That Imperial Concubine is both wicked and cunning! Your Majesty, wake up!

"Wh-what...?"

Xiao Yan was so shocked that his tongue was tied. He stood there frozen, staring wide-eyed at Song Shuangning, unable to come to his senses for a long time.

The feeling of heaviness in Song Shuangning's abdomen became increasingly clear, and she reached out to push Xiao Yan's arm.

"Ah Yan! What are you standing there for?!"

"I'm going into labor!"

Xiao Yan seemed to have been struck hard, snapping back to his senses. He threw off the brocade quilt, turned around, and roared towards the outside of the hall.

"Guards! Where is Tao Banxia? Where is the imperial physician? Come here, both of you!"

After yelling, he immediately squatted back down by the bed, gripping her hand tightly with his large hand, his palms covered in cold sweat.

His brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on Song Shuangning. His usual composed and strategic demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a look of utter helplessness.

"Does it hurt? Can you still bear it? Can you walk? Do you want to eat something to tide you over?"

A barrage of questions actually dispelled most of Song Shuangning's pre-birth anxiety.

Seeing Xiao Yan's anxious expression, she smiled faintly and said breathlessly, "It's alright, it doesn't hurt too much."

Tao Banxia jogged in carrying a medicine box, squatted down without saying a word, and directly put her hand on Song Shuangning's wrist.

"Your Majesty's water has broken, let's go to the delivery room."

The delivery room was set up a month ago, just in case.

"Can you still walk? I'll help you." Xiao Yan was already so panicked that he lost all sense of reason. Upon hearing this, he immediately reached out to help Song Shuangning.

Song Shuangning bit her lip and slowly sat up with the help of the two of them.

Tao Banxia supported her lower back, and Xiao Yan held her arm as the three of them slowly made their way to the delivery room.

The midwife hurried over, first helping Song Shuangning lean against the soft couch. Her fingertips slipped under her maternity gown, gently touching her, and then she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Majesty is only one finger dilated now. While the pain is still mild, please take a few slow walks around the palace to loosen up your muscles and bones. This will save you a lot of energy when you give birth later."

Xiao Yan said, "That makes sense. I'll help you walk around."

So, Xiao Yan carefully supported Song Shuangning's waist and moved slowly with her steps.

The two walked slowly around the delivery room twice. Song Shuangning's breathing gradually became more rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She stopped, leaned on Xiao Yan's shoulder, and caught her breath. "I can't walk anymore..."

The midwife standing nearby exclaimed, "Your Majesty is truly remarkable!"

Xiao Yan immediately helped Song Shuangning sit down on the soft couch, and carefully placed a backrest pillow behind her back, wiping the sweat from her forehead: "Are you tired? Take a rest first."

A moment later, the midwife brought over a bowl of brown sugar egg custard.

"Your Majesty is still a long way from giving birth. You need to replenish your strength first so that you can exert more effort during labor."

Xiao Yan personally fed her the drink.

Song Shuangning forced herself to drink half a bowl, but she really couldn't drink anymore. She gently pushed the bowl away, saying, "I can't drink anymore."

About half an hour has passed.

The lower abdominal pain gradually turned into intermittent cramping.

The midwife bent down to check every quarter of an hour. This time, when she straightened up, she said solemnly, "Your Majesty is already four centimeters dilated. You can prepare for delivery."

Tingyu and Tinglu immediately stepped forward and smoothed out the soft mattress in the delivery room.

New mugwort was added to the stove, and wisps of smoke drifted out.

Song Shuangning bit her lip and, with Xiao Yan's help, moved onto the delivery bed.

She was in so much pain that her temples were soaked with cold sweat.

She looked at Xiao Yan and said softly, "Your Majesty, Xiao Yan, please go outside and wait."

Xiao Yan tightened his grip on her hand. "Wouldn't it be better if I stayed to keep you company?"

Song Shuangning gently shook her head.

She didn't dare let him stay.

The woman was in a terrible state during childbirth.

Sweating profusely and with her face flushed, she was far from her usual dignified self. In modern times, she had seen too many examples of husbands disliking their wives during childbirth.

She didn't dare to gamble.

Having children makes gambling even more unaffordable.

"Let's wait outside," she insisted.

"No," Xiao Yan said stubbornly, "I want to stay here with you."

As the two were locked in a stalemate, Tao Banxia slowly stepped forward and said to Xiao Yan:

"Your Majesty, you are aware of the rules of the palace. The delivery room is unclean, and your presence here will only distract the Empress. Please go outside and wait so that she can give birth in peace."

Xiao Yan fell silent, his gaze falling on Song Shuangning's sweat-covered face.

He wanted to stay, but he was afraid of distracting Ningning.

After hesitating for a moment, he softened his tone and asked softly, "Really... you don't want me to stay inside with you?"

Song Shuangning nodded slowly.

"it is good."

Xiao Yan pursed his lips, bent down to tidy her damp hair, and said in a very gentle voice, "I'll wait for you outside."

"Ningning will have a safe delivery. If she needs me, just call out."

Song Shuangning nodded.

The palace doors closed slightly, concealing Xiao Yan's figure outside.

Just as Song Shuangning was about to catch her breath, a series of intense pains struck her, and she gritted her teeth and groaned.

Listening to the rain, he stayed by her side, wiping her sweat with a warm handkerchief from time to time.

The midwife said, "Your Majesty, please bear with it a little longer; you're dilated to six centimeters."

"Breathe in rhythm with the old woman, inhale deeply... exhale slowly..."

Song Shuangning did as she was told.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but the intervals between contractions became shorter and shorter, and the pain was so intense that she could barely breathe.

Tao Banxia put a pear wood stopper in her mouth. "Your Highness, don't bite your lip, bite this instead."

Song Shuangning closed her eyes tightly, sweat and tears falling together.

I do not know how long it has been,

The midwife announced loudly, "Your Majesty's cervix is ​​fully dilated."

*

The other concubines rushed over upon hearing the news.

Outside the delivery room, palace lanterns swayed.

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his posture upright but with a hint of dejection, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed palace door, as if afraid of missing the slightest movement inside.

The chill emanating from him was so oppressive that no one dared to utter a sound.

Consort Shu remained silent for a while before going to Xiao Yan's side and saying, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Shuang Ning has a good constitution and has taken good care of herself during her pregnancy. She will surely have a smooth delivery. It should still be some time before she gives birth, so please sit and wait."

Xiao Yan shook his head slightly, his throat moved, but he didn't utter a single word.

He kept his eyes fixed on the palace gate.

After a while, several suppressed cries of pain finally came from inside the hall.

Sharp and broken, it makes one's heart clench.

It was clear that Song Shuangning had reached her limit of patience.

Xiao Yan's body trembled.

He clenched his teeth, a metallic taste rising in his throat, wishing he could take her place and bear the pain of childbirth for her.

In addition, Consort Qiu was also crying.

*

The atmosphere in the delivery room grew increasingly heavy.

Two or three midwives and Tao Banxia were also sweating with anxiety, their faces turning pale.

The Empress's cervix was already fully dilated, but she just couldn't muster any strength.

Tao Banxia quickly put a ginseng slice in her mouth and then hurriedly poured two mouthfuls of ginseng soup into her mouth.

But it was still no use.

"Your Majesty, give it your all!"

Tao Banxia was about to help her catch her breath when she saw Song Shuangning's head tilt to the side and she faint.

Fainting at this time is not a good sign.

Tao Banxia immediately rushed over to take his pulse.

The pulse is weak and feeble, indicating exhaustion. If this continues, the child may have a difficult delivery.