The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1548 - 1545: Childbirth

Because today is New Year’s Eve, the Emperor needs to pay homage to the ancestors and hold the annual banquet, so he cannot find time for himself.

Nevertheless, he called Chief Steward Su to check several times in the middle, only passing on the message that after the evening banquet is over, His Majesty will naturally come, asking the Imperial Noble Consort to rest assured, and so on.

The other consorts also dressed up neatly today, as they too need to go to the Empress Dowager’s palace in the morning for ancestor worship.

Today and tomorrow, everyone in the palace is busy without touching the ground. Knowing that the Imperial Noble Consort went into labor in the morning, the more courteous ones just sighed and let it be.

Those who are at odds with the Imperial Noble Consort were sarcastic, simply saying that even if the Imperial Noble Consort were to die, she wouldn’t choose a good day, showing that she is someone without good fortune.

These two days of celebration, isn’t this just for the Royal Family’s big day to be disrupted?

Some sent their subordinates to Changchun Palace to say a word, while others pretended not to know.

The Imperial Noble Consort remained composed, as she had predicted these reactions countless times. She was very aware of the nature of those women.

Even the Emperor, if he truly cherished and loved her, on her life-threatening day, would it really be impossible for him to come see her?

It’s not that he doesn’t care, but the Emperor also thinks the timing of her labor is unlucky. Whether it’s New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, something happening on these days is not a good omen.

He is just not happy about it!

The more this was the case, the more the Imperial Noble Consort held onto her breath, even as the pain in her abdomen grew more intense, she grit her teeth to endure.

At this moment, hearing what the midwife said, she suddenly felt that, whether it’s fortune or misfortune, it was finally arriving.

The delivery bed had been prepared long ago, and there was a heated wall in the room, making it warm.

The Imperial Noble Consort was too weak to climb onto the bed herself, and even though the Palace Maid and midwife wanted to help her, she only tightly clutched Wang Yongzhu’s sleeve.

At this moment, all her calmness and feigned composure evaporated, only the presence of Wang Yongzhu beside her gave her a slight sense of security.

Wang Yongzhu felt the hand gripping her sleeve trembling, and seeing the Imperial Noble Consort’s pale face exposed a look of vulnerability and fear.

Unable to resist softening her heart, no matter how formidable a woman might be, she still feared at the edge of life and death.

Especially within this deep palace, when it came to childbirth, apart from the attentive Palace Attendants and eunuchs, there were no relatives around, much less the father of the child in her womb.

She comfortingly patted the Imperial Noble Consort’s hand, then bent over and picked up the Imperial Noble Consort.

The midwives standing aside were stunned. With the belly combined with herself, the Imperial Noble Consort had to weigh over a hundred pounds, right?

Even for a large man, pulling off such an effortless lift would be challenging.

This Wife of the Heir-Apparent did it as casually as lifting a cabbage.

All the Imperial Noble Consort felt was her vision blurring as her entire being lifted off the ground, enough to startle her, making her swiftly cling onto Wang Yongzhu’s neck.

The two exchanged a glance; Wang Yongzhu was unaffected, while the Imperial Noble Consort felt awkward beyond measure.

Speaking of when she used to be affectionate with the Emperor, being held like this by him was romantic.

Now being embraced like this by Wang Yongzhu, what did this mean?

Unfazed, Wang Yongzhu gently placed the Imperial Noble Consort on the prepared delivery bed, comforting with, "Madam, rest assured, I am here!"

The Imperial Noble Consort looked deeply into Wang Yongzhu’s eyes and nodded.

But soon, waves of to severe pain came crashing down, she had no time or mind to care about this anymore.

The nearby midwives then got their chance to perform, three or four gathered around.

Hearing the commotion, hearts outside were all in throats.

A pot of thick ginseng soup constantly simmered on the stove, waiting to be served when needed.

The Imperial Physicians also grew serious, staring eagerly at Du Zhongjing.

Du Zhongjing held onto his tea, head down in silence.

At first, the moaning and cries of pain in the delivery room were small; the Imperial Noble Consort was a woman who could bear pain. Even when it made her face pale, and cold sweat soaked her hair and clothes, she only softly groaned when she truly couldn’t withstand it.

Then she silently bit her lip to endure, listening to the midwife’s instructions to exert force.

Pots of hot water were brought in and pots of bloodied water were carried out.

In Changchun Palace besides the small kitchen constantly boiling hot water, all other Palace Attendants and eunuchs had their hearts fixed on the delivery room.

No one knew who started it, but one by one they knelt in the courtyard, praying to the heavens and all divine spirits to bless their madam with a smooth and safe delivery.

It was also Wang Yongzhu’s first time witnessing childbirth; to be honest, the impact was quite overwhelming.

Especially as the room was sealed, the mix of heat and the smell of blood made one dizzy.

Hong Fei and Lv Cui, the two chief Palace Maids, could only keep vigil beside, wiping sweat off the Imperial Noble Consort, comforting her, unable to help in any other way.

As for Bai Su, owing to prior instructions from Wang Yongzhu, barely maintained composure, joining the other Sisters, keeping a watchful eye on those midwives, fearing any trouble they might cause.

One or two hours passed, only the increasingly miserable moans of the Imperial Noble Consort could be heard, pots of bloodied water being carried out, yet the child still hadn’t descended.

The midwives’ faces changed. The amniotic fluid was about to dry up, and the child hadn’t descended yet, especially with the umbilical cord around the neck, fearing that the situation had already turned dire.

In the meantime, having heard the account from the midwives and Wang Yongzhu, Du Zhongjing and the Imperial Physicians deliberated and administered a labor-inducing potion to the Imperial Noble Consort.

Yet the child within steadfastly remained in the womb, refusing to emerge.

The midwives knew that today’s task was undertaken with the expectation of certain failure, seeing the situation, one by one, they were disheartened, feeling there was no hope.

This impacted their spirits and slowed their actions.

The Imperial Noble Consort was utterly exhausted, the pain felt endlessly perpetual, causing her to become increasingly dizzy.

Wang Yongzhu immediately sensed something wrong, sharply rebuked, "What do you think you’re doing? Madam hasn’t given up, yet you have? Drag these people out, bring a new team in!"

The midwives instantly paled, about to kneel and beg for mercy.

The Sisters standing guard beside them disregarded their pleas, twisting them out, handing them over to Huai Cai outside.

Huai Cai’s expression changed instantly upon hearing a few words, instructed coldly, "Drag them to an unused room, guard them carefully, and wait for this matter to be dealt with later!"

The eunuchs under Huai Cai were well-versed in dealing with such matters, covering the mouths of those midwives, dragging them away like dead dogs.

Leaving behind the midwives always on standby, called in with trepidation.

Wang Yongzhu signaled them to step forward and take over.

One of the midwives, daringly examined once more, opened her mouth, "Madam continuing like this might exhaust her strength, which could be unfavorable. Slave has a method to try, hoping it could assist Madam in some way."

Wang Yongzhu nodded, "What method?"

"Slave’s family has a passed-down method of massage, able to induce labor, but it is somewhat painful, afraid madam couldn’t endure—" grinding out this, the midwife spoke, reaching this point, without gambling, it truly might result in a mortal outcome.

Wang Yongzhu nodded, "Then try it!"

At this moment, as long as she can deliver the child, what is pain?