Then she shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Help! Somebody help! The Consort has fallen! The Consort has fallen and hurt her belly!"
This was part of the script they had agreed upon beforehand; otherwise, why would she have a premature birth for no reason?
Hearing this, the once peaceful morning suddenly became lively.
Qiu Ming, who was standing outside, was immediately startled awake.
Chunqi and Xiao Luzi hurried over, their faces calm from training.
"Is everything arranged?"
"Rest assured, Mr. Qiu. Everything is in order."
"Good, you go call Nanny Du then guard the kitchen. No one is allowed to touch the hot water or any medicine broth. All the cooks should wait outside."
Qiu Ming instructed Xiao Luzi.
"Miss Chun Qi, stay in the delivery room and don’t leave, follow Nanny Du’s instructions when the child is born."
Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.
After seeing Nanny Du arrive, Qiu Ming got up and personally went to Qian’an Hall to deliver the message.
This matter could’ve been conveyed to the guards at their post.
But the delivery of a concubine was a significant affair, so even the guards at the entrance didn’t dare to slack off, following quickly behind.
In Qian’an Hall, the Emperor had just taken a short rest after reviewing reports all day.
Then he heard news from outside.
"Your Majesty, the noble concubine is about to give birth!"
The Emperor opened his eyes abruptly and quickly got out of bed, calling out.
Dong Yuzhong brought Qiu Ming in hurriedly and saw the Emperor already dressing.
He helped while speaking.
"The noble concubine got thirsty last night, wanted water, and accidentally fell from the bed, hitting her belly. Now the child seems ready to come early."
This reasoning had been prepared beforehand, so the Emperor understood.
Yet understanding didn’t stop his genuine urgency.
"How is the noble concubine now?"
"The midwife is ready, and before I left, Nanny Du directed for the consort to be moved to the delivery room."
"Quick, Dong Yuzhong, personally go to the Dong Family and bring the Second Madam and the noble concubine’s mother to the palace, only then will I be assured."
If indeed there were two Princes, one would have to be immediately sent out of the palace with them.
This had also been prepared in advance.
By the time they hurried to Yihua Palace, standing at the door, the Emperor could hear Lin Wanyi’s restrained crying and the midwife’s constant talking inside.
"Go, call someone out who can speak; I need to know the noble concubine’s condition."
Soon, Nanny Du walked out.
Though her face showed urgency, she wasn’t panicked.
"Nanny Du, how is the noble concubine?"
"Your Majesty, don’t worry, the consort’s condition is temporarily stable, just needs more effort for the firstborn, once the Second Madam arrives, it should progress smoothly."
Hearing this, the Emperor’s anxious heart calmed a bit.
He wasn’t becoming a father for the first time; other women had borne him children before.
But this time, his anxiety surpassed dealing with state affairs.
He stood in the courtyard, staring into the house.
From time to time, people came in and out with hot water, and his expression was even graver than the night itself.
After some time, the Second Madam and Mrs. Dong entered the palace.
Their expressions were not any better than the Emperor’s.
Though they knew Lin Wanyi was due these days, they were still surprised.
After all, it was indeed early.
The child was only eight months and couldn’t wait to come out.
"Minister’s wife Mrs. Lin Dong greets Your Majesty."
"Minister’s wife Mrs. Dong Yun greets Your Majesty."
The Emperor saw them as if seeing a lifeline.
Immediately he personally helped them up and said.
"No need for formalities, please quickly go and see Qianqian; she has been in pain for almost an hour."
In the face of childbirth, all else was secondary.
Mrs. Yun and Mrs. Dong immediately entered the room.
On the bed, Lin Wanyi’s hair was already soaked.
Though she seemed spirited, when the contraction hit, she could only grit her teeth and endure.
Mrs. Yun stepped forward to check her pulse immediatly.
Then she took out a pill, placed it in Lin Wanyi’s mouth, and said.
"Swallow this, it’ll ease your discomfort significantly."
Lin Wanyi swallowed with difficulty.
She thought the pill might be big and would require water.
But much to her surprise, it melted instantly in her mouth.
It was like magic, as if a dry field received gentle rain.
The pain became less pronounced.
Taking a long breath, Lin Wanyi smiled.
"Thank you, Auntie, I feel much better."
"That’s good, let me check on the situation."
Mrs. Yun moved to the foot of the bed, while Mrs. Dong took her place at the head.
When she held her hand, it was clammy with sweat.
"It’s alright, it’s alright, Mother is here; Qianqian will be fine."
Just like when she was a child and had a cold, Mrs. Dong gently patted her arm, softly comforting her.
Perhaps it was the effect of the medication, or the familiarity of Mrs. Dong’s voice.
Slowly, Lin Wanyi began to feel drowsy.
Not long after, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Seeing this, Mrs. Dong immediately turned to look at Mrs. Yun.
"Sister-in-law, Qianqian..."
"Don’t worry, I added some sleep-inducing herbs to the pill, it helps conserve her strength, she will wake naturally when the child makes a big move." Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍
"That’s good, that’s good."
Mrs. Yun’s words were unquestionable to everyone.
But the midwife, who had never seen this before, worriedly asked.
"But if the consort is asleep, how can the child come out?"
"Relax, she will only sleep for an hour, I’ll use the Golden Needle to adjust the baby’s position, then wake her."
The midwife had heard of skilled doctors using a single needle to reposition the fetus before.
But had never witnessed it.
Now she was witnessing it.
While it wasn’t just one needle, several were used.
Mrs. Yun assessed the situation while placing needles around Lin Wanyi’s abdomen.
The initially still child began to move slowly.
Seeing the belly react, Mrs. Yun gently pushed down.
Once there was no reaction, she released her hold.
Repeating this over thirty times, the midwife exclaimed joyfully.
"The cervix is dilated, the consort needs to push, the child is almost out."
Her announcement thrilled everyone.
They had never seen a childbirth before.
Essentially, after a nap, the labor was already halfway through.
As Lin Wanyi gradually awakened, her belly still had a notable pain.
Yet it wasn’t unbearable.
With each contraction, Mrs. Yun instructed her to exhale deeply and then push downward.