Chapter 371: Retiring in the Imperial Palace

Just as the Taizi Fu was bustling with excitement, Jixiang Yuan was also in the midst of a lively banquet.

Who would have thought that as Jia Mei sat there, she would suddenly feel a pain in her belly.

This startled everyone; Chuan'er picked up Jia Mei and carried her back to Haichuan Pavilion, with Qiao Mai and the others following closely behind.

The Steward hurriedly arranged for someone to fetch the Steady Midwife, while Qiao Mai directed the servant girls and matrons to set up the delivery room.

She took Jia Mei's pulse and examined her belly—the baby's position was correct, the child wasn't large, everything was normal, and a natural birth was no problem.

Half an hour later, the Steady Midwife arrived. Qiao Mai didn't leave the room; she sat to one side, holding Jia Mei's hand, explaining what to pay attention to during the birth.

Jia Mei had been pampered since childhood, and this kind of pain truly distressed her. She cried and screamed while nodding along to her mother-in-law's words.

The sight of her was utterly pitiable.

Qiao Mai sighed inwardly. There was no helping it—even if it were an immortal giving birth, they would have to go through this; no one else could take her place.

As for the titles, they would be conferred after the names were chosen; for now, a verbal promise would do—it could also count as a gift for the children.

"That won't do. I must have someone to attend to me; I'm used to it. You can't expect me to build a fire and cook for myself out in the wild. I'm at this age now."

"This is what Jia Mei ought to do."

Jia Mei obediently smiled at Qiao Mai. "I understand, Mother."

After the Old Emperor finished arranging matters in the Imperial Palace, he handed over all state affairs to the Crown Prince. He spent his days idly, taking the Empress to Jixiang Yuan at every opportunity, both to see the children and to freeload meals.

So he and the Empress stayed longer and longer at Jixiang Yuan, and eventually, they didn't want to leave. Qiao Mai didn't drive them away either.

And wasn't the imperial family the same? They married off a daughter and gained grandsons.

"The Imperial Palace has the Guardian Beast, and you have the sheep and the rat here. Jingcheng should be fine, right?"

"No need to bring them. My man can do anything, and so can I."

"The Empress will take two, I'll take two. Will you and Jiaqi take any?"

Two hours later, the delivery room echoed with the cries of infants. Jia Mei gave birth to a son for the Qiao Family, and half a quarter of an hour later, Jia Mei gave birth to a second son for the Qiao Family.

Qiao Mai came to the bedside, gently stroked her forehead, and placed a pill in her mouth.

"Alright, so no guards then?"

Not only that, but all the women in the cold palaces were also sent to Ganye Si to become nuns. Those without children, as long as they were willing, could leave the palace, and they were given a sum of silver to find a place to retire.

Life became very regular. The Emperor discovered that, setting aside the food, after staying at Jixiang Yuan for a few days, his body felt much better than it did in the Imperial Palace.

Strictly speaking, since he was a son-in-law who married into the family, Chuan'er should have changed his surname to Qiao. But Qiao Mai never said a word and always let him keep the surname Yuan. Now that there were two baby boys, having them all take the surname Qiao would also be proper.

"Haha, you've had two boys! The Qiao Family has an heir! Haha, congratulations!"

The homecoming banquet was also quite lively. The Crown Prince told his father- and mother-in-law that from now on, he and Ling'er would live in the Donggong of the Imperial Palace.

In the palace now, it was just her and Ling'er; there were no more women vying for favor. The Old Emperor learned to cultivate health and, aside from the Empress, kept away from women.

Those unwilling to leave the palace could retire there, but all the daily necessities and allowances of the consorts would be halved.

Qiao Mai held one child in each arm and placed them into the cribs that had been prepared long ago.

At the same time, the Old Emperor was also paving the way for the Crown Prince. He drove out all the consorts who had imperial sons from the palace, sending them to the Wangfu—that is, their sons' residences.

"Thank you, Wangfei."

Because the Crown Prince had to manage state affairs, the Crown Princess would live there to accompany him. The two could freely reside in either the Taizi Fu or the Donggong.

Imperial sons still had to contend and fight, but their own daughter had married into a good family. Not only had she been placed on the throne as Empress, but she had also won exclusive favor.

Occasionally, they would stay for a few days, and they even learned proper health preservation techniques from Qiao Mai.

He felt there were too many women in the harem, so while he was still around, he hurriedly dismissed them.

"Jia Mei, you've given the Qiao Family two boys at once. You've worked hard."

