Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 51: Childbirth

With the Emperor’s personal entrustment, the Empress naturally had to show concern. Noble Lady Yu was soon moved into Changchun Palace to rest and prepare for delivery.

The Empress was carefully pruning a potted bonsai on its stand. Wei Yingluo practiced calligraphy at the side table, occasionally stealing glances at the Empress. Finally, the Empress couldn’t hold back and asked, “What is it? You look like you want to say something but won’t.”

Wei Yingluo weighed her words carefully before speaking plainly: “Your Majesty, you shouldn’t have brought Noble Lady Yu to Changchun Palace.”

The Empress looked at her quietly and asked, “Why not?”

Wei Yingluo never hid her true thoughts in front of the Empress. She said directly, “Noble Lady Yu’s delivery is approaching, and there are many things to be cautious about. If she eats too much at one meal or too little at another, and something goes wrong with her care, outsiders will inevitably blame Your Ladyship.”

The Empress was slightly surprised and asked, “Yingluo, you have defended Noble Lady Yu many times before. Why have you changed your mind this time?”

Wei Yingluo answered almost coldly, “I believe that not being afraid of trouble does not mean actively seeking it out.”

The Empress set down her scissors, walked over to Wei Yingluo’s side, and asked with amusement, “Do you think that me inviting Noble Lady Yu to Changchun Palace is actively courting trouble?”

Wei Yingluo did not deny it. “This slave is ignorant. If I have thought wrongly, please forgive me, Your Ladyship.”

The Empress took the brush from her hand, bent over the desk, and wrote a single character. Then she asked, “Do you know what this character is?”

Although Wei Yingluo had been learning to read and write under the Empress, she did not recognize the character the Empress had written. She shook her head.

The Empress patiently taught her, “At the bottom left is a ‘mouth,’ and at the top right is a ‘hand.’ This is the origin of the character ‘Hou’ (後, meaning ‘empress’ or ‘queen’) in oracle bone script. The Forbidden City—this colossal place—houses countless consorts and palace maids. The Empress is the leader of all consorts, the umbrella over the Six Palaces. She must provide shelter for the women here.”

Wei Yingluo immediately understood the Empress’s meaning. Yet though she understood, she could not fully accept it. Frowning, she said, “But they are all here to compete with you for His Majesty’s favor!”

A kind of indescribable sorrow and compassion appeared in the Empress’s expression. Looking at the character “Hou” on the white paper, she said gently, “They have left their parents and family behind, confined to the depths of the palace for their entire lives—that is already pitiful enough. If I were also filled with jealousy and constantly attacked others, the example set from above would surely cause the entire palace to descend into chaos and disorder. My strength is limited, but I can at least offer them a little warmth, so that when they suffer injustice, they will not have nowhere to turn and weep. Yingluo, you must always remember: I am first and foremost the Empress, and only secondarily a woman.”

Wei Yingluo stood rooted to the spot in a daze. Looking at the Empress, she seemed to see another person—the one who had once spoken to her so tenderly: “Yingluo, survival is not easy for anyone. You must do your utmost to help those you can help. Do you understand?”

Noticing the tears glistening in Wei Yingluo’s eyes, the Empress asked with some bewilderment, “Yingluo, what’s wrong?”

Wei Yingluo hurriedly wiped away her tears and said in a low voice, “This slave has an older sister. Just now, the way Your Ladyship spoke reminded me so much of her. Please forgive me, Your Ladyship—you are of priceless worth, and this slave should never have compared you to my sister. I only feel that you and my sister are both kind-hearted people. Heaven will surely protect you.” And I will protect you too.

The Empress lovingly touched Wei Yingluo’s forehead and chided gently, “Crying already? What a little girl you are.”

Wei Yingluo smiled with an embarrassed tint.

The Empress continued, “Yingluo, this Palace is going to Changchun Garden to accompany the Empress Dowager in paying respects to the Buddha. Erqing will accompany me. After that, everything in Changchun Palace will be entrusted to you.”

Wei Yingluo let out a surprised “Eh?” and quickly said, “Your Ladyship the Empress, this slave cannot bear such a heavy responsibility. It would be better to leave it to Ming Yu.”

The Empress took Wei Yingluo’s hand. “Ming Yu has been with me for many years and our bond is deep, but her temperament is not steady enough. I want you to guard Changchun Palace well!”

With the matter spoken so plainly, Wei Yingluo no longer refused. She answered seriously and solemnly, “Yes.”

The next day, the phoenix carriage departed the palace.

After the Empress left, although everyone had heard Her Ladyship order Wei Yingluo to take charge of affairs, Ming Yu felt unwilling to accept it. She proactively took on the assignment of all major and minor tasks and directed everyone accordingly. Wei Yingluo had no desire to clash openly with Ming Yu. Moreover, Ming Yu was indeed far more familiar with the affairs of Changchun Palace than she was. As long as nothing went wrong, she would not fight for authority.

