On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 68

The grass grows, the warblers fly, and all things recover. The weather in Kyoto has become increasingly warm as willow catkins begin to flutter.

Xie Xuanzhao dispatched guards from the Xie family to stand watch at the gates of Chenxin Palace. She ordered the rooms to be properly prepared and then sat in the main hall to receive the Princess of Ding.

After a conversation that appeared tender on the surface but was filled with undercurrents, the Princess of Ding revealed her purpose: “This is the most experienced midwife invited from Huaijing City. I hope she can assist the palace midwives to help Consort Yue give birth smoothly.”

Xie Xuanzhao held her teacup, lowering her eyes as she sipped slowly and unhurriedly. She did not express a stance. The Princess of Ding gave her maid a look, and the maid quickly led the midwife, who had been waiting in the outer corridor, into the room.

The midwife was somewhat aged, but fortunately, her legs were still sturdy, and she carried a small bundle in the crook of her arm.

Seeing her stand still and look around without bowing, the Princess of Ding quickly reminded her, “Nanny Jiang, this is the Empress Dowager. Why haven’t you paid your respects?”

The midwife acted as if she were startled. “The Empress Dowager is so young!”

The Princess of Ding’s gaze grew impatient as she turned to Xie Xuanzhao. “This midwife comes from the common folk and does not know etiquette. I hope you can forgive her.”

Xie Xuanzhao set down her teacup and looked at the old woman before her. Her gaze was indifferent, but internally, waves were rising.

Seeing Xie Xuanzhao’s unpredictable expression and fearing a flat refusal, the Princess of Ding added, “Your Highness, this is also for the sake of the new monarch. All the civil and military officials are watching. This midwife has been brought in publicly, her entry into the palace is witnessed by all.”

Xie Xuanzhao lightly tapped her teacup, looking at her with a half-smile. “Are you threatening me?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” the Princess of Ding replied, quickly lowering her head in a display of fear and trepidation. “This is for your consideration.”

“Since that is the case, the person shall stay. If you are uneasy, you may leave a personal maid to serve the midwife, lest it be said that she was bribed by Chenxin Palace.” Xie Xuanzhao rose, not waiting for the Princess’s reaction. “It is settled. You may withdraw.”

Though resentful of the casual treatment, the Princess of Ding had achieved her goal and did not press further. She indeed left a trusted maid behind before departing.

Xie Xuanzhao entered the inner room. Rounding the screen, she saw Liu Qinglan still sitting by the waterside soaking up the sun, which put her heart at ease. She then looked toward Yan Mo, who stood nearby. “The midwife sent by the Princess of Ding is waiting outside. Go and attend to her.”

Yan Mo, without any suspicion, bowed and obeyed.

“This place is quite nice. Will your master live here from now on?” A familiar and startling voice spoke.

“If nothing unexpected happens, it should be so,” Lu Lu replied cautiously.

“And where is Miss Yan Mo?” The question was filled with eager anticipation.

“She is serving in the back. I’m afraid she can’t come over,” Lu Lu’s voice was guarded and reserved.

“Alright then, I’ll go take a look and see my ‘dear daughter’ while I’m at it.”

“Old Madame, you cannot…”

Lu Lu stopped in her tracks when she saw Yan Mo emerge from behind the screen. Her eyes turned to her, helpless and pleading for help: Consort Yue’s mysterious mother is here again!

Yan Mo felt like facepalming internally, but she maintained her smile. “Old Madame, how did you enter the palace?”

“Haha, Miss Yan Mo, long time no see.” Jiang Wenwen, who had just finished her winter hibernation not long ago, walked over with a brisk pace, the small bundle on her arm wobbling.

Yan Mo had no choice but to support her, leading her back to a seat. She noticed that after several months, the mysterious old woman seemed much younger, and her walk was no longer shaky.

Jiang Wenwen hammered her legs and said with a smile, “I’m here to be the midwife.”

Yan Mo and Lu Lu exchanged a look. Though they had many questions, the problem they had been worrying about for days was solved just like that.

By the lakeside where willow branches brushed the water, Liu Qinglan reclined on a rocking chair. She heard a familiar voice: “Let me see.”

