Everyone could feel the suffocating sensation that was overwhelming; it seemed as if even the air itself had frozen in place by that question.
Feng Qingyun looked at Luo Yuning's figure in the light screen with pity in her eyes, her gaze filled with endless sympathy and emotion.
Then she slowly began to speak, "This daughter of the Wen family is named Wen Ruo. As the eldest daughter of the Wen family's main branch, she has been pampered since childhood and has acquired a wealth of talent."
Years ago, through the matchmaker's advice to match their social standing, she married into the Luo family in a grand and glorious manner, wearing a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, and became Luo Qi'an's legal wife.
When the two first met, their eyes met, and like kindling meeting a raging fire, the spark of love was ignited.
After their marriage, their days were as sweet and warm as honey.
As a gentle and refined scholar, Luo Qi'an exudes elegance in every gesture. Whether reciting poetry, painting, or discussing national affairs, he captivates Wen Ruo.
He cherished Wen Ruo dearly, and every morning he would personally select hairpins for her and comb her long, ink-black hair.
At night, the two often strolled hand in hand in the courtyard, enjoying the moonlight and sharing their innermost feelings.
The couple never argued, and even in the smallest matters of life, they always understood and respected each other, becoming a model of loving couples in the eyes of everyone in the capital.
Although there were several concubines in the Luo family, they were all under Luo Qi'an's authority and his unreserved favoritism towards Wen Ruo.
The concubines all treated this lady with great respect, and were always careful in their words and actions, never daring to overstep their bounds in the slightest.
The children born out of wedlock were taught from a young age to respect their stepmother and treated her with utmost deference.
Upon meeting, one must bow and greet them respectfully, daring not to make the slightest mistake in speech or behavior.
Wen Ruo gave birth to Luo Yuning as her first child. It was a stormy night with thunder and lightning.
She was young at the time and her body was already weak. During childbirth, she suffered a sudden change and was quite frightened.
The room was filled with an atmosphere of tension and fear, and the midwives were extremely busy.
Wen Ruo was in so much pain that her face turned as pale as paper, and large beads of sweat kept rolling down her forehead, soaking the bedding beneath her.
Her lips were bitten until they turned blue, and her painful groans tugged at everyone's hearts.
The pain of childbirth almost consumed her, and the breath of life was slowly fading away.
Upon hearing the news, Madam Wen was extremely anxious and rushed to the Luo residence overnight despite the rain.
Upon entering the room, his expression turned solemn. In front of everyone, he raised his hand, pointed to the sky, and swore that he would definitely be able to save Wen Ruo.
At that moment, Luo Qi'an was completely overwhelmed by fear and worry, pacing back and forth in the room, his eyes filled with anxiety and helplessness.
His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turned white, and he kept muttering to himself, praying to God to protect his wife and daughter.
Seeing the Wen family matriarch's unwavering resolve, he hesitated repeatedly before finally, with a heavy heart, agreeing to let her take Wen Ruo away.
Afterwards, the matriarch of the Wen family left the Luo residence with the dying Wen Ruo. During this time, Luo Qi'an was extremely anxious, hoping to see his wife every day.
He tried to visit her many times, but was stopped by the matriarch of the Wen family for various reasons.
She was eloquent and persuasive, claiming that Wen Ruo was going to have a double postpartum period, which was subject to many taboos. She said that if any outsiders disturbed her, it would disrupt the good fortune during her postpartum period, which would be bad for both the mother and the child.
Then he said that Wen Ruo was physically weak and needed to recuperate quietly. The surroundings had to be quiet, otherwise she would develop a chronic illness that would affect the rest of her life.
Helpless, Luo Qi'an could only pace back and forth in his mansion, filled with anxiety. Every minute and every second felt incredibly long to him.
He often had trouble sleeping at night, staring at the empty bed, his heart filled with worry for his wife and children.
He would wander alone in the courtyard, gazing in the direction of the Wen family's residence, sometimes sitting there all night, his longing and worry turning into sighs.
Two months later, the rain stopped and the sun shone brightly in the courtyard of the Luo residence. Wen Ruo indeed returned carrying Luo Yuning.
Luo Qi'an saw their figures in the distance, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears that streamed down his face uncontrollably. He took a few steps forward to greet them.
His hands trembled slightly as he carefully took the child from her, then held Wen Ruo's hand tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, they would disappear again.
Seeing that his wife and child were safe and sound, he finally felt relieved and happily welcomed them into the mansion.
At that moment, he felt that all the waiting had been worthwhile, and his world was filled with sunshine again.
Luo Qi'an stood frozen in place, his feet feeling as if they were made of lead, too heavy to move an inch.
His gaze was fixed on the mysterious light screen above King Jinrui Zhao's head.
The light and shadow on the screen flickered and danced, as if telling a secret unknown to others.
But all that remained in his eyes was a blank stare, as if he had been frozen in place. Time seemed to stand still for him, and he remained in a daze for a long time.
Looking back, the harrowing experience of childbirth still haunts him like a persistent nightmare.
That night, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and large raindrops pounded against the windows, making a crackling sound. The wind howled as if it would tear the whole world apart.
Inside the delivery room, Wen Ruo's painful groans echoed continuously, each sound like a sharp knife piercing Luo Qi'an's heart.
He paced anxiously outside the delivery room, his hands sometimes clenching into fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, and sometimes nervously twisting the hem of his clothes.
His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, which mixed with the rainwater and slid down his cheeks, dripping onto the stone slabs at his feet and quickly merging into the puddles.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com