Chapter 564: Gu Ziye Gives Birth
The various generals who participated in the campaign against the Wa Country and won the war were scheduled to arrive in the Imperial City over the next few days.
At that time, the Empire would hold a grand bestowment ceremony.
The Emperor would lavishly reward the various generals, bestowing them with official posts and noble titles.
However, the Crown Prince’s sudden passing turned what should have been a celebration into a time of mourning.
Wails of grief echoed throughout the Imperial Capital.
Palace maids and eunuchs rushed through the Imperial Capital, their heads bowed and their expressions full of sorrow, busy with preparations for the funeral.
Emperor Gu Yuanzhang sat slumped in the Imperial Study. His hair had turned white overnight, his eyes a mixture of grief and rage.
Throughout the streets and alleyways of the Imperial City, white silk ribbons fluttered in the wind.
On the day of the funeral, the main thoroughfare of the Imperial City was so crowded with people it became impassable.
Members of the Royal Guard, dressed in plain mourning attire, maintained order with solemn expressions.
The casket, drawn by eight pure-white steeds, moved slowly toward the outside of the city.
It was draped in magnificent brocade, embroidered with patterns symbolizing the Crown Prince’s noble status.
Lining both sides of the street, all the civil and military officials knelt to see him off, alongside the generals who had originally come to the Imperial City for the bestowment ceremony.
A few days prior, Gu Gaoxu, who was also meant to travel to the Imperial City to be rewarded, was pulled back by his father, King Yan Gu Di, before he even left Yandu.
It was as if King Yan Gu Di had known something would happen, for he had already drafted and submitted a memorial requesting “sick leave” on his son’s behalf.
Otherwise, Gu Gaoxu would also be kneeling on the ground right now, seeing the Crown Prince off.
It was hard to say whether these officials and generals, their faces streaked with tears, were crying for the deceased Crown Prince or for their own promising futures.
On that day, Lu Yuan, in his capacity as Commander of the Left and Right Guards of the Mansion Army, was already tasked with the important duty of guarding the Imperial City.
As such, Lu Yuan could not join the civil and military officials in kneeling to see the procession off.
Lu Yuan led his subordinate soldiers, standing in neat, straight ranks upon the city wall, watching as the Crown Prince’s casket exited through the west gate.
At the Imperial City’s north gate, Lan Ying, the Vice Commander of the Left Guard, was still leading his soldiers and assisting with the defense.
In other words, Zhao Feng, the Jinwu Guard Commander, had not returned to resume his post guarding the north gate of the Imperial City.
Lu Yuan speculated, ‘The Jinwu Guard Commander, Zhao Feng, must have failed the task the Emperor assigned him. He’s probably being punished somewhere, or maybe he’s been demoted.’
The officials kneeling on the ground were keenly aware that the Crown Prince’s death was not only a loss for the Royal Family but also a great source of uncertainty for the Empire’s future.
At the Celestial Dynasty Palace and Le Shen Temple in the Imperial City, the sound of bells rang out continuously as Daoists performed rituals to guide the Crown Prince’s soul.
The melodious yet mournful sound of the bells echoed high above the Imperial City, as if recounting the Crown Prince’s valor and wisdom in life.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, and dark clouds gathered, pressing down in heavy layers.
Clad in his armor, Lu Yuan stood upon the wall of the Imperial City, looked up at the sky, and muttered to himself, “The very heavens are about to change.”
A light rain began to fall, dampening everyone’s clothes, yet no one left. All were determined to see the Crown Prince off on his final journey.
This grand and sorrowful funeral would become an indelible memory in the history of the Divine Ling Empire, casting a heavy shadow over the political landscape to come.
After the Crown Prince’s funeral, Lu Yuan removed his armor and returned to his manor.
Su Liyan patted at Lu Yuan’s clothes with a towel, saying:
“It’s raining outside, dear. Drink some ginger soup so you don’t catch a cold.”
Su Liyan had estimated when he would be back and had prepared hot ginger soup in anticipation of his return.
Lu Yuan picked up the ginger soup from the table and drank it down in large gulps. “Thank you, dear!” he said gratefully.
“Don’t say that. There’s no need for such formalities between a husband and wife.”
Su Liyan took the empty bowl from Lu Yuan’s hands, placed it on the table, and then retrieved a clean set of clothes from the wardrobe.
Su Liyan helped Lu Yuan out of his damp clothes and into the clean set.
Lu Yuan asked, “How is Yue’Er?”
“She’s doing well. She’s just been staying in her room and hasn’t come out,” Su Liyan replied.
“Let’s go check on her together.”
“Alright, dear.”
Lu Yuan and Su Liyan went to Gu Ziye’s room, where Lu Yuan knocked gently on the door.
Gu Ziye was lying in bed. When she heard the knock, she turned her head, wiped her face, and called out, “Come in!”
“Brother Yuan, Sister, you’ve come,” Gu Ziye said upon seeing them.
“We came to see how you’re doing, little sister,” Su Liyan said gently.
Lu Yuan sat on the edge of the bed and took Gu Ziye’s wrist. Her pulse was normal.
“You’re expected to go into labor next week,” Lu Yuan said. “The midwife is already settled in at the manor.”
Lu Yuan made no mention of Crown Prince Gu Biao’s funeral.
There was a tacit understanding among them not to bring up the painful subject.
“Mhm, I’m not afraid!” Gu Ziye said, rubbing her round, swollen belly.
Gu Ziye was not very tall, a good half a head shorter than Lu Yuan.
Gu Ziye’s figure hadn’t changed much throughout her pregnancy.
Other than her large, round belly, she had remained slender everywhere else.
This made Zhao Qiao’Er incredibly envious, and she often complained:
“Some people are just naturally skinny. They stay thin even when they’re pregnant and just don’t seem to gain any weight.”
People really are all different.
Just by taking her pulse, Lu Yuan could tell if Gu Ziye was carrying a boy or a girl.
However, Lu Yuan never told anyone. No matter how Gu Ziye asked, he would only smile and say nothing.
Some things are better left unsaid, to preserve the anticipation.
That way, the moment the baby was born, it would be a wonderful surprise.
Although Su Liyan knew nothing of medicine, her own hearing was so acute that she could also tell what was happening inside Gu Ziye’s belly.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye. Then came one particular morning.
Gu Ziye lay in bed crying out in pain, while the midwife at her bedside bustled about.