"Cui Niang, it seems like labor has started!" Lan Qin was eating fruit on the daybed when she felt waves of trembling in her stomach.
"Master, don't move, I'll go call someone!" Cui Niang looked and found that Lanqin's lower garments were not wet, which meant that her water had not broken. If the water hasn't broken, there's no need to panic. Just wait for the delivery to begin; there are still a few hours left.
"Okay, go get ready. It's just mild contractions." Lanqin wasn't flustered; she'd given birth twice before and had experience.
"We need to go to the palace and call the Fourth Prince back!" Cui Niang said, summoning Nian Xue and Xi Cha.
"No need, his return won't help. Maybe I won't have given birth by the time he comes back." Lanqin was helped up by Nianxue and Xicha and stood up from the daybed.
"But, really not calling out?" Seeing that Lanqin was very calm, Cui Niang was no longer so flustered.
"No need," Lanqin said without thinking.
Hot water was being boiled in the small kitchen, and the midwife was already prepared; everything needed for the delivery had been ready long ago.
Lanqin started to feel some pain, and the contractions became stronger and stronger. She asked Nianxue and Xicha to help her walk in the yard, constantly praying to God that the baby's umbilical cord wouldn't be wrapped around its neck or that it would be in an abnormal position.
Twins are said to be born quickly, but Lanqin never expected it to be this fast! Before noon, she gave birth to her first twin on the delivery bed, and it was indeed a boy! The second twin came out in less than half an hour. The births were very smooth; the two, one big and one small, were neatly wrapped in beige soft cloth and placed at the head of Lanqin's bed.
People from other places rushed over after hearing the news, even Lady Nian came. The First Prince's wife didn't come; even if she did, Lanqin wouldn't let her in. Cui Niang still sent someone to the palace gate to inform Su Peisheng to bring the Fourth Prince back safely. Although the childbirth went smoothly, he, as the father, still didn't know, and there hadn't been a phone call!
"Consort Niu is truly blessed, having gained two princes at once!" Lady Nian stood in front of Lanqin's bed, saying this with a smile, but the sourness in her words was too obvious.
Song and Wu each held one of the princes and coaxed them, smiling as they said to Lanqin, "The two little princes, one looks like you and the other looks like the master, they really are like a patriarch."
With a white bandage wrapped around her head, Lanqin leaned against the bed, looking like she had exerted herself too much, and said with a faint smile, "Then doesn't that mean the two brothers don't look alike?"
“They really don’t look alike. Everyone says twins look exactly alike, but these two brothers don’t look alike at all!” Geng stood next to Song and looked at the child in her arms.
“There are also those that don’t look like it. That’s not surprising. Master must have received the news, he’s probably on his way to the manor right now!” said Madam Song.
"Alright, I need to go back to see the Fifth Prince. Consort Niu is tired too, so let's not disturb her rest here," said Lady Nian, flicking her handkerchief.
“That’s right, let the concubine and the child rest. We’ll come to offer our congratulations another day!” Madam Song put the child back in front of Lanqin, and Madam Wu followed suit.
The group left the South Courtyard, each with their own thoughts, needless to say. Geng Shi, in particular, had been childless and out of favor, and watching Lan Qin give birth one child after another filled her with anxiety.
After the Fourth Prince, Madam Song had no more thoughts in her mind. Anyway, Lanqin had many children, so she could come over often when she was unmarried.
Madam Wu now cherishes the Third Princess dearly; as long as she is allowed to raise the Third Princess, she doesn't care about anything else.
After receiving news of Lanqin's attack, the Fourth Prince immediately dropped everything and rushed to the palace gate. Su Peisheng, knowing that the Fourth Prince was thinking of Consort Niu, also ran after him.
The two of them kept thinking about how smoothly Lanqin's childbirth went, and who the baby would look like.
"Your Highness, this is chrysanthemum and goji berry tea. The concubine instructed me to bring it. Please have some; it can help reduce internal heat," Su Peisheng said, observing the Fourth Prince's expression.
"You dog of a servant, all I can think about is the child. I'm not angry at all!" Fourth Master cursed.
“This servant is dull-witted. The concubine said that autumn is dry and asked this servant to prepare some tea so that Your Highness can moisten your throat,” Su Peisheng said.
The Fourth Master's lips curled into a smile. Lanqin often showed him meticulous care in these small ways, yet never explicitly mentioned it in front of him. This pleased the Fourth Master greatly. No man wouldn't feel happy when the woman he loved showed such thoughtfulness.
"Do you mean a prince or a princess?" Fourth Prince couldn't help but ask.
"This servant thinks it should be the prince. Because this servant thinks the shape of the concubine's belly looks like a prince's." Su Peisheng didn't actually know anything about bellies, but he said this to please the Fourth Prince.
"When did you learn to be so glib?" Fourth Master said, but there was still a smile in the corner of his eye.
Upon arriving at the Fourth Prince's residence, he immediately instructed the gatekeeper, "Go and inform the head nanny to prepare things for the child's third-day celebration."
Without even returning to the front yard, Fourth Master went straight to the south courtyard.
But when he actually arrived at the South Courtyard, he found it quiet. He had expected to see busy figures, but there was no tension of childbirth, only tranquility, which made the Fourth Master a little uneasy.
"This servant congratulates you, Master!" When the Fourth Master walked in, Granny Wang hurriedly came forward from her small room to greet him.
"Isn't the concubine giving birth? What's wrong?" the Fourth Prince stammered, afraid of hearing some bad news.
"The concubine has given birth and is already asleep. She has given birth to two little princes!" Granny Wang said with a smile.
Fourth Master felt a sudden unease and immediately rushed towards Lanqin's main room.
Cui Niangzhen was directing several maids to work quietly and quietly in the room, and the faint cries of the two little princes could be heard coming from inside.
The Fourth Prince was overjoyed and asked, "How is the concubine?"
Cui Niang said, "Master has returned. The concubine is already asleep. The two little princes are being nursed by their wet nurse in the right side room."
"Alright, let's go see Qin'er first!" Fourth Master quickly slowed his pace and walked towards Lanqin's bedroom.
Si Hua and Shui Ling stood guard by Lan Qin's bedside, ready to respond to any needs she might have. They were about to bow when they saw the Fourth Master enter when he waved them away.
The two men left, and Fourth Master walked to Lanqin's bedside, where he saw the little woman sleeping soundly.
Fourth Master sat by Lanqin's bedside for a while, then reached out and touched her face. Women who have just given birth usually have a bloody smell, but Cui Niang had specially ordered fresh fruits and vegetables to be placed in the room and the windows to be opened for ventilation. Therefore, Fourth Master did not feel uncomfortable sitting next to Lanqin at all; on the contrary, he smelled a faint fruity fragrance.
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