Chapter 791: The Crown Prince’s Amulet

On the second day of the fifth month, starting in the afternoon, a tense atmosphere filled the entire palace. Even Fan Hongjin Ying, who was usually favored, tried his best to avoid the emperor’s presence and instead sent people repeatedly to Yongning Palace to gather news. Qianqing Palace and Renshou Palace were bustling with people coming and going, and occasional muffled shouts could be heard from inside. Yet, by evening, there was still no definite news from Yongning Palace. Hearing that Zhu Zhanji could no longer stay in Qianqing Palace, Empress Dowager Zhang decided to go to Yongning Palace in person and quickly sent Zhu Ning, who had been staying with her in the palace these days, to Qianqing Palace.

As soon as Zhu Ning stepped through the gates of Qianqing Palace, she saw attendants standing outside like wooden statues, and faint sounds of the emperor’s anger could be heard from inside. Knowing that childbirth was a daunting ordeal for women these days, even with thorough preparations, she could somewhat understand the emperor’s feelings. As she climbed the white jade stairs, she began to plan what to say.

But halfway up the stairs, she saw Zhu Zhanji emerging from the palace in a fury. Upon meeting him, she quickly bowed. Seeing that he was in a hurry to leave, she stepped forward and gently blocked his path. Sure enough, his face turned ashen instantly.

“Aunt Ning, have you come here on orders from the Empress Dowager to stop me?”

“I dare not.”

Zhu Ning withdrew her hand, bowed again, and then said softly, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager knows you are worried about Concubine Sun. But Yongning Palace is currently a place of misfortune. If you go there as the emperor, it might only bring more complications. Besides, I believe everyone in Yongning Palace is doing their best. Even if you go there, you won’t be able to enter the delivery room to see Concubine Sun. Waiting outside and hearing those sounds will only make you more anxious. If you vent your anger on the servants, and they panic and make mistakes, things will only get worse. Moreover, a national sage, two Buddhist monks, and a genuine Taoist priest have already prayed for Concubine Sun. Among all pregnant women in the world, who could have better fortune than her?”

Fan Hongjin Ying was an old servant from the Eastern Palace and held great influence before Empress Dowager Zhang. Naturally, he could avoid responsibilities by using various excuses. Lu Feng also claimed to have urgent matters at the Eastern Depot and didn’t come in all day. As for Wang Jin, he had always served Zhu Zhanji; while others could avoid things, he could only try to persuade him. Earlier, to dissuade Zhu Zhanji from going to Yongning Palace, he even scraped his forehead in front of him but still couldn’t stop the emperor. Now, accompanying him, he was prepared to face Empress Dowager Zhang’s anger, but unexpectedly, a savior appeared. Thus, he was deeply grateful to Zhu Ning in his heart and quickly agreed with her words.

“Your Majesty, the princess is right. Right now, everyone in Yongning Palace is busy. If Your Majesty arrives, it will disturb them further. How can they handle both tasks? If Your Majesty blames them out of concern for Concubine Gui, something might really go wrong. The best midwives have already been chosen. Please wait patiently in Qianqing Palace.”

Zhu Zhanji was already hesitant. After hearing Wang Jin’s words, he stood in silence for a long time before finally nodding. Seeing that he had given up his idea, Zhu Ning breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “Empress Dowager Zhang is also worried about Concubine Sun and keeps sending people over. The messages we receive are incomplete, so I plan to go to Yongning Palace myself. Please be at ease, Your Majesty; good news might arrive soon.”

Though both were attempts to comfort him, different people saying them had different effects. At this moment, Zhu Zhanji smiled for the first time in a while, nodded, and watched Zhu Ning leave. After she left, he turned to look at Wang Jin, who had a bruised and cut forehead—clearly having nowhere else to hit. He looked extremely disheveled, which made Zhu Zhanji feel somewhat guilty, but he kept a stern expression.

“Go back quickly and have someone apply medicine to you. You’re an eunuch of the Imperial Bureau. What kind of impression will this look like if people see you like this? Be more careful when advising me in the future. Don’t push me further—those are gold bricks in the palace hall, and your head isn’t made of iron!”

Despite the scolding, Wang Jin felt his eyes sting, but his heart warmed. He quickly knelt down and agreed, then personally helped Zhu Zhanji back into the palace. Only then did he go to the room where the junior eunuchs were on night duty and asked someone to apply medicine to him. He hadn’t noticed before in his urgency, but now, as the wound was cleaned with water and cloth, he couldn’t help but gasp in pain. By the time the good ointment was applied, he was gripping his fists tightly. Only after everything was wrapped up and covered with a warm bandage did he finally breathe easily.