She quickly sat up. Standing before her was the long unseen Sharp Nosed Viper (Jiang Wenwen). She looked surprised. “You’ve finished hibernating?”

Jiang Wenwen helped her sit back down, smiling. “In just the blink of an eye, you’re about to become a mother. It’s truly unimaginable.”

Liu Qinglan gently stroked her belly, a hint of pride on her face. “This is the baby of me and Beautiful Sister.”

“I know.” Jiang Wenwen looked at her with amusement. “Once it’s born, I’ll see if it’s a little Feifei (mythical beast) or a human baby.”

They didn’t have to wait long for the answer.

On a morning when peach blossoms were in full bloom, Liu Qinglan pulled back Xie Xuanzhao, who was about to head out. Her natural animal instincts told her that she was going to give birth today.

Xie Xuanzhao stayed by her side immediately, ordering Yan Mo and Lu Lu to prepare hot water and towels. Simultaneously, both midwives arrived.

Xie Xuanzhao said, “Nanny Jiang will stay. Nanny Gao, you wait in the corridor first.”

This Nanny Gao was a wet nurse for the Xie family and had delivered many Xie family children. She was loyal and immediately followed the instructions.

Jiang Wenwen stood by, looking at the little spirit Liu on the bed. “Feifei give birth in March or April. You are giving birth so soon, it seems there’s a little Feifei in there. Why don’t you return to your original form to give birth?”

Xie Xuanzhao held Liu Qinglan’s hand tightly, constantly wiping the cold sweat from her brow with a silk handkerchief.

Liu Qinglan forced a smile. “I have a feeling that what’s coming out of this belly is a human baby.”

Jiang Wenwen found it hard to believe. “Really?”

Liu Qinglan nodded earnestly.

Jiang Wenwen immediately looked at Xie Xuanzhao. “Empress, do you know how to deliver a baby?”

Xie Xuanzhao’s forehead was also covered in fine sweat, her palm pressed against Liu Qinglan’s. “I have never delivered one.”

“It doesn’t matter. Just do as I say. Now, first lift up Xiao Liu’s skirt.”

Xie Xuanzhao steadied her breath, suppressing her internal panic, and followed Jiang Wenwen’s instructions step by step.

“Do not worry, Your Highness. This is Xiao Liu’s first birth. She is healthy, young, and nourished by both demonic and spiritual energy. This child will surely be born smoothly.” Jiang Wenwen wrung out a towel soaked in hot water and wiped the cold sweat from Liu Qinglan’s forehead.

Just as she said, the process was very smooth and did not drag on. By the time Yan Mo and Lu Lu brought the second basin of hot water, the cry of an infant already echoed from the bed.

“It’s born!” Yan Mo and Lu Lu held hands excitedly, standing at the door and smiling at each other.

Sweating profusely, Xie Xuanzhao picked up the newborn baby. Under Jiang Wenwen’s guidance, she placed it into the prepared swaddling clothes.

This child was originally supposed to be born four months later, but because it was nourished by demonic power within Liu Qinglan, it was born early alongside its siblings. The baby in the swaddle was tiny, crying loudly with its eyes closed, its voice was quite resonant.

Jiang Wenwen said, “Empress, this child is formed from the fusion of your bloodlines. Since she resembles you and is formed from the gathering of female Yin energy, it is bound to be a girl.”

Xie Xuanzhao also had a premonition that a union between women would result in a girl. She placed the baby beside Liu Qinglan. “She is our new monarch, without a doubt.”

After saying that, she turned to Yan Mo. “Spread the news. Consort Yue has successfully given birth. The new monarch is born. From this day forth, a female Emperor shall be established.”

Yan Mo’s expression turned solemn as she bowed in acceptance.

After the others withdrew, Xie Xuanzhao sat beside the weakened little spirit. She held her hand. “Qinglan, you’ve worked hard. Look, this is our baby.”

Liu Qinglan lifted her watery eyes and looked at the infant in the swaddle. She smiled tenderly. Just as she was about to speak, her abdomen cramped again. She gripped Xie Xuanzhao’s finger. “It seems… there are more that haven’t come out.”

