Chapter 137 – Congratulations on Obtaining a Child

To be honest, Miantang doesn’t want to go.

 

The idea of making decisions for the queen like this was not something that the courtly wife likes to bring up.

 

If she did, no matter what decision Empress Shi made in the end, it seemed like she had the idea. She doesn’t want to get involved in such trouble.

 

But at this critical moment, Empress Shi asked her to go, and she couldn’t excuse herself for not being able to go with the reason of her pregnancy. Such evasive words were too obvious.

 

Cui Xingzhou didn’t have such concerns as she did, “Perhaps the empress doesn’t want those old courtiers to see the empress dowager, but it’s not good to take responsibility alone. She is just looking for you to share the blame. In that case, it’s better to carry this blame on your back and fulfill the divine will. Then, under the pretext of feeling unwell, come back earlier. I’ll go with you and wait for you outside the palace gate.”

 

Since she had made up her mind to share the blame, Miantang quickly changed her clothes and makeup and then got into the carriage.

 

However, the child in her belly came up with a great idea for her parents who were preparing to admit their misfortune.

 

When the carriage bumped slightly on the flagstone road to the palace gate, Miantang’s contraction suddenly started.

 

Perhaps the amniotic fluid was broken by the carriage, and Miantang felt that as soon as her lower abdomen was warm, the carriage began to drip profusely.

 

The palace attendants who were waiting in front of the palace gate panicked and hurriedly called for the imperial physician to deliver on the carriage.

 

As a result, the imperial physician ran off his hat and before he arrived at the palace gate, the Mayor of Huaisang County had already given birth! The crying in the carriage shook the earth.

 

This entire process takes less than a pot of tea.

 

The eunuch was so anxious that he shook his hand under the carriage and said, “Oh my, Princess Consort, you should be more restrained. How could you have said that you were to give birth and you did immediately?”

 

Cui Xingzhou had also thought about the tumultuous process of Miantang giving birth before, but never expected her to give birth so quickly!

 

Miantang herself was also dumbfounded. What about the agreed heart-wrenching pain? Why does she feel like her belly was loose and the doll just crawled out?

 

Finally, after the eunuch treated the baby’s umbilical cord briefly, Cui Xingzhou’s carriage was both blocked with cotton quilts. They then went back to the residence tightly sealed until they reached Miantang’s dormitory. Miantang finally picked up the baby and got off the carriage to start her confinement.

 

Upon hearing that Miantang had given birth to a child in front of the palace gate, the Old Princess Consort hurriedly came with the help of a maid and asked Cui Xingzhou, “Did you give birth to a boy or a girl?”

 

As a result, Prince Huaiyang was rarely asked for a moment, and he was so busy that he lost his head. He only focused on asking if Miantang was okay, and then quickly glanced at the wet little meatball wrapped in Miantang’s coat, without even looking to see if the baby was a male or female doll.

 

Old Princess Consort Chu couldn’t bear to see her son’s dumbfounded silence, so she pushed him aside and walked straight into the room.

 

At this moment, the wet nurse who had been invited for a long time was bathing the baby. When she saw the Old Princess Consort coming in, she smiled and said, “Congratulations, Old Princess Consort. Congratulations, Your Highness. Our Princess Consort has given birth to a boy doll.”

 

Old Princess Consort Chu looked at his meaty arms and legs, his small buttocks arched, and he looked like a sturdy male doll. Although Miantang’s belly may look small, this little doll was not small. She only puts her hands together and thanks God for blessing the mother and son.

 

At this moment, Cui Xingzhou also came in and took over his son, who had been wrapped in swaddling clothes by the wet nurse. He looked at his eyes that had not yet opened, and at the small mouths that were searching for milk, which looked very similar to him.

 

Miantang and Cui Xingzhou had already planned early on that if they were a boy, they would call him Xiaoyi’er.

 

Now Xiaoyi’er was very obedient and arched straight into Miantang’s arms. Miantang holds this warm softball, which was still in her stomach in a dream. Now he was lying in her arms?

 

Old Princess Consort Chu didn’t want to disturb her daughter-in-law’s rest, so she gave a hug to her grandson and went out contentedly.

