Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent!

Chapter 1108: Chapter 1108: Entering the Capital

Before long, the child was brought back to the delivery room. Xue Han had already been tidied up, and despite the rain outside, the room couldn’t clear the intense smell of blood. Since Xue Han disliked incense, the room remained free of it.

Xue Han glanced at her daughter, but exhaustion finally overcame her. Her eyelids fought fiercely until she closed them and fell asleep.

Rongchuan entered and felt his legs go weak at the smell of blood. How much blood had been lost? Seeing his wife’s pale face, he felt unspeakably heartbroken and carefully sat beside the bed, gently holding his wife’s hand.

Zhulan had not left, not only because she was concerned for her daughter, but also because she had been sitting for so long that her back ached terribly. She needed a moment’s rest. ”Xue Han will be fine, she just needs to wake up rested. She has simply exhausted all her energy,” she reassured.

Rongchuan looked up, pausing at the sight of his mother’s bruised hand, covered in finger marks. ”Mother, what happened to your hand?”

Zhulan flexed her hand, which was indeed in a sorry state. ”It was your wife’s doing.”

Rongchuan felt guilty. ”I have caused you worry today, Mother.”

Zhulan was unconcerned. The Female Officers and midwives had all left the delivery room. Only the wet nurse remained with the child. Zhulan thought for a moment before asking, ”Your daughter was born today, and rain came to bless the day. What do you make of that?”

Rongchuan had just been outside, and his elder sister had just mentioned that it would have been nice if the girl were born a little later. His father seemed to feel the same. ”Mother, it is thanks to your and Father’s upbringing that I have grown. I’m not foolish. My daughter is simply fortunate, not necessarily born at the most auspicious time.”

Zhulan smiled. There was no helping it; people in ancient times were much more superstitious, especially concerning the ’Birthday’. ”If you can think this way, that’s good. You no longer need to have a daughter with great fortune to bolster your status.”

She could guess some of Duke Ning’s Residence’s thoughts without going out. To those like the Song family, who were unaware of the whole truth, the Duke Ning’s Residence now appeared to be in decline, in need of a grand joyous event to boost morale. Marquis Ning felt pity for Rongchuan, but given Rongchuan’s true identity, Marquis Ning wouldn’t think it bad to have a granddaughter with great fortune, especially since she was the Emperor’s granddaughter.

Rongchuan spoke softly, ”Mother, I also worry. If my daughter is smart enough to choose her birth time, I’m afraid she might have to pray for rain during the next drought.”

Regardless of her status at the time, under such pressure, his own daughter would only be a sacrifice. Moreover, he did not wish for his daughter to be raised too high. His parents always said that being ordinary was a blessing, and he also believed that the greater one’s responsibilities, the heavier the burden. It was better to be ordinary and happy.

Zhulan’s mouth turned up in a satisfied smile. ”As long as you understand that, it’s fine.”

As long as Rongchuan understood, the Emperor wouldn’t overthink it. The Emperor felt guilty towards Rongchuan. As for the Empress, she said what needed to be said when the Female Officers were present; Zhulan was confident the Empress would understand.

Inside the Palace, the Emperor and the Crown Prince stood at a window watching the curtain of rain outside. The Crown Prince’s voice was filled with joy, ”Father, it’s raining.”

The Emperor laughed heartily, ”Yes, it’s raining. A heavy rain that will relieve the drought, a joyous occasion, indeed.”

He then paused and asked Eunuch Liu, ”Has Rongchuan’s child been born?”

Eunuch Liu hadn’t received any news yet; just as he was about to reply, a young eunuch came in. ”Reporting to the Emperor, an hour ago, the Princely Heir welcomed a precious daughter, weighing six jin.”

On hearing this, Eunuch Liu offered his congratulations, ”Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor gestured for the young eunuch to leave, delighted at the birth of his legitimate granddaughter. Then he thought further, ”Has it been raining for half an hour yet?”

The Crown Prince immediately caught on to what his father was implying, ”Not yet.”

