Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

On a sunny day, Xifeng sat on a reclining chair in the courtyard, watching Old Lady Lin whipping her whip. She watched with rapt interest, occasionally bursting into laughter. Suddenly, however, she felt a warm liquid well up beneath her, and she couldn't help but startle. "Oh no! Did I wet my pants?" The thought made her face flush red with embarrassment.

Zhao Ma, who had been serving Xifeng, noticed something was wrong with her. She looked down and saw a large puddle on the ground. She immediately understood what was going on and shouted, "Madam, you're giving birth! Your water's broken!" Upon hearing this sudden news, everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered around nervously.

Upon hearing this, Madam Lin dropped her whip and hurried forward to support Xifeng, preparing to lead her to the delivery room. Seeing the old lady's agitation, Madam Zhao's face showed a hint of helplessness, but she still said gently, "Madam, please don't worry. Have the servants prepare a sedan chair and carry you comfortably to the delivery room. This will be more appropriate."

Soon, Xifeng was carefully carried into the delivery room. The midwife, doctor, and nurse were already on standby. The midwife carefully felt Xifeng's belly, then felt her cervix, comforting her. "Don't worry, Madam," she said, "it's not fully dilated yet. You can move around in the delivery room first and eat some easily digestible food to maintain your strength."

Old Madam Lin immediately asked anxiously, "Feng'er, what do you want to eat? I'll tell someone to prepare it right away. Don't worry about giving birth, I'll be waiting outside. I've already sent someone to notify Ru Hai, and he'll be back soon." At this time, Old Madam Lin was even more nervous than Xifeng. Her hands were shaking a little, as if it was herself who was about to give birth, not Xifeng.

Seeing this, Xifeng quickly comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, mother. I'm fine. The doctor said the baby is in a perfect position and healthy. I'm sure both mother and child will be safe." Xifeng's tone was so resolute that it made one believe she would have a smooth delivery. After taking a few mouthfuls of bird's nest porridge, Xifeng felt her stomach ache worsen. Her stomach tightened, and she held onto Mammy's hand as she struggled to walk around the delivery room.

Lin Ruhai was on duty at the yamen when he suddenly saw his housekeeper rushing towards him. Seeing this, Lin Ruhai couldn't help but feel a strange premonition—could Feng'er be giving birth? Sure enough, the housekeeper breathlessly informed him that his wife was about to go into labor. Lin Ruhai's composure was shattered. He hurriedly stood up and walked quickly to his office. Upon entering, he eagerly addressed the officials, "My lords, I'm truly sorry. My wife is about to give birth today, and I'm deeply worried. I'd like to take some time off to go home and see her. I hope you will understand." Since Lin Ruhai was a close minister of the emperor and held a prominent position, the officials naturally didn't dare to stop him. They expressed their understanding and replied in unison, "Master Lin, please return! If anything urgent comes, we'll notify you." Lin Ruhai bowed gratefully, then quickly turned and strode home. Along the way, he was extremely anxious and wished he could fly to his wife immediately.

Lin Ruhai hurried to the delivery room door and was about to push it open when Old Madam Lin stopped him. Old Madam Lin wasn't a mean mother-in-law who wanted to hinder a young couple's love. As a woman, she knew how agonizing childbirth can be. She said, "Hai'er, Feng'er is in there giving birth. Don't disturb her." Unable to enter, Lin Ruhai could only shout from outside, "Madam, I'm back! I'll be with you outside the whole time. Don't be afraid!" Meanwhile, Xifeng, preparing to get on the delivery bed, was startled by Lin Ruhai's voice and nearly fell. Fortunately, Madam Zhao quickly caught her. Xifeng, already suffering from the pain in her stomach, was now irritated by the shock and cursed, "Lin Ruhai, shut up! Find a seat and don't bother me while I'm giving birth!"

Xifeng took a deep breath and tried to relax. Remembering the doctor's instructions, she gently rocked her body, trying to ease the pain.

