"Good child, drink whatever you can, otherwise you'll have no strength later," she immediately said to Feng Jinyao.
She had been in pain all afternoon with no sign of progress. Who knew when she would finally give birth. If Feng Jinyao became exhausted, both mother and child would be in danger!
Upon hearing this, Feng Jinyao still forced herself to drink two sips.
The hot chicken soup went down, offering no comfort as it usually did. Instead, she felt a surge of heat and blood rushing to her head.
With a "whoosh," she vomited it all back up.
"Oh dear."
Everyone panicked and began to clean up.
Xiao Tingyi, who had been listening intently outside, suddenly heard the sounds change and immediately moved to rush inside.
However, he was stopped by the physician Zhang, who had just finished his meal.
"What are you going in there for, causing trouble?"
With that, he led Aunt Zhang inside.
He felt Feng Jinyao's pulse through the curtain, then looked at her belly. He said to his wife,
"Follow the method I taught you earlier and push her belly. It'll be soon."
"Alright."
Aunt Zhang and the others were worried about Feng Jinyao's difficult labor, so they had studied how to massage a laboring woman's belly to help with delivery.
Because she had practiced beforehand, Aunt Zhang was not at all hesitant.
After a few pushes, Feng Jinyao felt a strong urge to descend.
The midwife below glanced and exclaimed with joy,
"I see the baby's head! I see the baby's head! Princess Consort, push harder!"
With a long, held breath, a loud cry finally echoed as night began to fall.
"She's born! She's born!"
Those inside and outside exclaimed with joy.
The midwife happily shouted, "It's a little county princess! It's a little county princess!"
"What?"
Before Physician Zhang could finish speaking, Xiao Tingyi, who had rushed in like a whirlwind, was already at the door.
He looked at Feng Jinyao, exhausted on the bed, and said, "Ayao, you've worked hard."
She was extremely weak at the moment and only wanted to close her eyes and sleep. But before she could ask, she heard Madam Feng say,
"The baby is fine, fine. Don't worry."
Hearing this, she finally fell into a deep sleep.
Rest was the most important thing for a woman after childbirth; only with good rest could her body recover well.
So, after seeing her asleep, Physician Zhang and Xiao Tingyi were ushered out.
Firstly, they needed to clean and swaddle the baby, and secondly, they needed to change Feng Jinyao's clothes. It was not appropriate for them to be there.
Physician Zhang was sensible and left immediately.
However, Xiao Tingyi kept looking back, even asking if he could help with the changing.
This made Madam Feng and Lin Shi both amused and exasperated.
It was late into the night when the midwife finally brought the baby out from the inner room.
After being cleaned, the little county princess was pink and tender. Although she looked small, her cries were remarkably loud, indicating a healthy baby.
Physician Zhang examined her carefully and nodded.
"I felt such a strong pulse, I thought it was a little prince. I didn't expect it to be a county princess. It seems the Great Jin might have a formidable female general in the future!"
Xiao Tingyi, however, was so nervous he could barely speak.
He had always wanted a daughter, but he had prepared himself for a son. When his daughter finally appeared before him, he didn't even know how to hold her.
He was afraid of causing her even the slightest discomfort.
Seeing Xiao Tingyi's stiff posture, the midwife worried he might drop the baby.
So she quickly said,
"Your Highness, perhaps the wet nurse should feed the little county princess first?"
"Quickly, quickly, don't let the child go hungry."
Then she quickly had someone take the baby.
The baby, nestled in her swaddling clothes, was quiet.
However, she had not yet opened her eyes to look at him, which made him worried. He immediately asked,
"She hasn't opened her eyes. Is something wrong?"
Physician Zhang rolled his eyes. "Your Highness, which baby opens its eyes right after birth? That would be frightening!"
His expression suggested he had never seen the world. However, after a moment's thought, he realized it was understandable. After all, he was thirty years old and having his first child. If those who married early, they would likely have grandchildren by now.
So he forgave his unpromising behavior.
Xiao Tingyi wanted to see the princess consort one moment and his daughter the next, but he couldn't disturb either of them. He could only stand in the room.
He was afraid that his pacing would disturb the mother and daughter's sleep.
After the baby had eaten, the midwife brought her over and asked if the baby should sleep with the wet nurse temporarily or with the princess consort. Xiao Tingyi immediately said,
"With Ayao!"
They had discussed this long ago. No matter what, the child was her darling, and naturally, she would sleep with her mother. Even if it meant she wouldn't rest as well, she didn't want to give it up.
So the midwife carefully carried the baby inside. The wet nurse was in the adjoining room, so it was only a few steps away, making it convenient.
The inner room had been tidied up. The faint smell of blood had been masked by the scent of fruits and melons by Aunt Zhang.
It was the season of clear autumn skies with plenty of fruits and melons from the fields, so this scent was perfect. It was not as strong as burning incense and would not harm the baby or the mother.
Looking at the mother and daughter sleeping peacefully on the bed, Xiao Tingyi felt immense happiness.
Leaning beside them, feeling their even breaths, Xiao Tingyi smiled, his eyes softening with tenderness.
He watched over them and slowly fell asleep as well.
The moon was high in the sky when suddenly the infant in the swaddling clothes began to cry. It wasn't a whimpering sound, but a surprisingly loud cry.
Feng Jinyao, who had been utterly exhausted, woke up immediately at the sound of the cry. As she fumbled to pick up the baby, she saw people entering one after another from outside.
Lights were lit, warm drinks were brought, and the sleepy, dazed wet nurse also arrived.
"Your Highness, please give the county princess to this servant. She is hungry."
Xiao Tingyi held the baby, his movements still a bit stiff, but much better than before.
It had to be said that he had some talent as a father.
The baby was taken to the adjoining room to be fed. Meanwhile, Aunt Zhang came in and asked softly,
"Does the princess consort wish to have something?"
Now that it was mentioned, Feng Jinyao did feel hungry.
So she nodded, and Aunt Zhang quickly had food brought: soft, delicious fish porridge, light but very beneficial for wound recovery.
Xiao Tingyi took it and fed Feng Jinyao spoonful by spoonful.
Aunt Zhang found the scene very heartwarming and, not wishing to intrude, smiled and quietly left.
Outside, other food was also prepared for Prince Ding to eat.
He had also not eaten much throughout the day and would surely be hungry when he came to his senses.
After Feng Jinyao finished the porridge, she felt much more comfortable.