CHAPTER 601: CHAPTER 393 RUORUO

Xiao Song rushed into the delivery room, where the air was thick with the smell of blood.

He dashed to the side of the bed in two strides, looked at the pale Ran Yan, grabbed her hand, and said hoarsely, "Lady, you have worked hard."

Ran Yan, utterly drained, was still recovering and could only respond with a faint smile.

The midwife had just washed and wrapped the first born child in a soft blanket and handed him over to Xiao Song, "Marquis, behold, a healthy young master."

Within the plain swaddle, only a tiny head was exposed, pink and wrinkled, quite ugly. Xiao Song thought that this exposed head was even smaller than his fist. He had not seen other babies, but he felt that this child was really too small. However, considering that others had only one in their womb while they had three, it was normal to be a bit smaller. The midwife told him the child was healthy, which reassured him greatly. He unsteadily took the soft, warm bundle into his hands.

The child felt as light as cotton in his hands, rendering him afraid to move a muscle.

Xiao Song tried his best to keep his upper body still, holding the child and showing him to Ran Yan, "Wife, our child."

Ran Yan’s head was heavy, and she was slow to react. She vaguely heard someone say there were three babies, but she only felt that giving birth to the first one took particular effort, and afterward, she didn’t feel much, especially for the third child; she didn’t remember what it felt like at all.

Ran Yan looked at the infant in Xiao Song’s arms and a shallow smile surfaced on her face; she couldn’t help but stretch her hand to gently touch his little face.

"Where are the other two children?" Ran Yan was very worried. The other two might be too weak; after all, her abdomen wasn’t particularly big. What if the children weren’t well-developed?

The midwife brought over another wrapped up baby and placed him beside Ran Yan. This child was even smaller, yet seemed normal in every way and would likely be fine with proper care.

"This is also a boy. Such a tiny one." Wan Lu had never seen a newborn before and was initially shocked by how small babies are.

The midwife smiled and said, "This old woman has delivered children of this size before, and those were twins! The Lady is fortunate, giving birth at full term, and the children are all healthy."

Ran Yan turned to search for the smallest child, whom the midwife had just wiped down, and was wrapping her in a blanket.

She was tiny like a kitten, her cries equally minuscule. If one did not listen carefully, they were almost inaudible. Her little pink fists were clenched together, only about the size of a fingertip, lying in the blanket, she looked particularly helpless.

Tears involuntarily streamed down Ran Yan’s face, her voice trembling, "Quickly bring her here."

Xiao Song, too, felt a tightness in his chest looking at that child; he had never seen an infant so small, one so tiny he could almost hold her up with just his palm.

"Wife, do not cry. Crying is bad for your body right after giving birth. The little girl may be tiny, but everything is normal," the midwife said, hastily comforting her.

Ran Yan, as if she hadn’t heard, reached out for the tiny baby and gently checked for breath. The child smacked her little lips as if feeling wronged.

Everyone in the room was moving with quiet care, afraid to disturb the three little ones.

Once everything was in order, two Imperial Physicians, Liu Qingsong and Wu Xiuhe, were invited in to examine the three children.

The two boys, despite being very small, weighing around three pounds each, were normal in every aspect. Twins are generally small, and Ran Yan had paid special attention to nutrition during pregnancy. With careful care, they should face no problems. The situation with the smallest one was less optimistic, weighing just over two pounds, very frail, but luckily fully developed.

"How are the children?" Xiao Song couldn’t help asking.

Wu Xiuhe, who had just been called back from dining and drinking at some restaurant, glanced casually and irresponsibly said, "Not much of a problem."

An older Imperial Physician continued, "They appear normal, but the children are so small that their pulses are difficult to discern. This old man cannot make a definitive conclusion. However, if they can suckle on their own, it should be fine. Careful attention over the next few days should tell."

Xiao Song’s anxiety had somewhat subsided, "Many thanks to you both, I shall visit to express my gratitude another day."

The two Imperial Physicians both said, "You flatter us, you flatter us."

Xiao Song escorted them out and then immediately returned to the delivery room.

Ran Yan and the children would have to stay in the delivery room for a month, and Xiao Song planned to move in as well. Even though the maids and midwives were there to care for his wife and children and he couldn’t be of much help, his presence would make Ran Yan more at ease.

Given the poor health of the children, Xiao Song immediately asked for leave to stay at home. Li Shimin, always deeply concerned about his son’s illness, was particularly understanding. Plus, it was Xiao Song’s first time becoming a father, so even though the Government Office was busy, Li Shimin issued a special decree allowing him a month’s leave.