The baby-making system is unreliable

Yun Xinrou clenched her teeth tightly. The downward pressure in her abdomen gave her a bad feeling; she might be going into premature labor!

Blood stained her clothes, and she instinctively gripped Lin Xiashen's hands tightly, her face pale and her eyes slightly moving.

"Your Highness? Your Highness?!" The moment Lin Xiashen looked up, his long eyelashes betrayed his worry, and he called out to her again and again, "Your Highness!"

"This child really knows how to pick his time," Yun Xinrou thought to herself, feeling a chill run down her spine. It just so happened to be this time.

"Help! Her Highness is about to give birth!" Shuangluo's clear yet anxious voice rang out, startling everyone around.

"..." After a period of confusion, helplessness, and bewilderment, Yun Xinrou lay on the couch and her vision began to blur.

The excruciating pain left Yun Xinrou feeling weak and powerless. She was already exhausted from the long ordeal, and now the baby was starting at this crucial moment.

"Your Highness is truly remarkable; you learn everything so quickly. Following this old woman's breathing method can relieve the pain. Look how calm our Highness is, not panicking at all!"

Looking at Yun Xinrou, who was controlling her breathing on the bed, the midwife couldn't help but praise her, saying that few women could be so calm.

Giving birth is extremely taxing on a woman's strength, so how could it be so quick, especially since this is His Highness's first child?

"Huff... hiss... it hurts!" Yun Xinrou squeezed tears from the corners of her eyes, her breathing became heavier, and this time the pain was intense.

The contractions came in waves, so painful that she trembled all over. But the midwife looked at her and gently comforted her, "Your Highness, don't worry, just bear with it. I've had some food prepared. It's still early, so it'll be good to have something to eat."

Yun Xinrou nodded in agreement, realizing that the finger opening was probably not yet complete and that it would likely take a long time.

Before long, Shuangluo helped Yun Xinrou eat some food to help her regain her strength.

"It hurts!" Yun Xinrou didn't know how long the pain lasted, but she knew that the light outside the window was gradually getting brighter.

She lay on the couch, her pillow soaked with sweat, clutching the sheets beneath her again and again, the pain making her feel like she was floating.

"No, this won't do, the baby will suffocate. Quickly get something to elevate His Highness's lower body. If the amniotic fluid runs out and His Highness still hasn't given birth, it will be dangerous."

The midwife spoke with considerable experience, her face filled with worry. She then took out the silver needles she carried with her, comforting Yun Xinrou as she spoke.

"Your Highness, don't be afraid. This old servant will just insert a few needles to help your cervix dilate faster. Your Highness, don't be nervous, just breathe normally."

After a few needles, Yun Xinrou felt as if more fluid was flowing out from below, and it actually worked.

Half an hour later, after a period of intense pain and struggle, a faint cry broke the noise in the delivery room.

The cry was as faint as a newborn kitten's, yet it was enough to instantly relax the tense nerves of everyone present.

The midwife quickly picked up the baby and gently wiped his body, which was covered in vernix caseosa, with a cotton cloth soaked in warm water.

The baby's skin was an unhealthy bluish-purple, its limbs were so thin that they seemed to break at the slightest touch, its wrinkled little face was scrunched up, its eyes were still closed, but it had already instinctively opened its mouth to let out intermittent whimpers.

"It's a little boy... but the pregnancy is still in its early stages and the fetus is very weak." The midwife's voice carried a hint of solemnity, which suddenly brought Yun Xinrou back to her senses from her daze.

She strained to turn her head, and through her blurry vision, she could only see a tiny figure wrapped in soft swaddling clothes. The weak yet persistent crying seemed like a thin thread, tugging at her heart.

Lin Xiashen, who had been eagerly waiting outside, finally couldn't wait any longer and stepped into the house. His heart tightened, and he only felt at ease when he saw the mother and child safe and sound.

"Your Highness, please hold the child. Although the young master is a bit weak, at least he has cried out and his lungs have opened up. With proper care, he will surely be a lively and adorable little prince."

When the midwife saw Lin Xiashen enter, her cheerful voice was quite friendly, which made Lin Xiashen take her son in a daze, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

Lin Xiashen immediately and carefully carried the baby to the edge of the bed so that she could see the child's face clearly.

She gave birth to this child with great difficulty, and having just experienced the pain of losing her mother, she is now welcoming a new life.

It's as if, in some mysterious way, when Heaven makes you lose something, it will surely give you something in return, as if the fortune of Heaven is just like this, endlessly turning.

