strictlysupreme Chapter 285 A Heartbroken Emperor × A Beloved Concubine Who Has Regained Her Heart 11
Chapter 285 A Heartbroken Emperor × A Beloved Concubine Who Has Regained Her Heart 11
Fengze Palace
There was a noise coming from the bed, and Lianqiao and Peilan quickly went forward to hang up the bed curtains: "Your Majesty, you're awake."
Chu Yue was still a little dazed and softly hummed in agreement.
Lian Qiao and Pei Lan helped her up, and Chu Yue looked around: "Where is His Majesty?"
"His Majesty left early, he was busy at the front, and instructed us to take good care of Her Highness."
"His Majesty is not here?"
"Your Majesty, what are you planning to do now?" Lianqiao and Peilan asked helplessly, as they could sense that the Empress was somewhat excited.
Chu Yue smiled and sat on the bed, one hand supporting her waist and the other supporting her stomach: "You guys figured it out?"
With no one else in the harem, the Empress's mood improved day by day, and she had more and more strange ideas. However, the Empress was heavily pregnant, and His Majesty forbade her from acting recklessly. The Empress always did the opposite of His Majesty's wishes, and would secretly cause trouble when His Majesty was not around.
"Your Highness, please don't scare me. You're about to give birth, let's be careful, okay?"
Lian Qiao pleaded with a pained expression. She was really scared. The Empress was pregnant with twins and her belly was too big. Their hearts were always in their throats when they were serving her.
Chu Yue looked at the two maids, who were terrified, and pouted: "There are a lot of people serving me. There are several of those nannies. If I go out, a whole bunch of them will follow me. Besides... how many times have I ever managed to get out successfully?"
The emperor was watching her too closely, and she felt helpless.
"My lady..."
"Stop! Let's go out and have some fun while His Majesty is away." Chu Yue interrupted Pei Lan, supporting her belly as she tried to stand up.
Lianqiao and Peilan were terrified and quickly supported her.
Chu Yue: "..."
Peony Pavilion
Chu Yue sat in the audience, choosing a play, but it was one she had arranged herself... the kind about a scholar and a young lady.
"Your Majesty, today it's Miss Li and Zhang Sheng's turn to perform."
The time before last it was Miss Wang and Mr. Liu, a few days ago it was Miss Zhang and Mr. Fu, and today it's Miss Li and Mr. Zhang. Yes, that's right, Lian Qiao remembers it perfectly.
"Let's do it this way then."
Chu Yue, her belly protruding, leaned back in her chair, sipping tea every now and then, while Pei Lan fanned her, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Lianqiao gestured to the palace servants to prepare, and soon after, a beautiful song began to play on the stage.
"Your Majesty, here's a handkerchief for you." The touching moment was about to begin, and Lianqiao immediately and considerately handed over a silk handkerchief.
"My beloved concubine."
Just as Chu Yue was about to take it, the emperor's deep voice came, and the handkerchief fell to the ground.
"Greetings to Your Majesty..."
The servants immediately knelt down to pay their respects, and the scene fell silent for a moment.
Chu Yue, supporting her belly, straightened her posture slightly and said awkwardly, "Your Majesty... you've come to see the play too?"
emperor:"……"
He didn't speak, and no one dared to make a sound. Chu Yue stood frozen in place, forcing a smile.
Seeing Consort Zhao's innocent look, the Emperor almost had a heart attack. He couldn't find her after finishing his work, so how could he not be worried?
He's doing well, watching these ridiculous shows again. The emperor's face turned slightly cold, and Xiao Xingzi quickly signaled those people to leave.
Chu Yue glared at him; the exciting part wasn't over yet.
The emperor walked towards Chu Yue, who snorted and turned her head away.
"You're being ridiculous again," the emperor said with a sigh, still quite worried.
Chu Yue pursed her lips and remained silent.
The emperor looked down at her and said, "If Consort Zhao doesn't speak, then they will continue to kneel."
To allow one's master to act recklessly is punishable.
Chu Yue glared angrily at the emperor, who was domineering and unreasonable.
After a moment, Chu Yue awkwardly spoke, "Your Majesty..."
