Wan’er paused her hand and looked at Xiqiu, revealing a trace of joy in her eyes.
Hearing the midwife’s voice: "Fourth Master... Fourth Master, the birthing room is a filthy place, you cannot enter."
"Get out of the way!" Fourth Master Xiao’s deep voice fell, and he had already lifted the curtain and stepped inside. His strides were so large it seed he could reach Xiqiu in a single step, his usually composed and intimidating gait now appeared disordered and unsteady: "Girl!" he exclaid urgently as he reached the bedside.
Xiqiu’s long-held tears finally flowed: "Fourth Master!"
Fourth Master Xiao gazed at Xiqiu; he had seen her playful, calm, crying, and lost, but never like this, so despairing, like a farewell before death.
His heart ached fiercely, his large hand clasped Xiqiu’s hand tightly, and he turned to Ruan Jingliu: "What exactly is going on?"
Ruan Jingliu quickly explained the situation, and the more Fourth Master Xiao listened, the graver his expression beca. Xiqiu quickly added: "Fourth Master, please don’t speak, just listen to this ti!"
"No way!" Without thinking, Fourth Master Xiao stood up and looked at Ruan Jingliu: "Is there no other way?"
Ruan Jingliu nodded slightly, looking at Fourth Master Xiao.
Fourth Master Xiao’s body swayed almost imperceptibly, his brow furrowing tightly, as he looked down at Xiqiu, whose hand he still hadn’t released. He crouched back down at the bedside, resolutely declaring, "Save the adult!" Then he looked at Ruan Jingliu: "If you can’t help, get the Imperial Physician!"
For the first ti, Fourth Master Xiao spoke like this to Ruan Jingliu, whom he had always treated with respect and courtesy.
Ruan Jingliu did not get angry; like Fourth Master Xiao, she also wanted both mother and child to be safe, but in such a situation, even the Imperial Physician would be of little help.
At the door, the Grand Dowager heard the argunt inside and ca in with the midwife.
The midwife checked Xiqiu’s lower body again and gently massaged circles on Xiqiu’s belly...
The scene stagnated once more.
"Fourth Master..." Xiqiu wanted to persuade Fourth Master Xiao, but he would not hear her explanation. Half holding her, he pressed his face against hers, whispering gently: "Girl, listen to , don’t be afraid... I am here!" As he spoke, sothing cool fell on Xiqiu’s cheek, rging with her tears: "I... can’t live without you!"
Xiqiu felt a stab of pain in her heart; she stared at the ceiling, suddenly feeling how unfair the heavens were.
Why tornt her like this? Granted her rebirth, only to rcilessly take everything away again.
If she hadn’t had it, there wouldn’t be this wrenching separation, this tearing heartbreak.
The midwife’s hand rubbed her belly, Ruan Jingliu watched the midwife’s actions and furrowed her brow too, discarding the knife in her hand to join in rubbing. Suddenly, Xiqiu felt this thod might work, as uterine massage could help the cervix contract and stimulate the fetus if done gently.
She hoarsely called to Ruan Jingliu, "Jingliu, apply more pressure!"
It seed Ruan Jingliu thought of this too, as they exchanged a glance and nodded without a word.
The midwife, seeing this, rolled up her sleeves and said, "Let help!" Joining, the three worked together to massage Xiqiu’s belly.
Fourth Master Xiao held Xiqiu, half-kneeling by the bed, as everyone held their breath, waiting for Xiqiu’s reaction.
Xiqiu widened her eyes, trying to contract her anus and uterus herself...
Just then, another contraction ca from her abdon, the intense pain like a body being torn apart...
But she smiled, striving to show an awkward smile at everyone: "It moved... it moved." She turned to Fourth Master Xiao: "Fourth... Fourth Master, the baby moved!"
Soone fainted with a thud, and all Xiqiu heard was Madam Jiang exclaim, "Grand Dowager!" before she was drowned by the intense pain, flooding all her senses.
Fourth Master Xiao held her hand, embracing her, "Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid!" His own arm was trembling violently, wishing he could bear such pain for Xiqiu.
"The cervix has opened!" A shout rang out, Midwife Cai’s voice: "The cervix has opened, madam, soon, it’s soon!"
A cheer rose in the courtyard.
Nanny Wang ca over, grabbing Xiqiu’s arm: "Madam, breathe in... breathe out..." teaching Xiqiu how to work with the baby.
Xiqiu bit her teeth, her forehead soaked with sweat. Ruan Jingliu assisted the midwife, at this ti, Fourth Master Xiao seed a bit redundant, retreating to one side, and Madam Jiang ca in to support Xiqiu, seizing a mont to slip soft pastries into Xiqiu’s mouth: "Eat so, gain strength!" All while smiling, but tears stread down her hand.
Xiqiu opened her mouth, the dry pastry crumbs sticking to her chapped lips. She struggled to swallow, and Madam Jiang fed her ginseng soup with a spoon...
Fourth Master Xiao stood at the door of the birthing room, arms crossed, like a fixed painting, dust unwashed from his body, yet his eyes were misty.
A gleam of red light rose on the horizon, illuminating the entire courtyard.
It also clearly lit the two figures standing like stone statues at the courtyard gate, unclear how long they had been there...
"Wah!" Just then, a cry as if from the heavens, like salvation, echoed from the birthing room.
Everyone froze, staring dumbfounded at the birthing room.
Then Nanny Cai lifted the curtain, supporting herself on the door fra, shouting: "It’s born, madam has given birth!"
Fourth Master Xiao instinctively saw a mont of darkness, looked at the midwife and asked: "How is the madam?"
The midwife hesitated, not expecting the Great Governor to first ask about the madam, thought a mont and replied: "Madam is safe!" Then paused, as if asking for a reward, "Congratulations to the Great Governor, it’s a little son, crying loudly, very healthy!"
Before she finished, Fourth Master Xiao had already brushed past her, entering the room.
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