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Translator's note: Finally there are advance chapters availaible on Kofi
Chapter 112: The Fall of the Empress
At the mention of this title, the faces of several concubines in the hall shifted. But the tension didn't end there; as Lu Yu turned his gaze toward the newborn Prince, the atmosphere grew even more suffocating.
A Princess was one thing—bestowing a title at birth merely signaled imperial favor. But a Prince was different. Currently, the princes in the palace were only ranked by age. If the Emperor gave this newborn son a title now, it would send a shockwave through the court’s succession politics.
Lu Yu sensed the calculating gazes fixed upon him. He knew exactly what they were thinking. His eyes turned cold as he gave the Prince a cursory glance to ensure he was healthy, then strode directly into the delivery room.
This time, no one dared to stop him.
Outside, the relief was palpable when the Emperor failed to grant the Prince an immediate title. The midwives quickly hurried the infants inside to protect them from the draft.
Consort Shu glanced at the Empress. She was in a foul mood and didn't even have the energy to trade barbs. "While the physician is free, Your Majesty should have him look at your servant. It would be a pity if she were left with a permanent injury."
Mu Qiu lay on the ground, her breath thin as a thread after coughing up blood. Consort Shu wasn't acting out of kindness; she simply flicked her eyes toward the delivery room and added, "Zhao Xiūróng has just given birth. We wouldn't want any 'bad luck' lingering about."
The Empress remained silent, her face grim. She looked at Physician Shan. "I trouble the physician."
Physician Shan felt a wave of internal misery. The Emperor had inflicted this injury; he didn't want to treat it for fear of imperial wrath. But under the Empress’s heavy gaze, he didn't dare refuse and stepped forward with a bow.
---
Inside the room, Gu Han had long since succumbed to exhaustion. She was drenched in cold sweat, her clothes and bedding damp, the scent of blood still hanging in the air. Even in sleep, her brow was knit in a tight frown.
Jiu Nian knelt by the bed, gently wiping her mistress's brow. Lu Yu approached. He had rarely seen Gu Han look this haggard. Looking at her closed eyes, he remembered the midwife saying the Princess shared her eyes.
In his opinion, the mother still held the advantage.
He took her hand, tucked it back under the silk quilt, and whispered, "Take good care of her."
Lu Yu stayed for fifteen minutes. When he finally walked out, his face was like a thundercloud. The more he looked at Gu Han’s weakened state, the hotter the fire of his rage burned. If she hadn't been so careful during her pregnancy, today’s outcome could have been catastrophic.
The Empress may not have "done" anything physical, but her intent to psychologically trigger a pregnant woman was malicious enough.
Exiting the room, he saw the physician treating Mu Qiu. Disgust flashed in his eyes.
"Do not treat her."
The Empress was stunned. "Your Majesty?!"
It was useless. The moment Lu Yu spoke, Physician Shan withdrew his hands. Mu Qiu lay there, her internal meridians damaged; without immediate care, she wouldn't last a few days.
A sharp pain shot through the Empress’s lower abdomen, but she gritted her teeth against it. "I merely transferred one servant. Why is Your Majesty so enraged?"
Lu Yu’s voice was full of loathing. "You knew exactly who he was. Why you brought him to Kunning Palace at this specific time, you know better than anyone!"
"I have tolerated you time and again for the sake of the heir in your womb. But you must understand: everything has a limit."
He emphasized the word *limit*. The Empress found it laughable. Was his "limit" now synonymous with Consort Zhao?
She forced a cold smile. "Xie Chang’an is but the son of a criminal official. He should have been executed five years ago. I happened upon this news and moved him out of curiosity. Zhao Xiūróng is the one who repeatedly violated palace rules and lost her composure over a criminal’s son, nearly harming the imperial heir. Instead of blaming her, Your Majesty blames me?"
She looked Lu Yu directly in the eye. Several concubines nearby shifted uncomfortably; they remembered the scandal involving Xie Chang'an five years ago.
But their thoughts didn't matter. Only Lu Yu’s did.
Lu Yu didn't care for her provocations. Gu Han had already explained the situation with Xie Chang’an to him long ago. She hadn't contacted the man in two years. Was he to doubt her now because of the Empress's petty sowing of discord?
Deeply disappointed, Lu Yu spat out four cold words: "Beyond all hope."
The words hit the Empress like a physical slap. The emotional turmoil made the pain in her abdomen worsen, her face turning ghost-white. Lu Yu, assuming she was feigning illness to escape accountability, said impatiently:
"Escort the Empress back to Kunning Palace. She is not to step a foot outside without a summons."
---
An hour later, Liu An entered Kunning Palace with a group of attendants. The Empress stared at him expressionlessly. Liu An felt a tremor of fear, but he had his orders.
"His Majesty has ordered me to collect the **Imperial Records (Baoce)** and the **Empress’s Seal**."
The Empress snapped her head up. "What did you say?"
