Chapter 24
Wei Li Lian
Princess Elora
Lady Wei
“Dao, you have to be strong and push hard.”
A sweaty Dao shook her head and cried in agony. “I really can’t. I feel like I will die and I am depleted of all strength.”
“The physician assistant says you are almost there. She can see the head,” Li Lian instructed.
Sobs is what Dao replied with. “Oh, it is so painful.”
“Just one more time. Come on.”
With that Dao harshly inhaled and pushed with all her might, and just like that, a cry engulfed the room.
A wave of relief took over Li Lian. Dao had done it.
The baby cried heartily and repetitiously to no end. “Is it a girl or boy?” Dao was worn out but the sound of her baby seemed to give her strength.
The Physician Assistant checked the baby. “It is a girl, My Lady.”
Dao laughed with tears submerging her cheeks. “Luo Meng wanted a girl. The heavens have granted his wish.”
Li Lian smiled as the physician assistant showed her the bundle of joy that was flushed pale. “Ten fingers, ten toes, Your Highness.”
Li Lian was glad that everything had gone through without a hitch. “Dao, you have done well. She is beautiful.”
The baby still squealed with her little mouth widely opened. Her head had some blood and liquid they were trying to wipe as she went on wailing.
“It is winter, and she must feel very cold. Cover her up.” Li Lian instructed the servants serving the birthing process.
Turning from them, she brushed the loose wet hair from Dao’s face and ran her fingers on her face gently. “Well done, Dao. You have done well. I will now go outside and announce the news to your husband and those waiting.”
Per culture, men were not allowed to witness the birth. Only women could go in.
Li Lian found them already celebrating for they had heard the cry of the little one.
“Your Highness, is it a girl?” Luo Meng was gleeful.
Li Lian grinned and nodded. “Congratulations.”
Surely, being married and becoming a father did something to a person. Who would have thought Luo Meng would dare to respect her and address her using the honorable title? Maybe it was also because she was an oncoming phoenix.
Now that she was in the midst of her training, people addressed her as Her Highness. She was no longer just any lady. She was seen as worthy and one of might. Being the woman who would sit on the emperor’s right hand was not just something that could be ignored.
At that time, the Grand Dowager arrived. She was weak recently and rested on her maids when walking. “I heard the news. I am pleased.”
“Thanks to Her Royal Highness,” Luo Meng kowtowed.
What Li Lian did not understand was why the Grand Dowager favored Luo Meng so much. Dao had been invited to the palace to give birth as if she was a woman of the emperor. Yes, it was understandable that it was probably because Luo Meng was favored by the emperor, but such acts of kindness, wouldn’t it be proper if they were done by Yuwen Hong and not her?
“Li Lian. Your face looks like snow. Are you all right?”
At those words, Li Lian started feeling dizzy and losing focus. “I think… I think…”
She dropped to the floor and that was the end of it.
“She is just tired?”
“Me too. I thought she was pregnant.”
“What is the point of having her always with his Majesty then? She couldn't get pregnant during all that time.”
“Exactly, all that time with him and she couldn't produce anything.”
“If you have no good words to say, leave the phoenix palace! Concubines like you disgust me.” This voice Li Lian recognised. It was Grand Consort shu.
“Li Lian. Are you awake?” The Grand Consort shook her.
“I am too tired,” Li Lian murmured. She had a massive headache from the fall. In truth, she didn't feel like company.
“All right. I will have everyone leave you alone.”
Fidgeting commenced and Li Lian sighed.
A month with Yuwen Hong absent and it was taking a toll on her. Everyday was a repeat of the previous. Practise, practise, practise. The rules of almost everything, she had to know, the royal way of doing things, the way she was expected to carry herself. It was the repeat of rubbish that Mistress Ki had taught her. It was monotonous.
When concubines fought, she was asked to resolve the matter. The morning harem meeting was now her responsibility to lead. Teaching grown women manners. Who wanted that? It was all so tiring. The only thing that made it all better was looking forward to Yuwen Hong’s reply to her letters and his return.
They were getting an upper hand against Gurio, but Yuwen Hong said he wanted to attain a vast amount of land before coming back. He was relentless in increasing territory. Though he did say he missed her so much it was making him sick.
“You have been overworking yourself that you are now fainting.” Li Lian’s heart leapt and she almost screamed in shock.
“Master Oren! What are you doing here?”
“Shh! You will rouse your servants and they will find me.”
“How did you get in undetected?” What a good surprise. She missed this man a lot. He just made her feel a particular way. It was not love. It was not friendship. It was just something she could not describe, but it was warm and fuzzy.
His wings fluttered as his answer. He probably got through the window and flew in over the walls of the grand palace.
“Are you well?” He patted her on the shoulder.
“Yes. It is good to see you.” A nostalgia concerning the Black Sword Academy washed her.
“Likewise.” Black matched his wings well and he liked wearing it always, even today.
“How is everyone?”
“They are doing well. And definitely they miss you a lot.” She saw him eye the room in awe.
She didn't blame him. The phoenix palace was spectacular, very beautiful, even way beyond the dragon palace. It was really the sun of the grand palace.
Li Lian smiled ruefully.
“Ruo Xi sends her kind regards and congratulations about becoming empress.”
“Ruo Xi?” Didn’t she dislike her? “Many thanks to her. When will she come to the palace? Was it not supposed to be after a fortnight?”
“She asked Hong’er for an extension of time so that she could pursue her dreams more. Did you not know?”
Yuwen Hong never mentioned it. Not that it was surprising. He did not like discussing other people when with her. He was always concentrating on her, how she was, what she thought concerning things that affected her, and her happiness. But still, it itched her wrongly that he did not tell her about that.
“No. He did not mention it, but it doesn’t matter. How have you been?”
Master Oren shrugged. “I have been well, and quite concerned about you. Are they looking after you?”
“Yes.”
“Does the emperor care for you?”
“Always. I am so happy.”
“Do they respect you?”
“I am not yet their empress, so sometimes.”
“You are a Furian princess, a possible queen, you should be respected,” he was insisting.
“I have nothing to do with that nation.”
Master Oren scowled. “Do not say such words.”
“It is the truth. They abandoned me.”
“I have not.”
“Yes. True. But you are like me. We both are not associated with them. Didn’t your past lover not abandon you too?”
“Hmm, though that is a different matter.”
Li Lian sighed. Talking about Furia always exhausted her. It was not something she enjoyed.
“Forget about that.” Master Oren realized her lack of interest in it. “When I come back, I was thinking of asking Hong’er to be your sword master.”
“Come back from where?” Li Lian laughed at the offer. “I do not like fighting.” He never ceased to impose fighting on her. “Besides, what qualifies me to be taught by such a great master like you?”
“I have no idea. You are someone who is like a daughter to me.”
A big relief. Master Oren had no feelings towards her.
“Where are you going?” Li Lian did not want to give him an answer right away.
“To Furia. To see your mother and how Lance is faring.”
“I hope Lance has recovered. It was partly my fault… what happened to him.”
“He is all right. I will pass your well wishes to him.”
S.V