"Commoner Xiao Chunnuan pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

Chun Nuan felt a surge of emotion as she knelt down.

The last time she entered the palace to see the Empress Dowager, she was still the Empress.

In these ten years, the circumstances changed, but the dignity of the Royal Family remained the same.

Grandfather did not wish for his sons to follow in his footsteps, nor did he want them to serve again in the palace.

He knew too well the treacherous nature of serving a sovereign.

But how could grandfather have imagined that she, Xiao Chunnuan, could not escape this summons to the palace.

"Rise, no need for formality."

The Empress remembered seeing Xiao Chunyu rolling over the iron nails back then.

The daughters of the Xiao family are all impressive!

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chun Nuan stood up.

"The reason for summoning you to the palace is because the Empress is about to give birth, and all the Imperial Physicians in the Imperial Hospital are men, which makes the Empress Dowager uneasy." The Empress Dowager said, "Panpan has always praised your medical skills. Since Panpan speaks highly of you, the Empress Dowager trusts you too."

"Empress Dowager, this commoner merely has a passion for medicine and has not deeply studied it. The Empress has a noble existence; this commoner..."

"Chun Nuan, the Empress Dowager understands what you are worried about." The Empress Dowager interrupted her directly, "The Empress Dowager promises that this time, you are summoned to the palace to aid the midwife in assisting the Empress with childbirth. No matter what happens, you will not be held accountable."

"Empress Dowager..."

Chun Nuan suddenly looked up at the Empress Dowager above, feeling deeply moved by this trust!

"The Empress Dowager knows that Doctor Xiao’s family has always been loyal ministers; it is the Royal Family that has wronged you."

"I wouldn’t dare!"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s apology, Chun Nuan felt her nose prick and her eyes turn red: Grandfather, did you hear this overdue apology?

"Go ahead, Chun Nuan, the Empress Dowager trusts you."

What else could Chun Nuan say but to acquiesce?

"Mother, Panpan also wants to visit the Imperial Sister-in-law."

"Go, child, your Imperial Sister-in-law has been speaking fondly of you."

In the side hall of Kunning Palace, the warmth of the heater burned brightly, yet the air was filled with suffocating tension.

The amber curtain was lifted at one corner, and the Empress lay slanted on the phoenix couch padded with thick brocade cushions, her face pale as paper, her hair soaked with sweat clung tightly to her skin.

She gripped the satin quilt tightly in one hand, her knuckles pale from exertion, while the other hand was clutched tightly by the Empress Dowager; every time a contraction hit, her body trembled intensely, and suppressed cries of pain escaped from between her teeth, tightening the heartstrings of all present.

"Your Majesty, a little more strength! The fetal position is moving down!" The midwife knelt beside the couch, her voice urgent as she swapped one soaked cloth after another, drenched by the Empress’s sweat.

The four Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital clustered outside the curtains, brows furrowed, occasionally peeking in only to quickly retract their hands, whispering among themselves, exchanging one bowl of medicinal decoction after another, yet the Empress was unable to deliver smoothly.

Chun Nuan entered the hall carrying her medicine box just as a wave of contractions occurred.

The Empress suddenly arched her body in pain, nearly fainting, as the Empress Dowager hurriedly patted her back, eyes red: "My child, endure a little longer, Chun Nuan is here, she will surely keep you safe!"

"Commoner pays respects to the Empress."

"Chun Nuan, no need for formality, come here."

The Empress beckoned her with her hand.

Chun Nuan approached, curtsied slightly, her gaze swiftly appraising the Empress’s complexion and then placing her hand on her wrist pulse.

The pulse under her fingers was weak and rapid, clearly exhausted, with the slight deviation in fetal position hindering the delivery. She withdrew her hand and spoke quietly to the Empress Dowager and the other physicians present.

"Empress Dowager, Imperial Physicians, the Empress is physically depleted, and the fetal position is slightly off; forcing the exertion could harm both the Empress and the Prince. I have a method that might correct the fetal position, but it requires the Empress’s cooperation."

Leading the group, Doctor Li furrowed his brow, his tone somewhat skeptical: "Miss Xiao, what method do you propose? The Imperial Hospital has already employed acupuncture and decoctions, yet they could not rectify the position. If we were to try arbitrarily and err, what then?"

"Doctor Li, rest assured, though my method is not commonly employed in the palace, it has been tested numerous times among the people without error."

Chun Nuan’s tone was resolute as she took a medicinal pill from her box for the Empress to consume, then extracted several silver needles.

