Since the nickname "Tuanzi" was unexpectedly "officially announced" in the Golden Palace, the entire Liang Dynasty court and even the harem entered a wonderful and peaceful atmosphere full of anticipation.
In the imperial court, former political enemies, once at loggerheads, now tacitly engage in friendly and enthusiastic discussions about the still uncertain question of whether the Crown Prince will be a scholar or a warrior. In the harem, the concubines' vying for favor has faded; their daily activities consist mostly of gathering together to pray for the Empress and the unborn baby, and exchanging the latest parenting tips.
Everything seemed so peaceful and serene, as if even the air was filled with a sweet warmth.
The protagonists, Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che, who were in the center of this peaceful place, took this leisurely and comfortable state to the extreme.
There are still half a month until the due date mentioned by the imperial physician.
On a sunny afternoon, the Imperial Garden was filled with blooming flowers and a gentle breeze. Lin Wanwan was strolling leisurely along the cobblestone path, arm in arm with Xiao Che.
As she entered late pregnancy, Lin Wanwan's body became increasingly heavy, and she would feel tired after walking just a few steps, but she enjoyed this leisurely time. Xiao Che had already handed over most of the political affairs to the cabinet, and he devoted all his energy to accompanying the Empress, which was the "top priority of state affairs."
“After Tuanzi is born, this flower garden will be reserved for him,” Xiao Che said, pointing to a patch of peonies in full bloom not far away, his eyes full of fatherly anticipation and plans. “If it’s a boy, I will teach him martial arts and horse stance here; if it’s a girl, I will let her swing here.”
Hearing his biased arrangement, Lin Wanwan couldn't help but chuckle: "How does Your Majesty know that boys should practice martial arts and girls should swing on swings? Perhaps our little dumpling is a quiet prince, or a princess who loves to play with swords and spears?"
“That’s fine,” Xiao Che said without hesitation, his tone almost overflowing with doting affection. “Whatever he wants to do, I will pave the way for him. My child deserves the best in the world.”
Lin Wanwan felt a warmth in her heart and was about to say something when a sharp and unexpected pain suddenly shot through her abdomen!
The pain came suddenly and violently, like a sharp awl piercing deep into her body, instantly turning her face pale and causing her to catch her breath.
"Ugh..." she groaned, staggered, and instinctively grabbed Xiao Che's arm.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Che noticed her unusual behavior immediately, stopped in his tracks, and anxiously supported her. "Wanwan? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lin Wanwan's forehead instantly broke out in a fine layer of cold sweat. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, she felt an uncontrollable warm current gushing out from the inside of her thigh!
She froze completely.
That familiar yet strange feeling caused her mind to go blank for a moment. Then, a thought exploded in her mind like a thunderclap—
My water broke!
She's about to give birth!
She abruptly raised her head, looking at Xiao Che's handsome face filled with worry and anxiety. Her lips trembled as she managed to utter a few words with difficulty: "Your Majesty... I... I think... I'm going into labor..."
"What?"
The expression on Xiao Che's face froze completely at that moment.
He seemed to be frozen in place, petrified on the spot. One second, he was a composed emperor, pointing out the future of his country and planning for his children; the next second, he had become a stiff statue, his brain completely shut down.
Is she... about to give birth?
How could this be? Didn't the imperial physician say there were still half a month left? How could she suddenly be about to give birth?
Having a baby... what should I do? What do I need to prepare? What is the process?
Countless questions exploded in his mind like a tangled mess, yet he couldn't make sense of any of them. The panic and fear he felt in that instant were a hundred times stronger than when he faced the Regent and thousands of rebels on the night of the palace coup!
At that time, he was facing enemies, conspiracies, things that he could control, scheme against, and defeat.
Now, he is facing a completely unknown, uncontrollable realm that transcends all intrigue and force!
Lin Wanwan was in so much pain that her vision went black, but she could clearly see that the familiar emoji area above Xiao Che's head was experiencing a system crash that could be described as a disaster!
First, countless question marks [? .jpg] flooded the screen, densely packed, almost filling the entire area.
Immediately afterwards, the question mark disappeared, replaced by alarm icons of various colors and shapes—yellow triangular exclamation marks, red circular prohibition symbols, frantically flashing police lights, and piercing sirens… All the icons flashed alternately at a frenzied speed, forming a completely scrambled, apocalyptic chaotic scene!
Finally, all the chaos came to a standstill in an instant.
All the icons disappeared, leaving only a huge, animated text box written in the most striking blood red, as if it were dripping blood, occupying the entire area.
[Alarm! Alarm! My Empress is about to give birth! .gif]
Just as Lin Wanwan was so shocked by the "epic disaster movie" above his head that she almost forgot her pain, the "petrified" statue finally moved!
