Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 489 Qu Jieyu's Childbirth (1)

The flowing water has washed away the last petals of red, and new buds have broken through the frozen soil.

As February approaches, the spring breeze stirs the tender willows along the Taiye Pond, and the imperial harem is about to welcome a new life. Just as "death is the end of yesterday, and life is the beginning of today, the cycle never ends."

Inside the Chunxi Palace, Consort Qu began her act.

The timing of her pregnancy was truly ingenious.

The month Meng Shu gave birth to Yu Nu'er, she secretly became pregnant. At that time, the Emperor and everyone in the harem were focused on Lingcui Palace.

When she was four months pregnant and the pregnancy was just stabilizing, although family matters had disturbed the fetus, a confinement order kept her inside the palace, which also kept the gossip outside the walls.

When she was six months pregnant, Consort Chun gave birth to the Emperor's second son, Gu Lin. The threshold of Huining Palace was almost worn down by the crowds, while everything inside Chunxi Palace remained the same.

Nine months into her pregnancy, Empress Dowager Zhou passed away. Amidst the palace's mourning, she dragged her ailing body, and despite Meng Shu's advice that "she is pregnant and need not go to Shou Kang Palace to offer sacrifices," she insisted on kneeling on the palace path outside Chunxi Hall to pay her respects from afar. This act naturally drew the attention of the Emperor and Empress Dowager Jiang to her...

Perhaps it was because of the successive births of two princes that people unconsciously turned their attention to Lingcui Palace and Huining Palace. It was only at this time that the concubines in the harem realized that there was also a concubine named Qu Jieyu who was about to give birth.

The day arrived quickly, but Qu Jieyu's delivery was exceptionally difficult.

I entered the delivery room last night, and more than a night has passed since then. The cries of pain from the delivery room are intermittent, but there has been no good news yet.

Meng Shu, accompanied by Consort Shun, Consort Qi, and several other concubines, arrived early at the Chunxi Palace flower hall to wait.

This was her first time setting foot here, and her gaze unconsciously swept over the furnishings in the hall. They were exquisite, yet exuded a quiet antiquity, consistent with the impression Qu Jieyu always gave off, unlike the ostentatious displays elsewhere.

Through a semi-transparent bamboo curtain, the scene inside the study could be vaguely seen. Looking around, several ancient books were neatly stacked on the desk. The bookshelf behind the chair occupied half a wall, densely packed with everything from classics and historical texts to miscellaneous writings, exuding a scholarly atmosphere.

Consort Qi followed Meng Shu's gaze and couldn't help but sigh, "Everyone says that Consort Qu is quick-witted in poetry and prose, and just looking at this bookshelf, it is indeed magnificent."

The palace servant standing by bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, our Lady has always loved reading. Lord Qu knows of Her Majesty's interests and every now and then he would send in some rare books that are hard to find elsewhere. Even when she was pregnant and her body was heavy, Her Majesty did not rest and often picked up a book to read."

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu smiled faintly and looked away from the books stacked on her desk.

Sitting on the opposite side, Consort Shun couldn't help but speak up: "I already have a headache just looking at these books, but Consort Qu is so patient. However, reading so many books also requires some physical exercise. You've already stayed up all night, and it would be dangerous if you couldn't give birth."

Consort Mu glanced at her, then picked up her teacup and took a sip of cold tea.

Shen Jieyu sat in the corner, not uttering a word since she came in. Her once bright and cheerful personality had long been replaced by a melancholy silence.

Consort Chun did not come; she only instructed Ruizhu to stay here and keep watch.

Half a month after Empress Dowager Zhou passed away, she fell ill for half a month. She managed to see the Empress Dowager off on her final journey, but collapsed as soon as she returned to Huining Palace on the day of the burial. Although she is now out of danger, she is still recuperating in the palace.

Consort Qi changed the subject, picked up a celadon teacup, turned to Consort Shun and nodded with a smile, "I heard that on the day Grand Commander Han returned to the capital, His Majesty sent Prince Rui to personally lead the Imperial Guards to welcome him thirty miles outside the city. Today, His Majesty is rewarding the soldiers of the northern frontier in the Wuying Hall. Your Highness will be able to meet the Grand Commander at noon. It is truly enviable."

Meng Shu followed up, saying, "I suppose Consort Shun should also make some preparations. If you wish to return to Chenghui Palace to prepare for the welcome, please do so. If there is any movement from Consort Qu's side, I will send someone to deliver a message."

