Chapter 178: Border Affairs - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 178: Border Affairs

"Younger Ninth Brother, you arrived late and missed quite a show. You should punish yourself with three cups of wine."

The Crown Prince, slightly drunk, staggered toward the Ninth Prince with a full cup of wine in hand, insisting he drink. However, the Ninth Prince pushed him away. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince lost his balance, falling onto the table, scattering dishes everywhere.

"How dare you! You dare push me, your prince!"

Seeing the Crown Prince's flushed face, the Ninth Prince snorted. The commotion alarmed everyone present.

The Crown Princess, startled, shrank back, colliding with a chair, but she still admonished the Ninth Prince, "Younger Ninth Brother, the prince kindly offered you wine. If you don't appreciate it, that's one thing, but why push him?"

The Emperor and Empress looked over. The Empress quickly descended from the dais, anxiously asking the Crown Prince, "Are you alright, my son?"

"Mother, I'm fine."

The fall wasn't severe, and the thick ceremonial robes protected him from the broken dishes. However, being humiliated by the Ninth Prince right after being honored as Prince Ke made him seethe with anger.

Emperor Qi, displeased, looked at the stern-faced Ninth Prince. What was wrong with the Wei family? This was the third time! With a cold expression, he ordered, "Ninth, what are you doing? Apologize to your brother immediately!"

"Father, please forgive me. The military situation is urgent. I couldn't delay."

"What military situation?"

The festive atmosphere in the hall was abruptly stifled by the mention of urgent military matters. Everyone awaited the details with bated breath.

The Ninth Prince knelt on one knee, presenting the military report, and loudly declared, "Father, the Duke of Dilu suddenly died of illness. The new prince, Kadaw, has united all the tribes under the new state name, Northern Di. They are now advancing south towards Liangzhou! General Xiao Ji, who is stationed there, has sent eighteen urgent requests for reinforcements. Please make a decision, Father!"

The news sobered the previously tipsy courtiers instantly. They all anxiously watched Emperor Qi, who scanned the report, his expression growing more severe until his veins bulged in anger.

"Damn those Northern Di! They dare covet our Jin's territory!"

"I request the honor of leading the troops to reinforce General Xiao Ji. I will ensure that the Northern Di do not set foot in our Jin!"

The Ninth Prince's resolute demeanor displayed the qualities of a formidable general. Emperor Qi, deeply gratified, admired his bravery. Over the years, his fondness for Consort Wei had partly been due to her long companionship and partly because of the Ninth Prince.

Despite having few sons, the Ninth Prince resembled him the most, especially in military prowess. Unlike the other princes, who looked terrified, the Ninth Prince boldly volunteered.

"Good! You are indeed the son I value most. Ninth, I appoint you Marshal of the Western Campaign. Take the tiger tally and command 200,000 troops from Jizhou to reinforce Liangzhou. Drive the Northern Di out of our Jin!"

"Thank you, Father. I will not fail you!"

His heroic spirit inspired awe, but it also filled the Empress and Crown Prince with resentment. They had hoped the Wei family would be suppressed due to Consort Shu's rise, allowing them time to consolidate power. But the timely military crisis gave the Wei family a chance to rise again.

Given his past achievements, the Ninth Prince was likely to return victorious. The Emperor's earlier words about him being the 'most valued son' echoed ominously.

Their eyes were filled with trepidation!

Before the courtiers could react, the Crown Princess suddenly cried out in pain. She was about to give birth. The day's emotional highs and lows, combined with her earlier collision, had triggered labor.

"Someone, quickly! Take the princess to Chang Le Palace. Summon the midwives immediately!"

The Empress, overjoyed, saw the situation as a blessing in disguise. As the Crown Prince, initially shocked, quickly sobered and carried his wife outside.

With the banquet interrupted by urgent military matters and the princess's labor, Emperor Qi lost interest in the festivities. He told the Sixth Prince, "Sixth, take over for me. I'm tired and will return to the palace."

The Sixth Prince, initially stunned, nervously replied, "Yes, Father."

Never having hosted such a grand occasion, he naturally felt anxious. However, a reassuring smile from Consort Liu calmed his nerves.

In Chang Le Palace, everything was prepared. The Empress and Prince Ke waited outside, hearing the midwife's instructions intermittently. The Crown Princess bit on a cloth, crying out in pain. Despite it being her second child, the long interval since her first made her forget how to push. The baby's large size made the delivery arduous.

Four imperial physicians rushed over. One of them, Doctor Ge, was the Empress's trusted aide. Having regularly checked the Crown Princess's pulse, he immediately entered the inner chamber, had her wrist pulled out by a maid, and carefully took her pulse.

"Relax and push. I'll prescribe some medicine to give you strength."

After exiting, he reassured the Empress, "There's no need to worry. The princess has taken good care of herself and the baby is full-term, though a bit large. She will suffer some pain, but there are no other concerns."

"That's good. May the Bodhisattva bless us with a noble child. This is the emperor's first grandchild, the rightful heir to Prince Ke's lineage."

Knowing that only a male child could secure their position, the Empress prayed fervently.

The medicine restored the Crown Princess's strength. With the midwives' help, after about an hour, she finally gave birth.

The baby's cries echoed through Chang Le Palace, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The Empress and Prince Ke hurried inside.

"Where's the baby? Is it a boy?"

The midwife, after cleaning the baby and wrapping it in a silk blanket, answered.

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