“At first glance, this wound doesn’t seem serious, but after it was cleaned, it was quite frightening. Your Excellency must have had great courage back then—the Emperor’s face turned so blue, everyone else fled, but only you dared to go up and persuade him. Those gold bricks were extremely heavy, yet you still managed to touch them. If not for you stepping in for us, those of us serving in the Qianqing Palace would likely have been beaten.”
“If I hadn’t stepped in, I too wouldn’t have escaped a beating once the Empress Dowager got angry!”
Wang Jin thought this in his heart but didn’t say it aloud; instead, he sighed deeply. Taking a cool towel offered by another eunuch, he wiped his greasy face and then washed his hands. He then said to the eunuchs in charge of the Qianqing Palace, “Did you see what just happened? Don’t think I’m nagging. Before, when I asked you to respect the princess, you were dismissive. But if it weren’t for the princess’s words calming the Emperor today, and if the Empress Dowager started investigating, we all would suffer! Although the Emperor is still here, his mind must be in turmoil. Hurry back and serve him well!”
The eunuchs quickly agreed and left, but only two of them actually left. The other three hesitantly made their way to the door before turning back. One of them, seeing Wang Jin’s displeased glare, quickly whispered, “Your Excellency, things outside have been chaotic lately, and we’re all very worried. As you know, life in the palace is tough. Though we appear respectable in front of the Emperor and the empresses, we’re always on edge, hoping one day to be sent out to guard a region. But now, with the Censorate’s actions blocking that path, we’ve lost all hope! Also, many of the children in the Inner Study Class are our adopted sons and grandchildren. If they’re locked away, they’ll have no chance to study anymore!”
“Yes, Your Excellency Wang. Over the years, we’ve gradually enjoyed better times—we can’t let them cut off our path to prosperity!”
“Neither Your Excellency Fan nor Your Excellency Jin has spoken up; they’ve become like Buddhas. You certainly can’t stand by doing nothing!”
Seeing these three faces filled with indignation, Wang Jin immediately frowned, dropped the towel in his hand, and scolded, “Enough! Stop talking about this now! All we need to do is wait for the prince to be born. Don’t worry about too much! You’re from the Qianqing Palace—who told you to interfere in the Inner Study Class? If anyone from there comes to complain to you, don’t respond at all. It’s chaotic now; if you add fuel to the fire and something goes wrong, don’t blame me for being harsh!”

The people in the Qianqing Palace were in a state of panic, and even more so in the Yongning Palace. If Concubine Sun gave birth to a healthy son, there was no need to say that everyone would be generously rewarded; but if anything happened to her, even if she managed to keep the child, the maids and eunuchs serving in the Yongning Palace would not escape punishment. Thus, everyone was working hard and extremely nervous. Those outside the Yongning Palace, trying to gather information, were equally anxious. Besides the Empress Dowager’s Renshou Palace and the Emperor’s Qianqing Palace, the empress and concubines also sent people to inquire here. The heads of the twelve supervisory agencies, four departments, eight bureaus, and twenty-four offices were all paying close attention, so the alley in front of the Yongning Palace was packed with people.

When Zhu Ning arrived, she saw eunuchs gathered in small groups. Seeing a eunuch from the Renshou Palace following her about to scold them, she waved her hand. When those people came forward to pay their respects, she didn’t say much, merely silently memorizing their faces. Indeed, most of them were unfamiliar faces of low rank. Only after entering the Yongning Gate did she see the two people sent from the Qianqing Palace and Renshou Palace, along with Wang Zhen walking back and forth under the corridor.

Just as she was about to ask about the situation inside, Concubine Sun’s desperate cries suddenly stopped. At that moment, even she felt a chill in her heart. But the next instant, the sound of a baby’s cry came from the delivery room. Soon after, someone rushed out, holding a bright yellow swaddled infant, and cheerfully announced, “It’s a prince! Both mother and child are safe!”

“Thank heaven!”

Zhu Ning couldn’t help but join her hands in prayer. Turning her head, she saw the two eunuchs who had been there moments ago already running back to report the news. Only Wang Zhen was kneeling on the ground, praying to the heavens. After seeing him bow respectfully and then go over to talk to another eunuch with a beaming face, she found it very strange. Instead of going back to see Empress Dowager Zhang right away, she called over a young eunuch and asked a few questions. Learning that Wang Zhen often came here, she immediately understood his intentions.

