Chapter 710: Chapter 259: Production

Chen Wanqing was giving birth for the first time, and the delivery was proving to be somewhat difficult.

Even though her water had broken in the late afternoon and her contractions had started, she was only four fingers dilated by late at night. She lay on the delivery bed with a small pillow propped beneath her, a precaution to prevent the amniotic fluid from draining too quickly and endangering the baby.

Time became especially agonizing. Enduring wave after wave of pain, she bit her lips until they turned pale.

Xu Suying and Mrs. Zhao stayed by her side, frantic with worry, yet they tried hard to maintain a calm and composed facade.

"Everyone goes through this. The first delivery is always a bit slower," Xu Suying coaxed gently.

"Don’t be afraid, Mom is right here with you. There are also two Imperial Physicians waiting outside. They said you’re doing very well and will definitely have a safe delivery.

"Come, sit up and eat a little something. You need a full stomach to have the strength to give birth."

Chen Wanqing forced a smile, wanting to reassure her elders.

She had consulted the midwife about the delivery process long ago and knew what to expect. However, the relentless waves of contractions exceeded her expectations, twisting her forced smile into a grimace.

She shook her head weakly, streams of tears unconsciously welling up in the corners of her eyes. "Mother, I’m not hungry. I... I can’t eat."

Xu Suying and Mrs. Zhao’s eyes reddened and filled with tears.

But they quickly cleared their throats and said in an artificially light tone, "You have to eat at least a little... Alright, if you don’t want food, how about we drink some ginseng soup?"

Seeing the worried look in her mother’s eyes, Chen Wanqing ultimately forced herself to sit up and finished a large bowl of ginseng soup. After finishing the ginseng soup, she regained some strength and felt much better. Yet the throbbing pain from her lower body surged back again, turning her face pale with agony.

Mrs. Zhao held her hand, saying with heartache, "If it hurts, just pinch my hand."

Chen Wanqing managed a weak smile. "I can’t do that."

"Yes, you can. Just pretend you’re pinching Jing."

Mentioning Zhao Jing came out as naturally as breathing.

Mrs. Zhao’s tears spilled over again. "Jing has always been so steady and thoughtful. How could he make such a huge mistake when it comes to this? How could he bear to leave you all alone? Qing’er, don’t let the child acknowledge him as a father in the future!"

Chen Wanqing remained silent, staring blankly at the bed curtains, which were embroidered with a traditional pattern of intertwining vines and gourds. When she and Zhao Jing had gotten married, the bed curtains bore the exact same pattern. But back then, their living conditions had been poor, and the curtains were merely made of cotton—unlike now, where they were woven from premium silk.

But she would rather still be back in the Zhao Village, with Zhao Jing still by her side.

By the latter half of the night, her cervix was still dilating very slowly.

As time dragged on, the pain grew increasingly intense, until Chen Wanqing gradually could no longer bear it and began to scream.

The lights in the front yard and main courtyard remained brightly lit. Because the roads were muddy, they hadn’t dared to let the old madam come over, but the nanny by her side had been waiting at the Wangyue Inn the entire time. Even Mrs. Guo, Miss Huang, and De’an were present. Kaiyan, Yanhe, Yao’an, and the others had stayed in their respective courtyards, either because they were unmarried or because they were male.

Only De’an, who already understood the perils of childbirth and was Chen Wanqing’s full-blooded younger brother, had broken the rules and forced his way in, despite the gatekeeping older female servants’ attempts to stop him.

At first, when there was no sound from inside the room, he had been worried sick, pacing in circles around the reception hall until Mrs. Guo felt dizzy watching him. Later, when sounds finally emerged, they were a series of agonizing screams. That immediately terrified De’an.

The young boy, who had grown quite a bit taller recently, was now pale-faced and weak in the knees. Unable to walk, he slumped weakly into a chair and asked, "Mrs. Guo, how much longer until my sister gives birth?"

Mrs. Guo calculated the time. "They just said she’s six fingers dilated. It will be soon. She should be able to give birth before dawn."

"Dawn?"

It was summer, and dawn came early; the sun typically rose by the end of the Yin hour. But right now, it was only halfway through the Chou hour, meaning his sister would have to endure the pain for at least another hour and a half.

Not only was De’an’s face ghastly pale, but Miss Huang was also frightened into a sallow complexion.

Seeing their awful expressions, Mrs. Guo comforted them. "With the Imperial Physicians here, Qing’er will be fine. Besides, she took great care of herself during her pregnancy—exercising diligently, controlling her diet, and keeping everything in good shape. She will definitely have a safe delivery... Giving birth before dawn is considered fast. For many women, having a child means suffering in pain for at least two or three days."

Just as her voice fell, an even louder shriek rang out, startling all three of them into a simultaneous shudder.

Unable to sit still any longer, Mrs. Guo stood up and headed straight for the delivery room.

De’an couldn’t hold back either and followed her out the door. However, right at the entrance of the delivery room, he saw a maid walking out carrying a basin full of bloody water. De’an’s mind went blank, and the world spun around him. Fortunately, he managed to grab the wall in time, or else he would have taken a nasty fall.

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