Zong Zhengjin had never held a baby before, including his first child, Da Huangzi.

  At that time, he also had expectations and yearnings. Even when he first learned that Shu Fei was pregnant, he was excited every day in his spare time to name the child. All the beautiful meanings, he felt were not enough to express.

  But in the end, he watched with his own eyes as that child who was less than a month old took its last breath.

  That night, the heavy rain poured down, but each drop seemed to fall on his own heart.

  Afterwards, as for the two surviving grand princesses, he no longer had much expectation. The more he put in, the more afraid he was of not getting a return.

  Moreover, every time he teased the eldest princess, she would be in a shrinking posture. He knew that the empress had taught her well and had the demeanor of a royal princess, with every move and gesture being that of a noble lady, but it was not what he wanted.

  His daughter was no different from those women in the harem.

  Su Jing leaned over, holding her son's small hand, gently shaking it, and softly cooing, "Okay, stop crying, it's your father who is hugging you."

  The little guy couldn't understand, and cried out in pain, but instead opened his eyes, revealing a pair of shiny black pupils that looked very attractive. Maybe it was the flesh that had fallen from his own body, but the more he looked, the more handsome it seemed.

  "Your Majesty, look at our son, how handsome he is."

  In the future, he will be able to make countless girls fall in love with him, just like his father did.

  Zong Zhengjin felt a bit helpless and speechless, thinking that such a small child was not good-looking at all.

  Seeing her eyes full of tenderness, wholeheartedly gazing at the small thing in her hand, and somewhat unpalatable, "Return it to you."

  Su Jing spread her hands and said, "My hands are sore." She accompanied this with a rub of her own arm.

  The girl beside her hastily said, "Your Highness must be hungry, shall we prepare something to eat?"

  The emperor shifted his gaze onto himself, and he quietly took a step back, awkwardly bowing his head and body, "This servant will go out and take a look to see if there's anything to eat."

  As they spoke, La and Ting Ya hurriedly left, leaving the space for this family of three.

  Zong Zhengjin couldn't help it, and could only hold him in his arms, gently patting the little guy's back. Unexpectedly, this actually stopped the little fellow who was crying loudly, and he stared straight at the floral pattern on Zong Zhengjin's clothes.

  He hooked up the corner of his mouth and shifted his gaze back to the person beside him, "Are you uncomfortable?"

  He was unconscious for an entire day.

  Su Jing shook her head and smiled lightly, "I'm just a little hungry."

  If Xia Mu didn't mention it, she wouldn't have thought about it, but once he mentioned it, she suddenly felt like she was starving to death.

  Zong Zhengjin still had some misgivings, "Let's have someone come and take a look at you later."

  Although it is said that men are not allowed in during the postpartum period, since I have already entered, and the situation is special, doing it discreetly, letting the imperial physician come in is also possible.

  Su Jing understood his meaning and somewhat disagreed. "Let Yu Yao and Qing Meng take a look, they also know some medical skills."

  She knows her own body best, she's aware that she's already made it through, so why bother letting other men in and invite unnecessary gossip?

  Zong Zhengjin furrowed his brow, just about to speak, when there was a knock at the door, and someone came in immediately.

  Song Momo's movements were quick, or perhaps she had prepared beforehand, and soon presented Ting Yao with some food, but it was just porridge.

  Su Jing didn't mind, and having some food to fill her stomach was good too. She took a few mouthfuls and nearly finished half the bowl, then suddenly became aware that there were other people around her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him lowering his head to tease the little guy in his arms, but the deep, meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth was somewhat piercing.

  Su Jing pursed her lips and pretended she hadn't seen anything.

  Eating alone, after a moment, he barely managed to satisfy his hunger by seven parts and put down his chopsticks.

  "Your Majesty, did you give him a name?" Su Jing suddenly thought of this question, and she had never even considered it before.

  Ting Yao hesitated at one side, wanting to speak but stopping herself. After thinking for a moment, she swallowed her words and retreated in a hurry after tidying up the bowls and chopsticks.

  Zong Zhengjin didn't seem to think there was anything wrong and casually said, "Let's wait until he's a month old, I still need to think carefully."

  Seeing how well-behaved the little guy was, he felt that all the names he had previously decided on were not suitable and needed to be reconsidered.

  Su Jing nodded, "Okay."

  "Your Majesty, I haven't even congratulated you on your birthday yet," if according to what they said, she had been unconscious for a whole day, then it would have just passed his birthday.

  Zong Zhengjin raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, smiling lightly, "Can't we wait a few more days to offer our congratulations?"

  After all, it is up to him to decide how he wants to do things.

  But she probably didn't mind either.

  Su Jing was initially unresponsive, until she saw the smile he often wore at times like these, and only then did she realize, staring at him with wide eyes, "Your Majesty, your son is still here."

  Previously, there was no particular emphasis on this aspect of prenatal education, and now it's not like that, with no holds barred and nothing being off-limits.