The baby's tiny hands were slightly curled up, as if searching for the warmth of its mother. That fragile presence instantly brought tears to Yun Xinrou's eyes.

"Your Highness, look, he's alive... Your Highness need not worry, our child will be safe."

Lin Xiashen's voice choked with emotion as her fingertips gently stroked the baby's swaddling clothes, as if comforting the child and also soothing Yun Xinrou's trembling heart.

"Thank goodness, I... I was worried that the baby was premature and might... Thankfully, thankfully everything is alright."

Yun Xinrou weakly reached out her hand, her fingertips touching the baby's soft, boneless little hand, and the tiny palm instinctively squeezed back.

In that instant, a warm current pierced through the fear and pain, and she finally couldn't help but shed tears, her tears intertwined with the relief of surviving the ordeal and the shock of the arrival of new life.

With red eyes, Shuanglu directed everyone to prepare the medicine, and the original chaos in the delivery room was replaced by a strange solemnity.

Everyone understood that this child, who had arrived in the world prematurely, was using his frail yet tenacious life force to knock on the door of destiny.

Looking at the tiny, struggling baby in the swaddling clothes, Yun Xinrou felt a mix of emotions.

Fear and anticipation intertwine, pain and maternal love coexist, welcoming this moment of new life.

She knew all too well that the arrival of this child, however sudden, was a special gift bestowed upon her by fate. She had to muster her courage and face this life-or-death ordeal.

However, the baby has now been safely delivered, which is something to be happy about, but the story is not over yet.

"Your Highness... Something's wrong. The placenta hasn't come out yet. It's been so long... if it still doesn't come out, then... then I'm afraid we'll have to peel it off by hand!"

The midwife's heart tightened. Logically, the placenta should have been expelled soon, but His Highness hadn't. This... this wouldn't do.

"What's going on?! Wasn't she already... already born? Why is there still a problem!" Lin Xiashen's face turned pale, and she stared nervously at the midwife, as if trying to get the reason from her.

Yun Xinrou understood that it was probably unavoidable, and said with some difficulty, "Xia Shen, can you take our child out first?! Feed him something, don't let him go hungry."

In fact, Yun Xinrou didn't want him to see her struggling, so she sent him away.

"..." It hurts, it hurts so much! Why does it hurt so much?! After sending the father and son away, Yun Xinrou signaled the midwife to continue, but it really hurts.

"Your Highness, please bear with it, I'll be quick." The midwife spread her legs and reached directly inside to grab the placenta.

Yun Xinrou's whole body was trembling, and she couldn't stop leaning back, with cold sweat streaming down her forehead.

"Alright, alright, it'll be out soon, Your Highness, relax, don't be afraid." The midwife reassured her, her movements swift and efficient, showing no sign of slack.

Yun Xinrou clenched her teeth tightly, unable to hear any sound, only experiencing slight physiological tremors, until something came out from under her, finally bringing her relief.

She then lost consciousness and didn't wake up until an hour later.

"Your Highness, I'm here! What would you like to eat? Are you hungry? I've had some food prepared, it's still warm."

Lin Xiashen stayed by her side the whole time, gently wiping away the sticky sweat from her body, his movements very light, afraid of hurting her.

At this moment, Yun Xinrou was indeed hungry. She had been exhausted for a long time, how could she not be hungry? She nodded, looked around, and saw that the child was placed in a cradle not far away.

The child was quite well-behaved and didn't cause much trouble. Both of them ate some food to fill their stomachs.

"Mother...she left so suddenly, how are Father and my little sister?!"

Yun Xinrou's pale lips were slightly parted, her heart filled with concern for them, and she couldn't help but want to ask.

Lin Xiashen paused in his chopsticks, looked up at her haggard face, and realized that her current physical condition was probably not suitable for keeping vigil.

"Her Majesty's body is currently lying in state in the main hall of the Phoenix Palace. Princess Xue Rong is keeping vigil, and His Majesty is also present. They were very happy to hear the news of the birth of the princess, but due to the deep mourning, Princess Xue Rong has not come to visit."

Lin Xiashen chattered on and on, afraid that she would be lonely, and knowing that she was feeling sad, so he said a lot to liven things up.

"I want to go see! Can I go, please?" Yun Xinrou held on to her last breath, tears streaming down her face.

"Your Highness!" Lin Xiashen wouldn't let her have her way at this moment; she was determined to stop her, after all, she had just given birth.

