Forcibly Snatched by the Tyrant After Transmigrating into a Book 77

Chapter 77: Difficult Labor

Sheng Qianheng’s hands, holding Chu Yi, trembled unconsciously. His pupils quivered as he slowly reached out to check Chu Yi’s breathing.

Only after confirming that Chu Yi was still breathing did he immediately pick him up and walk out through the passage.

He tried his best to keep his emotions in check and said in a deep voice, “Go and see if Jiang Xinrui is dead or alive. If he’s alive, execute him immediately. If he’s dead, dismember his body and throw it in the mass grave!”

The clothes on Chu Yi in Sheng Qianheng’s arms were mostly soaked in blood. His sleeves were also stained crimson. His aura was in disarray, and he didn’t dare to stop his steps for a moment.

By the time he reached the front of the main palace gate, half of his face was illuminated a dark red by the palace lanterns. He roared in a hoarse voice, “Quickly summon the imperial physician! And find a midwife! Quickly!”

Chu Rui had ordered people to dig up Chu Yi’s hall. From a distance, he caught a glimpse of Sheng Qianheng holding his younger brother, who was already covered in blood. Chu Rui hurriedly ran forward. When he spoke, his voice was already trembling uncontrollably, with a hint of panic and urgency, “How is Yi’er?”

Sheng Qianheng held Chu Yi tightly and said, “Quickly summon your Qianlin imperial physician! A-Yi is about to give birth! Quickly!”

Chu Rui ordered Sheng Qianheng to carry Chu Yi into the nearest palace.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the imperial physician had already arrived. He immediately took Chu Yi’s pulse.

The imperial physician’s face was troubled. He turned and took out the needles from his medicine bag, applying them one by one to Chu Yi’s Baihui, Yintang, Hegu, and Neiguan acupoints.

Then, the imperial physician hurriedly knelt and reported, “This humble subject has diagnosed that His Highness seems to have been fed a contraction-inducing drug. The little highness in his belly is likely to be born prematurely. Now, His Highness’s water has broken, and his breathing is weak. He must be in great pain and has fainted from exhaustion. But His Highness must not sleep now. He must give birth to the little highness, otherwise it may lead to the disaster of one corpse, two lives… This humble subject has already applied needles to wake His Highness. He should be able to wake up in a moment.
This humble subject will immediately write two prescriptions, one to relieve the pain and the other to help His Highness give birth smoothly. After His Highness takes them, he should feel some relief. The rest of the matters will have to be handled by the midwife.”

Sheng Qianheng looked at the hem of Chu Yi’s robe, which was already dyed a crimson red with blood, and felt a pang in his heart.

It was his fault for being so careless, for being so arrogant…

He reached out, held Chu Yi’s hand firmly, and waited for a long time. It wasn’t until the pad of Chu Yi’s thumb trembled slightly that he came back to his senses.

“A-Yi, you’re awake!” When Sheng Qianheng spoke, his words were already incoherent. “You… I… are you… feeling alright? It’s all my fault… it’s all my fault!”

Chu Rui stood on the side, listening to Sheng Qianheng’s loss of composure, and couldn’t help but sigh. As an emperor, there were many things he couldn’t control. Sheng Qianheng was, and so was he.

Chu Yi only felt that the pain in his waist and abdomen had already made his whole body unable to move. When he spoke, it was almost inaudible. “A-Heng, it hurts…”

Sheng Qianheng choked, and tears silently slid down the corners of his eyes. He reached out, wanting to brush away the sweat-drenched hair from Chu Yi’s temples. But the blood on his hand was so frightening that he had to quickly pull it back and hide it behind his back.

Because he was too nervous, he switched hands several times but still couldn’t tidy Chu Yi’s hair.

Chu Rui stepped forward and pinched Sheng Qianheng’s shoulder, saying in a low voice, “Calm down. How can you comfort Yi’er like this?”

Sheng Qianheng could only temporarily turn his back and take several deep breaths. Only after composing himself did he kneel by the bed again, look at Chu Yi, and say, “A-Yi, the midwife will be here soon. Soon, Shun’er will be able to meet us!”

With every breath Chu Yi took, he felt as if his waist had been hit hard. The muscles on his face trembled slightly. But no matter how much it hurt, he still reached out to caress Sheng Qianheng’s cheek and said in a low voice, “A-Heng, I must have scared you… I’m fine, it just hurts a little.”

