Another week goes by and the bridge was now nearly completed. With nothing much to do, Ying Yue would past her days by handing out food to children as she went on her strolls. Thinking today was going to be like any other day.
"Hm? That's odd."
"What's wrong, my lady?"
"Is it just me or is there water trickling down my legs?"
Su Ru freaks out and motions for Ying Yue to hurry back to the doctor's residence.
"My lady! Your water just broke! We need to head back to the doctor's residence and get Ping! Your baby is coming!"
"My baby is coming?!"
Ying Yue was never really taught what to do in these situations. She had no idea what was going on. Taking Su Ru's word for it, Ying Yue quickly walks back to the doctor's residence as Su Ru runs off to the clinic to find Ping. Lin An and Jin who were standing out in the courtyard talking, quickly notices Ying Yue walking funny.
"Ying Yue? What's wrong?"
"Ahhh....Lin An, I think my baby is coming."
"What? Why are you still walking around then?!"
Lin An motions for Jin to carry Ying Yue into her shared bedroom with Su Ru. Jin Quickly carries Ying Yue off in a princess carry and lays her down on her bed as he runs off to find Duan Da. Ying Yue laid in bed as Lin An returned with a warm pail of water and a wash cloth.
"How are you feeling, Ying Yue? I heard childbirth really hurts so let me know if you need anything."
"I'm fine...I'm fine.... not that I know what to expect, but I'm not in pain."
That's what Ying Yue thought. After waiting around for thirty minutes for Ping to arrive, Ying Yue could feel the contractions start. Unlike anything she had experienced, this pain was something Ying Yue couldn't even begin to describe. Lin An holds onto Ying Yue's hand as she screamed in pain.
"Hang in there, Ying Yue!"
"Ughhhh..!"
After another ten minutes goes by and Ping finally comes rushing in with Su Ru. Ping took one glance at Ying Yue and knew the child was going to come at any moment. Ping quickly assigns tasks for Su Ru and Lin An to do as she tended to Ying Yue.
"Ying Yue, how are you feeling?"
"Ugh, it hurts!"
"Can you spread your legs? I need to see how far along you are."
Although, she was embarrassed. Ying Yue was in too much pain to care.
"The child's head is already poking out. It will be any moment now."
Su Ru and Lin An quickly returned with warm water, extra clean cloth and a pair of clean iron scissors.
"Ying Yue you have to push."
Ying Yue didn't even know what Ping was asking her. All she knew was she wanted her child out of her. Su Ru holds onto Ying Yue's hand as Lin An helped Ping. Everyone else remained outside the courtyard as they waited for the news. Nothing could be heard but the screams from Ying Yue. After two hours of waiting; Duan Da looks to the sky and could see the blue sky turn red, followed by a golden ray of light beaming out of the bedroom and into the sky.
"Ha...Ha...She did it!"
A baby cries echoed throughout the empty rooms. Everyone rejoiced in tears as Ping walks out to inform them Ying Yue had a baby boy.
"Ying Yue did great. She had a little baby boy. She's fortunate her labor was not as long as some other woman."
"Can we see her?"
"In a bit. Let Ying Yue have some time alone with her child."
Meanwhile, Jianyu who was in the dragon kingdom saw the sky go red. He knew at that moment that Ying Yue must've given birth. With the golden ray of light, Jianyu could pinpoint Ying Yue's location.
"Ha! My empress has given birth! I know where she is now! Fu Jia! I'm leaving!"
"What? Wait! Your majesty take me with you!"
Without a moment to lose, Jianyu transform himself into his dragon form and disappears inside a portal. Not even ten minutes after Ying Yue had given birth; everyone that was standing outside the courtyard was now greeted by a beautiful and large red dragon. Duan Da was the first one to notice as he was looking at the red sky.
"The....the dragon emperor!"
Everyone turned around and looked in the same direction as Duan Da. To their surprise there really was a large red dragon coiling and blocking the suns reflection. Jianyu slowly descends and transforms into his human form. Standing only a few feet away from Duan Da and the others; Jianyu asks them about Ying Yue.
"Where is my empress?"
Duan Da falls to his knees and motioned for everyone to do the same.
"Your....your majesty! She is resting inside!"
Jianyu disregards everyone and quickly runs inside the building to find Ying Yue. Once Jianyu was out of sight, Duan Da stands up and shed tears of happiness. Jin who was standing next to Duan Da, was confused as to what just happened.
"What just happened?"
"You idiot son, did you not see he was the dragon emperor?"
"The dragon emperor?! Why was he asking about his empress? Who's his empress?"
"Ying Yue is the dragon empress. Goodness, I truly raised an idiot."
"What?! Ying Yue is the dragon empress and now you tell us?!"
