Chapter 398 Twins
This technique requires extremely high skill and experience, both of which Zhou, the midwife, possessed. Moreover, since she was delivering the Empress's baby, she dared not be careless in the slightest, concentrating intently throughout the entire process, and her technique was both cautious and unique.
Even with the utmost care, sufficient force was required to push it, and this force undoubtedly added to the pain for Meng Lingge. She gritted her teeth and endured it, with large beads of sweat sliding down her forehead.
Wen Zhiming felt both heartache and helplessness watching this.
Afraid that Meng Lingge would bite her tongue, he quickly stretched out his arm so that Meng Lingge could bite his wrist.
There were plenty of things in the room for Meng Lingge to gnaw on, but his wife was facing a life-or-death situation, and he couldn't help her.
Letting Meng Lingge bite his wrist, experiencing a little pain firsthand, would at least make him feel a little better.
Half an hour later.
"It's done."
Midwife Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, "The baby's position has now turned. Please, Your Majesty, follow me and push correctly to deliver the baby in time."
Another midwife patted her chest, her tense expression relaxing.
Qiu Lan bowed deeply to the sky outside the window, silently thanking God for His blessing.
Seeing that Meng Lingge's condition hadn't improved, Wen Zhiming was still worried, but he reassured her, "My wife, did you hear that? The baby is in the correct position; you'll be alright soon."
Meng Lingge nodded slightly in response. The tearing pain and suffocation made her grip the bedding tightly with both hands. With her strong willpower, she gritted her teeth and exerted force as instructed by Zhou the midwife.
For Meng Lingge, the short time it takes to drink a cup of tea felt extremely long.
After several attempts, they finally heard the midwife Zhou's excited voice: "The baby's head is out! Your Majesty, push! Quick, it's born! It's a little prince..."
Before Zhou the midwife could finish speaking, she sensed something was wrong. The child was covered in bruises, silent, and limp.
She immediately held the child upside down and slapped his soles and back hard, then stimulated him with cold water, but the child remained silent. She trembled as she checked the child's breath, then quickly withdrew her hand.
Midwife Zhou, her face ashen, handed the child to Qiu Lan, who had come to help, and shook her head at Wen Zhiming, who had been watching the scene closely.
Wen Zhiming instantly understood that the child was gone.
His heart ached terribly, but he was even more worried that Meng Lingge would find out about this. The child his wife had given birth to at great personal risk had not survived.
How could she accept that?
Seeing Qiu Lan holding the child and about to burst into tears, Wen Zhiming was about to signal her to get out when he heard Meng Lingge look up anxiously and weakly.
"Your Majesty, why isn't the child crying? How is he...?"
"The child is fine." Wen Zhiming gently lowered her head. "She's just a little weak, don't worry."
After saying that, he forced himself to remain calm and said to Qiu Lan, "Take the child out and let the imperial physician take a look."
Qiu Lan was afraid that Meng Lingge would notice something was wrong because her voice was choked up, so she didn't dare to answer. She hurriedly carried the child out and almost bumped into another midwife.
Meng Lingge was drenched in cold sweat, and before she could think further, she was tormented by a new wave of pain that nearly made her collapse.
Midwife Zhou had already suspected something when she pushed the baby to the correct position, and now she was even more certain of her suspicions. "Your Majesty, there is another baby in your womb. Please gather your strength, follow my guidance, and try one more time, push..."
If a mother is carrying twins and the first baby suffocates, the chances of survival for the second baby are slim as well.
However, Zhou, the midwife, was experienced and knew that the previous child had died from oxygen deprivation due to malposition and prolonged delay in delivery. This child, on the other hand, was in a normal position and had experienced less pressure, so there was a high probability of survival if delivered in time.
The Empress's first child is gone, and the midwives and imperial physicians will surely be severely punished. The only hope now is the child remaining in the Empress's womb. As long as this child is born safely and healthily, their crimes can be redeemed.
The Emperor and Empress were comforted, and even if they still had to deal with them, they wouldn't go too far.
Meng Lingge was already so weak that her voice was barely a whisper. Upon hearing this, she mustered all her strength again and left a noticeable tooth mark on Wen Zhiming's wrist. Her fingernails split due to the excessive force.
This pregnancy went much more smoothly than everyone expected; the midwife guided her on the second delivery, and she successfully gave birth.
The baby was taken into Zhou's hands and immediately let out a faint but very clear cry.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Empress! It's a little princess..."
Wen Zhiming looked up and saw the little pink figure crying as if it had suffered a great injustice.
After today's dramatic ups and downs, the heart finally found a moment of peace. Turning to look at the exhausted Meng Lingge, his eyes were filled with pity.
"My wife, our daughter has been born, and she is as beautiful as you..."
Meng Lingge forced a smile and tried to reach out to hug the child, but her body couldn't take it anymore. Her hand swayed, and she fainted.
"My lady... Imperial Physician, quickly summon the Imperial Physician..."
...
Meng Lingge remained unconscious for more than ten hours. When she woke up, it was already midnight.
The first thing you see is the golden nanmu canopy bed in Fengyi Palace, with its crimson bed curtains and light, warm silk quilt.
She moved her fingers slightly and found that her hand was being held tightly by another large hand. She looked in the direction of the large hand and saw Wen Zhiming, who was already asleep at the head of her bed.
It was as if they were communicating with each other, or perhaps Wen Zhiming was just resting with his eyes closed and not asleep. In the instant she glanced at Wen Zhiming, he woke up.
"My lady, you're awake. Are you a little thirsty? The imperial physician said you need to replenish your nutrition as soon as you wake up. I've had someone keep the chicken soup warm, so I'll bring it in and feed you some."
Meng Lingge shook her head.
"I have no appetite right now."
"Then have some water." Wen Zhiming got up, poured some warm water on the table, helped Meng Lingge up, and carefully served her half a cup.
Wen Zhiming put the teacup back, sat down on the edge of the bed, secretly glanced at Meng Lingge's expression, and said with his head down.
"Your parents-in-law want you to rest at the Meng residence for two days before leaving, but I'm worried about you. I'd rather you return to the palace and stay by my side; it'll be safer for you."
Meng Lingge nodded, still staring intently at Wen Zhiming.
His eyes were filled with sorrow and stubbornness.
Both of them knew perfectly well that these were not the things she wanted to know.
Wen Zhiming avoided her gaze, stood up and said, "Your body is severely depleted this time, you need to take good care of yourself. Be sure to follow the imperial physician's instructions, pay attention to your diet, and avoid overexertion."
Meng Lingge nodded, "Okay."
Wen Zhiming continued, "The people from the Meng family are still being interrogated. The secret guards just reported that they haven't found the mastermind yet. I'll go and interrogate them myself at daybreak. And..."
Meng Lingge closed her eyes and interrupted.
"How is Huaiqian? Your Majesty, look at me and tell me, how exactly is Huaiqian?"
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