Sheng Qianheng had already collapsed. Chu Yi was always so heartbreaking. No matter when or where, he was always so forbearing. It was he who had repeatedly hurt Chu Yi. In the end, he was not worthy.

He pressed his forehead against Chu Yi’s, slowly releasing his xìnxiāng, and sobbed uncontrollably, “A-Yi, you and Shun’er both have to be safe.”

Chu Rui had originally already ordered someone to choose a midwife, but the matter had happened so suddenly, and the midwife had taken a leave of absence from the palace these past few days. Now, she had just rushed into the palace. She immediately bowed and entered the hall.

The midwife stepped forward and felt Chu Yi’s fetal position. Her expression suddenly changed. She pressed her lips together, not knowing how to report.

Seeing her worried expression, Sheng Qianheng asked, “Speak. What’s wrong?”

The midwife hurriedly kowtowed and said, “King, His Highness’s fetal position is not right. I’m afraid it will be a difficult labor. Although this old servant has a way to turn the fetal position, His Highness will have to suffer a little…”

Sheng Qianheng’s grip on Chu Yi’s hand unconsciously tightened. He looked at Chu Yi’s high and swollen belly and only felt a tightness in his chest and shortness of breath.

The child in his belly was not yet nine months old, and now the fetal position was not right. Chu Yi had already suffered for a long time. If he was tormented any longer, he didn’t know if he could still hold on.

Chu Rui immediately ordered, “No matter what, you must save His Highness and the little highness in his belly. Otherwise, your head will be hard to keep!”

“Yes! This old servant obeys the decree. Please, King, and this…” The midwife didn’t recognize Sheng Qianheng and didn’t know how to address him. “Everyone else in the hall must withdraw, leaving only a few maids. And prepare some more hot water and a pair of scissors.”

Chu Rui wanted to pull Sheng Qianheng out of the hall, but his younger brother was unexpectedly holding his hand and refused to let go.

Sheng Qianheng, on the other hand, looked back at Chu Rui and said, “I have to stay with A-Yi. Even if we no longer have a permanent mark between us, the soothing of my xìnxiāng should still have some effect.”

Chu Rui had no choice but to turn and leave the hall alone.

The midwife took the scissors handed to her by the maid, cut away Chu Yi’s clothes and trousers one by one, exposing his pregnant belly. After washing her hands, she reached out and carefully felt the fetal position.

Chu Yi lay on the bed, the fine beads of sweat on his forehead like a light drizzle, soaking his black hair. The midwife looked up and carefully observed his condition. Seeing that the contractions had just eased a lot, she immediately and decisively pressed down on his abdomen.

“Your Highness, bear with it. Turning the fetal position has to be done slowly. It will be over soon.” The midwife’s voice was soft but carried an unquestionable strength.

But the pain surged like a tide. Chu Yi only felt as if his internal organs were being turned upside down. He gripped the edge of the bed tightly with one hand, his knuckles already white, trembling slightly, and let out a low groan.

The scent of Zhuǎnrìlián lingering at the tip of his nose did not alleviate much of the pain. Chu Yi no longer had the mind to care about the hand that was holding Sheng Qianheng’s.

He only felt that every press of the midwife’s hand was so painful that he was on the verge of fainting.

Chu Yi’s brows were tightly furrowed, and large beads of sweat rolled down. He murmured, “It hurts… it hurts…”

His vision went black, and he could even hear the muffled sound of his own heartbeat in his ears.

The midwife’s technique was skilled. She said softly, “Your Highness, there’s just a little bit left. Please bear with it.”

Time seemed to have frozen. Chu Yi only felt that the pain was like an endless abyss, and every minute and every second felt like a lifetime.

Sheng Qianheng raised a hand to gently wipe the sweat from Chu Yi’s forehead. He could only watch as Chu Yi vented his pain with a furrowed brow, and he could only be anxious on the side, not knowing how he could share some of it for him.

His eyes were already hazy with tears. He stared blankly at Chu Yi’s round and swollen belly. He saw that although the midwife’s movements were skilled, the shape of his abdomen would slowly return to its original state after being deformed. His right eyelid twitched uncontrollably, as if he could also feel this torment.

The midwife breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Chu Yi’s water had already broken, she was afraid that if he didn’t give birth soon, the little highness in his belly would suffocate and die.

