I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 687 You can survive!

The palace maid quickly replied, "I congratulate the Queen Mother and the Emperor. Congratulations to the Emperor. Concubine Shun has given birth to a daughter."

Princess!

In the courtyard in front of the main hall of Luqixuan, the atmosphere became somewhat subtle.

Everyone was silent. No one knew what to say, and no one dared to speak first.

"My eldest daughter, the eldest princess of the Ming Dynasty, was born. Why don't you congratulate me?" Zhu Yijun's clear voice spread throughout the courtyard and was clearly heard in the main hall.

"I congratulate Your Majesty. Yuyan has given birth to a precious baby in her arms, which makes her unique among the others in the world." Yang Jinshui was the first to kneel on the ground and congratulated loudly.

Wanfu immediately knelt on the ground and said loudly: "I congratulate His Majesty on the birth of a daughter. The pearl is so beautiful and joyful."

The other eunuchs and palace maids knelt on the ground as if awakened from a dream, and said loudly: "Your servants congratulate the emperor, congratulations to the emperor!"

"Haha, OK, Yang Jinshui, the Shaofu Supervisor will allocate money, and there will be rewards in the Western Garden and the Forbidden City."

"According to the order!"

At this time, two female medical officers came out.

"I have met the emperor."

"Two doctors, how is Concubine Shun doing?"

"Your Majesty, Concubine Shun is fine, she is just too tired and needs to rest."

"Can I go in and take a look?"

"To reply to the emperor, the bloody smell in the delivery room is still strong, and I am afraid that it will offend the emperor."

"Well, whatever. Concubine Shun and the princess are still very weak. There are so many people coming in and out, and they might bring bacteria and diseases. I'll leave Concubine Shun and the princess in your care."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that we will do our best."

"The next thing is to be careful about puerperal fever. Your medical school has confirmed that puerperal fever is caused by bacteria infecting the mother, so you must strictly follow the regulations formulated by the Imperial Hospital.

During the confinement period, you should also pay attention to it. No wind, no cold water, but you can use hot water to wipe your body. Also, after you recover, you should pay attention to indoor ventilation and don’t blow the wind directly at you.”

Zhu Yijun gave a few instructions and said through the curtains, "Shun Fei, wait a few days, when you are well again, I will come to see you and my eldest princess again."

A palace maid hurried out of the room and knelt down at the door and kowtowed: "This servant, on behalf of Concubine Shun, thanks the Emperor for his grace."

"Take good care of yourself and listen to the doctor. Well, I'm leaving first."

Empress Dowager Chen said to Zhu Yijun, "It is inconvenient for you men to enter the delivery room now. I and the Queen will go in to see Concubine Shun. The Emperor should not worry."

"Your son thanks you, mother. Queen, thank you for your concern. Wanfu, you stay here and take care of me. Jinshui, we are leaving now."

"According to the order!"

Chen watched Zhu Yijun's back disappear at the front door of Luqixuan, then turned around, took Xue Baoqin's hand, and walked into the main hall of the main hall.

Here, the female medical officers dressed Chen and Xue Baoqin in plain robes and plain cloth hats, washed their hands in a copper basin, and then wiped them again with a towel soaked in alcohol.

Chen and Xue Baoqin smelled a special smell on their robes and hats, which was said to be the unique scent after being washed in sulfur water and then steamed in a steamer.

Then, led by a female medical officer who was also wearing a robe and a hat and had washed her hands, she opened the door and went in, closed the door, then lifted a thick curtain and went into the left room.

As soon as she came in, she smelled blood. Xue Baoqin felt nauseous and her heart was churning, but she forced herself to hold it back.

Several palace maids in robes and hats were busy cleaning up, collecting all the filth and garbage into several buckets and carrying them out.

A palace maid lit another incense burner, and the faint fragrance filled the room.

