But my eldest sister had been deeply doted on since childhood, and after marrying Xie Linzhuo, she also enjoyed his exclusive favour. Her life had always been smooth sailing, and she did everything purely based on her own whims. As her pregnancy progressed, her temper became increasingly erratic, and her actions grew more and more reckless.
After finishing his administrative duties, Xie Linzhuo went to Jiaofang Palace, where he happened to run into the newly arrived Marchioness of Ai and the heir's consort of the Marquess of Dongxiang. It was said that the Dongxiang heir's consort was lively and playful, and she was singing a little tune to amuse my eldest sister. Before Xie Linzhuo even entered the room, he heard her beautiful singing voice. When the people inside heard that the emperor had arrived, they quickly excused themselves. Perhaps out of curiosity, Xie Linzhuo cast an extra glance at the Dongxiang heir's consort.
My eldest sister threw a tantrum on the spot. First she clamoured that the Dongxiang heir's consort was seducing the emperor, and then she cried, "Linzhuo, have you taken a liking to her too?"
The Dongxiang heir's consort wept all the way home, crying out that she had been wrong. The very next day, she left for the south with the Dongxiang heir, not returning to the capital for a long time.
Xie Linzhuo was both angry and frustrated. Yet he couldn't bring himself to speak harshly to his pregnant empress. He could only tolerate and yield.
But my eldest sister suddenly seemed to possess the mind of a young girl, missing none of the paranoia, suspicion and petty jealousy. When Xie Linzhuo was delayed by discussions with his ministers and missed his dinner with her, she made a scene and barged in, insisting on seeing which little seductress he was hiding. When the senior maid of Xie Linzhuo's imperial study reached twenty-five and was about to leave the palace, Xie Linzhuo bestowed a reward upon her from the imperial treasury. My sister said sarcastically, "If Your Majesty is so reluctant to part with her, why don't you just keep her?"
I knew very well that with my eldest sister's intellect, she could never have come up with these thoughts on her own, nor could she have formulated such words. Naturally, someone by her side must have been instigating her.
Soon, winter arrived. By chance, I ran into Xie Linzhuo in a pavilion by the lake in the imperial garden. He looked somewhat lost.
"A-Yuan, did I do something wrong?"
Before I could say a word, my legitimate elder sister rushed over and shoved me. She was already five months pregnant, and now, cradling her belly, she told me to stay away from Xie Linzhuo. Xie Linzhuo got up to soothe her. I tactfully excused myself, only to catch the smug and triumphant look in Nanny Wang's eyes.
Day in and day out, she filled my eldest sister's head with the idea of keeping a close eye on Xie Linzhuo so he wouldn't be lured away by some little vixen. I knew not whether this was my legal mother's instruction or Nanny Wang acting on her own initiative. But with such scenes happening every few days, even though Xie Linzhuo loved my sister deeply, he grew highly irritated. Gradually, he began to visit Jiaofang Palace less and less frequently.
My elder sister naturally noticed this. She would throw tantrums whenever she couldn't find Xie Linzhuo, insisting he drop everything to coax and accompany her before she would stop.
My legal mother also visited the palace more and more frequently, never failing to warn and lecture me each time. But all matters regarding my sister's pregnancy and childbirth were managed entirely by Nanny Dong. As for any items brought into the palace, the best of everything was always sent to my sister first, and I never laid a single finger on any of it. But with so many delicious foods and precious supplements, I do not know if Nanny Wang knew to have my elder sister exercise some moderation.
My elder sister kept throwing tantrums right up until her labour, and no one dared to advise or restrain her. I kept avoiding them, never showing my face in front of her or Xie Linzhuo.
On the day she went into labour, I sat in the front hall of Jiaofang Palace, sitting from the break of dawn until the evening glow filled the sky. My elder sister was still crying out in pain.
The midwife rushed out with hands covered in blood, knelt, and reported, "Her Majesty the empress is still not fully dilated, and the baby is too large, causing a difficult labour. We beg Your Majesty for instructions."
Xie Linzhuo was covered in sweat, whether from anxiety or heat, and roared, "Save them both. If you cannot save them, you will all be buried with them."
The midwife scrambled back into the delivery room.
After an agonizing night, my elder sister's painful cries grew weaker and weaker, but my legal mother and the midwives kept telling her to push. Just as dawn was breaking, after one last heart-wrenching shriek of pain, we finally heard a cry, weak as a kitten's whimpering.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Her Majesty the empress has given birth to a little prince."
My legal mother came out, cradling the infant to deliver the good news. Xie Linzhuo eagerly leaned in to look at the child, but then he froze.
"What is wrong with his face?"
Glancing from the side, I saw the chubby baby's face was purplish blue.
"It is only because the labour took a bit too long. He will be fine once he is nursed. Look at these chubby arms and legs. He is very robust."
My legal mother's joy was so overwhelming it could have flooded the entire room. Only then did Xie Linzhuo cheer up. He turned to return to Taiji Palace to decree a general amnesty to pray for the prince.
I offered a barrage of congratulations and, not wanting to be an eyesore, I returned to Changle Palace first. It seemed my sister and her child were highly favoured by heaven.
As soon as we returned to our palace, Chuna began wiping away tears. "They certainly are happy, but who still remembers our little prince?"
I stared blankly in silence. Chuju nudged her and pulled her out.
That night, I didn't fall asleep until nearly midnight. But just after the fifth watch, Chuju gently woke me up.
"Your ladyship, the little prince of Jiaofang Palace has passed away. Things are in chaos over there."
I sat up. "Wasn't he fine when he was just born?"
"I heard he didn't cry or fuss and wouldn't take any milk. The empress's mother initially stopped them from summoning the imperial physician. In the latter half of the night, his breathing grew faint. Then they hurriedly sent someone to the Imperial Academy of Medicine, but by the time the physician arrived, it was already too late."
I fell into a long silence, not knowing whether to feel relieved or sorrowful. I never expected that in the end, heaven would take away this newborn baby.
Chuju looked at me a few times and then said softly, "They say Her Majesty's womb was damaged and she lost too much blood. She will probably find it very difficult to conceive again."
I turned my eyes to look out of the pitch black window. I wondered if my elder sister's current grief over losing her child was the same as mine was back then. An agony that pierced to the very bone.