Jin wasn't the only freaking out at what was happening. Everyone else was also shocked, other than Ping, Duan Da and Su Ru.
Jianyu finally makes it into the room and finds Ying Yue, pale, covered in sweat and lying in bed with a small bundle lying beside her. Jianyu slowly walks closer to Ying Yue and cries at what he was witnessing. He couldn't tell if it was tears of happiness or sadness at seeing Ying Yue in such a state.
"My empress.... I'm here."
Jianyu picks up his child and places a hand on Ying Yue's cheek. Ying Yue groans in pain and slowly opens her eyes.
"Jianyu? Ah....I must be dreaming."
"You're not dreaming, I'm really here. I came to pick you and our son up. You did a wonderful job my empress."
Jianyu places a kiss onto Ying Yue's forehead and helps her sit up.
"How are you feeling, my empress?"
"I'm much better now that I can see you. He looks just like you. I haven't named him yet, so why don't you name him?"
"A name...Hm..."
Jianyu thinks for a moment. Tilting his head and furrowing his brows as he was debating about a name for his first born.
"I got it! How about Junjei?"
"That is fine with me. Junjei is a great name."
"My empress, get some more rest, I have some things to take care of so I will be back in a bit"
Jianyu places their sleeping son next to Ying Yue and heads back out to the courtyard. Once Duan Da caught a glimpse of Jianyu heading out towards them he quickly fell to his knees again; followed by everyone else.
"Greetings, your majesty."
"What is your name?"
"I am called Duan Da, your majesty."
"Duan Da? Why don't you fill me in on what's happened? I'm rather curious to see what the Xinjing kingdom has put my empress through."
"Certainly, your majesty."
Ping finally returns after boiling medicine for Ying Yue.
"If we are going to talk, let's use the main hall."
Ping leads everyone into the main hall. Duan Da and Su Ru goes on to fill Jianyu on what's happened and what they knew about Ying Yue's current situation.
"So, you're saying the Xinjing army is on their way here?"
"Yes, I believe they will arrive in about two weeks. The original goal was to bring her highness Ying Yue to the dragon kingdom before she gave birth, but her highness felt pity for the people of Yuanjing and wanted to help these people in some ways."
"So....she decided to give birth here for the land to receive some blessing. I see...my empress truly is too kind. Alright, we're heading to the dragon kingdom when my empress wakes up. I will send my men here to defend Yuanjing in the meantime."
Four hours go by and Ying Yue wakes up from her slumber. Turning her head, she could see her son moving around next to her. Unable to sleep anymore, Ying Yue forces her aching body to sit up. After quickly breastfeeding her son, Ying Yue slowly gets off her bed and heads towards the dresser to grab a change of clothes. Quickly changing into anything clean, Ying Yue wraps her son up and carries him out of the bedroom.
"Hello? Where is everyone?"
Ying Yue walks around for ten minutes before she was spotted by Su Ru.
"My lady! What are you doing?! You should be resting!"
"Su Ru! I'm fine, I can't sleep anymore. Where is everyone?"
"Ah, the men are talking in the main hall. Dinner is going to be served soon, so you can head to the main hall. Everyone is already there."
"Alright."
Su Ru quickly heads off to the kitchen as Ying Yue walks towards the main hall. As she got closer, she could hear everyone's voices, including Jianyu.
The moment Ying Yue walked in everyone went quiet. Jianyu who was sitting, quickly stood up and walked to help Ying Yue. Ying Yue seats herself next to Jianyu and could tell from everyone's reaction that they must've found out she was the dragon empress now.
"Uhm…. I'm sorry for not telling you all earlier."
Jin who was sitting next to Duan Da assured Ying Yue that everyone understood why she kept it hidden.
"It's fine, considering your situation it would've been something hard to tell just anyone. Besides! We're friends!"
"You guys aren't mad at me?"
"Of course not. Although it was a little frustrating at the beginning as you kept us out in the dark. We understand your reasoning for it."
Duan Da slaps Jin in the back of the head for not using honorifics towards Ying Yue.
"Slaps!"
"Ow! What was that for, father!?"
"You're being rude!"
"Ha Ha! It's alright Duan Da. When it's just us, it's alright to drop the honorifics. Please, for my sake as well."
"Very well, if that's what you want."
Ying Yue turns to face Jianyu who was staring at her the entire time. Breaking into a smile, Ying Yue assured Jianyu she was feeling good enough to be out and about.
"Are you feeling alright to be walking already?"
'I'm fine Jianyu. Any more sleep and I'll go crazy."
Soon the sisters and Su Ru returned with plates of food. Everyone ate and continued to talk the night away. Jianyu and everyone filled Ying Yue on the plans and what to expect in the next few days.