Nervousness was certain, but there was a greater sense of orderly calm.
After all, whether it was the servants of the Princess’s Mansion or the Midwifery Sister brought by Xia Ruqing, they were all professionally trained.
They were experienced, knowledgeable, and had strong psychological fortitude, unlikely to be startled by anything.
They barely showed any facial expressions.
When the Fourth Princess began her labor pains,
they immediately divided into groups. Some went to get scissors and gauze, some went to fetch hot water, others prepared the birthing bed for the Princess, and went to request the Imperial Physician for medicinal herbs.
A few others changed into clean clothes, prepared small blankets and basins, ready to handle the newborn.
Everyone had their tasks set long ago, each standing firm at their position, serious and earnest, not allowing the slightest error.
...
Xia Ruqing and the remaining servants were briskly ’cleared’ out of the room.
When she came to her senses, she was already standing outside the delivery room.
Through the gap in the door, she watched the orderly and serious Midwifery Sisters and Female Doctors inside, feeling a sudden flutter in her heart.
Somehow, images of a modern-day operating room flashed in her mind.
Just then, a spark of light flashed before her eyes, and she suddenly felt dizzy, her body wobbled uncontrollably as if about to faint.
"Your Grace!"
Zi Yue quickly rushed forward to support her.
"What happened to you?"
Xia Ruqing opened her eyes in a daze, feeling a bit suspicious.
"What just happened to me?"
Zi Yue frowned with concern.
"You must be too exhausted!"
"We rushed here, and you haven’t rested well or eaten or slept properly these past two days!"
"Perhaps you should rest for a while!"
But Xia Ruqing shook her head.
"I don’t think so!"
"I don’t feel that exhausted!"
Though advanced in years, she had spent the past couple of years traveling around, and her physical and mental well-being were quite robust.
She couldn’t be that frail!
Zi Yue, however, insisted on persuading her.
"Your Grace, since it’s the Fourth Princess’s first childbirth, based on experience, it might still take a long time. Standing here won’t help. Why not rest for a while and come back later?"
Xia Ruqing thought for a moment and nodded.
"You’re right!"
"I’ll go rest in a while!"
"But before I leave, I need to make sure!"
After speaking, without waiting for Zi Yue to respond,
she called someone from inside to come out and questioned in detail about the situation inside. Once she confirmed that everything was fine,
she finally left with Zi Yue.
...
May afternoons were still quite hot.
Especially today, as the weather was good and the sunlight intense.
Even though the leafy branches cut the sunlight into fragments before it reached the earth, the heat seemed undiminished.
Wave after wave of heat mixed with the wind wafted through the window into the room, and through the gaps in the curtains onto the bed.
Xia Ruqing lay on the bed in a light silk inner wear woven from fine cotton, her black hair loose, turning restlessly unable to sleep from the heat.
Sweat soaked through her clothes and bedding, causing sticky discomfort.
"It’s so hot this year!"
Zi Yue fanned her while smiling.
"Your Grace, it’s much better than Jiangnan. It’s humid and hot there, but here it’s somewhat better!"
Xia Ruqing was puffed up with anger.
"But it’s not this hot in Jiangnan!"
Zi Yue couldn’t help but laugh.
"Your Grace is becoming childlike in temperament!"
"With the Fourth Princess giving birth, are you still feeling shortchanged by just watching?"
Rendered speechless by her words, Xia Ruqing decided not to respond anymore.
She closed her eyes, lying quietly in bed, deciding to get some good sleep.
After all, she would need to properly see her precious daughter and grandchild later.
A granddaughter would be fine too, even better, a delicate little girl, how adorable!
Just thinking about it, she suddenly realized.
She had been in ancient times for so long and was about to have a grandchild! She was going to be a grandmother.
Xia Ruqing was instantly drenched in a cold sweat.
’Grandmother!!!’
Oh heavens, am I really that old?
Xia Ruqing suddenly felt the air wasn’t hot at all anymore, even slightly chilly.
She quickly dismissed these chaotic thoughts from her head, closed her eyes, held her breath, and tried to sleep.
...
This nap seemed quite long.
She dreamed a lot,
of ancient times, modern times, about her grandmother, her former parents, even her old classmates, friends, shared apartment roommates, and so on.
People and events all quite complete, everything was there.
But after so long, some she no longer remembered, and they were fragmented, faces even blurred.
So upon waking, she felt her mind was in a complete mess.
"Ah! My head hurts!"
Clutching her almost-exploding head, she struggled to get up.
Zi Yue saw her covered in sweat and got startled.
"Your Grace, what’s wrong? Did you have those chaotic dreams again?"