CHAPTER 599: CHAPTER 392: STAY CALM, NINTH BROTHER

"Lady, are you in pain?" Wan Lu was somewhat panicked and quickly helped her sit on the cushion.

The amniotic fluid was still flowing, and sweat formed on Wan Lu’s forehead. "Lady, if you are in pain, just shout. Don’t endure it."

Ran Yan had initially been confused by the sensation of the amniotic fluid running down, similar to incontinence. Now regaining her composure, she replied, "Don’t panic; it doesn’t hurt. I fear it might take a while, and I won’t be giving birth just yet."

Ran Yan didn’t have a deep understanding of obstetrics, but she knew that due to individual situations of pregnant women, the sequence of labor pains and the breaking of amniotic fluid could differ. Ran Yan had started feeling mild labor contractions the day before yesterday, but they were so light that they didn’t affect her daily routines.

Ran Yan grabbed the bedding to elevate her hips and prevent more amniotic fluid from flowing out.

Soon Ge Lan entered with midwives and maids. There were four midwives, two from the Xiao Family, one the Zheng family usually used, and another secured by the Luo family. However, the midwives from the Xiao Family primarily handled the delivery.

"Quickly move the lady to the delivery room." A midwife ordered two strong maids to transfer Ran Yan onto a stretcher, "Careful, steady."

Another midwife inquired, "Lady, have you started feeling the pain now?"

"Not yet," Ran Yan said.

The midwives, all very experienced, knowing she said she felt no pain yet, knew there was still a while before the birth. However, she needed to be in the delivery room waiting as once the amniotic fluid breaks, the child must be born within twelve hour, or the situation could get dire.

The delivery room was only a few rooms away from the bedroom, and everything inside had been prepared two months before.

Several furnaces heated the room, making it feel quite warm.

The entrance and the inner chamber were separated by a twelve-paneled plain silk brocade screen with auspicious gold-thread patterns, suggesting smooth childbirth and successful delivery. Generally, red items were not used in the delivery room, likely due to the belief that seeing red was unlucky; thus, everything in sight was plain colored.

Wan Lu and Ge Lan helped Ran Yan lie down on the couch, which was raised two feet off the ground. Two white ropes hung from the ceiling beam directly down to the floor, positioned precisely where Ran Yan could reach.

"Later, when I ask you to exert yourself, you’ll grab onto these two white ropes," one midwife positioned the ropes within reach of Ran Yan.

The midwives had discussed the precautions needed during childbirth in detail two or three months earlier, but at the time of delivery, they carefully instructed her again.

Afterward, they left the screen, allowing Wan Lu and Ge Lan to help Ran Yan change into a plain birthing tunic and let down her hair to tie it into a braid.

Ran Yan tried to relax her emotions, leaning on the slightly inclined bed.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, and after making all preparations, Wan Lu wiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve and asked Ran Yan, "Lady, the little master should know how to come out, right?"

Ge Lan said, "If you know how to come out, how could the little master not know?"

After a second, Wan Lu responded, "Are you mocking me?"

"You’re overthinking it; I was praising the little master," Ge Lan replied calmly.

Ran Yan gave a gentle laugh, then suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen and couldn’t help but let out a soft groan.

"Lady, has the pain started?" Ge Lan immediately asked.

The pain wasn’t unbearable and had somewhat faded after a while. Ran Yan sighed with relief and replied, "It’s bearable."

The midwife led two maids inside, checked on Ran Yan’s condition, and then said, "Lady, we have prepared soup and food for you, please have some."

The prepared food and soup were easy to digest and intended to replenish strength. Ran Yan ate until she was almost full. Just after she put down her chopsticks, her abdomen started to hurt again, this time much more intensely than before, and it lasted slightly longer.

She endured the pain for a while until the contraction passed. Wan Lu helped her rinse her mouth and then she continued to lie down.

This pattern of intensifying contractions repeated several times, each becoming more painful and lasting longer.

Just after the pain ebated momentarily, Xiao Song’s voice came from outside, "How is the Lady doing?"

A midwife replied, "Soon, generally after the amniotic fluid breaks, she could give birth in about two to three hour, though it can take as long as a day."

Ran Yan then heard the midwife block him, "Marquis, you can’t enter the delivery room. Perhaps you should wait in the tea room next door with the imperial physicians."

"Would my presence affect the Lady?" Xiao Song asked.

"Ah!" Ran Yan suddenly felt a severe pain again; her whole body felt somewhat numb, as if her intestines and viscera were being twisted, causing a heavy sensation in her lower abdomen.

The midwife outside, calculating the time, hurried in, "Lady, do you feel the need to push?"