Chapter 589.2: Childbirth

Childbirth (2)

The twelfth of the third lunar month was Li Hong Yuan's birthday. In the past, because of Le Cheng Emperor, it got completely forgotten, but now it was a national holiday, so naturally can't be ignored again.

But even at this time now, there still weren't any movements. Thus, it was more than enough to see that the emperor's birthday in the first year of Yuan Qi won't be celebrated. But, to not celebrate the emperor's birthday in the first year, won't that be a bit not good?

When nearing, someone still mentioned a word, yet in the end, nearly got skinned by Li Hong Yuan.

Since then, no one dared to mention a single word.

For Luo Old Madam and Zhang-shi to be able to enter the palace at this time to keep Jing Wan company, they naturally were happy, but they were also able to clearly sense that Li Hong Yuan seemingly was overly nervous.

When they mentioned this with Jing Wan, Jing Wan was also very helpless. But, some things, she also had no way of explaining.

Jing Wan discovered wisps of blood in Li Hong Yuan's eyes, which means that he hasn't truly slept in at least three days. But, at night, he clearly was by her side the whole time, yet she didn't detect in the slightest. How could she not know that it was getting closer and closer to 'that day'. No matter what, Jing Wan was unable to pretend to not know. Using a relatively uncomfortable posture, Jing Wan embraced him, pressing her forehead against his, "Ah Yuan, nothing will happen to me, really."

Li Hong Yuan had her cumbersome body adjusted, hugging her from behind, his one hand landing on her stomach. At this time, he also no longer covered up, "At the time, shouldn't have let you have him, shouldn't have....." Li Hong Yuan for a time felt that the him at the time definitely must have been broken in the head in order to have done such a thing.

"Ah Yuan, don't be like this....." Jing Wan didn't know how to console him. Actually, what he truly cared about was 'her' death. The child was just part of the reason. If she was destined to have such a trial, then even if not getting pregnant, it would still be some other cause, and he similarly would be anxious everyday to no end. In fact, because of not knowing the cause, he might be even more on edge.

On the eighth of the third lunar month, even Grandmaster Liao Chen all entered the capital, entering the palace.

That night, Li Hong Yuan met with Grandmaster Liao Chen. That terrifying air around him could no longer be covered up in the slightest, "Grandmaster, tell me, Wan Wan will be fine, right?"

"Amitabha Buddha, your Majesty, even if this humble monk says this to you right now, will you be able to take it in?"

Li Hong Yuan tightly clenched his fist. That's right, he won't be able to listen. Regardless of what others say, he all won't be able to listen in, unless Jing Wan actually live through these next two days safely.

"Amitabha Buddha." Grandmaster Liao Chen chanted a prayer.

Li Hong Yuan stood outside. The starry skies were quite pretty. And in this place, he just stood for don't know how long.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, her Highness......."

Li Hong Yuan didn't even let the palace maid finish speaking, immediately just running in.

TN: All

Jing Wan went into labor. When there were still some days left, when her diet was perfectly fine, under the circumstances of not getting bumped into in the slightest, she just went into labor early. And this day really did match up with Li Hong Yuan's past life. The terror in that moment practically suffocated him.

Li Hong Yuan had Jing Wan personally carried to the long prepared delivery room. It was the heated room of Kunyi Palace.

In an extremely short amount of time, the entire Kunyi Palace began moving, inside and out, all brightly lit.

Never mind Luo Old Madam and them, even Consort Dowager Qin all rushed over in the quickest speed.

The midwives, they'd already prepared eight, and the imperial physicians were also all brought over in the first moment.

Going into labor early actually wasn't within Jing Wan's expectations. In this moment, she also felt that perhaps she really did have such a trial. However, she didn't panic inside, smilingly looking to Li Hong Yuan, "This is just having gone into labor, still early."

"You certainly will be able to give birth very quickly, I'll stay with you."

Jing Wan silently looked at him, "Alright." She ultimately didn't kick him out. Regardless whether he stayed or not, as long as she wasn't safe and sound, then his heart will just forever be tormented.

The midwives to the side wanted to say something, but got stopped by Gong mama with a sharp glare, making them recall that they'd previously been warned. They just need to assist the empress in safely giving birth to the child. As for the rest, better have their mouths tightly shut and don't say a single word.

"I'm hungry, need to eat something." Jing Wan snuggled against Li Hong Yuan, cutely saying.

"Alright, immediately let someone prepare."

Actually, without needing Li Hong Yuan to instruct, it had long been prepared.

Right now, there were just labor pains, and also not that obvious, so Jing Wan was still able to bear. However, when eating, it was still Li Hong Yuan personally serving.

