Zhao Junyao had a sudden realization. Oh, of course, according to custom, he should be welcomed back to the palace after a great victory. Those concubines and even the Empress Dowager were expected to come out to meet him. Not doing so would be seen as disrespectful. Hmm...
Zhao Junyao waved his hand dismissively and said in a cold voice, "No need!"
After speaking, he left.
Dressed in his usual attire and accompanied by Li Shengan, he left Zhaochen Palace and took the familiar path straight to Qingya Residence.
It was as if he had never left the palace at all.
...
"The Emperor has arrived!"
When Xia Ruqing was in excruciating pain, almost as if she were between life and death, she heard such a phrase.
She was a bit stunned and looked at Zi Yue with a blank expression.
"Am I... having a hallucination?"
Zi Yue was also taken aback.
"Your Highness..."
"I’ll have someone go check immediately!"
She was about to turn around when another voice came through.
"There’s no need!"
The voice was deep and powerful, with a hint of magnetism.
Familiar, all too familiar—wasn’t that Zhao Junyao?!
"Greetings to the Emperor!"
"Paying respects to the Emperor..."
"Dispense with the formalities. Quickly, continue attending her!" Zhao Junyao said as he made his way to the bedside.
"Qingqing..."
Xia Ruqing turned her head to look at him.
"Your Majesty?"
She took a closer look at him before she dared to acknowledge him.
"Is it really you? You’ve come back?"
"Yes, I’m back!"
At this point, everyone finally realized. The Emperor had truly returned.
Several Old Sisters quickly came to their senses.
"Your Majesty, the birthing room is unclean; you can’t come in!"
"Your Majesty, you must leave quickly!"
As they spoke, several of them tried to push him out.
Zhao Junyao was surrounded by people urging him outside. But he had just seen Qingqing and was unwilling to leave.
He shouted angrily, "Impudence, it’s not your place to manage my affairs!"
His voice was loud, instantly silencing everyone.
In the end, those Old Sisters had to compromise, saying, "If that’s the case, Your Majesty, a screen must be added next to the bedside where you sit..."
"Alright, alright, have it your way!" Zhao Junyao was getting impatient.
"Li Shengan!"
Li Shengan understood the Emperor too well, so without waiting for further instruction, he quickly brought over a chair.
Zhao Junyao sat next to the bed, where he could only see Xia Ruqing’s upper body. Her lower half was hidden behind the screen at the other end of the bed.
"Qingqing..."
"AH!"
Xia Ruqing suddenly let out a scream.
"AH!"
Another scream followed.
Labor pains began to come more frequently, and she could no longer pay attention to anything else.
"Your Majesty..."
"Save me!"
The overwhelming pain was sweeping over her in waves. Even though she had made all the preparations, she still felt helpless to withstand it.
"AH!"
Her face was strained, veins bulging as she bit down hard, her hands fiercely gripping anything she could!
In fact, she was clutching Zhao Junyao’s hand. His hand, now with bloody streaks on it from her grip, was clearly in pain, but he showed no displeasure. On the contrary, he held her hand gently.
"Qingqing, don’t be afraid, I am here!"
"Don’t be afraid!"
He comforted her while reaching out to wipe the sweat from her brow. His eyes kept darting to the screen on the right, attempting to see through it and know what was happening on the other side.
Actually, even if he couldn’t see, he could hear.
The midwife said with a face full of joy, "It’s already eight fingers; Consort Xian, just bear with it a little longer, the child is about to come out!"
"AH AH!!"
As she spoke, Xia Ruqing let out another heart-wrenching scream.
Giving birth is so, so painful! She felt like she was going to faint.
Her hand clenched fiercely. Zhao Junyao’s hand had already been squeezed out of shape. But he didn’t even flinch, focusing only on taking care of her.
"Qingqing, you must listen to them!"
"Hmm!"
"I... I know!"
Her breathing was very ragged. Listening to it made Zhao Junyao’s heart clench with pain.
"Emperor, it hurts so much!"
"Zhao Junyao, it’s all your fault, all because of you! I don’t want to give birth anymore, no more!"
"Okay! It’s all my fault, all my fault!"
"Qingqing, shall we not have any more children in the future, okay?"
These words turned the faces of all the Sisters green. To bear an imperial heir for the Emperor was such a great honor. How many women longed for it yet couldn’t have it?
But this mistress, she actually found it a nuisance. Moreover, she was disrespectful to the Emperor right in front of him, and the Emperor wasn’t even a bit angry.
It seemed that Consort Xian indeed was, as the rumors said, the apple of the Emperor’s eye!
With this thought, the Sisters and the midwife attended to their duties with even greater care. They feared the slightest carelessness might offend this mistress!
"Consort Xian, you need to start pushing; the child’s head is coming out!" The midwife was very excited, her voice raised a few notches.