Chapter Nine, Promotion to Empress Dowager
Old Madam Mo cleared her throat and said softly, "This is precisely the cleverness of the master; only in this way can he keep both princes by his side, unperturbed by others."
Madam Mo and the grape exchanged glances, reluctantly stepping back out.
Wang Qingjun opened her eyes amidst a cacophony, her head buzzing, aware that she was giving birth. She gritted her teeth, trying to muster some strength. Suddenly, she felt a tearing pain in her lower body, a surge pushing downwards. Unable to help herself, she let out a cry of "ah," clenched her fists, and exerted force downwards, then fainted.
After looking at and touching the two infants, Chen Wen'an finally walked towards the intricately carved big bed, sat down at the edge, and lowered his head to look at the drowsy Wang Qingjun on the bed. He saw Wang Qingjun's jet-black hair spread out on the pillow, her delicate lips devoid of color, and her entire being appeared pale and weak. He raised his hand for a moment, gently stroking Wang Qingjun's hair, and whispered: "Auntie is ill and will not live long. When you wake up, you will be the Empress Dowager, and no one will be able to bully you and your two children."
Noble one, I have already seen the child's hair, I beg you, please exert a little more strength!
Upon waking up, Wang Qingjun saw that Grape had brought Tang Tianxi for her to see. Unaccountably, she felt a discomfort in her chest. When she saw Tang Tianxi making little "hmph" sounds and pouting her small lips, she couldn't help but embrace her and lifted her clothing to nurse. Since she had nursed Tang Tianxi, she couldn't neglect Tang Tianle, so she nursed him as well. After that, the task of nursing was smoothly taken care of.
Wang Qingjun called out to Putao: "Putao, my mind is a bit muddled, and I can't quite grasp things. Could you please recount the events of the past few days once more?"
Another midwife was pressing on Wang Qingjun's belly, clearing her throat and saying: "Your Highness, there is still one inside her. If we do not wake her up quickly and help her give birth, I fear..."
The green figure exclaimed: "She is His Highness's biological mother, and now, she is the one held in the highest regard within the palace. However, in this manner, it is..."
Chen Wen'an observed their expressions and lightly snorted, "If I wanted to kill someone, I wouldn't need to do it myself"
The grape is extremely distressed; upon waking after giving birth, the master surprisingly developed amnesia and has completely forgotten the past.
Upon hearing the question, the grape replied: "Three days ago, Her Majesty the Queen passed away. Minister Chen summoned the officials to announce the edict. After the arrangements for Her Majesty's funeral are completed, an auspicious date will be chosen for the Fifth Prince to ascend the throne, and the Sixth Prince will be granted a title. Furthermore, the master has now been promoted to Empress Dowager and must refer to herself as 'this grieving family'"
Empress Chen leaned against the couch, feeling drowsy, and closed her eyes, saying nothing further
The two sons born to Wang Guiren were named Tang Tianxi, the elder, and Tang Tianle, the younger. Empress Chen ordered Chen Wen'an to prepare the writing materials, and she inscribed the imperial decree on the couch, designating Tang Tianxi as the successor to Tang Ruolong, and conferred the title of Prince of Anyang upon Tang Tianle, affixing the jade seal. She then said, "Summon the ministers to announce the decree!"
Inside the palace, when Wang Qingjun woke up again, she weakly asked, "Where is the child? Where is the child?" She remembered giving birth; was the baby born?
Chen Wen'an quickly arrived at Qingning Palace and reported: "Noble Consort Wang has given birth to a pair of healthy princes, so Aunt can rest assured."
After reprimanding Chen Wen'an, he instructed a eunuch, saying: "Go and report to Her Majesty the Empress that Concubine Wang has given birth to a son"
The baby who was touched showed dissatisfaction, pouting their little face, then pursed their lips and fell asleep again
He is under house arrest in the Sanqing Hall, but that does not prevent him from providing the fortune-telling for the Fifth and Sixth Princes
Chen Wen'an nodded slightly, dismissed the imperial physician, and seeing that Mama Mo and Grape were both standing by the bedside, he waved his hand and said: "All of you, leave. Come back in a while!"
The two princes are crying loudly, and they are also able to eat well, looking quite robust! However, they are indeed twins, and if one does not carefully distinguish between them, it is easy to mistake one for the other. In the previous dynasty, they would not have been allowed to be raised together.
The eunuch responded and left upon hearing the words
Three days later, the palace maids Hongjin and Luyiyi stood outside the Jade Steps Hall, quietly conversing.
No way, it hasn't been born yet, this is killing me! Wang Qingjun let out a miserable laugh in her heart, and also uttered a miserable laugh out loud, while simultaneously exerting force downwards, and fainted again.
Chen Wen'an complied, helping Empress Chen lie down, thoughtfully tucking in the corners of the blanket, and softly said: "Aunt, please rest assured, with me here, I will never allow Tang Tianzhi to usurp the throne"
An inner servant had long since rushed to find Chen Wen'an
After Greenery finished speaking, she quietly asked, "I have heard that the noble person, oh no, now it is Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Is it true that Her Majesty insists on breastfeeding herself and does not allow the wet nurse to take the two princes away?"
