Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 727: Princess (Part 1)

The newborn baby girl had tiny, fine hair on her petite face, rosy and crying with her eyes closed.

She was not small, and her cries were quite loud, showing her robust health.

Jiang Shaohua looked at her newborn daughter, and a tender maternal affection quietly emerged.

"She must be hungry," Sun Zelan said with a smile, "I’ll take her out now and let the wet nurse feed her."

"By the way, Elder Changning has been pacing outside the birthing room for two hours. Shouldn’t we let him in?"

Jiang Shaohua, utterly exhausted, drowsily mumbled a response.

Cui Du rushed into the birthing room, bypassed the baby, and headed straight to the bed, grabbing Jiang Shaohua’s hand: "Shao Hua!"

Jiang Shaohua managed a weak smile: "It’s a daughter."

Cui Du, with reddened eyes, nodded repeatedly: "Yes, we have a daughter."

Before he finished speaking, tears had already fallen.

For the past two months, Cui Du had been in a state of anxiety, even more restless than Jiang Shaohua, the pregnant woman. Jiang Shaohua was exerting all her strength in the birthing room, while Cui Du paced back and forth outside, almost wearing a path into the floor.

It was like a tightly drawn bow suddenly relaxing, and what was felt was not joy, but extreme fatigue.

Jiang Shaohua laughed helplessly: "I’m the one who gave birth, and I didn’t cry. Why are you crying?"

Sun Zelan also couldn’t help but interject: "Elder Changning, the Emperor is exhausted right now and needs sleep to regain strength. There’s no energy left to comfort you."

Cui Du quickly wiped his eyes: "Sorry, I was just too excited. Shao Hua, go to sleep! I’ll stay here with you." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Jiang Shaohua was indeed very tired, closed her eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Cui Du carefully wiped away the sweat from her forehead.

Once the wet nurse had fed the child, Cui Du finally released Jiang Shaohua’s hand and picked up his newborn daughter.

Having been fed, the baby girl was no longer crying, her bright little eyes wide open.

The more Cui Du looked at her, the more he adored her, leaning in to kiss her forehead and little cheeks. Then, with joy, he carried his daughter out of the birthing room.

By this time, the morning light was slowly creeping in.

From the time Jiang Shaohua first felt labor pains to the birth of the child, it had been about three hours. For a woman having her first child, this was incredibly smooth.

Outside the birthing room, Empress Dowager Li took the baby first, examining her closely before smiling and remarking: "The child has such delicate features; she’s truly beautiful."

Empress Dowager Li was actually a bit disappointed. It would have been best if Jiang Shaohua’s first child was a prince; a princess was also good, but there was a slight sense of loss.

Chief Historian Chen was overjoyed and respectfully asked Empress Dowager Li: "Empress Dowager, should we now arrange for someone to report the good news to each palace?"

Empress Dowager Li nodded slightly, and the orders were given.

As for the ministers waiting in the hall, Chief Historian Chen decided to personally convey the happy news.

Upon hearing that the Empress had safely endured the labor pains, Wang Jin exhaled a long breath and remarked with a smile: "Da Liang has a princess now, this is truly a great happiness."

The previously gossiping ministers, however, couldn’t help but murmur a few words to themselves.

Was the birth of a princess really such a major joy?

However, the Emperor is a woman, intelligent, ruthless, and powerful. Perhaps, when the princess grows up, she will become another Jiang Shaohua.

With this thought, the ministers suppressed their murmurs and sincerely congratulated one another.

...

The good news reached Jingyang Palace, where the ailing Grand Empress Dowager Zheng lay bedridden but was invigorated: "The Emperor has had a princess?"

"Yes," Mr. Zhao responded with a smile, "There hasn’t been such joyful news in the court for a long time."

The last time a baby was born in the palace was eight or nine years ago when Prince Ping was born. After that, the palace only saw a series of funerals. Three emperors died within eight years, casting quite a shadow.

The birth of a child is always a joyous occasion.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng relaxed her brows and commanded Mr. Zhao: "Go to Zhaohai Palace for me and take a look at the newly born princess."

Mr. Zhao cheerfully accepted the command. He returned after half an hour to report: "The princess is born with beautiful features, her eyes are particularly spirited, and she bears a striking resemblance to the Emperor."

A newborn’s features are not fully developed, so it’s difficult to say whom they resemble. Mr. Zhao’s words were clearly just flattering remarks.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was well aware, glancing at Mr. Zhao with a smile: "You’re becoming quite adept at speaking and handling matters. No wonder Shao Hua always holds you in high regard."

Mr. Zhao smiled humbly: "I am of humble status, all thanks to the favor of the Grand Empress Dowager. The Emperor is considerate because of Your Highness’s grace."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng loved such flattery, her expression indeed looked much better: "The addition of a princess to the palace is certainly a great joy. Announce my decree that all eunsuchs and palace maids in the palace will receive a share of happy money."

This was also customary in the palace. A princess’s birth warranted a share of happy money. If it was a prince, then they would receive a double share.

Mr. Zhao coughed lightly and quietly suggested: "Please forgive me for speaking out of turn, Your Highness. The Emperor is a woman and will certainly be fond of the princess. Why not issue the happy money as if it were for a prince, to show Your Highness’s love and kindness to the younger generation?"

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng thought for a moment and agreed.

Distributing happy money was the responsibility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Mr. Zhao went to relay the Grand Empress Dowager’s decree, and Chief Eunuch Min of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said with a smile, "I’ll take care of it right away."

Then he muttered a few complaints in a low voice: "That Doctor Yang from the Ministry of Industry came to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for silver just after the third, and since Her Highness approved it, can I not grant the silver?"

Doctor Yang had gained the Grand Empress Dowager’s approval through Mr. Zhao’s connections, so the Ministry of Internal Affairs could only approve the request. However, the miserly Chief Eunuch Min was reluctant to release the silver and had been delaying from the end of the year till now.

Mr. Zhao smiled, glancing over: "Doctor Yang just took office and is eager to do well in his duties, so he’s naturally impatient. Chief Eunuch Min could easily grant his request; there’s no need for difficulties!"

Chief Eunuch Min was also a trusted aide of the Grand Empress Dowager, otherwise, he wouldn’t have held the position of Chief Eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

However, in front of Mr. Zhao, he dared not put on airs, and upon hearing this, he immediately smiled and said: "Very well, since Mr. Zhao has spoken, I have to give him face. I’ll allocate the silver to him tomorrow."

...

The news of the Empress having a princess quickly spread from the court and reached Prime Minister Wang’s ears.

Prime Minister Wang felt a bit disappointed.

The Empress giving birth to a boy or a girl didn’t really matter. At such a young age, she could always have a Crown Prince later.

What disappointed Prime Minister Wang was that the Empress’s delivery was too smooth. If there had been complications, the palace would have had to propose making Prince Ping the next emperor. At that time, the Wang Family could seize the opportunity to rise again and regain power.

This kind of regret couldn’t be expressed, not even to his confidant, Jiao’s advisor.

Prime Minister Wang instructed: "The birth of a princess is a grand celebration for the country. Convey my words down, and today, all servants in the prime minister’s residence should receive double happy money."