Chapter 381 Becoming a Father for the First Time, Two Princes

November, the first year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty.

With the start of winter past, dark clouds loomed over the imperial city of Jinling, and a biting wind howled. The first snowfall of the Tang Dynasty's Zhaowu era in Jinling was clearly imminent.

Inside and outside the Kunning Palace where Empress Liu Shujun resided, eunuchs and palace maids came and went in an endless stream, and from time to time, imperial physicians carrying medicine chests would also hurry through the area.

The same scene also played out in the Phoenix Palace, where Imperial Noble Consort Yue Qiluo resided.

The biting cold wind couldn't dampen the enthusiasm within the palace. The palace maids, eunuchs, and even the Imperial Guards on duty were all immersed in an atmosphere that was both solemn and tense.

Empress Liu Shujun and Imperial Noble Consort Yue Qiluo will both give birth today and tomorrow, and the second generation of rulers of the Tang Dynasty will also be born today and tomorrow.

Inside the palace, the lights were bright and the atmosphere was warm, a stark contrast to the chill of early winter outside.

Both Kunning Palace and Fengyi Palace had been meticulously decorated by palace maids and eunuchs in advance, under the imperial decree of Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, to be solemn and warm, adding a touch of solemnity and anticipation to the upcoming sacred moment.

Inside the Kunning Palace, Empress Liu Shujun lay peacefully on a phoenix couch made of golden nanmu wood, covered with a brocade quilt embroidered with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns.

Bathed in the candlelight of the hall, Liu Shujun's exquisite face showed signs of exhaustion, but her bright eyes shone with maternal radiance.

There is both the tension of facing the unknown challenges of childbirth and the anticipation of becoming a mother.

Two experienced midwives and several palace maids were busy working in a tense but orderly manner around Empress Liu Shujun. Some were responsible for wiping the sweat from the Empress's forehead, while others were responsible for gently fanning her. The two midwives accompanied the Empress on the left and right, whispering words of encouragement.

Inside the Phoenix Palace, the candlelight flickered, illuminating every inch of the space. The magnificent decorations appeared even more luxurious and solemn under the candlelight. Imperial Noble Consort Yue Qiluo was placed on a birthing bed specially made of golden nanmu wood.

At this moment, the Imperial Noble Consort Yue Qiluo, who was about to give birth, looked slightly pale, and fine beads of sweat had already seeped out on her forehead. However, her deep blue eyes revealed an indescribable tenacity and maternal radiance.

Yue Qiluo held the midwife's hand tightly, each breath seeming to gather the strength for childbirth, preparing for the upcoming challenge of delivery.

Surrounding her was a group of palace maids, each busy with their own duties, all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new life in the Imperial Concubine's womb.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

Suddenly, accompanied by the sharp voice of an old eunuch announcing that Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun had arrived at Kunning Palace, all the eunuchs and palace maids present knelt down to welcome her and shouted "May the Empress Dowager be blessed!"

Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, who was not yet fifty years old, wore a bright red phoenix robe and a mink cloak, exuding a noble and dignified aura as the mother of the nation.

She immediately summoned Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and asked, "Eunuch Cai, what is the situation with Her Majesty the Empress?"

The old eunuch Cai He replied respectfully, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the midwife has been inside for three hours, but Her Majesty the Empress is still in labor."

"The imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy are all waiting outside Kunning Palace, ready to deal with any emergencies!"

Um!

Upon hearing this, Xu Ruoyun frowned slightly and asked again, "What is the situation of the Imperial Noble Consort at Fengyi Palace?"

Cai He replied without hesitation, "Your Majesty, the eunuch reported just a short while ago that the Imperial Concubine is still in labor."

"If there is any news, the eunuchs stationed at Fengyi Palace will come to report immediately!"

Um!

Xu Ruoyun nodded again, but her nervousness did not ease at all.

Now, with both daughters-in-law about to give birth, and her son Chen Huai'an still on his way back to Beijing, Xu Ruoyun has to manage everything in the vast palace by herself.

This feeling of tension even made Xu Ruoyun feel that she hadn't been this worried when she gave birth to Chen Huai'an and Chen Longxiang.

This inevitably reminded her of when she gave birth to Chen Huai'an; the late Emperor Chen Polu was away on campaign and not by her side.

Eh—

Both Shujun and Qiluo are unfortunate children!

Xu Ruoyun sighed inwardly.

At this moment, Luo Yucheng, the deputy commander of the Longcheng Inner Guard who was left to guard the capital and the Marquis of Wuping of the Tang Dynasty, hurriedly came and knelt down to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun.

