That day, the early winter sun shone warmly, the sky was clear for miles, and magpies called from the branches.
Emperor Jinyuan wore his imperial crown and ceremonial robes, while Empress Fang wore a phoenix crown and embroidered wedding cape. They made a perfect pair,
receiving the congratulations of the civil and military officials before Fengxian Hall-
"Long live Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years! May Her Majesty the Empress live a thousand years!"
Three years later.
The Empress's bedchamber.
"Your Majesty, push a little harder! We're about to see the little one's head. The baby's almost out-"
"Ah!"
Outside the hall, Emperor Jinyuan heard that agonized scream and paced anxiously back and forth.
Xiao Yu leaned against a pillar in the corridor and could not help speaking up. "Elder Imperial Brother, stop pacing! You're making me dizzy!"
Emperor Jinyuan stopped in his tracks and stared at him.
Xiao Yu's gaze flickered, and he felt inexplicably guilty. "...Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I know I'm extraordinarily handsome, but there's no need to be so jealous."
"Shut up, you slob-"
Emperor Jinyuan said dryly, "Your clothes are inside out, and you still think you're handsome?"
He did not forget to tease him, either. "It's my wife giving birth, not yours. What are you getting so nervous for?"
Xiao Yu froze, a trace of embarrassment appearing on his face.
He silently turned his head away,
then forced an explanation to salvage his dignity. "...Elder Imperial Brother, you don't understand. This is the latest fashion among the commoners outside the palace.
"Once this side gets worn out, you can turn it around and wear the other side. It saves money and trouble!"
Emperor Jinyuan: "..."
He actually thinks that's a reasonable excuse?
He said through gritted teeth, "Have I ever failed to provide you with clothes?"
If word got out, people might think he mistreated his brother.
"Ahem..."
The Crown Prince interrupted.
He feared that if he did not speak up now, his Little Imperial Uncle would be too embarrassed to show his face tomorrow.
He changed the subject. "Emperor Father... I think it's gone quiet in Mother's room..."
Emperor Jinyuan immediately looked toward the door.
He was just about to step forward and knock to ask what was happening.
Then an elderly matron opened the door and came out.
She held up the baby for him to see. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Wonderful news! It's a little princess!"
Emperor Jinyuan took the baby, looked at her, and burst into delighted laughter.
"Good, good! A princess is wonderful! An adorable little princess was just what I was missing!"
Suddenly, he remembered the woman he loved.
"What about the Empress? How is my Empress?"
The elderly matron answered truthfully, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Her Majesty is well. She simply exhausted her strength and fell asleep."
At those words, tenderness and concern appeared on Emperor Jinyuan's face.
He placed the baby in the Crown Prince's arms. "I'll go in and see the Empress first."
Hearing that he intended to enter, the elderly matron hurried forward to stop him. "Your Majesty, the room is unclean. You-"
"What do you mean, unclean? The Empress is lying in there after just giving birth to my little princess!"
Emperor Jinyuan pushed the door open and walked straight in.
Hearing the movement, the Empress opened her eyes slightly.
When she saw Emperor Jinyuan, she called softly, "Your Majesty..."
"The baby... My baby..." She remembered waking to that empty room after her last childbirth.
Emperor Jinyuan immediately went to the bedside and clasped her hand tightly. "Wanwan, thank you for all you've endured."
"Don't worry. The baby is fine. She's a little princess, and the Crown Prince is holding her."
The Empress let out a sigh of relief.
Huh? Am I blind? Why won't my eyes open? Hang on, let me try harder...
Oh my goodness, where did this handsome guy come from? He's gorgeous!
The Crown Prince's hands stiffened. He looked up at Xiao Yu for help.
Xiao Yu stepped forward and took the baby.
She was all wrinkled.
Oh! Another gorgeous guy! Have I fallen into a den of handsome men?
What a feast for the eyes! Ah! Handsome guy, mwah!
Seeing her little hands flailing wildly, Xiao Yu's hands jerked, and he nearly dropped her.
His eyelid twitched.
What old monster has reincarnated in my Imperial Sister-in-Law's womb...?
Emperor Jinyuan and the Empress were startled to hear that.
Their daughter was a monster!
Judging by the decorations and ornaments in here, and these handsome guys in ancient clothes... have I transmigrated?
