“Ah, it hurts so much…”

“Your Majesty, it hurts so much…”

In the sleeping chamber of Kunning Palace, Lu Lin’er lay on the bed calling out in pain, her face covered in sweat.

Her abdomen was highly swollen, and there were patches of blood seeping out, appearing very pitiful.

“Lin’er, hold on, I am here, I am here…”

Zheng Yi sat by the bedside, holding Lin’er’s hand, feeling pained by the sweat soaking her body.

“Imperial Physician, how is it!”

The Imperial Physician kneeling beside quickly responded, “Your Majesty, the Empress accidentally fell, disturbing the fetal position; now the child in the womb is in an incorrect position, requiring immediate delivery.”

“Otherwise, both mother and child are in peril.”

“Proceed!”

Zheng Yi concisely ordered: “Use the best medicine from the Imperial Hospital, be sure to preserve the Empress’s life.”

“Understood! We shall do our utmost!”

“Your Majesty, childbirth is associated with ominous signs; please step outside the hall.”

“Alright.”

Zheng Yi touched Lin’er’s forehead gently, saying softly, “Lin’er, I trust you will definitely give birth to our child. Stay strong!”

“Your Majesty, don’t leave me, please…”

“I will be just outside the hall, I will not leave.”

“Your Majesty…”

Looking at Zheng Yi’s departing figure reluctantly, Lu Lin’er instinctively touched her belly.

“Good child, come out quickly, please…”

Once Zheng Yi left, several female physicians and midwives hurried inside, preparing many things to start the delivery.

Several years ago, Zheng Yi had already commanded the Imperial Hospital to establish the Imperial Medical College, training some young doctors.

This included a batch of female doctors, specifically for serving the ladies of the harem.

Of course, a few years of simple training cannot produce highly skilled female physicians, so serious cases still rely on Imperial Physicians to resolve.

Their role is similar to that of senior nurses.

Stepping out of the chamber, several consorts were already waiting outside.

Consort Duann, Consort De, Consort Yue, Noble Consort Cui, and others.

Consort Duann was four months pregnant, her belly slightly swollen.

Seeing Zheng Yi come out, the consorts quickly approached.

Until now, Zheng Yi had only infused Pure Yang Qi into Lu Lin’er and Xu Qingluan, enabling them to bear a Prince.

None of the other consorts had received this.

Even Noble Consort Cui was treated likewise.

The reason is simple; the Three Thousand Worlds has yet to be activated, and he does not know what the situation is within it.

So, he thought to activate one of the Three Thousand Worlds first, and then decide on the rest upon assessment.

As for Consort Duann and Xu Qingluan being pregnant, it was entirely due to the reasons of Xu Mujun and Xu Xuanwu.

“Your Majesty, how is the Empress?”

Zheng Yi nodded: “The fetal position is incorrect, she is delivering now; hopefully, everything goes well.”

The faces of several consorts showed sadness; childbirth is fraught with danger and could easily result in the death of both mother and child.

Even Royal Family women cannot escape such fate.

“Ah…!”

Within the chamber, Lu Liner’s cries echoed, indicating her struggles with labor.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yi and the consorts outside could only suppress their anxious hearts and wait.

“Father! What’s happening to Mother~”

Zheng Yuhuan approached with her little face pouting, lifting her head to ask: “I—I think I heard Mother crying.”

Zheng Yi quickly picked up Princess Langhuan, whispering: “Mother is fine, she’s giving you a little brother.”

“So, does Huan’er wish for Mother to give you a little brother or a little sister?”

“Neither!”

Zheng Yuhuan pouted: “Huan’er already has several sisters. They are all so annoying and don’t know anything.”

“If possible, I wish Mother would give Huan’er a puppy~”

“A—a puppy?”

Zheng Yi’s lips twitched, so he could only pat her head and say: “Huan’er doesn’t like a sister, then let Mother give Huan’er a little brother.”

“Will a little brother be fun?”

“Of course, a little brother will be fun~”

Zheng Yi said: “When he grows up, he can climb trees, catch fish, and chase butterflies with Huan’er.”

“Really?”

Huan’er’s big eyes immediately brightened, sparkling.

