Extra Chapter 1: Childbirth
On the day Chu Yu went into labor, a light rain was falling—the very transition from summer to autumn.
Upon learning her due date had arrived, the Grand Princess immediately had Chu Yu brought into the palace. Initially, Wei Jin refused entry, stopping the palace attendant with a cold tone: "Please inform the Empress Dowager that the lady of the Wei household will give birth at the Wei residence. There is absolutely no reason for her to enter the palace to deliver."
Two months prior, the Grand Princess had given birth to the "emperor," finally securing the throne. With the bloodlines of the Zhao and Li families, no one could question this child's legitimacy. With the feudal lords across the land losing their grounds for protest, the Grand Princess issued orders—offering amnesty where due and suppressing rebellions where necessary. Within two months, the chaos among the feudal lords of Great Chu was largely stabilized.
This child, of course, was not born to the Grand Princess, who had never been pregnant. She had merely calculated the timing and had Gu Chusheng bring a newborn infant into the palace. The child was borrowed from a farming family and temporarily placed in the Grand Princess's care. Gu Chusheng made it clear: if Chu Yu gave birth to a boy, this child would be swapped into the palace; if a girl, then Gu Yanqing would be exchanged instead.
For this reason, no matter what, the Grand Princess needed Chu Yu to deliver in the palace.
However, Wei Jin resisted this arrangement. The idea of sending the child into the palace to become emperor wasn't something he hadn't considered, but as he stayed by Chu Yu's side, watching her belly gradually swell, he grew deeply reluctant to part with the child.
For the first time, he experienced the profound love a father feels for his child—not merely because the child's mother was Chu Yu, but because he himself was the father.
Chu Yu, sensing his turmoil, sighed as he stopped the palace attendant. "Why make things difficult for him? We were meant to go."
With that, she had the servants pack their belongings and, supported by Wanyue, descended the steps. She waved to Wei Jin and said, "Don't be upset. Come into the palace with me."
Once Chu Yu spoke, Wei Jin fell silent. He couldn't very well argue with her in front of so many people, so he followed alongside her, helping her into the carriage.
After entering the palace, the Grand Princess arranged accommodations for them and pulled Chu Yu aside to chat.
She still resided in the same quarters she had occupied as Consort Mei, with nothing in the room changed. Chu Yu, upon entering and seeing this, sighed. "Why not rearrange the furnishings? Facing the past every day must be painful."
"It's not so painful," the Grand Princess replied with a smile, cradling a cat in her arms as she invited Chu Yu to settle in. "When he was alive, my dislike for him was a sin. Now that he's gone, I can openly mourn him."
Chu Yu was taken aback, watching as the Grand Princess lowered her head, her eyes downcast. "His scent still lingers in this room. It makes me feel as if he's still here, and that comforts me."
Chu Yu pressed her lips together, offering no response.
That night, as she lay beside Wei Jin, she found it hard to sleep. Whenever Wei Jin was with her, he slept soundly, his head resting against her in any way that connected their warmth, dozing off as peacefully as a little pig.
Chu Yu noticed he seemed to have grown fairer and slightly plumper recently, likely a sign of his contentment.
Seeing him so fair, plump, and sleeping so soundly while she lay awake, she felt a twinge of irritation and gave him a nudge.
"Xiao Qi."Wei Jin groggily opened his eyes. "Hmm?"
"Talk with me."
"Ah?" Though still somewhat dazed, Wei Jin couldn't hide his surprise. "You're still not asleep?"
"I can't sleep."
"Oh..." Rubbing his eyes, Wei Jin sat up cross-legged without any resistance. "Alright, I'll chat with you then."
"My head hurts."
Chu Yu rested her head on Wei Jin's lap, and he immediately began massaging her temples, becoming much more alert.
"I think the Grand Princess has suffered greatly," Chu Yu sighed. "From how she looked today, I fear she won't be able to move on."
"Hmm..."
