In the morning, Jiang Chuting experienced persistent abdominal pain. He had no prior experience with this, but now he knew that the initial stomach pain was just a minor inconvenience, and the real test was yet to come.
Compared to the tension of others, he was much more composed. He would either sit down and flip through a book or get up and walk around until the pain intensified in the afternoon, at which point he finally lay down on the bed.
When Shaojun was born, he waited outside, fully aware that the process would be long, arduous, and painful, and he was mentally prepared.
Ling Guang's friend told him in a letter that because his body structure had been forcibly modified by drugs, he would experience more pain than a woman during childbirth. Jiang Chuting also soon personally experienced this pain that was indescribable.
When Pei Jing rushed over late at night, brushing aside the doctors and midwives who were about to bow, and rushed directly to the bedside, he saw Jiang Chuting's face contorted in pain.
He gripped the bedsheet tightly, his face pale, his forehead and neck covered in sweat, and his disheveled hair was almost half-wet.
He didn't let out any terrible screams, but Pei Jing could already feel his unbearable pain.
Pei Jing's eyes instantly reddened, and she gripped his hand tightly: "Chu Ting, Chu Ting, it's me! How are you now?"
Pei Jing found his voice trembling; it was the first time he had ever seen Jiang Chuting so disheveled and vulnerable. The fact that someone who was usually calm and composed no matter what happened was all the more heartbreaking.
Pei Jing gritted his teeth: "You all have gotten so bold, daring to hide things from me!"
He had been inexplicably restless all day, but no one had reported anything about Changning Pavilion to him, so he attributed it to his bad mood and didn't think much of it, since there were still about ten days until the expected date. He never expected that Zhou Bei, that audacious man, would not have informed him immediately!
He only received the news after all the ceremonies had ended and he had rested for a while, and then he rushed out of the palace.
Jiang Chuting gripped his hand tightly, her knuckles turning white. After enduring another wave of pain with her eyes closed, she managed to utter with difficulty, "Don't blame him, don't blame him. Last night was your wedding night. I forbade him from going to see you."
This was indeed something he would do. Not only was he not unhappy about his own marriage, but he was also worried that Jiang Chuting would abandon the Empress on their wedding night and break her heart. Normally, Pei Jing would be displeased and would likely throw a tantrum, but Jiang Chuting's current state only broke his heart.
"Okay, I know, I won't punish him. Don't think about it." Pei Jing kissed his hand hard and took a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.
Jiang Chuting's breathing was a little rapid as she called him softly, "Xiao Jiu..."
Pei Jing was shocked because he saw the glistening tears that suddenly slid down Jiang Chuting's cheeks, the wet tears winding all the way to her ears.
Jiang Chuting's face was streaked with sweat and tears. Through her blurry eyes, she looked at him and called out with great distress, "Xiao Jiu..."
Pei Jing had seen him cry before, but the tears at this moment were filled with an extreme vulnerability, crashing into his heart, causing a sudden soreness and swelling in his chest.
"Don't cry, don't cry." Pei Jing was more flustered and helpless than ever before. Thinking that he was crying from pain, he bent down and kissed the tip of his nose. His voice was hoarse: "Don't be afraid, just bear with it. I will stay with you and I will make sure nothing happens to you."
"Xiao Jiu, actually, actually I..."
Finally realizing that he was actually eager to say something at this moment, Pei Jing gently wiped away his tears: "What's wrong? Tell me slowly, I'm listening."
“Actually, staying like this, staying by your side…” Jiang Chuting’s dark eyes were bloodshot, her lips were pale, and she was enduring the pain as she spoke in broken, intermittent voices: “I feel very uneasy.”
Pei Jing was slightly taken aback, and touched his cheek: "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't be anxious, I will treat you very well."
Jiang Chuting was in so much pain that her teeth were chattering, but she still insisted on speaking: "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; nothing is absolute... Therefore, I would like to ask you for a favor."
Pei Jing said decisively, "Okay, go ahead."
Jiang Chuting spoke slowly and weakly, but clearly, word by word: "If anything happens in the future, please, you must spare my life."
Pei Jing's breathing became heavier.
He didn't know why Jiang Chuting suddenly felt his life was in danger by his side; this was completely unlike him. But the current situation clearly wasn't a good time to get to the bottom of it. Besides, the request was too simple; it was best to agree quickly.
“Okay, I promise you.” Pei Jing answered without hesitation.
"Xiao Jiu, you, you promised yourself that you would spare my life, right?" Jiang Chuting repeated.
"Yes, of course."
“Okay…” Jiang Chuting’s chest heaved heavily. He moved his eyes and his gaze fell on the light blue ring-shaped jade pendant hanging at his waist. He raised his trembling hand to take it.
Before he arrived, a palace maid helped him change his clothes. Pei Jing lowered his eyes and realized that he had a jade pendant on his body. Although he did not know what the man meant, he still quickly took it off and placed it in the man's palm.
Jiang Chuting looked at his face and spoke in barely audible breath: "Then let this jade pendant be a token. I hope you will not break your promise."
Pei Jing clasped his hand in his, saying firmly, "I will never break my promise. If I do, may I die a horrible death." Then, with a sigh, he asked, "Are you more at ease now?"
Jiang Chuting seemed more at ease. He gripped the jade pendant tightly, closed his eyes, his throat bobbed, and after a long while, he murmured, "Xiao Jiu, thank you."
Pei Jing personally fed him some ginseng soup to replenish his strength. Jiang Chuting asked him to leave, but he refused and insisted on staying in the room with him. Returning to the palace was even more impossible.
Daylight turned to darkness, darkness to light; for as long as Jiang Chuting stayed up, Pei Jing stayed up just as long, his eyes even turning dark.
