Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 575: Water Broke

Murong Jiu burst out laughing.

"It’s normal for one’s period to be a few days early or late, you wouldn’t think I’m pregnant, would you?"

Jun Yuyan held her as he spoke, "You have been very punctual this past year, at most being one or two days early, rarely late, and you slept a lot today, are you feeling very tired?"

"Isn’t the fatigue because you insisted on taking me out of the palace to watch the fireworks last night, and we slept late?"

Murong Jiu pretended to nestle in his arms, with a sweet smile on her face.

The fireworks were beautiful, the result of years of improvement by the fireworks craftsmen, bigger and brighter than before, with more varied colors.

Last night, the entire Capital City watched as the fireworks spectacularly burst in the sky, the city was filled with song and dance, truly reflecting an era of peace and prosperity.

Standing on top of a tall building, overlooking the entire Capital City, the lively atmosphere was genuinely fulfilling.

Murong Jiu complained with her mouth, but her tone was filled with joy.

She said to Jun Yuyan, "Do you want children now because of what Wang Yingluo said?"

Originally, Wang Yingluo had said that historically, she and Jun Yuyan would have more than just Zhijin and Zhiyu as their children, and according to later historical timing, she would give birth to a pair of twins next year, which meant she would become pregnant around this time.

Jun Yuyan shook his head, "Actually, my feelings are quite complicated. Of course, having more children would be better, to help Zhijin be a good ruler in the future, but I don’t want you to suffer, the memory of Madam Lou Zixi’s difficult labor last year is still vivid in my mind."

"I’ve said it, let nature take its course. The first childbirth might be difficult, the second will be much smoother, I’m not afraid, it’s you who has always been taking contraceptive medicine. Look, you’re even taking it now, how could I suddenly become pregnant?"

Jun Yuyan’s concern for her wasn’t just lip service, it was shown in his actions; he said no more children, he wouldn’t let her take medicine, it was he who had been taking it for a long time, the medicine was even specially made by his master.

"Divine Doctor Zhai said, taking medicine doesn’t necessarily guarantee contraception."

"That’s what was said, but it essentially won’t lead to pregnancy unless the heavens decree us to have another child."

...

Murong Jiu never expected her words to turn prophetic.

Her period was delayed further and further.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed, and it was almost certain she was pregnant, and soon Murong Jiu’s master, Divine Doctor Zhai, also confirmed the joyful news.

Murong Jiu’s mindset was quite calm, first surprised, then more so elated.

She felt that this child was granted by the heavens.

Even the contraceptive medicine couldn’t stop it.

Luckily, the contraceptive medicine was safe and wouldn’t harm the child.

Jun Yuyan’s mood had completely shifted, feeling surprised, but even more worried and anxious.

Even during court sessions, the ministers could feel the occasional distractedness of His Majesty.

As Murong Jiu’s belly grew day by day, Jun Yuyan almost always stayed by her side, and the palace was arranged tightly secure, and every person within was thoroughly vetted time and again to avoid situations like that of Sikong Wan.

Murong Jiu also insisted on exercising, watching her diet, in the hopes of ensuring a safe delivery for the child.

She indeed was carrying twins, so she endured more hardship than other pregnant women, especially towards the end, when even lying down became uncomfortable, often needing to turn over throughout the night.

Jun Yuyan was a light sleeper, waking immediately at any slight stir from Murong Jiu, whether she needed a drink or to use the restroom, he always tended to her needs personally with great care.

Aside from the hardship, Murong Jiu didn’t experience any other discomfort throughout her pregnancy.

She ate well, slept well; though she had to frequently turn over in the later stages due to her large belly, she would fall asleep quickly without any instances of insomnia.

She often told Jun Yuyan that these two children would definitely be obedient and well-behaved, just like their older siblings.

In the days leading up to the childbirth, Jun Yuyan stopped attending morning court and stayed by Murong Jiu’s side all the time, worried that she might suddenly go into labor.

Although he had forgotten the details of his relationship with Murong Jiu due to the hypnosis performed by Wang Yingluo while he was unconscious, he had already learned from Divine Doctor Zhai and Chun Tao about the difficult birth and severe bleeding Murong Jiu experienced when she initially gave birth to Zhijin and Zhiyu.

That was also why Jun Yuyan had not dared to have more children.

Even when Empress Dowager Qi had pushed him hard in the past, he had never wavered.

Now that she was pregnant again, he often regretted it in his heart.

If he had to let Ah Jiu suffer so much again, he truly would rather not have these two children, having Zhijin and Zhiyu was enough.

Out of nervousness and haste, Jun Yuyan had developed two small blisters around his mouth in the past few days.

Murong Jiu smiled as she brought him a tea to reduce internal heat.

"Don’t be nervous, Your Majesty, I feel this pregnancy is going very smoothly, and once labor starts, they will be born quickly. Here, drink some of this tea to cool down," she said.

"I’ll take it, I’ll take it, Ah Jiu, you sit and don’t move."

Jun Yuyan quickly took the tea for reducing internal heat and then helped Murong Jiu sit in the cushioned seat.

Murong Jiu’s body was heavy, and she could neither sit too high nor too low. Jun Yuyan himself had drawn the designs which the court’s carpenter, Han Muzi, crafted and polished to perfection.

The seat was surrounded by cushions, which indeed made it comfortable.

However, Jun Yuyan still felt it was not good enough because Murong Jiu’s belly was too large; it was so large that it alarmed him. Although the chair was made large, he still felt it was too cramped and always wanted her to lie down on the couch instead.

He drained the tea for reducing internal heat in one gulp, and Murong Jiu stood up.

"I want to walk around a bit more; these days, they haven’t been moving as frequently. It must be too crowded in the amniotic fluid," she explained.

As time went on, the babies grew faster.

Murong Jiu’s belly inflated like a blown-up ball, and indeed, it was quite worrying.

Moreover, twins often are born prematurely, and the due date for twins is calculated earlier than for single births. She too felt it would be any day now, and if not soon, it could become even harder to deliver later.

She had already been consciously controlling her diet to prevent the babies from growing too quickly.

Jun Yuyan hurried over to support her.

"Your Majesty, the Monarch of Gaomian has arrived in Capital City," a guard reported.

"Why has he arrived early? Such inconvenient timing. Have someone arrange accommodation for him and entertain him. The rest can wait until after my Empress has given birth," he ordered without a second thought.

Jun Yuyan immediately dismissed the guard.

Murong Jiu laughed and said, "The Monarch of Gaomian mentioned a year ago that he wanted to visit Great Yan to see the Son of Heaven, so his arrival around this time isn’t too early. Why do you still think he has come too early?"

"His arrival is his arrival, but right now, I absolutely cannot go see him," Jun Yuyan replied.

As the Monarch of Great Yan, the nation’s fortunes had grown ever stronger over the past two years, and Jun Yuyan certainly had the confidence that came with it.

Of course, this was not considered arrogance. Had the visitor come after Murong Jiu’s children were born and there were no other urgent matters, Jun Yuyan would surely have met with him courteously, showing the hospitality of the Son of Heaven Nation.

Murong Jiu continued laughing, then suddenly bowed her head, and immediately grasped Jun Yuyan’s hand tightly.

"Ah Jiu, what’s, what’s wrong?" he asked.

"My water broke."