"Xiao Qi," Chu Yu pondered slowly, "if our child is born and truly enters the palace, the Grand Princess would practically be like half a mother to them..."
Hearing this, Wei Jin instantly became fully awake. He frowned. "Does our child really have to enter the palace?"
Chu Yu remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "If our child doesn't enter the palace, the Grand Princess won't feel at ease."
Wei Jin understood the reasoning.
He held military power—something he could never hand over to the Grand Princess. If the person sitting on that throne was completely unrelated to him, how could the Grand Princess not worry that he might one day rebel?
He knew the emperor on the Golden Throne was a fake, and he still commanded the army. If he truly wanted to rebel, he had both the troops and the justification. To the Grand Princess, he represented too great a risk.
Yet at this point, the Grand Princess couldn't eliminate him like Emperor Chunde and Zhao Yue had tried to do. The only solution was to have his son occupy the imperial throne.
If his own son became emperor, he surely wouldn't rebel against him.
He understood the Grand Princess's calculations.
"But," Wei Jin said unwillingly, "have you asked whether this child would be willing?"
"Were you asked whether you were willing to be born into the Wei family?"
Chu Yu sounded weary. "Xiao Qi, not everyone desires a carefree life. We're giving him a path. I've made an agreement with the Grand Princess—if one day he doesn't want to be emperor, he'll be allowed to leave."
"What if the Grand Princess refuses to let him go?"
Wei Jin frowned. Chu Yu didn't respond, but her silence conveyed what she wouldn't say aloud, and he understood her meaning.
He sighed.
"Don't worry," he said, leaning down to kiss her. "That day will never come."
"Xiao Qi," Chu Yu said calmly, "you won't become your father, and our child won't become the next Wei Jin."
A life of being trampled underfoot before climbing up—their child would never experience that.
He would be born the supreme ruler. They would give him the finest empire and the best life.
"Alright." Hearing these words, Wei Jin's heart trembled, and he finally accepted Chu Yu's decision. They fell silent, but before long, Chu Yu felt abdominal pain.
Chu Yu gasped in surprise, and Wei Jin urgently asked, "What's wrong?!"
"I..." Chu Yu's expression changed. "I think... I think I'm going into labor."
"Someone, come quickly!"
Hearing this, Wei Jin panicked. He draped a robe over Chu Yu while shouting, "Summon the imperial physicians!"
The imperial physicians had been waiting on standby. Upon hearing Wei Jin's summons, the prepared staff filed in orderly. Guards respectfully asked Wei Jin to step outside. He hesitated, but Chu Yu's pain wasn't severe yet—it came in widely spaced intervals. She said calmly, "Go out first. I don't want you watching."Wei Jin understood the awkwardness in Chu Yu's heart; she never wanted him to see her in a disheveled state. He took a deep breath, nodded, then turned and walked out.
After he left, there was constant coming and going inside, but no significant noise. Only the maids would occasionally come out to inform him that everything was fine and proceeding well.
He dared not show his anxiety in front of others. Wei Xia brought him some wine and whispered, "Your Highness, have a drink to relax. Don't be too tense."
Wei Jin drank a mouthful with a cold expression, then stood by the door, staring fixedly at the tightly shut door without saying a word.
Not long after, Gu Chusheng and the Eldest Princess arrived. Gu Chusheng asked anxiously, "How is it? Is the fetal position correct? What's the situation?"
Wei Jin had no desire to speak, but fortunately, Wei Xia was talkative and carefully explained the situation to Gu Chusheng. Gu Chusheng glanced inside and turned to instruct those beside him, "Prepare the ginseng I brought..."
"Why are you preparing that?" Wei Jin abruptly looked up—those were life-sustaining items.
He clearly knew that Gu Chusheng and Chu Yu had lived different lives. The fact that Gu Chusheng was preparing these things made him fearful. Trembling, he asked, "Why are you preparing these?"
