The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1551 - 1548: You Seem Like a Fool to Me

The Emperor and the others had been waiting outside for half a day.

Logically speaking, the baby cried, proving it was fine, and soon a midwife should come out holding the baby to announce the good news, right?

But after waiting for so long, there was no movement inside. Could something have gone wrong again?

Instantly, everyone’s hearts were on edge again, each one staring eagerly at the delivery room.

After an unknown amount of time, a midwife finally came out holding a swaddled baby, her face beaming with joy. Upon seeing the Emperor, she quickly knelt down: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Noble Consort has given birth to a healthy little prince, weighing a full six pounds and eight ounces!"

The Emperor glanced down at the baby in the bright yellow swaddle. Just born, the baby was softly humming, eyes closed, tiny fists clenched tightly.

It was evident that the child had been well-nurtured in the womb, with thick, black lanugo, dark eyebrows, and rosy cheeks, clearly a healthy child.

The Emperor, rarely in such a parental mood, was overjoyed and grandly waved his hand: "Rewards! Rich rewards! Those responsible for the Imperial Noble Consort’s delivery today have succeeded and shall be rewarded!"

Immediately, everyone was filled with joy, their faces beaming as they knelt and congratulated the Emperor on the birth of the imperial heir, thanking him for his generous rewards.

Especially the Imperial Physicians, who had been anxious, fearing they might be buried alongside if something went wrong. In particular, as the day dragged into the deep night and the Noble Consort’s voice grew weaker, everyone was deeply worried.

Who would have thought, heaven blessed them, and the Noble Consort successfully gave birth to a Prince, allowing everyone to escape calamity!

One of Huai Cai’s chamberlains, upon seeing the situation, couldn’t help but whisper in Huai Cai’s ear: "Chief Steward Huai, what about those midwives that the Wife of the Heir-Apparent drove out earlier? Should we release them?"

Huai Cai looked at the Emperor’s delighted face, recalling the imperial decree that everyone involved was to be rewarded. As mere servants, could they insist otherwise?

Nonetheless, he felt uneasy, sensing something was amiss. Previously, his hands were tied, and now the Emperor’s orders put him in a difficult spot.

By then, the delivery room was mostly tidied up, and Wang Yongzhu had stepped out, overhearing the Emperor’s words and involuntarily rolling her eyes.

Incompetent in many aspects, but first in creating trouble.

Her concubine having just struggled back from the brink of death, and no investigation into any potential issues, yet he was already rewarding people! Reward those who failed to harm your wife and child?

The Emperor, partly focused on the delivery room, caught the expression on Wang Yongzhu’s face as she exited.

Immediately, his brows furrowed: "Does the Wife of the Heir-Apparent object to my words?"

Wang Yongzhu sighed and performed a curtsey for the Emperor: "I dare not, Your Majesty. It’s just that there were several suspicious individuals involved in the Noble Consort’s delivery today. I, being bold, have already instructed Chief Steward Huai to detain them. If Your Majesty releases them in your joy over the new prince, the Noble Consort’s earlier sufferings would be in vain. You must understand, the Noble Consort’s delivery was perilous and nearly fatal—"

With this, the cheerful atmosphere in Changchun Palace froze.

The Emperor was also taken aback: "Are you saying someone tampered with the Imperial Noble Consort’s delivery?"

Wang Yongzhu nodded: "The Noble Consort is currently exhausted and unconscious. I, being unskilled, request Your Majesty have Director Du and the Imperial Physicians examine her. As for those midwives, Your Majesty might consider having them brought for personal interrogation."

The Emperor gave Wang Yongzhu a deep look, then turned his head: "Minister Du, take your team and ensure a proper diagnosis for the Imperial Noble Consort!"

Du Zhongjing nodded and proceeded, casting a worried glance at Wang Yongzhu as he passed her.

Wang Yongzhu returned his nod.

Having been with the Noble Consort through the long night and sharing meals to alleviate hunger, she was utterly exhausted.

Not to mention, in extracting the amniotic fluid from the little prince’s throat, she exhausted the internal energy she had painstakingly cultivated in the Intermediate Level of Physical Enhancement Technique.