He then asked respectfully, "Your Majesty, did you summon me?"

Um!

Xu Ruoyun nodded and asked Luo Yucheng, "Marquis Wuping, where is the Emperor now? Will he be able to return to the capital within the next day or two?"

Forehead--

Upon hearing this, Luo Yucheng hesitated for a moment before replying, "Your Majesty, the last time His Majesty contacted the court was three days ago. He just arrived in Chang'an and is currently inspecting the construction of the new imperial city."

"Based on this timeline, unless the Emperor forgoes food and drink and travels day and night to reach the capital;"

"Otherwise, we absolutely cannot get back to the capital in the next day or two!"

Eh—

After receiving an affirmative answer from Marquis Wuping, Luo Yucheng, Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun finally couldn't help but let out a sigh.

Just then, Empress Liu Shujun's painful wails suddenly echoed from within Kunning Palace. Immediately afterward, a midwife rushed out of the palace, shouting loudly, "Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician!"

Whoosh!

These calls for the imperial physician made Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, who was anxiously waiting outside, jump to her throat and hurriedly head towards Kunning Palace.

In the end, he stopped what he was doing just as he was about to push open the door, and listened anxiously to the sounds coming from inside Kunning Palace.

Almost simultaneously, the first snow of the first year of Zhaowu finally arrived in the gloomy sky above Jinling City.

Snowflakes, each the size of a goose feather, drifted gently and steadily down the streets and alleys of Nanjing.

Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up!

Outside Jinling City, in the darkness of night, several swift horses reared up and charged forward with all their might. Their riders continued to pound on the horses' bellies, urging them to accelerate and accelerate even further.

Until the warhorse's last bit of strength was completely squeezed out!

Soon, the group of people riding swiftly through the darkness arrived outside Jinling City.

At this time, the city gates of Jinling were already closed. The military officers on duty on the city tower immediately noticed the uninvited guests outside the city.

While ordering the soldiers on duty atop the city wall to be on high alert, he also shouted to the uninvited guests below: "Who goes there, daring to break into the city gate at night?"

"I am Xiao Po, Commander of the Golden Guard and Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness. Open the city gates immediately!"

Outside the city, Xiao Po, dressed in black, rode forward and threw the token in his hand forcefully onto the city wall.

Upon seeing this, the centurion on duty hurriedly reached out and caught the token that Xiao Po threw up, only to discover that it was the waist token of Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard.

The Golden Guard was the emperor's personal bodyguard, whose status and position even surpassed that of the Imperial Guards of the Imperial City.

The commander of the Golden Guard could enter and exit any city in the Tang Dynasty at any time, including the imperial palace, simply by using his token.

Although the commander of the Imperial Guard was only a second-rank official in the imperial court;

However, behind him stands the current emperor, a figure who truly has direct access to the emperor's ears;

It is no exaggeration to say that once outside the palace gates, the commander of the Imperial Guards is an entity that can represent the Emperor.

Therefore, when the centurion on duty on the city wall saw Xiao Po's token, he immediately ordered the soldiers guarding the city to open the city gate, presented the token with both hands, and respectfully watched the group of men in black ride into Jinling City.

In a daze, the centurion seemed to see the figure of the current emperor among the group of men in black.

He couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement: My goodness, what major event has happened in the capital that could make the current emperor, who is on a expedition to the Western Regions, return to the palace overnight?

Half an hour later, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who had been traveling day and night from Chang'an Prefecture back to Jinling City, finally rode his horse into the palace.

Without pausing for a moment, he continued riding straight towards Kunning Palace.

Midnight (11:00-11:00).

With a clear and loud cry coming from inside Kunning Palace, the hearts of those waiting outside the palace finally settled down.

A moment later, the midwife, beaming, pushed open the gates of Kunning Palace and announced the good news to Empress Dowager Xu Ruoyun, who had been waiting outside: "Your Majesty, it's a little prince!"

"Your Majesty, mother and child are safe!"

Almost simultaneously, a loud announcement rang out from outside Kunning Palace: "The Emperor has arrived!"

Dressed in black night clothes, Chen Huai'an strode in, his travel-worn face showing the joy of becoming a father for the first time. He said anxiously, "Shujun, I, I'm back!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a sharp voice of a young eunuch came from outside the corridor of Kunning Palace: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Noble Consort has successfully given birth to a prince for His Majesty!"

"Your Highness, mother and child are safe!"