Chương 276: Preparations, Twins

He swept Cai Yan up in his arms, his movements gentle yet steady, and strode toward the prepared delivery room, giving orders to the maids around him as he did so:

"Quick! Go and fetch the midwife! It's Granny Li who lives in the west wing!"

"Notify the Cai family and request that Lord Cai come immediately!"

"Boil water! Prepare clean cotton cloths, scissors, and alcohol—that strong disinfectant!"

"Let's go to the medical school and invite either Zhang Zhongjing or Hua Tuo to oversee things! Just in case!"

The series of commands proceeded smoothly and methodically.

The maids were well-trained and immediately split up to carry out their tasks.

The delivery room was located on the east side of the backyard. It was specially renovated and had good ventilation and lighting. It had undergone simple "sterile treatment" according to Liu Ce's requirements. Although it did not meet modern standards, it was much cleaner than ordinary delivery rooms of this era.

Liu Ce gently placed Cai Yan on the delivery bed covered with clean cotton mattresses, and held her hand, saying, "Yan'er, don't be afraid, I'm right outside. Granny Li is the best midwife in Youzhou, and Mr. Zhang and Mr. Hua are on their way. They will definitely ensure your safety and the safety of your child."

Cai Yan's face turned pale, but she forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, my husband... I'm not afraid..."

At this moment, the midwife, Granny Li, hurried in.

This was a woman in her forties, nimble and quick, with a calm and collected gaze. She had been delivering babies in Youzhou for twenty years and was highly experienced. Three months ago, Liu Ce had invited her here at a high price, and she was staying at the Prince's residence to await orders.

"Your Highness, please go out first. This old woman is here." Granny Li began to wash her hands, her voice steady and strong.

Liu Ce nodded, glanced at Cai Yan again, and then left the delivery room.

Outside the door, Zhang Ning, Zhen Jiang, Ren Hongchang, and other wives had arrived one after another.

Although Zhang Ning was also pregnant, she knew medicine and insisted on staying nearby to take care of her.

The other ladies waited in the warmer chambers a little further away, so as not to get too close and affect the delivery, but to be able to get the news at any time.

A short while later, Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo arrived, both of them quite calm.

"Your Majesty, do not panic," Zhang Zhongjing said gently.

"The Queen Consort's baby is in the correct position and her body is in good condition. She will surely have a smooth delivery. However, it may be a longer labor for her first child."

......

Cai Yong practically ran into the backyard.

The old man was in much better health this year, thanks to Liu Ce's frequent delivery of health supplements, but he was still panting heavily, his face full of anxiety as he asked, "Bo Lue! How is Zhao Ji?"

"Father-in-law, don't worry, Granny Li is here as soon as we went in." Liu Ce helped Cai Yong to sit down.

"Zhao Ji is blessed with good fortune; she will surely be safe."

Even so, Liu Ce's own palms were sweating.

This is the first time he has been a father in both his previous lives.

In his past life, he was a corporate slave who never even had a serious girlfriend.

In this life, although he had ten wives and built a vast empire through his campaigns, it was only now, hearing the faint cries of pain coming from the delivery room, that the real feeling of his bloodline being about to continue surged over him like a tide.

Time passes slowly.

Every second felt like stretched maltose, thick and agonizing.

The cries of pain in the delivery room rose and fell, while Grandma Li's calm instructions could be faintly heard.

The maids carried hot water in and out, their expressions focused.

Zhang Ning sat on a chair to the side, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Although she was skilled in medicine, she was also pregnant and could empathize with the situation, so she didn't look well.

Liu Ce paced back and forth outside the door, like an ant on a hot plate.

From time to time, Cai Yan's suppressed cries of pain could be heard from inside the room, each sound like a needle piercing Liu Ce's heart.

He tried to rush in several times, but Zhang Ning stopped him each time.

"Husband! The delivery room is filthy; men are not allowed in!" Zhang Ning, despite her pregnant belly, was unusually resolute.

"You wouldn't be of any help; you'd only make things worse! I'm here!"

Liu Ce frantically grabbed his hair, "But... but this sound..."

Zhen Jiang gently comforted her, "Sister, you are blessed with good fortune; you will surely be safe."

Zou Yu, Du Xiuniang, and others also gathered around, offering their advice in a cacophony of voices.

Liu Ce forced himself to sit down, but as soon as his bottom touched the stool, he bounced up again and continued pacing.

As the autumn wind blew by, he felt a chill.

I don't know how much time passed.

Just as Liu Ce was about to burst in...

"Wow!!!"

A loud, almost deafening cry from a baby shattered the silence of the backyard!

Immediately following, another shout rang out: "Wow!!!"

Two cries, one slightly deeper and the other clearer, intertwined and created a strange harmony.

Liu Ce shuddered and suddenly looked up.

The delivery room door opened, and Grandma Li walked out with a beaming smile and a loud voice:

"Congratulations, Your Highness Prince Yan! Congratulations! Your Highness, the Princess Consort has given birth to twins, a boy and a girl! The older brother came out first, a big, healthy baby boy! The younger sister followed, also healthy and strong! Mother and children are all safe and sound!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Cai Yong stood up abruptly, saying "good" three times in a row, tears streaming down his face.

The huge weight in Liu Ce's heart lifted with a thud, replaced by a surge of scalding heat that flowed from his heart to every part of his body. He took a deep breath and rushed into the delivery room.

The room still smelled faintly of blood, but the windows were open and the room was well ventilated.

Cai Yan lay on the bed, her face as pale as paper, her hair soaked with sweat and stuck to her forehead, her whole body so weak that she seemed to break at the slightest touch.

But her eyes were bright and sparkling, and a gentle, contented smile played on her lips.

Beside her, two tiny swaddled babies each held a rosy-cheeked infant.

The two little ones had their eyes closed, their faces wrinkled, and their mouths open, crying with all their might, each one louder than the last.

Cai Zhenji was carefully wrapping her younger sister in the blankets.

Seeing Liu Ce enter, she looked up and smiled, "Brother-in-law, look how spirited these two children are! Their cries are so loud; they'll definitely be healthy in the future. Their eyes and eyebrows look just like yours, especially the older brother's nose..."

Liu Ce, however, didn't bother to look at the child. He rushed to the bedside, knelt down, and took Cai Yan's hand.

Her hands were icy cold and still trembling.

Liu Ce hugged her tightly, rubbing her vigorously, trying to transfer his warmth to her.

"Yan'er..." His voice was terribly hoarse, his eyes filled with unconcealed heartache, "You've suffered so much..."

Cai Yan shook her head weakly, her gaze shifting to the children, her eyes filled with tenderness: "It's not hard work... Look at them... how wonderful they are..."

Liu Ce then turned his head to look at the two little lives.

This is... my child?

My child with Yan'er?

Having lived two lives, this is the first time I've encountered a blood relative.

He cautiously reached out, wanting to touch their little faces, but afraid that his rough hands would hurt them, so he hung in mid-air, at a loss.

Seeing this, Cai Zhenji smiled slightly, picked up a swaddled baby, and gently placed it in Liu Ce's arms: "Brother-in-law, hold your brother. Support his head and waist."

Liu Ce stiffly accepted it, his posture awkward, but his movements were unusually gentle.

He looked down at the little one in his arms. The little one seemed to sense something, and the crying gradually subsided. It smacked its lips twice and actually opened its eyes.