Summer has passed, and Lanqin is now wearing a thin cotton shirt. Her belly is getting bigger and bigger, and according to the doctor, she could give birth at any time.
The delivery room was naturally prepared, and the two maids bestowed by the palace were also in place, living in the south courtyard, ready to serve at any time.
Madam Song, Madam Geng, and Madam Wu often came over to chat and laugh, which made Lanqin less nervous and helped pass the time. Fourth Master continued to come every day as usual, and for a time, the South Courtyard was immersed in the joy of welcoming a new life.
That day, when Lanqin woke up in the morning, she suddenly felt that her lower body was a little wet, and then she smelled a bloody smell. She was shocked and quickly reached into her underwear to feel it. When she took it out, she saw that she was bleeding.
"Nianxue, Nianxue!" Lanqin suddenly sat up nervously.
Nianxue and the other maids were all outside. Usually, when Lanqin was asleep, they would all go about their own business outside. This was because Lanqin didn't like having someone else outside to keep her company while she slept.
Nianxue was wiping dust off the furniture in the main room when she heard Lanqin calling from the inner room. She quickly dropped the rag and ran into the room, asking, "Princess, Princess, what's wrong?"
Lanqin sat on the bed, looking anxious, and said, "Nianxue, I'm bleeding down there."
Upon hearing this, Nianxue immediately went to Lanqin, knelt on the footstool, and looked under Lanqin's underpants. Sure enough, she saw red marks.
"Princess, don't worry, I'll go call those two maids in right away." Nianxue sprang up from the bed and ran out immediately.
Lanqin dared not move. She knew that if her water broke, the more she moved, the more she would leak. So she just sat there and waited, feeling both scared and excited, and naturally, also filled with the joy of becoming a mother.
Two maids brought from the palace hurried in with Nianxue, followed by Xicha and several other maids.
Aunt An was already comforting Lanqin, telling her not to be nervous. Two maids stepped forward, one surnamed Liu and the other surnamed Zhang. It was said that the maid Liu had served Consort De during her childbirth.
"Princess, don't be nervous. This servant can tell you're about to go into labor. Luckily, your water is about to break, and you're only dilated half a finger. Princess, let us help you up and walk around a bit, that will help your cervix dilate faster." Liu Momo lifted Lanqin's pants to take a look.
Sigh, I have no autonomy now, I can only wait to have a baby.
Nianxue and Xicha each lifted Lanqin off the bed and started walking. Lanqin felt her abdomen contracting in waves, as if something was churning inside.
Sigh, this is the rhythm of childbirth~~ Lanqin didn't have time to be scared. She wanted Fourth Master to come back and be with her as soon as possible, but the two maids were urging her on like they were on the verge of death, not giving her any time to rest or be scared.
Meanwhile, Da Momo had already received news from Si Hua that Lan Qin had already taken action. Da Momo dared not delay and immediately sent someone to the palace gate to find Su Peisheng so that the Fourth Prince could be informed as soon as possible. This was also something the Fourth Prince had instructed long ago: once Lan Qin took action, regardless of whether he was at home or not, someone must be sent to report immediately.
The servant rode the fastest horse towards the Forbidden City, whipping the horse and galloping as fast as he could to reach the palace gate.
Su Peisheng was sitting in the carriage of the Fourth Prince's mansion, chatting idly with the coachman.
"Eunuch Su, this servant was sent by the Empress Dowager. Princess Niu has started her pregnancy. Please inform the master immediately," the servant said breathlessly.
Su Peisheng cried out in surprise and immediately jumped up from the carriage, grabbing his robe and running towards the palace gate.
Meanwhile, on Lanqin's side, the two maids had been supporting Lanqin for almost an hour, and they still had only managed to open a hole about the width of a finger.
"Ouch, it hurts so much, I really can't walk anymore." Lanqin felt the pain in her abdomen getting stronger and stronger, but it seemed like she still had a long time to endure before she could give birth.
“Princess, you can’t stop, you have to keep walking. I think your baby is a bit too big, and your cervix is dilating slowly. Walking around will help the baby be in the right position, which will be beneficial for your delivery. Walking around will also help the cervix dilate,” Liu Momo said.
"But I really can't walk anymore." Lanqin felt her legs shaking so badly she could barely stand.
However, Liu Momo and Zhang Momo remained unmoved, as did Aunt An. They seemed to care nothing about Lanqin's feelings at the moment, only urging her to walk quickly so that the cervix would open and the baby inside could be born more easily.
Oh my god, Mom, it hurts so much! Someone please help me!
Lanqin let out a silent wail, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
Upon receiving the news, the Fourth Prince immediately left the Crown Prince's office, not caring what the Crown Prince thought, because he knew he could no longer continue the discussion.
As soon as the Fourth Prince returned to the manor, he went straight to the south courtyard. Upon entering, he saw Madam Song, Madam Geng, Madam Wu, and the Fujin all standing outside the gate. Although the Fujin had confined herself to her quarters because of Li Momo's matter, as the principal wife, she was required to stay outside the gate since Lanqin was giving birth.
Several people greeted Fourth Master.
"How is Lan'er?" Fourth Master asked as he walked to the door of the delivery room.
"Please wait, Your Highness. Lady Niu is already inside preparing for childbirth, and there are two midwives inside. Please wait outside," the Fujin said, stepping forward.
The Fourth Master glanced at her briefly, then stopped and asked through the door, "Lan'er, I'm here. I'll stay with you."
Hearing the Fourth Master's voice, Lanqin, though in excruciating pain, didn't want him to worry too much, so she forced a shout towards the door, "Lan'er is trying."
Those outside had just heard Lanqin's moans, but now that they saw her voice sounding relatively normal, they were all relieved.
Waves of pain washed over her; Lanqin's cervix was already dilated to three centimeters, and Liu Momo said it would need to dilate to two more centimeters before she could give birth.
"Princess, please get up and walk around a bit more. Your cervix isn't fully dilated yet," Zhang Momo advised.
"Ugh, how can I open it to its full potential?" Lanqin was in so much pain that she had no choice but to obey whatever they said.
"Princess, please drink this soup before you continue your journey. This soup can help with vaginal contraction." Liu Momo took the medicine that Aunt An had instructed her to give her.
Lanqin had no choice but to do as she was told, and drank the soup under Nianxue's service.
Then, our Lanqin, supported by two maids, continued her erratic walking. The Fourth Master, hearing Lanqin's groans from outside, was anxious but helpless.
"Your Highness, Lady Niu is still dilating and there's still some time before she gives birth. Please go back and rest. Call me when she starts giving birth," the Princess Consort said as she walked to the Fourth Prince's side.
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