That night, Wei Yingluo was sleeping soundly in her room when suddenly a woman’s piercing, wretched scream shattered the silence. She jolted awake from her dream. From far away came the urgent shout of the palace maid He Ye: “Noble Lady is going into labor! Quick—quick, fetch the midwife!”

Wei Yingluo immediately threw on her outer robe and hurried to the inner courtyard. The place was already in chaos. She gathered her hair with one hand and barked sharply, “What are you panicking for? Hupo, go fetch the midwife at once!”

Hupo snapped back to her senses and hurriedly ran off.

Wei Yingluo quickly collected her thoughts and issued orders in rapid succession: “Zhenzhu, prepare the hot water and scissors we’ll need later. Ask the midwife about anything else. Feicui, tell the wet nurses to stand by at all times, and start boiling a pot of ginseng soup!”

With tasks finally assigned, everyone calmed down and went about their duties.

Ming Yu bit her lip on the side, her face full of resentment and unwillingness.

Once the ginseng soup was ready, Wei Yingluo picked up the bowl and was about to enter the hall when Ming Yu suddenly blocked her path. With a dark, unfriendly expression, she said:

“I’ll take it in! You go to the back courtyard and wash the dirty clothes. Don’t get in the way here!”

Wei Yingluo felt a surge of anger, but hearing Noble Lady Yu’s increasingly shrill, agonized screams from inside the hall and the midwives urgently urging her on, she knew now was not the time to argue. She let Ming Yu snatch the ginseng soup and carry it into the chamber.

Inside the side hall, Noble Lady Yu’s screams grew higher and more piercing with each wave. Palace maids hurried back and forth without pause, carrying out basins of bloody water and quickly returning with clean hot water.

The midwives were drenched in sweat from anxiety. One encouraged her:

“Your Ladyship, push harder!”

Suddenly Noble Lady Yu let out a scream so sharp it nearly pierced everyone’s eardrums. Immediately afterward, the loud, clear cry of a newborn filled the room. Everyone’s hearts relaxed in relief!

Noble Lady Yu collapsed weakly onto the bed, her long hair disheveled, her breathing faint and labored. She asked in a trembling voice:

“Is it an elder brother… or a little princess?”

The two midwives glanced at the baby, then at each other. Both saw raw panic in the other’s eyes.

Noble Lady Yu asked again, urgently:

“What is it—tell me! An elder brother or a princess!”

One midwife answered in a shaking voice:

“It… it is a little prince, Your Ladyship.”

Joy flooded Noble Lady Yu’s heart. With great effort she raised her hand:

“Let me see the child.”

The other midwife stammered nervously:

“Your Ladyship… this…”

Noble Lady Yu frowned. A sudden sense of unease rose in her chest. She insisted:

“Hurry, bring him here. Let me see him!”

Ming Yu stepped closer to the midwife, caught a clear look at the baby—and recoiled half a step in horror.

From outside the door came the voices of palace maids:

“This servant pays respects to Noble Consort!”

Ming Yu stamped her foot, turned, and quickly ordered Feicui and Manao:

“You two take good care of Noble Lady Yu. Noble Consort is here—we cannot let her see the little prince. I’ll go stop her!”

With that, Ming Yu hurried out.

Noble Lady Yu’s voice had begun to tremble. She looked blankly at everyone in the room and asked:

“What… what’s going on? Why do you all look like that?”

Everyone lowered their heads in silence.

Outside, a large group escorted Noble Consort Hui as she swept grandly into the inner courtyard of Changchun Palace.

Ming Yu wiped her sweat, curtsied deeply:

“This servant greets Noble Consort!”

Noble Consort Hui didn’t even glance at her. With a casual wave of her hand she said:

“Dispense with formalities. This palace heard that Noble Lady Yu’s delivery was imminent, and since the Empress is not in the palace, as Noble Consort it is only proper that I come in her stead to show concern.”

Ming Yu forced a smile:

“Please, Noble Consort, rest in the main hall. This servant will serve tea at once.”

From inside the room came the loud, healthy cries of the infant. Noble Consort Hui’s lips curved in an interested smile. Without pause she walked straight forward:

“No need. This palace will go see the child.”

Ming Yu hurriedly blocked her:

“Noble Consort, the birthing chamber is unclean—it could harm Your Ladyship’s precious health!”

Noble Consort Hui gave Zhilan a meaningful glance. Zhilan immediately snapped:

“Get out of the way! How dare you block Her Ladyship’s path?”

A group of eunuchs promptly seized Ming Yu and held her back. Seeing that Ming Yu could not stop her, Zhenzhu turned and ran toward the back courtyard to find Wei Yingluo.

