Pang Xiao’s mind was buzzing. Back when he faced enemies on the battlefield, blades cutting into his body hadn’t made him furrow his brow once, but now he was both nervous and afraid.

Before departure, Grandmother had specifically called him aside for a private conversation.

“Da Fu, once you’re out there, you must be more attentive. When women give birth, it’s like taking a trip through the gates of hell. Yining has suffered plenty since marrying into our family, and she’s endured so much hardship outside. Her physical foundation isn’t any better than others’, and carrying twins makes it even more difficult and dangerous during delivery.

“This time you’ve brought trouble upon her, making her travel with a big belly. You must take responsibility – care for her more, give in to her more. Once you see the situation isn’t good, stop immediately. During her confinement month, absolutely don’t travel, understand?

“Don’t just agree nicely with me here and then not pay attention to your wife later! I’m telling you, when your mother gave birth to you, she nearly died from hemorrhaging. If we hadn’t found a good doctor, who knows what the consequences would have been. Yining giving birth to two at once is even more dangerous – don’t treat your grandmother’s words as background noise!”

…

Recalling Ma Shi’s nagging, Pang Xiao’s hands and feet turned cold.

Seeing Pang Xiao standing there dazed like a wooden post, Huzi couldn’t help but worriedly pat him: “Your Highness, what’s wrong with you?”

Pang Xiao was startled back to his senses, turning his head in confusion: “Ah? What did you say?”

Huzi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He rarely saw Pang Xiao in such a state. Thinking of Qin Yining’s condition, Huzi also straightened his expression and repeated his earlier question.

As if suddenly enlightened, Pang Xiao slapped his thigh like an anxious child.

“Right, right, many hands make light work. Go invite Liang City’s best midwives – having more people means they can consult with each other. Also check where the medicine shop is, in case the medicines we brought aren’t enough.”

“Your Highness speaks truly. I’ll have them go immediately.” Huzi bowed and withdrew.

Pang Xiao turned back and called for Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi: “Please follow me, both gentlemen.”

Seeing Pang Xiao’s serious and solemn expression, Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi knew something difficult must have occurred that required their counsel. They immediately bowed and followed Pang Xiao into the west side room.

The three sat according to their positions. Xu Weizhi asked: “Does Your Highness have some difficulty?”

“Indeed.” Pang Xiao said with utmost seriousness: “This prince has thought of several names and would like both gentlemen to help deliberate which would be best.”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi: …

The prince using the attitude of discussing national affairs to name future little princes – this was somewhat difficult for them to accept immediately.

Xie Yue looked at Pang Xiao’s incredibly serious expression, coughed once to suppress the smile about to overflow from his lips, and replied with equal gravity: “Your Highness, we two are of humble status – naming the little prince or little princess might not be appropriate.”

Pang Xiao waved his hand: “Both of you are greatly talented. Besides, given our relationship, why worry about worldly conventions? Both gentlemen have followed me for so many years, always devoted and diligent. I’ve always considered you both as family. Naming children also requires our discussion.”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi felt warmth in their hearts hearing this.

Xu Weizhi asked with a smile: “Has Your Highness decided on which names?”

Pang Xiao smiled: “I’ve thought for a long time. I previously discussed the children’s names with Yining, but she said that as the father, the names should be chosen by the father, so she left everything to me. I thought of two names – Zhiji and Zhibi. What do both gentlemen think?”

Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi thought for a moment, exchanged glances, and already had an understanding of Pang Xiao’s naming abilities.

“Both characters come from ‘The Art of War’s’ Strategic Attack chapter, very fitting for tiger cubs of a military family.” Xu Weizhi smiled. “But what if the princess gives birth to two daughters?”

“This… I did think about it. It wouldn’t be impossible for girls to be called Zhiji and Zhibi either.”

Xie Yue’s mouth twitched. If Princess Yao Shi knew her daughters were named Zhiji and Zhibi, who knew what her feelings would be.

Xu Weizhi thought for a moment, then said: “If the princess gives birth to two young masters, Pang Zhiji and Pang Zhibi would clash with Your Highness’s courtesy name when spoken. Moreover, when Your Highness initially raised your cause, you also carried General Pang’s identity – shouldn’t you consider what character this generation of the Pang family uses?”

Pang Xiao frowned slightly. Though he had no feelings for the Pang family, he had to admit Xu Weizhi made sense.

“I heard from my mother about this generation of the Pang family – regardless of male or female, they all use the character ‘Ru.'”

“There it is.” Xu Weizhi smiled. “Why not choose two characters to follow ‘Ru,’ so whether the princess gives birth to twins or mixed gender twins, they can be used. Wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone?”

Pang Xiao was enlightened and smiled: “Both gentlemen think more thoroughly.”

Rising to pace a few steps, Pang Xiao smiled: “What do both of you think of the characters Zhao and Han?”

“Ruzhao, Ruhan… good, good. Both characters have meanings of brightness, and whether for boys or girls they work well. They also use the ‘Ru’ character from this generation of the Pang family genealogy. Whether in meaning or virtue, they’re perfectly flawless – excellent.” Xie Yue smiled and nodded repeatedly.