“Then Mother should hurry and give birth, Huan’er wants a little brother, haha…”

Zheng Yi also held Zheng Yuhuan sitting on the main seat, anxiously gazing towards the chamber door.

During Lu Liner’s first labor, it took no more than half an hour to deliver successfully.

Yet this time for the second child, labor took over an hour.

Even Zheng Yuhuan couldn’t hold on, falling deeply asleep in Zheng Yi’s embrace.

During this time, Zheng Yi tried to persuade Xu Qingluan to rest but was refused.

Consort Bi, Princess Consort Wan, Consort Miao, Concubine Qing, and others also came to check but were sent away by Zheng Yi.

Inside the chamber, Imperial Physicians, female physicians, and midwives came and went, emptying over ten basins of hot water.

And every person leaving had blood on their hands.

The situation was dire…

“Wa-wa-wa…!”

Finally, a crisp crying sound echoed from the chamber, Zheng Yi jumped up, startling the consorts still waiting.

“Born! Hahaha, Lin’er gave birth!”

Zheng Yuhuan groggily opened her eyes, hugging Zheng Yi’s neck and asked: “Father, what has been born…”

“Your Mother gave birth, Lin’er gave birth, and you have a little brother now, haha.”

Not long after, the chamber door opened, and an aunt came out holding the baby.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

“The Empress has given birth; it’s a… Young Prince!”

Young Prince!

Prince!

The aunt’s announcement slightly changed the expressions of the consorts present.

The Empress gave birth to a Prince.

Does that not mean he is the future Crown Prince, future successor?

Even… future Emperor!

“Well done indeed.”

Zheng Yi holding Zheng Yuhuan and the newly born Prince in his arms, observantly examining him.

The small child looked just like a newborn monkey, with wrinkled skin, quite unattractive.

Zheng Yuhuan said disdainfully, “Father, this little brother is so ugly, can we exchange him for a better one?”

Zheng Yi laughed and said, “How can we exchange him? Don’t worry, even though your brother looks ugly now, he’ll become better as he grows.”

For some reason, at the first sight of this little boy, Zheng Yi felt an inexplicable emotion in his heart.

This is his own son…

His bloodline’s continuation, his future.

“Be good, Huan’er, come down now. Father will go in to see Mother.”

“No, I want Father to hold me, let’s go in together, okay?”

Zheng Yi said helplessly, “Alright.”

Entering the bedchamber, the room was filled with a strong smell of blood and an indescribable odor.

Palace maids and midwives were still busy, while two Imperial Physicians were diagnosing the Empress.

“How is the Empress?”

One of the Imperial Physicians turned and knelt on the ground, “Your Majesty! The Empress… her body is no longer in danger, but due to the incorrect fetal position and the forced delivery, she fell into a coma. We are currently treating her.”

“There, there’s one other thing, I, I am unsure how to…”

“Speak! I grant you immunity from punishment.”

The other Imperial Physician quickly turned and knelt down, his head touching the ground, “Your Majesty, we are lacking in skills. Although we saved the Empress, however…”

“The Empress expended immensely during today’s childbirth, depleting her body, and she may easily fall ill in the future, leaving a chronic condition behind.”

“Moreover, the Empress has suffered injuries below, and may never be able to conceive again.”

“Hmm?”

Zheng Yi frowned slightly, looked at the two children in his arms, and shook his head, “Enough, you may withdraw, take good care of the Empress.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The two of them repeatedly kowtowed, then quietly withdrew.

“Mother~ Mother~!”

Yuhuan struggled to slip out of Zheng Yi’s arms and ran to Lu Lin’er.

“Mother, wake up! Huan’er is here to see you, and brother too~ Please get up and play with us…”

“Wah wah wah…”

Suddenly the baby in Zheng Yi’s arms began to cry loudly, Zheng Yi quickly gestured for the wet nurse to come over, and handed the child over.

Perhaps it was Huan’er’s call, or perhaps it was the baby’s cries, that awakened Lu Lin’er from her coma.

“Mother, you’re awake~!”

Zheng Yi also came over, Lu Lin’er tiredly gazed at Zheng Yi with her beautiful eyes and managed a faint smile on her pale face.

