Changle Palace.
Countless palace maids and court eunuchs hurried in and out of the hall, sweat covering their brows. Everyone was clearly frantic, and the atmosphere within the palace was equally oppressive. Despite all the bustle, hardly a loud footstep could be heard; even their breathing was barely audible. The air seemed to have congealed.
This was because Zhang Yan, the empress of the Great Han Empire, was giving birth that day. The finest midwives in all of Chang'an City were gathered there, and practitioners of the School of Medicine were also standing by in the hall.
There were many practitioners of the School of Medicine in Zhao City.
Although the customs of this age were very open, distinctions between men and women still existed.
Thus, since the days of the Zhou State, the Luo Clan had trained a group of female physicians specifically to treat women.
In dealing with all things, the Luo Clan considered only whether they were useful. They therefore held no prejudice against shamans, physicians, musicians, or artisans; on the contrary, they valued them highly. Quite a few women of the Luo Clan studied medicine.
Liu Ying sat kneeling in the outer hall, his face somewhat pale. He coughed softly twice, his throat too dry to speak.
"Chancellor, the empress..."
Luo Xin reassured him, "Your Majesty, do not worry too much. Heaven watches over good people like the empress. You are the son of Heaven and have always been benevolent and loving. Would Heaven fail to protect you?"
"Waa!"
As a piercing cry rang out, the hall, so unbearably oppressive a moment before, instantly boiled over like water struck by a drop of oil. Liu Ying sprang to his feet. A palace maid ran out of the hall, her face wreathed in smiles, and announced joyfully,