The Empress Dowager prepared a large and cozy delivery room for Chu Yuan, with an inner room that could accommodate more than a dozen midwives and servants.
Meanwhile, the three pillars of the Imperial Medical Academy have also arrived, ready for any eventuality.
As the kind-faced midwives filed in, Emperor Xian of Wei paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back.
The Empress Dowager stared intently into the inner room, wondering why there was still no movement inside.
The curtain was lifted and then lowered again, and hot water, ginseng soup, and other items were asked for several times.
The Empress Dowager suddenly felt dizzy and rubbed her temples. "Emperor, please don't leave. You're making my heart race!"
Emperor Xian of Wei turned around. "Mother, don't women usually shout during childbirth? Why is it so quiet inside?"
He had heard stories before of ministers whose wives gave birth and cried out for three days and three nights, and of ministers whose wives carried out basins of bloody water...
But his Consort Ying didn't scream, and there was no blood. She remained quiet, as if nothing had happened.
Emperor Xian of Wei was both curious and apprehensive, and couldn't resist the urge to go inside and take a look.
The Empress Dowager stood up first, saying, "No, I have to go and see. Although it's only been half an hour, it won't be that quick."
"I will go with the Empress Dowager!" Emperor Xian of Wei secretly wanted to follow.
The Empress Dowager turned around and glared at her, saying, "If you want all the officials to criticize Consort Ying behind her back, then go ahead. I won't stop you."
Before the emperor could lose his temper, the Empress Dowager continued, "I know that this is a difficult time for a woman, like passing through the gates of hell. Don't worry, I will keep an eye on Consort Ying for you and will make sure nothing happens to her."
The Empress Dowager herself was unaware of the situation inside. What if the scene was bloody and traumatic for the Emperor?
Watching a woman give birth is one thing, but it's also genuinely terrifying, and most people can't accept it.
It is said that there are men in the countryside who are not superstitious and insist on guarding their wives throughout childbirth. As a result, they have nightmares for a long time afterward.
As a result, he lost interest in his wife.
The Empress Dowager shook her head. That wouldn't do. She wanted Consort Ying to give birth to a few more children for the Wei family!
Granny Qiu helped the Empress Dowager inside. As they approached the curtain, they both took a deep breath to prepare themselves.
However, when the curtain was lifted, the first thing that wafted into their noses was not the smell of blood, but a spicy and pungent odor.
Ten midwives sat in a row, all resting with their eyes closed against the wall.
On the bed, Consort Ying was nowhere to be found, but Lin Shi and Mingyue were busy by the bedside. One of them was checking the child's clothes to see if there were any loose threads or anything like that.
Despite having undergone numerous checks, Mr. Lin remained uneasy.
Good heavens, Mingyue was wiping a pair of scissors with strong liquor, then heating them over a candle flame before wrapping them in a clean cloth.
The Empress Dowager's face turned pale instantly, and she rushed into the room. "Mingyue, what happened? Where is your lady?"
I've never heard of a pregnant woman running around after giving birth!
Even if spotting first does mean labor will be slower, you'll still have to stay in bed and wait, rolling around in bed with the blankets as wave after wave of contractions come.
Mingyue was a little confused when the Empress Dowager suddenly came in.
After realizing what was happening, she awkwardly tilted her head to a corner where a curtain obscured the view.
That was a small cubicle that had been prepared for the child to be washed in a while. It was covered with a cloth. The Empress Dowager looked over and, sure enough, saw a swaying shadow inside.
Was it too painful for Consort Ying to cry out, so she hid away and silently endured it?
With feelings of pity and tenderness, the Empress Dowager walked over in small steps and slowly lifted the curtain.
What came into the Empress Dowager's view was Chu Yuan's mouth covered in red oil, and a large bowl of dark red food in front of her!
The spicy and pungent flavor comes from inside.
Empress Dowager, "..."
"What...what are you doing?" After her initial surprise, the Empress Dowager forced herself to calm down.
We mustn't frighten Consort Ying any further!
But honestly, the Empress Dowager couldn't have imagined something so outrageous: a pregnant woman who should have been in bed giving birth was calmly hiding away to steal food!
Chu Yuan awkwardly put down her chopsticks, wiped her hands, and stood up, supporting her stomach. "Mother, I... I'm so hungry, and my stomach isn't hurting too much yet, so I'll eat something to tide me over."
As she spoke, she glanced reluctantly at the fragrant and flavorful spicy blood curd on the small table, "I love spicy food, but I have to abstain from certain foods during my postpartum period. If I eat it now, I won't crave it later..."
The Empress Dowager opened her eyes wide, as if she didn't recognize Chu Yuan, and couldn't help but look her up and down.
...Can it really be like this?
Her feelings were indescribably complicated. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything suitable for a long time. She asked numbly, "So, have you finished eating now?"
Can I go back to bed now?
This made her heart really uneasy!
She also thought that if the emperor came in and saw this scene, he would probably feel the same way she did.
Consort Ying... she truly lives up to her name, always managing to surprise people.
Chu Yuan nodded, then shook her head. "Mother, I estimate I'll be in about half an hour more. The contractions aren't strong enough yet. Besides, labor doesn't necessarily mean you have to stay in bed. On the contrary, walking around more can help shorten the time it takes for the cervix to dilate."
Empress Dowager, "???"
What is Consort Ying saying? Why can't she understand it?
Chu Yuan did not explain further to the Empress Dowager. Instead, she walked out, supporting her pregnant belly, looked at the scissors Mingyue had prepared, and nodded.
He patted Lin's shoulder reassuringly, indicating that she didn't need to panic.
She glanced again at the midwives sitting in a row by the wall and said with satisfaction, "Yes, everyone, close your eyes and rest. When I feel the urge to give birth, you will all do your jobs."
"Who's responsible for delivery, who's there to assist the baby, who's there to wash and dress the baby, and who's there to clean up the mess—don't make a mess of things, understand?"
The ten midwives said in unison, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we understand!"
The Empress Dowager stared in disbelief, finding it utterly bizarre.
Consort Ying is really going to the heavens!
How can she be so capable?
Before the Empress Dowager could express her shock, Chu Yuan walked to another corner of the room, where there was a sedan chair bench with two steps. Chu Yuan walked straight over and started doing the steps.
The Empress Dowager's face froze completely. She looked around and wondered if she was possessed.
A while passed like this.
Just as the Empress Dowager was about to say something, Chu Yuan was covered in cold sweat, her movements up and down the steps became slower and slower, and finally she stopped completely. She reached behind her and called out to Mingyue, "Coming, coming, I'm about to give birth, Mingyue, come and help me over!"
Mingyue panicked and, disregarding the Empress Dowager beside her, quickly ran over and helped Chu Yuan to bed.
Chu Yuan got into position and shouted at the stunned midwives, "Everyone, stop standing there, get moving!"
Seeing her small face covered in cold sweat, Madam Lin hurriedly wiped it with a warm handkerchief, feeling both flustered and distressed. Chu Yuan gritted her teeth, her mind struggling against the overwhelming pain.
Don't ask her why she's in pain. Screw that damn system, it sold her an expired painless childbirth pill!
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