Chapter 111: Chapter 111

July was the rainy season of the year. The day An Ning went into labor happened to be such a gloomy, wet day. In the middle of the night, as soon as An Ning couldn't help but let out a soft moan, Yin Tang beside her reflexively opened his eyes.

After lighting the lamp, what greeted him was his princess consort's pale face covered with cold sweat. At this sight, even if the Ninth Prince had been half-asleep earlier, he was now completely wide awake.

Scrambling out of bed without even bothering to put on clothes, Yin Tang urgently ordered Chun Xing, Xiao Xizi and others waiting outside to summon the imperial physicians, while he himself hovered anxiously nearby, unsure what to do. An Ning on the bed nearly rolled her eyes in exasperation:

"What are you standing there for? Can't you see I'm about to give birth?"

As if only now realizing, the man suddenly slapped his own forehead.

"Right, it's time..."

While speaking, he had already hurriedly carried his princess consort into the delivery room that had been prepared long ago. Due to the risk of premature birth with this pregnancy, several midwives selected by the Imperial Household Department had been stationed at the residence since May.

Fearing any mishap, these midwives had been thoroughly vetted by Imperial Consort Yi and the Ninth Prince himself. Although there was initial chaos, the delivery room was soon running in an orderly manner.

Several hours passed with no signs of cervical dilation. Were it not for the genuine pain and cold sweat on the princess consort's face, the midwives might have thought it wasn't time yet...

"This...what should we do now?"

As time ticked by with no improvement, the midwives' hands trembled uncontrollably—especially with the Ninth Prince constantly coming to inquire from outside.

The look in his eyes was terrifying enough that they had no doubt any mishap would cost them their lives...

Even the imperial consort in the palace had specially sent people over.

Under the Ninth Prince's repeated urging, several senior imperial physicians took turns checking the pulse from behind the screen, only to conclude:

"Your Highness, perhaps the earlier measures to delay premature birth and protect the child were overdone...this delivery..."

The lead physician sighed heavily, feeling his hair had turned whiter in this short time. After a long pause, he lowered his head and murmured:

"The only solution now is strong labor-inducing medicine, otherwise the princess consort and child might...might..."

Hearing this, the Ninth Prince's heart turned cold outside the delivery room. He stood frozen for a long moment before finding his voice:

"Listen well—if anything happens to either my consort or child, none of you will leave here alive today..."

Inside, Madam Aisin Gioro held her daughter's hand weeping uncontrollably, not even sparing a glance for her son-in-law at these words.

Were she not needed by her daughter's side, she would have rushed out to slap the man!

Blame your poor choice of brothers, blame your own carelessness!

Her poor daughter, why must fate be so cruel?

Fortunately, the imperial physicians had some skill. After administering medicine, movements were finally heard in the delivery room hours later...

By dawn, accompanied by an infant's cry, Yin Tang who had been standing anxiously outside all night nearly collapsed from weak legs.

Even when the midwives hesitantly mentioned it was a little princess, he had no mind to dwell on it. Carefully cradling the pink-blue swaddling clothes, he gazed tearfully at the tiny girl inside who couldn't even open her eyes yet.

"And...and my consort?"

The physician's hesitant voice answered:

"The child stayed long in the womb and though somewhat weak, will be fine with proper care! But the princess consort..."

Under the terrifying gaze, the old physician could only report truthfully:

"Though Her Ladyship has good constitution, this ordeal has damaged her foundation. She must be carefully nursed in winters hereafter, and above all...must avoid cold..."

At these words, darkness nearly overcame Yin Tang again...

When An Ning reopened her eyes at dusk, her mother Madam Aisin Gioro hastily brought over pigeon soup that had been simmering, personally feeding her daughter before having the newborn brought in.

Newborns aren't much to look at generally, but to the grandmother's eyes, every feature was perfect.

Except for the phoenix eyes clearly inherited from the son-in-law which the grandmother somewhat disliked, everything else was lovely and pleasing.

Especially considering her son-in-law's health condition, this child would likely be her daughter's only offspring.

Gently playing with the little one, Madam Aisin Gioro comforted her daughter:

"Don't worry dear. Given the Ninth Prince's situation, having a princess at all is heaven's blessing. Even the palace has no grounds for complaint."

"Oh, while you slept, the palace sent gifts—I checked personally, they're premium ginseng and blood swallows' nests..."

At least Imperial Consort Yi knew her place as mother-in-law. Had she acted like the Eldest Princess Consort before, the Donggo family wouldn't have taken it lying down...

"Don't worry mother, you know I never take losses!"

While stroking her daughter's noticeably paler hands, Madam Aisin Gioro's heart ached again...

Had her daughter married someone less unfortunate, she'd have toddlers running around by now.

Hmph, so it's a princess—if that son-in-law had any sense, he wouldn't dare show dissatisfaction!

Indeed, despite earlier hopes for a little prince, the Ninth Prince now doted on the babbling infant more than anyone.

As the child grew increasingly beautiful—fair and plump after the first month with smiley eyes that melted hearts—An Ning gave her the nickname Little Moon.

Being the hard-won child after years of struggle, and likely the only offspring among his brothers, the little princess received lavish gifts during her full moon celebration. Within half a day, Little Moon's treasure trove was overflowing.

Even the Tenth Prince, self-proclaimed closest brother to the Ninth Prince, not only spent extravagantly on a rare warm jade carved by master artisans into a lucky pendant, but also swept through major Treasure Pavilions for shiny trinkets his niece loved.

His own princess consort once jabbed:

"I never saw you go to such lengths for our own children!"

The Tenth Prince shrugged:

"That's different! I'll never lack sons, nor daughters later—but Ninth Brother only has this one seedling!"

Tenth Princess Consort: "......"

Holding the little one who was gnawing on a toy tiger, An Ning simply listened without comment.

Logically speaking, given how close the Tenth Prince was to her husband in their past life, he must have helped when disaster struck the household.

After all, the male members—though imprisoned for life under the new emperor's displeasure—still lived safely past fifty.

This "protection" never extended to daughters. Even a legitimate daughter mattered less than an illegitimate son in everyone's eyes...

Just as Yongzheng showered favors on the Thirteenth Prince and his heir Hong Xiao, yet didn't hesitate to send the prince's legitimate daughter to Mongolia for marriage—knowing full well two of the Thirteenth Prince's sisters had died there.

Perhaps to him, protecting the family heir was consolation enough for his "beloved thirteenth brother"...

Gazing at the babbling little one in her arms, An Ning's heart softened:

Don't worry, this time in our home, you'll never be second choice or the one sacrificed...