Chapter 113: Zhu Huanhuan

Hongwu Year Five, the seventh day of the fifth month.

Before dawn, the Wu Wang Fu was already brightly lit.

The delivery room door was tightly shut, and a suppressed cry of pain came from Guanyin Nu inside.

Zhu Yong paced back and forth outside the door, his face full of anxiety.

"Prince, please sit and rest a while!" Xiao Zhu brought over a cup of tea.

Zhu Yong took the tea but could not drink it, placed the tray back and said, "How long has she been inside?"

"She went in at the third quarter of the Yin hour; it's been almost half a double‑hour now," Xiao Zhu whispered.

Zhu Yong clenched his fists.

He had slain countless enemies on the battlefield, never once furrowing a brow before a host of troops, yet now it felt harder than war.

Inside the delivery room, Guanyin Nu's cries rose and fell; two midwives were busy inside, and the imperial physician waited in the outer chamber.

"Push, Princess, push harder!" the midwife's voice rang out.

Zhu Yong could not help but try to push the door open, but Xiao Ying stopped him, "Prince, the delivery room is unclean; you may not enter."

"My wife is suffering inside, I…"

As he spoke, the sound of horse hooves and a eunuch's proclamation came from outside: "His Majesty arrives! Empress arrives!"

Zhu Yong was startled and hurried to greet them.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma stepped down from the carriage, followed by Zhu Biao.

"Father, Mother, elder brother, why are you here?" Zhu Yong saluted.

Empress Ma quickened her steps and said, "Minmin has gone into labor; with a matter this big, how could Mother not come? How is it now?"

"She's been in for half a double‑hour and is still delivering," Zhu Yong answered honestly.

Empress Ma patted his hand and said, "First births are always like this; don't worry, the midwives are experienced palace staff, the physician is present, all will be fine."

Zhu Yuanzhang also said, "Yong Er, don't panic, sit and wait."

Though he said so, he himself paced around the courtyard.

Zhu Biao stayed by Zhu Yong's side and softly said, "Second brother, don't worry; when Wanmei gave birth to Xiong Ying it was the same, just endure it."

Zhu Yong nodded, but his eyes still fixed on the delivery room door.

The sky grew brighter, a fish‑belly white spreading in the east.

The sounds in the delivery room came and went; Guanyin Nu's cries had become hoarse.

Zhu Yong felt his heart ache; several times he wanted to rush in, but Empress Ma held him back.

"Yong Er, a woman's childbirth is crossing the Gate of Ghosts; if you go in now you'll only hinder, not help. Trust the midwives, trust the physician," Empress Ma said gently.

"Mother, I know, it's just…" Zhu Yong could not finish.

At that moment, a loud wail suddenly rose from the delivery room.

"It's born, it's born!" the midwife's voice rang with joy.

Zhu Yong's eyes brightened, and he was about to rush inside.

"Wait! The midwife hasn't finished cleaning up; wait another quarter‑hour," Empress Ma said after pulling him back.

That quarter‑hour felt longer than a year to Zhu Yong.

Finally, the delivery room door opened; a midwife emerged cradling a swaddled infant, smiling broadly, "Congratulations, Lord, congratulations, Your Majesty, Empress, Crown Prince! The Princess has given birth to a little princess; mother and daughter are safe!"

Zhu Yong could not look at the child, and hurriedly asked, "How is my wife?"

"The Princess is exhausted, has fallen asleep, but her body is unharmed; she is just a bit weak and needs proper care," the midwife replied respectfully.

Only then did Zhu Yong sigh in relief and looked at the baby in the midwife's arms.

Small, red, eyes closed, a tiny mouth slightly open, sleeping.

"Let me see," Zhu Yuanzhang said as he approached.

The midwife carefully handed the child over.

Zhu Yuanzhang held the swaddled infant, his movements a little stiff, but his gaze was gentle as he said, "Looks like Yong Er, also like Guanyin Nu, good, good."

Empress Ma also leaned in, smiling, "The nose resembles Yong Er, the mouth like Minmin; a beautiful seed."

Zhu Biao also glanced and said to Zhu Yong, "Second brother, congratulations, you're a father now."

Zhu Yong chuckled foolishly, reached out to hold, then said timidly, "It's so small…"

"When your elder brother first held Xiong Ying he was the same… come, Mother will teach you," Empress Ma said with a smile.

She took the child from Zhu Yuanzhang's hands, demonstrated to Zhu Yong, and said, "One hand supports the head and neck, the other supports the bottom; hold securely."