 

Cui Xingzhou quietly looked at Miantang, who was holding her son and couldn’t help but hug her. He kissed her forehead and said, “Thank you so much.”

 

When it comes to hard work, Miantang felt a bit guilty about the smooth delivery. She didn’t dare to hear him further and murmured, “The delivering process was so smooth, did I really become a cow?”

 

The baby in her arms seemed to understand her mother’s words and closed his eyes, hooked the corners of his mouth, looking as if he was laughing.

 

Miantang lightly tapped his cerebellum and said, “How dare you laugh! It’s all because you’ve caused your mother, me, to be a joke. Tomorrow, everyone in the capital will know about my childbirth in front of the palace gate.”

 

Cui Xingzhou kissed his son’s little face and said, “Good son, you have cleaned up your father’s reputation. When your mother gave birth to you, everyone thought she would die of the difficulty of birth, but you ended up coming out while riding a carriage! If you’re naughty in the future, see if I will spank you a few times.”

 

Miantang couldn’t help but smile sweetly as she looked at the two people who were alike.

 

The birth of Xiaoyi’er saved his mother a lot of trouble. At least there’s no need to go into the palace and give advice to Empress Shi anymore. However, the rewards from the palace were transported in carts.

 

Empress Shi heard of the thrilling production of the Huaiyang Princess Consort on the carriage in front of the palace gate and was also very sorry. She ordered people to prepare enough nourishing tribute, as well as toys and equipment gifted to the young prince, and rushed to the residence.

 

This posture was enough to show how deep the private relationship between Empress Shi and Princess Consort Huaiyang was.

 

Under such patronage, no one dares to arrange the past events of the Mayor of Huaisang County and Emperor Liu Yu when she fell into banditry. When it was Xiaoyi’er’s monthsary, many people are coming to send congratulatory gifts.

 

Miantang looked at the gift list and didn’t even know that she had a friendship with so many people.

 

Empress Shi also personally came to see Miantang, and even the imperial prince followed her. He stood in the cradle and was curious, poking his fingers at the young prince’s tender face and shouting, “Mother, he is even fatter than my sister.”

 

Xiaoyi’er was indeed very fat.

 

Miantang insisted on breastfeeding herself, with a sufficient amount of milk, so Xiaoyi’er ate with nutrients which made his little arms like lotus root knots, and his chubby little hands like drumsticks.

 

However, Empress Shi appeared to have lost a lot of weight. Upon asking, she realized that Liu Yu had been feeling unwell recently and needed the empress to review the memorial for him. As a result, Empress Shi worked hard that she lose weight.

 

Looking at the plump cheeks raised in Miantang’s confinement, Empress Shi expressed envy and said, “A woman should be like you, princess consort. You don’t have to worry about anything. Nowadays, others envy our palace as the head of the six palaces, but our palace misses the happiness of only having a small courtyard when I first married the emperor.”

 

Miantang said, “I have nothing to be envious of. I’m having my confinement now, and I’m suffocating in the residence. I don’t know what’s happening in the capital recently.”

 

Empress Shi sighed and said, “What else can be new? Some old officials are making noises now and then, stating to see the Empress Dowager. But the Empress Dowager’s body is not well, how can she withstand the turmoil? The palace family is deeply involved in this palace change, and the emperor always has to deal with it to prevent others from turning against him. But I don’t know who is spreading rumors among the people that the emperor’s blood wasn’t authentic, and has harmed Prince Sui, his imperial uncle.”

 

Miantang frowned and said, “These are things that only bastards can say. You don’t have to worry about this. It’s only true that people are living a good life. What’s the matter with them in the deep palace?”

 

Empress Shi smiled and said, “If only the civil and military affairs of the Dynasty were as clear and reasonable as you. After your confinement, come often to the palace to accompany me in the future.”

 

Miantang also smiled and nodded, but as far as she knew, the queen probably didn’t need anyone to accompany her. She needed to take care of everything inside and outside the palace.

 

For some reason, Sun Yunniang was still alive, but she has been locked up in a cold palace and lacks food and clothing. In addition to dealing with the palace family, the Shi family was also gradually squeezed out of the forces of the old Eastern Palace, especially the Sun family, which has also been liquidated.

