Chapter 902 A New Little Life (Second Update)
It couldn't have happened earlier or later, but of all times it had to happen...
This kid... really knows how to get ahead of the curve...
Princess Xinyang was filled with resentment; the immense pain overwhelmed her, to the point that she couldn't even care less about her own illness.
Marquis Xuanping didn't want to cause trouble at this critical juncture. Seeing her pained expression, he forced himself to stay strong and not collapse at this crucial moment.
He was in the military camp when his first few children were born, and only returned the next day after receiving the news.
This was the first time he had ever seriously encountered a woman giving birth.
To be honest, he had just returned when he had to attend his own funeral, and then his wife in Xinyang became pregnant and, coincidentally, was about to give birth.
“Even crossing the ice field wasn’t this exciting…” he murmured.
"What did you say?" Princess Xinyang was in so much pain that her mind was foggy and she didn't hear what he said.
"N-nothing," he said.
How does a woman give birth?
"Where is Yujin?" he asked.
"...Not here."
I've gone to arrange your funeral.
"Where is Aheng?"
"...He's not here either."
They also went to arrange your funeral.
Even the capable old nannies and maids in the courtyard were sent out to purchase the items needed for the mourning hall. Those who remained in the courtyard were all novices, otherwise they wouldn't have been so frightened and ran away when they saw the "ghost of Marquis Xuanping".
"Alright, I'm fine now," Princess Xinyang said with a sigh of relief.
Marquis Xuanping was taken aback again: "Not having children?"
Princess Xinyang glared at him.
What does it mean to stop having children?
The contractions have simply passed.
Contractions come in waves, not a continuous pain.
"I'm going back inside." She let go of his arm and said calmly, "I don't need your help anymore, I can walk by myself."
"Oh." Marquis Xuanping calmly withdrew his hand.
Princess Xinyang looked at him and chuckled, "You seem quite disappointed."
Marquis Xuanping: When other people's wives give birth, they are carried in by others, or at least helped in. When my wife gives birth, she walks in by herself with big strides.
Princess Xinyang scoffed and strode towards the north wing of the rear building, which was the delivery room that had been prepared long ago.
She stopped as soon as she stepped onto the stairs.
Marquis Xuanping turned his head to look at her.
Princess Xinyang gritted her teeth and clenched her fists: "...Come here!"
Marquis Xuanping raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it now?"
Didn't you say you wanted to walk by yourself? Didn't you say you didn't need my help?
Princess Xinyang could guess what he was thinking even with her toes; her outburst must have been caused by him!
There was nothing to lend a hand, and she stood stiffly on the steps, unsure whether to go forward or backward.
“...My water broke,” she said.
The midwife repeatedly instructed her not to move around after her water broke. She wasn't sure if this was the usual practice for women in the common world, or if the midwife was being extra careful because she was a princess.
Since she didn't have much experience, she could only listen to the midwife for now.
"I can't walk anymore. Go to the backyard and get someone—"
Before she could finish speaking, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her back and knees, lifting her up in a horizontal embrace.
Caught off guard, her head bumped into his firm chest.
She was slightly taken aback.
Snowstorm raged, the night was long, was this what it felt like to be protected?
"Qin Fengwan".
"You've gained weight."
Princess Xinyang's face darkened instantly.
...No, this feels like I want to kill him!
The contractions started again, even stronger than before, and Princess Xinyang clutched his chest and collar in pain.
Marquis Xuanping gasped.
At this point, they realized they should pinch his flesh.
But Qin Fengwan, where are you going to pinch me!
Although I, the Marquis, do not need to feed the child, isn't pinching here a bit excessive?
"Hiss—"
Another blow, and Marquis Xuanping almost collapsed from the pain!
Princess Xinyang had no idea that she had pinched the wrong spot. She was in excruciating pain; her stomach hurt, her spine hurt, and her waist hurt.
She's definitely not young anymore; she's not as healthy as she used to be.
Marquis Xuanping was unaware that women had birthing rooms, so he carried her directly back to her room. Princess Xinyang gritted her teeth and said, "...Not this room, it's the north wing of the back room!"
Marquis Xuanping chuckled and said, "Why didn't you say so earlier? You just wanted me to..."
Princess Xinyang's hair stood on end, and she said fiercely, "Shut up!"
Marquis Xuanping glanced at her belly and obediently shut his mouth.
After entering the delivery room, Marquis Xuanping gently placed the person on the bed: "I will go and fetch the doctor and midwife."
Princess Xinyang gripped the mattress beneath her and said, "The midwife and wet nurse live on this street... Go east from the house, and you'll find the house with a ginkgo tree in front of it."
