bestfiction Chapter 231 Gu Liuli Gives Birth to Twins Again
Chapter 231 Gu Liuli Gives Birth to Twins Again
In the majestic and solemn palace of the Nanzhao Kingdom, as dusk settled, a tense atmosphere enveloped the entire harem. Inside Empress Gu Liuli's bedchamber, flickering candlelight illuminated the anxious faces of everyone present.
Gu Liuli lay half-reclined on the bed, large beads of sweat rolling down her forehead, soaking her long, black hair. Her face was deathly pale from the pain, and her once vibrant lips were now bloodless. Just moments before, she had felt a sharp, intense abdominal pain, as if an invisible hand was tearing at her body. Then, her water broke, and warm liquid slowly trickled down her legs. A jolt of fear shot through her; she knew this was a sign that her baby was about to arrive prematurely. Suppressing the pain, she weakly called out, "Someone...?"
Outside the palace, the palace maids on duty, hearing the Empress's cry, turned deathly pale. Without a moment's hesitation, they turned and ran towards the side hall, shouting as they ran, "Her Majesty the Empress is about to give birth! Quickly, summon the midwife!" This cry, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattered the tranquility of the inner palace. The palace maids and eunuchs, who had been performing their duties, panicked, rushing through the palace corridors.
In a short while, several midwives rushed to the palace. They were all experienced women of the palace, yet even they couldn't help but show nervousness in the face of the Empress who was about to give birth. The lead midwife stepped forward, first bowing to Gu Liuli, her voice as steady as possible: "Your Majesty, please don't panic. I will do my utmost to assist you." Gu Liuli bit her lower lip and nodded slightly; the intense pain in her abdomen made it almost impossible for her to speak.
The midwives quickly divided the tasks; some busied themselves setting up the delivery bed, while others prepared hot water, towels, and other necessities. At the same time, the palace maids hurriedly moved a heater to the bedside, trying to provide Gu Liuli with some warmth and ease her tension.
Gu Liuli gripped the edge of the bed tightly, her nails almost digging into the wooden frame. With each contraction, she felt as if she were engulfed in hellfire, the pain unbearable. She tried her best to suppress any loud cries, but occasionally a few muffled groans escaped her lips.
"Your Highness, push! The baby's almost out!" the midwife urged anxiously, her hands firmly supporting Gu Liuli's lower body, her eyes fixed on the birth canal, not missing a single detail. Gu Liuli took a deep breath and, following the midwife's instructions, pushed with all her might. She felt her strength being drained away little by little, and her vision began to blur, but a belief sustained her: she must deliver this child safely.
Outside the palace, Emperor Xiao Jingchuan of Nanzhao Kingdom, having already learned of the Empress's impending childbirth, paced anxiously back and forth. His brow was furrowed, his eyes filled with worry and anxiety. The head eunuch followed closely beside him, holding a thick cloak, ready to drape it over the emperor at any moment. "Your Majesty, please sit down and rest. Her Majesty the Empress is blessed with good fortune; she will surely be safe and sound," the head eunuch whispered, trying to comfort him. Xiao Jingchuan, however, seemed not to hear, continuing his pacing, muttering to himself, "Liuli, you must be safe..."
In this tense atmosphere, time seemed to drag on endlessly. Gu Liuli had lost count of how many times she had pushed; each contraction made her feel as if she were about to be swallowed by pain. Her body trembled from the excessive exertion, and her clothes were already soaked with sweat.
Suddenly, an even more intense pain struck, as if Gu Liuli's body was being torn apart. With all her might, she let out a piercing scream. The scream seemed to pierce the entire palace, causing Xiao Jingchuan outside to feel a sharp pang in his heart. "Liuli!" He could no longer suppress his anxiety and was about to rush into the palace. But the head eunuch beside him hurriedly stopped him: "Your Majesty, it would be inconvenient for you to go in now. Please wait here for news." Xiao Jingchuan gritted his teeth, his hands clenched into fists, pacing back and forth at the palace entrance, his eyes filled with pain and helplessness.
Inside the palace, the midwives grew increasingly tense. "Your Majesty, push harder! The baby's head is coming out!" Hearing this, Gu Liuli seemed to see a glimmer of hope. She forced her exhausted body to push again. A loud cry of a newborn rang out, and the entire palace was enveloped in the joy of this new life. "Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a prince!" the midwife said, beaming as she held the newborn infant.
Gu Liuli's tense nerves finally relaxed. She leaned weakly against the headboard, looking at the tiny baby in the midwife's arms, tears streaming down her face. This was the fruit of her and Xiao Jingchuan's love, finally arriving in this world after countless hardships.
However, before she could even get a good look at her child, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. "Oh no, Her Majesty is pregnant again!" The midwife's face instantly turned grave. The crowd, who had been immersed in joy, were now plunged into a tense atmosphere.
Gu Liuli's heart tightened. She had exhausted almost all her strength, and now she faced a second delivery. But the power of maternal love rallied her, and she gritted her teeth, preparing to meet this yet another challenge.
"Your Majesty, please hold on a little longer, the second baby will be here soon." The midwife comforted Gu Liuli while quickly preparing for the delivery of the second child. Gu Liuli took a deep breath and pushed again. This time, she felt as if her body no longer belonged to her; every ounce of strength felt incredibly difficult. But for the sake of the other child in her womb, she couldn't give up.
After another wave of intense pain, accompanied by a clear cry of a newborn, the second child was born safely. "Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a princess!" Hearing this news, Gu Liuli's face lit up with a relieved smile. She watched the midwife bring the two children to her; two tiny lives, like angels, had descended into this world. Their little faces were wrinkled, their eyes not yet fully open, but Gu Liuli felt they were the most adorable children in the world.
Outside the palace, Xiao Jingchuan heard the cries of a newborn baby. His joy instantly swept away his previous worries. He rushed towards the palace, his face flushed with excitement. At that moment, he no longer cared about etiquette; he only wanted to see his wife and child immediately.
When he stepped into the palace and saw Gu Liuli lying weakly on the bed with a smile on her face, and two adorable children beside her, his eyes welled up with tears. He quickly walked to the bedside, held Gu Liuli's hand tightly, and said in a slightly choked voice, "Liuli, you've suffered so much..." Gu Liuli looked at the man who loved her so deeply, gently shook her head, and her eyes were filled with happiness.