Xu Weizhi also smiled: “Whether Zhao Ge’er, Han Ge’er, or Zhao Jie’er, Han Jie’er – all are good. Your Highness chose these two names extremely well.”

Pang Xiao also smiled for a while, but thinking that Qin Yining was still suffering, the joy of having names for the children was swept away, replaced by deep worry.

His heart still had no foundation.

Pang Xiao went to the side room door again, listening carefully to the sounds inside. Several times he wanted to lift the curtain and enter, but was stopped by Bingtang each time.

Watching as night fell, Huzi also returned with local doctors and midwives.

“Your Highness, we’ve invited Liang City’s most famous midwives and doctors. Combined with the people we brought, the princess will surely be safe – you needn’t worry.”

Pang Xiao had no mind for other things, anxiously nodding.

Standing here, he could only roughly hear the talking inside, interspersed with some of Qin Yining’s groans of enduring pain and Bingtang’s comforting words.

The flow of time at this moment seemed particularly thick and slow. Pang Xiao anxiously couldn’t stand or sit, already mentally and physically exhausted from worry. He nearly rushed into the birthing room to check the situation, though only a few hours had passed.

By midnight, when people were most drowsy, Qin Yining’s labor pains became intense.

The invited doctor took her pulse through a gauze curtain. Bingtang carefully examined everything, then discussed with the doctor about using labor-inducing medicine.

In less than the time of one incense stick, there was movement.

Pang Xiao had just gone to the side room for a sip of hot tea when someone came to report movement from the princess’s side. Disregarding everything else, he grabbed his cloak and rushed out.

Suppressed groans of enduring pain came from the birthing room. Compared to those who screamed at the top of their lungs under pain, Qin Yining’s restraint made Pang Xiao’s heart ache even more.

The door curtain lifted, and hot air mixed with thick bloody smell rushed out. A nanny carried out a basin of bloody water, moving swiftly to dump it. Another woman boiled hot water and brought it in.

Just seeing that large basin of bloody water made Pang Xiao completely panic.

What to do? What should he do?

“Your Highness, don’t panic. Go rest for a while – there’ll be good news soon.” Huzi couldn’t bear to watch the birthing room’s activity, turning sideways to avoid seeing the women going in and out, not wanting to hear the sounds inside either, only urging Pang Xiao to rest.

But Pang Xiao shook his head, standing silently in place.

The commotion inside grew louder, women carrying blood basins out came more frequently, and Pang Xiao’s complexion grew even worse.

“It’s been two hours of struggle – how is it not born yet? How much blood can flow like this!” Pang Xiao’s face was ghostly pale as he grabbed a woman bringing hot water inside. “What’s really happening in there!”

The woman was startled and nearly dropped the brass-spouted kettle. Facing this large man, she couldn’t speak in detail, only saying: “Nothing’s wrong, nothing.”

“Then what’s going on? How is the princess now? Why so much blood!”

How could the woman answer this?

“Your Highness, I, I… this old servant doesn’t know either. Perhaps let the doctor speak with you.” The woman rushed inside as if fleeing.

Soon Pang Xiao heard Bingtang’s voice through the curtain: “The princess is fine – Your Highness, stop causing trouble here!”

Without coming out to explain, her attitude was extremely impatient.

But Pang Xiao wasn’t angry at all – his heart relaxed by half.

He knew Bingtang’s medical skills and trusted her character.

If Bingtang said it was fine, then it should really be fine, right?

Pang Xiao temporarily set his mind at ease, but still refused to leave the birthing room entrance, standing in the damp, cold courtyard, almost becoming a statue.

Huzi couldn’t bear to watch and brought a charcoal brazier to place beside Pang Xiao, also bringing a chair with thick cushions for him to sit on, and stuffed a hand warmer of appropriate temperature into his hands.

Normally Pang Xiao disdained these fussy things, but now with his whole heart focused on his wife and children’s safety, he paid no attention to these details. When Huzi handed them over, he accepted them.

After waiting another hour, the sounds inside became increasingly chaotic, interspersed with midwives’ encouragement and Qin Yining’s suppressed cries of pain. Soon, there was a loud cry.

Pang Xiao jumped up, the hand warmer falling to the ground, spilling charcoal everywhere.

Hearing the baby’s cry, Xie Yue, Xu Weizhi and others waiting in the side room all rushed out in unison, looking expectantly toward the side room.

A nanny with blood still on her hands lifted the curtain and came out, grinning so widely her teeth disappeared, bowing: “Congratulations Your Highness! It’s a healthy baby boy, weighing five jin three liang, so handsome! He even has a small cinnabar mole between his eyebrows! It’s too cold outside – afraid the young master can’t withstand it, so we didn’t bring him out. Your Highness will see soon enough!”

Pang Xiao was completely dazed at this moment, only able to grin and nod repeatedly: “This prince knows. How is the princess, how is she…”

Before finishing his words, another cry came from inside – this one even more robust than the previous.

Soon another woman rushed out: “Your Highness, congratulations! The second young master weighs six jin one liang – mother and children are all safe!”

Pang Xiao’s hands, which had been tightly gripping his sleeves, suddenly relaxed as he let out a long breath.

Though they weren’t the daughters he’d been yearning for, he was equally delighted now – as long as they were safe!