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Born as the Crown Prince (2)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Jing Wan right now mainly focused on resting in bed. This while, it was time to apply some medicine to the cut on her stomach.
This time, Li Hong Yuan insisted on watching. Jing Wan was unable to stop him. Just, the flesh on her stomach was entirely loose, and there was also some wrinkles and a hideous scar, so certainly very ugly. This kind of sight, truthfully speaking, no matter which woman, probably all won’t be too willing to let their own husband see. The more they cared, the more it was like so. Of course, for men under a feudalistic society, entering the delivery room was all viewed as inauspicious, so how many would look at their wife’s stomach after giving birth? For those that had the conditions, it was more normal for them to be holding another woman.
However, thinking again, they were husband and wife, walking together hand in hand, so one another’s best side, and worst side, should all be openly displayed for the other to see.
As such, Jing Wan didn’t have any mental pressures.
Li Hong Yuan didn’t pay attention to the loose flesh, his gaze just landing on that wound. It was his first time seeing this kind of sewn up cut. In the past life, Jing Wan’s situation, he had only learned about after the fact. At the time, Jing Wan didn’t have anyone by her side helping. It was her that personally set to the task, not having silver needles to suppress the pain, and further not having mafei(anesthetic) powder. That’s why, it was just forcibly enduring the pain, sewing up the cut on her own. Just thinking of that scene, it was enough to make one feel unbearable.
Seeing that his mood was somewhat off again, Jing Wan reached out to hold his hand, “Is it very ugly? Let me tell you, even if ugly, still not allowed to disdain.”
“En, no matter how ugly, this husband still won’t disdain.”
“You actually think it’s ugly?”
“You said it yourself.”
“Don’t you know that at this time, you need to follow the opposite meaning?”
“Don’t know.”
“Blockhead.”
“That’s still your husband.”
The two of them were like as if bickering. And during this process, Li Hong Yuan had already disinfected Jing Wan’s wound and applied the medicine.
Jing Wan’s voice already softened. Even if sleeping a lot, during this period, she was still easily tired, “Ah Yuan, go take care of the governmental affairs first. You can come back after you finish.”
“Alright.” Li Hong Yuan softly responded, “Once you fall asleep, I’ll go.”
“For the time being, probably can’t fall asleep. Just go, it’s fine.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Jing Wan repeatedly urged. Li Hong Yuan could only comply.
Once Li Hong Yuan left, Jing Wan hurriedly ordered someone to have the child brought in for her to see. When his father is present, never mind bringing in, one can’t even mention a word of.
Jing Wan looked to her son, feeling rather satisfied. Afterwards, Jing Wan learned that this stinky brat that was less than three days old got conferred as the crown prince.
Jing Wan blanked, momentarily in a daze. For the two of them, they probably will just have this one child. Jing Wan wasn’t sure whether or not this child was the one from her husband’s past life. No matter who, all don’t have a way of confirming, because unless he was like them, having this kind of special circumstance, else being born into a different environment, he was already destined to be different. That’s why, even her own husband was unable to confirm. However, based on his train of thought, he most likely will have him treated as the same one, and that was just ‘new grudges piling on old hate’, so how could this little guy not be miserable.
Jing Wan helplessly laughed, caressing her son that was soundly sleeping. He still doesn’t know that his unlucky days were waiting for him in the future.
After Li Hong Yuan woke up, certain news also spread out. That’s why, the court officials were also waiting, even though Li Hong Yuan may not necessarily meet with them.
Seeing him now, they were able to sense that the gloomy air on him was for the most part gone. Although it was still impossible for there to be a smile, but at least, it wasn’t that scary anymore. They inwardly wiped away the cold sweat, working up their spirits to a hundred and twenty percent. Conferring the crown prince, this kind of heavyweight news, the giant waves brought about by it seemingly have also settled.
Li Hong Yuan still handled the big and small matters with extreme efficiency, not wasting a single word. Of course, even if there’s a problem, needing to send back, there also wasn’t thundering rage.