“Your Majesty~ This humble one has fulfilled her duty and finally given birth to a prince for Your Majesty.”

“I am very happy…”

“Lin’er~”

Zheng Yi held Lu Lin’er’s cold little hand, saying, “You worked hard, Lin’er. I just checked; the child is very healthy. You need to rest well.”

“Th-thank you, Your Majesty. Where is the child?”

“The wet nurse took him away, your task now is to rest well.”

“Be good, Huan’er.”

Lu Lin’er patted Zheng Yuhuan’s little head and asked, “Your Majesty, have you given our child a name?”

“It’s already decided.”

Zheng Yi smiled and said, “According to ancestral inheritance, all princes of the Zheng clan will follow the generational order.”

“Shang Zhi Gong Cheng Bing, Wei Huai Jing Yi Cun, Fu Si Zi Lian Zhi, Kuang Shi Yong Xin Dun. Zong Yuan Cheng Ke Qing, Rui Zhi Shi Kan Zong, Yang Xing Qi Yuan Ya, Yin Si Fu Hui Tong.”

“I am the twenty-second generation, bearing the generational character ‘Yuan’. And our child is the twenty-third generation, bearing the character ‘Cheng’!”

“This is my first prince, and the future Crown Prince of Great Yu, so I intend to name him ‘Ji’.”

“Ji, meaning rice and grains, is the foundation of the people.”

“Jiangshan also, Sheji also, for Jiangshan and Sheji!”

“I hope he can prioritize Jiangshan and Sheji in the future, fulfilling the position of Crown Prince of Great Yu, carrying on the clan and respecting ancestors.”

“Zheng Chengji… Zheng Chengji.”

Lu Lin’er repeated it several times, and finally, her pale face showed a touch of color.

Her once weary eyes were now full of joy and brightness.

“I thank Your Majesty on behalf of Chengji.”

“Rest well.”

Zheng Yi patted Lu Lin’er’s head, and suddenly turned aside to ask quietly, “Lin’er, when you fell in the Imperial Garden today, was it truly an accident, or was someone plotting in secret?”

“Well…”

Lu Lin’er carefully recalled and hesitated, “I, I am not sure.”

“Usually, I often go to the Fish Dragon Pool in the Imperial Garden to feed the koi, hoping for a good omen.”

“But that day, for some reason, the cobblestones at the edge of the Fish Dragon Pool were slippery, perhaps because the eunuchs on duty didn’t clean well.”

“The cobblestones were slippery?”

Zheng Yi murmured, “Even though it’s winter, there has been no snow or rain for a long time, and no washing water. It should be dry, why were the cobblestones slippery?”

“And only that section of the road was slippery?”

“Your Majesty, do you mean to say…”

Zheng Yi soothed, “Don’t overthink it, Lin’er, I will investigate it for you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Rest well; I’ll take my leave now.”

“Respectfully seeing Your Majesty off!”

After leaving Kunning Palace and dismissing other consorts, Zheng Yi immediately summoned Tang City.

“Tang City, do you know who among the Embroidered Uniform Guards is best at investigating cases?”

Tang City promptly said, “The person you seek is Song Zhao, originally a Director of the Ministry of Justice, now a thousand households of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He was responsible for the reassessment and uncovered many crimes in the Wang Family’s rebellion case.”

“Summon him into the palace.”

Tang City queried in surprise, “Your Majesty, it’s already late…”

“Now.”

“Understood!”

Soon, as night fell, Song Zhao, donned in black, was brought into the Imperial Palace, directly entering the Imperial Garden.

Fish Dragon Pool.

A range of several hundred meters was already surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Shadow Guard. No eunuch or palace maid was allowed near.

Since the time of the Empress’s fall and the eunuch’s report, he had already ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to surround this area, preserving the scene of the incident.

If it was an accident, it would be unnecessary trouble.

But if there was deliberate intent…

“This humble servant Song Zhao, pays respects to Your Majesty!”

“Rise.”

Zheng Yi casually said, “Lord Song, please inspect this area for any anomalies compared to usual.”

“Understood!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep