Harem Daily Life

Although Mingyue had been mentally prepared that the queen might give birth at any time this month, she still didn't expect to be caught off guard at this moment.

"Hurry, hurry, Xianglan, go get the midwife, Caiyun, go get some hot water, Changtai, go get Imperial Physician Liu... Hongxia, hurry up and make the ginseng soup." Mingyue arranged the tasks for everyone and quickly ran to Tao Yanyan's bedside: "My queen, please bear with it, the Imperial Physician will be here soon."

Tao Yanyan was a little confused. She pretended to be calm and said, "It's okay. Giving birth won't happen that quickly. Don't worry. Just follow the instructions given to you step by step."

She started to bleed down there. It would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous, but because she had a little knowledge, she knew that it was not yet time for her to be fully dilated, so the birth wouldn't come soon.

Mrs. Dong sent the eldest princess back to her room and hurried over: "My lady, your mother hasn't been notified yet, right?"

Mingyue slapped her head and said hurriedly, "Madam Tao was supposed to enter the palace in a few days. Who would have thought that the queen would start today? I will send someone to inform Madam right away."

Madam Dong quickly held her back and said, "Mingyue, you should go to the Qinzheng Palace to inform His Majesty first, and ask His Majesty to send someone to inform Madam Tao. Look at how confused you are. How could you even forget about His Majesty!"

Mingyue slapped her head again: "Yes, yes, yes, I forgot in my haste. Notify His Majesty, notify His Majesty!"

Tao Yanyan touched her belly with both hands, took deep breaths, and waited for the babies to be born.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—" Eunuch Zhang received the news from Changle Palace, trotted into the imperial study, and shouted from a distance: "Your Majesty, the imperial concubine is about to give birth!"

He Linzhang hurriedly stood up. Because of his excitement, he accidentally got some ink on his hands. He quickly picked up the paper at hand and wiped it roughly, then hurried to Changle Palace.

"Hurry up, the imperial concubine is waiting for me!" He Linzhang urged on the imperial sedan chair, and asked Zhang Fuhai as he urged: "Have you notified the Tao family? What about the empress dowager? And the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion, we must notify them."

Eunuch Zhang followed at a trot and immediately responded, "Yes, I have informed you. I have personally sent someone to pass on the message."

He wiped the sweat off his face as he ran, and he couldn't tell whether it was from running or from being anxious. Fortunately, it was March, with flowers blooming and a breeze blowing, so it wasn't too cold or too hot, and the sweat dried up quickly.

In Changle Palace, Madam Dong calmly assisted Mingyue in directing everyone to make preparations. Doctor Liu had already checked the pulse and everything was stable, so he waited outside. Seeing the emperor coming, Doctor Liu quickly stepped aside and let the emperor see the queen first.

He Linzhang strode forward and held Tao Yanyan's hand, and comforted her softly: "Don't be afraid, Yanyan, I'm here. I will always be with you until our child is born."

Tao Yanyan was a little excited, but more worried about the unknown. She was not really in pain at the moment, and said a little aggrievedly: "Your Majesty didn't come to see me a few days ago, and didn't talk to the children properly."

He Linzhang looked at her childish appearance and couldn't help laughing. He touched her face and said, "I was in a bad mood a few days ago, and I was afraid that I would make you angry. Okay, save your energy. If it hurts too much later, you can call me."

The midwives were relieved to see that His Majesty was finally willing to go out. How could a woman give birth in front of a man? It would leave a psychological trauma on his mind.

He Linzhang went out reluctantly and waited outside with Doctor Liu.

Madam Tao and Madam Ningyuan Hou's wife arrived quickly. After paying their respects to the emperor, they both went into the inner room to accompany Tao Yanyan.

The Queen Mother sent people to come several times, saying that they would not come until the baby was about to be born. Originally, the concubines from several palaces were going to come, but He Linzhang thought it was annoying to have too many people, so he didn't let them come.

When Tao Yanyan really started to feel pain, her temples felt like they were being pricked by needles every few minutes.

"Mammy, when will the baby be born?" Tao Yanyan asked weakly when she was not in pain.

The experienced midwife checked and said, "It's almost there, it's already six fingers."

Tao Yanyan couldn't help but want to cry, it was so painful!

Mrs. Tao held her hand and said, "If it hurts, just cry and scream. The pain will last longer for the first child."

It would have been fine if he hadn't been comforted. Once he was comforted, Tao Yanyan was speechless and looked up to the sky.

Madam Gu brought her some food and said, "You should at least eat a few bites. If you don't, you won't have the energy to give birth."

Tao Yanyan also knew that giving birth was very physically demanding, but she was in real pain now, so she could only take a bite when the pain was not severe.

"Your Majesty is so strong. She doesn't cry or make a fuss. You are much stronger than I was back then!" Madam Gu couldn't help but praise her. Tao Yanyan wanted to say that when she was in pain, she felt her whole body was in pain, so how could she have the strength to cry out?

But she did cry quietly, and every once in a while, she would ask the midwife: "Mammy, how long will it take?"

Wow, I really am counting every minute and every second on my fingers.

Fortunately, Doctor Liu soon prescribed her some pain-relieving medicine, but this medicine could only be taken after she was 7 or 8 fingers dilated, and was used to induce labor. Tao Yanyan finally endured enough to take the medicine, and did not care whether it was bitter or not, she just gulped it down, hoping that the medicine would make her forget the pain.

"Hurry up and get some dry clothes for the Empress to change into." Tao Yanyan was sweating all over from the pain. Mrs. Tao instructed Qingfeng, who hurriedly took out the prepared underwear from the cabinet beside her. Several people worked together to change the clothes, fearing that using too much force would cause more pain to the Empress.

He Linzhang and others outside were also extremely anxious. He could hear Tao Yanyan crying occasionally, but most of the time, it was very quiet inside.

After Jin'an and He Yue were brought back, they came over to ask about the situation, and were then sent back by He Linzhang to rest. As the sky gradually darkened, and Tao Yanyan still didn't make any movement inside, He Linzhang became more and more anxious.

Madam Tao came out at night to report: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid the baby won't be born so soon. Your Majesty, why don't you go and rest for a while? I will inform you when there is news."

He Linzhang didn't want to leave, he said: "It's okay, I'll wait here, Madam, go and do your work first, don't worry about me."

Since the emperor said so, Mrs. Tao had nothing to say and had to go back to the inner room to guard.

After midnight, Tao Yanyan finally showed some movement. The midwife took a deep breath and said, "My lady, the baby is about to be born. Next, if I ask you to push, you should push hard and deliver the baby as soon as possible."

The palace maids in Changle Palace were extremely excited. They went in and out, serving water and pouring it. Candles were lit in the dark night to welcome the two new little masters.

"Ah——" Tao Yanyan felt pain in the contractions. Every time he exerted force, it felt like his stomach was being crushed by a thousand-pound weight. He felt painful, tired, anxious and helpless.

"My queen, please push harder and hold on for a while. It will come out soon!" The midwife helped her by pressing her belly.

With the last push, Tao Yanyan felt something sliding out of her stomach. In a daze, she heard the midwife say, "Quickly get the scissors, quickly bring hot water, quickly feed the ginseng soup, and quickly invite His Majesty." She felt so tired and wanted to fall asleep.