Chen Wen'an waited until the room fell silent before slowly walking over to look at the two infants sleeping in the small bed. He reached out his hand and gently touched the nose of one of the babies, but quickly withdrew his hand in surprise, muttering to himself: "So soft, won't it collapse the bridge of the nose?"
Noble one, exert yourself, just a little more effort, it will soon be out
Wow... the loud cries of the baby echoed outside the palace, and everyone waiting outside let out a sigh of relief. The Tang Dynasty has an heir, the late emperor has an heir!
The noblewoman exerted herself too much and fainted. The midwife dared not remain silent.
Ye Susu also murmured: "Having amnesia is one thing, but to actually snatch away one's own child to nurse, this matter..."
Chen Wen'an, with his sharp ears, could not help but scold the midwife, saying: "Why aren't you thinking of a solution quickly?" He then turned to the imperial physician and exclaimed: "At this critical moment, what are you still hesitating for? Hurry up and go in to diagnose and treat?"
"Alright, alright, it has been born, it is a prince." The midwife exclaimed with a mix of surprise and joy, her voice trembling as she delivered the news.
By the latest, news of Empress Chen's death spread, and the palace was filled with mourning.
Empress Chen dismissed those around her and, in a hoarse voice, asked: "Where is Wang Qingjun?"
Madam Mo and Ye Susu saw Wang Qingjun looking dazed and couldn't help but laugh. They stepped forward in unison and said: "Congratulations, Your Highness, on becoming the youngest and most beautiful Empress Dowager of the Tang Dynasty!"
Chen Wen'an nodded slightly, remaining silent thereafter
Hong Jin blushed, and after checking that no one was nearby, quietly said: "Isn't that so? How could the dignified Empress Dowager herself be nursing? But just a moment ago, when I entered the inner chamber to deliver soup, I indeed saw the Empress Dowager lifting her garments to nurse."
Chen Wen'an carefully rolled up the imperial edict, tucked the jade seal into his bosom, and upon raising his head, he noticed that Empress Chen's complexion was waxy yellow. Realizing that she would not live much longer, he fell silent for a moment before turning to leave the palace.
Chen Wen'an heard the voice of the midwife, let out a sigh of relief, placed his hand against the wall to steady himself, buried his head in his elbow, and chuckled softly, "Haha, it's twins"
Chen Wen'an whispered: "The favored consort Wang is in a coma. The imperial physician says she is suffering from postpartum exhaustion. If she does not receive proper care, even if she wakes up, she will be incapacitated."
The imperial physician, busy outside the hall, hurriedly entered.
Wow... the sound of a second baby crying soon echoed in the palace
Madam Mo and the grape were astonished, anxiously watching Wang Qingjun lying on the bed. Is this the intention of the Minister Wang to silence her and leave no witnesses?
Empress Chen nodded in satisfaction after listening, took a sip of water from Chen Wen'an's hand, and leaned close to his ear, saying: "Remember, she must not wake up... Afterward, you and Tianqing will personally raise the child and jointly oversee the country"
"Alright, alright, the Empress has awakened!" a court physician exclaimed with joy, "She needs to take in some broth; only then will the Empress have the strength to give birth to the child"
Chen Wen'an left Qingning Palace and went straight to Yujie Hall. He first summoned the imperial physician to inquire about Wang Qingjun's condition. Upon learning that she was suffering from postpartum exhaustion and could not be forcibly awakened, he asked, "How long will she remain in this stupor?"
Isn't Daoist Qingchen imprisoned in the Sanqing Hall
Chen Wen'an chuckled lightly, then reached out to touch another baby, not daring to apply much pressure, merely caressing the baby's face. Upon seeing the baby display a look of impatience, his heart was suddenly filled with tenderness.
The midwife once again reported with a mix of surprise and trembling voice: "It is also a prince!"
In the Jade Steps Hall, everyone was concerned about the king's fainting and, fearing to disturb the two newly born little princes, they merely rubbed their eyes with handkerchiefs until they turned red, without shedding a single tear
They were talking when they saw the grapes passing by, and they hurriedly stopped their conversation. Once the grapes had moved away, they straightened up.
It is not good, the noble person has stopped breathing, quickly, feed a little ginseng soup!
Hearing the sound of the baby crying, Chen Wen'an's tense shoulders relaxed, his eyes brightened, and a smile involuntarily appeared at the corners of his mouth. The child cried with such vigor, surely indicating good health. He waited for a while but did not hear Wang Qingjun's voice, and the smile quickly faded. He asked the midwife inside in a low voice: "How is the noble lady?"
It is not yet the Daoist priest Qingchenzi who said that the two princes are a gift from heaven and should be raised together; they should not be separated, for separation will lead to illness and disaster. Hearing these words, who would dare to separate them
At this moment, Qingning Palace had fallen into chaos, and the precious princess was crying by the bedside, calling out: "Mother, Mother, please wake up!"
Empress Chen, upon hearing that Wang Qingjun had successfully given birth to a prince, gasped and said: "Summon Chen Wen'an to pay his respects!"
The imperial physician replied: "He will wake up in about two days"
Wang Qingjun twisted her fingers, um, I am only 17 years old, and yet I am already the Empress Dowager