I remember I was in eighth grade, and winter break had just started.
I was curled up under my blankets reading a novel called The Tyrannical Emperor Falls in Love with Me. She runs away pregnant, he chases her, and she can't escape even if she grows wings.
I'd just reached the part where the tyrant drags the heroine back to the palace, and she gets so upset that she goes into premature labor...
So I've become the premature little princess in the book who dies young?
Once he was certain she was not some old monster, Xiao Yu sighed in relief.
He reassured her, "Don't worry. You were born right on time, at a healthy weight. You're perfectly healthy."
He reached out and gently clasped her tiny hand. "Little one, welcome to the world."
Then he introduced them. "The one on your left is your brother, the Crown Prince. I'm your Little Imperial Uncle."
My little porn book?
Xiao Yu: "..."
Perhaps he could do without this niece after all.
He turned toward the Empress inside the room. "Imperial Sister-in-Law... can you stuff her back in?"
The corners of the Empress's mouth twitched.
Was that something she could just stuff back in?
Emperor Jinyuan glanced at the stunned Empress, his ears reddening slightly.
He rebuked him. "You brat, stop talking nonsense and making things difficult for your Imperial Sister-in-Law!"
What? Stuff what back in? I struggled through ten whole months before finally seeing daylight again! No way!
Bad porn book! Rotten porn book!
Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes and pinched her nose.
He threatened her. "Say that again?"
Boohoo, my Little Imperial Uncle is bullying me! Big brother, save me!
The Crown Prince looked at the little hands reaching toward him, glanced at her, then silently averted his gaze.
Sorry, little sister. I wouldn't dare make our Little Imperial Uncle angry.
You'll have to put up with this.
Boohoo, I'm a child nobody loves...
"Ahem..."
The Empress could not help speaking up.
She feared that if she stayed silent, the little girl would start claiming they had found her abandoned somewhere.
She looked at Emperor Jinyuan and changed the subject. "Your Majesty, our little one still needs a name."
At that, everyone turned to Emperor Jinyuan.
Emperor Jinyuan suddenly felt the pressure mount.
After thinking for a moment,
he cleared his throat. "She was born in the morning, so let's name her Xi, the character for the light of dawn."
Objection! Objection! That character has way too many strokes! When I take an exam, they'll be collecting the papers before I've even finished writing my name!
Emperor Jinyuan, whose choice of name had been rejected for the first time: "..."
He had thought she would be a sweet little girl who warmed his heart.
Instead, she was letting in a draft.
He thought it over again.
"Then let's call her Xiyue," he amended. How's that? Simple enough now?
Xiyue, Xiyue-it sounds like "joy"! Nice and festive, and there aren't many strokes! All right, that's settled!
From now on, my name is Xiyue!
Emperor Jinyuan: "..."
I rack my brains to name you, and you still pick it apart.
The Empress also thought Xiyue was a lovely name.
Peaceful and serene.
She said to Emperor Jinyuan, "Your Majesty, could you bring her over so I can see her?"
I want to see! I want to see my beautiful mommy!
Wow! That's my mom, all right! She's so pretty! Just like me!
The corners of the Empress's mouth twitched.
Why was this child's personality so different from hers and His Majesty's?
She was such a little troublemaker.
And quite full of herself.
She glanced at Xiao Yu by the door.
The child was rather like Qi'an.
Xiao Yu noticed her gaze.
He was a little puzzled.
"What is it, Imperial Sister-in-Law?"
The Empress smiled faintly. "Nothing. I just think this child is a little like you."
Xiao Yu said, "Oh."
What kind of eyesight does my Imperial Sister-in-Law have? This little girl is all wrinkled... how does she look anything like me?
Emperor Jinyuan: "..." Perhaps the little girl hasn't inherited my looks or Wanwan's.
The Crown Prince: "..." She's my sister, after all. I won't hold it against her.
The Empress: "..." I gave birth to her myself. No matter how ugly she is, I'll have to accept her.
As she looked at the child she had brought into the world with every ounce of her strength, her heart could not help softening.
She held her tiny hand.
"I'm your mother," she said softly. "And this is your Emperor Father beside me."
"Xiyue, my little princess, welcome to our family!"
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