Chapter 92
Qi Xiao's expression remained unchanged. He said in a steady voice, "Jiang Deqing, take my card to invite Imperial Physician Bian, the Thousand-Gold Master, to come at once. Mao'er, escort me to the He residence."
The servants hurried to comply. Qi Xiao mounted his carriage and departed.
At the He residence in the western part of the city, chaos reigned inside and out. Qi Xiao stepped down from the carriage and took a deep breath at the sight of the red cloth tied to the cloud board above the He family's gate. The doorman, upon seeing Qi Xiao arrive, was so terrified he could barely speak. His legs gave out as he knelt, stammering as he kowtowed: "G-greetings to... Your Imperial Highness, may You Live Ten Thousand Years..."
Qi Xiao paid him no mind and strode inside. In the main hall, Princess Dunsu sat restlessly on guard. She was startled to see Qi Xiao and quickly asked, "What are you doing here? Didn't the palace send word that you were to attend His Majesty during his illness? How could you have left?"
Qi Xiao explained what had happened. Princess Dunsu let out a cold laugh: "I thought something serious had occurred. As it turns out, he merely coughed up some blood, and they treat it like a major illness. In years past, when Emperor Wu went hunting, a black bear bit a wound that long on his arm. He didn't say a single word, not until it had fully healed did he let anyone know. Hmph... people aren't so precious after all. He's the one who makes a fuss."
Qi Xiao had never told Princess Dunsu about the poisoning attempt. Upon hearing her words, he merely shook his head with a wry smile and asked, "How is she doing now?"
Princess Dunsu fretted anxiously, "It's not good. Her pregnancy was already problematic from the start. Right after she conceived, that... that incident happened, and she nearly lost the child then. After that, Zichen and his mother did everything possible to nourish her, and only then was she brought back. The truth is, the fetus was harmed early on—she's unlike other women. An easy delivery was never likely. Yesterday around midnight, her water broke, and there's still no progress. She's been crying in pain, but now even her wailing has grown weaker. The midwife fears she cannot manage. Zichen nearly went mad with worry and has already sent someone to the Imperial Medical Academy."
Qi Xiao said calmly, "No need to worry. I sent someone to fetch Imperial Physician Bian just now. He should arrive shortly."
Princess Dunsu felt half her anxiety lift. She sighed and said, "Over these past six months, you've been most kind to this household. Winter charcoal, summer ice, tending to everything大小事情. My old sister-in-law is deeply grateful. She recites prayers for you daily, nearly ready to erect a longevity tablet in your honor."
Qi Xiao gave a self-deprecating smile. "There's no need. I didn't do this for her."
Upon hearing this, something painful tugged at Princess Dunsu's heart. After a pause, she said softly, "I've heard that he... he's doing well now. There were some difficulties right after he took the throne, but he's pulled through. He's... truly doing well."
It was as if Qi Xiao were hearing news of a stranger. He nodded and said indifferently, "That's good."
Princess Dunsu's heart ached even more. Hesitating, she said, "He executed Wen Yu, but he spared Kang Tai's life. I hear Kang Tai was obedient for a few months at first, then started making trouble again. She's been insisting that the Prince of Lingnan find her a husband, and she's been complaining to the Eastern Mausoleum royal family, saying the incident back then had nothing to do with her, but the Prince of Lingnan deliberately delayed her because she was a concubine's daughter, causing her to miss her prime marriageable age."
Upon hearing the words "Prince of Lingnan," Qi Xiao paused briefly, then understood. He nodded. Princess Dunsu continued: "I was thinking, this... this matter might trouble him. Why don't I find a suitable match and simply betroth Kang Tai to my household? That way we'd have Kang Tai under our control, he wouldn't bear the bad reputation, and he could rest easy. What do you think?"
Remembering the incident from years past made Princess Dunsu's stomach turn. She lowered her voice: "Get her into my hands, and she'll have her share of suffering coming. I'll make sure she can't utter a word of complaint. Just trust me, alright?"
Qi Xiao considered, then said quietly, "If Aunt wishes to do this, have someone ask his opinion first. If he's willing, then proceed."
Princess Dunsu stared, dumbfounded. "It's been half a year. Have you two... not exchanged any letters at all? Do I have to be the one to ask?"
Qi Xiao shook his head lightly. Princess Dunsu felt as if stones had piled up in her chest. Logically, of course, no contact was for the best, but when she thought of Qi Xiao's feelings for Bai Ren, she couldn't help feeling pained for him.
Seeing Princess Dunsu's reddening eyes, Qi Xiao offered a comforting smile: "No contact has its benefits. Besides... what is there to say? If he truly has something urgent, on the court battlefield, I'll be the first to know anyway. For smaller matters, can't I hear about them from you, Aunt?"
Qi Xiao's fingers gently rubbed the life token at his waist as he slowly said, "What befalls the Crown Prince, the Prince of Lingnan will also come to know."
Separated by thousands of miles, an imperial memorial was their version of a letter from a swan.
Princess Dunsu turned her face away, and tears streamed down unbidden.