Xiao Che snapped back to his senses, and for the first time, a look of utter panic appeared on his usually calm face. His deep eyes were filled with unprecedented terror, and his face was deathly pale.
"Wanwan!" he exclaimed in a voice that was almost distorted.
The next second, without the slightest hesitation, he scooped Lin Wanwan up in his arms!
The movement was so fast that Lin Wanwan let out a short gasp. She felt dizzy and then fell into a firm but slightly trembling embrace.
Immediately afterwards, she experienced what it meant to be "speedy".
Xiao Che actually used his unfathomable lightness skill!
He carried her in his arms, his body moving like an arrow released from a bow, rushing towards Kunning Palace at an unprecedented speed. The flowers and trees along the way became blurry patches of color in his eyes, the whistling wind in his ears, and his roar, which was completely out of control due to extreme panic, echoing throughout the entire palace!
"Midwife—!!"
"Summon the imperial physician—!!"
"Everyone, get over here!! Get out—!!"
The sound was no longer the majesty of an emperor, but the most primal and terrified roar of a wild beast whose territory had been invaded and whose mate had been injured.
The entire palace was thrown into chaos by his earth-shattering roars.
What was originally a peaceful afternoon instantly turned into a thrilling "mutiny" scene.
Countless palace maids and eunuchs rushed out from their respective corners in a panic, not knowing what had happened. They only saw their Emperor, holding the Empress, flash past them like a black lightning bolt, the strong wind he brought stinging their cheeks.
Everyone was terrified.
What... happened?
An assassin? Or has something happened to the Empress?!
In an instant, screams, shouts, and the sound of objects falling to the ground rose and fell. The order of the entire palace collapsed completely in just a few breaths, plunging into chaos.
Lin Wanwan was held tightly in Xiao Che's arms. Amid the jolting, waves of abdominal pain washed over her, but she was more shocked by Xiao Che's reaction. She could clearly feel his heart pounding like a drum and his arms trembling slightly from the exertion.
This fearless man, this emperor who could remain unfazed even amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, was now terrified by the fact that she was about to give birth.
An indescribable warm current, mixed with a bittersweet feeling of being moved, flowed through her heart.
When Xiao Che finally rushed into Kunning Palace, Ruolan, Qin Zheng, and others, who had already heard the commotion, were waiting at the entrance with a large group of palace servants.
"His Majesty!"
The crowd gasped and rushed forward, only to be forced to retreat by the terrifying aura emanating from Xiao Che.
"Where are the midwives?! Where are the imperial physicians?! Are they all dead?!" Xiao Che roared at everyone, his eyes bloodshot, like a trapped beast.
Just then, several of the most experienced midwives and the head of the Imperial Medical Academy arrived, panting and stumbling, carrying their medicine kits. They had never experienced such a high-speed summons in their lives.
"Quick! Get to the delivery room!" The midwives didn't dare to delay and rushed forward to take Lin Wanwan from Xiao Che's arms.
However, Xiao Che held on tightly, as if it were his only treasure. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on the head midwife, his voice hoarse and threatening: "Listen! I don't care what methods you use, you must protect the Empress! If anything happens to her, I will make you all, and your entire families, pay with your lives!"
The chilling killing intent emanating from that midwife sent a shiver down her spine.
"Your Majesty, rest assured! Your Majesty, rest assured! We, your humble servants, will certainly do our utmost!"
In the end, Lin Wanwan endured the excruciating pain, reached out and stroked his cheek, and comforted him in a weak but gentle voice, "Xiao Che, I'm fine, trust them. You wait for me outside."
Her words acted like a tranquilizer, finally bringing the raging lion back to his senses.
He looked at her intently, his eyes filled with fear, worry, and boundless affection. Finally, with utmost reluctance and care, he handed her over to the midwives.
Surrounded by a group of palace maids and midwives, Lin Wanwan was quickly taken to the pre-prepared delivery room.
The heavy, vermilion gate, carved with a phoenix and peony pattern, slowly and mercilessly closed in front of Xiao Che.
"Squeak—"
With the dull thud of the bolt falling, his world and hers were completely separated.
Inside lies the life-or-death test she is about to face.
Outside, he waited in vain, a long and helpless wait.
Xiao Che stood blankly in front of the tightly closed door, reaching out his hand as if to touch the cold door panel, but then letting it fall limply to his side.
At this moment, he was not a sovereign emperor, a strategist, or a war god of unparalleled martial prowess. He was simply an ordinary husband about to become a father.
A helpless man who can't do anything.
At that moment, he experienced for the first time what true powerlessness meant.
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