"Prince Wei, don't be too tense," the Eldest Princess, noticing Wei Jin's agitation, quickly reassured him. "Minister Gu is just making preparations."
"Your Highness," Wei Jin restrained himself, clenching his fists. "Please go and rest. Minister Gu and I can keep watch here."
The Eldest Princess was taken aback. She glanced at Gu Chusheng, clearly sensing that the two had something to discuss. Being astute, she smiled and bid them farewell before leaving.
Wei Jin had the attendants step away. Only then did he turn to Gu Chusheng and ask, "What happened during her childbirth in her previous life?"
"The fetal position was incorrect," Gu Chusheng took a deep breath. "She nearly didn't make it. Fortunately, her father brought several thousand-year-old ginseng roots to sustain her life..."
Wei Xia's mind went blank, just as a sharp cry from Chu Yu echoed from inside.
Without hesitation, Wei Jin charged toward the room. The attendants rushed to stop him, saying, "Your Highness, this is the delivery room! You cannot enter."
"Let go!"
Wei Jin kicked the person away. Determined to enter, no one could stop him. In an instant, he burst through the door and arrived by Chu Yu's side.
Chu Yu was dilated to six centimeters—the most painful stage. She clutched the bedsheet tightly, her face devoid of color. She felt like a fish stranded on land, gasping for breath, every inhale bringing pain. It was at this moment that someone firmly grasped her hand and anxiously called out, "A Yu, A Yu, I'm here."
Chu Yu was brought back to her senses by the voice. She turned her head and saw Wei Jin holding her hand, his eyes filled with fear.
Chu Yu struggled to breathe and said hoarsely, "Why are you here..."
"I couldn't bear to leave you alone here," Wei Jin forced a smile. "I wanted to stay by your side."
Hearing his words and feeling his hand holding hers, Chu Yu found, for some reason, that the pain had lessened considerably.
She had given birth once before—that time had been even more painful and arduous, and she had long prepared herself. Yet, she hadn't expected Wei Jin's presence to make this delivery somewhat easier.
Those around her instructed her to breathe and to push. She listened to him calling her name and cooperated with the midwife.When the cervix was fully dilated, she tentatively pushed down with her breathing. Everyone cheered, "Almost there! Almost there! We can see the hair!"
Wei Jin held her hand, unable to speak at all, his entire body trembling as if he were the one giving birth.
When the baby was finally delivered, the umbilical cord cut, and the infant's cries filled the room, Chu Yu finally felt like she had come back to life.
She had no strength left, her face deathly pale. The room was filled with bodily fluids, permeated with various unpleasant odors.
Her body was sticky with sweat, and even she found it somewhat repulsive. Breathing lightly, she turned her head to look at Wei Jin.
Tears welled in Wei Jin's eyes. He didn't dare move, simply gazing at her quietly. Everyone else was holding the baby, celebrating the arrival of new life, but he remained by her side, his eyes never leaving her.
Seeing the look in his eyes, Chu Yu couldn't help but smile.
"I told you not to watch," her voice was hoarse as if scraped by gravel, "Look at me now, how ugly I am..."
Before she could finish, she saw him move beside her.
Not daring to make any sudden movements, he carefully gathered her into his arms. She could clearly feel his trembling, his fear, his tears mixing with her sweat as they flowed into her neck, scalding hot. Chu Yu was momentarily stunned, hearing Wei Jin's raspy voice say, "No more."
"Never having children again..."
He wept, "We won't suffer like this anymore."
Chu Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Held by this man, his warmth eased much of her pain. She sighed helplessly, "You're not the one who gave birth, why are you crying?"
Wei Jin didn't respond. When Chu Yu received no answer, she felt too exhausted to continue speaking. Leaning against Wei Jin, she felt the attendants cleaning her body and drifted into a drowsy sleep.
When she woke up, Wei Jin was holding the baby and keeping watch by her side. He was clumsily learning how to hold the infant from others. Seeing her open her eyes, he quickly brought the baby over like presenting a treasure, saying, "A Yu, you're awake?"
