Chapter 438: The Surface Work is Really Well Done

The shepherd’s purse was dug up and sent to the Imperial Kitchen.

In less than half a Shi Chen, the dumplings were served, just as she had instructed.

After tasting one, although it was different from what she had eaten in her previous life, it was quite similar.

Before long, the Imperial Kitchen brought over a whole table of imperial dishes. But only that plate of dumplings was the most popular. In no time at all, it had ended up in Zhao Junyao’s stomach.

Xia Ruqing didn’t manage to get many. By the time the meal was cleared away, she was pouting heavily!

Zhao Junyao rubbed his head. "Alright, Qingqing!"

"Not alright!"

"..."

Zhao Junyao then carried her to the bed. She struggled free and remained unappeased.

In the end, Zhao Junyao looked at her with genuine sincerity. "I was wrong!"

Xia Ruqing turned her head away. "No way!"

He then pressed her down with a darkened face, asking, "What exactly do you want? It’s just a plate of dumplings!"

Xia Ruqing’s eyes shifted. "I want silver!"

Zhao Junyao’s darkened face cracked in an instant, torn between laughter and frustration.

How shallow can this woman be!

Xia Ruqing, fearless, seized the moment to wriggle free and roll to the side. "Emperor, I just want silver!"

"Emperor, pretty please..." She acted coquettishly, playing stubborn, and clung to him like an octopus once again.

Zhao Junyao’s stern facade utterly collapsed, unable to hold firm. He couldn’t help but laugh, giving her bottom a pat. "You’re so brazen! I’m afraid I’m going to fall for your tricks!"

Xia Ruqing giggled, her almond-shaped eyes brimming with triumph!

As they were messing around, Li Shengan hurriedly rushed in. "Emperor, it’s terrible! Honored Lady Shih has gone into labor!"

...

That one sentence dropped like a bomb into a tranquil lake, instantly stirring up colossal waves.

"Gone into labor...!" Xia Ruqing was completely shocked.

Zhao Junyao, however, hadn’t processed it yet, his eyes somewhat dazed.

"Emperor, Honored Lady Shih is... not even nine months along yet!"

There’s a saying: ’Born in the seventh month, one might live; born in the eighth, one might not.’ A child born at eight months... Her face turned pale as she dared not think further.

Zhao Junyao also came to his senses. Composing himself, he asked Li Shengan, "Have you summoned the Imperial Physician? Send someone to call the Empress..."

Only after speaking did he realize what he had just said. What nonsense was that? Everything was a mess. Why call the Empress?!

But Li Shengan had already acknowledged and scurried away.

Zhao Junyao could only curse silently,

Idiot!

Xia Ruqing also quickly said, "Emperor, perhaps... you should go and see?"

It was, after all, the Emperor’s child. The woman was risking her life to give birth, so Xia Ruqing felt she had to say something. Truthfully, she was quite jealous and not too keen on letting her imperial husband go. But... this was ancient times!

Xia Ruqing fed herself a bellyful of mental justifications and then continued to persuade him. "Emperor..."

But as soon as she spoke, Zhao Junyao grew somewhat irritable. "I don’t want to go!"

This child was not one he had actively sought. Furthermore, after what had happened last time with Qingqing, he had no desire to witness the bloody scene of childbirth again.

However, whether he went or not was unimportant. He couldn’t stay in Qingya Residence any longer.

Zhao Junyao rubbed Xia Ruqing’s hair before striding away.

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Never mind, never mind, as long as my conscience is clear!

Just as she yawned and lay down in bed, Zi Yue rushed in hurriedly. "Mistress, both Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Noble Consort have gone. Should you..."

Xia Ruqing rolled her eyes. "What about me? Honored Lady Shih and I aren’t close!"

Did she have to be like the other women, keeping vigil there for half a day, enduring an aching back and a pained waist, all while forcing a smile and listening to another woman’s heart-wrenching screams? No! Whoever wanted to do such a foolish thing could go ahead, but she would not.

Even the Emperor wasn’t going, so why should she? Besides, watching another woman give birth to the Emperor’s child? That would feel far too strange.

Jealous? She had no right to be. Not jealous? But there was still that tiny bit of discomfort in her heart. So, she was resolute in not going! Out of sight, out of mind!

...

Xifu Palace had descended into total chaos.

The Imperial Physicians, female doctors, midwives, and wet nurses attending the Little Master darted in and out, their faces taut with tension, none daring to even breathe too loudly. The palace maids weren’t idle either, carrying in basins of hot water and taking out basins of bloody water.

Noble Concubine Shih sat outside, her face ashen, her expression so dark it seemed she might kill someone in the next second. The entire atmosphere was oppressive, terrifying, and tense.

The Empress had just lain down after her noon meal when this bombshell landed in Jiaofang Hall. She hurriedly dressed and rushed over.

By the time she arrived at Xifu Palace, Honored Lady Shih had only just begun labor.

"Paying respects to Her Majesty the Empress!" A large group of people knelt, bowing their heads in greeting.

Noble Concubine Shih remained seated, as if she hadn’t seen the Empress at all.

The Empress glanced at her with a cold smile, not immediately telling the crowd to rise, letting the tension hang in the air.

After a long moment, unable to bear the pressure, Noble Concubine Shih finally rose languidly and offered a cursory salute. "Greetings, Empress!"

The Empress’s lips twitched. "Rise!" Then, looking at the others, she said, "All of you, please rise!"

Having said that, she walked a few steps forward and turned to instruct Sister Ji, "Go check on the situation inside."

Sister Ji assented and was about to enter when Noble Concubine Shih suddenly stopped her. "Your Majesty!"

"Sister Shih has always been under my care. Sister Ji isn’t familiar with the situation inside, so it’s better if I have someone come out to report directly to Your Majesty the Empress."

Without waiting for the Empress to speak, she immediately gave the order, "Ying Yue, go! Call a midwife out!"

A cold smile touched the Empress’s lips.

So, she’s wary of me! With all this chaos, what could I possibly do? Isn’t this... a bit too cautious of her!

However, it was better not to go in anyway; it would clear her of any suspicion. If anything happened to Honored Lady Shih and her child, she wouldn’t be blamed!

The Empress then smiled. "Sister Shih is indeed thoughtful! In that case, Sister Ji, you needn’t go in!"

Having said this, she took her seat in the main hall. Sister Ji also stood by respectfully, giving no cause for criticism.

Before long, a midwife came out, her hands still stained with unwashed blood. "Paying respects to Her Majesty the Empress, and to Her Highness the Noble Consort!"

Noble Concubine Shih’s gaze fell on the midwife’s hands, a hint of impatience in her eyes, but with the Empress present, she said nothing.

The Empress also saw it, her expression unchanged as she smiled, "Rise!" Then she asked, "How is the situation inside? Are Honored Lady Shih and her child safe?"

The midwife rose, about to speak, but a glare from Noble Concubine Shih made her falter, and she became hesitant. In the end, she stammered, "The Honored Lady’s condition is currently stable... Her cervix has only opened one finger’s width..."

The Empress feigned a sigh of relief. "That’s good to hear. You are busy; hurry back and attend to her. If Honored Lady Shih and her child are safe, the Emperor and I will naturally reward you handsomely!"

The midwife expressed her thanks, then kowtowed to Noble Concubine Shih before departing.

It had to be said, the Empress’s ability to maintain appearances was truly exquisite!