Chapter 197 Why hasn't she given birth yet? (Bonus Chapter 1)
Not long after Li Chunli turned 18, she slept with Liu Shu, who was younger than her. After they had a child, she was raised in the Prince's mansion.
Since Li Chunli was merely a concubine, calling her "aunt" was already an overstatement.
The term "aunt" was reserved for concubines listed in the imperial genealogy. A maid like Li Chunli, who was a "tongfang yatou" (a maidservant who served in the emperor's household), would be politely called "xiaoniang" (little lady), but according to custom, she would only be called "tongfang yatou" (maidservant who served in the emperor's household).
If Liu Shu didn't still have some affection for Li Chunli, and if Li Chunli wasn't the only woman Liu Shu had by her side at the moment, the midwife wouldn't have called her "Aunt Li."
The midwife's words might have sounded like she didn't care about Li Chunli's pregnancy, but actually, she was right. It was only the beginning.
The cervix is only dilated to one finger's width. It will be at least five or six hours before the cervix is fully dilated and the baby can give birth.
Therefore, the midwife was not nervous at all and just started drinking tea on the side.
Qin Tao had given birth to two children, so she knew, of course, that what the midwife said was true and correct.
But the midwife's neglect of Li Chunli was also true.
The reason is still the same: Li Chunli was just a maidservant.
Qin Tao held Li Chunli's hand, coaxing her not to shout, and to save her strength for when she really needed it. She didn't want her to be so tired that she would run out of energy, which would be dangerous.
Although Li Chunli was terrified of childbirth because Qin Tao was by her side, at least her mother was there, which gave her some comfort.
Looking at Li Chunli, whose hair was soaked with sweat, Qin Tao felt a sharp, persistent pain in her heart.
"Li-jie, listen to your mother, bite on this, bear with it, just bear with it a little longer."
Qin Tao stuffed the folded cloth into Li Chunli's mouth. Looking at Li Chunli, who was enduring the pain and dared not cry out, Qin Tao could only force back the tears in her eyes and sing the nursery rhymes she used to lull Li Chunli to sleep when she was a child.
"The moon is crescent, the stars are bright, the insects fly and fly..."
Although she was still sweating profusely from the pain, at least listening to Qin Tao's singing made Li Chunli feel less tense and uncomfortable.
However, when Liu Shu, who was pacing back and forth in the courtyard outside the house, could no longer hear Li Chunli's cries of pain from inside the house, he began to feel uneasy.
As Liu Shu reached the doorway, her page stopped her from going any further, and she called out loudly into the house, "Li Niang? Li Niang? Li Niang, are you alright?"
Why are you silent?
Does it still hurt?
Should we call a doctor?
Li Niang?
"Li Niang, answer me!"
When Li Chunli heard Liu Shu shouting outside, her eyes widened suddenly. She wanted to spit out the cloth in her mouth in response to Liu Shu's words.
Before Qin Tao could remove the cloth from Li Chunli's mouth, the midwife nimbly got up, walked to the door, opened it, stepped over the threshold, and slammed the door shut.
Without giving Liu Shu, who was peeking out from the doorway, a chance, they closed the door directly.
The midwife bowed and greeted Liu Shu, then raised her head and smiled as she advised him, "Young Master, a woman's labor can take a long time. Aunt Li is doing well inside, and her mother is by her side."
Your Highness, rest assured, I've been delivering babies for half my life, I'll definitely make sure the child is born safely.
Aunt Li is keeping quiet now, saving her strength for when she gives birth later.
"Your Highness, you should return first. I will go and inform you of the good news as soon as Consort Li has given birth!"
Although Liu Shu already had Shouge'er, he knew nothing about it when Shouge'er was born. He only gradually came to accept that Shouge'er was his child.
As for Shouge'er's biological mother, she had long since died.
It can be said that the child in Li Chunli's belly was the first child that Liu Shu truly watched grow inside Li Chunli's belly.
Although Liu Shu had many faults, at least he still had some genuine feelings for Li Chunli.
So, listening to the midwife's words of comfort, he wanted to say that he could wait, that he could wait outside, and that he wanted to come with Li Chunli.
But before he could say that, the midwife said again, "Your Highness, you can't help with the woman's childbirth."
With His Highness standing at the door, Aunt Li couldn't even utter her cries of pain.
"Your Highness, please go back and rest. Once the baby is born, I will immediately go to inform you of the good news!"
No sooner had the midwife finished speaking than three or four people walked in through the courtyard gate, led by an old woman who looked quite old.
As soon as the old woman approached, she bowed to Liu Shufu and said, "Young Master, the Princess Consort wants you to go back and rest quickly, and not to block the entrance."
Liu Shu, who had intended to say something, immediately fell silent when faced with the old woman's stern gaze.
Liu Shu looked up and strained to see inside through the door, but what could she possibly see?
"Li Niang, I... I'm going back now. Don't be afraid! Please stay safe!"
After shouting those words, Liu Shu had no choice but to turn around and walk towards the door, glancing back at the tightly closed door every few steps.
After Liu Shu and the old woman left, the midwife reopened the door and went inside.
Seeing the hopeful look in Li Chunli's eyes, the midwife sighed and said to Li Chunli, "The young master has gone back, so Aunt Li, don't worry about him."
This woman's childbirth has nothing to do with the man; Aunt Li should focus on her own pregnancy first.
Although she knew in her heart that Liu Shu couldn't really wait outside for her to give birth, Li Chunli, who was giving birth for the first time, still had some longing in her heart, hoping that the person she loved could be by her side during childbirth.
They waited until it got dark, and then several lamps were lit inside, illuminating the room brightly.
Li Chunli, who was originally able to stand, could no longer stand after several hours of labor pains.
She was now half-reclining on the low couch in the room, her face pale, and the look of gritting her teeth and enduring the pain that she had shown before was gone.
After several hours, she had long since become numb from the pain.
It was only at this moment that the midwife's expression suddenly changed.
Logically speaking, by this time, Li Chunli's cervix should be dilated to eight or nine centimeters, and she should be just one step away from giving birth.
However, even now, Li Chunli's cervix is only dilated to less than three fingers!
Qin Tao was now filled with panic, as she had considered that Li Chunli, at her age, would have some difficulties during childbirth.
The pain of childbirth for a woman is that she truly has one foot in the gates of hell; she is truly fighting for her life against the King of Hell!
Li Chunli is so young, Qin Tao had thought that she might have a hard time giving birth, but she never thought it would be this difficult!
She's actually unable to give birth!
If she can't give birth, not to mention the possibility of the baby dying in the womb, Li Chunli herself will die!
"Call the doctor!"
Get a doctor here!
Go find a doctor right away!
Qin Tao grabbed the midwife's hand and yelled at her loudly!
The midwife was startled and felt the pain on her arm from Qin Tao's excited scratching. She quickly replied, "Find a doctor!"
Yes, find a doctor!
I'll go find a doctor right now!
I'm going to find a doctor!
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