Chapter 62 Production
Xiao Jingzhan was taken aback at first, then a deep smile spread across his eyes, like spring water breaking through ice. He lowered his head, his forehead touching hers, his voice low and pleasant: "My dear, are you ordering me around?"
Su Jingyu's face flushed even more, her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she forced herself to meet his gaze, her eyes shimmering with a hint of cunning and expectation: "Your Highness... are you unwilling?"
"I couldn't ask for more." He chuckled softly, kissed the tip of her nose, and called out to Yun Shu to fetch a soft ruler.
Yun Shu quickly retrieved it, tactfully put it down, and then left, closing the palace door behind her.
Xiao Jingzhan picked up the soft measuring tape, but instead of measuring her immediately, he helped Su Jingyu carefully to her feet. Her pregnant belly was heavy, and he practically half-lifted her. Once they were standing, he first wrapped his arms around her from behind, then moved the measuring tape around to her front, carefully avoiding her protruding belly, to measure her bust size. His arm slipped under her armpits, his breath brushing against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
“My dear, you’ve gotten a bit plumper lately.” His voice was tinged with amusement as his fingertips brushed against a soft spot.
Su Jingyu's ears burned, and she gently pinched the arm that was wrapped around her waist: "Your Highness!"
Xiao Jingzhan chuckled softly, noted down the measurements, and then had her raise her arm to measure her arm circumference and shoulder width. Every movement was extremely gentle and patient, as if he were handling a fragile treasure. When measuring her waist and abdomen, he was even more careful, loosely wrapping the soft measuring tape around her, leaving enough room for adjustment.
“They’ve grown quite a bit here,” he gestured, his face filled with pure joy and surprise. “It seems the two little ones are growing very well.”
Finally, there was the length of her legs. He knelt down, gently supporting her ankle with one hand, and measuring her from the sole of her foot to the top of her thigh with a soft measuring tape in the other. This gesture made Su Jingyu tremble slightly; looking down, she could see the top of his dark hair and his focused profile. The dignified Crown Prince, going to such lengths for her…
After taking all the measurements, he stood up, carefully helped her back onto the couch, and sat down himself, letting her lean against him. He picked up a pen and wrote down the measurements on a piece of paper, his handwriting strong and powerful.
"Have the Imperial Wardrobe redo it tomorrow. If there are any problems, I will personally confront them." He put down his pen and pulled her closer again. "Is there anything else that's bothering you? Is your back still sore?"
"Hmm... a little bit." Su Jingyu replied softly, her lower back often aching due to the heavy burden of pregnancy.
Xiao Jingzhan then helped her lie on her side, and sat behind her, placing his warm, large hands on her lower back and massaging it gently. His technique was skillful, and the pressure was just right, clearly something he was used to doing. Su Jingyu sighed comfortably, gradually relaxing under his rhythmic massage, her eyelids beginning to droop.
"Sleep well, my sweetheart, I'm here with you." He whispered in her ear, gently patting her back with his other hand.
Su Jingyu gave a muffled "hmm" and fell into a deep sleep amidst his reassuring breath and gentle caresses.
...
After ten months of pregnancy, the fruit ripens and falls from the vine.
It was a clear, late autumn afternoon. Inside the Liuli Pavilion, Su Jingyu was leaning against a soft couch, being helped by Xiao Jingzhan as she looked through the baby clothes she was preparing for her unborn child. Suddenly, she felt a stirring in her belly, a series of increasingly intense and regular contractions. She was prepared, and thanks to the nourishment of the spiritual spring, her body was in excellent condition. She did not panic, but simply tugged at the sleeve of Xiao Jingzhan, who was reading to her.
"Your Highness, it seems she is about to give birth."
The book in Xiao Jingzhan's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," his face instantly tightening. He scooped her up in his arms, his voice trembling slightly, a tremor he himself didn't even realize: "Don't be afraid, I'm here!" He carried her swiftly and steadily into the well-prepared delivery room, ordering sharply, "Summon the imperial physician! The midwife! Quickly!"