She immediately said, “Your Highness, the fetal position is now correct. Push as I say.”

Chu Yi could no longer understand the meaning of the midwife’s words. He pushed randomly. Every time he felt the fetal head descend a few inches, he would relax and it would retract again…

After a few times, he no longer had the strength to give birth.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the midwife looked at Chu Yi’s weak state and immediately stood up and asked from the entrance of the hall, “King, is the horizontal bar that was hung on the roof beam to assist in childbirth when the Royal Consort was in difficult labor back then still there? His Highness has no strength! This old servant thinks that it might be better to use that horizontal bar!”

Chu Rui suddenly recalled the situation when the Royal Consort was in difficult labor that year and couldn’t reply for a long time.

Suifeng, who was standing outside the hall, saw that Chu Rui was still distracted at this time. He immediately raised a hand and slapped the back of his neck. “King, His Highness’s life is at stake. Give us a word.”

Only then did Chu Rui reply, “It’s still there! It’s still in the Royal Consort’s hall!”

The midwife immediately looked at Sheng Qianheng and said, “Quickly carry His Highness to the Royal Consort’s bedchamber! I’m afraid His Highness can only rely on the horizontal bar to assist in childbirth!”

When Chu Yi was picked up again, he had no thoughts to speak of. He rested his head on Sheng Qianheng’s shoulder, smelling the scent of Zhuǎnrìlián and feeling drowsy.

When they arrived at the Royal Consort’s bedchamber, Sheng Qianheng, as the midwife had said, helped Chu Yi stand before the horizontal bar.

The pain-relieving medicine that the imperial physician had ordered someone to grab had already been decocted. After Sheng Qianheng fed the medicinal soup to Chu Yi, he said softly, “A-Yi, I can’t share this suffering for you. In the future, you can hit me or scold me. Try again. If it doesn’t work, I can only save you…”

Chu Yi supported himself on the horizontal bar, his legs having almost no strength to speak of. He collapsed limply into Sheng Qianheng’s embrace. Hearing those words, he shook his head helplessly.

This was his child. How could he give up so easily?

Four hours later, Shun’er was born safely. Although his cry was weak and his body was much smaller than a full-term baby’s, fortunately, both mother and child were safe, and everything was in order.

Chu Yi was carried to the bed by Sheng Qianheng. He looked at Shun’er being held in the midwife’s arms, his vision gradually blurring. He pinched Sheng Qianheng’s hand and asked, “Why isn’t he crying?”

Sheng Qianheng pecked his lips lightly and said, “He cried. His cry was very soft. He probably didn’t want to disturb our A-Yi. He’s a child who knows how to dote on his daddy.”

Chu Yi panted, leaned against Sheng Qianheng’s embrace, and raised a hand to write the formal name he had already prepared for Shun’er in his palm.

Sheng Qianheng could no longer suppress his emotions. He buried his head in Chu Yi’s neck and cried, “One child is enough. No more! A-Yi, thank you.”

Chu Yi was finally exhausted and said slowly, “Nianqing, take good care of Shun’er. I want to sleep for a while.”

Sheng Qianheng looked at Chu Yi. Seeing him close his eyes and fall into a deep sleep, he felt a sense of apprehension, fearing that he would have no breath. He reached out to check again and only felt at ease after knowing that he had just fallen asleep peacefully.

He looked at Shun’er, and his heart was in turmoil for a moment. This was his and Chu Yi’s son, and even more so, the child that Chu Yi had gone through a thousand hardships to give birth to for him.

His surname was Chu, and his given name was Yanheng.

Chu Yi was unconscious for a full two days, and Sheng Qianheng did not close his eyes for two nights. He stayed by Chu Yi’s bed all the time, and even Shun’er’s crying could not distract him.

He was afraid that Chu Yi would just sleep on like this.

Even though the imperial physician had already taken his pulse and told him that he had only slept for so long because of physical depletion and fatigue, he still couldn’t feel at ease. His mother had fallen asleep like this back then and had never woken up…

On the third night, Chu Yi finally woke up. He looked up at the unfamiliar hall and felt dazed.

Sheng Qianheng’s face was already covered in stubble. Seeing that Chu Yi was awake, his eyes stung. “A-Yi, you’re finally awake.”

Chu Yi pinched Sheng Qianheng’s hand, smiled faintly, and said, “Nianqing, I’m back. I miss you so much.”