When Liu An repeated the command, her world tilted. She realized that this was not like the minor punishment she received after Ding Cáirén's miscarriage. By taking her Records and Seal, the Emperor was leaving her with nothing but a hollow title.
**This was the true stripping of her power.**
The Empress gasped as a violent pain tore through her belly. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead. "The physician! Get the physician! Now!"
Liu An was terrified. Regardless of whether she was faking, he couldn't take the risk. He sent for the physician immediately. In the chaos, he saw a crimson stain begin to spread beneath the Empress. His heart sank, and he sent word to the Emperor.
Fifteen minutes later, the physician arrived, but the Emperor was nowhere to be seen.
A servant whispered into Liu An’s ear: "The Emperor said for the head eunuch to finish the business here before returning."
Liu An wiped the sweat from his brow. "Where is His Majesty?"
"Still at Yihe Palace."
Lu Yu had dismissed the other concubines and was personally keeping watch over Zhao Xiūróng. He was so incensed that even the news of the Empress "seeing red" (vaginal bleeding) wouldn't move him.
The Empress, realizing the Emperor wasn't coming, let out a hollow, bitter laugh. "Someone... fetch my Records and Seal!"
When Liu An finally held the items, they felt like hot coals in his hands. The Empress, her face drenched in sweat, gave him one final, icy look. "You have what you came for... I shall not keep you!"
Liu An beat a hasty retreat. He didn't leave until the physician confirmed the Empress’s condition had stabilized. Returning to Yihe Palace, he reported everything to the Emperor.
Lu Yu didn't even look up. He merely gave a lukewarm acknowledgment, as if he had expected the outcome.
---
In the middle of the night, Gu Han woke up. The room was dark and warm. As she moved, the residual pain made her gasp. The memories of the labor came flooding back.
*Twins.*
Her breathing hitched. She tried to sit up, but the pain made her cry out. A pair of strong arms immediately pulled her into a warm embrace.
"What is it?" a deep, worried voice asked.
"Your... Your Majesty?" she rasped.
"It is I."
He held her close in the darkness. "Someone! Lights!"
When the candles were lit, Lu Yu saw how pale and fragile she looked. He scolded her gently, "You just gave birth; why are you moving about?"
Gu Han didn't hear him. She clutched his sleeve, her voice trembling. "Your Majesty... I... were they twins?"
Lu Yu nodded. "Yes."
Gu Han froze. Tears began to stream down her face. She gripped his sleeve in a panic. "Your Majesty, they are so small..."
In the imperial family, twins of the same gender were a curse, often one was killed or maimed to avoid confusion over the succession. Gu Han couldn't bear the thought.
Seeing her breakdown, Lu Yu realized her fear. He pulled her into his chest. "You gave birth to a **Dragon and Phoenix pair**—a son and a daughter. It is an auspicious omen."
Gu Han stopped crying and stared at him, terrified he was lying.
Lu Yu stroked her back. "I had the midwives take them to the side wing so they wouldn't disturb your rest. If you don't believe me, I'll have them brought here right now."
The tension finally snapped. Gu Han nodded fervently, leaning into him. "I believe you!"
---
---
Author's Note:
Kunning Palace: Empress
Yi'an Palace: Consort Shu
Xianleng Palace: Imperial Consort De
Zhaoyang Palace → Main Hall: Xiuyi He
Zhaoyang Palace → Side Hall: Rong Baolin
Yihe Palace → Changchun Pavilion: Female Lead
Rongcui Hall: Beauty Miao
Cuizhu Pavilion: Beauty Lin
Changning Courtyard: Zhou Meiren
Hanleng Palace → (Main Hall transferred to Side Hall): Talented Lady Yuan
Also appearing: Noble Lady Lin, Liu Baolin
Here are the ranks of imperial consorts:
- Empress (皇后 Huánghoù) — Head of the Imperial Harem
- Imperial Noble Consort (皇贵妃 Huáng Guìfēi) — Rank 1
- Noble Consort, Pure Consort, Virtuous Consort, Worthy Consort (贵妃、淑妃、德妃、贤妃 Guìfēi, Shūfēi, Défēi, Xiánfēi)** — Senior Rank 1 (The Four Consorts, with Noble Consort as the highest)
- Consort (妃 Fēi) — Junior Rank 2
- Bright Deportment, Bright Countenance (昭仪、昭容 Zhāoyí, Zhāoróng) — Senior Rank 3
- Cultivated Deportment, Cultivated Countenance (修仪、修容 Xiūyí, Xiūróng) — Junior Rank 3
- Noble Lady (贵嫔 Guìpín) — Senior Rank 4
- Imperial Concubine (嫔 Pín) — Junior Rank 4
- Beauty (美人 Měirén) — Senior Rank 5
- Talented Lady (才人 Cáirén) — Junior Rank 5
- Precious Grove (宝林 Bǎolín) — Senior Rank 6
- Imperial Woman (御女 Yùnǚ) — Junior Rank 6
- Palace Maid (宫女子 Gōngnǚzǐ) — Senior Rank 7
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TRANSLATOR
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