Chapter 698 - 476: The Second Prince

Chapter 698: Chapter 476: The Second Prince

Song Yunzhao was still quite concerned about the group from the Song Family taking the Autumn Examination this year. She never thought it would be such a coincidence—the ones who had previously failed, the ones biding their time, and the ones taking the test now were all converging this year.

This was especially true for Song Bu Yue and Song Buming, who had studied for several years and even delayed getting married. The family was just waiting until after this year’s Autumn Examination to arrange their marriages.

The First Madam had things under control on Song Buchang’s side, so Yun Zhao wasn’t worried. It was the other two’s marriages, handled by Mrs. Cai, that truly concerned her.

The Cai Family had given away her birth chart. The Emperor had punished them, but in the end, he’d shown the Song Family some face and hadn’t completely destroyed them. Though they were spared the death penalty, they couldn’t escape a living punishment: for the next three generations, the Cai Family could forget about participating in the imperial examinations.

Mrs. Cai was devastated. With her natal family fallen and having made an enemy of Ming Fei, her life had become difficult.

Fortunately, Song Qinghan was there to counsel her. Mrs. Cai hadn’t known what the Cai Family was doing, nor had she intended to harm Ming Fei. At worst, she was just implicated by her natal family. Qinghan advised that if she just behaved herself before Ming Fei from now on, she could still get by.

After all, her husband couldn’t possibly divorce her over this; the ensuing scandal would bring him dishonor.

That was why Mrs. Cai was especially quiet today. Everyone understood the situation, so no one bothered her.

Song Bu Yue, however, felt terrible. His cherished maternal family had done this to his own kin, and he was too ashamed to face Ming Fei.

He hadn’t thought he was wrong before, but after several years of studying in the south—seeing more, experiencing more, and hearing more—he now knew that he had indeed been mistaken.

He was ashamed to see Ming Fei, so he said very little today.

Watching him, Song Jinxuan curled her lip. But this time, she didn’t badmouth Song Bu Yue in front of Yun Zhao. She even praised him for studying diligently.

This made Song Yunzhao give Song Jinxuan a second look.

Song Jinxuan: ...

’These days, it’s not easy being a good person.’

The family had a reunion dinner, after which Song Yunzhao prepared rewards and had them escorted out of the palace.

After the party ended and everyone had left, she felt a rare sense of emptiness.

When she saw Feng Yi at dinner, she first thanked him for arranging the family visit, then told him about the day’s events.

"The few sisters who have married out all seem to be doing well with their in-laws."

Each one of them was glowing. It was clear that the more favored she, Ming Fei, became, the more secure her sisters’ positions were in their husbands’ families.

"It’s the brothers who are studying that show some differences," Song Yunzhao briefly explained.

Feng Yi patted her hand. "If he knows enough to feel ashamed, then there’s still hope for him."

Song Yunzhao smiled. "From what I see, if Song Bu Yue can’t stabilize his mindset this year, I’m afraid he’ll have a hard time passing the Autumn Examination."

"If such a small matter can disrupt his state of mind, he’ll have a hard time governing a region as an official in the future," Feng Yi said bluntly. He had an average impression of Song Bu Yue, especially since he had bullied Yun Zhao in the past.

The Song Family had more than one promising son, so he really didn’t care what happened to Song Bu Yue.

Listening to Feng Yi’s words, Song Yunzhao felt both amused and happy. This pregnancy had made her prone to sentimentality; she suspected she was carrying a little princess.

The day before Song Yunmei’s wedding, Song Yunzhao went into labor.

Feng Yi was holding court. Meng Jiuchang forced himself to wait until the session was over before reporting. He earned a kick from the Emperor for his trouble and limped along as he ran with His Majesty toward Yaohua Palace.

The imperial procession headed straight for Yaohua Palace. Consort Shu and the others had already arrived. The Empress Dowager was not present this time; recalling what happened during Yun Zhao’s last delivery, Consort Shu didn’t dare let the Empress Dowager show up.