The entire Eastern Palace instantly sprang into action in an orderly fashion. Upon hearing the news, the Emperor and Empress rushed over and waited in the outer room.
The delivery room was orderly.
Su Jingyu's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, but she remained conscious and her breathing was steady. She coordinated her breathing and pushing in accordance with the midwife's instructions. The spiritual spring had subtly improved her constitution, and her birth canal opened much more smoothly than that of ordinary women, with the pain remaining within a tolerable range.
Despite the rules that "the delivery room is unlucky" and "men should not enter," Xiao Jingzhan insisted on coming in and staying by the bedside. He held Su Jingyu's hand tightly, constantly wiping her sweat and whispering words of encouragement in her ear. His hands, which held the power of life and death, were trembling slightly at that moment.
"Don't be nervous, sweetie... I'm here, watching over you, keeping you company." His voice was hoarse, his phoenix eyes fixed on her, as if he wanted to transfer his power to her.
Although Su Jingyu was in pain, she knew the rules well. Panting, she pushed him away, saying, "Your Highness... the delivery room is filthy... you... you should wait outside... that's against the rules..."
"What do rules matter!" Xiao Jingzhan snapped, pressing her sweaty hand against his cheek. "Sweetie, don't talk, save your energy." He wouldn't budge an inch.
Su Jingyu experienced another wave of intense contractions, the pain making her vision blur. Her fingers gripped the quilt beneath her so tightly that the veins on the back of her hands bulged. Yet, a sliver of consciousness remained. She gritted her teeth and, with all her might, pushed him away again, her voice weak but resolute: "Your Highness…please…I beg you…you’re here…I’m distracted…"
Xiao Jingzhan was stung by the almost pleading stubbornness in her eyes, and his heart ached as if it were being torn apart.
“Yu’er…” His voice choked with emotion, as if he wanted to say something more.
"Your Highness..." Su Jingyu was in so much pain that she was covered in cold sweat, but she still stubbornly shook her head. Her eyes were filled with tears, which were not only from the pain, but also from her dependence on him and her earnestness. "I know... I can only feel at ease if you are outside... watching over me... Please go out... okay?"
Each word she uttered seemed to expend immense energy, and her face paled even further. Her fragile yet resolute appearance made all of Xiao Jingzhan's words of refusal stuck in his throat. He knew that what she needed most at this moment was to gather her strength, not to argue with him.
In the end, he was defeated.
Xiao Jingzhan closed his eyes, suppressing the fear and pain surging in his heart. He leaned down and pressed a burning kiss on her sweaty forehead, his voice hoarse: "Okay... I'll go out and watch over you outside. Be good, listen to me, you must... be well."
He abruptly stood up, his movements so swift they created a gust of wind. Not daring to look at her again, he turned and strode out, each step heavy as a thousand pounds. Reaching the door, he stopped, his back to the delivery bed. His voice, cold and heavy as iron, carried an undeniable air of authority as he addressed the trembling imperial physicians, midwives, and palace servants: "Listen up, all of you! If anything happens to Consort Liang or the imperial heir, you will all come back with your heads!"
"Yes!" Everyone in the room knelt down in unison, utterly silent.
Xiao Jingzhan took a deep breath, flung open the door, and walked out. The door closed behind him, shutting out the suppressed groans and busy activity inside.
Outside the delivery room, the Emperor and Empress had been waiting anxiously for a long time.
Upon seeing him emerge, the Empress immediately stepped forward: "Zhan'er, how is it inside?"
Xiao Jingzhan did not answer, his phoenix eyes fixed on the closed door, as if trying to see through the door to the person inside. His thin lips were pressed together, his jawline was taut and hard, and his hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles white and trembling slightly.
Seeing his appearance, the emperor sighed and patted his shoulder: "Women always go through this during childbirth. Su is a blessed woman and will surely have a safe delivery."
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