Forced Into the Palace: Becoming the Emperor's Favorite-Chapter 369 Extra Two: Directing the Heart Towards the Bright Moon, The Bright Moon Shines Over the Canal (Part One)
A rain in autumn, a void in the air.
In Linzi Palace, Lady Min, Lin Wan Zhou, was pacing back and forth heavily pregnant.
Now that her term was near, the midwives all said the child would arrive either this month or the next.
So, she insisted on walking a bit every day to aid the delivery.
Her belly large as a basket, many who saw it said she was carrying a boy.
Thus, Lin Wan Zhou was even more attentive to her pregnancy.
Qin Liu brought in a small plate of grapes and then spoke to Lin Wan Zhou.
"Madam, these are tribute fruits the Emperor just had sent over, said to be delightfully sweet and sour."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wan Zhou gestured for Qin He, who was fanning her, to pause.
She walked over slowly.
Upon seeing the grapes, a trace of tenderness and emotion flickered through her eyes.
"The Emperor still thinks of me after all, and hasn’t completely forgotten."
"What are you saying, Madam? Ever since you entered the palace, you’ve been endlessly favored. Besides, with the Prime Minister’s Mansion and Prince Zhan Mansion supporting you, and now with a strong little prince in your belly, a bright future awaits."
Hearing Qin He’s flattery, Lin Wan Zhou looked quite pleased.
She picked a few grapes, placed them in her hand, and said.
"Your words are sweet as honey; they deserve a reward."
"Thank you, Madam."
Qin He stood up and, in front of Lin Wan Zhou, gobbled up the few grapes.
Seeing her such diligence, Lin Wan Zhou felt much more comfortable.
Supporting her back with one hand and the table with the other, she barely managed to sit down.
Holding a grape in her hand, she tasted it, and indeed, the flavor was extraordinary.
"These taste even better than last year’s fruits."
"Of course, as the Madam bears the dragon fetus, naturally, only the best is provided."
Afterwards, Qin He spoke with a touch of pride.
"Not even in the Empress’s palace are there such delights as in our Linzi Palace."
Hearing this, Qin Liu frowned slightly, but Lin Wan Zhou did not stop her.
Instead, she looked at her and arrogantly asked.
"Oh? How so?"
"I’ve heard from the people in the Inner Court Department that when these tributes first arrived, they were originally destined for the Empress’s palace. But the Emperor said our Madam is too precious and should taste them first in Linzi Palace!"
"The Emperor truly has such concern for me?"
"But of course, Madam. Have you forgotten? Since the seventh year of Yuanhe when you entered the palace, you were the first to be pregnant, drawing such favor that everyone was envious. It’s just a pity that child wasn’t fated to be with you, or else the title of Eldest Prince wouldn’t have gone to the Empress’s palace, right?"
Recalling her miscarried son, a trace of sadness flickered in Lin Wan Zhou’s heart.
But now, heaven had finally returned her son to her, so Lin Wan Zhou felt deeply grateful.
So what if there are already two princes? 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Once the child in her belly is born, surely he can compete for distinction.
As she thought this, the child within seemed to sense it.
And then kicked a few times to assert his presence.
Though her abdomen felt a bit painful, Lin Wan Zhou was pleased.
And eagerly anticipated the child’s arrival.
Yet she did not know that the events to come would entangle her for a lifetime.
Three days later, one night, Lin Wan Zhou slept soundly.
Who knew her belly would begin to react?
At first, it was just a slight tightness, which then began to ache.
This kind of pain had been described to her by the midwife.
Looks like she was about to deliver.
She called out to Qin He and Qin Liu, who were keeping watch outside.
The two hurried inside to see, and indeed there was a slight show of red.
"Quick, get the midwife here, and have Eunuch Jiang bring the stretcher over; we’ll take Madam to the side hall."
Everything was prepared there in advance.
When the midwife arrived and saw, indeed, it was time to deliver.
So she began to give orders.
By the time the message reached Qian’an Hall, the Emperor was fast asleep.
Dong Yuzhong was unsure whether to disturb him and hesitated outside the door for a moment.
Just as he was about to step forward, Eunuch Sun from the Empress Xu’s side arrived.
"Mr. Dong, the Empress has decreed that the Emperor is exhausted from state affairs, and at such a time, it’s inappropriate to disturb him. Lady Min likely won’t deliver until several hours later; it’s fine to inform him at dawn."
With Eunuch Sun’s assurance, Dong Yuzhong naturally wouldn’t rush to cause trouble.
So he nodded and said.
"Very well, I will follow the Empress’s instructions."
On the other hand, although Empress Xu instructed Dong Yuzhong not to wake the Emperor,
she herself stayed up all night at Linzi Palace.
Now and then, cries of pain emanated from the side hall.
Lin Wan Zhou’s child was quite large, and as it was her firstborn, the delivery was particularly difficult.
Fortunately, Lin Wan Zhou was healthy, and the pregnancy well-maintained.
Though tiring, her spirit was still reasonably strong.
At long last, as the pain slightly subsided, she grabbed the person next to her and asked.
"Where is the Emperor, where is the Emperor!"
The palace maid dared not admit the Emperor wasn’t there, only soothing her.
"Madam, don’t worry, the Emperor is naturally waiting outside for you; muster your strength, the child is about to be born!"
Hearing the Emperor was outside, Lin Wan Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.
Then she began to cry and shout continuously.
"Emperor, your concubine is in agony, Emperor, your concubine is in agony..."
This act drained quite a bit of her strength.
Childbirth was a process of gathering strength and enduring, yet she opened her mouth and let all her strength out.
How could she have any strength left to continue laboring?
Outside, Empress Xu felt something was amiss upon hearing this.
So she instructed someone to enter and say.
"If there is anything, give Lady Min something like a cloth to bite on, biting her teeth will naturally help speed up the birth."
Empress Xu intended well for Lin Wan Zhou, but unfortunately, her words, in the eyes of Lin Wan Zhou and her confidants, became a deliberate obstruction by the Empress Xu.
Simply to prevent Lin Wan Zhou’s voice from reaching the Emperor’s ears.
Thus, a grudge was unknowingly formed.
After laboring the entire night until daylight, Lin Wan Zhou still had not delivered.
Seeing her growing weaker, the midwife was getting a bit nervous.
She quickly ran outside, somewhat worriedly reporting to Empress Xu.
"Empress, Madam Min’s child is too large, making it especially difficult to deliver. If it continues to delay, I fear both mother and child may suffer harm. I dare to ask you, in case of an emergency, should we save the mother or the child?"
Empress Xu was somewhat shocked; she hadn’t anticipated Lady Min’s delivery would be so problematic.
It hadn’t been long before they had to start discussing whether to save the mother or the child.
But childbirth for women is like a journey to the Ghost Gate.