With the birth of the prince, people would surely be transferred from various places. Since the Inner Academy had already caused a stir in the court, Wang Zhen’s frequent visits here were likely aimed at securing a strong ally for the future. Although the heir apparent was supposed to be chosen from the legitimate line, given the Emperor’s neglect of Empress Hu, the chances of having a legitimate son seemed slim. The current baby prince was almost certainly the future crown prince.

For both the inner court and the outer court, the birth of a prince was undoubtedly an extraordinary joy. It had been nearly ten years since Zhu Zhanji appointed his heir’s consort. During those ten years, aside from Concubine Sun and another lower-ranking consort giving birth to daughters, none of the other concubines had shown any signs of pregnancy, let alone giving birth to a prince. Even the common people worried about having no heirs, let alone the imperial family. Therefore, when the emperor issued a decree for a general amnesty due to the birth of a prince and exempted one-third of the next year’s taxes, no one dared to advise against it. As for that minor imperial censor who had just been brought back to the capital and imprisoned, few people even remembered him at this moment.

In Renshou Palace, Zhu Ning carefully brought the infant to Empress Dowager Zhang. Although she didn’t particularly like Concubine Sun’s cleverness and charm, the child was still the emperor’s heir. Empress Dowager Zhang held the baby in her arms, playing with it, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her face. She, who was usually very stern, smiled—something rarely seen even among the concubines and maids, and even Zhu Zhanji found it unusual.

“After all these years, we finally have an heir. Concubine Sun truly deserves great credit this time.” Though she had never praised Concubine Sun in front of Empress Hu before, Empress Dowager Zhang broke with her usual habit this time. As she studied the child’s face, which resembled Zhu Zhanji’s so much, she grew more and more fond of him. It took her some time before she handed the baby back to Zhu Ning, her smile fading. “I know you’ve longed for a son. That’s why I issued the amnesty and exempted taxes due to the birth of the crown prince. Not even the cabinet objected, so I won’t interfere. But having just one crown prince isn’t enough—as the emperor, don’t forget to have more descendants. You’re still young, and so are they.”

It was all old talk, and Zhu Zhanji quickly bowed in agreement. It was because someone from Yongning Palace had reported that as soon as Zhu Ning entered, the baby was born immediately. He couldn’t help but laugh at that. Then he looked at Zhu Ning standing beside Empress Dowager Zhang and said, “Aunt Ning is truly blessed this time. The people in the delivery room said that Concubine Sun was already exhausted, but suddenly she gained strength and gave birth smoothly—right at the moment you entered Yongning Palace. And the baby kept crying in the nurse’s arms, but stopped crying as soon as it was in yours. Isn’t this fate?”

At that moment, Zhu Ning was about to hand the child back to the wet nurse. Hearing these words, she was momentarily stunned. Coincidentally, as soon as the wet nurse took the infant, the child suddenly wailed loudly. No matter how long she tried to soothe the baby, the crying wouldn’t stop. Driven by some impulse, she handed the child back to Zhu Ning. When the child was in Zhu Ning’s arms, though she held it awkwardly, the baby soon stopped crying, as if it had never cried at all.

This time, Zhu Zhanji, who had only been joking earlier, was genuinely surprised. Even the usually quiet Empress Hu couldn’t help but smile and say, “It seems Princess Ning is truly fated to be connected with the crown prince!”

Seeing Zhu Ning’s flustered and blushing appearance as she held the child, Empress Dowager Zhang shook her head and smiled. “It’s not surprising at all. Ah Ning rarely used cosmetics in the past, and now she goes without makeup every day. Without those strong scents, it’s natural the child likes her. Lady Liu, did you wash your hands with osmanthus water earlier?”

The wet nurse was caught off guard by the Empress Dowager’s sudden question. She froze for a moment before kneeling down and admitting it, apologizing repeatedly. Only then did Zhu Zhanji realize what was going on, but he still felt that Zhu Ning was fated to be connected with him as the crown prince, so he teased her a bit more. Suddenly, he remembered that the Eastern Depot had mentioned that Zhu Ning had sent someone back to Kaifeng before the New Year to find a child to raise, but nothing had been arranged yet. This idea struck him.

“Although a person has been chosen to take care of the crown prince since his birth, mistakes can still happen. If Aunt Ning has time, she might as well watch over him more closely and select from these people to ensure no one with ulterior motives is among them.”

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Zhang thought it made sense and immediately nodded at Zhu Ning with a smile. “That’s right. You’re always thorough in your work. With you watching over him, the crown prince will have an extra guardian.”

If it were any other matter, Zhu Ning might have hesitated, but given the current situation, the crown prince was bound to become the future emperor. In such a vast palace, all sorts of schemes could arise—what if something went wrong? Thinking of the care shown to her by the empress and dowager, she quickly agreed.