Marrying the Crown Prince

"Her Majesty's pulse is stable," the imperial physician replied.

"That's good, that's good." Li Ziyan breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn't know how to explain it, but it was just that amazing.

Zhou Zhou was indeed very saddened by Zhou Laowu's departure; otherwise, she wouldn't be so grief-stricken.

But she was resolute, knowing that the deceased were gone and the living remained.

It's sad as it is, but life goes on.

So Zhou Zhou cried her heart out, venting her frustrations and releasing the pent-up emotions in her heart, thus preventing these emotions from harming her body.

Logically, the year-end is approaching and things should be sealed.

But this time of year is truly special; not only is the seal being lifted, but even the New Year's Eve palace banquet has been cancelled.

Five more days passed in this busy rush, and Zhou Zhou finally set sail.

The delivery room was prepared well in advance, and the midwives stayed in Fengyi Palace for two months, and there was more than one of them.

As for the imperial physicians, upon hearing that the Empress had begun her mobilization in Fengyi Palace, they all rushed to the side hall of Fengyi Palace, ready to serve at any time.

Empress Dowager Chu was quick on her feet; upon hearing that Zhou Zhou had begun labor, she was the first to arrive at Fengyi Palace.

When the palace servants saw this, they all stopped and tried to pay their respects to Empress Dowager Chu, but were ignored.

She ran straight into the delivery room and saw Zhou Zhou covered in sweat from the pain. She felt a pang of sympathy and a bit nervous.

"How are you?" She took Zhou Zhou's hand.

Giving birth is like passing through the gates of hell.

The Empress Dowager of Chu was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law and had no intention of replacing her.

Logically, Zhou Zhou should have forced a smile and replied with something like, "Thank you for your concern, Mother. I'm fine."

However, the excruciating pain, as if all his internal organs were being squeezed together, made Zhou Zhou's features contort, and he cried out in agony, "It hurts!"

Empress Dowager Chu certainly knew that childbirth was painful, but she couldn't say discouraging things to pregnant women.

Therefore, she comforted Zhou Zhou, "Everyone goes through this when giving birth, don't be afraid. I'll go and call Jinyou to stay with you at the door."

The birthplace, the place where newborns are born, is not filthy, but rather an incomparably sacred place.

Therefore, Chen Kingdom did not say anything about men not entering the delivery room.

However, Empress Dowager Chu did not want Li Ziyan to come in.

Because... he came in as a grown man, but he didn't know anything. All he could do was stand there, motionless, like a pillar, and then he blocked the way.

Most importantly, when Li Ziyan came in, all the midwives didn't dare to breathe, afraid that they might do something to offend this ancestor.

This distracts the midwife and is not conducive to the child's delivery.

In short, Li Ziyan can just stay at the door and keep watch. As for those who want to come in and guard—go find somewhere cool to stay!

The birthing process is painful and lengthy, so maintaining physical strength is essential.

Therefore, as soon as Li Ziyan arrived at the door of the delivery room, she saw Sizhu carrying a bowl of shredded chicken noodles inside.

He was stunned: This...didn't we say we were going to start eating? Why are we eating now?

Before Li Ziyan could figure this out, the Empress Dowager arrived.

After learning that Empress Dowager Chu was inside with her, she did not go in to join the commotion. The reason was simple: the delivery room was only so big, and there were already so many women in labor, midwives, and maids assisting them. Empress Dowager Chu had also gone in to observe, and if she squeezed in, there would be far too many people.

Anyway, since there's a leader inside, there's not much difference between waiting inside and waiting outside.

"Just sit and wait," the Empress Dowager kindly advised.

“Grandmother,” Li Ziyan said anxiously, “I am really restless.”

The Empress Dowager slightly raised her eyelids, then lowered them again, without offering any further advice: it was her first time being a father, and she understood.

Besides, when he gets tired of standing, he'll find a place to sit by himself; he's not a three-year-old anymore.

Inside the delivery room, Zhou Zhou took advantage of the calming abdominal pain to quickly shovel a few mouthfuls of noodles into her mouth and swallow them.

At this moment, the midwife bent down and checked the cervix.

She said seriously, "Your Majesty, it's only dilated to two centimeters. If you have the strength, please get down and walk around."

Zhou Zhou knew that the power in this delivery room did not lie with her or with Empress Dowager Chu, but with this experienced midwife.

She has been in this profession for twenty years and has delivered at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, babies.

She said she needed to get down and walk around, so we had to get down and walk around.

So, Zhou Zhou endured the pain, got out of bed, and, with the help of the palace servants, wandered around the delivery room.

Li Ziyan peeked out and caught a glimpse of a shadow through the paper window.

He asked somewhat uncertainly, "Grandmother, I think I saw Zhouzhou get out of bed and turn around in the delivery room?"

"Hmm." The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, her prayer beads spinning incessantly. "You should sit still. They're making my eyes blurry."

Li Ziyan twitched the corner of her mouth and ignored her—you kept your eyes closed the whole time, how could you see what I was doing? Whether your eyes are blurry or not has nothing to do with me!

Zhou Zhou walked and stopped intermittently, with Ju Fang carrying a chair and following behind him.

When Zhou Zhou wanted to sit, she simply lifted her bottom, and the chair was put down; when she didn't want to sit, she simply walked away, and someone would naturally take the chair away.

It's unclear how much time has passed, but it's long enough that the sun has set and Li Ziyan has asked Chang Yi to bring over a chair for him to sit on.

As night fell, the moon climbed above the treetops, and dozens of candles were lit in the delivery room, making it as bright as day.

Li Ziyan looked out the window and saw a silvery moon like a hook, with sparse starlight scattered across the misty night sky.

The night was beautiful, but Li Ziyan had no time to appreciate it. She kept glancing towards the delivery room door, waiting for it to open.

Finally, with the cry of a newborn baby, Li Ziyan could no longer hold back and rushed into the delivery room.

The midwife was washing the baby's body of mucus, while another midwife was cleaning Zhou Zhou's body.

Li Ziyan barged in, only to be successfully driven out by Empress Dowager Chu.

He clung pitifully and aggrievedly to the doorway, his eyes filled with longing.

The Empress Dowager remained seated there, as still as an old bell, without moving an inch.

Why? Does she not like Zhou Zhou anymore?

the answer is……

“The midwife will tell you when you’re ready to go into the delivery room,” she said coolly to the statue of Li Ziyan standing by the door.

Helpless, Li Ziyan could only return to his seat.

Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long this time. After about fifteen minutes, the door to the delivery room finally opened.

"How is it?" Li Ziyan asked impatiently.