Chapter 109 On the Eve of Production
Ten months of pregnancy, one day of childbirth.
As the due date approached, the atmosphere in the Regent's Palace became unprecedentedly tense, even more so than when the Northern Yan army was pressing in.
The already heavily guarded Prince's mansion was now surrounded like an iron barrel. There were guards every three steps and sentries every five steps; even a fly that flew in would be questioned about its gender.
The main courtyard is of paramount importance.
All sharp objects had been removed, and three thick carpets were laid on the floor, even the corners of the tables were covered with the softest cotton cloth. The imperial obstetricians took turns on duty in the side hall, and the four best midwives in the capital were hired, on standby for twelve hours a day.
At the heart of all this, Regent Shen Jin has not attended court for three consecutive days.
He moved his study to the outer room of the main courtyard, keeping a close watch on Jiang Mianmian. He could rush in instantly if there was any movement inside.
It was late at night.
A fierce wind howled outside the window, accompanied by lightning and thunder; a late autumn downpour was brewing.
The bedroom was brightly lit by candlelight.
Jiang Mianmian, with her enormous belly protruding, leaned against the soft couch with difficulty. Her feet were swollen like steamed buns, and she couldn't even fit into her shoes, so she could only wear the large cotton slippers that Chen Jin had specially made for her.
"Phew...so tired..."
Jiang Mianmian shifted her body and felt like her back was about to break.
[This is so heavy!]
I feel like I'm not carrying a child, but Nezha! Or maybe a lead ball!
Turning over in bed is like flipping a pancake, it's so difficult!
Shen Jin was squatting by the bed, holding medicated oil in his hand, carefully massaging her swollen calves. His movements were gentle and practiced, clearly indicating that he had done this countless times before.
Upon hearing her thoughts, Shen Jin paused in his actions, looked up at her, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins and barely concealed anxiety.
"Where do you feel unwell? Are you about to give birth?"
He asked nervously, his voice trembling.
"No... I'm just tired."
Jiang Mianmian waved her hand, looking at his paranoid expression, and said helplessly, "Don't be too nervous. The imperial physician said it will take a few more days."
"The words of the imperial physicians should not be taken at face value."
Shen Jin said in a deep voice, "These past few days, I have felt uneasy."
This intuition was honed through years of fighting on the battlefield. He would have this almost instinctive premonition before any major event occurred.
and……
Things don't seem to be going well in Beijing lately.
Although the Empress Dowager was under house arrest and Lin Wan'er was dead, it seemed that the "remnants of the previous dynasty" lurking in the shadows had not all perished. Yingyi reported that recently many unfamiliar faces had appeared in the city, and they were all gathering near the Regent's Palace.
What are they trying to do?
Take advantage of the time when the princess is giving birth and the palace is in chaos to make a move?
His usually composed gaze instantly turned sharp as a knife.
"Shadow One".
He gave a low shout into the air.
"Your subordinate is here." Shadow One's voice came from outside the window.
"Increase security tonight. Send out all the guards to surround the main courtyard. If any suspicious persons approach..."
His deep, cold voice was like ice: "Kill without mercy."
"yes!"
After arranging the defenses, Shen Jin lowered his head again and continued to massage Jiang Mianmian.
Jiang Mianmian looked at his tense profile and felt a pang of sadness.
This idiot...
Even though she was so tired she was about to faint, she still gave me a massage.
I know what you're afraid of. Childbirth is like going through hell for a woman; you're worried I won't make it, aren't you?
Don't worry, I, Jiang Mianmian, am incredibly resilient! Even zombies can't kill me, so giving birth is no problem for me!
She reached out and patted Chen Jin's head:
"Your Highness, stop pressing. Come up and lie down with me for a while."
Shen Jin took her hand and kissed it.
"I'm not tired."
"Liar." Jiang Mianmian pouted. "Your dark circles are practically falling off the floor. Get up here! This is an order! I'm pregnant, so I'm the boss!"
Shen Jin couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he took off his outer robe and carefully lay down beside her.
