Laifeng Kingdom, the nineteenth year of Tianze.
The 29th day of the first lunar month, at midnight.
Mu Lige’s bedroom in Lingkun Courtyard of the Eastern Palace.
"Hmm..." Mu Lige suddenly felt a little pain in his stomach and woke up from his sleep.
"Brother Li, what's wrong with you?" Hua Qingcheng opened her eyes upon noticing the movement of the man beside her. Seeing sweat on Mu Lige's forehead, she quickly wiped it off with the sleeve of her nightgown.
Although it was spring, it was still chilly. It was so cold, yet Mu Lige was sweating so much. This was definitely not normal, and Hua Qingcheng couldn't help but feel worried.
"Qingqing~"
Under the dim light, Mu Lige looked solemn, "I think I might be giving birth soon..." Mu Lige gently stroked her huge pregnant belly and forced a slightly stiff smile towards Hua Qingcheng.
"Soon...soon?" Hua Qingcheng's heart trembled slightly when she heard this. After the shock subsided, she calmed down and said, "Okay...I'll help you take a look right away."
Hua Qingcheng stood up, turned on the lights in the room, and then lifted the quilt and slowly pulled down Mu Lige's pants. When she saw the pale pink mucus on the underwear, which was similar to the kind that would appear when menstruation is about to subside, Hua Qingcheng's eyes widened and all her sleepiness disappeared instantly.
"Brother Li, maybe these two little guys really can't wait to come out early. Just relax, I will always be with you."
Hua Qingcheng suppressed her nervousness, placed a gentle kiss on Mu Lige's forehead, and shook his hand. Then, Hua Qingcheng deftly retrieved sterile wipes and toilet paper from the space and briefly cleaned up Mu Lige's secretions.
After a brief moment of thought, Hua Qingcheng retrieved two packs of adult diapers from the utility room of the Space Villa. They were boxes she had previously purchased to donate to the elderly welfare home, but hadn't gotten around to doing so. She took one out and carefully put it on Mu Lige.
"Qingqing, this is..." Mu Lige, who was lying on the bed, had slightly red cheeks. Although he couldn't see below the abdomen, he could feel that Hua Qingcheng seemed to have put on some very special underwear for him.
"Brother Li, this is a diaper. It will keep you dry and comfortable. We are husband and wife, so you don't have to feel embarrassed. If you feel sticky down there, tell me immediately and I'll change you into a new one..."
After putting on the diaper, Hua Qingcheng did not help Mu Lige put on his shorts, but directly covered him with a quilt.
"Hydrogen, Helium, Shumo, Lixiang, Yuanyu, Sangrou, come here!" With Hua Qingcheng's call, Hua Qingcheng's two personal maids who were on duty next door, and Mu Lige's four close men who were resting in the ear room quickly came over.
"Zheng Jun is about to give birth. Shu Mo, go to Bingquan Pavilion immediately and invite the Second Elder and Han Cejun. Li Xiang, go to Zichen Palace to report to the Emperor. Yuan Yu, go to Fanyin Pavilion and bring Yu Liangce to Lingkun Courtyard. Sang Rou, you will be responsible for taking out the previously prepared supplies for pregnant women and newborns. Also, tell the cook in the courtyard to prepare bird's nest porridge, meat porridge, soft noodles, and other meals in the small kitchen, and also stew ginseng soup, so that Zheng Jun can use them at any time..."
"Yes, Your Highness." Following Hua Qingcheng's order, Mu Lige's four close guards immediately became busy in an orderly manner.
"Your Highness, what about us?" Yiqing bowed to Hua Qingcheng.
"Yiqing, this is my token. Leave the palace immediately and go to the East City General's Mansion to invite General Feng and the stable servant I previously asked her to find." Hua Qingcheng said as she handed Yiqing a waist badge representing her status as a princess. Hua Qingcheng didn't trust either of the palace physicians or the stable servants appointed by Ouyang Yuming.
"Yes, Your Highness." Yiqing received the order and left quickly.
"Erhei, pass on my order. Instruct all guards of the Eastern Palace to be on high alert. No one is allowed to enter or leave the Eastern Palace unless I have my permission, especially Lingkun Courtyard. No one can be allowed in without my permission. That includes... the Emperor."
"Yes, Your Highness." Erhei, who knew that the matter was of great importance, was stunned for a moment, and then went to carry out Hua Qingcheng's order with swift hands and feet.
"Left Bank!"
As soon as Hua Qingcheng's voice fell, Zuo An, who was in an ear room facing east of Lingkun Courtyard, had already walked into Mu Lige's bedroom.
"Now is the critical moment. Starting immediately, Zuo An, you will be responsible for guarding Brother Li's dormitory. Don't let any outsiders approach." Hua Qingcheng looked at the black figure gradually walking towards her and said solemnly.
Taking a look at the solemn expression on Hua Qingcheng's face and the deep worry in her eyes, Zuo An felt a surge of heartache in his heart. He then nodded seriously and said, "Don't worry. With me here, no assassin can enter this room."
"Qingqing~"
Seeing that his little wife had arranged everything, Mu Lige, who was lying on the bed, felt a little sore in his eyes and a warm feeling flowed through his heart.
"Brother Li, don't worry, I will always be here to guard you, don't be afraid..." Hua Qingcheng pulled a chair over and sat in front of the bed, holding Mu Lige's hand tightly, trying hard to hold back the tears in her eyes, and smiled at him.
Soon, Xuanming and Han Yichen arrived at Mu Lige's bedroom. Xuanming personally took Mu Lige's pulse and, seeing that both her pulse and the fetus were healthy, he felt relieved. He simply instructed Hua Qingcheng to wait patiently for the labor and to replenish his energy. After all, this was Mu Lige's first child, so her cervix would be slow to dilate.
As time went by, Mu Lige felt that the time intervals between his abdominal pains seemed to be shortening, and the intensity of the pain was also increasing.
Every time a contraction struck, Mu Lige felt as if someone was stabbing his abdomen with a knife. The intense pain made sweat drip down his forehead, and the dark hair on his temples and forehead was already wet, clumping into strands. However, no matter how painful it was, Mu Lige gritted his teeth and remained silent, refraining from crying out or screaming. He knew he had to conserve his strength for delivery; after all, he was carrying twins, and he needed plenty of stamina.
Hua Qingcheng's fingers gently stroked the back of Mu Lige's hand, as if to bring him a sense of peace. Mu Lige's face was twisted in pain, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his lips trembled, but no sound came out. Hua Qingcheng's heart felt as if it was being torn apart, and she wished she could bear all this pain in his place.
In the silent night, time seemed to have frozen. Only Mu Lige's occasional soft moans from labor pains and Hua Qingcheng's slightly choked words of encouragement echoed in the air. Hua Qingcheng's eyes never left Mu Lige's face, filled with love and concern, as if she wanted to pass all her strength to him.
Hua Qingcheng knew that at this moment, she was the person Mu Lige needed most. She wanted to accompany her husband through this long dark night, let him feel her warmth and comfort, and give him spiritual support and encouragement...
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