If not for the last ounce of willpower, she might have collapsed.

Thus, when Du Zhongjing and his team entered the delivery room to examine the Noble Consort, she finally relaxed her tense nerves.

A dizziness overcame her, forcing her to steady herself by holding onto a pillar under the veranda.

By the light under the porch, the Emperor noted Wang Yongzhu’s pale face and shaky stance.

He hesitated briefly before instructing: "Prepare a seat for the Wife of the Heir-Apparent!"

Chief Steward Su, ever astute, immediately gave a signal.

Soon, a seat was brought and placed nearby, along with a brazier, alongside tea at just the right temperature and a bowl of gently simmered silver ear soup.

Wang Yongzhu, not bothering with formalities, expressed her thanks and sat down. The seat was cushioned warmly, and she first took a few sips of the warm tea to soothe her dry throat.

Then she slowly drank the silver ear soup.

The attendants nearby dared not make a sound, with only the occasional clink of the spoon against the porcelain bowl and the popping of the fire in the brazier breaking the silence.

Chief Steward Su had long sent someone to fetch the detained midwives, following Huai Cai’s chamberlain.

Though it was late night, being the New Year’s transition, Changchun Palace was brightly lit. The midwives were brought before the Emperor and obediently knelt.

The Emperor looked at Wang Yongzhu: "Do you assert these midwives are a problem? But did the Imperial Noble Consort not deliver successfully?"

Frankly, he never had much hope for a smooth delivery, so upon hearing mother and child were safe, he was overjoyed and hadn’t considered any foul play against the Noble Consort.

He understood too well the thoughts of the women in the palace.

The idea was, if an umbilical cord around the neck signified great fortune, the child would be born safely. These women needn’t act to achieve their goals, so nearly no one would intervene.

He hadn’t suspected a thing.

The midwives began to cry out their grievances!

They claimed they had been serving well, and even though the Noble Consort was exhausted, they were helpless. Who would have known the Wife of the Heir-Apparent would have them removed?

While they might lack skill, even given a hundred chances, they had no ill will towards the Noble Consort and Prince!

Having finished her bowl of silver ear soup, Wang Yongzhu felt slightly revived and cast a cold glance at the midwives.

Then she stood up and, with poise, addressed the Emperor: "Your Majesty, for some time now, I’ve been assisting the Noble Consort in conditioning her body. I also taught her exercises to help detach the umbilical cord from around the fetus’ neck. Yesterday, when I took her pulse, I discovered the umbilical cord around the baby’s neck had reduced to no more than one and a half loops."

"This presented no major concern, especially with her following the dietary and exercise regimen I provided, ensuring mobility within her quarters. Furthermore, the little Prince’s weight was well-controlled, not an overly large child of eight or nine pounds. By all accounts, she should have delivered smoothly."

"Initially, labor progressed normally, but as the cervix fully dilated for delivery, with almost no fluid left, all activity ceased."

"No matter how many labor-inducing drugs the physicians provided, or how much ginseng soup was administered, the child wouldn’t come. The Noble Consort was resolute, yet this led the midwives to give up prematurely. If there had been confusion in the ranks and with physicians barred from entry, both the Noble Consort and the Prince might have perished while waiting—"

The Emperor’s eyes flickered with menace as he looked at the midwives.

The midwives trembled more violently than leaves in a storm, desperately pleading: "We’ve been wronged! Truly wronged!"

"From the time we entered Changchun Palace, we were monitored, bathed, and changed into clothes provided by the palace. Hands were soaked in hot water and wiped with alcohol, all done under the Wife of the Heir-Apparent’s instructions. During delivery, so many eyes were watching; even if we were inclined, we had no chance to act! Let alone, we’d never have the courage to do anything!"

"Your Majesty, please see clearly!"

The Emperor turned to Wang Yongzhu: "What is the Wife of the Heir-Apparent’s view?"

Wang Yongzhu almost laughed angrily; one’s own wife and child had nearly fallen victim, and the husband, as both father and husband, asked outsiders for their opinion?

I think you’re being foolish!