abcnovels
Chapter 112
Chapter 112
Empress Zhu asked Jiang Xinyue a couple of questions, but Jiang Chuan blocked her attempts. What were they all thinking? Were they lamenting that they couldn't harm his mistress this time? Jiang Chuan couldn't care less about that.
His job was to prevent anyone outside of Hexi Palace from contacting his mistress.
Of course, with the exception of the Emperor.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty," Empress Zhu said, leading the others in a bow before quickly rising. "Your Majesty, how is Consort Shu?"
The Xuanwu Emperor's face was stern as he was about to speak when Nanny Li came running out, her hands covered in blood. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Consort Shu is having a difficult labor. The baby is too big and is stuck. Moreover... Female Doctor Bai says that Consort Shu's baby is only six months along. She estimates that the organs aren't fully developed yet. Even if born, it likely won't survive."
Female Doctor Bai was Yan the Imperial Physician's apprentice. Before going in, Jiang Xinyue had instructed her, "No matter who asks, you must say that the baby in Consort Shu's womb won't survive. Otherwise, if the Emperor investigates later, I won't be able to protect your and Yan the Imperial Physician's heads."
Female Doctor Bai couldn't read the Emperor's mind, but that didn't matter. With Concubine Zhen, who could understand the Emperor's thoughts, present, all she needed to do was follow instructions.
It was true that even seven or eight-month-old babies rarely survived after birth, let alone this six-month-old in Consort Shu's womb.
The pregnancy hadn't been well cared for either. At just six months, the fetus was as large as a full-term baby, which was clearly unhealthy.
However, Concubine Zhen's implication seemed to be that the Emperor didn't want this child to survive.
But that wasn't her concern. It would be a miracle if Consort Shu herself could survive. It was up to the Emperor to decide whether to prioritize the mother or the child.
The Xuanwu Emperor gritted his teeth. "If it's destined not to survive even if born, why hesitate? Quickly save Consort Shu."
Only then did Nanny Li feel reassured. She hurriedly turned and rushed back to her "battlefield."
This time, there was no need to worry about the survival of the baby in Consort Shu's womb. If it couldn't be delivered naturally, they would forcefully extract it. Keeping Consort Shu alive was the priority now.
To the uninformed, it might seem as if the Emperor loved Consort Shu so much that he was willing to sacrifice his own child.
Only Empress Zhu felt a chill in her heart. The Emperor... he was too cruel.
He knew the Dowager Empress was waiting for this child to be born to help revive the Wu family's fortunes, but the Emperor never intended for Consort Shu's child to survive.
No wonder when Lady Pei suggested giving this child to Concubine Li to raise, the Emperor agreed without hesitation.
"Save my child! No! Your Majesty... save your servant's child..." Consort Shu's voice was shrill and heartbreaking.
At this moment, she was still thinking that if Concubine Zhen were outside, she must have been terrified by this scene. Would she still have the courage to bear children for the Emperor?
After all, Concubine Zhen was just a teenage girl who had never witnessed the dangers of childbirth. Now she had seen it firsthand!
They say that if a pregnant woman is constantly in a state of fear and terror, it's easy for her to miscarry.
"It's coming! It's coming!"
Amidst the intense pain, Consort Shu felt her tense lower body relax, and a gush of fluid flowed out from her belly. She felt as if she were floating on a cloud, incredibly comfortable.
"Ah!" A young palace maid let out a scream.
Consort Shu immediately tried to sit up. "The child... my child, let me see my child."
Not wanting the child was one thing, but now that she had safely given birth, the blood bond and the tenderness of first-time motherhood made her suddenly reluctant to part with it.
Nanny Li's face was full of difficulty. "Consort Shu... this nose... this child... he's deformed."
Moreover, its breathing was weak, and it couldn't even cry. It had clearly inhaled amniotic fluid while in the womb and was beyond saving.
"How dare you!" Consort Shu shouted with all her might. "Give my child to me."
Nanny Li had no choice but to hand over the baby boy, who weighed a full eight or nine pounds but had only one arm and one eye, to Consort Shu.
"Ah!" To everyone's surprise, Consort Shu took one look and fainted with a scream. Female Doctor Bai busied herself again, while Nanny Li carried the lifeless little prince out to report to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, it's a little prince, but... he wasn't fully formed, and has already..."
Everyone understood the unspoken words. Another son lost. To say there was no feeling at all would be a lie.
The Xuanwu Emperor lowered his eyes, not letting anyone see the redness in them. He waved at Nanny Li, "Wang Dequan..." His voice was too choked with emotion to continue.
But Wang Dequan understood his meaning and comfortingly said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. This servant will prepare the little prince for burial and send him to Sheng'an Temple for the high monks to conduct funeral rites."
The funeral rites for a prince who died before being named were relatively simple, similar to general funeral rites, without the distinction between major and minor ceremonies. Some coffins would be kept in a temple in the capital, while others would be buried in the princes' tombs in the emperor's mausoleum area.
Considering Consort Shu's status, the Dowager Empress's stubborn personality, and the Emperor's former affection for Consort Shu, Wang Dequan still arranged for the body to be sent to Sheng'an Temple for chanting and prayers before being buried in the princes' tomb.
The Xuanwu Emperor waved his hand and said to Yan the Imperial Physician, "Can Consort Shu be moved now?"
Seeing blood in Hexi Palace was already taboo, and Consort Shu's difficult labor had frightened Concubine Zhen. He didn't want Consort Shu to stay here to recover, as it would remind Concubine Zhen of today's events every time she saw her.
Yan the Imperial Physician bowed and said, "If we use a stretcher and don't let Consort Shu exert herself, it should be possible."
The Xuanwu Emperor waved his hand, and Tang Shiliang immediately stepped forward. The Emperor ordered, "Go to the Imperial Hospital and find a stretcher. Have people carry Consort Shu back to Kunning Palace. Then find some imperial physicians to treat Consort Shu. They can return to the Imperial Hospital when she has recovered."
This meant that there was no need to assign busy or highly skilled physicians to Consort Shu. Otherwise, they would be stuck in Kunning Palace, and other palace residents wouldn't be able to summon the most skilled physicians when needed.
"A woman who has just given birth shouldn't be exposed to the wind. Remember to dress Consort Shu warmly."
Tang Shiliang acknowledged each instruction, feeling that this scene was very similar to the time when Consort Shu had stabbed herself with a hairpin to prove she hadn't pushed Concubine Zhen into the water.
On that day, the Emperor had also felt that Consort Shu's blood would offend Concubine Zhen, so he had people carry Consort Shu back to Jingren Palace without delay.
No wonder his godfather had always admonished him, telling him to be more respectful to the one in Hexi Palace.
It turns out his godfather had seen it long ago - in the Emperor's heart, Concubine Zhen's position had already surpassed that of Consort Shu.
"I beg the Emperor to uphold justice for my mistress," Lianxin said, dropping to her knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, it was Concubine Li who pushed Consort Shu. Please punish Concubine Li for her offense! The little prince... the little prince still had breath moments ago. He could have lived, but Concubine Li caused his death!"