Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

When Noblewoman Wen learned that the Third Princess's third-day baptism ceremony would indeed be a simple one, she was dismayed. It was only the beginning, and yet it was so simple... But there was nothing she could do about it; after all, it was His Majesty who issued the decree. Even more disturbing was that His Majesty hadn't given the Third Princess a name. Her servants advised her that the child was still young and there was no rush to name her. That was fine, but His Majesty hadn't mentioned her status either. Just because she gave birth to a princess, did that mean she wasn't the heir to the throne? Why wasn't she promoted according to custom?

March 28th was the third palace master's birthday. Lan Qingwu was still under house arrest, so he didn't even need an excuse and just asked Ruping to send a gift.

The eventful month of March finally passed. On the third day of April, Bai Shuren went into labor and gave birth to the fourth prince just before midnight.

Emperor Shenwu was still in the Suowu Palace, Lan Qingwu locked in his arms. The red plum blossoms on her snow-white shoulders looked even more rosy. Emperor Shenwu gently stroked the red plum blossoms on her snowy skin, "You have such delicate skin and bones, and your whole body is like a snowy peach blossom. I dare not use any force."

Lan Qingwu had already been completely fascinated by him, and was in a daze. She had no idea what he said and could only hold his broad shoulders tightly.

Li Xiang received the news that Bai Shuren had given birth to the fourth prince at the palace gate. He hesitated for a long time, but still did not disturb the emperor.

The next morning, when Li Xiang was helping the emperor put on his court robes, he said, "Your Majesty, last night, Kuaizi sent news that Bai Shuren had safely given birth to the fourth prince. It was already late last night, and this servant..."

The Emperor Shenwu's first reaction was to look at the bed. Seeing that the person on the bed was still sleeping soundly, he said, "After I attend the morning court, I will reward him according to the custom."

Li Xiang was not surprised and quickly responded.

Lan Qingwu woke up at noon. She put on a nightgown and called for help. Ruhan heard the voice and entered the hall, "Master, do you want to get up?"

Lan Qingwu asked, "Is there any noise outside the palace? What are they saying?"

Ruhan glanced at Lan Qingwu and lowered his head slightly. "Master, they are talking about Bai Shuren giving birth to the fourth prince last night. It's not even midnight yet, so it's the third day of the fourth lunar month."

Lan Qingwu was stunned for a moment: "I see, you go down first."

Ru Han slowly retreated, feeling uneasy. Lan Qingwu slowly hugged his knees. The traces of lovemaking had not yet faded from his body, but the bitterness in his heart gradually emerged. He was the emperor, his own husband, but also the husband of others. He never belonged to him alone. Watching other women give birth to his children one after another was so bitter and unbearable.

Will she get used to it in the future? After all, there will be many more such times. Lan Qingwu felt a trace of fear in her heart. She was afraid that she would become unrecognizable, perhaps compromised, perhaps hideous, but she would never be herself again.

The fifth day of the fourth lunar month was the Fourth Prince's third birthday. Lan Qingwu hesitated for a long time before deciding not to embarrass herself. With so many people celebrating, she shouldn't be the only one there, not to mention the Emperor would be there. So when Ru Ping asked about it, she lay listlessly on the bed and said, "I'm terribly dizzy. I don't want to pass on my illness to the Fourth Prince. So I won't go. You should prepare more gifts... He's a prince after all."

Ru Ping opened her mouth to say something, but finally said, "Master, would you like to ask Imperial Physician Nie to come over?"

"Don't rush me. Let's do it in the afternoon, after the fun at Suihua Pavilion is over."

Then it’s not just physical discomfort, Ruping thought helplessly.

Emperor Shenwu didn't see Lan Qingwu among the many celebrating concubines, and a subtle frown crossed his face. With the matchmaker's joyful words and the concubines' praises, the third-day bathing ceremony was completed step by step: offering sacrifices to the gods, adding basins, ringing basins, dressing up, receiving blessings, and finally, the finale. The hall was bustling with activity.

The Fourth Prince was born strong and sturdy. Many concubines said that this child was blessed at first sight. In fact, how could he not be blessed if he was born a prince? Concubine Li looked at the Fourth Prince's chubby face and couldn't help but clench her hands again.

When Concubine Wen heard about the lively scene of the Fourth Prince's third birthday celebration, she couldn't help but feel depressed. She felt that her Third Princess should have been swapped with the Fourth Prince, but... she was just the daughter of a little lady.

Emperor Shenwu arrived at Suowu Palace at night and happened to see Nie Wushuang coming out of the palace gate. Nie Wushuang knelt down and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Emperor Shenwu said in a low voice, "What's wrong with Concubine Yi?"

Nie Wushuang hurriedly replied, "Your Excellency has caught a cold and is feeling dizzy and unwell. I have already prescribed medicine."

Emperor Shenwu waved his hand to let him retreat and strode into the hall.

Lan Qingwu had just finished drinking his medicine when he felt his stomach churning and he wanted to vomit. The smell of orange fragrance didn't help. Ruhan's eyes were red as he complained quietly: "You had to endure your discomfort for a whole day, and now you are suffering!"

Lan Qingwu was helpless: "My dear Ruhan, please stop nagging me. This can't be helped. I can't offend you anymore. Fortunately, Doctor Nie's medicine is becoming more and more effective."

When Emperor Shenwu entered the palace, Lan Qingwu was already drowsy. The medicine had a tranquilizing ingredient in it, so it took effect quickly. She lay on the bed, half-opening her eyes, trying hard to look at the person in front of the bed. Finally, after confirming her identity, she stretched out her hand forcefully: "Your Majesty..."

Emperor Shenwu reached out and held her hand, then sat down beside the bed. Ru Ping Ruhan had already quietly left.

Emperor Shenwu whispered, "You're feeling unwell, why didn't you call the imperial physician earlier?"

Lan Qingwu's head was already fuzzy. She tried hard to keep her eyes open, but she didn't realize that her eyes were half closed. "It's okay, I can bear it."

It had been a long time since she had thought about her past life. Her parents favored boys over girls, so she had to endure most of her illnesses and then take random medicines at home. In the Da Sheng Dynasty, she no longer had to endure her illnesses, but the medicines were not very effective.

Emperor Shenwu could not help but frown: "What are you enduring? Don't do this again!"

He gently stroked her cheek, leaned over, and looked into her half-closed eyes. Their breathing was almost audible: "When you are well again, give birth to a prince for me."

"It's okay for a weak person to not give birth. Your Majesty already has children." Lan Qingwu's voice became softer and softer. She didn't know what she said in her daze, and she didn't know that the emperor's face changed when he heard her words.

A woman who said she wouldn't bear her husband's children—what was she thinking? Or what did it mean? The Shenwu Emperor gazed at her for a long, deep moment. He could never fathom her thoughts. Just when he thought he'd touched her heart, he realized she'd drifted away, feeling as if he were embracing a shadow floating in mid-air. He lowered his eyes and watched her quietly, while Lan Qingwu fell into a deep sleep.

Emperor Shenwu left the Suowu Palace in the middle of the night and went back to the Qianzheng Palace to sleep. Li Xiang was surprised for a moment, then thought he was overthinking it.

Facts proved that he had indeed thought too much. Li Xiang couldn't help but think that the emperor turned over Concubine Yi's name card the next day, but he just summoned Concubine Yi to the Qianzheng Palace to sleep with him.