The Emperor fell silent for a moment before laughing again. ”This little girl is blessed and astute. She’s fortunate enough but doesn’t show off, truly worthy of being my eagerly awaited granddaughter.”

The Crown Prince also smiled. He wasn’t a petty man. He could accept Prince Qi, and even more so his own brother. He didn’t mind having a niece with great fortune. In fact, he liked it even better that she didn’t come at such an auspicious moment, feeling proud that his brother’s child was so likeable.

The Emperor, brimming with joy, went to look for the name that he had chosen long ago. ”When the Imperial Physician took the pulse, I asked if it was a boy or a girl. Look, all these names are for girls.”

The Crown Prince eyed his father, hence the Emperor indeed had a sacred hand that could discern the gender of a baby, Emperor, you have revealed yourself.

The next morning, as soon as Zhulan woke up, she saw Zhou Shuren applying ointment to his wife’s hands. Noticing she was awake, he muttered, ”This is only because she’s my own daughter, let’s see someone else try this.”

Zhulan felt a sweet warmth in her heart, he was being considerate of her, ”Have you seen your granddaughter?”

Zhou Shuren set down the ointment and blew on his wife’s hands, ”Yes, I have. The little girl is lovely. Oh right, her name has already been chosen by the Emperor. Eunuch Liu brought it over early this morning.”

Zhulan asked, ”What is she called?”

Zhou Shuren curled his lips, ”Lin Xi.”

Upon hearing the Emperor had only given the name, Ning Linxi, Zhang Linxi, it was clear the legitimate granddaughter’s name differed from that of the illegitimate daughter’s. Zhulan then lowered her voice and asked, ”Did Eunuch Liu say anything else when he came?”

Zhou Shuren understood his wife’s worries, and he was quite concerned as well, which was why he came over early in the morning to check and to also give Rongchuan a heads-up. ”Eunuch Liu didn’t say much; he just looked at the child and went back. He also brought gifts from the Empress.”

Zhulan was relieved. Both the Emperor and the Empress felt guilty towards Rongchuan, and the couple’s thoughts were clear, ”That’s good.”

When it was time for Zhou Shuren to go to the government office, he said, ”The child is born, you should go back home today. I’ve had enough sleep at the Ministry of Revenue.”

Zhulan smiled, ”Alright, I will pack up and return home soon.”

Zhou Shuren was then satisfied; a home was not a home without his wife there, ”Hmm, then I’ll go to the Ministry of Revenue first.”

”Okay.”

Only after Zhou Shuren had left did Zhulan get up. Her hand really did hurt, but as she sat by the window and watched the heavy rain outside, her mood was cheerful.

Madam Song was braiding her lady’s hair and said, ”Master Zhou just came by and said that the child will not have the ’Washing the Third’ ceremony; he thinks it’s better to keep it low-key.”

Zhulan understood; this was Rongchuan and her husband’s decision. Skipping the ’Washing the Third’ ceremony was good, better to keep a low profile to avoid being targeted, ”Hmm, let’s pack up in a while, and we’ll go home.”

Madam Song replied, ”Yes.”

Zhulan had her breakfast and paid a visit to her daughter, noticing her color looked better.

Xue Han’s gaze fell on her mother’s hand, ”Mother, your daughter has been unfilial.”

Zhulan replied, ”It’s alright, my hand is fine. You’ve had good rest, so I’ll be heading back now.”

”Okay.”

Zhulan also gave some more postpartum care advice, and after seeing her granddaughter nurse, she finally got up to leave and return home.

The heavy rain poured down all day and night, and after the rain stopped and the sky cleared, the Zhou family’s lake was quite full, the heavy rainfall had alleviated the drought.

Because Duke Ning’s residence didn’t hold the ’Washing the Third’ ceremony, only those familiar sent gifts. Most of the focus was on the heavy rain; it was said that the rainfall covered a wide area, and even the drought-stricken states received rain. Both the Emperor and the Crown Prince were very pleased.

Time flew swiftly, and in just over ten days, it had rained twice more, significant showers each time, entirely resolving the drought situation.

And finally, Prince Liang entered the capital. If not for the rains causing delays, his arrival would have been much sooner.