Unfortunately, due to limited ingredients, we could only cook one pot of porridge.
The labor-inducing medicine from the acacia seeds was very effective. After eating a simple bowl of porridge, Ye Qingxue began to feel waves of pain and tightness in her abdomen.
Granny Xing exclaimed happily, "She's about to give birth!"
She asked the midwife to check if the cervix had dilated. Ye Qingxue was covered with a quilt, but the cotton wadding had been pulled out, leaving only a thin, yellowish quilt that looked quite old.
The midwife bent down and crawled under the covers to check. When she came out, her face was grave. She shook her head and said, "She hasn't started cervical dilation yet. She's in for a lot of trouble."
Granny Xing's expression froze for a moment, then vanished in an instant, and she said, "Don't worry, the contractions are getting stronger, you'll be dilated soon."
Ye Qingxue truly never imagined that the examination of cervical dilation would be conducted in such a way... If she hadn't been lying in bed, in so much pain that she could barely bear it, she probably wouldn't have been able to accept that method of examination.
Giving birth...it was so painful, even more unbearable than the knife wound she received when she and Shen Jiefeng died together!
"Crown Princess..." Qiu Shen's voice preceded her arrival: "Mi Rao's people have all been captured. Are you... are you going to give birth?"
Qiu Shen burst in from outside, covered in blood. When he saw Ye Qingxue lying on the bed, he was speechless.
But she had to admit, she brought good news: all of Mi Rao's men had been captured, and they were safe for the time being.
Everyone present couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Good that we've got them!" Ye Qingxue, having recovered from the pain, could finally catch her breath and said, "Arrange for people to search everywhere, to see if there are any survivors, so they don't come back and catch us off guard..."
The moment of respite passed in the blink of an eye, and the excruciating pain struck in an instant. Ye Qingxue bit her lip, her face turning pale.
The midwife, trying to remain calm, said, "Your Highness, breathe in and out slowly. Don't shout or scream. Conserve your energy to avoid postpartum hemorrhage."
She added, "I just felt your belly, and the baby is in the correct position. As long as you dilate, the baby will definitely be born safely and smoothly. Don't bite your lip..."
Granny Xing immediately took out a pre-prepared wooden stick from the birthing tools and brought it to Ye Qingxue's mouth: "If you really can't take it anymore, bite this."
Ye Qingxue opened her mouth and bit down, her forehead covered in sweat. Chunqian stood beside her, wiping her sweat with a towel.
Qiu Shen and the others felt their scalps tingle and even began to experience phantom pain.
Ye Qingxue exhaled and inhaled: "Is there any way to make the cervix dilate faster? My amniotic sac has been broken for so long, I'm worried about the baby..."
The midwife said, "Your Highness, don't worry. Your amniotic sac has broken, and you can give birth to the baby within half a day. We still have plenty of time. Please don't rush."
These words were spoken to Ye Qingxue, but also to herself. The amniotic sac had ruptured before the labor process even began, and the cervix hadn't even dilated yet… As midwives, it was difficult for them not to be nervous.
Qiu Shen finally came to her senses and said, "Your Highness, I will do as you say right now. Arrange for people to search everywhere to ensure that no one escapes. The remaining guards will protect your safety in this area. You can rest assured and focus on giving birth. There's no need to rush anything else!"
Qiu Shen gritted her teeth, turned around and left, hoping that when she came in next time, she would hear the child crying and see that the mother and child were safe and sound.
As for Dongbai, after returning with Ye Qingxue, she has been busy in this house. She is highly skilled in martial arts and is now responsible for protecting Ye Qingxue's safety.
Ye Qingxue was in so much pain that she called Dongbai to her side, grabbed Dongbai's hand, and said, "Tell me, where have you been all this time, and how did you get back?"
It was both out of concern for Dongbai and an attempt to divert attention.
Dong Bai then told Ye Qingxue how he had fallen into the water, how he had been rescued, how he had recovered from his injuries, and how he had returned.
"...The donkey collapsed on the road, so I ran back for the last part of the journey. At that time, I was thinking of going to the capital city—I thought you were in the Crown Prince's residence."
"When I got close to Dafeng Village, Zhan Shuang discovered me. He thought I was an enemy and wanted to kill me... We fought, and only then did Zhan Shuang realize it was me. I also learned from him that you were hiding in Dafeng Village, so I rushed over."
Dongbai has always been simple-minded, and she has always believed that she is broad-minded and doesn't take things to heart.
But for some reason, as I say these words, my eyes suddenly well up with tears.
She grasped Ye Qingxue's hand in return, choking back tears, and said, "Your Highness, you and the baby survived such a huge fire. It shows how strong and capable you are, and the baby is so brave... You must give birth to the baby safely... I know it will hurt a lot, but you must never doubt yourself!"
Ye Qingxue smiled at her, a weak and pale smile, her eyes red-rimmed, but for some reason, not a single tear came out.
Since learning of Yun Zhuo's accident, she has not shed a single tear.
"Hmm..." She groaned as the contractions hit, and sweat poured down her body.
For a fleeting moment, she truly didn't want to live anymore, and wanted Dongbai to cut open her stomach and pull the baby out...
But how could she not live?
What right did she have to give up her own life?
Who among the people inside this house, and the guards outside, isn't still holding on? Holding on for her, for the entire Crown Prince's residence?
Yun Zhuo... Yun Zhuo has temporarily left. As Yun Zhuo's Crown Princess, she must protect his people even more, so that their time with him will not be in vain!
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