"Where's the baby?" Chu Yu's gaze fell on the child, reaching out to hold it. But Wei Jin shook his head seriously, "You can't hold him now. If you do, your back will hurt later."
Chu Yu felt somewhat helpless at Wei Jin's behavior. After thinking for a moment, Wei Jin sat beside her, "I'll hold him, you can just look."
Resigned, Chu Yu leaned against him and looked at the baby.
The child was still small, not speaking, just sleeping with eyes barely open. After a moment's thought, Chu Yu turned to Wei Jin, "Has he been sleeping all this time?"
"Yes, except at the very beginning. He hasn't woken up since the wet nurse fed him."
Chu Yu began to feel worried. She reached out and poked the baby's cheek, "He's not... an idiot, is he?"
"Probably not..." Wei Jin sounded concerned too.
"Boy or girl?"
Chu Yu finally remembered to ask this question. Wei Jin replied somewhat discontentedly, "A boy."
Chu Yu nodded without further questions. The two watched the baby for a while until he finally woke up. Slowly opening his eyes, he glanced at Wei Jin before fixing his gaze on Chu Yu's chest.
Moments later, he began crying so loudly it seemed to shake the heavens, startling Wei Jin so much he nearly dropped him.
Fortunately, Wei Jin's hands were steady. Chu Yu looked at the baby and guessed, "He's probably hungry."
Wei Jin thought the same, so they called for the wet nurse to come teach Chu Yu how to breastfeed.Wei Jin insisted on not letting Chu Yu hold the child, so he supported the baby himself, feeding it milk. After the feeding, Wei Jin felt somewhat displeased and gently patted the child’s cheek, saying, "You little rascal, you’re not stupid either."
"You’re a father now," Chu Yu said, watching Wei Jin’s childish behavior with a smile. "Don’t be so immature."
As they spoke, the Eldest Princess arrived.
She walked in, observed the family’s joyful atmosphere, and smiled.
"This child is quite handsome."
"Not at all," Chu Yu replied with a laugh. "He’s all wrinkled, like a little monkey."
She invited the Eldest Princess to sit down.
The Eldest Princess studied the child for a while before finally looking up and asking, "Have the two of you made a decision?"
"Did Your Highness give us time to think?" Wei Jin’s tone was calm. "If this child doesn’t enter the palace, can Your Highness rest assured?"
The Eldest Princess remained silent. She took a cup of tea from her maid, took a sip, and said quietly, "I know you’re reluctant to part with this child, so I’ve thought it over. He will be adopted as a godson by Prince Wei. In the future, you and your consort may freely enter the palace to oversee his upbringing."
The couple was taken aback. The Eldest Princess continued, "Don’t think I’m doing this only for myself. Wei Jin," she raised her eyes to look at him, "if he doesn’t become emperor, the Wei family may face another catastrophe, but there may not be another Wei Jin to save it. Do you understand?"
Wei Jin said nothing. The Eldest Princess lowered her gaze. "I understand the minds of those in power all too well. While I am here, I must find a way out for the Wei family and for Great Chu. Only when this child grows up—as your son—will he be able to accept your complete return of military power. Aside from him, even if it were me, even if you sincerely returned the military power, would I dare to believe it? And if you returned it, would you dare to trust me?"
"You wouldn’t, and I wouldn’t either."
The Eldest Princess’s words were firm and resounding.
"Your Highness’s intentions," Wei Jin finally spoke, sighing softly, "Huaiyu understands."
The Eldest Princess nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "Has the child been named yet?"
Chu Yu glanced at Wei Jin, who thought for a moment before finally saying, "Shun."
His own life had been full of twists and hardships; he hoped this child would live a smooth and carefree life.
Chu Yu understood Wei Jin’s meaning. Her gaze fell upon the child.
She thought, it would be so.
This child would, together with Great Chu, live a peaceful, smooth, and happy life.
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