The news of Consort Shu's labor spread through the palace walls. Her screams of agony cut through the air. Will she survive this birth and deliver the heir the Emperor longed for?
—————————————————
The Emperor's heart was beating so fast as his palanquin rushed down the halls of the imperial palace; his body was filled with adrenaline, and his mind was filled with thoughts of what was about to come.
The news came too suddenly. Although he was looking forward to this day, he was anxious and worried for his favorite consort.
Yue followed closely behind his, her steps carrying a rhythm of urgency.
The screams that resonated from Shu's chambers were impossible to ignore—it was sharp, raw, and filled with agony. Yue regrets not being by her side.
"Your Majesty, we must hurry," Yue urged, her voice loaded with urgency.
Her pulse raced as her mind flashed to the worst-case scenarios. She had witnessed many things while here, but this was different.
Consort Shu was not just her master but her closest friend and sister.
The thought of her in pain, struggling for her life, made her insides churn.
The eunuch standing at the door to Shu's chambers bowed quickly, his eyes wide with anxiety.
"Your Majesty, you must not enter the birthing chamber!! It is forbidden.."
Before the eunuch could finish, the Emperor cut him off.
"Step aside!"
The eunuch did not give way. Yue, however, was allowed to enter.
"I will be there for my Lady, Your Majesty!" said Yue.
"Yes, Lady Yue can look after Consort Shu. Your Majesty is best to wait in the side chambers." replied the eunuch
There was no time for delays or hesitation; Yue rushed through the doors, revealing a scene of utter chaos.
Shu was lying on her bed, her body drenched in sweat, her face pale, and her brows crunched in agony.
The room was filled with midwives, servants, and physicians, all moving in a frenzy. Their hurried whispers mixed with the consort's sharp, piercing cries.
A midwife crouched between her spread legs, hands slick with fluids Yue didn't want to identify. The metallic tang of blood clogged the air.
Yue quickly rushed to Shu's side, her face full of worries. She had always been there for Shu and knew she needed it now more than ever.
"My Lady…" Yue called softly. She reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly.
"I'm here now. You're not alone."
Shu's eyes fluttered open, her gaze struggling to focus. "Yue..."
Her voice was a whisper, barely audible over the sounds of labor.
"It hurts...so much… I... I don't know if I can..."
"Yue..." Shu's voice was broken; her lips cracked from biting back screams. "It's... tearing me apart..."
"Hang in there," Yue said, her voice concerned.
"You are stronger than this, my Lady!!"
"You can do this!!"
Shu's grip tightened around Yue's hand, but the pain was excruciating. She clenched down on her teeth, trying to focus on the next breath, the next push, the next moment of relief.
Outside, the Emperor's heart was in turmoil. He couldn't stand the thought of his beloved consort in such pain and was unable to do anything to help.
His pulse was rushing as he paced frantically in the next room, unable to bear the silence.
"How is she?" The Emperor asked urgently when the eunuch appeared again.
"The labor is still ongoing, Your Majesty," the eunuch reported, bowing low. "The physicians are attending to her, but it may take some time."
Time. The word hung in the air, as heavy as a rock. The Emperor's hand clenched into a fist at his side.
The Emperor missed the morning court session to be here for Shu. He did not want to miss a thing.
He repeatedly prayed to the Heavens and his ancestors for his consort's safety and for her to bear him a healthy heir.
Hours passed, and the suffering seemed endless.
Back in the chamber, Shu's screams had turned ragged. Yue pressed a damp cloth to her forehead, watching in horror as the midwife's arms disappeared up to the elbows.
Yue never left her side for even a moment.
She had never seen Shu in this state before. The strong, beautiful consort is reduced to this.
"My Lady, it won't be long now," Yue said, brushing damp hair from her friend's forehead.
"You're almost there. We can see the head!"
A strong, intense contraction gripped her. "I can't... it's too much..."
"One more push!" the old midwife commanded.
Finally, with one last agonizing scream, Shu pushed with everything she had.
Her body bowed upward, a guttural sound tearing from her throat that didn't seem human. Then—
A loud cry spread through the room, the sound of a new life.
