Chapter 526 - 304: The Eldest Prince

Chapter 526: Chapter 304: The Eldest Prince

"Congratulations, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Lady Shufei, Lady Wanfei! Song Zhaoyi has given birth to a little prince!"

Consort Shu watched the midwife, who had come to announce the good news while holding a baby in bright red swaddling, and let out a long breath. ’A little prince?’

Well, now.

She immediately looked at the Empress Dowager’s face. The Empress Dowager was stunned for a moment, then a smile stretched across her features, a smile that looked as stiff as stone.

The Empress Dowager had been counting on An Shutong entering the palace. It would be a miracle if she were happy that the Emperor’s firstborn son came from Song Yunzhao’s womb.

If the Empress Dowager was unhappy, Consort Shu was happy.

The Empress Dowager merely gave a faint nod to show she understood, then rose and said, "Since the birth was successful, I will be returning. I’ll leave Consort Shu to manage things here."

Everyone watched the departing Empress Dowager with some surprise. No reward, no visit, she didn’t even glance at the little prince in the midwife’s arms. The Empress Dowager just left like that.

Consort Shu thought, ’Isn’t the Empress Dowager just slapping Song Yunzhao in the face?’

’I helped Song Yunzhao keep things under control today. A slap to Song Yunzhao’s face is a slap to my own. How can I let that stand?’

Ignoring the fact that the Empress Dowager hadn’t even left Wangyou Palace’s main gate, Consort Shu announced in a loud voice, "Immediately write a letter to the Emperor to report the joyous news! Everyone in Wangyou Palace has served Song Zhaoyi with merit, and for the safe birth of an imperial heir, they must be rewarded. By my order, everyone in Wangyou Palace is to be rewarded with three months’ stipend!"

The entire staff of Wangyou Palace immediately knelt and kowtowed to Consort Shu in thanks. In an instant, the palace, which had been cast into a somber silence by the Empress Dowager, erupted with excitement.

Consort Shu nodded in satisfaction. ’This is more like it. She gave birth to a son, not a block of wood. Everyone should be celebrating.’

Once Consort Shu was in a good mood, she also bestowed rewards upon the midwife, the Imperial Physician, and the Medical Woman—all of them generous.

Laughter echoed from all around, loud enough for Song Yunzhao to hear from the delivery room. She forced herself to stay awake, glanced at her son, and listened as Nanny Yu recounted what had happened outside. ’Consort Shu really went all out this time,’ she thought. ’I’ll have to thank her properly once I’ve recovered.’

’As for... the Empress Dowager,’ she mused, ’I’ll keep a record of this debt. We’ll settle it when the Emperor returns.’

Song Yunzhao was utterly exhausted. With her greatest worries taken care of, she closed her eyes in relief and fell asleep.

Nanny Yu personally watched over the little prince, instructing Xiangxue, Shizhu, and the others to meticulously clean the delivery room. She then lit some incense to clear the lingering smell of blood in the air.

Outside, once Consort Shu had everything settled, she began to dismiss the crowd. Since Song Zhaoyi had given birth safely, it was time for everyone to disperse.

Qin Xiyue rose with the others and walked out. When she reached the entrance of Wangyou Palace, she glanced back. Every Palace Attendant of Wangyou Palace had a huge smile on their face, their eyes filled with an irrepressible joy. Princess Consort Wan and Consort Shu were talking about something, looking perfectly harmonious and friendly.

Over by the delivery room, Song Yunzhao had not yet emerged. The door was shut tight, with Palace Attendants standing guard outside. From the tea room next door, a palace maid came out carrying hot water and began to wash the basins, towels, and other items...

"Qin Wan Yi, it’s time to go back."

Qin Xiyue was startled out of her reverie by Fan Pin’s voice. She smiled and said softly, "Yes, it is time to go back. Song Zhaoyi gave birth to a son in one go. The Emperor will surely be pleased when he gets the news. Both Song Zhaoyi and the Song Family are about to advance even further."

Fan Pin couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy, but she knew envy was useless.

