Chapter Ten: Bai Yue Gives Birth, Hao Chen Is Born

Originally, when those words came from Agales, though spoken in drunkenness, they held a great deal of credibility. Yet, twenty years passed, and apart from a paler complexion, the Star Demon God Vashak showed no signs of imminent demise.

Yunxi ceased to concern herself with the matter, dismissing it as mere drunken ramblings of Agales.

It was a well-known secret that the Star Demon God, having used the Life Prophecy, had only twenty years left to live.

Yunxi sighed softly, “Beside the imperial throne, no one else may snore.”

“This concerns succession to the throne. His Majesty’s words to you may well be a test,” came a warning.

“Husband, you should remain vigilant.”

Agales waved his hand indifferently. “Yunxi, you don’t understand my elder brother. He simply couldn’t handle my little niece, so he asked me to send you to gauge her thoughts. Since you’re both women, you’d have more in common.”

“More in common,” Yunxi heard that and both smiled wryly and felt vexed.

That day, Agales had called a court meeting, mysteriously dismissed all attendants, and set up a barrier array, making her think some grave matter was to be discussed. In truth, he merely wanted her to inquire about Bai Yue’s views on the crown prince’s position.

Yunxi had cast a deep glance at her husband then, believing he harbored grand ambitions to support the heir to the Demon God throne.

Now she understood—it all came down to the laughable excuse that because they were both women, they shared more common ground.

“I’m tired today. Pack your things and sleep on the sofa. I don’t want to see you now,” Yunxi said, rubbing her temples before turning away to take a long, relaxing bath.

Agales watched her retreating figure, puzzled by his sudden exile to the sofa.

“I didn’t say anything wrong, did I? How did I anger my wife?”

“Fine! Tomorrow when I see elder brother, I’ll ask him and third brother how I offended my wife.”

Three minds together can outwit a genius, but when it comes to matters of the heart—one a perpetual bachelor, another with but a single romance—choosing Vashak and Fengxiu as love advisors was only bound to cause more confusion and no help at all.

As expected, the next day, Agales relayed the previous day’s events to his elder and third brothers.

After discussion, they concluded: girls have their moods some days each month; it’s perfectly normal.

If Bai Yue knew their thoughts, she would surely burst out laughing until her sides ached.

In truth, Yunxi’s real anger stemmed from treating the matter as profoundly important. She believed Agales intended to support the Crown Prince and Princess—arranging the betrothal between Yueye and Abao was the first step, and probing Bai Yue’s attitude towards the heirship was the next.

...

Four months later, Bai Yue’s due date approached, and Fengxiu’s heart fluttered uneasily, plagued by a foreboding sense.

“Pregnancy and childbirth are especially perilous for women, more so when carrying a child with the bloodline of the Defiant Demon Dragon clan. Yue’er must not suffer any mishap.”

“Elder brother, you’re right that the Defiant Demon Dragon royal bloodline is formidable, but you forget one thing: Yue’er, my niece, is herself of the Defiant Demon royal bloodline!”

“There’s a fundamental difference from those concubines in your palace. Their bodies cannot endure the royal blood’s overwhelming power, but that does not apply to Yue’er.”

Agales, summoned early that morning by Fengxiu to ensure the safety of his niece’s delivery, thought his elder brother was overly anxious, perhaps imagining shadows where none existed.

“Elder brother, if you’re truly uneasy, you could forge a Heart-Protecting Pill from your own blood. Have my niece take it before delivery, and there will be no risk.”

Suddenly, Vashak’s mind lit up with the idea.

Fengxiu’s eyes brightened. He had overlooked that the Defiant Demon Dragon royal Heart-Protecting Pill was a life-saving tonic, replenishing vital energy and essence expended in childbirth. Yet its potency was so great that without a sufficiently strong bloodline to neutralize it, the pill could worsen matters, causing severe side effects.

Though Bai Yue’s royal blood was dormant, it was powerful enough to counterbalance the pill’s effects.

If the clan’s chief alchemist learned that the Heart-Protecting Pill forged for the Crown Princess was made from His Majesty’s own blood, he would likely panic, ruining batch after batch in his haste.

All preparations were made; only the crucial moment awaited.

On a pitch-black, windy night within the Yue Palace:

Bai Yue lay on the bed, feeling a sudden wetness beneath her—her waters had broken.

The maids calmly attended her labor, their composed demeanor the result of countless rehearsals, all to ensure the favored Crown Princess’s safe delivery.

Outside the delivery chamber, Luo Niang paced anxiously, praying for Heaven’s protection, genuinely wishing for the safe arrival of mother and child.

“Ah—”

“Ah—”

Piercing cries of agony echoed from within, twisting Luo Niang’s heart into knots.

“It’s been an hour already; why hasn’t the child been born?” Fengxiu waited outside the door, behind him sat Abao on the steps, silently watching, his eyes filled with fear and dread.

“Father, will sister be like mother? Nanny said when mother gave birth to me, she also screamed like that!”

Abao’s innocent words struck Fengxiu’s deepest fears like a dagger.

Unable to bear seeing his daughter suffer in silence, Fengxiu pushed open the door and entered. Upon seeing Luo Niang, he paused slightly.

She seemed to be Leng Xiao’s birth mother—he couldn’t recall her name.

“How is Yue’er? Why has it taken so long?” Fengxiu asked, furrowing his brow.

Luo Niang knelt and bowed, speaking softly, “Your Majesty, a smooth delivery takes about two hours. It has only been one.”

From the breaking of water to active labor and finally birth, it was a lengthy process.

Yet hearing the agonized screams twisted Fengxiu’s heart like a knife. Ignoring Luo Niang’s advice, he insisted on entering the delivery chamber.

There was only a door between them, yet in Fengxiu’s perception, he could see Bai Yue lying weakly on the bed. Though she had taken the Heart-Protecting Pill, the child was still drawing her essence, leaving her frail.

“Your Majesty, the delivery chamber is unclean. You must not enter!” the maids pleaded, bowing desperately to stop him.

“The one lying inside is my own daughter, the Demon Clan’s Crown Princess and first heir to the throne. Why may I not enter? If anything happens to her, who among you will bear the responsibility?” Fengxiu’s cold gaze swept over the kneeling maids and Luo Niang.

Beneath his icy stare, every demon present felt a chill run down their spine. Having long served the harem, they had ingrained beliefs that men must not enter the delivery chamber.

Yet none dared defy the sovereign’s will.