Yu Jin had only one thought: No more children. No more. One ugly monkey-like daughter was enough.
A Qiao curtsied to Yu Jin. “Your Highness, please step out. We need to clean and change the Princess Consort.”
Yu Jin nodded, cast one last deep look at Jiang Si, and then left.
The air outside instantly felt fresher.
“Where’s the child?” Yu Jin immediately asked Madam Ji.
Madam Ji replied, “The wet nurse is feeding the young miss.”
Hearing that the wet nurse was feeding the baby, Yu Jin abandoned the idea of seeing her. After a moment’s hesitation, he quietly asked Madam Ji, “Are all newborn babies this ugly?”
Madam Ji’s eye twitched slightly before she responded seriously, “The young miss is not ugly at all. She’s quite beautiful for a newborn, taking after the Princess Consort.”
Yu Jin recalled the wrinkled little infant and deeply doubted Madam Ji’s eyesight.
It was already past midnight, but the lights in the main courtyard of Prince Qi’s residence were still on.
Prince Qi strode in, and Princess Qi immediately sat up.
“You’re not asleep yet?”
How could Princess Qi sleep? Her pregnancy had started only a little later than Jiang Si’s. If she hadn’t miscarried, she too would be preparing for childbirth. Now she could only toss and turn, waiting for news from Prince Yan’s residence.
“Has Princess Yan given birth?”
Since word of Princess Yan going into labor had reached them, Prince Qi’s household had been keeping a close watch. The Prince’s arrival surely meant there was news.
“She has.”
“When?” This was Princess Qi’s first concern.
Prince Qi pressed his lips together before answering, “After midnight.”
Princess Qi felt dejected. After midnight meant it was already the first day of the sixth month. Even if the birth had been a little earlier, it would have been in the fifth month. Why did Princess Yan have all the luck?
She immediately thought of her second question: “Boy or girl?”
Prince Qi’s face finally showed a smile. “A daughter.”
“Oh, a girl…” Princess Qi instantly felt relieved.
If it had been a son, she would have felt even more overshadowed by Princess Yan, likely feeling dispirited for a long time.
Prince Qi also felt more at ease.
After Prince Jin’s downfall, his primary goal had been to bring down the Crown Prince. He never expected his seventh brother to gain such prominence. With his growing popularity among the common people and the new Minister Zhao’s high regard, would the birth of a son have made his seventh brother unstoppable? Princess Yan giving birth to a daughter significantly reduced the threat.
Prince and Princess Qi exchanged smiles before retiring to bed together.
The next day, news of Princess Yan’s daughter was sent to the palace early in the morning.