Zhu Yong took the infant carefully and cradled it in his arms.

The tiny baby was light as a feather, yet as heavy as Mount Tai.

This was Zhu Yong's daughter.

"Father, Mother, I have a daughter now," Zhu Yong lifted his head, his eyes rimmed with red.

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his shoulder and said, "Good, good, the Zhu family adds another mouth."

Empress Ma laughed, "You three elders go out first; I'll go in and check on Minmin."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, said to Zhu Yong, "Yong Er, hold your little lady and come with us."

The three of them entered the Qian Ting.

Zhu Yong still cradled the child, his movements becoming more practiced.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat down, took a sip of tea, and asked, "Have you decided on a name?"

Zhu Yong answered sheepishly, "Minmin and I had thought, if it's a daughter, we'd call her Huan Huan, hoping she'll be joyful all her life."

"Zhu Huanhuan… not bad, simple and festive. Our granddaughter should be joyous," Zhu Yuanzhang recited, nodding.

Zhu Biao smiled, "Huan Huan, the name is easy to remember; now Xiong Ying has a sister, someone to play with."

Just as they were speaking, Empress Ma came out from behind, smiling, and said, "Minmin has woken up, her spirit is still good, just tired. I have had the imperial physician prescribe a formula; she should recuperate well for a month."

Zhu Yong hurriedly asked, "Mother, may I go in and have a look?"

"Go, keep your voice low; Minmin has just fallen asleep," Empress Ma said.

Zhu Yong handed the child to Empress Ma and slipped quietly into the delivery room.

Guanyin Nu lay on the bed, pale, but with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Prince…," she whispered.

Zhu Yong sat at the bedside, took her hand, and said, "You've endured a lot."

"Not at all; seeing the child makes everything worthwhile," Guanyin Nu said, looking at her husband. "It's a daughter; Prince won't be disappointed, right?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? What's wrong with a daughter? She's Dad's little cotton‑padded coat; I like her very much," Zhu Yong said earnestly.

Guanyin Nu smiled and closed her eyes peacefully.

Zhu Yong stayed with her for a while, and after she fell soundly asleep, he slipped out quietly.

In the Qian Ting, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were still playing with the child.

Xiaohuanhuan woke up, her dark eyes wide open, neither crying nor fussing, curiously looking around.

It was also because Xiaohuanhuan was born into the royal family, never lacking food and drink; otherwise she wouldn't have opened her eyes so quickly.

"This child is well‑behaved, unlike Xiong Ying, who cried thunderously when born," Empress Ma laughed.

Zhu Yuanzhang, rarely, showed a kindly smile and said, "Like Biao'er when he was young, quiet."

Zhu Biao heard this and laughed, "Father, didn't you say that your son‑minister also loved to cry when he was little?"

"That's a mistake on your part," Zhu Yuanzhang said without changing expression.

Everyone laughed.

At that moment, more people arrived outside.

It was Chang Yuchun's family, along with Xu Da and Lan Yu and others.

"Congratulations, Prince Wu… Ah… I, Chang Yuchun, pay my respects to His Majesty, elder sister, Crown Prince," Chang Yuchun shouted as soon as he entered, and upon seeing Zhu Yuanzhang and the others, quickly performed the bow.

"No need for formalities; your news is surprisingly prompt," Zhu Yuanzhang laughed.

"I heard early that Wu Wang Fu had hired the imperial physician and a midwife; after calculating the date, I guessed the princess had given birth, so I hurried over," Chang Yuchun said with a smile.

Xu Da also said, "Congratulations, His Majesty, another granddaughter."

Lan Yu came over to look at the child and said, "Ah! This little girl, truly lovely!"

Chang Yuchun's wife Lan Shi also arrived; she is one of the few women in Yingtian Fu with whom Guanyin Nu can converse.

Empress Ma handed the child to her; Lan Shi held her and said softly, "This child has a blessed appearance."

After some banter, Zhu Biao said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Father, today's morning court…"

"We won't go; let the officials wait. Our granddaughter's birth is such a huge matter that everything else must be postponed," Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand.

Zhu Yong hurriedly said, "Father, isn't this improper…?"

"What's improper? I am the emperor; I decide. Besides, those civil officials chatter all day; letting them wait half a day is fine, clean and tidy," Zhu Yuanzhang glared.

Zhu Biao forced a bitter smile and had to order a eunuch to convey the edict.

Zhu Biao forced a bitter smile, and had no choice but to instruct the eunuch to deliver the edict.