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Shen Chuwei watched the Crown Prince get thinner by the day, her heart ached unbearably.

"Your Highness, let your concubine sleep outside; that way, when your concubine needs to get up at night, Your Highness won’t have to."

Xiao Jinyan directly refused, "How could that be? Sleeping outside is too dangerous."

Shen Chuwei said, "Your Highness, your concubine is fine, it’s just getting up at night, isn’t it?"

Holding her, Xiao Jinyan said without concern, "Xiao Jiu, you don’t need to worry about me. With just a few days left before delivery, it’ll be fine once we get through this."

Shen Chuwei had no choice but to give up.

Whenever she got up at night, Xiao Jinyan would still wake up to accompany her, waiting for her to lie down in bed before he could rest beside her.

On the due date, Shen Chuwei stared at her round belly; the babies were well-behaved, not only did they not make a move, but they also slept especially soundly.

Xiao Jinyan spent the whole day by Shen Chuwei’s side, afraid that she would go into labor and he wouldn’t be there.

Sitting beside her, he touched her stomach and asked, "Today, will it happen?"

"I don’t know," Shen Chuwei said. "The babies don’t seem ready to ’check out.’"

Xiao Jinyan looked at her, puzzled, "’Check out’?"

Shen Chuwei explained, "The stomach is like the babies’ house. Coming out would be like checking out of the house."

Now Xiao Jinyan understood; the metaphor was quite appropriate.

"No worries, we’ll see tomorrow."

The Empress arrived early in the morning, followed by a grand procession that included the midwife and the Imperial Doctor.

"How do you feel? Any stomach pains?"

Shen Chuwei shrugged helplessly, "Your Majesty, not yet. Maybe it will take another couple of days."

Hearing this, the Empress smiled and comforted, "No problem, so many days have passed; missing one or two more won’t matter."

That night

After getting up, Shen Chuwei lay back in bed with Xiao Jinyan’s help. Her stomach ached a bit, but she didn’t pay much attention to it at first.

As the pain grew stronger, she groaned in discomfort, "Jinyan, my stomach hurts."

"Is it like before?" Xiao Jinyan thought it was another false labor. He bent down to kiss her, trying to divert her attention with the kiss.

After a long while, Xiao Jinyan let her go, "Does it still hurt?"

Shen Chuwei’s cheeks were flushed, her brows fiercely furrowed, "Jinyan, it still hurts, and I’m afraid this isn’t false labor—it’s time."

Upon hearing that the birth was imminent, Xiao Jinyan hurried out of the bed and ordered the night-watch maid, "Inform the midwife and the Imperial Doctor to prepare; Lady Shen is about to give birth."

Chun Xi, who was on night duty today, heard the order and quickly ran to call the midwife and the Imperial Doctor.

Shen Chuwei couldn’t stop groaning in pain.

Xiao Jinyan didn’t know what to do; all he could do was hold her.

"Xiao Jiu, just hang in there a little longer; the midwife and the Imperial Doctor will arrive soon."

In too much pain to bear, Shen Chuwei, remembering the kiss seemed to help a bit, said, "Jinyan, why not... kiss me again and try?"

"Alright." Xiao Jinyan didn’t hesitate and bent down to kiss her, trying his best to distract her.

Meanwhile, in Fengyi Palace

The Empress watched the dog Emperor still not stopping. She wanted to scold him but didn’t have the energy; she could only let him continue his antics.

After it was over, she closed her eyes, wanting to rest but heard Qing Ying speak outside, "Your Majesty, Lady Shen is about to give birth."

The Empress abruptly opened her eyes, "About to give birth?"

Her precious grandchild!

Even though she was exhausted, the Empress had no intention of sleeping now.

Seeing the Empress get dressed despite being so tired, the Emperor sat up and grabbed her wrist, "It will be the same if you visit tomorrow."

"The Emperor may not be anxious, but I can’t wait. I must be the first to see my grandchild." The Empress withdrew her hand and continued dressing.

"Besides, it’s Lady Shen’s first childbirth; she must be scared without a familiar face. I can go there to cheer her on and give her support."

The Emperor had no choice; he watched her clumsy hands and feet, "Let me help you dress."

The Empress didn’t refuse; he undressed her, so it was only fitting he dressed her again.

The Empress hurriedly opened the door and left, leaving the Emperor alone inside.

The Emperor watched her figure disappear at the door, feeling utterly dejected.

When the Empress arrived, the midwife and the Imperial Doctor were already there.

The maids had begun boiling water, carrying one basin after another inside.

"Your Highness, you must leave now."

"Men cannot stay in the delivery room when a woman is giving birth."

Facing the incessant chatter of the midwives, Xiao Jinyan didn’t pay any attention; seeing Xiao Jiu in tears from the pain made his heart wrench.

Shen Chuwei knew childbirth would be painful, but this was too much to bear.

"It hurts so much!!!"

The midwives were desperate to see the Crown Prince leave.

At that moment, the Empress pushed the door open and walked in.

The midwife approached her, anxious, "Your Majesty, what should we do if His Highness won’t leave?"

The Empress looked toward the bed, where the Crown Prince was holding Lady Shen and not letting go. She took a few steps forward and ordered, "Crown Prince, you must wait outside."

Xiao Jinyan looked up at the Empress, his eyes resolute, "Mother, I want to stay."

The Empress’s voice sank a few tones, "Crown Prince, how can you speak such nonsense? I am here; go wait outside."

Shen Chuwei knew there was no such thing as accompaniment in childbirth in ancient times; traditional thought forbade men from witnessing childbirth.

She looked up at Xiao Jinyan with difficulty, enduring the pain, "Your Highness, please go outside for now."

Xiao Jinyan, holding a handkerchief, wiped the sweat from her forehead, "I’m worried about you."

The Empress repeated, "With me here, what is there to worry about? Hurry up and leave so the midwives can get to work."

Xiao Jinyan hesitated for a long time before finally standing up and leaving the room.

The Empress came over and sat down on the bed, looking at Shen Chuwei in extreme pain; she comforted, "Let’s work hard and try to deliver the babies as quickly as possible so you can suffer less."

Shen Chuwei nodded, the pain had taken away her ability to speak.

Xiao Jinyan paced outside the door, watching hot water go in and bloodstained water come out.

Unable to see what was happening inside made him all the more anxious.

ps: Ten updates

Aside from one Chapter of 2000+ words, the rest are 3000+ words each.