Although she came from the Han State Duke Mansion, her father was a disappointment. He held no proper official post, just coasting on his title. Her family had sent her to the selection hoping she could make a name for herself in the palace and, in turn, help her family.

But her looks weren’t the most striking, nor were her skills the most exceptional. How could she possibly find a place to shine in this palace? A single Song Zhaoyi had already turned everything upside down.

She had thought entering the palace was the beginning of her life, but it turned out to be the end. The most glorious moment of her life had been the day she was chosen.

Hearing Qin Xiyue’s words, Fan Pin showed no reaction, merely smiling as she said, "Yes, Song Zhaoyi is truly blessed to have a son on her first try. She has someone to rely on from now on."

Qin Wan Yi found these words grating, but she didn’t say anything improper and walked back with Fan Pin.

Watching the crowd of people walking ahead and behind, Qin Wan Yi realized that everyone who had gone to Wangyou Palace to wait for news had entered the palace at the same time as Song Yunzhao. Not a single concubine who had entered with the two concubines had appeared.

’It makes sense,’ she thought. ’They don’t usually interact, and those women live their days with their heads down. Of course they wouldn’t want to come out.’

Next year would be time for the draft again. For a moment, Qin Xiyue was lost in a daze. ’In another year, will we become just like those concubines who never leave their chambers?’

Up ahead, Dong Guiren and Beauty Zhen were walking together. Dong Guiren glanced back at Qin Wan Yi and Fan Pin and muttered softly, "Fan Pin really is a good person."

Beauty Zhen’s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. She had been dragged into trouble right after entering the palace, and ever since that incident, she had become very timid. When she later thought of Chen Miaohui, who was sent to the Cold Palace, she felt she had gotten off easy and cherished her current life all the more.

She lived with Dong Guiren in Lin Hua Palace. Their personalities were compatible, and they usually kept each other company, so their relationship was good. Thus, hearing her comment, she lowered her voice and said, "Let’s just hurry back. I’m a little hungry."

’It’s best to stay far away from matters related to Qin Wan Yi,’ she thought. ’I almost suffered because of her last time. But my rank is too low to offend Qin Wan Yi, so I can only avoid her.’

Dong Guiren knew what Beauty Zhen was afraid of. She quickened her pace with her, and only after they had gone some distance did she say, "In the entire palace, only the one in Wangyou Palace lives the most comfortably. It’s truly enviable."

Beauty Zhen agreed. "Not everyone can have such blessings. It’s enough for us to just be safe and sound. The draft is next year. Who knows what will happen then."

They couldn’t compete with Song Zhaoyi, but before Song Zhaoyi entered the palace, weren’t the three concubines also at the height of their power?

When the new women enter the palace, perhaps Song Zhaoyi will become like the former three concubines. Oh, it’s the two concubines now.

Meng Jiuchang felt it was a pity he couldn’t be of use. He had been held up by the courtiers, leaving him with a Token in hand but no place to use it.

’The Empress Dowager came all the way to Wangyou Palace to throw her weight around,’ he grumbled to himself. ’You’d think she’d do something big, but was that it?’

Meng Jiuchang had been hoping to seize the opportunity to earn some merit, but it was all for nothing. Instead, Zhang Maoquan got lucky and even got to show his face before the Empress Dowager.

Consort Shu wrote one joyful report, and Meng Jiuchang wrote another. Both were sent out by express delivery.

Song Yunzhao began her month of postpartum confinement. Fortunately, it wasn’t boring. Feng Yunjin and a few others took turns coming to talk with her. Because the Emperor was not in the Capital City, the baby wasn’t given a name. As he was the Emperor’s eldest son, everyone started calling him "Eldest Prince."

Song Yunzhao had wanted to give the baby a nickname, but after many days of thinking, she couldn’t decide on one. All the names she considered revolved around wishes for peace, togetherness, fortune, and health.

Before she could even decide on a name, she had gotten used to calling him "Eldest Prince" along with everyone else.

She...

’Eldest Prince it is, then.’