Chapter 261: Volume 1, Chapter 261: The Noble Consort Gives Birth

Rong Luoge had never experienced what it felt like to give birth, but she knew she had to trust the professionals.

The imperial physicians standing watch in Yuzhao Gong were the most skilled and finest batch from the Imperial Hospital.

The midwives attending her in the delivery room had been carefully selected by Han Xinglan, confirmed to be beyond any suspicion before being arranged to enter, and there were three of them—the three did not know one another, so they could also keep an eye on each other.

Rong Xin, Que Cai, and the others surrounded her, and besides, she was only having a child—she wasn't paralyzed and unable to move. If someone truly tried to harm her, with her skills she would still have enough strength to fight back.

Rong Luoge had thought about many things, but she never imagined that giving birth would hurt this much. This pain was entirely different from the pain of taking a knife wound—it was continuous, an unbroken assault, each wave fiercer than the last.

"Your Ladyship, you must conserve your strength. Don't cry out, or you'll have no energy left at the very end."

"Your Ladyship, you need to know how to push. Push in time with drawing breath into your belly—it will save you effort."

"Your Ladyship, eat something. Even if you can't eat, you must eat."

Rong Luoge: …

She ate a large bowl of brown sugar poached eggs with a wooden expression. Seeing something so down-to-earth appear in the palace was truly astonishing.

Rong Luoge had a high tolerance for pain, but this relentless, pounding pain made her understand why mothers would be completely drained after giving birth. By the end, she could only follow the midwife's instructions by instinct.

Exhale, inhale, push!

In the end, she could only remember one word—push!

Separated by only a single door, Han Xinglan tried several times to burst in, but was stopped dead each time. Yuan Bao clung to His Majesty's leg. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot! Think about it—if you go in, the court officials will likely impeach the Noble Consort with everything they've got."

A delivery room is inauspicious; the sight of blood is unlucky.

Han Xinglan's fingertips had already touched the door panel, but in the end he helplessly let his hand fall.

That was right. He could disregard himself, but he could not disregard Luoge.

He could not, through his own impulsiveness, let her bear such an ill reputation. If that happened, let alone establishing her as empress, even their child would likely bear a tainted name because of it.

There was no moment when Han Xinglan more desperately wished to grow powerful as quickly as possible. Then he could do as he pleased—so what if he entered the delivery room? Would he still need to worry about those curs submitting memorials to impeach?

Why hasn't she given birth yet?

Han Xinglan paced endlessly outside the hall. Yuan Bao was drenched in cold sweat, following close behind and never leaving his side, terrified that His Majesty might impulsively rush inside.

This night was truly agonizing to endure. When the sky began to brighten, a golden orb was about to rise, its golden light already faintly blanketing the earth—and right at that moment, a clear, resonant cry shattered the dawn silence.

"She's given birth!"

Han Xinglan abruptly stopped in his tracks and turned to enter the hall.

Yuan Bao once again deployed his leg-grabbing technique. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, wait just a little longer. At least wait until the Noble Consort has tidied her appearance."

Han Xinglan recalled that Luoge always cared about her looks, and the foot he had lifted slowly drew back.

Yuan Bao let out a long breath. Leaving aside the Noble Consort's disheveled appearance right after giving birth, the delivery room hadn't been tidied up yet either. How could His Majesty go in at a time like this?

Soon a midwife came out to announce the happy news. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty! The Noble Consort has given birth to a little prince!"

Everyone in Yuzhao Gong erupted in cheers.

Han Xinglan looked at the midwife and asked, "How is the Noble Consort?"

The midwife was taken aback. She hadn't expected His Majesty's first question to be about the little prince's mother rather than the little prince himself. A chill ran through her heart—she had long known the Noble Consort was favored, but she hadn't imagined His Majesty would dote on her to such a degree. She immediately said, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Her Ladyship has always been hale and hearty. At present she is simply drained. With proper care during her confinement, she'll be fine once it's over."

Just as they were speaking, another midwife carried out the wrapped little prince.

Han Xinglan strode over and glanced at the son in the midwife's arms—all wrinkled, his skin reddish. Truly, there was not the slightest trace of resemblance to either him or the Noble Consort.

Han Xinglan's mouth twitched. He looked like a little monkey.

"Rewards—reward everyone!" Han Xinglan declared.

Everyone hastily knelt to give thanks. The entirety of Yuzhao Gong brimmed with joy.

After saying this, Han Xinglan stepped into the inner chamber. The moment he entered, he caught a faint scent of blood. Even though the room had already been lit with incense and the bedding had all been changed, that bloody scent still made his heart seize.

He walked quickly to the bedside, crouched down, and looked at Rong Luoge, gripping her hand tightly. "How do you feel? Is there anywhere that's uncomfortable?"

Rong Luoge had assumed he would look at the baby first before coming in. She hadn't expected him to enter the moment the baby was carried out. She couldn't help recalling all sorts of amusing anecdotes about delivery rooms from the modern era, and looking at Han Xinglan again, she suddenly felt that even placed in the modern world, he would count as a good husband.

"Quite well. I just don't have much strength right now. The ginseng you went to such trouble to find for me didn't even get used. I told you my body is in great shape," Rong Luoge said with a smile.

Han Xinglan reached out and brushed her cheek. "You've worked hard."

Rong Luoge gazed at Han Xinglan. It was hard to describe her feelings at this moment—it was as if, after enduring a prolonged assault of agony, his words instantly made her feel better from head to toe.

"Since you know I worked hard, you'll have to treat me well from now on."

Han Xinglan was stunned for a moment, then broke into a smile and reached out to embrace her.

Rong Luoge hurriedly pushed at him. "Don't hold me—I'm covered in sweat and haven't washed yet."

"It doesn't matter. I wanted to come in and hold you this whole time."

To her surprise, Rong Luoge detected a hint of grievance in those words. She was immediately amused, her brows and eyes relaxing as she said with a laugh, "It's a good thing you didn't come in. Otherwise, at tomorrow's morning court, the memorials impeaching me would be as thick and dense as winter snowflakes."

Han Xinglan: …

Rong Xin and Que Cai quietly withdrew, leading the two midwives and the palace maids out. The people of Yuzhao Gong were one thing, but the midwives were a bit dazed, unable to believe that in private, His Majesty and the Noble Consort actually interacted like this.

Rong Xin looked at them and said softly, "Grannies, once you leave, there are some things you can say and some things you cannot. Have you got that?"

The two nodded frantically—did they have a death wish?

Rong Xin produced the thick red envelopes she had prepared long ago and gave them to the midwives. "These are rewards from the Noble Consort. Thank you for your trouble, grannies."

The hefty purses had the recipients thanking her profusely, their grins stretching past their ears. The Noble Consort was truly generous.

Rong Luoge had, after all, just given birth. Even with her strong constitution, she was still somewhat weary. She had Han Xinglan bring their son in for her to see, then closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Once Rong Luoge was asleep, Han Xinglan refused to leave. He carefully placed their son beside Rong Luoge. Looking at the little fellow now, he no longer seemed ugly—he looked pleasing no matter how he looked at him.

This was his and Luoge's child.

Such a tiny little bundle—he hadn't even dared to use any strength when holding him. Was this what it felt like to be a father?