The female medical officer introduced, "Empress Dowager, Queen, this is a special frankincense developed by the Imperial Hospital's Medical Department. It not only removes filth, but also calms the mind and has a miraculous effect on wound healing. Lord Dongbi asked me to bring it here specially."

"Mr. Yaowang is thoughtful." Chen nodded.

Chen walked to the bed and a palace maid brought a stool for her to sit on.

Xue Baoqin stood beside her and looked at Concubine Shun Wang Lan'er lying on the bed.

Wang Lan'er was very tired, and one could see disappointment in her eyes.

"Lan'er, you've worked hard."

"Mother, sister, please come and see me."

Xue Baoqin said: "Sister, you must have heard what the emperor said outside."

"heard it."

"Then sister must take good care of her health."

"understood."

Chen said, "Come, let me see my eldest granddaughter."

The female medical officer picked up the swaddled baby from the bedside and carefully handed it to Chen.

"Yes, these eyebrows and eyes are exactly the same as when the emperor was a child, especially the nose, which is huffing and puffing. It looks exactly like the emperor when he was angry as a child."

Xue Baoqin smiled and said, "Yes, her eyebrows and eyes are like the emperor's, and her skin and lips are like my sister's."

The Princess of the Daming Dynasty tilted her head slightly in her cradle, her eyes closed, her mouth slightly open, and her furry little face looked indifferent. She said, "Even if the sky falls, I must get enough sleep first."

She yawned, turned her head, changed her position and continued to sleep.

"Oh, my little cutie, I love her so much!" Chen held the baby in her hands. The more she looked at the baby, the more she loved him. She was reluctant to let him go.

After a while, he reluctantly handed it to the female medical officer and put it back on the bed.

"Qin'er, you guys go out first. I want to talk to Lan'er."

"It's the Queen Mother. Sister, take good care of yourself. I and the other sisters will come to see you in a few days."

Xue Baoqin led everyone away, leaving only Empress Dowager Chen sitting on the bed, Concubine Wang Lan'er lying on the bed, and Princess Daming soundly sleeping beside her.

Chen looked at Wang Lan'er, which made her feel a little uneasy.

"Lan'er, are you disappointed?"

Wang Lan'er asked in panic, "Mother, I am disappointed. What are you disappointed about?"

"Are you disappointed that you didn't give birth to a son for the emperor?"

Wang Lan'er pursed her lips and did not answer.

"You." Chen looked at her with a look of disappointment, "Just now when I was waiting outside, I kept praying in my heart, asking for Buddha's blessing.

After hearing the female official's answer, I was grateful to all the gods and Buddhas for giving birth to a princess."

Wang Lan'er looked at Chen in disbelief. Why?
"When I heard that you gave birth to a princess, I felt relieved. You can live!"

Wang Lan'er's face turned pale, and she trembled as she asked, "Mother, I don't know. I don't understand."

Chen didn't answer her, but continued to ask: "Do you think you can fight? What capital do you have to fight? Do you think you can fight by giving birth to the emperor's eldest son? Do you think you can be honored by having a son?"

Chen's barrage of questions made Wang Lan'er's face turn even paler, she looked pale and her speech became incoherent.

"I dare not, my son, I don't have any."

"The Empress has the nobles, the Imperial Concubine has the Southeastern clan, who do you have? Confucius from Qufu, Shandong, or Zhang Juzheng, the Prime Minister? Do you know why the Emperor and I have to stay in Luqi Pavilion today?"

Wang Lan'er shook her head woodenly.

"You fool, if you gave birth to the emperor's eldest son today, if I and the emperor were not here to watch, both mother and child might die in childbirth!"

Wang Lan'er seemed to be struck by lightning. She was completely stunned. After more than ten seconds, tears flowed down her face.

"Mother, I am too ignorant and have caused you and the Emperor to worry."

"Alas, Lan'er, the moment the emperor decided on the empress and the imperial concubine, their status was already determined. Don't let your imagination run wild and just live your life down to earth. Wait until the empress gives birth to a legitimate prince, and then give birth to a few more children for the emperor.