 

In this way, the Shi family and Prince Huaiyang maintained a delicate balance and harmony.

 

When Miantang was giving birth, her sister-in-law Lian Binglan and Aunt Lian had come several times.

 

When Prince Sui secretly transported troops to Qingfeng Town, it was a servant under the fifth master Cui Xingdi who discovered and informed him. At that time, the Fifth Master felt that it was not right, so he immediately sent someone to inform Prince Huaiyang, which prepared his heart.

 

This favor will naturally be accepted by Miantang on behalf of the prince. So although Aunt Lian still maintained her philistine demeanor, Miantang smiled politely and asked her sister-in-law when she planned to have a child.

 

When it came to this, Aunt Lian’s complaint surged again, “Speaking of him, he is also the master of the royal family. Why bother wandering around for a few stinky money? I am ashamed to tell others that my son-in-law is the elder brother of Prince Huaiyang. Which prince do you think needs to live through business? He never goes home. If my daughter is really pregnant, she will be gossiped by others.”

 

Aunt Lian spoke harshly, and Lian Binglan naturally couldn’t hold her expression. She only glared at her mother fiercely.

 

Miantang understood the meaning of Aunt Lian’s words and promptly speak up for her sister-in-law, saying, “Sister-in-law is still young, don’t worry. I’ll talk to the prince later and see which government office has idle work. If we can get the fifth brother a stable salary, he won’t have to go out and work like that.”

 

Lian Binglan hurriedly said, “Princess Consort, please don’t mention it to the prince… Many of Lian’s children have been bothering the prince before, but now it’s too inconvenient to trouble the prince again.”

 

Miantang smoothed little meatballs that were arched around in her arms and smiled, saying, “This is helping the Cui family affairs. How can it compare to the previous one? It’s just that the fifth brother has a leg injury and may not be able to join the government, but finding a leisurely clerical job in the government office is not difficult.”

 

Aunt Lian felt a bit uncomfortable after hearing this. What does she mean to help her own family? Was her Lian family not a relative of the Cui family anymore? But she didn’t dare to voice the reason for this.

 

Since she learned about the true background of Liu Miantang, she has slightly inquired about the deeds of the Mountain of Yang and Lu Wen.

 

Listening to the entire story, it really scared her to death. The rumors of green forest bandits are mostly outrageous, such as those who peel people’s skin, using the old form of torture in which prisoners were stripped naked, wrapped in linen, soaked in oil tanks, and tied to a tall wooden pole at night, igniting them from their feet, and dig their hearts out while they are alive. There was even an anecdote about the Mountain of Yang Lu Wen using human blood to quench his thirst.

 

Now Miantang’s eyes widened slightly, and Aunt Lian’s legs and stomach were a bit cramped. She heard that Imperial Concubine Yun in the palace was Liu Miantang’s sworn enemy. Now being locked in a cold palace, her whole body was rotting and her life was worse than death. She doesn’t know if Liu Miantang used any means.

 

After all, she has a good relationship with Empress Shi, who has always been kind. If she wants to retaliate against Yunniang, it should also be very convenient.

 

Since she had such reverence, Aunt Lian didn’t say many strange things in front of Liu Miantang.

 

Lian Binglan naturally thanked the princess consort for her kindness and said that she would come and visit again together to thank her when the fifth master returned from the boat.

 

Since she had given birth, Liu Miantang wanted to go out for a walk, especially to meet the brothers from the escort agency. She has been suffocating for a while now that she has finally unloaded and can move freely.

 

Speaking of it, those four brothers are somewhat confused about the word “loyalty and righteousness”. Since the last time she rescued them from prison, she had a brief meeting with them, and there had been no further news of them. Even when Xiaoyi’er was setting up his monthsary banquet, she did not see the four of them and the brothers in the escort agency appear.

 

But it was normal to think that maybe they went out for an escort business. So this time, Miantang asked Bicao and her companions to fill them with red eggs and candy, ready to send them out to bring joy to their former brothers as well.

 

When she arrived at the entrance of the escort agency, Liu Miantang was a bit dumbfounded. She saw that the gate of the escort agency had already

been sealed by the government, and the seal was in severely bad shape. It was not recently did the store be sealed at first glance.