Noble Consort Hui strode boldly into the side hall. The midwives and palace maids stood frozen, at a complete loss. Spotting one midwife holding a swaddled bundle, Noble Consort Hui immediately said:

“Oh my, congratulations to my little sister on a smooth delivery. Let me see how adorable this child is.”

An older mama stepped forward quickly, snatched the infant from the midwife’s arms, and presented him to Noble Consort Hui.

Noble Consort Hui lifted the swaddling cloth. Her whole body jolted. In shock she cried:

“You—you gave birth to a monster!”

Noble Lady Yu was stunned:

“What monster? What nonsense are you talking about!”

A midwife, unable to hide it any longer, trembled like a sieve as she spoke: “Noble Lady Yu, the little prince’s eyes are golden yellow, and his whole body is terrifyingly sallow. This servant has delivered so many children, but I have truly never seen anything like this!”

Next, in Chengqian Palace, Consort Chun and Consort Xian were playing chess. Yuhu hurried over to Consort Chun’s side and whispered a few words in her ear.

Consort Chun abruptly stood up: “Really?”

Yuhu nodded: “Absolutely true.”

Consort Chun tossed the chess piece in her hand aside: “Noble Lady Yu has given birth to a monstrous infant. I’m afraid we won’t be finishing this game! Come on, let’s go take a look.”

Consort Xian looked surprised: “Alright.”

Yuhu added quietly from the side: “Noble Consort Hui has already gone ahead. She will surely handle it according to palace regulations. Your Ladyship, we must hurry and save them!”

Consort Xian had already risen to her feet, but after hearing Yuhu’s last words, Consort Chun suddenly stopped in her tracks and said: “Wait.”

Saving someone was as urgent as putting out a fire—Consort Xian and Yuhu couldn’t understand what there was left to wait for.

Consort Chun calmly returned to her seat with an air of composure: “Tell me, why would a perfectly fine Noble Lady Yu suddenly give birth to a monstrous child?”

Consort Xian asked in confusion: “What do you mean by that, little sister?”

A faint smile appeared on Consort Chun’s lips. She picked up a chess piece and placed it on the board: “Noble Consort has always been overbearing and tyrannical. Why not present her with a grand gift? I have another matter to attend to, so I’ll have to trouble Elder Sister to go to Yangxin Hall first!”

(One flower blooms into two branches—each story told separately.)

   Wei Yingluo hurried after Zhenzhu toward the side hall. She was just about to step forward when Ming Yu reached out to block her: “You can’t go in! Didn’t you hear the commotion inside? Noble Lady Yu has given birth to a demon creature. Noble Consort is handling it according to palace rules—no one is allowed to interfere! If you want to court trouble for yourself, don’t drag us into it!”

Wei Yingluo’s gaze turned icy in an instant. She raised her hand and slapped Ming Yu hard across the face.

The slap carried no restraint whatsoever. Five clear finger marks immediately bloomed on Ming Yu’s cheek. She covered her face in disbelief: “You hit me? Have you gone mad?!”

Zhenzhu, seeing the two start quarreling, hurriedly intervened: “Yingluo, let’s talk calmly!”

Wei Yingluo said coldly: “What reason is there to speak with something that doesn’t even know how to talk like a human? Let me tell you, Ming Yu—while Her Majesty the Empress has been away from the palace these past two days, you’ve been throwing your weight around. I didn’t bother to settle scores with you because I didn’t want to disturb Noble Lady Yu’s rest during her pregnancy—not because I’m afraid of you! Now Noble Lady Yu and the little prince are in mortal danger. Since you refuse to care, then get out of my way!”

Ming Yu clutched her face, her eyes blazing with both fury and hatred. She shouted: “Wei Yingluo, you cannot interfere in this! If you meddle with that demon creature, you’ll be defying the ancestral rules. Do you want to drag Her Majesty the Empress down with you?”

Wei Yingluo replied impatiently: “Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to protect Noble Lady Yu. That’s the one order I recognize!” With that, she strode swiftly toward the side hall’s door—only to find a group of eunuchs blocking the entrance.

Ming Yu sneered contemptuously: “Anyone can talk big. Do you actually have the ability to do anything?”

Wei Yingluo swept her gaze over the menacing eunuchs, then abruptly changed direction and charged straight toward the Empress’s bedchamber.

Zhenzhu panicked and chased after her: “Yingluo, what are you doing?!”

Ming Yu let out a scornful laugh, both angry and resentful: “I’d like to see just how she plans to handle this!”

The Empress’s bedchamber had already been turned upside down by Wei Yingluo. Zhenzhu was so anxious she was on the verge of tears: “Yingluo, do you actually have a plan or not?!” From outside came the continuous cries of a child, each wail pressing harder and harder on the two of them.

Zhenzhu stomped her foot in desperation, her voice trembling with sobs: “Yingluo, it’s too late—”

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