"A son," the midwife whispered, her voice thick with awe. "A healthy baby boy."
Yue's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Shu, whose exhausted eyes softened momentarily before closing. Her friend had done it. The pain, the hours of struggle—they had all led to this moment.
But the relief was short-lived.
Shu's body went limp. Her breath grew shallow, and the midwife's face twisted with concern.
"The afterbirth isn't coming."
There was blood. So much blood.
"She has lost too much blood!!" one of the physicians roared, his voice filled with dread. "She needs immediate care!!"
The eunuch goes to the Emperor, bearing the joyous news.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, you have a son!!"
The midwife brought in the baby, swaddled in imperial silk.
He quickly took the baby from the midwife, his heart racing. His eyes softened as he looked down at the tiny boy in his arms.
Emperor whispered, his voice heavy with emotions that words cannot describe.
"My son."
The baby's eyes blinked, tiny hands twitching as the Emperor held him close. A wave of overwhelming love flooded him. This child, this precious boy — his firstborn.
"You look just like your mother," he said quietly.
"My son will be named Li Sheng, for he brings great joy and prosperity. A son born to carry our name, to strengthen the dynasty!!" declared the Emperor.
All the servants in the room kneeled down and chanted.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on the birth of your son!!"
Then, the Emperor asks about Shu's condition.
"Consort Shu has passed out.." The physician answered in fear. "There's significant bleeding….Your Majesty"
Turning to the physicians, the Emperor ordered, "I want her to be well. She must recover!!"
"Do whatever it takes; use the most expensive medicine."
"Or else…The entire Imperial Hospital will be buried with her," the Emperor ordered, his voice loud as thunder.
Fearing for their lives, the physicians wasted no time tending to the Consort.
—————————————————
As the day turned into night, the palace was bustling with commotion. Everyone was celebrating the birth of the Emperor's new son.
The skies above were booming with colorful flashes, and the sounds of fireworks echoed through the air. It was a spectacle for the whole nation to see.
The Emperor had retreated to his private chambers, his mind unable to rest.
But Yue had not left Shu's side. She sat in the corner, her eyes never straying from her friend, watching for any sign of life.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Shu's eyes opened slowly, and she looked around; she couldn't believe she was still alive.
Her mind was exhausted, and her entire body ached with the pains of childbirth.
She blinked in confusion before focusing on Yue, who had fallen asleep at her bedside.
"Yue…" Shu whispered, her voice fragile. "You're still here."
Yue's eyes shot open at the sound of her name. Her hand flew to Shu's side.
"My Lady! Thank the heavens you're awake!" Her voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I was so afraid I might lose you."
Shu reached a trembling hand to touch Yue's hair. "I'm alright.... just tired, that's all."
Yue smiled through her tears; she called for the wet nurse to bring the baby.
She handed Shu the small bundle in her arms. "Here, my Lady."
"You have done it. It is a healthy baby boy, as you have always hoped."
"The Emperor has named him Li Sheng."
Shu's exhausted eyes softened as she looked down at the baby.
Tears welled up again, but this time, they were tears of joy. She touched the tiny face of her son, her heart flooding with love—so much love.
"Hi there, my little Prince," she whispered.
Yue looked down at the baby, too, a bittersweet smile on her lips.
She was happy for her lady but lamented how much she had to endure.
A sense of fear runs through her veins as she is afraid that she will one day have to go through this.
Shu's eyes, heavy with sleep, shifted to Yue. "It was worth it, Yue. He is worth it."
The two women shared a quiet moment, an unspoken understanding. Their world had changed. A new life had begun, along with new challenges.
—————————————————
As the first light of dawn broke through the palace windows, a servant arrived with a tray of letters to congratulate the consort.
One letter scroll was different from the others, sealed in crimson wax.
Consort Shu opened her eyes and saw the letter lying on the table. It was from Shu's family.
"The letter. What did it say?" Asked Yue.
Before she could read the letter, a loud announcement was heard outside.
"Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress, approaches!"