The cold, emotionless mechanical voice echoed in Lin Xihe's mind once more: [Dear host, the second stage, "So Close Yet So Far," has been successfully completed.]
Hearing the notification sound, Lin Xihe was filled with resentment. At this moment, she really wanted to find the original author of the book and question him properly.
The next day, there was no trace of the guards searching for her on the street.
Time passed quickly, and two days later, Ling Xue went out to find a wet nurse and a midwife.
Unexpectedly, a casual inquiry at a nearby clinic led to the discovery of several such clinics.
Ling Xue met with each of these people and thought they were all quite nice, so she kept a few of them.
Moreover, to everyone's surprise, a new clinic has opened near Lin Xihe's residence.
As soon as Ling Xue returned, she was full of praise. After all, this place is not like the capital, and there are very few medical clinics. Now that there is one nearby, everyone will feel much more at ease when Lin Xihe gives birth.
Not long after, a new pastry shop opened next to the clinic.
The pastries in the shop seemed tailor-made for Lin Xihe, each bite perfectly matching her taste buds. In addition, the doctor diagnosed her as being too thin and advised her to supplement her nutrition, so Lin Xihe would often enjoy a few pieces of the shop's pastries after meals.
The autumn sky was clear and beautiful, like a piece of azure gem. No more soldiers came to search for him on the street, as if Ji Zhuo had given up the search.
Meanwhile, a letter arrived from someone arranged by Ling Xue, informing her that Gu Qinghuai had not returned to the capital.
On this day, sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves, casting dappled shadows that fell beside Lin Xihe, who was reclining comfortably in the rocking chair.
Lin Xihe was immersed in this moment of tranquility when the book in her hand slipped slightly, and her eyelids gradually became heavy.
Suddenly, her abdomen felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, followed by waves of spasms.
"Contractions..." she murmured softly, her lips trembling slightly.
"Does it hurt?" Ling Xue and Ling Shuang stood on either side of Lin Xihe, their faces full of concern.
Seeing this, the experienced midwife quickly comforted her, saying, "Young lady, don't be anxious now. The road to childbirth is still long, and you'll have to endure the pain for quite a while before your little baby is born."
"It already hurts this much? And it's going to hurt for a long time?" Ling Shuang's eyes widened, filled with disbelief, as if she wanted to remove the pain from Lin Xihe's body.
"It already hurts this much? And it's going to hurt for a long time?" Ling Shuang couldn't help but widen her eyes and ask anxiously.
"Young lady, this is just the beginning. It will probably take several more hours." Another midwife was very experienced and had delivered many babies, some quickly and smoothly, and others in excruciating pain for several days.
On September 23rd, time seemed to slow down on its own.
Waves of pain overwhelmed her completely. Her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, her jaw was clenched, and she wished she could faint immediately to escape this hellish torment.
She lamented countless times in her heart why there was no painless childbirth in this era, so that she could suffer less pain.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard just a wall away from the Mo residence, the atmosphere was equally tense and oppressive.
Ji Zhuo's brows were furrowed, as if a fly could be trapped between them, and his voice was full of anxiety and unease: "Why hasn't it been born yet?"
He turned to look at Tao Musheng beside him, his gaze seemingly piercing through Tao Musheng, his tone filled with undisguised reproach.
Tao Musheng looked helpless. He had explained at least ten times, like a broken record: "Sir, childbirth is inherently difficult for women. It's like walking through the gates of hell. You can't rush it, you can't rush it."
"Are those midwives you arranged even competent? How could you let her suffer so much!"
Ji Zhuo was extremely anxious, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes filled with worry for Lin Xihe, as if he could see the pain Lin Xihe was suffering through the wall.
"The midwife can only play a supporting role at this time, and the pain of childbirth is inevitable."
Tao Musheng was already speechless, but faced with Ji Zhuo's anxiety, he still suppressed his inner irritation and patiently continued to explain.
He knew in his heart that if he didn't explain, Ji Zhuo would keep pacing back and forth, and that swaying figure would only make him more and more agitated, as if a million ants were crawling all over his mind.
"Where is the doctor? Where is he now?" Ji Zhuo pressed.
"I'm waiting at the clinic. The clinic is open 24/7 and will never close. We're always ready," Tao Musheng quickly replied.
The faint sobbing coming from next door, though not very clear due to the distance, was like a series of thin threads, constantly tugging at Ji Zhuo's heart.
"Lord Ji, why don't you have your meal first? It's been a whole day, and if you don't eat, I really have no appetite," Tao Musheng advised cautiously.
"Don't worry about me, just eat." Ji Zhuo waved his hand, showing no intention of eating. After saying that, he paced back and forth in the room, his figure appearing particularly restless in the dim light, which gave Tao Musheng a headache.
Just then, a cry of pain suddenly came from next door, followed by a loud baby's cry.
"It's born! It's born!" Ji Zhuo was instantly at a loss. In the darkness, his body trembled slightly, and his voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.
Just then, the midwife's voice came from next door: "Get a little more hot water to wash the little girl." This was something the midwives had agreed upon beforehand, to pass the message outside the door after the baby was born.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