"Get up, all of you. If you indulge your master's recklessness again, I will punish you severely."
"Yes, Your Majesty..."
The emperor came to Chu Yue and helped her to her feet: "My beloved consort, I will accompany you back to the palace. I have summoned the imperial physician to examine your pulse."
Chu Yue knew that the emperor was in such a hurry because her due date was approaching, but she thought that she would be cooped up for a long time during her postpartum confinement, so she wanted to go out and see more of the world.
"Your Majesty... I haven't finished reading it yet."
"We won't look at it today; I'll accompany you later," the emperor conceded.
Chu Yue was unhappy; they wouldn't even give in to her on such a small matter.
On the way back to the palace, she refused to say a word, and the emperor thought he would coax her properly once he brought her back to the palace.
Before even entering the hall, Chu Yue felt something was wrong; a pain shot through her stomach. She paused slightly, a sudden panic gripping her.
"My beloved concubine, what's wrong?" The emperor embraced her and looked down to observe her expression.
Chu Yue felt something was wrong, and the pain became more and more obvious. She subconsciously held her stomach and bent over.
"Your Majesty... your stomach hurts..."
The emperor's expression instantly turned serious. He picked up Chu Yue and carried her to the side hall that had been prepared beforehand.
"Someone come here! Consort Zhao is about to give birth. Summon the imperial physician." The emperor put Chu Yue down, his heart filled with panic.
Lianqiao and Peilan, along with the palace servants and nannies, quickly prepared everything.
Chu Yue's brows furrowed in pain, and she bit her lip tightly, occasionally letting out a low moan.
"My beloved concubine, don't bite. If it hurts, bite me instead." The emperor reached out his hand, afraid that she would hurt herself.
Chu Yue's hair gradually became wet with cold sweat, sticking messily to her forehead. Her eyelashes trembled incessantly, and she was too weak to open her eyes.
"Your Majesty, the Empress is about to give birth, you..." The midwife mustered her courage to try and persuade her.
The emperor held Chu Yue's hand tightly, his tall figure kneeling before the bed: "You do your thing, don't worry about me. If Consort Zhao suffers any harm, I will not let her off lightly."
"This……"
Chu Yue paused for a moment, then forced herself to speak: "Your Majesty... please go outside and wait for me... and our son."
"Moon." The emperor felt extremely distressed.
"Your Majesty...please leave..." Chu Yue weakly broke free from the emperor's hand: "I will be fine."
Watching the emperor leave, Chu Yue couldn't help but cry out in pain, "Ah..."
The emperor had just arrived at the palace gate when he heard Chu Yue's painful cries and immediately turned to go inside.
Xiao Xingzi, quick as a flash, grabbed the emperor's leg: "Your Majesty, Consort Zhao is giving birth, please don't go in..."
"release!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for not letting go..."
Chaos reigned in the side hall of Fengze Palace, with palace servants rushing in and out. The emperor's vision blurred, and he began to tremble.
"what……"
"Your Majesty, push harder...again."
"Yes, take a deep breath..."
The emperor trembled more and more as he listened, and Xiao Xingzi didn't stop him; he simply didn't have the strength to go inside.
"How long has it been?" the emperor asked hoarsely. He felt as if a long time had passed, and he wondered why Consort Zhao had not yet given birth to a son.
"Your Majesty... it's only been less than half an hour." Xiao Xingzi was also anxious, and cold sweat broke out on his brow.
The commotion inside continued, and the emperor was extremely anxious. He wanted to go in and take a look, but the thought of Consort Zhao lying there weakly made him feel suffocated.
"Your Majesty, please wait a little longer. The Empress will be alright. There are nannies and imperial physicians watching over her. Please don't worry."
"open!"
The emperor couldn't wait any longer; it had been so long and the baby still hadn't been born. He wanted to go inside.
"It's born! It's born! The Empress has given birth!"
The noise inside stopped, and then the sound of a baby crying came from inside. The emperor had just reached out to push open the palace door.
The nanny came out carrying the baby, beaming from ear to ear: "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations on the birth of a prince and a princess by the Empress!"
