The young palace maid, tearful, could only manage a glance. The Old Buddha angrily released her. As the imperial physician and Nurse Liu exited, the Old Buddha approached joyfully upon seeing the child in Nurse Liu’s arms. “Boy or girl?” she asked.
Nurse Liu knelt with teary eyes, and the imperial physician followed suit.
“What exactly happened?” the Old Buddha and the Emperor inquired.
The imperial physician sobbed, “Reporting to the Old Buddha, the Empress lost too much blood. The child was premature and died immediately after birth.”
The Old Buddha fainted as her body went limp.
“Quickly send the Old Buddha back to the palace.”
The Emperor gazed at the child in Nurse Liu’s arms, recalling the Crown Prince’s wife’s scream. “Let me hold him,” he said. Nurse Liu carefully handed the child to the Emperor, who cradled him gently. The child still had warmth. The Empress remarked, “Your Majesty, this is not auspicious…”
The Emperor glared fiercely at her, and she fell silent.
Noticing the male symbol, the Emperor walked to Long Hanxie. “Stand up,” he instructed.
Long Hanxie complied. The Emperor placed the child in his hands, stating, “It seems I truly need to reevaluate you as Crown Prince…” He then turned and left with the Empress following, her words fading into the distance.
The servants of the Crown Prince’s wife’s palace mourned the Crown Prince’s wife and the infant who died immediately after birth.
Long Hanxie looked at the tiny lifeless child in his arms, feeling the weight of fatherhood. Frightened, his hand went limp, almost dropping the child. Nurse Liu quickly caught the child, wrapped him in a blanket, and said with teary eyes, “Your Highness, please return.”
Binger rushed in, joyfully exclaiming, “Congratulations to the Crown Prince, the young lady has given birth to a princess.”
Xu Qiu’er awoke in the room, her long hair damp and her lips pale. Trembling, she asked Xiaoju, “Where is my son?”
Xiaoju looked away, tears falling.
Xu Qiu’er grasped Xiaoju’s hand, tears streaming down her face, and asked seriously, “Xiaoju, I gave birth to a little prince, right?”
Xiaoju trembled, trying to hold back her crying. Xu Qiu’er looked at her, smiling through her tears, “Xiaoju, did I give birth to a son? Where is he?”
Xiaoju fought to compose herself, but new tears came. “Young Mistress, please rest.”
Xu Qiu’er stared at Xiaoju. “My son is dead, isn’t he?”
Xiaoju could no longer hold back and burst into tears.
Xu Qiu’er struggled to get up, but Xiaoju blocked her. She fell to the ground, her white clothes staining with blood.
Pushing Xiaoju’s hand away, Xu Qiu’er staggered towards the outer hall, ignoring the crying servants.
“My Lady, please take care of yourself…”
Xu Qiu’er continued walking out of the outer hall. She saw Nurse Liu holding the child before Long Hanxie and walked towards her, nearly falling several times as the attentive maids supported her. Nurse Liu wiped her tears and said, “My Lady, you cannot be exposed to the wind in your condition.”
Xu Qiu’er’s long hair was blown by the wind, her blood-stained inner garment visible. She held the child like a goddess, taking him from Liu Nanny’s hands. Tears rolled down her face as she looked at the child’s tiny face. This was the lifeline she had longed for.
Xu Qiu’er slid down slowly, and Liu Nanny and the palace maids rushed to support her. Trembling, Xu Qiu’er closed her eyes and shouted to the sky, her tears falling onto her son’s face. Many saw the deceased little prince seemingly crying for his mother.
Xu Qiu’er’s body fell into Liu Nanny’s arms, who wept, “Your Highness, you are still young, little prince…” The accompanying eunuchs and palace maids knelt on the ground, sobbing.
Xu Qiu’er lay down, holding the child tightly, with tears falling. Suddenly, it started to rain, soaking everything. Liu Nanny covered the little prince’s head and ordered, “What are you all doing? Carry Her Highness inside.”
The little eunuchs quickly lifted Xu Qiu’er, with Liu Nanny following behind. Bing’er thought how unfortunate it was for it to be a boy; she would tell the young lady, who would surely be happy.
Bing’er stepped forward, saying, “Your Highness, the young lady has given birth to a princess for you.” Long Hanjie felt an indescribable melancholia, a suffocating pressure filling the air, causing Bing’er to avoid his gaze. His deep, cold eyes focused on the distance as raindrops disturbed his calmness, and he heard his own heartbeat, slow and heavy.
It was truly painful, as if a needle was piercing the soft, beating thing, inserting and withdrawing repeatedly, spreading unbearable pain that made it hard to breathe. The entire world seemed to have fallen silent.
Bing’er, believing the young lady was waiting for her response, mustered the courage to speak again:
“Your Highness…”
But Long Hanjie had already walked away.
The rain grew heavier. Moments ago, it had been bright sunshine; now the sun was hidden.
Upon waking, the Old Buddha tearfully lamented, “What sins have we committed…”
The nanny consoled her, “Old Buddha, the Crown Princess is still young and can give birth again.”
The Old Buddha closed her eyes, saying, “How heartbroken Qiu’er must be.”
In the Imperial Study Room, the Empress anxiously watched the Emperor, unsure if his previous words were true.
The Empress carefully said, “This concubine will arrange a proper burial for the little prince…” but was silenced by the Emperor’s sharp gaze.
At the Xu Residence, Lady Xu fainted upon receiving the news. Lord Xu embraced her, tears streaming down his face.
When Lady Xu awoke, she learned that the Third Young Lady had given birth to a princess, while the Second Madam was happily preparing to visit her in the palace.
Lady Xu spat out blood, murmuring, “I should have left you back then. My child has suffered for me…” before fainting.
Xu Qing’er’s heart raced upon hearing Bing’er’s report. She touched the little princess’s cheek and smiled, whispering, “Good child, your brother is dead. Dead is good, hehe…” She was not upset that Long Hanjie hadn’t come, thinking he must be sad but that she could surely give him another son. Xu Qing’er comforted the little princess, her face glowing with joy.
Following the loss of the little prince, there were few congratulations. The Empress sent some silk but didn’t provide many rewards. Xu Qing’er, supported by Bing’er, knelt on the ground, enduring the pain. This was the moment she had been waiting for.
“Xu Qing’er gives birth to a princess, granted the title of Qing Ce Fei.”
Xu Qing’er’s outward smile concealed her belief that one day she would no longer be just Ce Fei.
Long Hanjie’s eyes reddened upon seeing the little princess, and he held her close, saying, “You are my most precious princess.”
Xu Qing’er took out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe nonexistent tears from her eyes, saying, “Thank you for coming to see me, Your Highness.”
Long Hanjie sighed, “Why be so distant?”
Qing’er cried dramatically, “It’s all this servant’s fault. If I hadn’t given birth to the little princess, the little prince wouldn’t have…”
Bing’er interrupted, “Young lady, you mustn’t cry. You’re still in your postpartum period, though you’re grieving for the Crown Princess.”
Long Hanjie wiped away Qing’er’s tears, agreeing, “Yes, it has nothing to do with you.” He felt remorse for his son in his heart, reminding himself it was all an accident.
Qing’er pushed Long Hanjie away, saying softly, “Your Highness, go see your sister. She must… wuwu…”
Long Hanjie patiently comforted Xu Qing’er, “Good Qing’er, Qiu’er will adjust herself.”
Xu Qing’er laughed coldly inside. Xu Qiu’er, this is your fate.
