"Qin'er, what are you doing?" Madam Song asked in surprise as she walked up to Lanqin.
"Sister, I'll explain after I give birth. Cui Niang, help me into the delivery room, I feel like I'm already dilated." Lan Qin said, her face slightly pale.
Lanqin was helped into the delivery room by Cui Niang and Nianxue, and the others arrived one after another.
The Fujin (principal wife) led everyone to sit in the main room. There, Lady Nian yawned and said with slight displeasure, "This is my first time in the South Courtyard. I didn't expect it to be so grand and comfortable. I heard that when the Consort was still a princess, she lived here."
Madam Song and Madam Geng remained seated, listening to the sounds coming from the delivery room. Madam Wu and Madam Yehe, however, sat to the side, observing the expression on the Fujin's face.
“Princess Nian, now is not the time to talk about the South Courtyard.” The Princess Consort sat upright on the main couch.
Xi Cha has already served each of them a cup of fresh tea.
"Ahem, I'm just worried about Consort Nian. But what's the use of us worrying here? Consort Nian has to do the labor herself when it comes to childbirth. No matter how much we worry, it's useless. Let me say something lighthearted to ease everyone's tension," Lady Nian explained.
But no one responded to her words; everyone was lost in their own thoughts, especially the Fujin, whose expression was the most grave. She was worried that if Lanqin's baby was a prince, Lanqin's future position would be even more secure, perhaps even threatening her status as the primary wife. Therefore, while outwardly expressing concern for Lanqin, the Fujin was secretly praying to the Bodhisattva that Lanqin would encounter some misfortune, such as a difficult childbirth.
Alas, I wonder if the Bodhisattva will help her if he hears the Lady's prayers?
Yehe was indeed filled with jealousy. Ever since the Fourth Prince gave her the contraceptive soup, she had become even more jealous of Lanqin, who was pregnant. Although the Fourth Prince often visited her room and favored her, only she knew what this favor relied on. Therefore, she was even more jealous that Lanqin could stay in the Fourth Prince's heart and now continue to produce an heir for him.
Wu couldn't quite describe her feelings. She wasn't favored anymore, merely going through the motions with the Fujin (the wife's husband), and not getting involved with Lanqin (another concubine's husband). Her days were peaceful and uneventful. Perhaps it was the tragic death of Yin Shi, or the passing of Li Shi, that had truly changed Wu's personality. The proud and arrogant Wu Ruyue of the past seemed to have really changed.
Song and Geng were naturally worried about Lanqin. They both hoped that Lanqin could give birth to a prince this time, so that the position of the South Courtyard would be as solid as a rock, and there would be a strong and powerful restraint on the Fujin, and their lives would be relatively easier.
Seeing that they weren't responding, Nian rolled her eyes in exasperation and lowered her head to play with the beaded necklace in her hand.
Without thinking, Song glanced at Nian and saw that Nian was fiddling with a string of jade and gold beads on her wrist. A thought struck her, and she felt that the beads looked very familiar.
Shouts gradually drifted from inside the room; they were coming from Lanqin. She was currently pulling on the birthing belt hanging from the roof beam, straining desperately. Well, she didn't even have time to complain about this strange birthing method.
"Consort, push harder!" Midwife A shouted from the side.
Damn it, I went into labor in the middle of the night and have been running around the yard for two hours. The fact that I can still give birth is already an extraordinary feat.
Lanqin silently complained to herself, but still said, "I've used all my strength, go and cut some ginseng slices."
Midwife B then remembered and quickly asked Cui Niang to bring ginseng slices so that Lanqin could hold them in her mouth to keep her breathing.
Lanqin originally thought that this second pregnancy would definitely not be so troublesome. In the past, Grandma Lin or the old lady next door had said that having a second or third child was much easier than having a first child.
Lanqin inwardly scorned these irresponsible remarks, feeling that her situation was no better than giving birth to Wuxiha, and perhaps even more difficult. When Lanqin gave birth to Wuxiha, it only took her less than three hours.
Meanwhile, Fourth Master finally returned. Last night, the Crown Prince wouldn't let him go, but seeing that there was nothing else to do today, and also concerned about Lanqin's health, he returned early in the morning. As soon as he arrived, he was told that Lanqin was giving birth, so he rushed straight to the south courtyard without even having time to drink a sip of water in the front yard.
When Fourth Master rushed in, he heard Lanqin shout, followed by the faint sound of a baby crying. The women sitting in the main room heard the baby's cries, and various expressions flashed across their faces.
The Fourth Prince rushed to the door of the delivery room, just as his wives and concubines came out. Upon seeing the Fourth Prince return, they all greeted him.
"Has she given birth yet?" Fourth Master asked into the inner room, not having time to pay attention to them.
Lanqin was exhausted and lay drowsily on the delivery bed. Midwife A was cleaning the newborn baby. The others were helping to clean Lanqin.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Fourth Master couldn't help but try to push the door open and go in. He had indeed heard the child crying just now, so why was it so quiet inside?
"My lord, the delivery room is a very private place. Please don't go in. My sisters and I have already heard the baby crying. The baby must have been born, and the midwife is washing the child. Please wait patiently, my lord," the princess quickly said, stopping him.
“Yes, sir, a woman’s yin energy is at its strongest when she is giving birth. You can’t go in,” Madam Nian quickly added. Seeing that the Fourth Master was disregarding ancestral traditions and trying to barge in to see Lanqin, she felt a pang of resentment, and her mouth tasted incredibly sour as she spoke.
Yehe, who was standing to the side, was also extremely jealous. Seeing that the Fourth Prince came here as soon as he returned, without even glancing at her, she felt even more resentful.
Just then, the red wooden door creaked open from the inside, and a midwife came out carrying a pink baby wrapped in red silk.
"Congratulations, Fourth Prince, Fourth Princess, and Consort, on the birth of a little princess! Both mother and child are safe and sound!" The midwife smiled broadly and curtsied.
"What?! A princess!" The princess's heart leaped with joy, and a genuine smile appeared on her face. Thank goodness, just a princess!
Ah, not a prince, but a princess! A hint of regret flashed across the faces of Madam Song and Madam Geng, but they were quickly overjoyed that Lanqin had given birth to another daughter.
"Truly remarkable! She's given birth to another daughter. This Niohuru clan woman is indeed not to be underestimated!" Lady Nian smiled.
Wu simply smiled apologetically, not really caring what had happened to Lanqin.
Fourth Master walked up to the midwife, took the baby from her hands, and looked at it. He found that the little baby's eyebrows and eyes looked extremely like Lanqin's.
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