Glory

On the sixteenth day of the eighth month, just after finishing breakfast and being supported by her maid for a slow walk along the corridor, Ye Yaming felt abdominal pain.

Her grip on Bai Rui's hand tightened: "I think I'm going into labor."

Bai Rui took a sharp breath and said calmly, "Don't panic, miss. Let me help you to the delivery room."

The east wing had originally been intended for Lu Guanyi, but he never had time to stay there. Without ceremony, Ye Yaming had converted the southernmost room of the east wing into a delivery room. While it couldn't achieve sterility by modern standards, it represented the utmost possible under current conditions.

Anticipating her labor, Xia Momo and several maids had been staying by her side day and night for the past half month, ready to respond at any moment.

Xia Momo had mentally rehearsed the response to Ye Yaming's labor onset numerous times.

Now she calmly directed: "Ziyuan and Qingzhi, go wash your hands and change clothes. Bring your mistress's garments to the delivery room and help her change. Hongye, Lanling, and Chengman, go summon the others."

"Yes," everyone immediately sprang into action.

Since Ye Yaming could go into labor at any time, Old Mrs. Ye, Yin Shi, Herbalist Deng, and three midwives had been staying at the Lu residence for the past ten days.

By the time the maids had changed Ye Yaming's clothes and settled her in the delivery room, everyone had gathered.

Some days earlier, Ye Yaming had convened a meeting with the midwives, emphasizing hygiene requirements: they must trim their nails in advance, don gowns and wash hands with soap before entering, and rewash after touching anything else.

Having presented generous gifts beforehand and promised substantial rewards after successful delivery - with the Ye family's wealth and generosity being well demonstrated to the midwives recently - they naturally agreed without exception.

These respected midwives already had some understanding of hygiene matters and didn't consider Ye Yaming's demands unreasonable.

When the three midwives entered, Qingzhi helped them into moon-white gowns and matching caps - since ancient people avoided pure white, Ye Yaming had chosen moon-white (light blue) for these items.

After gowning and handwashing, the most skilled midwife, Wu, examined Ye Yaming.

"This being your first birth, it won't progress too quickly. But the fetal position is correct, so don't worry. Now, push following my instructions."

The baby had engaged two days earlier, and all three midwives had confirmed the relatively correct fetal position - otherwise Midwife Wu would have manually corrected it days ago.

Having accompanied a close friend during childbirth in her previous life, Ye Yaming had heard doctors teaching breathing techniques and discussing "how many centimeters dilated." Now she tried to remain calm and follow Midwife Wu's breathing guidance. But when contraction pain struck, all composure, dignity, and experience vanished into thin air.

The pain was excruciating, unbearably so - unlike anything she'd ever experienced, as if her soul were being torn apart.

Yin Shi, unable to stay away, entered to accompany her daughter. Seeing Ye Yaming struggling to endure, she urged, "Go ahead and scream. Just let it out - it'll make the pain more bearable."

Ye Yaming hadn't wanted to scream, thinking it useless and wasteful of energy. But hearing Yin Shi's words, she finally couldn't hold back.

Yet the tearing pain didn't diminish in the slightest.

After the contraction subsided, Old Mrs. Ye's voice came from outside: "Eat something to keep your strength up for delivery," as a bowl of sweet rice dumplings in brown sugar wine was brought in.

Ye Yaming: "..." But I just finished breakfast!Bai Rui fed her, and she managed to eat two mouthfuls.

But even her favorite fermented glutinous rice balls couldn't save her. Before long, the pain struck again, this time more intense than before.

"Ah..." Ye Yaming screamed.

When the wave of pain finally subsided, she grabbed the midwife's hand and asked, "How much longer will this hurt?"

"Soon, soon. You're already two fingers dilated," the midwife comforted her.

For first-time mothers like her, labor lasting from morning till evening was normal. Moreover, Ye Yaming was carrying twins, which meant an even longer delivery.

But the midwife understood the psychology of women in labor. Knowing that revealing the true duration would cause despair, she always said "soon." This "soon" indeed marked only the beginning. As the pain intensified, Ye Yaming grew numb, merely wishing for time to pass quickly and end this torment.

"Ming'er..."

Suddenly, a familiar male voice sounded by her ear. A rough, large hand brushed aside the sweat-drenched strands of hair clinging to her forehead.

Ye Yaming opened her eyes to see the unshaven face of a man. If not for the familiar eyes and brows, she wouldn't have recognized him.

"Ming'er, I'm back," Lu Guanyi said again. "Don't be afraid. I'm here with you." He grasped Ye Yaming's hand.

"Get out! Ming'er, quickly persuade him to leave," Yin Shi urged anxiously from the side.

The delivery room was considered a place of blood and ill omen, where men were traditionally forbidden. She hadn't expected Old Mrs. Ye and Qi Furen outside to fail in stopping Lu Guanyi from barging in.

Ye Yaming was well aware of this superstition, though she didn't believe in it. In modern times, husbands were even encouraged to accompany their wives during childbirth. Witnessing the agony of labor made husbands more appreciative and less likely to become neglectful partners.

But she was in too much pain to confront societal norms. Moreover, Lu Guanyi was a border garrison commander living a life constantly threatened by violence. Since she had time-traveled, she felt compelled to acknowledge the possibility of supernatural beliefs.

If anything unfortunate were to happen to Lu Guanyi on the battlefield, not only would others blame her, but she herself would wonder if his misfortune stemmed from today's events.

Her voice hoarse, she said, "You should go."

Lu Guanyi shook his head, his tone resolute. "I'm staying right here with you. Don't be afraid. My fierce aura will ward off any evil spirits. You'll safely give birth to our child."

Ye Yaming smiled weakly and whispered, "Alright."

Yin Shi had always been helpless against Ye Yaming and didn't dare nag her son-in-law, who came from a powerful family and carried an intimidating presence. She had no choice but to step out and explain to Qi Furen that Ye Yaming had tried but failed to persuade Lu Guanyi to leave.

Qi Furen had already attempted to stop Lu Guanyi when he dismounted and rushed toward the delivery room. She cited the taboos and warned that his unclean state might cause Ye Yaming and the child to fall ill. In response, Lu Guanyi thoroughly washed himself, donned a gown and cap, and charged in again—impossible to deter.

She sighed helplessly, "Let him be. That stubborn temper—who knows whom he takes after?"

Whether her cervix had dilated sufficiently after such prolonged labor or the babies feared their father's wrath for tormenting their mother too long, within half an hour of Lu Guanyi's arrival, a loud cry shattered the room's silence.

"Congratulations, congratulations! My lord, my lady, it's a young master," the midwife exclaimed repeatedly.

Yin Shi wept tears of joy.Actually, watching her daughter give birth was even more difficult than when she had given birth herself. She had long stopped caring about whether it was a boy or a girl, only wishing for her daughter’s safety.

But at this moment, hearing that Ye Yaming had given birth to a son, she still cried tears of joy.

The hardships she had endured in her life, her daughter would never have to suffer again.

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