The emperor's hands trembled, his voice hoarse: "Princes and princesses?"
"Your Majesty is overjoyed! This is truly auspicious, a dragon and a phoenix bringing good fortune." The nanny was extremely happy, for she had served Consort Zhao in giving birth to twins, and the rewards would certainly be plentiful.
"Reward them all...reward them handsomely, Xiao Xingzi, go and do it." The emperor gave the order while going inside to check on Chu Yue: "Take the prince and princess to the main hall."
Chu Yue still had a little strength left. She weakly tilted her head and breathed softly. Lian Qiao and Pei Lan had already cleaned her up. Hearing the words outside, she weakly tugged at the corner of her mouth. They were twins, a boy and a girl. That's wonderful.
"My beloved concubine." When the emperor entered and saw Chu Yue's weak appearance, tears immediately streamed down his face.
Chu Yue was stunned. Her lips twitched twice, but she didn't have the strength to make a sound.
"My beloved consort, you have suffered so much. I am overjoyed to suddenly have a son and a princess."
The emperor was so moved that he bent down and kissed Chu Yue's forehead, his eyes welling up with tears.
Chu Yue could no longer hold on and fainted from exhaustion.
"Yue'er!" The Emperor was terrified: "Guards! Where is the imperial physician? Quickly, check on Consort Zhao!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please don't worry. The Empress has had a difficult childbirth, and she gave birth to two children at once. She is exhausted. Let the Empress rest for a while."
The nanny quickly came to explain, "His Majesty is so concerned about the Empress; the Empress is truly blessed."
The emperor was relieved and carried Chu Yue back to the main hall. He placed her on the bed, carefully covered her with a brocade quilt, and had the imperial physician examine her pulse before staying by her side.
The two little ones lay quietly beside him, and the emperor sat on the edge of the bed watching them, his heart softening.
He had considered that Consort Zhao might be carrying twins, or perhaps twins, or even a prince and a princess. Of course, he had also hoped for one prince and one princess.
But when the moment actually arrived, the emperor couldn't help but be excited by such a great surprise; immense joy filled his heart.
Fortunately, he had already thought of a name and would discuss it with Consort Zhao when she woke up.
As night fell, Chu Yue slowly woke up, her brows furrowed as she felt unwell.
"My beloved concubine, you're awake." The emperor immediately bent down to ask, scrutinizing her expression.
Chu Yue opened her mouth, her voice hoarse and no longer soft and sweet: "Your Majesty..."
"My beloved consort, I'm here." The emperor brought her warm water and fed it to her, then carefully held her in his arms and gently sucked on her little mouth: "Does it still hurt?"
Chu Yue nodded weakly: "It hurts..."
"The imperial physician has prescribed medicine; you'll feel better after drinking it in a bit."
"Your Majesty...where are the princes?" Chu Yue did not see the children.
"I've taken him to nurse him. I'll bring him back in a bit. It's the prince and the princess. My dear consort, you're so capable."
"Your Majesty... is capable too..."
The emperor chuckled quietly; Consort Zhao was just so adorable.
A short while later, Lian Qiao brought in the medicine. Chu Yue was somewhat resistant; it was too bitter.
With the emperor present, she had no choice but to drink it, her face contorted in a grimace as she refused to speak.
"The young prince and princess pay their respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty..."
Chu Yue suddenly looked towards the palace entrance. When the nanny handed the children to her, Chu Yue burst into tears: "They are so tiny..."
"My beloved concubine, you are weak, don't hold me now, wait until you are better."
Seeing that she was about to reach out and take it, the emperor first firmly shielded Chu Yue to prevent her from moving around.
“Okay…” Chu Yue looked at the two little ones with affection, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Alright, take her away and take good care of her." Consort Zhao still needs to rest.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The nanny bowed and then carried the child out.
Chu Yue sobbed twice, looking reluctantly at the doorway.
"It wouldn't be good if your eyes got hurt. I'll bring them over to you to see tomorrow."
The emperor coaxed her.
Chu Yue nodded, leaned weakly against the emperor's chest, and quickly fell asleep.
……