She had first made a trip to Shouci Palace to report the news of Ming Fei going into labor to the Empress Dowager. Then she’d said that the Empress Dowager’s health was paramount and that she would watch over Ming Fei in Yaohua Palace on the Empress Dowager’s behalf, asking her not to worry, and so on.

How could the Empress Dowager not understand Consort Shu’s true meaning? But since Consort Shu had given her a graceful way out, and with the Emperor in the palace, the Empress Dowager agreed.

When Feng Yi arrived, he saw the main hall of Yaohua Palace packed with women. It seemed almost all the concubines of the harem were there. He kept only those who were on good terms with Yun Zhao and dismissed the rest.

The women didn’t even have time to show their faces before the Emperor before they were "invited" out by Meng Jiuchang.

From the delivery room, Song Yunzhao heard Feng Yi calling her name through the window. She answered him. This was her second child; she had experience and wasn’t panicking.

Hearing no sound from the delivery room, Feng Yi grew even more worried. He called the Imperial Physician over to ask, "Why is it so quiet?"

The Imperial Physician: ...

’How am I supposed to answer that?’

Every mother in labor is different. Some have a high pain tolerance, some have a low one.

Feng Yi was frantic, pacing endlessly outside the delivery room. Consort Shu felt dizzy just watching him and decided to go back into the main hall to wait.

Seeing the Emperor act like this, she couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

’In His Majesty’s heart, I suppose only Song Yunzhao is his true concubine. Look at how anxious he is. If he didn’t truly hold her in his heart, how could he act this way?’

’Hmph. If I hadn’t entered the harem, if I could have married someone else as a proper wife, I imagine I could have found a good husband too.’

At this thought, she wasn’t angry anymore.

’Her father had opposed the Emperor back then; sending her into the palace was the wrong move from the start.’

’The Emperor is a petty man.’

’It’s just my bad luck.’

Princess Consort Wan was staring into space, her thoughts a mystery, her eyes filled with endless melancholy.

Consort Shu quickly gave her a gentle nudge. With the Emperor’s pinhole-sized heart, if he saw her and misunderstood that Princess Consort Wan was unhappy about Ming Fei giving birth, it would be trouble.

Princess Consort Wan snapped out of it. She glanced at Consort Shu, followed her gaze toward the hall’s entrance, and immediately understood. She gave Consort Shu a grateful smile.

She had actually just been thinking about the new incense recipe she had discussed with Yun Zhao earlier and had simply drifted off.

Wang Zhaorong and three other concubines huddled together, not daring to speak. The Emperor was outside, pacing back and forth like a donkey turning a millstone. If they were seen talking and laughing, they would surely attract the Emperor’s ire.

The midwives had said it before: this was Ming Fei’s second child, and the baby was positioned correctly. During her first birth, Ming Fei had at least cried out a few times. This time, there was hardly any sound. Clearly, the midwives were right—it was going very smoothly.

The four exchanged a look, then quickly looked away.

’We can’t afford to provoke the Emperor. Better to just stay quiet.’

Feng Yi had no idea his concubines were secretly comparing him to a millstone donkey. He was thinking that if it stayed this quiet any longer, he would ignore the rules about not entering the delivery room and barge in to see for himself.

Just as he was thinking this, a loud, clear cry came from the delivery room.

Immediately after, the midwife’s voice called out, "Lady Ming has given birth."

Everyone in Yaohua Palace instantly relaxed. A short while later, a midwife came out holding the swaddled baby. Seeing the Emperor, she curtsied. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Lady Ming has given birth to a little prince."

Cheers immediately erupted, and a chorus of congratulations filled the air.

Feng Yi heard none of it. He spared the child only a single glance before starting toward the delivery room.

The midwife quickly blocked his path, saying fearfully, "Your Majesty, Her Ladyship has just given birth. She needs a moment to be tidied up before she is ready to see you."

Feng Yi’s steps came to an abrupt halt. Only then did he turn his attention to his son. He was so small, his face red, his eyes closed, and his skin all wrinkled. He looked... ugly.

’How could someone as handsome as me have such an ugly son?’