As time passed, the labor pains became increasingly obvious, the frequency also increasing. Jing Wan tried to endure as much as possible, even smilingly chatting with Li Hong Yuan. Just, that smile appeared increasingly forced.

"Ah Yuan, don't be scared. I will be fine. We will grow old together."

The third lunar month's bright sun was already high in the sky. Inside Kunyi Palace's heated room, there still weren't any big movements. However, in the long corridor outside knelt an entire field of palace maids and eunuchs, silent without a sound.

A bunch of imperial physicians dressed in blue stood outside. Without an order, they didn't even dare to move, their entire body stiff.

The various high ranking palace maids dressed in light green and red ran in and out carrying basins of hot water, each and every one covered in sweat.

The empress was having a difficult birth. Reportedly, it was because her pelvic skeleton was too small.

Li Hong Yuan was inside, while Luo Old Madam and the others were in the outer room, restlessly sitting or standing, unbearably anxious. In the end, they were truly unable to sit anymore, directly entering the delivery room, yet they still got startled by the person sitting by Jing Wan's bed.

Li Hong Yuan didn't say anything, tightly holding Jing Wan's hand, his complexion as heavy as water.

Actually, without needing him to say anything, the people in the room all knew, if something were to happen to Jing Wan, they will all be buried along with.

Jing Wan intermittently cried out in pain. In between, there was the midwives consoling. Even if separated by a curtain, the people outside still felt their scalps go numb from hearing.

"Ah!"

Jing Wan sweatily laid on the bed, just wearing loose clothes, sweating like rain, her body already drenched. Her entire person was like having just gotten fished out of the water.

"Ah Yuan." Jing Wan weakly called out.

"Here, here, Wan Wan, I'm here." It took a moment for Li Hong Yuan to respond. Right now, his body was entirely stiff.

Gong mama used a clean handkerchief to soak up the sweat on her face, and then brought over ginseng tea, using a small spoon to feed her a few mouthful.

Jing Wan's gaze was fleeting. Another wave of pain came. She deathly clenched her teeth and endured. Because he was here, Jing Wan didn't feel the pain was scary.

"Your Highness, if it hurts, just cry out, you absolutely mustn't hold it in. Come, this servant will count for you, please exert strength below, the child will come out soon." A midwife kneeling at the end of the bed urged as she helped in the delivery.

However, Jing Wan knew, this child won't be born that easily. Clearly, they'd already paid very close attention to her diet, just fearing that the child will be too big, thus difficult to give birth, but she never thought that her pelvic skeleton was too small. Why didn't anyone tell her this?

"Ah Yuan."

"Wan Wan, what is it, what is it...."

"Let Gong Jiu come in and have the child taken out."

Li Hong Yuan's pupils shrunk, his other hand cracking as he clenched his fist. A moment later, he let go, "Alright. Someone come, summon Gong Jiu in."

Gong Jiu actually was long prepared, but he hoped that he didn't need to step in. But now.....However, at this time now, there was nothing left to say, doing everything to remain composed.

"Ah Yuan, you go out, go out, don't stay, go out."

Li Hong Yuan lowered his head to look at her and a moment later, "Alright."

Li Hong Yuan went out like a wandering spirit. However, he just sat in the outer room. No one dared to look at him. That air was truly too scary. They sincerely prayed for the empress to be fine, else the imperial palace afraid will become a living hell.

Very soon, Jing Wan just went silent.

And not long after, they just heard the bawling sounds of a child, making the people outside nearly shed tears.

However, Li Hong Yuan's surroundings didn't warm up in the slightest.

The child got cleaned and carried out. Gong mama just dared to stand three feet away from Li Hong Yuan, "Your Majesty."

"Get lost!"

This one line made the people inside and outside the room nearly frightened to death.

They continued waiting, and waiting, all the way until Gong Jiu came out, "Your Majesty, her Highness is safe and sound."

The air around Li Hong Yuan instantly warmed up again, and his entire person was also like a snapped string, completely collapsing, "Reward!"

Afterwards, supporting himself to get up, he somewhat staggeringly walked into the inner room. Approaching the bed, he grabbed Jing Wan's hand, "Wan Wan......"

Everything went dark before his eyes, passing out. However, the corner of his mouth nevertheless carried a smile.

He faintly heard coming from outside, "Long live the emperor, long live the empress——-"

——FIN——

T/N: This is technically the official end of the main story, however because the following chapters of the after story are a direct continuation to make things easier for myself, I will just continue with the chapter numbering, so the first chapter of the after story I'll just number as chapter 590. Tbh the end of the first after story arc feels more like a proper end to the novel than this chapter. The end of this chapter is such a cliffhanger.