Chapter 430 Production
Huo Lin's body froze instantly, and his mind went blank for a moment.
[My water broke? Wasn't my due date still over a month away? How could it be so early?!]
[Is it because she's been through so much fright and running around all day? I should have kept her firmly in the Weiyang Palace, never leaving her side!]
What should we do? What should we do? Is premature birth dangerous? She and her baby...
"Someone! Quickly summon the imperial physician! The midwife! Hurry!" Huo Lin snapped back to reality and roared hoarsely, his voice slightly distorted by extreme tension and fear, completely losing its usual composure.
He scooped Jiang Huan up in his arms, but instinctively held her very gently, as if she were a fragile treasure, and strode quickly to the birthing bed in the inner hall, carefully placing her there.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here with you. The imperial physician and midwife will be here soon." He held Jiang Huan's hand tightly, feeling the coldness of her fingertips and the cold sweat on his own palms.
He tried to comfort her, but her panicked eyes betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
[Calm down! Huo Lin, calm down! You are the emperor, you cannot act rashly!]
She looks like she's in so much pain, her face is so pale...
Where are the imperial physicians and midwives? Why aren't they here yet? Are they all useless?!
If anything happens to her or the child, I will never forgive myself!
In no time, the entire Weiyang Palace was in an uproar.
The lights were on, shadows were everywhere, and the sounds of running and giving orders created a tense prelude.
The four midwives, who had been waiting, quickly surrounded her. The one in the lead, Granny Liu, was the most experienced and skilled. Although she was also startled by the sudden premature birth, she managed to remain calm.
She quickly stepped forward to check on Jiang Huan's condition, reaching out to feel the intensity and frequency of the contractions. She then glanced at the gradually damp sheets beneath her, her brows furrowing tightly, her expression grave.
"Your Majesty, the Empress's water has indeed broken and her cervix has opened. Please move outside to rest for the time being. We old servants will take care of her here."
Huo Lin's feet seemed to be nailed to the spot, he didn't move an inch, his gaze was fixed on Jiang Huan, and he wouldn't let go of her hand.
"I will stay here with her and not go anywhere!" His voice was stubborn, even tinged with fear.
"Leave? What a joke! She's in so much pain right now, how can I leave her alone!"
[I want to stay by her side, watch over her, and make sure she is safe and well every single moment.]
Granny Liu looked troubled. She carefully chose her words, hesitating as she spoke: "Your Majesty, the birthing room is a place of bloodshed, and has always been considered ominous. It might offend Your Majesty's presence. Moreover, Her Majesty needs to concentrate during childbirth. With Your Majesty here, Her Majesty..."
Before she could finish speaking, a violent contraction struck. Jiang Huan trembled in pain, let out a muffled groan, and unconsciously dug her nails into Huo Lin's hand, leaving several clear crescent-shaped marks.
Huo Lin felt a sharp stinging pain on the back of his hand, but this pain was nothing compared to the heartache he felt.
It hurts a lot, doesn't it? It must hurt terribly!
What can I do to help her? Why can't men have children?
Jiang Huan was in so much pain that her vision blurred, and her ears were filled with Huo Lin's chaotic thoughts, as if hundreds of ducks were quacking wildly in her head.
Sigh, this guy's palms are sweaty; he's even more nervous than her.
I know he's worried, but his inner thoughts are so noisy, like a buzzing bell. What if he faints from anxiety before the baby is even born? That would really make things worse.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes during a lull in the contractions.
"Huo Lin...you...you go outside and wait..." She used all her strength, her voice broken and weak.
Huo Lin shook his head and gripped her hand tightly: "No, I want to stay with you."
Jiang Huan closed her eyes, feeling another wave of pain building up. She was too exhausted to argue with him, so she had to resort to her trump card.
"You...you're here...I...I can't concentrate...and...your hands are shaking so much it hurts even more..."
Huo Lin was taken aback and subconsciously looked down at the hand he was holding tightly in hers, which was indeed trembling slightly uncontrollably.
He tried to control it, but the shaking only worsened.
Seeing this, Granny Liu immediately seized the opportunity and stepped forward to advise, "Your Majesty, what the Empress says is true. Childbirth is the most mentally taxing and requires concentration. Your presence here may disturb the Empress's mind and be detrimental to the delivery."
She bowed deeply again, her tone firm: "Your Majesty, please move to the outer room. We, your humble servants, will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of Your Majesty and the child!"
Huo Lin looked at Jiang Huan's hair, which was soaked with sweat, and her lower lip, which was white from biting it so hard to endure the pain. Then he thought of what she had just said and he was torn between his own feelings and hers.
Ultimately, concern for Jiang Huan's safety overwhelmed everything else.
She said I caused her more pain, and I shouldn't become a burden to her.
[What if my staying behind distracts her and causes... no, I absolutely cannot take that risk!]
Even though I'm outside, I can receive news immediately. I must trust the imperial physicians and the midwives.
Huo Lin gritted his teeth, as if he had made a tremendous decision.
He leaned down and placed a heavy, burning kiss on Jiang Huan's sweaty forehead, his voice hoarse: "Okay, I'll wait for you outside. Don't be afraid, I'm right outside the door, not far away."
As soon as he finished speaking, he slowly released her hand, turned and left, each step he took was extremely difficult, as if a thousand-pound burden was pressing on his shoulders.
As he reached the door, he turned back and sternly addressed the assembled imperial physicians and midwives: "Listen up, all of you! Ensure the safety of the Imperial Noble Consort and her child. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you all accountable!"
His icy gaze and sharp aura sent a chill down everyone's spine, and they all responded in unison.
The door to the delivery room was closed from the inside by palace servants in front of Huo Lin, completely cutting off his view.
Huo Lin stood frozen outside the door like a stone statue, his back straight, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, his nails digging deep into his palms, leaving several bloody marks, yet he was completely unaware of it.
All his senses were heightened to the extreme; he strained his ears to catch every sound coming from inside the door, and every second felt like an eternity.
Why is it suddenly so quiet inside? Has something happened? Did she faint?
How is Shen Yi doing? Was Mingzhu rescued? God, please don't let any more bad news come in at this time and upset her!
May God protect them, mother and child, and keep them safe!
Outside the palace, the young emperor was extremely anxious. All his composure crumbled when he was going through the pain of childbirth, and he could only pray and wait silently.
Inside the palace, under the guidance of the midwife, Jiang Huan tried her best to adjust her breathing and gather her strength to prepare for the next contraction.
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