Dragon and phoenix bring good fortune, cries herald the dawn.

Time flew by, and Qin Yuti's pregnancy, marked by Zhao Jingyi's constant excessive tension and intermittent periods of normalcy, was finally nearing its end. The imperial physician, after examining her pulse, determined that the fetus was full-term and the delivery would occur within the next few days. The entire Prince Yi's residence was on high alert, with midwives, imperial physicians, and experienced nannies taking turns day and night. Zhao Jingyi, in particular, was so anxious that he could hardly eat or sleep, wishing he could keep Qin Yuti tied to his belt.

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few. Qin Yuti and Zhao Jingyi slept in the same bed as usual. Since Qin Yuti became pregnant, Zhao Jingyi had been extra vigilant when he slept, afraid that he might roll over and crush her and the baby.

Around midnight, Qin Yuti was awakened from her sleep by a series of sharp abdominal pains. She groaned and instinctively gripped the sleeve of the person next to her.

Zhao Jingyi sat bolt upright almost instantly, his voice filled with drowsiness and terror: "What's wrong? Yu Ti! What's wrong?!"

"It hurts... my stomach... it hurts so much..." Qin Yuti said intermittently, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

Zhao Jingyi's mind went blank for a moment, and he instantly became fully awake. He scrambled out of bed, not even bothering to put on his shoes, and rushed out barefoot, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Help! Help! The Princess is about to give birth! She's about to give birth—!"

His shout, like a thunderclap, shattered the silence of the Prince's mansion in the night. The entire mansion was instantly brightly lit and bustling with activity. The midwives and nannies, who had been waiting for orders, skillfully rushed into the inner chambers, while the imperial physicians were on standby in the outer room.

Zhao Jingyi tried to rush in, but was stopped at the door by the head nanny: "Your Highness! The delivery room is a blood room, and men should not enter! Please wait outside!"

"What blood room?! I want to go in and be with the Princess!" Zhao Jingyi's eyes were red with anxiety as he tried to rush in.

"Your Highness! Going in will only cause trouble and distract the Princess!" The old woman stood firm, her tone resolute.

Just then, a suppressed cry of pain came from inside the room. Zhao Jingyi felt as if his heart was being torn apart. Clinging to the doorframe, tears welling in his eyes, he called out, "Yuti! Wife! How are you? Are you in pain?"

The midwife's helpless voice came from inside: "Your Highness! Please stop shouting! Let the Princess save her energy!"

Zhao Jingyi had no choice but to shut his mouth, pacing back and forth outside the door like an ant on a hot pan. Every time he heard a cry of pain coming from inside, his face paled a little more, and his fists clenched tightly.

The contractions grew more frequent, and Qin Yuti's moans became clearer and more painful. Zhao Jingyi could no longer bear it, and peeking through the crack in the door, he cried out, "Yuti! Let's not have the baby! Please, let's not have the baby! It hurts too much! Let's not have the child! I only want you! I only want you to be safe and sound!"

Upon hearing this, the busy midwives inside almost laughed in exasperation, while the imperial physician outside shook his head helplessly. One of the midwives, unable to bear it any longer, opened the door, curtsied to Zhao Jingyi, and said in an unquestionable tone, "Your Highness! If you continue to make such a racket and disturb the Princess's peace of mind, this old servant will have no choice but to ask you to wait in the study in the front courtyard!"

Zhao Jingyi was speechless. Looking at the nanny's stern face, he finally dared not shout anymore. He could only squat down by the door, press his ear against it, listen to the sounds inside, and mutter silently to himself. It was unclear whether he was praying or continuing his "I won't have any more children" argument.

Time passed slowly, from late night to dawn. Zhao Jingyi remained squatting, unaware that his legs were numb. He seemed lost in thought, his eyes bloodshot, his heart filled with fear of the unknown and heartache for his wife.

Finally, as the sky began to lighten, a loud and clear cry of a newborn baby came from inside the room!

Zhao Jingyi suddenly raised his head, his eyes bursting with wild joy!

But before he could even laugh, another cry, slightly weaker but equally powerful, rang out!

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness!" The midwife beamed as she opened the door, carrying two swaddled babies in her arms. "The Princess Consort has given birth! It's a little prince! And a little princess! Auspicious dragon and phoenix, mother and children are safe and sound!"

Twins! They're twins!

Zhao Jingyi was completely stunned. He staggered into the inner room, no longer caring about the taboo of the blood room. He saw Qin Yuti lying weakly on the bed, her face pale, her hair soaked with sweat and sticking to her forehead, but her eyes were full of gentleness and a tired smile.

He rushed to the bedside, tightly grasped Qin Yuti's hand, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Yuti... Yuti, how are you? Does it still hurt? You scared me to death... you really scared me to death..."

Looking at his disheveled and pitiful appearance, Qin Yuti wanted to laugh but didn't have the strength, so she gently shook her head.

The midwife brought over two tiny swaddled babies. Zhao Jingyi carefully took them, looking them over from left to right. The two little ones were rosy-cheeked and wrinkled, like two little monkeys, their eyes closed and their little mouths moving.

These are his children? His and Yu Ti's children? And they're twins, a boy and a girl!

Overwhelmed by immense happiness and an indescribable sense of responsibility, he was instantly overwhelmed. This usually fearless and mischievous man was now holding two fragile little lives, his movements stiff as a puppet, barely daring to breathe, yet tears streamed down his face uncontrollably, landing on the swaddling clothes.

“So good… Yu Ti, so good…” he choked up, repeating only this one sentence.

Qin Yuti looked at him, her eyes also filled with tears—tears of joy, relief, and endless anticipation for the future.

The morning sunlight streamed through the window and filled the room.

After a night of tension and busyness, Prince Yi's Mansion welcomed the most melodious cry and the most joyful celebration.

After experiencing this "life-or-death test," our Prince Yi looked at his weakened wife and two children and secretly vowed in his heart: from now on, he must be more... well, although he may still make mistakes, he will definitely try his best to be a good husband and a good father!

Of course, what he needs to learn first is probably how to hold a child properly without being disliked by his own queen.