Chapter 6: Consort Shu’s Labour

The news of consort Shu's labor spread through the palace walls. Her screams of agony cuts through the air. Will she survive this birth and deliver the heir that the Emperor longed for?

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The Emperor's heart was beating so fast as his palanquin rushed down the halls of the imperial palace, his body is filled with adrenaline and his mind filled thoughts of what was about to come.

The news had come too suddenly, he was looking forward to this day but he is anxious and worried for his favorite consort.

Yue followed closely behind his , her own steps carrying a rhythm of urgency.

The screams that resonated from Shu's chambers were impossible to ignore—it was sharp, raw, 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 in her time here, but this was different.

Consort Shu was not just her master, she was her closest friend, and her 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 laying on her bed, her body drenched in sweat, her face is pale and her brows crunched in agony.

The room was filled with midwives, servants, and physicians, all moving in a frenzy, their hurried whispers mixing with the sharp, piercing cries of the consort.

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 is full of worries. She had always been there for Shu, and she knows that she needs 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 a broken thing, her lips cracked from biting back screams. "It's... tearing me apart..."

"Hang in there" Yue said, her voice filled with concern

"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 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, reduced to this.

"My Lady, it won't be long now," Yue said, brushing a lock of 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 spreaded 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 for a moment 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 said loudly, 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 of 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 you can find"

"Or else…The entire Imperial Hospital will be buried with her" The Emperor commanded, his voice loud as thunder.

The physicians fearing for their lives, wasted no time in tending to the Consort.

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As the day turned into night, the palace was bustling with commotion. Everyone was celebrating for the birth of the Enperor's new son.

The skies above were booming with colorful flashes, sounds of fireworks echoes through the air. It was a spectacle for the whole nation to see.

The Emperor himself 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 looked around, she couldn't believe she was still alive.

Her mind exhausted and her entire body ached with 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 calls for the wetnurse 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 for."

"The Emperor has named him Li Sheng."

Shu's exhausted eyes softened as she look down at the baby in her arms.

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 laments at how much she had to go through.

A sense of fear runs through her veins as she is afraid that one day she will have to go through this as well.

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 between them. Their world has changed. A new life had begun, along with new challenges.

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As the first light of dawn broke through the palace windows, a servant arrived with a tray of letters to congratulate the consort.

There was one particular letter scroll, 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!"