He didn't dare to squeeze her, so he could only turn to the side, one hand loosely protecting her stomach, the other hand tightly holding her hand.
"Go to sleep," Jiang Mianmian yawned. "You need to be well-rested to fight the monster."
Looking at her unguarded sleeping face, Shen Jin's tense nerves finally relaxed a little.
"Okay. Go to sleep."
However, this sleep was destined to be restless.
The wind and rain outside the window grew stronger, and thunder rumbled, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.
I don't know how much time passed.
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening thunderclap resounded over the Prince's mansion.
Jiang Mianmian suddenly woke up with a start.
【ah! 】
【it hurts! 】
A sharp, intense pain suddenly erupted from deep within her lower abdomen, as if something was tearing her body apart.
"Hmm..."
Jiang Mianmian groaned, her clothes instantly soaked with cold sweat.
At almost the same time, Shen Jin, who was next to him, jumped up.
"What's wrong?!" His voice trembled.
"pain……"
Jiang Mianmian gripped Shen Jin's arm, her nails digging deep into his flesh, her face as pale as paper. "Shen Jin... I think... I'm going into labor..."
Holy crap! That hurts so much!
[It hurts more than being bitten by a zombie! It hurts more than breaking ribs!]
Is this child impatient? He rushes out the moment there's thunder? Is he some kind of thunder god?
His usually composed pupils contracted sharply.
She's about to give birth!
"Someone come quick! Someone come!"
A deep, furious roar pierced through the thunder and rain, echoing throughout the main courtyard: "The Princess is about to give birth! Summon the imperial physician! Summon the midwife!"
The midwives and imperial physicians, who had been waiting for orders, immediately rushed in with their boxes.
"Hot water! Quickly boil some water!"
"Scissors! Gauze! Ginseng slices!"
"Your Highness, please leave! The delivery room is filled with blood and is considered unlucky!"
The midwife wanted to push Shen Jin out.
"Get out of my way!"
Shen Jin shoved the midwife aside, his eyes fierce as if he wanted to devour someone. "I'm not going anywhere! I'll stay here and guard her!"
avoid?
She's on the verge of death; should he leave her?
dream!
He held Jiang Mianmian's hand tightly, knelt by the bed, and his voice was hoarse:
"Mianmian, don't be afraid... I'm here. I've always been here."
Jiang Mianmian was in so much pain that she was almost delirious, but when she heard his voice, she managed to force a smile.
[Fool...who's afraid...]
I'm just... a little hungry... I want to eat some chocolate... to replenish my energy...
Shen Jin: "..."
Even at a time like this, you're still thinking about food.
He quickly pulled out a piece of chocolate that he had prepared beforehand from a hidden compartment next to him and put it in her mouth.
"Eat. You can scold me again when you have the energy."
Jiang Mianmian chewed on the chocolate, feeling the sweetness slightly suppress the pain.
However, just as the delivery room was in chaos and everyone's attention was focused on Jiang Mianmian—
"Whoosh—!"
A flaming rocket pierced through the heavy rain and shot in from outside the courtyard wall, landing squarely on the roof of the main courtyard.
Immediately afterwards.
"Fire! Fire!"
Terrified screams came from the outer courtyard.
"An assassin! Someone's setting fire!"
Shen Jin suddenly turned around and looked at the towering flames outside the window.
His eyes became extremely terrifying in that instant.
It's finally here.
The rats hiding in the shadows finally couldn't resist anymore.
On this stormy night, when the person he cared about most was facing a life-or-death situation... they made their move.
"Shadow One!"
His deep, solemn voice was as cold as if it came from the deepest hell.
"Defend to the main courtyard!"
"No matter how bad the fire is outside, no matter how many people come... I will not allow anyone to step into this room!"
"Kill without mercy!"
"yes!"
Outside the door, the sound of swords being drawn was particularly jarring in the rainy night.
A battle between life and death begins at this moment.
Inside the house, Jiang Mianmian groaned in pain. Outside, deafening shouts of battle and flames filled the air.
This is the darkest moment before production.
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