"If you don't exercise, your body will always be lacking."

"Joy to us all, joy to us all! Come, let's go to the front and drink. We won't go home until we're drunk. No one is allowed to leave today—if we drink, we stay at my place."

She had gained a son, become the Crown Prince, married a good daughter-in-law, and her daughter-in-law's Niang Jia was incredibly powerful. She had nothing to worry about and followed the Emperor in learning health preservation—what a wonderful life!

At the same time, a batch of older palace maids were released. As a result, the palace suddenly became much quieter, and many halls sat idle.

The midwife left, and only Jia Mei's personal servant girl remained in the room. Only then did Qiao Mai get up and go out.

These matters should have been done within his lifetime, after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, but he couldn't wait that long.

Qiao Mai watched the Steady Midwife finish cleaning up and handed each of them a hundred-tael banknote. "Hard work. Go to the front and have a cup of wedding wine before you leave."

Looking at everyone outside the door staring at her, she said, "Two boys were born. Go to the front and drink some wedding wine. It's a bit cold, so I won't bring the children out."

"In-laws, the rainy season is coming soon. I'm worried about the people in Nanfang. How about letting Xian'er give Jiaqi a long vacation, and we'll all go on a southern tour together?"

"Rest well. Sleep for a while first. I've had them brew some medicinal broth; you'll have some in a bit."

On the first day of the third lunar month, Double Happiness Arrives at Jixiang Yuan—marrying off a daughter and gaining grandsons.

Qiao Mai taught the two of them a set of boxing techniques. Every morning, the two would first practice the set, then do other things.

The Emperor looked at Qiao Mai with hopeful eyes. "You're just afraid to go out alone, aren't you?"

The Empress would often sigh from time to time, saying that her own daughter was better than any imperial son.

After the names were chosen, the Emperor issued an edict, conferring one as Chen Commandery Prince and the other as Xue Commandery Prince. The Qiao Family's princely titles were all hereditary.

The more the two looked, the happier they became. The Emperor enfeoffed the two unnamed baby boys as Commandery Princes.

That evening, Yuan Jiaqi, as the children's biological grandfather, named them: Yuan Beichen and Qiao Tianxue. Both names were chosen in memory of Beifang.

When the Emperor and Empress at the Taizi Fu heard that Jia Mei had given birth to two children, they immediately rushed to Jixiang Yuan as soon as the banquet ended. They didn't even mind the bloody smell of the delivery room. Entering, they first looked at the sleeping Jia Mei, then at their two grandsons.

The only one who shared her Bloodline had married. If she didn't say it, no one would know that Ling'er was her own flesh and Bloodline.

Days passed one by one, and the weather grew warmer. Jia Mei soon finished her month of confinement. When she had nothing to do, she would carry the children to Yuexian Pavilion to chat with her mother-in-law.

Seeing that the rainy season was approaching again, the Emperor was quite worried about the Hedao that had been dug in previous years.

Ling'er returned to her Niang Jia, accompanied by the Crown Prince. They brought several carts of gifts—some for Jia Mei and the children, and some as offerings to Qiao Mai and Yuan Jiaqi.

"Naturally, no problem."

"You can rest assured letting him handle the state affairs alone?"

I have to say, the Emperor's decree is only special for Fu Wang's family.

Moreover, the Empress even slacked off, directly handing the entire Imperial Palace's management to Ling'er.

One is of the Yuan clan, the other of the Qiao clan; seeing that his wife didn't object, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Anyway there are plenty of rooms; stay as long as you like.

In fact, it doesn't matter to Qiao Mai; they're not her own bloodline, any surname will do.

When there is nothing else, they still sit together to discuss the tea ceremony; Qiao Mai hasn't studied this area much, and they even specifically consulted a tea master; when idle they sip some kung fu tea.

Hehe, with you here, even without guards, I am at ease.

Then what are we waiting for? Don't think that just because I am the ruler of a nation and have never toured my own realm, we shouldn't seize this chance—let's travel together, and since Rui'er has never left the house, let's go together, okay?

It's decided then—southward in three days? Then we'll take the waterways to the north to see how it is; I have never seen snow.

Fine!

Qiao Mai truly admires this Emperor, pulling her into everything; nevertheless, she also wants to go out and unwind, and it's just right to travel together with Xianggong, touring the Great Ming, after which she will have to close the long pass.

She doesn't intend to stay in Jingcheng, but to return to Tianshui Town.

(End of chapter)