On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 67

“My feet are a bit cold,” a girl’s voice, sweet and soft, drifted from beneath the red gauze curtains.

Xie Xuanzhao gave a low hum of affirmation, signaling for her to move her feet up. She then wrapped them in a small woolen blanket and tucked them into her own embrace. Liu Qinglan curled up contentedly, snuggling into the arms of the beautiful Empress. Outside was the freezing snow of midwinter, but inside, it was as warm as spring.

After a night of warmth behind the bed curtains, the snow outside finally ceased at dawn.

A snow white arm lay across the pale red bedding. Soon, a hand reached out to tuck it back under the covers. A moment later, the arm restlessly peeked out again.

Xie Xuanzhao opened her eyes, looking at the “Little Cat Demon” Liu Qinglan’s boisterous sleeping posture with a mix of helplessness and amusement. Propping herself up on the pillow, she pulled the stray blanket back over Liu Qinglan.

She then looked out the window, the world outside had turned into a realm of glazed white snow.

Xie Xuanzhao threw on an outer robe and walked to the window. As she pushed it open, a gust of cold air rushed in, accompanied by the faint, melodious sound of high-pitched singing.

While she was admiring the snow, a pair of soft arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and a familiar scent pressed against her.

Liu Qinglan rubbed her face against Xie Xuanzhao’s back, her eyes still closed. Her consciousness was still hazy, she had found the Empress and clung to her entirely by instinct.

Xie Xuanzhao clasped the girl’s hands and patted the back of them. “Let’s go wash up and do our hair.”

“Okay,” the sleepy girl replied in a soft, muddled voice.

Xie Xuanzhao stepped toward the bronze mirror. The “Little Vixen” followed her every step without letting go for a second. Consequently, a short walk across the room took them nearly fifteen minutes.

The two sat intimately before the mirror, doing each other’s hair and makeup. Once they were ready, they finally stepped out of the bedroom and headed toward the front courtyard.

Their footsteps crunched softly on the snow. As they drew closer to the front yard, the heavenly singing became clearer.

Liu Qinglan lifted her skirt, her face full of joy. “It’s the Little Fat Bird singing!”

Xie Xuanzhao held her arm. “Slow down, the snow is slippery.”

“Oh, right, okay.” Thinking of the “little cub” in her belly, Liu Qinglan immediately slowed her pace and followed obediently by Xie Xuanzhao’s side.

Under the red wood corridor, one side was piled with white snow while the other held a basin of water. A girl with her long hair down sat by the basin. The dark haired girl held a wooden comb, singing a loud, sweet, and soul-stirring song as she combed her hair.

Liu Qinglan listened for a while and sighed with emotion. “The Little Fat Bird has someone she loves now, too.”

“She sings beautifully; my brother must like it very much.” Xie Xuanzhao took Liu Qinglan’s hand, feeling the chill on her fingertips. “Let’s go back. We shouldn’t disturb them.”

“Mhm.” Liu Qinglan turned away quietly with her, and just as they had arrived discreetly the night before, they returned to the palace in low spirits.

Winter Fun and Growing Expectations

Back at Chenxin Palace, the day was still young. Liu Qinglan wrapped herself in a small blanket and sat on the porch to watch the snow.

Xie Xuanzhao consulted with Yan Mo regarding some affairs. Once finished, she returned to Liu Qinglan’s side. They sat together on the soft couch, watching the snow on the sycamore branches melt into droplets under the morning sun.

“I’ll build a snowman for you,” Xie Xuanzhao said, standing up and walking into the courtyard to scoop up a handful of snow with a smile.

Liu Qinglan nodded happily and lifted her skirt to join her. “Then I’ll build a snow cat for you.”

Seeing her excitement, Xie Xuanzhao quickly had Yan Mo bring out a pair of fur lined gloves. She put them on Liu Qinglan. “Your hands mustn’t get cold. I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist playing in the snow, so I prepared these for you.”

Liu Qinglan clapped her gloved hands together and then cupped her own cheeks, her eyes sparkling. “Let’s go build them then!”