The matters for the most part were all taken care of, so naturally they just spoke onto the matter of the imperial crown prince. Towards the ruler being slow in establishing the heir apparent, everyone indeed worried, but establishing a newborn infant, it similarly made one quite worried. Of course, it’s not like there weren’t any benefit. Alright, there were also plenty of troubles as well. After all, surveying through history, for those that were established as the heir apparent early on, how many actually became the final winner?
“Congratulations to your Majesty for obtaining a son. This is the will of the heavens, an omen to Qi Yuan’s great prosperity.”
“In other words, if this emperor doesn’t have a son, then Qi Yuan won’t be able to prosper?” Li Hong Yuan indifferently said.
The official that spoke really got choked up quite terribly. How to follow-up these words? It was obvious, regardless of responding yes or not, it was all wrong.
Really, the current emperor, compared to the retired emperor, really was much harder to deal with. Seemingly, no matter what, all unable to curry favor.
“Your Majesty, don’t know if her Highness is well?” Luo Pei Shan stood out and asked.
“Beloved Minister Luo has heart, the empress is well.” Li Hong Yuan’s tone distinctly had a trace of warmth.
So this was actually the correct way to curry favor with his Majesty?!
“Alright, the matter of conferring the crown prince, you all also know now. Cut the useless talk and just handle according to the decree.” Li Hong Yuan tossed aside the memorandum in hand, directly getting up and leaving.
“Respectfully seeing off your Majesty.”
As soon as he was gone, the court officials just began buzzing.
But, what use is there to talk now, if you have the ability, why don’t you say it directly to his Majesty’s face, regardless of whether it’s good or bad. Unfortunately, when facing Li Hong Yuan, each and every one were all timid.
Li Hong Yuan returned to Kunyi Palace. The little thing that was about to become the crown prince already got carried away. All say, spying on the emperor’s tracks was a big taboo, but for the sake of her son, Jing Wan completely didn’t have any pressure in doing so. Speaking of which, it was also something helpless.
At night, Li Hong Yuan still didn’t want to sleep separately from Jing Wan. Jing Wan wanted to refuse him with the excuse of having heavy bodily filth, but in the end, got directly shut down by Li Hong Yuan.
The body being tainted with dirty blood is viewed as inauspicious, this kind of talk, it’s best to not bring before him. It would be strange for him to actually care.
However, the possibility of it getting on him wasn’t very high. To avoid touching Jing Wan’s wound, it wasn’t too possible for Li Hong Yuan to sleep holding her.
However, even if using cotton to make a menstruation belt, the absorbency was still far from enough. As such, Jing Wan needed to change and wash up several times at night. That kind of movement, it was impossible to not affect Li Hong Yuan. This however still wasn’t a good enough reason for Li Hong Yuan to leave.
Jing Wan felt warm inside, yet also heartached.
Everything else aside, even in her past life, there still weren’t that many men that can go this far.
Li Hong Yuan closed his eyes, occasionally stroking Jing Wan’s hair, “Don’t think too much, you being perfectly fine, that is the greatest favor for me.”
He has always believed that he wasn’t a diligent emperor. In his eyes, emperors that really had themselves exhausted to death on the imperial desk, either they were just mediocre and incompetent, needing twice the effort for half the result, or it was just that the country had already thoroughly decayed, so no matter how diligent, it was already a lost cause. These two cases all didn’t apply to him. That’s why, even if unable to sleep well at night, he can just make up for it during the day, not that big of a deal.
The next day, it was Li Hong Yuan’s birthday, and also the little prince’s bathing ceremony.
The former was put off, while the latter was held accordingly.
That’s why, certain presents that were originally prepared for Li Hong Yuan all got transferred onto the little prince. In any case, the matter of him soon to be conferred as the crown prince was more or less known by all, so even if the present was a bit heavy, it also won’t be considered too much. Besides, he was still just an infant, completely unable to become a threat. His Majesty wouldn’t go as far as to even feel this was a threat, right?
As for exactly how the crown prince was born, not that many people knew. Aside from the ones coming and going from the delivery room, the imperial physicians outside as well as the palace maids and eunuchs, actually all weren’t aware. Even though they saw Gong Jiu go in, they still just figured that the empress was unwell. They don’t know what exactly he did.
