Chapter Thirty-Seven: Gaoyang Is Born

“Difficult labor—can you save my consort?”
Li Shimin’s words struck Li Kong like a bolt from the blue.
It was true that he was a king among special forces soldiers, and it was true that he had delivered babies before—but all of that was in the modern era, in a time when the barriers of propriety had long since been eroded by foreign influence.
But what era was this? This was a time when Confucian doctrines held sway and men and women maintained strict separation. Moreover, the woman inside was none other than the consort of Li Shimin, a monarch for the ages.
Li Kong could guarantee that if he really went in today, even if he managed to save the woman, he would become the target of endless attacks thereafter. Even Li Shimin himself would likely never look upon him favorably again. After all, regardless of the circumstances, he would have seen the body of Li Shimin’s woman.
But Li Shimin had clearly reached the point of desperation, or else he would never have asked such a thing. Until now, Li Kong had only prescribed a medicinal diet for Empress Zhangsun.
What should he do? Li Kong felt completely at a loss.
Li Shimin, seeing Li Kong’s prolonged silence, understood what he was concerned about. In truth, he himself harbored some misgivings. Although Li Kong was just a fifteen-year-old youth, in the Tang Dynasty it was not uncommon for men to marry at this age; he was already of an age to be a father.
But compared to those doubts, he cared more about the lives at stake inside. So he fixed his gaze on Li Kong and said in a deep voice, “Li Quan, draft an edict.”
Having said this, he forcibly lifted Li Kong’s head and continued, “I know what you’re thinking, but today I’ll give you an imperial pardon. No matter what happens, I’ll never hold this matter against you—never. You are my nephew, and the woman inside is your aunt. You’re helping your unborn brother or sister. This is a family matter. So, just consider this your uncle begging you—will you do it?”
Li Quan stood in the back, pen in hand, dumbfounded. How was he supposed to write this? He felt on the verge of collapse.
Taking a deep breath, Li Kong found himself unable to ignore the plea in Li Shimin’s eyes. As for what might happen afterward, he neither knew nor wished to think about it. Besides, he couldn’t even guarantee success—he wasn’t an obstetrician, and there were no tools for a cesarean section here. If the woman died, he would not be blamed anyway.
Or perhaps... would it be better if both mother and child perished? A wave of malicious thoughts surged through Li Kong’s mind.
But in the end, he agreed. “Your Majesty, Uncle, I cannot promise success, but I will do my utmost. As for the rest... never mind. I’ll go now.”
With these words, Li Kong strode resolutely into the great hall, though his heart felt as if it were bleeding. What rotten luck—how had he ended up in this predicament?

He then ruthlessly berated himself: Why show off? Why write a prescription for Empress Zhangsun’s medicinal diet? If he had done nothing, Li Shimin would never have thought of him. Now, no matter what, he was embroiled in this mess and there was no escaping it.
Now, he could only hope that Li Shimin was not a petty man. And as for after Li Shimin’s death? Li Kong was confident he could make Li Chengqian his staunchest ally.
Indeed, to prevent future tragedy, Li Kong had already resolved to help Li Chengqian ascend the throne. Though that day was far off, he saw no harm in preparing early, and now was the best time to influence Li Chengqian.
Once Li Kong had gone in, Empress Zhangsun said, “Second Lord, are you sure you won’t resent Yunfeng for this? Childbirth will lay all of Consort Ling’s privacy bare before him—he is already fifteen.”
“I... trust him, Guanyin. I can never be heartless, perhaps that is my weakness. As for Yunfeng, he is my nephew—who would dare say a word?”
Who would dare? When Li Shimin said this, he questioned himself. In truth, even he would hesitate, for Li Kong was not acting out of lust, but for his sake. Otherwise, Li Kong could simply refuse, and Li Shimin would be powerless. After all, childbirth and medicine were entirely separate fields in this era.
But Li Kong had gone in—why?
Li Shimin recalled what Li Kong had said in his presence to repel the Turks, and his decisiveness and courage when he stood alone against them. He knew that Li Kong simply didn’t want to see him grieve—nothing more.
If he were to bear a grudge against such a person over this, what would that make him?
Since even Li Shimin would not punish Li Kong, who else would dare? If he himself didn’t care, what right had others to object?
Empress Zhangsun let out a breath of relief, and so did Li Quan behind her. Although Li Shimin’s words were somewhat disjointed, the main point was clear: Li Kong would not be punished for delivering Consort Ling’s child. Li Quan then wrote out a lengthy edict and presented it to Li Shimin for his seal.
Meanwhile, Li Kong entered the hall and saw the woman lying on the bed, attended by three busy matrons. Other palace maids were scurrying about under the matrons’ direction, while the three women kept urging on the woman in labor and staring intently at her cervix. Li Kong was speechless at their incompetence—if things had come to this, what use were they?
He coughed twice, and before they could react, he said, “Enough, you three may leave. I’ll handle the rest.”
The three women hesitated, but since Li Shimin was outside and hadn’t objected, what could they say? Best to leave—this was no easy task and might even cost them their heads. It was safer to stay as far away as possible.
Li Kong then approached the woman and finally saw her face clearly—no more than seventeen or eighteen, pale with exhaustion, her pillow soaked with sweat, and under the thin gauze covering her in the cold hall, she seemed so fragile.

With a bitter shake of his head, he looked at her and said, “Your Highness, forgive me.”
Then, he placed his hand on her chest and began to work his way downward with a special technique, each strike different but precisely applied.
This was a method Li Kong had learned from an old traditional physician, meant to assist in cases of difficult labor, but its success rate was only fifty-fifty.
Soon, the woman’s cervix opened further. The intense pain made her tremble uncontrollably, but she was too exhausted to even cry out.
Li Kong’s hands did not pause. In fact, as the woman shuddered, his movements only grew faster. Before long, a pair of tiny feet, slick with blood, emerged from the birth canal.
With a deft motion, he pressed a point on the woman’s body, grasped the tiny feet, and gently pulled. The searing pain made the woman scream before she fainted away.
Expertly, Li Kong cleared the membranes from the newborn, picked up the scissors prepared nearby, and cut the umbilical cord. With a gentle slap, the baby let out a piercing wail—a cry that filled the hall.
Only then did Li Kong see it was a girl. Shaking his head, he handed the infant to a waiting palace maid. After confirming that Consort Ling was merely exhausted and not in danger, he finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “Clean up here, make some nourishing soup, I’m leaving.”
The palace maids stared at Li Kong, wide-eyed. After hours of struggle, they had accomplished nothing, and this young man solved everything in a few moments? The humiliation was palpable.
Still, they quickly tidied up, wrapped the newborn, and brought her out for Li Shimin to hold.
Li Kong washed up in a designated room and headed for the exit. But just as he reached the door, he heard Li Shimin’s voice ring out: “Ha! Excellent! Rewards for all! Little one, from this day forth, your name is Li Ling. Your father names you Princess Gaoyang—the high, shining sun...”
Li Kong paid no attention to the rest. His mind was filled with just one thought: I just delivered the most flamboyant woman in all of Tang? How did it come to this?