The two played in the courtyard like children, rolling snowballs together. Soon, a snowman and a snow cat took shape. Xie Xuanzhao used black obsidian for the snowman’s eyes, but after stepping back, she felt something was missing.

“Qinglan, how about we build a little person and a little cat too?” Xie Xuanzhao knelt back down and began rolling a tiny snowball.

Liu Qinglan agreed and began building “little people” and “little cats” with her. Soon, a small snow figure was placed between the large snowman and snow cat. Liu Qinglan earnestly sculpted three or four little Feifei (mythical leopards/cats). “Our Feifei species can give birth to several at once.”

Xie Xuanzhao looked at her belly with concern. “Will there really be that many?”

Liu Qinglan became uncertain. “It doesn’t look that big.” She pinched a snowball. “Whatever! I want to build three or four little Feifeis.”

“Alright, let’s build more then. It looks livelier.” Xie Xuanzhao leaned in and whispered in her ear, “When they are born, I will raise them. A whole litter of cubs in my arms… the thought is just too cute.”

The tips of Liu Qinglan’s ears turned red. Was she indirectly calling me cute? She felt a sudden rush of shyness.

The Approaching Birth

As winter’s chill faded, spring arrived with birds and flowers. Liu Qinglan’s belly began to expand rapidly, soon looking like a human woman eight months pregnant.

Due to her physical discomfort, Liu Qinglan stayed inside Chenxin Palace all day. Xie Xuanzhao moved her official work there to remain by her side, fearing she might trip or fall. Meanwhile, midwives and wet nurses were put on standby.

One day, as Liu Qinglan lay by the window watching birds fly across the blue sky, she felt a small foot kick her belly.

“Oh! A-Xie, come quickly!” she called out joyfully.

Xie Xuanzhao hurried to her side. “What is it? Are you uncomfortable?”

“The babies are kicking! They’re moving!” Liu Qinglan grasped Xie Xuanzhao’s hand. “I can tell for sure, it’s more than one.”

Xie Xuanzhao felt the belly, amazed. “Qinglan, let me feel.”

“It’s very lively; they take after your personality,” Xie Xuanzhao said happily, stroking the round belly. “Qinglan, you’ve worked hard.”

“It’s not hard,” Liu Qinglan replied, leaning against her. “These months have been the most comfortable and happiest of my life. I have a great appetite, no morning sickness, and no cramps. I’m not suffering at all.”

However, Xie Xuanzhao realized a problem. If there was more than one, and considering Liu Qinglan’s true nature, they were likely little Feifeis. This meant the midwives prepared by the Xie family might not be suitable.

“Qinglan, do you know any demons who can assist in childbirth? We should find one and give her a fake identity to bring her into the palace.”

Liu Qinglan gave a mysterious smile. “I can do it myself. We Feifei naturally know how to give birth. We don’t need a midwife.”

“But…”

“If you’re worried, just stay by my side that day. If I can lean on your spiritual energy, the birth might go easier.”

Political Schemes

As the due date neared, tensions rose both inside and outside the palace. The Prince of Ding’s faction had been waiting for this moment. During a morning court session, the Prince stepped forward.

“Consort Yue is about to give birth. This concerns the future of the throne. We should invite the most experienced midwives from the capital into the palace to wait for orders.”

Xie Xuanzhao knew he was up to something and refused. “Too many people is a hindrance. Two midwives are enough.”

“To ensure the safe birth of the new monarch, we request that we provide one midwife to assist the one you have prepared,” the Prince of Ding countered.

The officials joined in the request. They claimed to fear the Xie family might harm the child, or that a “cat for prince” switch might occur to compromise the royal bloodline.

Xie Xuanzhao’s gaze darkened as she looked at the kneeling officials. Finally, she relented. “Very well.”

The Prince of Ding returned to his manor and summoned his Princess.

“Don’t worry, My Lord,” the Princess of Ding said with a look of joy. “I will handle this.”

The Prince sat in his chair, rotating two exquisite pearls in his palm. A cold light flashed in his eyes. “Leave neither the mother nor the child alive. We must eliminate the threat forever.”

A few days later, the Princess of Ding selected a midwife and brought her into the palace.