The Little King

50 | Lactation

Translator: PastTimer

Editor: PastTimer

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Xia Xi gave birth in early October, two days earlier than the date estimated by the imperial physicians. He felt a faint pain in his abdomen after supper, but he didn't expect it to birth pain so he endured it to the point where he couldn't anymore. He grabbed Chu Lan's hand and said, "My Lord, I think I'm about to give birth."

Chu Lan flew around like a headless fly but forgot to tell the servants. He stood up and hurriedly ran out of the outer hall to call the imperial physicians and midwives in. After a rush of preparations, Xia Xi experienced unbearable abdominal pain in the middle of the night. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, his lips were white, and his body simply couldn't bear it. Chu Lan had never seen him look like this, he was so frightened he couldn't be peeled away from his side, he was finally persuaded by the midwives to go out.

Among the Barbarians, men witnessing a birth were considered unlucky, they could only wait outside. Even the imperial physicians had to "assist with the birth" through a curtain. These people had already known about Xia Xi's physique, so the midwives weren't surprised when they saw his lower body but were more anxious to safely deliver him.

The Palace was brightly lit for almost the whole night, people everywhere were eagerly looking forward to hearing the baby's first cry. Xia Xi's palace was even busier, several maidservants couldn't help kneeling and praying towards the sky after hearing his pain.

The most anxious person was Chu Lan. He wanted to break in many times but was stopped by prime minister Sang Sangmu and Tan Tianxia who came after hearing the news. Xia Chun sneaked in when no one was paying attention and kept guard by Xia Xi's side.

It was like torture. He didn't know how long he had been suffering. Xia Xi mustered the last of his power and couldn't even feel the pain of his lower body tearing. The cry of a baby resounded all over the world: he felt as if he had lost his strength and finally fainted.

Chu Lan stood outside, like an ant jumping on a hot pot, feeling deeply anxious. Every time he heard Xia Xi's painful groan, he only wished that he could replace him. When he heard the baby's cry, he was startled for a moment and broke in subconsciously. He had just walked in when the midwife happily presented a blood-stained newborn to him, saying excitedly: "Congratulations, Great King, you've a healthy little Prince."

Chu Lan had no patience to see the newborn child, he ran directly into the bedroom, bypassing the midwife. When he saw Xia Xi lying on the bed in a lifeless manner, he felt like he'd been punched in the chest. He was in pain; it was as if his internal organs were being twisted. He said in panic: "Imperial physician! Imperial physician, come in quickly, how's Xi'er?"

He called eagerly, but the imperial physicians dared not eagerly come in. Fortunately, the midwife had already covered Xia Xi tightly with a quilt before Chu Lan came. Chu Lan pushed away the crying Xia Chun and eagerly tidied up¹ Xia Xi. He called the imperial physician again to come in and see him. The eldest imperial physician hurriedly approached, he took a sniff and then opened Xia Xi's eyelids to take a look, after looking he breathed a sigh of relief and said: "The King shouldn't be too anxious, the Queen is exhausted and has fallen asleep due to weakness. It's good to first nourish the body with a bowl of ginseng soup." Chu Lan hurriedly asked some people to bring in the ginseng soup. Medicinal materials had already been prepared in advance, and Lan Duo'er sent in the soup after a while. Chu Lan refused her assistance, he hugged Xia Xi and wanted to feed him with a spoon, but it was only when he picked up the spoon did he realize that his hands were shaking so much and his grip so tight. It was difficult to get mastery over his body, so he had to let Lan Duo'er come feed Xia Xi.