Xiu'er couldn't lie still, so she paced back and forth in the courtyard.
Tang Zhuyun watched the maids and servants going in and out, preparing things and directing them.
"Xiu'er, do you want to go back in? Let me check you out, uh..."
Tang Zhuyun realized that she had lost control of her bladder.
This means her water broke.
Knowing it is one thing, but actually feeling it is another.
"No need, no need, it's still early. Your Highness, what's wrong?"
"I might," Tang Zhuyun said, leaning on the table, "Give birth soon too."
Xiu'er: "That's wonderful! I knew it! We had to be prepared to have both of us give birth at the same time. We even prepared two delivery rooms and several midwives... Your Highness, let's give birth together and see who comes out first!"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Oh my god, she's in so much pain, she doesn't want to talk anymore.
Why Xiu'er so relaxed? She was in so much pain her legs were shaking.
She always knew she couldn't tolerate pain, but she never imagined she was this bad at it!
The sharp, throbbing pain in her stomach spread down her lower abdomen to her pubic bone, making it difficult for her to stand.
"Xiu'er, I can't take it anymore."
"Your Majesty, ptooey! What unlucky things are you saying!"
The person who had an early onset of symptoms instructed someone to summon the Prince of Jin while he came over to comfort Tang Zhuyun.
"Your Majesty, it doesn't hurt! Just think, it doesn't hurt! It doesn't hurt at all!"
Tang Zhuyun: "It hurts!"
She wanted to deceive herself, but her body wouldn't allow it!
When the Prince of Jin returned, she had already been carried to the delivery room and was gripping the sheets and straining!
Xiu'er didn't return to her own delivery room; instead, she watched the commotion from the sidelines.
"Your Majesty, it doesn't really hurt that much. You need to give yourself some encouragement. It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt, I'm not in pain..."
Although the pain was more intense than before, she felt it was still bearable.
Tang Zhuyun was speechless.
She stopped talking; she was conserving her energy.
Waves of pain washed over her, and she wanted to curse, to curse the Prince of Jin.
--That bastard had his fun and then just pulled up his pants and left, leaving her to suffer like this.
She vowed to have her tubes tied for Prince of Jin immediately after giving birth!
Immediately! Right now! Not a moment longer!
The midwife checked Tang Zhuyun's lower body and exclaimed excitedly, "Your Majesty, it's open, it's open..."
Tang Zhuyun: "How many fingers are dilated?"
The midwife stared blankly at her.
Tang Zhuyun: "... How much longer until I give birth!"
"Soon, very soon."
Tang Zhuyun hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
When Prince of Jin returned, he rushed into the delivery room, knelt by the bed, held her hand, and stammered, "A-Yun, I'm here. I'm with you. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid of anything..."
They had previously agreed that the Prince of Jin would accompany her when she gave birth.
Tang Zhuyun burst into tears upon hearing the Prince of Prince of Jin's voice.
She's in so much pain.
Ren Yingying: "My god, isn't the head about to come out? Move aside, let me have it!"
Seeing her posture, the Prince of Jin was very uneasy.
Is childbirth really that fast?
Xiu'er was in so much pain that she could barely stand, but she was still managing to hold on.
She sat down in the chair and said, "I haven't given birth yet, it won't be that soon."
"Are you silly?! This is your first child, and hers is her second. Some people even give birth on the way to their second child!" Ren Yingying said.
Because I had given birth to Linlin before, this delivery wasn't actually that difficult.
The older twin, in particular, was almost impatient to come out and report for duty.
Ren Yingying handed the child to the midwife and said, "There really is another one!"
Yanran called from the next room, "Is it a little brother or a little sister? Bring it here so I can see."
The midwife, having received instructions, took the child to the next room.
Yanran looked at the tiny baby and smiled, reaching out to untie the swaddling clothes. "It's a little brother! Big brother, can you see? We have a little brother now!"
Linlin stood to the side, her smile restrained, yet her eyes still crinkled with genuine joy.
"Mother, I want a little sister too!" Yanran shouted.
Ren Yingying smiled and said, "Making your father proud isn't something your mother can decide."
The person under the corridor, Qu Nian, was spouting nonsense.
And why does having a child feel like torture?
Xiu'er stared in disbelief. "It was born like that? Our little monkey got up early, only to arrive late?"
She still doesn't feel like she's going into labor, she just feels the pain starting to get intense.
Fifteen minutes later, Tang Zhuyun's third son was born.
Yanran: "Another little brother! Are there any more?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
She was drowsy, and after hearing those words, she couldn't help but want to fall asleep.
But she tried to open her eyes, and then she heard Prince of Jin say, "The Crown Princess will help you take care of Xiu'er."
Xiu'er: "Your Majesty, I'm fine! I'm not as spineless as you, I'm going to give birth!"
Ren Yingying helped her out the door. When they saw Mingzhu at the entrance, Xiu'er waved to her and said, "Tell me quickly, how did your trip to the Wu residence go?"
She's been holding her breath and waiting!
Mingzhu was both amused and exasperated.
Ren Yingying: "Aren't you afraid of giving birth on the way? Come on, let's go back and I'll talk to you while we give birth!"
"Alright, make sure you don't forget anything!"
So, amidst all the gossip, and accompanied by her mother-in-law, Xiu'er entered the delivery room.
After seeing that the midwife had cleaned Tang Zhuyun up and that Tang Zhuyun was fast asleep, Prince of Jin got up to go see his two sons.
Just as the midwife was about to take the water out of the basin to pour it out, Prince of Jin suddenly spoke up, "Wait, what kind of water is that?"
The midwife quickly replied, "It's water for the young master's bath."
"Take the water out and put it under the eaves; do not pour it out."
The midwife didn't understand, but she did as she was told.
The Prince of Jin came out first and Qu Nian lying under the eaves, "That's the bathwater from when my son was born. Do you want to try it to ward off evil spirits?"
Qu Nian: Are you kidding me?
You, Prince of Jin, are so superstitious! Newborn babies have abundant energy, and bathwater wards off evil spirits—you actually believe such fallacies and heresies?
He turned his head to the side, resisting.
The Prince of Jin ignored him and got up to go inside to check on the child.
Qu Nian: I don't care! My paws are just a little dirty, I'll wash them...
No response, perhaps the dosage was insufficient?
Well, I haven't showered for three days, I might as well take a shower.
So he put the whole dog in the bowl.
It's still no use! The Prince of Jin was just a liar after all!
Calm down, calm down, I can soak a little longer...
Unleash your power!
Inside the room, the wet nurse had already fed the two babies, and they were now fast asleep side by side on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Yanran and Linlin were lying on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) watching their newborn brother.
Yanran: "Brother, they're so ugly. Sigh, looks like we should give them a bigger share of the family fortune!"
Linlin laughed and said, "You'll look better once you've grown in. Think about a newborn calf, it doesn't look good either, does it?"
"Yes!" Yanran was overjoyed; there was still hope for rescue.
Even though she's ugly, she only dislikes it herself and won't allow others to dislike it!
The Prince of Jin entered silently, leaned over from behind to embrace his two children, nestled his head between their little heads, and watched them sleep soundly, his heart softening.
My little ones, I am your father, welcome to this world.