Consort Shun paused for a moment, casually fiddling with the patterns on her skirt. "Thank you for your concern, Consort Jin. Father has been summoned back to the capital and will be staying for a while, so there's no need to rush."

These words were somewhat surprising. Meng Shu looked up and caught a strange emotion on Consort Shun's face.

......

The Emperor placed the vermilion brush on the jade brush mountain and glanced at the kneeling military officers below the steps. "Is the old lady settling in well in the capital? My dear minister, your pacification of the northern frontier has been a great achievement for the nation. There is no need to rush back. Please rest well in the capital."

After the court session, the emperor summoned Han Guangbi to the Funing Hall.

Han Guangbi was dressed in a crimson-purple robe with a unicorn design. He was about forty years old, and his bronze face bore deep lines etched by the wind and sand of the border region.

This military general, who had guarded the northern frontier for more than ten years, touched his forehead to the ground and said: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness. At the beginning of the year, the northern lands were ravaged by a plague, but Your Majesty granted me a special decree to allow my mother and daughter to return to the capital, thus protecting my blood relatives."

The Emperor slightly raised his eyes, and Jingming immediately stepped forward to help him up: "Governor Han, please rise. His Majesty has been talking about personally welcoming you back since before the New Year, after you quelled the rebellion in the northern frontier."

Han Guangbi remained motionless, then suddenly kowtowed heavily: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report."

"Years ago, when we were suppressing bandits in the southwest, Marquis Zhenbei shielded me from a poisoned arrow. We swore an oath of brotherhood because of this. Now I hear that Her Majesty the Empress is imprisoned in Renming Palace... I am willing to offer my military merits in return, and beg Your Majesty to grant me mercy so that I may repay your kindness!"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's expression remained unchanged. He gently tapped the thumb ring on the imperial desk, making a soft "thud" sound.

With his forehead pressed against the gold brick, Han Guangbi forced a smile and said, "I know this is against the rules, but since Marquis Zhenbei has come to my door... I only ask to repay the kindness of shielding him from the arrow back then. After this matter, I... will no longer be brothers with him, and all past affections will be wiped clean."

The Emperor's gaze fell on his tense shoulders and back. "Get up."

Han Guangbi kowtowed, rose, and stood at his sides below the steps.

"Your military achievements were earned with your life. How can I allow you to use them to settle personal feelings?"

The Emperor picked up the teacup on the table and slowly lifted the lid. “I will make my own judgment on matters of the harem. The Empress is merely reflecting on her mistakes in the Renming Hall. Go back and tell the Marquis of Zhenbei that there is no need to be so nervous. Minister Han and Consort Shu have not seen each other for a long time. I will hold a banquet for you and your daughter in the Funing Hall at noon. You can have a good chat.”

......

Meng Shu and the others, along with two matrons sent by Empress Dowager Jiang, went to the entrance of the maternity ward located in the side hall. The cries of pain coming from inside had weakened considerably, leaving only suppressed gasps, like trapped beasts being choked.

Inside the delivery room, the stench of blood mingled with the strong smell of medicine. Qu Jieyu lay on the maternity mat, her face pale, clutching the brocade quilt tightly, her lips cracked and bluish-purple.

"Your Highness, push harder! The midwife says she can see the baby's head!" Cuiping knelt to one side, wiping the sweat from her neck with a handkerchief. The blood beside the bed had soaked through a layer of bedding, even staining her sleeves, which felt hot and sticky.

Qu Jieyu's eyes reddened, and she let out soft sobs. The cramping pain in her abdomen and the swelling in her lower body intertwined, as if they were going to tear her apart.

The copper basin in his hands was filled with dark red blood, a sight that made one's heart pound. The two midwives beside him were sweating profusely, constantly muttering, "It's almost there, it's almost there."

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has finally arrived..." Qu Jieyu suddenly mustered a bit of strength and dug her nails deep into Cuiping's arm.

Cuiping paused, her hand holding the handkerchief still, and said without hesitation, "Your Majesty, the Emperor rewarded the soldiers of the Northern Frontier in the Wuying Hall this morning... It's almost noon now, so he should be summoning Grand Commander Han to the Funing Hall alone."

The Emperor did not come.

A sharp pain suddenly struck.

Qu Jieyu suddenly arched her body, and everything went black before her eyes.

......