"This commoner will use silver needles to stimulate several points, alleviating pain while guiding the fetal position to correct. During this, the Empress needs to relax her body and follow my guidance to adjust her breathing; only then can we maximize the effectiveness."

The Empress Dowager looked at the Empress wracked with pain on the couch, clenched her teeth: "Let’s do as you say!"

"Empress Dowager?"

The group of Imperial Physicians outside the curtain was greatly worried, fearing mistakes. Would blame rest on her or on them?

"For delivery, listen to Chun Nuan; for saving lives, listen to you."

The Empress Dowager’s meaning was clear, entrusting the childbirth to Chun Nuan; if anything untoward happened, the physicians had to save lives.

The Imperial Physicians were anxious and angry yet utterly helpless.

Having received permission, Chun Nuan promptly began her work. She instructed palace maids to bring hot water, gently applying it between the Empress’s waist and abdomen. The warm sensation through her clothes helped the Empress’s taut body to relax slightly, easing her cries of pain.

Next, Chun Nuan took out silver needles, sterilizing them over the candle flame, before carefully inserting them into points like He Gu and San Yin Jiao. Her technique was astonishingly swift yet steady, and as the needle entered the point, the Empress felt a warmth flow along the point, remarkably relieving her abdominal pain.

"Your Majesty, now try to breathe slowly, relaxing your abdomen while inhaling, gently exerting upon exhale, like blowing out a candle, gently and unhurriedly." Chun Nuan kneeled by the couch, her voice soft yet imbued with a calming strength.

The Empress nodded with difficulty, adjusting her breathing under Chun Nuan’s guidance. Initially panicked, she gradually stabilized as the pain diminished. The Empress Dowager stood by, clutching her handkerchief tightly, eyes fixed on the Empress, not daring to breathe heavily.

The hall was silent except for the Empress’s breathing and Chun Nuan’s soft guidance, the Imperial Physicians holding their breath, intently observing the Empress’s reaction behind the curtain.

Approximately a quarter of an hour passed when Chun Nuan said suddenly: "Your Majesty, now you may try exerting gently, gradually, without forceful pushing!"

The Empress gritted her teeth and followed Chun Nuan’s instructions, applying gentle force. This time, she didn’t feel excruciating pain as before, instead sensing a force guiding her abdomen. After another half a cup of tea’s time, the midwife’s eyes lit up, exclaiming: "I see it! I see it! The Prince’s head has emerged! Your Majesty, a little more strength!"

The Empress was energized and used every last bit of strength, until finally, amidst a loud cry, the Prince was born successfully. The midwife quickly lifted the Prince, cleaned his mouth and nose, wrapped him in clean brocade, and presented him to the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, it’s a Prince! Congratulations, Empress Dowager, congratulations, Emperor, it’s a Prince!"

The Empress Dowager gazed at the wrinkled little face in the swaddle, tears flowing in excitement, trembling hands as she received the Prince, her voice choked: "Good... good... peace is all I wished for..."

After giving birth to the Prince, the Empress weakly closed her eyes, but a faint smile graced her lips.

Chun Nuan quickly approached, administering a few more acupuncture points to replenish the Empress’s vitality, then had someone bring the prepared ginseng soup, feeding it to the Empress spoon by spoon.

Doctor Li stepped forward, carefully examining the Empress and Prince before offering a respectful nod to Chun Nuan: "Miss Xiao’s medical skills are exceptional, and I, Mr. Li, admire you! If not for Miss Xiao, the Empress and Prince might have truly suffered today."

The other Imperial Physicians echoed his sentiments, gazing at Chun Nuan with admiration. The Empress Dowager, cradling the Prince, approached Chun Nuan, her tone filled with gratitude: "Miss Xiao, thanks to you today, whatever reward you desire, speak to the Empress Dowager, it shall be granted!"

Chun Nuan hurriedly bowed: "The Empress Dowager’s praise is too heavy; this commoner merely fulfilled her duty, not daring to seek a reward. As long as the Empress and Prince are safe, this commoner is completely satisfied."

Chun Nuan assisted the Empress in childbirth, safely delivering the Prince, and the Emperor rewarded her with a hundred taels of gold and a hundred pieces of silk.

Chun Nuan quickly thanked for the grace, relieved that this trial of life’s stakes and family honor had been successfully surpassed.

The tense atmosphere within the hall gradually dissipated, replaced by celebration and joy, with only the sunlight outside remaining warm, quietly witnessing this crucial life-or-death defense.