The emperor is a man of great talent and strategy. In twenty or thirty years, who knows how much territory he will conquer. Your son is the emperor's flesh and blood, and you will definitely not treat him unfairly.

If you teach him well and make him sensible and polite, he might be able to achieve something great, and it will be worth the ten months of pregnancy and the hardships you went through to give birth to him."

Wang Lan'er replied with tears in her eyes, "I'll remember that." Xue Baoqin left the left room and stood in the main hall, allowing the palace maids to help her take off her robe and hat. After taking them off, she went out the door. When the fresh wind blew outside, she felt the turbid air in her chest was suddenly blown away.

She took a few deep breaths greedily, and suddenly her stomach started to churn again, and she felt an uncontrollable urge to vomit.

Xue Baoqin leaned against the door frame and retched a few times. The female medical officer who had taken off her robe and hat looked at her and walked over to her and said, "Madam, are you feeling unwell?"

"I just felt nauseous and wanted to vomit but couldn't vomit anything."

"My lady, please let Rongchen feel your pulse."

"it is good."

The two female medical officers invited Xue Baoqin to the right room, where the obstetricians of the Imperial Medical Institute lived and worked on duty.

Empress Dowager Chen gave Wang Lan'er a few more instructions, then stood up and left. She came out to the main hall, where the palace maid untied her robe and hat.

She looked around and asked, "Where's the queen?"

The female doctor helped Xue Baoqin out of the right room. When she saw Chen, she immediately reported, "Empress Dowager, we have checked the Queen's pulse and found that she is pregnant."

Chen was stunned for several seconds, then said happily: "Quick, help the queen back to Yaohua Palace, so that she can recover. Doctor, send someone to Yaohua Palace immediately.

Also, send someone to report to the emperor immediately!"

"Yes!"

The main hall was busy and noisy again.

After a while, two palace maids who had received nursing training, wearing robes and hats, walked into the left room.

Wang Lan'er asked softly, "There was a commotion outside just now, what happened?"

The two maids looked at each other, and one of them lowered her head and whispered, "Just now, the female doctor took the Queen's pulse and diagnosed that she is pregnant."

Wang Lan'er looked at the ceiling of the bed, speechless and numb, two lines of tears flowing silently.

"Mmm." The baby next to him whimpered a few times and then fell asleep again.

Wang Lan'er turned to look at her daughter, feeling both sad and happy. She stretched out her left hand with great effort, embraced the swaddling clothes, and called softly, "My child."

That night, at Zhang’s house in Renshoufang.

Zhang Tong led the way in front, leading the Minister of Public Administration Zeng Xingwu inside.

"Master Zeng, you are old but rarely seen."

Zhang Tong walked in front holding a lantern.

Zeng Shengwu looked at his back, a hint of sneer flashed in his eyes, and he replied leisurely: "Prime Minister Zhang, I wish I could come here every day, but unfortunately I am busy with my affairs and cannot spare the time."

"Sir Zeng, now the Tongzhengsi has become the most popular government office, and it is indeed difficult for you to split your time."

"The most popular government office is not the Tongzhengsi. According to the emperor, the Tongzhengsi is also the general mailroom of the Ming Dynasty, and I am the general mailman. The really popular government offices are Zhang Xiang's Central Steering Committee for Performance Evaluation and the Cultural Construction Committee."

Zhang Tong couldn't help but turn around and glance at Zeng Shengwu. "Cultural Construction Committee? It's really popular."

The two chatted with each other and came to the study in the middle courtyard.

"Master, Mr. Zeng from the Ministry of Public Administration has arrived."

"San Sheng is here, please come in."

Zhang Tong pushed open the door and stepped aside to invite Zeng Shengwu in.

"The student Zeng Shengwu has met the teacher."

"Sanxing, please take a seat. Zhang Tong, ask someone to serve tea."

