When Qing Zhuo learned he had caused a false alarm, he was also very shocked. Looking at Qing Ying who was furious enough to want to skin him alive, he was rarely somewhat stuttering. “She… hasn’t given birth?”

He had already mustered all his energy waiting for His Highness to hold his son!

This was truly…

He shrank his neck, feeling somewhat wronged. “You can’t really blame me. The time was about right, and you came running over without explaining things clearly…”

Han Feng expressionlessly knocked him on the head, somewhat unable to bear it any longer, and glared at him. “You talk too much! You’re so old yet still so reckless!”

Before, Han Feng couldn’t even be bothered to speak plainly to him—after all, even if he said something, Qing Zhuo wouldn’t learn his lesson. But seeing that if he didn’t speak now it wouldn’t do, this fellow wasn’t ordinarily reckless!

Qing Ying also huffed with annoyance. “His Highness was scared badly by you, and our Lady was nearly frightened too. When will you change that temperament of yours!”

Qing Zhuo made an acknowledging sound, like a wronged little wife, stammering as he looked at Qing Ying. “His Highness won’t…”

Qing Ying couldn’t be bothered to deal with him. She glared at him once and walked away rather arrogantly.

Qing Zhuo could only turn to look at Han Feng, but Han Feng also couldn’t be bothered to look at him. Seeing no one paying him attention and feeling he had made a mistake, he went about with his tail between his legs for several days.

When on the third day Qing Ying came running out again urgently, he wasn’t anxious at all. Standing in place, he wanted to wait for Qing Ying to explain clearly. Hearing Qing Ying say Song Chuyi had gone into labor, he couldn’t quite react, staring at her suspiciously.

But this was after all not a small matter that could be delayed. Even if he was being tricked, he had to go. He turned and ran toward Zhou Weizhao, startling both Fu Youde and Chen Dezhong inside. Gasping for breath, he told Zhou Weizhao, “Her Ladyship, Her Ladyship has gone into labor!”

Zhou Weizhao was frightened into another start by him. Though he had been frightened once before, this time he was still scared considerably. He swept into Yong’an Palace almost like flying.

There were already many palace servants in the corridor carrying basins and various items back and forth—things for childbirth, the birthing room, and midwives had long been prepared. Even when the Crown Princess came, there was nothing she could find fault with or anywhere she could help. Standing in the main hall watching Zhou Weizhao’s teeth seemingly begin to chatter, she softly told him, “It’s alright. Xiao Yi has great fortune and destiny.”

But women giving birth was like entering the gates of hell once. Zhou Weizhao truly couldn’t feel at ease.

Zhou Weizhao knew childbirth was difficult but had never known it could be difficult to this extent. By afternoon, there was still not a sound from the birthing room. When Nanny Xu and Nanny Xu came out, they only said the cervix hadn’t opened yet and Song Chuyi was in severe pain.

Crown Princess Lu was somewhat anxious. “Has she taken the ginseng slice? Quickly prepare ginseng soup and tell her absolutely not to cry out—she should conserve her strength to wait and push the baby out in one go… If she cries out too much, what will happen when she has no strength left?”

When the Crown Princess panicked, everyone below panicked even more. The Grand Princess Consort’s pregnancy seemed somewhat unstable—it had been an entire afternoon with still not a bit of movement… Everyone even lightened their footsteps when walking.

After another half hour passed, even Empress Lu arrived accompanied by Princess Rongcheng and Princess Duanhui. Hearing there was still no movement inside, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked toward Zhou Weizhao.

Zhou Weizhao still maintained an appearance of calm composure. Empress Lu breathed a sigh of relief—valuing loyalty and affection was good, but the ruler of a nation should remain composed even when Mount Tai collapses before him. No matter how difficult the situation, one must maintain appearances.

She then repeatedly ordered people to summon Court Judge Sun and Attendant Hu again.

Lights were lit in the rooms. The entire imperial city was enveloped in a sea of warm, bright lamps. Zhou Weizhao stood in the corridor, unwilling to move a single step, like a statue.

From time to time, Song Chuyi’s suppressed groans came from inside the room. She seemed to be in extreme pain…

The Crown Princess’s expression changed somewhat. She hurriedly had Liánqiáo support her into the birthing room. At a glance, she saw Song Chuyi drenched in sweat, even her hair wet.

Nanny Xu knew crying at this time was taboo, but she just couldn’t help it. Seeing the Crown Princess enter, she couldn’t help but choke up. “This… Your Highness, what should we do? The midwife says this birth may be somewhat dangerous…”

Nanny Xu, who was usually much more experienced than Nanny Xu, couldn’t help but panic now. “She’s already somewhat dazed and starting to speak deliriously… What should we do?”

The Crown Princess walked quickly to the bedside. Seeing Song Chuyi’s face deathly pale but her lips bitten blood-red by her teeth, she reached out to brush away the hair stuck to her eyelids by sweat, gently grasping her hand and calling, “Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi!”

Song Chuyi, in pain and discomfort, only felt her belly sinking heavily downward. The waves of pain in her abdomen were unbearable. In her daze, she seemed to see Cui Shi, whose face she could no longer clearly remember. With a sob in her voice, she called out “Mother.”

Once this word “Mother” left her mouth, her emotions seemed to find an outlet.

Though Cui Shi had long been dead, though she couldn’t even really remember Cui Shi’s appearance, blood ties and mother-daughter nature were just so wonderful. When reaching the threshold between life and death, when consciousness blurred and she wanted someone to depend on, the first person she thought of was surprisingly not her deeply beloved Zhou Weizhao, but her own mother.

The Crown Princess’s throat grew somewhat sore hearing her call out. She repeatedly responded, clasping Song Chuyi’s hand with both of hers, urgently calling, “Xiao Yi, I’m here, I’m here. It’s alright… It’s alright… Listen to the midwife…”

Song Chuyi’s consciousness finally returned somewhat. Opening her dry, gritty eyes, she cried out softly in pain.

The Crown Princess hurriedly had Nanny Xu bring ginseng soup for Song Chuyi to drink a few mouthfuls first. Taking advantage of the time, she told her, “Don’t be afraid. Everyone is here. Your aunt is also outside… And your grandmother and maternal grandmother—they’re all blessing you from heaven. It will definitely go smoothly…”

Song Chuyi could barely hear clearly what the Crown Princess was saying. The pain made her want to cry. Her belly ached terribly, but she just didn’t know how to push. The pain brought cold sweat pouring down.

The Crown Princess hadn’t had time to say more when the birthing room door opened again. She frowned—opening the door at this time, what if she caught a chill… But turning around, she saw her son, whose face was equally snow-white. She couldn’t help but freeze.

This… how could a man enter the birthing room?!

Empress Lu was still outside!

Both shocked and frightened, she hastily spoke to drive him away. “Get out quickly! This is no place for you!”

Nanny Xu and Nanny Xu were also shocked beyond measure. They hurriedly blocked the bed tightly from left and right—a woman giving birth was absolutely not a pretty sight… No matter how deep the marital affection, when one should avoid seeing, one must avoid. If such a disheveled appearance were seen… Though their own Highness was considered an excellent man, he was still a man after all, wasn’t he?