"Wang Dequan, are you feeling hot?"
The Xuanwu Emperor felt a surge of warmth rising within him. How could the weather in April make his blood boil like this?
"Not at all, Your Majesty!"
Wang Dequan glanced outside at the lingering chill of early spring. The palace servants, sensitive to cold, were still wearing their padded jackets. How could it be hot?
The Xuanwu Emperor cleared his slightly hoarse throat, feeling like a young boy about to meet his sweetheart. Thinking of Jiang Xinyue's alluring countenance, he couldn't help but smile.
"Thump, thump, thump-thump-thump..."
He placed a hand over his chest, able to feel and hear his heart beating rapidly and forcefully.
Was this the feeling the Prince of Ruyang spoke of - the heart-pounding sensation he experienced every time he saw the Princess?
No one had ever taught an emperor what love was, let alone how to love someone.
In his youth, Consort Shu had always comforted him in his darkest moments, and he thought that was love. After coming of age, Concubine Li's passionate displays gave him the illusion of being cherished by one person, and he believed that was love too.
But today, the thunderous beating of his heart told him otherwise. Loving someone required no reason. She didn't need to be his salvation or shower him with blatant favoritism. She didn't need to do anything at all.
Just her presence, sitting or standing there, was enough to make his heart race.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen has sent the meal," announced a servant.
"Oh! Yes, yes, I haven't eaten yet. I'll dine now."
Xi Que and Jiang Chuan exchanged glances, whispering, "Is it just me, or has His Majesty forgotten about the Sixth Prince?"
Jiang Chuan nodded, "Indeed, it seems so."
Since entering, the Emperor had been fixated on the Empress, not even inquiring once about the Sixth Prince.
Their guess was spot on - the Xuanwu Emperor had completely forgotten that Jiang Xinyue had given birth to his Sixth Prince.
After finishing his evening meal, Nanny Xiang emerged from the inner chambers. She deliberately walked past him carrying a copper basin filled with breast milk, curtsying as if to ensure he noticed.
A faint milky aroma wafted through the air...
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Recalling the impactful scene from earlier, the Xuanwu Emperor nearly choked on a mouthful of hot soup.
Wang Dequan quickly offered a handkerchief, wondering to himself: What's gotten into His Majesty today? He's been so out of sorts.
Just earlier in Chengqian Palace, he had been going on about arranging capable maids and eunuchs for the Sixth Prince, and instructing Tang Shiliang to have the Internal Affairs Department commission various wooden cradles and toys.
His thoughts had been consumed by the Sixth Prince...
So why, upon arriving at Hexi Palace, did he suddenly seem oblivious?
"Bring the Sixth Prince for His Majesty to see," Jiang Xinyue instructed, now dressed and reclining on the bed, her entire being emanating a milky fragrance.
The Xuanwu Emperor strode over, taking her hand with concern. "Are you still in pain?"
The beautiful woman shook her head, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
Nanny Li entered, carrying the Sixth Prince. Only then did the Xuanwu Emperor remember: Yes, he and Xinyue had a child now.
The little bundle once again found himself in his father's arms, nuzzling against his chest and sleeping soundly with his neck curled in.
The Xuanwu Emperor glanced at the smiling Jiang Xinyue, then at the docile Sixth Prince, feeling his heart melt with warmth.
"Mmm..."
Suddenly, the Sixth Prince's brow furrowed, his little face scrunching up.
Jiang Xinyue heard a small noise, and the Sixth Prince seemed startled, beginning to whimper.
The Xuanwu Emperor wrinkled his nose. "I think he..."
"Made a mess," Jiang Xinyue quickly finished. "Xi Que, fetch some hot water to change the Sixth Prince's diaper."
After Nanny Li and the wet nurse changed the Sixth Prince's diaper, they placed him back beside Jiang Xinyue to sleep.
The Xuanwu Emperor held him for a while before growing bored. "Why does he keep sleeping?"
Nanny Xiang chimed in, "Your Majesty, it's good for newborns to sleep a lot. It helps them grow strong and healthy."
So that's how it was...
The Emperor caressed Jiang Xinyue's cheek. "I had planned to bring your mother into the palace when you gave birth, but with your sudden early delivery, I was so flustered I forgot everything."
He shook his head. "In my thirty years of life, this is the first time I've been so rattled."
Jiang Xinyue leaned her small face into his large hand, nuzzling like a kitten. "I was terrified too. At the time, I felt I had no strength left to give birth. But when Your Majesty said you would stay with me the whole time, I found new strength. Perhaps this is what people mean when they say willpower can overcome anything?"
And that willpower had come from the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, Madam Ruan, the Minister of Justice's wife, is waiting outside."
"Let her in."
Jiang Xinyue's eyes widened with surprise. "Your Majesty, didn't you say..."
The Xuanwu Emperor smiled. "That's why as soon as you gave birth, I sent someone to the Jiang residence to announce the good news and bring her to the palace."
This time, Lady Ruan came alone. Trembling, she was led by Xi Que into the inner chambers of Hexi Palace. "This humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty and to Consort Xian."
The Emperor personally helped her up. "There's no need for such formality, Madam. Go see Xinyue and your little grandson."
He wanted to stay the night, but he'd heard that new mothers often longed for their own mothers after giving birth. That's why he'd hurried to bring Lady Ruan into the palace.
He hoped that with her mother's company during the month of confinement, Xinyue would be more at ease.
Lady Ruan was both laughing and crying as she went to embrace Jiang Xinyue. "My dear daughter, you've suffered so much..."
Having given birth to three children herself, she knew the pain of childbirth. When she heard that Jiang Xinyue had gone into labor after being pushed to the ground by Consort Yu, she had been beside herself with worry at home, fearing for her daughter's life and dreading that the Emperor might choose to save the child over the mother.
Yan Sister, that child, had been so concerned for her sister that she declared if anything were to happen to her, she would enter the palace to avenge her and protect the Sixth Prince in her sister's stead.
After an entire day of anxious waiting, thankfully... thankfully both mother and child were safe.
After drying her tears, she turned her loving gaze to the Sixth Prince lying nearby. "My little darling, you're so handsome. You look just like your mother... Come on, give your grandmother a smile."
"Mother, he's not even a day old. How could he smile?" Jiang Xinyue protested.
"Don't underestimate him! You were smiling right after you were born. They say sons take after their mothers and daughters after their fathers. Maybe he's as precocious as you were!"
That was quite a thick layer of rose-tinted glasses.
Babies smiling at a few months old wasn't intentional, but rather an involuntary muscle movement they couldn't control.
It just happened to look like a smile.
As soon as Lady Ruan finished speaking, the corners of the Sixth Prince's mouth twitched upwards. She exclaimed delightedly to Jiang Xinyue, "See that? Our little dumpling knows his grandmother has come to see him! He's so happy, isn't he? Yes, you are!"
Very well then.
You're beautiful, so whatever you say goes.
"Mother!" Suddenly remembering what her stepfather had said during last year's New Year's Eve dinner about Lady Zhou's lingering illness, Jiang Xinyue asked, "How is the First Madam's condition?"
