Shen Yunyun had a bad feeling—probably because the baby had been in the womb too long and was缺氧 (oxygen-deprived). She immediately entered the scene, snatched the child from the midwife's hands, and vanished in an instant.
The midwife stared at her own hands; if not for the blood still lingering on them, she would have doubted everything she'd just witnessed. The Empress was also at a loss—had her child been taken by a celestial being? Taken away was fine, taken away was fine—it spared the child from the storms ahead. But she desperately wanted to see the baby.
Shen Yunyun emerged from the scene and, in the next moment, appeared with the baby in the neonatal ward of a hospital. The child was rushed into emergency care. The doctors moved with practiced precision: clearing the airway, administering oxygen, flicking the soles of the baby's feet. Shen Yunyun paced anxiously outside until she heard a wailing cry from the resuscitation room—only then did her suspended heart finally settle. The baby cried, and everyone smiled.
A nurse assisting the doctor took the child, washed it under the faucet like scrubbing a cabbage, cleaned it thoroughly, dressed the umbilical cord, and wrapped it in a tight swaddle before carrying it out. "The baby's fine now. Come with me to register," the nurse said, handing the infant to Shen Yunyun.
Shen Yunyun took the baby and looked down, meeting the little one's big, dark, shiny eyes. So adorable. In that single glance, she was utterly conquered by this soft, tender little creature. Human babies were so cute—what if she wanted to keep it for herself?
"What a beautiful baby. I've seen so many in the neonatal unit, and none are prettier than this one," the nurse chatted as they walked. Shen Yunyun thought to herself, *Of course—this is the Empress's son.* Whether it was the Emperor's or not, she didn't know, but it was definitely the Empress's, right?
After a few steps, Shen Yunyun remembered she couldn't register—this child didn't belong here at all. She quickly pulled out a thousand yuan, tossed it to the nurse, and said, "I have to rush back to take care of the mother." With that, she turned and ran, clutching the baby. The nurse grabbed the money and chased after her, but lost her at the stairwell.
Shen Yunyun returned to the delivery room. Everything was just as she'd left it—the midwife still staring at her hands, the Empress gazing regretfully at the spot where she'd disappeared, as if time hadn't passed at all. The moment she reappeared, everything sprang back into motion. She handed the child back to the Empress and said, "The baby's fine now. Take good care of him, and don't delegate it to others. There are plenty in this palace who don't want him to grow up safely—be cautious. Also, breastfeeding is best for both you and the child."
"Thank you for the guidance, celestial one," the Empress quickly expressed her gratitude.
Having saved the mother and child, Shen Yunyun said, "Now, let's talk about payment. I don't want you to repay me in your next life as a beast of burden or a blade of grass—reward me now."
"What does the celestial one desire?"
Shen Yunyun wanted to ask for gold directly, but she couldn't shed her celestial guise so easily. She glanced around the Empress's chambers—any item she took back would be an antique. But picking just anything would make her seem like a celestial with poor taste. Suddenly, she spotted the jade bracelet on the Empress's wrist—its water quality was excellent. Before she could speak, the Empress had already slipped it off and handed it to Shen Yunyun. "This is a small token of my gratitude. I don't have much else to offer right now. How about you visit once a month, and I'll prepare gifts each time?"
Shen Yunyun's eyes lit up. Once a month? That meant client follow-ups, with gifts every time? That sounded wonderful.