He was now as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. So worried was he about his daughter's safety that he had even forgotten his manners and called her his unfilial daughter outright.
Naturally, Liu Xie would not take issue with the anxious Lü Bu over such things. He merely calculated in silence how long Lü Lingqi had been pregnant.
Although folk wisdom said a pregnancy lasted ten months, according to the medical knowledge of later ages, thirty-seven weeks, or nine months, counted as full term.
Lü Lingqi was around thirty-six weeks pregnant by now. Giving birth now did not count as a premature delivery and was not that dangerous.
At this thought, Liu Xie felt a little more reassured and said to Lü Bu, "Duke Wen, there is no need to worry too much. The imperial physicians and midwives are all here. Noble Lady Lü will be fine."
Then he comforted Zhen Mi as well. "You need not blame yourself either, my beloved consort. This was an accident, something no one could have foreseen. We need only wait here calmly..."
Just as he finished speaking, a cry of pain suddenly came from the inner chamber.
The cry startled everyone outside the bedchamber.
For that was Lü Lingqi's voice!
"Qi'er!"
Lü Bu's heart instantly leaped into his throat. Instinctively, he started to rush into the inner chamber, but caught himself and stopped, stamping his feet in anxiety.
Liu Xie also fell silent. His fists clenched tightly as he stared at the inner chamber, worry rising uncontrollably in his heart.
Palace maids hurried in and out of the bedchamber carrying hot water and all manner of things, busier than ever.
When Lü Bu saw the water in the basins stained red with blood, his vision kept darkening and his face