  As soon as Su Jing's voice fell, the little guy's devilish crying sounded again. Su Jing didn't dare to let him be held anymore and hurriedly took over, wanting to feed herself, but hesitated a bit.

  Outside, Xiaomomo heard a noise and hurriedly walked in, "The slave servant is taking the fourth prince out to feed."

  Su Jing nodded slightly and saw her back leave before saying, "Your Majesty, can I feed myself?"

  "Stop messing around," Zong Zhengjin subconsciously refused, seeing her innocent eyes and feeling a bit unbearable. "Your body hasn't recovered yet, take care of yourself first."

  The imperial physician said that she was originally injured by childbirth, and her body had suffered a lot. For now, the most important thing is to make up for what has been lost, and other things will follow naturally afterwards.

  Including her own children.

  The impact of the events that took place in these short two days was not small, and it was also because of her difficult delivery that he realized that he would be afraid to lose her.

  When he heard she would have a difficult birth and could only save one of them, he almost didn't hesitate, choosing her over himself.

  Even so, he needs a healthy child to inherit the throne.

  But in her presence, everything seems insignificant. The thought that he might lose her because of this, and there would be no little woman waiting for him at Guan Yu Palace, no one to pout or cry in front of him, making his heart soften, is suffocating him.

  There are many things he needs to rethink and thoroughly understand.

  Seeing her pale face, he didn't want to give up on this idea, so he softened his tone, "Alright, I know you have your own mind, but don't make me worry, okay?"

  Su Jing heard this and her eyes felt a little sour, once again unable to hold back tears.

  Zong Zhengjin saw her change color, thinking that his words were too heavy, the little woman was delicate, he had always known, and at this time, he didn't care about many things, hurriedly holding her in his arms, gently patting her back, "Okay okay, I didn't say anything to you, why cry? At worst, I'll agree with you."

  Every time she sheds a tear, even if the pear blossoms are in the rain, it's still beautiful, but he can't help feeling soft-hearted and wishes to fulfill all her desires.

  Su Jing buried her face in his chest and shook her head, "No, I don't want to worry the Emperor."

  The fatigue and exhaustion on his face, she wasn't blind to it, but rather kept it in her heart, unspoken.

  He ignored the worldly gaze, insisted on entering the delivery room to accompany her for a long time. In later generations, it was ordinary, but in this dynasty, it was somewhat shocking and unconventional. If it were to be spread out, what kind of consequences would follow, yet unknown.

  Perhaps he had never said that he liked her, nor had he ever expressed his feelings, but what he did for her was meticulous and thorough in every way.

  Zong Zhengjin smiled lightly and said, "It doesn't matter, I have nothing to do with it."

  Fortunately, you're fine. "I've sent the things I prepared for Guan Yu's palace over," Qiao Jingyu asked, lying on the couch and rubbing her already bulging belly.

  For several days in a row, I haven't been sleeping well, and there's some visible fatigue on my face.

  Qingyi responded, "Yes, just now Lvyi has personally delivered it according to your instructions."

  Qiao Jing nodded, "So be it."

  That night, she personally kept watch for half a night, watching the child being born, and it can be said that her wish was finally fulfilled, at least one step closer to success.

  "She has given birth to a child, and I can also give birth."

  Qingyi couldn't help but feel a little worried, "Your Majesty, you..."

  "You don't have to persuade me anymore, I've been carrying this empty title for a long time. Now that the timing is right, why should I drag it out?" Qiao Jingyu was indeed open-minded, after all, no matter how much longer she dragged it out, there wouldn't really be a child in her belly.

  "Find an opportunity and settle this matter once and for all, it's time for this palace's grudge to be avenged."

  It has long been investigated that the truth of the matter at that time, if it were not for the emperor's intention to let himself be a shield for Su Jing'an, he would also have his own interests and be willing to do so. Otherwise, why pretend to be pregnant for so long?

  Almost made everyone believe it was true.

  "Yes, I'll go find Doctor Zhang," Qingxue said, knowing that dissuasion was futile.

  "You said if I were to die twice, what would happen?" Qiao Jingyu suddenly spoke out in a cold tone.

  Qing Xiao's heart skipped a beat, "Your Majesty"

  Qiao Jingyu smiled self-deprecatingly, "Don't worry, I was just joking. I'd be happy to, but I wouldn't do something so stupid."

  Most importantly, he was unwilling.

  Even if I wanted to die, I couldn't, how sorrowful.

  The Empress had passed away two months ago on a dark night, and was sent to the Cold Palace. She was no longer the renowned Empress Shen, but just another criminal who died wrapped in a torn mat and thrown into a mass grave.

  She was kind-hearted and generous, but all she could do was have someone bury her, nothing more.

  "These days, absolutely cannot alarm the snake in the grass, this palace must succeed at one stroke."

  Palace Concubine (Yi Shu)

  Gong Shu