The midwife smiled as she announced the good news: "Congratulations to the master and mistress on the birth of your son."
Upon hearing this, Xie Liangchen let out a sigh of relief and felt herself relax completely.
The child was born safely, and such joy lifted her weary spirit. She turned her head wanting to speak to Song Xian, but felt another pang of pain, albeit much milder than before, causing her to slightly furrow her brows.
"Mother," Song Xian imdiately looked nervously at Yang Shuyin, "why is Liangchen still in pain? Hasn’t she already given birth?"
"It’s always like this," Yang Shuyin wasn’t sure how to explain to Song Xian, "the pain will linger a while longer."
Childbirth is never easy for won. Gladly, Song Xian showed his concern for Liangchen, which gave Yang Shuyin much comfort.
The midwife added, "The afterbirth is out too, so the master can rest assured!" It was her first ti witnessing a man stay by his wife’s side during childbirth, a testant to the Military Governor’s genuine care for the Commandery Princess.
As they spoke, Xu Tingzhen brought the swaddled child over for Song Xian and Xie Liangchen to see.
The child was crying, eyes tightly shut, mouth wide open, and chin trembling heavily from crying, which evoked both heartache and... a bit of amusent.
Xie Liangchen used one free hand to touch the child’s cheek.
Softer and smaller than she’d imagined, the eyes barely slits, and the nose and mouth... she couldn’t tell whether they resembled hers or Song Xian’s.
"Why is he crying?" Xie Liangchen asked. "Is he uncomfortable sowhere?" Not knowing much, she had to seek help from her mother, as the child wouldn’t stop crying, making her grow a bit tense.
Yang Shuyin laughed as she coaxed him: "Mr. Xu has checked, everything’s fine, don’t worry! He might just be adjusting."
Although Liangchen hadn’t gained much weight, the child was robust and Yang Shuyin, despite having only given birth to Liangchen, had a bit of knowledge: babies who cry loudly and struggle vigorously tend to be healthy.
"Let see," Old Mrs. Chen stepped forward, "this little one is so strong he might lift the roof off."
Old Mrs. Chen reached out and took the child in her arms, seeing her great-grandson at last, she couldn’t be more delighted, despite the ruckus he’s caused his mother, this darling looks so sweet.
Look at that voice, that vigor, truly a child of the Chen Family Village.
Old Mrs. Song was also helped into the room.
The two elderly ladies surrounded the child, the room was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Finally, the child stopped crying and fell asleep right under everyone’s watchful eyes.
"Liangchen," Song Xian said, "rest for a while, I will stay here with you."
The earlier pain had been severe, it felt like crossing the gates of hell, at that mont she was beyond caring. But now, feeling better and seeing Song Xian’s gaze, Xie Liangchen felt a bit embarrassed.
"Song Xian," Xie Liangchen said, "you should leave too, the midwife needs to tidy up, it’s... quite a ss here."
Song Xian refused to leave, just seeing Xie Liangchen’s pale deanor made him uneasy, "No worries, I’ll stay right here."
As he spoke, Song Xian took the Jade Pendant and hung it around Xie Liangchen’s neck.
The jade ward in his grip, recalling Song Xian’s earlier actions, Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but say, "Don’t be so silly."
"Sleep," Song Xian leaned over and kissed her forehead, "I will watch over you."
Truly exhausted, seeing the child safe, Xie Liangchen contentedly closed her eyes. Half-awake, she could feel her hand still tightly held by soone.
A steady, warm feeling washed over her, and she quickly fell asleep.
When Xie Liangchen woke again, night had fallen, new bedding was beneath her and she felt dry. She vaguely recalled Song Xian helping her change her inner garnts.
She turned her head to see Song Xian’s face.
Song Xian lay beside her, his hand still entwined with hers, brows furrowed as if so worry lingered.
Xie Liangchen watched him for a while. Song Xian must have sensed sothing, for under her gaze, he opened his eyes.
When their eyes t, they saw each other’s smiles.
"Does it still hurt?" Song Xian asked.
Xie Liangchen shook her head then nodded: "A little, but not very much."
"Drink the dicine," Song Xian said, "Mr. Xu instructed that you should take it upon waking, then have a al later."
Xie Liangchen drank the dicine, and Song Xian was about to get up to call for the al, but Xie Liangchen grasped his arm: "I’m not hungry."
Xie Liangchen said, "I’m just feeling tired now, and want to rest more."
Song Xian turned back: "Drink so broth before sleeping, be good, even a little will be beneficial."
Xie Liangchen truly felt eating was less appealing than just sleeping or lying down quietly, her body felt disjointed, moving would bring cold sweats.
But no matter how she refused, Song Xian insisted she drink a bowl of broth.
"Did you go see the child?" Xie Liangchen asked. "Are grandmother and mother watching him now?"
Song Xian smiled: "It’s already 9 p.m. now, everyone has rested. The child is with the nurse, mother wasn’t reassured, so she’s staying with the nurse in the eastern room."
So it was already so late.
Though aware everyone was asleep, Xie Liangchen still wanted to see the child; she’d only had a glance during the day and wasn’t satisfied yet.
"Mr. Xu said you need to rest well these couple of days. You mustn’t fall ill during the confinent period, or it will be hard to recover later," Song Xian returned Xie Liangchen’s hand to the covers, "Once you’re better, we’ll bring the child here."
Xie Liangchen reluctantly nodded: "Did you go over to the eastern room to check? Has he cried again?"
Song Xian hadn’t gone to see the child, he’d stayed by Xie Liangchen’s side the whole ti.
After a mont without hearing Song Xian speak, Xie Liangchen instinctively looked at him for answers, seeing that familiar hint of jealous tension between his brows, she was surprised that the Military Governor might be competing for affection with their child.
Xie Liangchen said, "The child is young, naturally needing more attention."
As she spoke, Xie Liangchen deliberately shifted closer to Song Xian.
Song Xian said, "While you slept, I kept thinking."
Xie Liangchen asked, "Thinking about what?"
Song Xian said, "If he doesn’t listen to you in the future, today’s reckoning, I’ll deal with him then."
In Xie Liangchen’s mind, Song Xian’s image as a "loving father" crumbled completely, maybe she should bear a daughter so the Song Jiedu wouldn’t keep threats at his lips.
Finding a comfortable spot in Song Xian’s embrace, Xie Liangchen closed her eyes, just as both of them were about to drift to sleep, a baby’s cry rang out from the eastern room.
The loud sound surely heard throughout the Chen Family Village.
Xie Liangchen instinctively felt, their child might have been startled by his father.
In the eastern room, the wet nurse soothed the swaddled child.
Yang Shuyin took him into her arms and walked around the room. What was wrong? Why all this distress?
...
Song Da: *grieved, grieved, grieved.jpg*
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