Luo Xiang panicked and looked around.
She tried to find the same confusion and helplessness on others' faces as she felt at the moment.
But unfortunately, everyone looked perfectly normal.
Luo Xiang turned her head eagerly.
Even Pei Zhaolin, who was standing beside her, looked calm!
What was wrong with the people in the Fengyi Palace?!
Had they all gone crazy?!
Cui Jintang had committed an act of great disrespect!
"Rou'er!"
Hearing the emperor's voice, Cui Jintang's expression froze for a moment.
She lowered her head and covered it well.
Cui Jintang wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve and quietly stepped aside.
The emperor, holding the crying baby in his arms, sat down beside the couch.
He placed the baby beside Xie Rou, his expression full of tenderness and happiness. "Rou'er, this is our child."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the chief eunuch, who was best at gauging the emperor's will, led a group of palace servants and knelt in front of Xie Rou's couch.
"Congratulations to Your Majesty! Congratulations to the Empress!"
The chief eunuch kowtowed with a crisp sound, and the end of his voice dragged on like an opera singer.
"The Empress is blessed with great fortune and has given birth to an heir to the throne. This is truly a blessing for our dynasty and all the people!"
Before he finished speaking, more than twenty eunuchs and maids behind him had already shouted in unison.
For a moment, the Fengyi Palace was filled with joyous sounds.
Only the wet nurse stood behind the curtain, wiping her tears lovingly.
Xie Rou's face was pale. She half - leaned on the vermilion brocade couch, and the strands of hair on her forehead were stuck together with sweat.
She gently touched the baby in the swaddle.
The baby, who was born prematurely at eight months, was still very thin.
It was much smaller than Xie Rou had imagined, like a ball of fire that made her eyes burn.
The emperor gently took Xie Rou's hand. "Rou'er, I've named him Qi Yuheng."
The meaning behind this name was self - evident.
The chief eunuch quickly kowtowed, his forehead touching the cold gold - plated bricks. He was already calculating quickly in his mind.
As soon as this name was announced, the concubines in the six palaces who had yet to have children would probably not be able to sleep soundly from now on.
But Xie Rou showed no sign of joy.
Xie Rou calmly withdrew her hand and said softly, "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for naming the child."
Even though his enthusiasm was met with coldness, the emperor was not angry.
He waved his hand and said, "All the servants in the Fengyi Palace who have served the Empress well will be rewarded with three years' salary!"
Immediately, the entire Fengyi Palace was on their knees. Everyone was kowtowing and happily shouting, "Thank Your Majesty for the reward!"
Hearing the word "Empress", Xie Rou frowned slightly.
Realizing it was because of the child, even though she had already guessed, a hint of sadness still swept through her heart.
Xie Rou raised her eyes. Tired as she was, her eyes were surprisingly bright.
Her gaze swept across the crowd one by one, and suddenly she smiled.
Xie Rou stretched out her hand in Cui Jintang's direction. Her voice was gentle, hoarse, and full of smiles. "Tangtang, come here."
In an instant, everyone's eyes fell on Cui Jintang.
Under Luo Xiang's incredulous and accusing gaze, Cui Jintang quickly stepped forward and took Xie Rou's cold hand.
"Sister."
There were tears glistening in Cui Jintang's eyes. Looking at the weak Xie Rou, her eyes were full of pity.
Xie Rou gently patted the back of Cui Jintang's hand. Her eyes were full of tenderness. "If it weren't for you today, I and the child might not have survived."
Cui Jintang quickly shook her head, her voice slightly choking. "That won't happen."
The emperor, watching this scene, also had a moment of thought in his eyes.
He whispered to Xie Rou, "Rou'er, you've just given birth. You need to rest well. When you've recovered, there will be a ceremony to confer the titles of Empress and Crown Prince."
Xie Rou's gaze was gentle yet powerful. Under her direct stare, the second half of the emperor's sentence was swallowed back.
"Publicly, if it weren't for Tangtang bringing people to save your servant and the child today, it might not be long before there would be a ceremony to confer posthumous titles on your servant and the child."
"Privately, Tangtang and your servant are like sisters. Your servant really can't bear to see her suffer the slightest bit of grievance."
Although Xie Rou's words were soft, every word was clear. To everyone's ears, it was like the pounding of a heavy hammer.
She didn't try to hide anything and directly pointed out the much - talked - about imperial edict of marriage.
"Your Majesty knows everything but still deliberately bestowed the marriage of County Princess Zhiheng to Lord Pei. Are you afraid?"
Hearing this, the emperor's expression changed slightly. He didn't expect Xie Rou to refute him so directly.
But in an instant, the emperor regained his gentle smile, as if the previous embarrassment had never happened.
"What Rou'er said is very true. It was my lack of consideration."
The emperor gently stroked Xie Rou's face, his eyes full of doting.
But Xie Rou avoided his touch.
Having been in a high position for many years, being repeatedly embarrassed in public like this, the emperor couldn't maintain his amiable expression at all.
The chief eunuch seized the opportunity and immediately led all the palace servants out of the Fengyi Palace silently.
He didn't forget to close the palace door tightly.
Even the crying baby was carried away by the wet nurse.
The emperor flicked his wide sleeve robe and sat down beside Xie Rou's couch. His eyes were sharp, showing no trace of the previous tenderness.
"Was the Empress just questioning me?!"
Hearing his sudden change in address, Xie Rou smiled slightly.
Obviously, she wasn't affected by the emperor at all. "Yes."
Cui Jintang quietly stepped in front of Xie Rou and said, "Your Majesty, the Empress has just given birth and needs to rest well..."
The emperor waved his hand angrily. "When did it become your turn to speak here! Get out of here now!"
Cui Jintang quickly dodged. She didn't step firmly and staggered. A pair of large hands supported her waist.
Realizing who was holding her, she was about to step aside when Pei Zhaolin stuffed a dagger into her sleeve.
This sudden move left Cui Jintang extremely confused.
She quickly raised her eyes and glanced at Pei Zhaolin, only to see him slightly shaking his head at her.
What was he signaling to her?
Seeing the two of them holding each other, Luo Xiang felt like there was a fire burning in her heart.
Luo Xiang quickly stepped forward, grabbed Pei Zhaolin's arm, and then bowed to Xie Rou with a smile.
"Replying to the Empress, this imperial edict of marriage was personally requested by Zhaolin from His Majesty!"
Seizing the opportunity to save face, the emperor took the bait.
Under Xie Rou's skeptical gaze, Luo Xiang said eagerly, "When Concubine Rong held a banquet and in front of all the female relatives of officials, Zhaolin said it himself!"
After saying that, Luo Xiang turned slightly and looked at Cui Jintang, raising her chin. "Miss Cui was also present that day. Have you forgotten, Miss?"
"Don't think that just because you're an orphan and a poor soul, the whole world should make concessions and accommodate you."
Luo Xiang curled her lips. "Zhaolin and I grew up together and have mutual feelings for each other. What's wrong with being bestowed to be husband and wife?"
The emperor also said, "It's better to tear down ten temples than to ruin one marriage. Tangtang, what you did was immoral!"