"Yes."

After waiting for the servant to leave, only Zhang Juzheng and Zeng Shengwu were left in the study.

"Teacher," Zeng Xingwu picked up the teacup and blew the hot air off it, "There's news coming out from Xiyuan just now."

"All the news coming out of Xiyuan can be known to us. Tell me, what is the news?" Zhang Juzheng was wearing a plain robe and a Pingding square scarf on his head.

"Empress Shun gave birth to the emperor's eldest daughter."

"Shun Fei finally gave birth to the eldest daughter of the emperor." Zhang Juzheng blinked his eyes and stroked his beard. "She is safe and sound."

Zeng Shengwu was slightly stunned. "Teacher, Concubine Shun gave birth to the eldest daughter of the emperor safely. That means if she gave birth to the eldest son of the emperor, it is possible..."

"Mother and child had a difficult birth."

Zeng Shengwu's face changed, "How could it be?"

"Why not?"

"Who dares to do this?"

"Who in Xiyuan is so brave?"

Zeng Shengwu's face changed drastically, his Adam's apple trembled up and down, and his voice changed a little, "No way, teacher, this is too..."

"Yes, now that Concubine Shun has given birth to the eldest daughter of the Emperor, there will be no problem at all, and the world will be at peace!"

Hearing that Zhang Juzheng did not want to talk about this matter anymore, Zeng Xingwu said, "Teacher, there is another piece of news from Xiyuan. The queen is pregnant."

Zhang Juzheng stroked his beard with his right hand and said, "The queen is pregnant, this is a great thing. Shunfei, Guifei, Ningfei, and Shufei have all been pregnant, but the queen has not made any move yet, which has caused a lot of criticism in the court and the public.

Now it can be calm.”

Zeng Xingwu shook his head, "Teacher, there is no peace. Princes are being born one after another, and a new round of betting is about to begin."

Zhang Juzheng smiled calmly, "What does it have to do with me?"

Yes, even if the eldest prince and the legitimate prince are born this year or next year, it will take them another 18 years to grow up.

Can the Emperor allow the teacher to be the Prime Minister for eighteen years?
Besides, the emperor is strong and healthy, and his lifespan is at least comparable to that of Emperor Taizu.

The emperor is only eighteen years old this year. Let’s calculate how many years he has left.

The mentor had already figured it out in his mind that maybe even his son wouldn't be able to survive the emperor, so why bother with that?
The two smiled at each other, and Zeng Shengwu turned to the main topic: "Teacher, Zhang Siwei seems to be giving up on You Qi's case."

"Zhang Fengpan is too weak to take on responsibilities. When he sees that things are hopeless, he will give up. But I just can't figure it out. Who is plotting against me?"

"Yang Jinshui?"

"Him? He does have the skill and ability, but he doesn't bother to do it."

Zeng Xingwu hesitated for a moment and asked again, "Wang Yi'e?"

"He has a lot of important things to do, and he doesn't even bother to pay attention to a small character like You Qi."

"Teacher, there are only four people in the world who can do this. Yang Jinshui is too lazy to do it. Wang Yi'e is too lazy to do it. Eunuch Feng and Song Dushi will not do it.

Who could that be?"

"That's why I'm wondering. I know that You Qi is not a good person, but I also know that he has some tricks, but he's not very brave. He uses my name to make a little money, but he doesn't have the courage to do anything big.

And I am also keeping a close eye on him and will not let him go beyond the limit."

Zeng Xingwu understood, "Teacher, did you keep You Qi to defile yourself to protect yourself?"

Zhang Juzheng did not deny it, but said quietly: "The will of heaven is unpredictable. The emperor's thoughts are becoming increasingly difficult to understand."

Zhang Tong suddenly spoke at the door: "Master."

"what's up?"

"An urgent letter from Huguang!"

Zhang Juzheng glanced at Zeng Shengwu and said, "Bring it in."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)