Xie Xuanzhao quickly handed the infant to Jiang Wenwen and went to check. The little beauty on the bed gradually transformed into her original form.

Liu Qinglan’s cat-like paws gripped the edge of the pillow. “It’s changing on its own. I can’t control it.”

“Then you’re about to give birth to the little cubs. These are the ones who took after your bloodline,” Jiang Wenwen explained from the side. “Once the little Feifei are out, don’t change back yet. You need to lick their fur so they grow up with smooth, beautiful coats.”

Liu Qinglan felt like facepalming. “I know! Let’s just get them out first!”

Xie Xuanzhao had already climbed onto the bed, kneeling amidst the bedding. Under Jiang Wenwen’s guidance, she began a new round of delivery.

For some reason, this delivery was much more joyful than the previous one. As Xie Xuanzhao watched the snow white “milk beasts” come out one by one, the smile in her eyes deepened, and her gaze brightened.

Liu Qinglan curled up her body, watching the Empress Mother place the little snowballs into her arms. She counted them, three in total.

Xie Xuanzhao’s sleeves were rolled up, her hair was a mess, her forehead was sweaty, and her hands were still stained, but she didn’t want to go anywhere. She didn’t care about tidying herself up, she just stared at the white beasts on the bedding, unable to tear her eyes away.

“Qinglan, hurry and lick their fur,” Xie Xuanzhao suggested while wiping them with a cloth.

Liu Qinglan complied, licking each of her cubs.

Xie Xuanzhao watched the nest of little Feifei cubs tenderly. Eventually, she gathered them all onto her palace skirt, watching them sleep soundly against her.

By then, the human baby had been cleaned and put back in her swaddle. Jiang Wenwen brought her over and placed her in the Empress’s arms as well.

Thus, Xie Xuanzhao sat cross-legged on the bed, holding the human baby in her arms while three little snowballs lay on her spread-out skirt.

Looking at this warm and loving scene, Liu Qinglan felt much of the exhaustion from childbirth fade away.

“Mother and daughters are all safe. Next is the task of raising them well,” Jiang Wenwen said with a smile. “It seems there is nothing left for me to do. I’ll go out and give the Princess of Ding and the others an explanation.”

Xie Xuanzhao thanked her profusely and invited her to visit often, or even to live there permanently.

Jiang Wenwen was naturally very happy, as this meant she could see Miss Yan Mo frequently.

After all the commotion, no matter how reluctant she was, Xie Xuanzhao had to go to the front hall to give the ministers an account.

She stayed in Chenxin Palace with Liu Qinglan for three days to raise the babies. Once the little Empress finally opened her eyes, Xie Xuanzhao carried the daughter, who possessed phoenix eyes remarkably similar to her own to the front hall.

Upon hearing that a female Emperor was to be installed, the ministers were shocked and felt they could not agree.

Xie Xuanzhao stood above them and said, “This is the flesh and blood of the royal family. If she is raised as an Emperor from childhood, I believe she will become a wise ruler, no less than a prince.”

“Throughout history, female Emperors have been few and far between. This is truly shocking.”

“This is a special case born of necessity. Furthermore, it is not without precedent, this dynasty once had a Crown Princess. Why is it not acceptable now?”

As they deliberated, the baby in Xie Xuanzhao’s arms suddenly woke up and began to cry loudly. Her voice was clear, melodious, and full of energy.

The ministers stopped their arguments to look at the newborn. Xie Xuanzhao carried her down step by step, finally stopping to let the ministers see the girl’s face clearly.

“Those eyes…”

“She actually inherited the eyes of her grandmother.”

Xie Xuanzhao smiled slightly. The Emperor’s mother. Xie Xuanzhao’s aunt was also a woman of the Xie family. But not every Xie daughter was fortunate enough to have those beautiful phoenix eyes. Therefore, passed down through generations, rumor had it that a Xie woman with phoenix eyes possessed a destiny of incomparable nobility, inextricably linked to the most honorable family in the world.

Xie Xuanzhao said, “This is the will of Heaven. This little Princess is born with great luck and auspiciousness. Her destiny is set by Heaven. It is better for the ministers not to try and change it.”

After some debate, the ministers finally accepted the reality. The dynasty welcomed its first female Emperor.