, Rongyao asked Chu Mingyi, “Mother, what’s wrong with Mother? Why, why…”
Chu Mingyi explained gently, “The Noble Consort is fine. All women are like this after giving birth. She has lost a great deal of blood and energy, so she’ll naturally be weak for quite some time.”
“Once she’s recovered, she’ll return to how she was before.”
“Your Majesty, Princess, please don’t disturb the Noble Consort. Let her have a good sleep first.”
Rongyao nodded vigorously, not daring to make another sound that might disturb her mother’s rest.
Chenxiang came closer with the swaddled baby in her arms. “Your Majesty, Princess, this is the little prince.”
Dantai Ji froze for a moment. He glanced at the tiny bundle Chenxiang held out to him, then took the child from her with slightly trembling hands.
Looking at the small, dark baby, he was momentarily stunned.
This little fellow wasn’t very fair-skinned.
Rongyao tugged at her father’s arm. “I want to see! Let Yaoyao see!”
Dantai Ji crouched down so his daughter could take a look.
Only then did Rongyao see the tiny person inside the swaddling clothes.
She was stunned too.
This was the first time she had ever seen a baby so small.
He was really tiny.
Like, like… She couldn’t quite think of what to compare him to.
Her little brother was a bit dark.
Thinking this, Rongyao looked up and said, “Little Brother is so dark.”
Chenxiang said with a smile, “The little prince isn’t dark. He’s just red. He’ll look better after a few days.”
Rongyao asked, “Why doesn’t Little Brother open his eyes?”
Chenxiang replied, “It’s not time yet. In a few more days, the little prince should be able to open his eyes.”
Rongyao hesitated before asking, “Auntie Chenxiang, was I like this when I was little?”
The Emperor also looked at Chenxiang curiously.
Chenxiang smiled. “The Princess was different. When you were born, you were fair and plump. You opened your eyes as soon as you came into the world, as large and round as two grapes.”
“The Princess was even prettier than our little prince. The midwife said you were the most beautiful baby she had ever delivered,” Daoxiang added.
Dantai Ji said, “Yaoyao is still the most beautiful now.”
Rongyao’s face flushed. She reached out and covered her little brother’s ears.
He would be so sad if he heard them saying that.
He’d better not listen. Not a word.
Everyone couldn’t help laughing at Rongyao’s action.
Dantai Ji picked up his daughter, laughing the loudest of all.
…
Noble Consort Cui had given birth to a son.
Both mother and child were safe.
Even though it was the middle of the night, the news spread throughout the entire imperial palace.
That night, some people fell asleep happily, while others remained awake until dawn.
Early the next morning, the Empress Dowager personally went to the Palace of Everlasting Joy to visit Noble Consort Cui and her newborn child.
The Empress Dowager was clearly delighted that Noble Consort Cui had given birth to a son, and she bestowed a great many gifts.
Clutching her newly gained grandson, the Empress Dowager refused to let go and remained in the Palace of Everlasting Joy for most of the day.
The Emperor named the Seventh Prince Dantai Lin, and his name was entered into the imperial clan register.
Rongyao did not go to Wenchang Academy that day. The night before, she had clearly fallen asleep on her mother’s bed, lying right beside her. Yet when she woke up that morning, she found herself back in her own room without knowing when she had been carried there.
No, she had to stay with Mother!
Rongyao hurried back on her short little legs, climbed onto the bed, and lay down beside her mother, waiting for her to wake.
Mother was so weak. Rongyao couldn’t leave her. She had to protect her.
When Cui Huaiyin woke, she saw her daughter lying beside her. The little girl was curled up into a tiny ball, holding her hand and pressed close to her.
Cui Huaiyin’s heart melted at the sight.
She must have frightened her daughter by giving birth yesterday. That was why the child was acting like this.
She looked at her newborn son.
She froze as well.
For a moment, she even wondered whether the child was truly hers. When she had given birth to Yaoyao, the baby had not looked like this at all. How could this child look so different from his older sister?
But it didn’t matter. He was a boy, so he didn’t need to be as good-looking as his sister. As long as he turned out reasonably well, that would be enough.
Looking at the child, she made up her mind to raise him properly. He absolutely had to make something of himself, so that he could protect his sister in the future!
Cui Huaiyin kissed her daughter, then gently tapped her son’s little nose and smiled.
…
One month later, the Seventh Prince Dantai Lin’s full-month celebration was held.
All the imperial relatives came to the palace to offer their congratulations.
Every household and palace sent lavish gifts, wishing the Seventh Prince good health, peaceful growth, and a safe life.
Taking advantage of the crowd, Princess Shengping secretly took a look at the Seventh Prince. When she saw his bright, shining eyes, she felt that this Seventh Prince was undoubtedly the person she had been searching for!
But before she could look at him for long, Noble Consort Cui stepped in front of him, while Princess Fuxi shot her a warning glare and refused to let her come any closer.
If things continued like this, she would never be able to get close to the future emperor!
That was impossible. She had to think of a solution. She absolutely had to become the person closest to the Seventh Prince!
.
Inside a palace chamber with its doors and windows tightly shut, the atmosphere was gloomy. Only a few beams of light slipped in through the cracks beneath the door.
A cold, threatening voice rang out.
“You were sent by Consort Chen to work beside Noble Consort Cui. Don’t forget that your parents and every one of your relatives is in my hands. I need you to retrieve that thing…”
“Th-this servant will do exactly as Aunt commands!” the woman kneeling on the floor said, prostrating herself.
“Go. Be careful not to get discovered.”
“Yes, yes!”
The kneeling woman struggled to her feet and left the gloomy room unsteadily. With her head lowered, she walked step by step. Only when she reached a place illuminated by palace lanterns could her appearance be seen clearly.
Anyone from the Palace of Everlasting Joy would have recognized her at once. She was Hexiang, one of Noble Consort Cui’s palace maids.
Hexiang’s face was deathly pale. Leaning against the wall, she gasped for breath as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
Clutching her sleeve, she asked herself what she should do.
What could she do? Would that thing harm the Noble Consort? Would it hurt the Princess and the little prince?
The Noble Consort was a good person. Princess Fuxi often gave her pastries and even taught her how to read. Was she really going to help Princess Shengping?
But if she refused, her father, mother, and younger brothers and sisters would die!
Hexiang crouched down and wrapped her arms tightly around herself.
No! She couldn’t hurt Princess Fuxi. She couldn’t hurt the Noble Consort, the little prince, or anyone else.
There had to be a better way.
Princess Fuxi was clever. She would be able to find a way to help her.
Yes!
She definitely could!
…
“Consort Chen?” Rongyao’s eyes widened as she stared at Hexiang kneeling before her. She walked over and asked her a question.
Hexiang knelt on the ground, her voice trembling.
“Yes! I was sent here by the former Consort Chen. But I have never helped Consort Chen do anything evil! Consort Chen was demoted to a commoner soon afterward and never forced me to do anything that would wrong the Noble Consort. But the day before yesterday, Aunt Sun, who serves Princess Shengping, found me.”
Cui Huaiyin asked in a tense voice, “Princess Shengping! What did she want with you?”
Hexiang replied, “She… she told me to use that piece of cloth to make Your Highness a sachet or a small garment, or even just secretly stuff it beneath your bed. In short, she wants Your Highness to keep it on her person day and night.”