After a while, Xifeng's contractions became more frequent. She held on to the bedside armrest tightly, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Because it was Xifeng's first birth, her birth canal opened very slowly. In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed, and her cervix was only four fingers dilated. Old Lady Lin looked at her son, who was anxiously pacing around the room, and said distressedly, "Ruhai, stop pacing. It's making me dizzy." Lin Ruhai was so anxious that blisters formed at the corners of his mouth. How could he pay any attention to his mother's words? He continued to pace the room, praying for the safety of his wife and child.

After a while, the midwife came out of the delivery room and said to Lin Ruhai and Old Madam Lin, "Madam, this is your first child, and it's taking a while for your cervix to dilate. It's only four fingers dilated at the moment. We need to prepare some ginseng slices for you to hold in your mouth to prevent you from getting exhausted from the pain." After that, the midwife hurried back to the delivery room.

Lin Ruhai hurriedly ordered his servants to prepare the meal, while he continued to pace back and forth outside the door, anxiously waiting. As time ticked by, he watched as basins of blood were being carried out. Lin Ruhai felt his legs weaken, and if the servants hadn't been holding him up, he would have fallen to the ground.

Lin Ruhai asked solemnly, "Madam, how are you? Why didn't I hear any sound?" Lin Ruhai shouted in a low voice, "Madam, you must be safe. We don't want children anymore. As long as you are safe, it's fine." Xifeng was in excruciating pain inside. She had originally thought that with the blessing of spiritual energy, the delivery would be smooth, but she didn't expect that the two little ones had such a huge demand for spiritual energy. If there was no space, it would all be sucked dry. So Xifeng had no time to pay attention to Lin Ruhai at all. It was only when Mrs. Lin couldn't bear it anymore that she said, "Feng'er is accumulating strength. If she shouts loudly now, she will have no strength when she gives birth."

Lin Ruhai felt a little relieved after hearing his mother's words. He sat in a chair, clasped his hands, and silently prayed for Xifeng. Suddenly, the sound of a baby crying came from the delivery room. Lin Ruhai stood up suddenly, like a spring, and asked anxiously, "Is the baby born? How is Feng'er?"

"It's a boy!" The midwife happily came out of the delivery room holding the baby.

Lin Ruhai was about to enter the delivery room when he was stopped. The old woman hurriedly said, "Master, the lady is pregnant."

The midwife handed the child to the wet nurse beside her and then hurried back to the delivery room.

In the delivery room, Wang Xifeng was exhausted, but she still held the bed sheet tightly and used all her strength. With a crisp cry, another child was finally born.

The midwife came out with another child in her arms and said, "Congratulations, sir! This is a daughter! Your wife has given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. It's auspicious!"

After hearing this, Lin Ruhai had no time to look after the child and quickly took the doctor into the delivery room. He walked quickly to the bedside and saw Wang Xifeng's pale face and tired expression, and his heart ached.

Wang Xifeng fell asleep due to exhaustion. After taking her pulse, the doctor said, "Madam, you exerted too much energy during childbirth and fell asleep. It's nothing serious. Just take good care of yourself and you don't need to take any medicine." After hearing the doctor's words, Lin Ruhai felt relieved.

Lin Ruhai said again, "Please, doctor, take another look at the two children." The doctor smiled and nodded. After taking the two children and carefully examining them, he said, "Don't worry, Master. The young lady and the young man were well taken care of in the womb and are very healthy. They will grow up normally."

Only then did Lin Ruhai feel completely relieved. He gently stroked Wang Xifeng's forehead, his eyes full of love and gratitude. Mrs. Lin couldn't wait to walk into the delivery room, looking at the baby in the cradle, her eyes full of tears.

I saw two children, as white and tender as jade, lying there sleeping side by side, like two precious pearls.

"Thank God, mother and child are safe." She murmured to herself, a relieved smile on her face, like a blooming flower.

Old Lady Lin still said happily: "Rewards, everyone will be rewarded. Doctors and midwives will each receive 50 taels, and the others will receive half a year's monthly allowance." Her voice was like melodious music, full of joy and generosity.

Xifeng smiled tiredly, her heart filled with the joy and emotion of being a new mother, like a flower blooming in spring, exuding the fragrance of happiness.