Just then, word came that Imperial Physician Bian had arrived. He Zichen and the physician had crossed paths at the Imperial Medical Academy and had now returned together. Qi Xiao gave Imperial Physician Bian a gentle smile: "Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician. Jiang Deqing... have the Imperial Physician's travel expenses been prepared?"
Jiang Deqing hastily presented a stack of banknotes. Where would Imperial Physician Bian have ever seen such a fortune? He was stunned speechless and quickly declined: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..."
Qi Xiao said, "Imperial Physician, please don't stand on ceremony. If mother and child are safe, I shall present another gift of gratitude. But if there's even a hint of mishap..."
Qi Xiao smiled faintly: "My rewards are never taken back. If there's even the slightest mishap with either mother or child, I shall burn these banknotes, one by one, for the Imperial Physician. Not a single cent less."
At these words, Imperial Physician Bian instantly sobered up. He hastily bowed: "Your Highness need not worry, Your Highness need not worry."
Qi Xiao was a man of few words. Once he'd said what needed saying, he fell silent. Jiang Deqing quickly led Imperial Physician Bian inside. He Zichen was so anxious he could barely speak coherently, stumbling through his thanks to Qi Xiao. Together they waited in the outer hall, though Zichen paced restlessly and couldn't sit still for a moment.
Five hours passed with Imperial Physician Bian inside. Night fell, and still there was no news. Princess Dunsu was getting on in years and couldn't stay awake. She let the maids help her to the He old matriarch's main hall to rest. He Zichen simply couldn't bear it any longer. Disregarding the servants' protests, he burst into the delivery room and didn't return. In the outer hall, only Qi Xiao sat motionless, unchanging.
Jiang Deqing couldn't bear to watch. He softly劝道: "Your Highness... why not return home first? Or at least rest in a side room?"
Qi Xiao shook his head: "It's fine."
With Qi Xiao present as a stabilizing force, with those ten thousand taels of silver notes to inspire caution, naturally all would be well. At dawn's first light, a baby's cry rang out from the delivery room. A maid rushed out, beside herself with joy: "Great fortune! Great fortune! Your Highness, the madam has given birth to a bouncing boy of over seven jin! Heaven be praised, mother and child are both safe!"
Qi Xiao closed his eyes briefly, and his heart finally settled.
By proper etiquette, a newborn could not be brought outside. However, this pregnancy had received so much assistance from Qi Xiao, and he had kept vigil for a full day and night. The He old matriarch felt deeply indebted and kept apologizing for the shortened lifespan such an action would bring. She instructed He Zichen to wrap the baby properly and bring it out for Qi Xiao to see—first, to thank His Highness for his great kindness, and second, to let the child absorb some of the Crown Prince's blessed fortune, so that his future would be smooth and all his endeavors would succeed.
He Zichen was a new father, laughing and crying, barely able to form words. He kept telling the wet nurse: "Be careful, be careful..."
The wet nurse curtsied to Qi Xiao and smiled: "The young lord gives his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince."
The He old matriarch also came out, dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief as she said cautiously to Qi Xiao: "If Your Highness wouldn't disdain it, would you like to hold this child? It would be his great fortune."
Qi Xiao nodded. Gently, he took the child into his arms. The newborn was bright red all over, eyes closed, crying ceaselessly in the swaddling clothes. No amount of soothing helped. Qi Xiao lowered his head and, as he had done countless times before, kissed the child gently on the brow. Softly he哄道: "Don't cry, don't cry..."
As if by a miracle, the baby gradually stopped crying. Nestling in the crook of Qi Xiao's arm, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Qi Xiao smiled faintly. Still so easy to soothe.
Nephews resemble their uncles. In this child's features, there was already a hint of that person's look. Qi Xiao couldn't bear to look longer. Carefully, he passed the baby to the wet nurse and said quietly: "This child... will have great fortune in his future."
Without waiting for the family's expressions of gratitude, Qi Xiao turned and walked out of the He residence.
Qi Xiao's behavior had been odd. He Zichen felt uneasy. After handing the child to the wet nurse, he chased after him. Stopping Jiang Deqing, he forced a smile: "Sir... sir, thank you for accompanying us through this day and night. If you don't disdain it, please accept this gift."
Jiang Deqing hastily took it with both hands, smiling: "What are these words, Master He? How great a joyous occasion is the birth of a young lady! Not just one day and one night—even three days and three nights I would have kept vigil. Sir, my heart is truly filled with joy."
He Zichen glanced outside, then lowered his voice: "His Highness..."
Jiang Deqing sighed. Softly he said, "Master He needn't read too much into it. His Highness's devotion was not for you, nor for the young lady. It was for... for that one. The young lady's smooth delivery brings His Highness joy. It's just that... he couldn't help but think of the Prince of Lingnan. Don't overthink it. Rest assured of one thing—His Highness said this child will have great fortune, so this child's future will surely be bright."
He Zichen remembered hearing about how, last year in the southern borders, Qi Xiao had let Bai Ren go. He sighed and nodded: "I understand."