The prince is more stable

Chapter 714 The Birth of a Prodigy
The Prince's mansion was in complete chaos.

When His Highness the Prince's concubine gave birth, the entire mansion was in an uproar. Maids were scrambling in and out of the backyard, midwives were shouting and yelling, and doctors, wiping away cold sweat, sat cautiously in the courtyard, waiting to come to the rescue if a crisis occurred.

The Prince of the County held a prestigious official rank and wielded considerable power, but the servants in his household all knew that this was the Prince's first child. In particular, the lineage of the Prince of Chu was small, consisting of only this one branch, so it was self-evident how important this child was to His Highness the Prince and to the lineage of the Prince of Chu.

Zhao Xiaoqian was covered in sweat, pacing back and forth in the courtyard, rubbing his hands anxiously.

Di Ying and her wives and concubines were also waiting in the courtyard, their faces filled with apprehension.

Niao Niao was taken to the delivery room that had been prepared in advance. All that could be heard inside was her painful screams. Maids carried hot water in and out, and the midwife kept comforting and encouraging Niao Niao.

"Could something have happened? Why are they screaming so terribly?" Zhao Xiaoqian's voice changed with anxiety.

There was nothing I could do; I'd lived two lives and never been a father before. My emotions at that moment were complex and unfamiliar, yet I also felt a surge of excitement at being given a new mission by heaven.

Di Ying took his hand; her hand was warmer than his and had the power to calm her emotions.

"My lord, don't worry. Niao Niao will be fine. Since she became pregnant, I have been strictly supervising her diet and daily exercise. She has enough strength to give birth to the child smoothly."

"This is a hurdle that every woman must overcome in her life. Pain is inevitable, but you said that you are blessed with the nation's fortune. Your husband has fought for the country and saved the people, accumulating great merit. All the gods and Buddhas in the heavens will surely protect your husband's children."

Zhao Xiaoqian took a deep breath and sighed, "I hope... all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens will protect my wife and children."

Feeling extremely uneasy, Zhao Xiaoqian felt both anxious and heartbroken as he listened to Niao Niao's screams in the delivery room.

After pacing around the courtyard, Zhao Xiaoqian saw the old doctor he had invited sitting calmly to one side, so he went up and patted him on the shoulder.

"You're a doctor, so your words carry weight. What can I do for my wife and children right now?"

The old doctor paused for a moment, seemingly not expecting His Highness to ask such a question. After thinking for a moment, he stroked his beard and said slowly, "If Your Highness is really so bored, why don't you go and pay respects to the ancestral tablets of your family and ask them to bless your offspring with a safe and smooth delivery?"

Zhao Xiaoqian also asked earnestly, "Besides these feudal superstitious activities, is there a more effective way?"

"...Uh, should we pray to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, for a child?" the old doctor tentatively suggested.

"So, men are completely useless when women are giving birth?"

The old doctor glanced at him and said in a low voice, "When a woman is pregnant, so is a man."

Zhao Xiaoqian nodded. On that beautiful night when the flowers were in bloom and the insects were chirping, he only shivered when he saw her, and what happened after that was none of his business.

The cries from inside grew increasingly pitiful, clearly indicating that the person was enduring extreme pain. The midwife and maidservants became even busier, and Zhao Xiaoqian's heart clenched with worry.

"Niao Niao, would you like some pork hock? I'll stew it for you right now..." Zhao Xiaoqian called out from the window frame into the delivery room.

The screams inside stopped abruptly, replaced by a faint, weak, and wry voice.

"My lord, at this time, please don't cause me any trouble... Ah—!"

Zhao Xiaoqian's cheek twitched violently, and his heart began to beat erratically in rhythm with the faint screams.

"Doctor, can we use anesthesia?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked abruptly.

The old doctor was taken aback: "Anesthetic?"

"Oh, something like anesthetic powder, the kind that makes you lose the sense of pain after drinking it..."

The old doctor shook his head decisively: "No, it will harm the fetus."

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoqian was completely flustered, Di Ying stepped forward, took his hand, and said in a deep voice, "My lord, calm down!"

Zhao Xiaoqian turned his head and saw that Di Ying's eyes were calm, revealing a steady strength, which calmed Zhao Xiaoqian's panicked mood.

“I was too anxious…” Zhao Xiaoqian said with a wry smile, “I’ve never been a father before, so I don’t have enough experience. Maybe I won’t be so nervous when my wife gives birth next time.”

Di Ying smiled: "I believe that you, my lord, must be a good father. Niao Niao will be fine. I assure you, my lord."

Pointing to the old doctor sitting calmly in the courtyard, Di Ying said, "If the master has nothing to do, it is better to keep an eye on him. As long as he sits still, Niao Niao will be safe and sound. If something happens inside, he won't be able to sit still."

Zhao Xiaoqian's eyes lit up. That makes sense. Why not treat this old doctor as the pockmarked man in the operating room of the previous life? As long as the pockmarked man doesn't move, everything will be fine. But if the pockmarked man moves, the whole operating room will be on edge.

The process of giving birth was extremely long, and Zhao Xiaoqian waited quietly in the backyard, as if a lifetime had passed.

I don't know if it was three or four hours, but I waited from afternoon until dark.

Suddenly, a loud baby's cry rang out from the delivery room. Everyone waiting in the yard stood up and looked at the delivery room with surprise and joy.

After waiting for a long time, the midwife came out carrying a baby in swaddling clothes. The baby's eyes were not open, but it opened its mouth wide and cried incessantly, while its hands and feet were waving and kicking restlessly in the swaddling clothes.

