Author note: I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to this story, however last year we decided to move and this has taken up so much of my time and energy that I simply didn't have any energy or time left to continue the story. During my holiday I've finished writing the story. And then I lost my notebook with this and the following chapter, which was horrible, I really felt defeated, luckily I found it back last week. In the following weeks I'll try to upload a chapter each week. Please enjoy!

Best feeling she had ever experienced

Not long after the emperor had left, Su's contraction subsided and she once more become aware of her surroundings. She was glad to see that only Yan and her maids were in the room. "My dear, shall I help you get undressed and lying down?" Yan asked while he looked into Su's eyes to get a read on her emotions, Su nodded and willingly held out her arms so Yan could easily remove the first layer. Softly and carefully Yan removed it and while he slid the sleeves over Su's arms he caressed her arms, gliding his hands over her arms soothingly. He held out the garment to one of the maids who folded it and placed it somewhere. Yan continued to softly, but with a sure hand, peel layers of garments from Su. Just before he would take off the last layer, Su grasped his hand again. By now knowledgeable on how he could best help Su through the contractions Yan turned to her, offering his support. He could see the contractions become more intense and Su had more difficulty with dealing with them.

After a while, Su had by then laid down on the bed, but after going through two more contractions while laying down, had decided she much rather stand and walk to deal with them, the royal physician entered. He was shocked when he saw Prince Qi supporting the Princess consort Qi. Everyone knew that the Qi household on occasion disregarded the social rules, but this impropriety in the royal palace was unacceptable to the old physician. "Your Highness! Please leave, the palace maids are more than capable to help the princess during this time. I will call them." Su, who by now was having contractions more or less back to back had noticed someone had entered the room, but she couldn't focus on what was being said. As a new contraction just traveled through her abdomen and she grasped his hands tightly, Yan also couldn't react directly. But when the contraction subsided and he could see Su was again calm, he did turn to the physician: "I'm sorry, but my wife has requested my presence during this time and I won't leave her."

"Your highness, I must insist. This is improper, how could a husband help during this time? You must wait outside to preserve the ladies' dignity." The physician vehemently said. Su, who by now understood what was happening, tightened her grip on Yan, he looked down in het face and saw she was getting anxious. "No. Please, I want him to stay." Apparently the physician saw her anxiety as well, so he said in a soothing voice: "Your Highness, I understand that you are anxious, but really the maids will be able to help you through this time. It really is for the best. You'll see the Prince again after you've had your child, but he needs to leave now."

"No, no. He needs to stay." Su said still grasping Yan's arm tightly. Yan patted her hand and then placed his hand reassuringly over hers. Reassuring her he wouldn't leave her now. He knew the physician meant well, but there was no way he would wait outside while Su was giving birth.

"I cannot accept this, I must insist." The physician said again. Feeling her hand shake under his, Yan turned to Su and saw anger and anxiety on her face, he could feel the tension in her body and saw tears in her eyes. He placed his free hand on her cheek and forced her to look at him. "Calm down my dear. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Calm down, look at me." Her anxious eyes found his steadfast gaze and she knew he would protect her and remain with her. She breathed in and out, trying to calm down only to feel another contraction after she had calmed down. When the contraction finally subsided, to Su it had appeared that this contraction had taken much longer than the others, Su said she wanted to lay down. Yan helped her lay down on the bed, then when she was calm he turned to the physician and calmly stated that he would remain with Su. Before he could respond Rushuang and one of Su's personal maids, who had been left behind in the mansion rushed in. Rushuang immediately went to Su, without looking at the two men. Yan turned to her and Su and regarded them, listening to Rushuang's questions and Su's answers, he on occasion supplied an answer when Su didn't know. After Rushuang was done with her questions she did look at the old physician. As Yan knelt down next to Su, Rushuang stepped up to the physician: "Dear sir, thank you for your help. I'll assist the princess further as per her request. You may leave." Rushuang calmly stated. For a moment it looked like the physician wanted to protest, but in the end he thought better of it and left in a huff. Rushuang turned back to Su and said: "Good, it's time for you to meet your child."

This was the best feeling she'd ever experienced, her beloved husband was cradling her from behind, his arms around her supporting her arms which were holding their beautiful sleeping daughter. Su looked down onto the small baby in her arms, gently stroking her cheek. The love for this tiny girl was instantaneous, the moment Rushuang had handed the still naked, slightly slippery and crying baby to Su to hold, Su knew she would do anything to protect her. Her eyes had filled with tears while she said a soft hello to her daughter. She hadn't noticed anyone else for those few first moments, except for Yan who had clasped his hand around her shoulders and also looked down on their daughter. Su had at one point looked up at his face and seen the same unconditional love and wonder she felt. Someone placed a sheet over the baby and after a while one of the maids took her away to clean her up. Rushuang had taken care of the last few things she needed to check with Su and then the baby girl. Another maid came with a washcloth and some water to bath Su a little bit. Then the little girl was brought back to Su and Yan and Su once more held her daughter in her arms, she saw someone had brought the blanket she had worked on, in which her daughter was now wrapped. "Did you ask them to bring the blanket?" Su asked Yan, who had nodded. Even though she was much more aware of her surroundings now compared to the time the contractions were the worst and during childbirth, Su still only knew some maids were busy in the room. All of Su's attention was still on the baby safely in her arms. Finally one of the maids suggested that Su would get up and get properly washed and dressed. Su handed the baby girl to Yan, who very carefully held the tiny human. Her maid helped her stand up an the first few steps felt so odd and wobbly that Su really needed the support. It took a few moments and steps to regain her balance, but Su managed the short distance to the adjacent washroom. When she returned she stopped in the door and took in the surprising and most lovely scene she'd ever seen: her large, powerful husband cradling a tiny baby and cooing to her, softly caressing the cheek. Her heart filled with love and peace, she didn't want to disrupt him, but he as always felt her presence and turned to her. To Su's surprise he had tears in his eyes, but she immediately knew they were joyous. Slowly, because she was still a little bit wobbly Su came to him. Yan looked into her eyes with a smile: "She's perfect, just like you. Thank you."

Su had smiled and given him a kiss.

Su sighed in contentment and let her head rest against Yans chest behind her. He kissed the top of her head. "We should let the empress and emperor and our friends in and let them see her." Su commented, slightly sorry this peaceful cocoon couldn't last.

"You're right, my dear." Yan said and then called out for Fei Yuan. He asked him to show the others in. The dowager empress, the emperor, Rushuang, Brother Xie, Zihou and Princess Yunchuan all came in. The felicitations and admiration for the little baby girl were on the forefront of their minds and Su quietly enjoyed this time with friends. The ladies all flocked around her and as a proud mother Su showed her daughter. After a while Su looked over to where the men had gathered and she saw that they all looked solemn. In the back of her mind Su knew the situation with the mark of Xuan was still dire, which suddenly triggered something else in Su. Something she suddenly remembered and needed to tell Yan, she glanced at Yunchuan and knew she would have to wait until their guests had left. It took a little longer before the guests had left, but not before the dowager empress had made it clear that Su and Yan had to remain a few more days for Su to recover, before they were allowed to leave for their own home. Reluctantly Su and Yan agreed to this, both just wanted to go home, but with the little baby and Su still recovering the recognized that staying was the best option.

When they were once again alone, with baby girl sleeping in a crib and Su once more resting on the bed, Su said to Yan: "I think I know who's behind the Ghost army." Yan who had just poured two cups of tea walked to Su and handed her a cup, then he sat down on the bed: "Really? Who?"