The wind was biting cold outside, and the snow was getting thicker and thicker. Winter was especially chilling. How could we let her go out of the house right after giving birth?

A charcoal fire had already been lit inside the house. The high-quality silver charcoal was not pungent and was just right for the mother and daughter.

"Your Highness, please take good care of yourself first. That is the most important thing. I will keep vigil for Your Highness. Please promise me that you will take good care of yourself."

Lin Xia knew she was upset, and her body couldn't withstand such abuse right now; it wouldn't be good if she developed a chronic illness.

“It is winter, and His Majesty has said that he plans to keep the body in state for ten days. In that case, Your Highness still has time to wait until you are feeling better before personally attending the funeral.”

His Majesty is deeply grieved and has ordered a ten-day suspension of court proceedings. He has also dispatched hundreds of monks to the palace to perform rituals to pray for the soul of the deceased Empress.

However, the most shocking thing is that the Empress, who was supposed to have passed away, is not dead... no, she's only dying now... ugh...

The ministers were shocked and surprised, but finally understood what was going on and prepared their explanation: "The Empress faked her death before, but this time it's real."

So that's how it is. It's so bizarre. It's hard to imagine that someone who was thought to be dead has survived for so many years.

Thus, Lin Xiashen kept vigil for Yun Xinrou for seven days, simply because she could not be there in person, which was also a way of fulfilling her wish.

……

Ten days later, the city was shrouded in snow and wind. The howling wind whipped up the white paper money, which reflected each other and transformed into a storm that swept across the city.

Emperor Wude ordered that Ulina be given a grand funeral, bestowed upon her the title of Empress Mingde Zhaoping, and personally escorted her coffin out of the city.

"Mother, have you ever had even the slightest regret in your life?! Alas! What's the point of saying all this now?"

The city was draped in white mourning clothes, with paper money scattered everywhere. Ceremonial guards lined both sides of the city, and the empress's coffin was carried out of the city step by step.

Dressed in plain clothes, Yun Xinrou followed closely behind, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

"Mother, Xue Rong and I haven't spent enough time with you. I'm so sorry..."

Parting is always sudden, and we all have to learn the lesson of death someday.

Lin Xiashen looked at her, peering through those dark eyes at Yun Xinrou.

She looked much more haggard; the continuous physical strain had made her vulnerable.

She was burdened with something on her mind, and so was he. In this winter, Yun Xinrou lost her mother and welcomed her younger brother and son.

Yun Xuerong walked at the front of the procession, carrying her mother's memorial tablet. Her hands were red from the cold, and her whole body was thin and frail.

At that moment, she stared blankly ahead, stepping on the snow beneath her feet as she walked forward.

She walked and walked along this lonely road, feeling like she would never reach the end.

The snow on the horizon fell heavier and heavier, and she seemed like a lost traveler, unsure of where the end was or where the road ahead lay.

Beside Ulina's coffin, Emperor Wude held it tightly, his right hand resting on the cold surface, knowing full well in his heart which girl he had kept hidden for so long was inside.

Emperor Wude's eyes, weathered and haggard, had lost their luster, and the stubble on his face made him look several years older.

"..." Emperor Wude mumbled some inaudible whispers, seemingly speaking only to her.

And so, the group carried the coffin out of the city step by step, gradually disappearing from the imperial city.

On the majestic and imposing imperial city wall, a solitary figure stood far away, like a sculpture shrouded in gloom.

She was dressed in a magnificent palace gown, the hem of which fluttered gently in the cold wind, yet it could not conceal the turmoil in her heart.

Her pair of sinister eyes were like bottomless black pools, filled with flames of jealousy and hatred, as if they could burn everything in front of her to ashes.

His gaze was fixed on the crowd traveling a long way below the city wall, as if trying to see through them and understand them completely.

This person was Consort He. Her hands were tightly gripping the handkerchief in her hands, which was already crumpled and wrinkled from her force, as if it were an outlet for her inner turmoil and anger.

Her lips trembled slightly, and she forced out a cold snort through gritted teeth: "Hmph! Ulina, you're still dead, aren't you?! Did you think you could escape my grasp just because you're dead?"

"So what if you're dead? You still manage to make His Majesty so worried about you, going to such lengths to arrange your funeral. You've got some impressive skills!"

Her voice, filled with jealousy and resentment, echoed in the cold air, as if carrying endless hatred.

Consort He raised her head slightly, gazing into the distance, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

She's dead, but her child is still in this world. That newborn, frail child must never become an obstacle to my son.