After enduring hellish ordeals, Jiang Chuting finally gave birth to the child who had tormented her for two days.
The moment the child left her body, Jiang Chuting collapsed back, utterly exhausted, barely able to breathe.
"Congratulations, it's a little boy!" the midwife announced, taking the crying baby to bathe him. After the doctor examined Jiang Chuting and confirmed that he was alright, Pei Jing buried his face in his chest, let out a long sigh of relief, and instantly relaxed.
Jiang Chuting forced herself to stay upright and waited for the midwife to finish preparing the baby before bringing the child over. She carefully reached out and took the incredibly soft little bundle in her hands.
His first action was to check on the child. The child's eyebrows, eyes, nose, lips, and ears were intact and without any abnormalities. The child's hands and feet were also healthy, and the child's crying was clear.
Jiang Chuting felt relieved; thankfully, the child was alright.
Only then did they continue to observe his appearance: soft, damp black baby hair, tightly closed eyes forming two narrow slits, a small nose, and his little mouth trembling as he cried, his cheeks flushed red, making him quite endearing.
So this is the little one who has been in his belly for more than nine months.
His child, alive, vibrant, and moving, had truly appeared before his eyes.
This shocking and wonderful feeling was something he had never experienced before.
"Xing'er, shall I call you Xing'er? This is the name your father gave you." Jiang Chuting held his soft little hand and kissed it, saying in a solemn and gentle voice, "Xing'er, welcome to our home."
Although the reason for her pregnancy was not pleasant, Jiang Chuting had always looked forward to meeting him.
At that moment, he realized that his heart had melted into a puddle of water.
The wet nurse had been arranged in advance, and the baby was quickly taken to be fed. Jiang Chuting, who had only spent a short time with the baby, suddenly felt a pang of sadness and reluctance as her arms were suddenly empty. Her gaze lingered on the baby for a while before she looked away.
When he came to his senses, he realized that Pei Jing was no longer in the room.
In another room, Pei Jing sat at the table, one hand supporting his forehead, his face solemn.
"Your Majesty..." Mo Lin asked softly, "The wet nurse has already brought the child out. Should we send him away now?"
Pei Jing had planned to send the child away after its birth. After all, the child's existence was like a grain of sand in his eye, something he simply couldn't tolerate.
However, sending them away does not mean that the father and son will be separated forever. They will still be allowed to meet occasionally in the future.
This arrangement was already quite accommodating and merciful for Pei Jing's personality.
Mo Lin was waiting for him to give the order, but Pei Jing didn't say anything.
He closed his eyes, and all that came to mind was the image of Jiang Chuting in pain during childbirth, and the scene of her gently kissing the baby just now.
He had endured two days of pain to give birth to this child, and he seemed to love the child very much, as if he was radiating a gentle light.
If the child is sent away, then he...
The more Pei Jing thought about it, the more agitated he became. He grabbed a teacup and threw it, nearly hitting Mo Lin, but Mo Lin remained unfazed and motionless.
After a long silence, Pei Jing finally spoke expressionlessly: "No need to see me off, keep it."
Mo Lin looked up, feeling somewhat surprised, yet also somewhat reasonable.
After all, Pei Jing had made too many exceptions and shown too much tolerance towards Jiang Chuting.
Pei Jing murmured, "He's not in good health right now. If we send him away, he'll definitely get sick from the grief. Never mind..."
Ultimately, I still lost to him; I didn't want to hurt him.
Besides, keeping the child might actually be a good thing for him.
Jiang Chuting changed into dry clothes, took his medicine, and ate a little something. The mattress and sheets on the bed were also changed to new ones, which were very soft and comfortable, but he did not rest. After carefully putting away the jade pendant he had obtained from Pei Jing, he simply draped his clothes over himself and leaned against the bed frame.
Although the baby has already come out, there is still a slight bulge in the lower abdomen, as if I am still pregnant. When the doctor brought the medicine earlier, he specifically told me that it would gradually subside over time and that I didn't need to worry about it.
Jiang Chuting didn't pay much attention. She raised her hand and touched the protruding area. For a moment, she seemed to think of something and her expression became a little dazed.
After an unknown amount of time, the door was gently opened, and someone quietly entered.
Jiang Chuting turned his head to look, and his eyes suddenly lit up. It was the wet nurse carrying the sleeping child towards them. She smiled and handed the child to him in a low voice: "Young master is already asleep. A newborn child should stay with the closest person. Why don't you let him rest with you?"
"Okay, thank you." Jiang Chuting took the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and gently placed him on the inside of the bed.
Because he had stopped crying, his little face had returned to its normal color, so fair and tender that it looked as if it would break at the slightest touch.
Jiang Chuting didn't dare to touch him, but only dared to squeeze his little hand again.
The wet nurse praised, "The young master is so exquisite and charming. I have delivered many babies, but this is the first time I have seen such a beautiful child born. His eyebrows and eyes really are like yours."
Jiang Chuting smiled and finally lay down. The wet nurse then said, "Oh, by the way, young master, His Majesty said he has to return to the palace and won't be coming over. He asked me to tell you. He also told you to listen to the doctor and rest well."
"Okay, I understand. I'll have to trouble you in the days to come."
"It's no trouble at all, it's my honor." The people taking care of Jiang Chuting here were all chosen by Pei Jing, and they all knew exactly how to serve the Emperor and this young master. Moreover, this young master was always so polite, which made people feel quite comfortable. The wet nurse curtsied and said with a smile, "I'll be guarding outside the door. Please feel free to call me if you need anything." After saying that, she quickly withdrew.
Jiang Chuting was really exhausted. After staring at the child's face for a while, she completely relaxed, and with a slight smile, she closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully.
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