The main hall of Jianzhang Palace.
Muffled groans occasionally escaped the delivery room—
Worried she might scream her voice raw or waste her energy, the Empress bit down on something for nearly the entire time to keep from injuring her lips or tongue in the throes of agonizing pain.
Liang Yuyin and seven palace maids knelt silently in a corner, serving as little more than decorations.
There had been eight of them, but one, too terrified to maintain her composure, had broken down in tears. At a subtle glance from Liang Yuyin, she was dragged out to be punished.
The Empress Dowager had sent someone over, but Xie Che persuaded them to return.
He was in a foul mood and had no patience for anyone else. If his Mother Empress were present, he would have to tend to her feelings, and he also feared she would discover that Jiang Xian was in the delivery room. So, he simply had her rest in Changle Palace and await good news about the Empress.