The midwife beamed with joy and said, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations! Lady Niaoniao has given birth to a baby boy! Congratulations on Your Highness's many offspring and the flourishing of your family!" The wives, concubines, and maids around him immediately beamed with joy. Zhao Xiaoqian stepped forward, excitedly and carefully taking the baby from the midwife's arms, as if holding a national treasure. His arms trembled slightly, as if he were afraid that he would crush the child with the slightest force.

"How is Niao Niao? Is she alright?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked in a trembling voice.

The midwife smiled and said, "Madam Niao Niao is in good health. Both mother and child are safe. The other women are still in the delivery room helping Madam with the aftercare. Your Highness will be able to go in and see her soon."

Zhao Xiaoqian took a close look at the baby, then shoved the child into Di Ying's arms and rushed into the delivery room without hesitation, ignoring the midwife's panicked attempts to stop him.

The delivery room reeked of blood. The midwife and maid were cleaning up the placenta and bloodstains when Zhao Xiaoqian rushed in, and everyone exclaimed in shock.

"Your Highness, the delivery room is a filthy place; men should not be tainted by its uncleanliness..."

The midwife had just stepped in front of him when Zhao Xiaoqian pushed her aside, saying, "My wife is giving birth, how is that unclean? Don't block the way."

He walked a few steps to Niaoniao and saw that she looked haggard, her hair and body were soaked with sweat, and the flush on her face had not yet faded. She looked pitiful, like a withered flower in spring.

Holding Niao Niao's hand, I noticed that her hand was cold and sweaty, with several scratches on her palm, clearly indicating that she had been injured from giving birth too forcefully.

"Niao Niao, you've suffered so much. Let's not have any more children," Zhao Xiaoqian said affectionately. "Next time, in a critical moment, I'll make a run for it..."

"Pfft!" Niao Niao laughed, then frowned, as if aggravating her injury below: "My lord, please don't make me laugh. I really can't afford to get hurt at this time."

"Good, good, Niao Niao, you gave birth to a boy, aren't you happy?"

Niao Niao nodded weakly and said with a faint smile, "I have not disappointed you. My husband has an heir to carry on the family line. I have done right by the ancestors of the Zhao family..."

"I don't care about my daughter. If the Zhao family ancestors aren't satisfied, they can just lift the coffin lid and come after me themselves..."

"My lord! You're talking nonsense again. You're talking about all the emperors of the Song Dynasty!" Niao Niao rolled her eyes at him.

The midwife next to her couldn't stand it anymore. It was one thing for the couple to be so loving and affectionate, but they even dared to gossip about the emperors of the past. You are a descendant of the emperor, so you dare to say it, but we dare not listen.

"Your Highness, Madam still needs to tidy herself up, and we need to help her change her clothes. What do you think..."

Zhao Xiaoqian sighed, gently stroked Niao Niao's face, and said, "I'll go out first. What would you like to eat? I'll get it for you right away. How about a pork hock?"

The midwife's expression changed, and she said urgently, "Your Highness, you mustn't! The lady has just given birth, and she shouldn't eat anything greasy."

Zhao Xiaoqian stood up and sighed, "Alright, alright, the ginseng chicken soup should be fine, right? You're such a busybody. Take good care of the madam. You've all done a good job today. Everyone who participated, whether a servant or a maid, will be rewarded with fifty taels."

Amidst the midwife and maid's joyful and profuse thanks, Zhao Xiaoqian walked out of the delivery room.

Stepping out of the room, Zhao Xiaoqian let out a long sigh of relief as the cool evening breeze greeted him.

Fortunately, both mother and child are safe and sound. Thankfully, there were no dramatic situations like the wife having a difficult childbirth or having to choose between saving the mother or the child.

Real life doesn't have so many ups and downs; most of the time it's just peaceful and calm, letting the years wash away the dust without rushing.

As they walked into the courtyard, Di Ying came up to him carrying the child. She handed the child to him and said with a smile, "My lord, please hold him. The baby was crying for a while, but he's quiet now. His eyes are open, and he looks so adorable. His features are like a miniature version of you, my lord."

Zhao Xiaoqian took the child, his hands unconsciously tensing up again. He held the child carefully, his head bowed so that he could meet the child's clear and innocent eyes.

Newborn babies are wrinkled, and their skin is patchy with red and white marks. When you hold them in your hands, they look like little mouse babies.

But seeing his little mouth unconsciously smacking, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled again.

This was his son. Father and son looked into each other's eyes, and there seemed to be a mysterious connection between them, as if they were bound by blood. At this moment, it was as if a bond had been established between father and son, and they had an unbreakable bond for life.

Di Ying watched quietly as the father and son gazed at each other in silence. The scene was heartwarming, and a hint of envy appeared in her eyes.

She didn't know when she would be able to become a mother; she longed so much to have a child with an official...

"My lord, shouldn't we start naming the child? We need to decide on a formal name and a nickname," Di Ying gently reminded him.

"I'll think about my formal name carefully. As for my nickname, it doesn't matter, just call me whatever you want..."

Looking down at the bewildered child, Zhao Xiaoqian tentatively asked for his opinion: "How about the nickname 'Sang Biao'? Sounds impressive, right?"

Di Ying was stunned, then filled with shock and anger. Just as she was about to berate this outrageous father, the child in her arms suddenly grinned and gave Zhao Xiaoqian an unconscious smile.

Zhao Xiaoqian and Di Ying were both stunned.

"He actually smiled! He smiled right after he was born, is that normal? Or are you particularly happy with the name 'Sang Biao'?" Zhao Xiaoqian asked in surprise.

(End of this chapter)