Chapter 999: Chapter 997: Just One Is Enough to Break Your Heart

Imperial Doctor Hu was not too worried about Ye Xinyan’s safety during childbirth. Throughout Ye Xinyan’s pregnancy, he was the one taking her pulse, and later he even took on a commission assigned by the Emperor, simply staying by Ye Xinyan’s side.

During this period, this Eldest Aunt’s movements, whether walking, sitting, or lying down, have been very conducive to fetal development and a safe delivery. She is very disciplined with her diet, knowing what to eat and what to avoid, always heeding advice. If there were still any issues under these circumstances, he would be ashamed as a doctor, unfit to practice anymore.

The Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion and Duke An’s Mansion both sent people to report the news. Ye Xinyan had only been in labor for half a shichen when Madam Yin, Madam Sun, and Maternal Aunt Zhao rushed over before it got dark.

Madam Yin, already in her forties, had never seen a woman in labor strolling around the courtyard.

Though Doctor Hu was seated in the courtyard, with each step Ye Xinyan took, Madam Yin’s heart leapt, a mix of worry and concern turning her face pale. Those unaware might have thought she was the one enduring the pain.

Madam Sun and Maternal Aunt Zhao kept advising her, but to no avail.

Song Ping’s Household invited them inside to wait, yet no one moved, led by Madam Yin. Song Ping’s Household, helpless, had to call for more lanterns to be hung in the courtyard.

Amidst the commendation of Doctor Hu and several nannies, Ye Xinyan gradually held out, barely managing until her water broke and was then settled into the delivery room.

Jiang Yifan, dazed, followed her closely, but unexpectedly, when entering the room, he was stopped at the door by two nannies. Seeing the severity on their faces, Jiang Yifan suddenly realized that irrelevant people were not allowed in the delivery room, especially men.

Lying on the birthing bed, whatever the midwife said, Ye Xinyan did exactly that — drink water, eat food, take deep breaths — unusually obedient.

Nanny Jin, assisting, felt both heartache and amusement seeing her like this.

To comfort those waiting outside, Jiang Yifan and Madam Yin, Ye Xinyan didn’t stubbornly endure the pain in silence. With each wave of pain, she controlled her voice and softly groaned.

Gradually, the pains came more frequently, becoming sharper and more intense, eventually impossible for Ye Xinyan to suppress her groans.

By now, it was late Hao Hour, and the sky had completely darkened. Hearing Ye Xinyan’s loud cries of pain, Madam Yin, already seated, jumped up to approach the delivery room door, only to be held back by Nanny Huang. Unable to sit again, she paced the ground in circles.

Jiang Yifan, already stationed at the doorway, listened closely and continuously asked the old woman servants coming and going about the situation inside, asking if Ye Xinyan was okay.

Now, he could indeed hear Ye Xinyan’s increasingly intense cries, amid which came the midwife’s voice. Gradually, strained and painful exertion sounds emanated from the room, making Jiang Yifan’s heart twist with distress.

“Ah Yan, Ah Yan, hold on a bit longer; it’ll be alright soon. I’m right outside with you. I’m here with you, Ah Yan.”

Jiang Yifan babbled beneath the window, unsure if Ye Xinyan could hear him inside. Seeing the door opening and a servant woman stepping out, he hurried from the window to the door, asking urgently how his wife was.

Ye Xinyan struggled on the bed for nearly an hour. Seeing it was almost time, the midwife pressed on her abdomen and instructed her to exert force again, “Eldest Aunt, the child is about to come out. Push with my pressure. Let’s do it one more time. Inhale.”

By this time, sweat poured off Ye Xinyan. Feeling the pressure from the midwife, she exerted force again.

After another bout of intense pain and a prolonged, hoarse scream, Ye Xinyan felt her body relax, then heard the midwife’s joyous exclamation: “It’s done; it’s done. Congratulations, Eldest Aunt, you’ve delivered a girl!”

Then came the child’s loud cries, vibrant and full of life.

As the cry of the newborn echoed from the delivery room, half of Madam Yin’s worries eased, and she frantically instructed Cui Zhu, “Go, go ask, ask how Ah Yan is doing.”

Before Cui Zhu could take a step, a voice from inside announced, “Eldest Aunt has given birth to a girl. Both mother and daughter are safe.”

“A girl…” Madam Yin repeated with a murmur, her briefly relieved heart tightening again as she looked anxiously at Jiang Yifan.

For Madam Yin, her daughter’s safety was the most important thing. Having a son would naturally be ideal. If a daughter, she would still be adored. But she feared her son-in-law might be disappointed.

Jiang Yifan, nearly thirty and just having his first daughter, he would surely feel disappointed, no?

As Madam Yin glanced over, Jiang Yifan was already at the delivery room door, asking repeatedly how Eldest Aunt was, whether they needed anything, and why the daughter was crying continuously, was she uncomfortable?

Only then did Madam Yin put her heart completely at ease. Fortunately, Yuanfan showed no signs of disappointment; he seemed genuinely concerned for Ah Yan and cared for his daughter, right?

With her heart finally settled, Madam Yin, hands trembling, supported by Cui Bai, sat down on the chair in the courtyard.

Madam Sun and Maternal Aunt Zhao, upon hearing that Ye Xinyan had given birth to a daughter, like Madam Yin, immediately looked to Jiang Yifan’s reaction. Seeing him composed, akin to other men with newborn sons, they relaxed.

Madam Sun sat beside Madam Yin, patting her hand, softly saying, “Alright, you can rest assured now. Yuanfan, this child, look at him, he truly cherishes this daughter and is genuinely worried for Xinyan.”

Maternal Aunt Zhao, mindful of her status, although urged by Song Ping’s Household and Nanny Jin to sit, dared not breach decorum, remaining beside Madam Yin and Madam Sun.

It was only now that she interjected happily, “Madam, don’t worry, daughters are fine too. Considering our Eldest Aunt’s abilities, as the Duke frequently says, no child in the capital, even counting boys, could surpass our Eldest Aunt. With Eldest Aunt’s guidance, our girl will certainly excel.”

Among them, Maternal Aunt Zhao’s concern for Ye Xinyan was just as deep as Jiang Yifan’s and Madam Yin’s, and her words truly came from the heart.

Being a sensible person, her young son played often with Young Master Qi, constantly in the care of Eldest Aunt and Grandma Guan, developing into a particularly spry and lively child.

Though still young, he already displayed a decisive straightforwardness beneath his innocence, clearly a child that could handle challenges and show resilience.

The state of the mansion did not permit raising a delicate child. While Maternal Aunt Liu was deceased, the mansion still housed the Eldest Master, Second Master, and the intricately scheming Second Great Aunt. Additionally, there was the unreliable Ye Hongyang, giving little peace of mind.

One could say, with only Eldest Aunt present, did her son, Brother Yuan, have a future.

Thus, Maternal Aunt Zhao’s words were sincerely heartfelt.

Now without worries, Madam Yin appreciated Maternal Aunt Zhao’s sentiments, smiling back, “Thank you, Maternal Aunt Zhao, for your kind words. However, our girl shouldn’t take after Ah Yan. Just one already makes us so anxious; we can’t handle another like her.”

Madam Sun, recalling the tumultuous years with her niece, deeply related to Madam Yin’s words and couldn’t help but laugh.