SWDnovel Chapter 273 Production
Chapter 273 Production
Upon learning the news, Wen Zongji rushed back to the Marquis's residence immediately, even asking Bai Baojing to take his leave.
The eldest princess arrived faster than him; by the time Wen Zongji arrived, the eldest princess had already entered the delivery room.
As soon as Wen Zongji arrived, he heard Pei Rujing's painful cries, and he instinctively rushed to the delivery room.
Granny Feng quickly stopped him, saying, "Young master, you can't go in."
Wen Zongji frowned: "My wife is inside."
Granny Feng said, "With a midwife present, the county princess will give birth to the young master smoothly. The delivery room is a unclean place, and men are not allowed to approach it."
Wen Zongji retorted irritably, "What nonsense are you spouting? My wife is suffering inside, what am I, as her husband, doing just waiting outside?"
In later generations, many men accompanied their partners in childbirth. What nonsense about a dirty place is nothing but superstition.
Knowing that Wen Zongji could be quite stubborn at times, Granny Feng advised him from a different angle: "Young master, the county princess will inevitably be distracted when she sees you. This is the most crucial time for her, and she absolutely cannot be distracted."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zongji stopped in his tracks as he forced his way through.
Just then, Emperor Shun'an and his entourage arrived.
Wen Zongji was surprised for a moment, then quickly bowed and said, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."
Emperor Shun'an nodded. He had also heard Pei Rujing's cry and was worried, so he had no mood to chat with Wen Zongji.
The Empress then led Princess Changning straight into the delivery room.
Upon entering, Princess Changning saw the bloody water in the basin and turned pale with fright: "Cousin..."
Madam Jiang explained, "Princess, please don't worry, the county princess is fine."
Pei Rujing had no time to see who was coming in; she was straining with all her might, and the midwife beside her was encouraging her.
The eldest princess held Pei Rujing's hand and wiped her sweat with heartache: "It'll be alright soon, Jing'er, hang in there a little longer."
Pei Rujing's face contorted in pain: "Mother, it hurts so much—"
The eldest princess's eyes reddened: "Mother knows, Mother knows."
Seeing Wen Zongji in such pain, Princess Changning burst into tears and ran over to Pei Rujing, lying down beside her: "Cousin~"
Taking a moment to catch her breath, Pei Rujing turned her head and glanced around, only to realize that the Empress and Princess Changning had arrived.
"Changning, get out of here quickly."
She had seen other people give birth and knew how terrifying it was.
Princess Changning is still young, and Pei Rujing doesn't want to frighten her.
Princess Changning shook her head: "No, I want to stay with my cousin. She's in a lot of pain, isn't she? I'll wipe her sweat."
She picked up a handkerchief and wiped the sweat that had trickled down Pei Rujing's neck, her little face full of heartache.
At that moment, she didn't quite understand the extent of Pei Rujing's suffering; she just wanted to be with Pei Rujing.
The eldest princess looked at Princess Changning with gentle eyes: "If Changning wants to stay with you, then let her stay with you."
Before Pei Rujing could say anything more, the midwife's urging voice came again: "Princess, push harder—"
Pei Rujing instantly lost all interest in thinking about anything else.
Outside the delivery room
Wen Zongji's pupils constricted as he watched the maid carry out a basin of bloody water. He asked urgently, "What happened to the county princess?"
The maidservant said, "The county princess is still in labor."
Wen Zongji then realized that he had been overthinking things; bleeding during childbirth is normal and not only occurs during difficult labor.
Emperor Shun'an noticed his momentary stiffness and patted him on the shoulder: "Everything will go smoothly."
His feelings were also complicated.
Thinking of his niece, whom he had doted on since childhood, now risking her life to give birth to Wen Zongji's child in the delivery room, he found it hard to stand Wen Zongji.
Wen Zongji's worries were genuine; the couple had a good relationship, and as their uncle, he had no reason to be the bad guy.
Wen Zongji forced a smile: "Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty."
The sun gradually climbed to its zenith, and it was time for lunch, but none of the Taoist priests inside or outside the delivery room had any appetite for food.
The kitchen prepared the meal, but dared not remind anyone to eat.
Until the baby's cries of "waaaaaa" came from the delivery room.
Wen Zongji stood frozen in place: "She's given birth?"
Emperor Shun'an, his face beaming with joy, exclaimed, "That's right, she's born!"
A moment later, Aunt Wan came out carrying a swaddled baby: "Your Majesty, son-in-law, the county princess has given birth to a baby boy, and both mother and child are safe and sound."
Wen Zongji couldn't help but tear up: "That's wonderful!"
He was extremely worried.
And I feel very helpless.
Pei Rujing cried out in pain one after another, but he could do nothing, not even stay by her side.
That feeling of helplessness gnawed at his heart, making him feel uncomfortable and worried, fearing that something might happen to Pei Rujing.
Ok!
The result was good!
Emperor Shun'an leaned over to look at the baby. His face was as red as a monkey's bottom and wrinkled, like a little old man.
Emperor Shun'an showed no disdain whatsoever, and instead praised, "As expected of Anhe's child, he is indeed handsome."
Wen Zongji: "..."
Even his own father wouldn't say something so insincere; one wonders how many layers of filters Emperor Shun'an added.
Wen Zongji asked his aunt, "How is my wife?"
Aunt Wan smiled and said, "The county princess is fine. She was just too tired and fell asleep after drinking a bowl of ginseng soup."
Wen Zongji nodded.
Auntie looked at Wen Zongji and asked, "Young Master, would you like to hold the little prince?"
Wen Zongji was taken aback: "...I don't know how."
"This servant will teach the son-in-law."
Emperor Shun'an watched as Wen Zongji acted like a puppet, doing exactly what Aunt Wan said, his whole body stiff and unresponsive, until finally he managed to hold the child in his arms.
Then she didn't dare to move, just staring blankly at the child.
Emperor Shun'an couldn't help but laugh: "Don't make things difficult for him."
Auntie had no choice but to take the child back: "The son-in-law will get it after holding him a few more times."
Wen Zongji pursed his lips.
He was savoring the feeling of holding the baby. Although he only felt the touch of the swaddling clothes, the weight was real.
This is his child!
Pei Rujing gave birth to his child after ten months of pregnancy!
……
Emperor Shun'an was, after all, the ruler of a country, and he could not stay at the Marquis's residence for too long. After confirming that Pei Rujing had given birth to the child safely and without any major problems, he and the Empress set off to return to the palace.
Princess Changning wanted to stay, but no one in the Marquis's mansion had the energy to take care of her, so she could only leave with the Emperor and Empress, looking back every few steps.
But knowing that Pei Rujing now had a county princess's mansion, she decided to visit Pei Rujing there sometime later.
At this time, the delivery room had been cleaned up, and the eldest princess was inside with Pei Rujing.
Ignoring Granny Feng's attempts to stop him, Wen Zongji entered the delivery room and said, "Mother-in-law, you've worked hard. The kitchen has prepared a meal. I will stay with you from now on."
Behind him, Granny Feng shook her head with a wry smile.
The eldest princess didn't say anything, but she gave Wen Zongji a deep look, stood up, and said, "Alright."
Wen Zongji took over the position of the eldest princess, sat on the edge of the bed, took Pei Rujing's hand, kissed it, and whispered, "Thank you for your hard work, my wife."
He closed his eyes, tears of lingering fear sliding down his temples.