When she was only eight months old, Yu Jin had already found a midwife and a wet nurse, both of whom were people in the neighborhood whom she knew well.
"Understood!" Marquis Xuanping replied.
“You…” Princess Xinyang looked at him covered in blood, hesitated for a moment, and wanted to call someone else over, but all the capable servants she had arranged to prepare for his funeral, and the only two remaining servants had been frightened away by him.
Marquis Xuanping stared at her intently.
She turned her face away and changed her words, saying, "Don't be clumsy and mess things up."
"This isn't my first time being a father, do you think I'm nervous? And all that clumsiness, ha!"
After saying that, he let out a mocking sneer, and walked out with his hands and feet in unison. As he stepped over the threshold, he tripped and fell flat on his face!
Princess Xinyang: "..."
Marquis Xuanping did indeed bring the midwife and wet nurse.
After regaining their senses, Granny Zhang and Cui'er returned dejectedly.
Some were boiling water, some were simmering ginseng soup, and some were delivering babies.
Marquis Xuanping's stamina was almost exhausted on the way, and he used all his remaining strength to show off in the snow.
The loud thud that Princess Xinyang heard was the sound of him collapsing against the door due to exhaustion.
However, he eventually managed to pull himself together and stood against the wall as if nothing had happened.
He figured he could collapse after seeing Qin Fengwan and his son.
However, a new life is about to arrive.
He stood in the cold, snowy ground, the goose-feather-like snowflakes falling silently onto his shoulders.
He heard Qin Fengwan's painful screams coming from inside the delivery room.
She is a strong and proud woman; for her to cry like this, one can only imagine how much pain she must be in.
Princess Xinyang gave birth in the delivery room all night.
Marquis Xuanping stayed up all night in the snow.
At three-quarters past the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), a baby's cry rang out from the delivery room, piercing the silent sky and startling the silent snowflakes.
Marquis Xuanping, who was almost frozen to the bone, strode up the steps.
When a baby is born, the umbilical cord needs to be cut, the baby needs to be weighed, and the baby needs to be swaddled before the baby can be taken out.
Marquis Xuanping didn't wait that long; he burst through the door, startling the midwife who was weighing the baby!
"Oh dear! What brings you here, my lord!"
The delivery room is a filthy place, not a place for men!
Fortunately, she acted very quickly; after weighing the child, she wrapped him up and took him out from behind the screen.
She was unaware of the Marquis Xuanping's death, and only felt that the Marquis Xuanping's appearance, covered in blood, was somewhat frightening. However, considering that he was a general who had fought on the battlefield, she felt that it was nothing.
"Is the princess alright?" asked Marquis Xuanping.
The midwife was taken aback, clearly not expecting him to be concerned about the master first. She smiled and said, "My lord, please rest assured, the delivery went smoothly. The princess is just a little tired, but everything else is fine."
As she spoke, she smiled and handed the child to Marquis Xuanping: "Congratulations, Your Excellency, it's a daughter."
Daughter?
Marquis Xuanping was stunned!
He already had too many sons, so he thought this pregnancy would also be a boy.
Marquis Xuanping suddenly became flustered, even more nervous than when he first met Shangguan Qing: "Crying, the crying is so loud, is it a girl?"
The midwife smiled happily.
Yes, the little princess's crying was really loud.
After all these years as a midwife, even boys don't have as loud a voice as she does.
Marquis Xuanping carefully took the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.
The little one, who had been crying loudly, stopped crying as soon as he was in his arms, opened his eyes wide, and looked at him quietly.
Newborn babies don't really understand how to see things, but the midwife inexplicably felt that the baby was looking at her father very intently.
Of all the babies she's delivered, this is truly the most beautiful one.
Looking at the little one in his arms, Marquis Xuanping was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.
Having fought on the battlefield for many years, even when not engaged in combat, one inevitably acquires a touch of the spirit of killing.
He touched the little guy's fist with his finger, and the little guy clenched it tightly.
His fierce determination instantly transformed into tenderness.
It felt different from holding my son...
He carried the little one around the screen to the bedside, where he looked at Princess Xinyang, who was drenched in sweat and pale-faced.
Princess Xinyang was also looking at him.
She felt so tired that she began to have illusions. She was not seeing the charming and ruthless, cunning Marquis Xuanping, but rather the young Xiao Ji who lifted her veil on their wedding night, a young man as pure and beautiful as he had been.
He held the little one in his arms, bent down, and whispered in her ear, "Qin Fengwan, you've worked hard."
(End of this chapter)
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