For Jing Wan’s sake, Li Hong Yuan can disregard, but if outsiders were to know, they will inevitably gossip, having all the filth splashed onto Jing Wan. This kind of thing, it was impossible to completely suppress. That’s why, the best way was to just put an end to more people knowing from the start.
That’s why, no one knew that the little prince’s birth was actually the same as his father’s. The biggest difference was that one came from a dead body, and one from a living person, and that that person can still nicely continue living.
They were vaguely aware that his Majesty seemingly didn’t like the little prince very much, because of the empress having a difficult birth. But, to confer as the crown prince at this time, the bathing ceremony also being grandly held, no matter how one looked at it, it was all like he extremely loved and valued this son.
However, how could they know that for Li Hong Yuan, as long as that brat doesn’t make Jing Wan stress over him, then the rest, he simply didn’t care.
This perhaps was also Luo Old Madam and the others’ meaning. Even if unable to obtain his imperial father’s genuine love, still need to let the world mistakenly believe that he had endless imperial favor.
Titled madams of the third rank and higher, the madams of the imperial household that had status and rank, and the people that were purely close with Jing Wan all entered Kunyi Palace.
However, only a small minority were able to see Jing Wan. In addition to Li Hong Yuan this giant statue sitting there, how many dared to gossip? It was nothing more than paying their respects and quickly leaving.
Jing Wan was helpless, but Li Hong Yuan was unconcerned, “Your situation can’t compare with those that gave birth smoothly. Where do you have the energy to deal with them. Right now, you’re the empress, no matter who, it’s nothing more than just a matter of a word, who can make you go perform social duties? The empress should just be like an empress. Nicely rest, there’s nothing more important than your health.”
Getting lectured by him, Jing Wan could only smilingly respond with yes, yes, yes, leaning against his shoulder and snuggling against him.
The bathing ceremony was presided over by Luo Old Madam. Generally speaking, it should be a high ranking elder of the imperial clan, but the people of the imperial clan, for the most part, all weren’t liked by Li Hong Yuan, because the old wangfei that was originally prepared, when time came for the bathing ceremony, nearly couldn’t maintain her face. She kept feeling that someone was mocking her for being self-important. However, even if an enormous grievance and indignation, still can only press down. Yuan Qi Emperor won’t buy this. If you make a fuss on the first, then without even needing to wait until the second, he can just have your entire family turned into commoners. A fallen phoenix was worst off than a chicken!
When the bathing ceremony ended, the imperial decree also just so perfectly appeared.
Since ancient times, the emperor, for the inheritance of the throne, ruling over the vast imperial territory, must establish the heir apparent, for the prosperity of the country’s foundation, endless glory to the continuity of the state. The eldest imperial di son, under the will of the heavens, hereby scrupulously observe the first manifestation, carrying out the ceremony, following the public sentiment, solemnly announcing to the heaven and earth, ancestral shrine, and state, bestowing the book and seal, establishing as the imperial crown prince, occupying the eastern palace, repeating the ten thousand year tradition, spreading to the four seas.
(T/N: The above paragraph is actually what is recorded in actual decrees used in ancient times to confer the crown prince, specifically the Qing dynasty. I’m not that confident in how accurate my translation is since ancient text is very hard to translate.)
For anyone that was in the know, just hearing this imperial decree, they just knew that it absolutely wasn’t drafted by Yuan Qi Emperor.
However, these all weren’t important, just needing to know that the little prince will soon become the crown prince, incomparably esteemed, and greatly favored by the emperor. Although still small, but some things, one can also start calculating.
Each and every one’s thoughts turning like gears.
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Even Jing Wan has to scheme just to have time with her son, lol. Probably the only good thing about having a child for Li Hong Yuan is that when the child is old enough and capable of dealing with governmental affairs on par with himself, then Li Hong Yuan will absolutely just dump the emperor position on his son so that he can just spend all his time with his wife. If this prediction is incorrect, then I’ll truly be shocked, lol.
People are probably already scheming for the future empress position and imperial study companions for the little crown prince. Just have to pass both Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan, which is definitely the most difficult part.
Thanks for the chapter! 😀