Six midwives surrounded Jiang Si. One of them took the baby and immediately checked its gender.
It was a girl—
The midwife’s heart sank slightly, but her face remained impassive. She and another midwife swiftly cleaned the baby and wrapped her in a soft blanket before presenting her to Jiang Si.
“Congratulations, Princess Consort. It’s a precious daughter, as beautiful as you.”
The midwives were well aware that wealthy families, especially royal ones, placed great importance on male heirs for continuing the family line. The Princess Consort’s first child being a daughter would naturally be less joyous than if it had been a son.
They congratulated the Princess Consort with apprehension. In their long careers as midwives, they had seen it all—mothers breaking down in tears upon learning they had daughters, and even crueler families secretly discarding female infants.
It was truly heartbreaking.
Of course, as their reputation grew, they encountered such incidents less frequently. Wealthy families could at least afford to feed a daughter, and abandonment or infanticide was unheard of.
Jiang Si was utterly exhausted. She struggled to open her eyes and saw a tiny infant.
The baby’s eyes were closed, and she was wailing loudly.
Jiang Si couldn’t help but smile. The little one had been active in her womb, and now her cries were full of vigor—clearly a lively child.
Seeing Jiang Si’s genuine smile, the midwife holding the baby boldly brought the infant closer, allowing mother and child to touch cheeks.
At that moment, tears began to fall from Jiang Si’s eyes.
It wasn’t sadness, nor was it pure joy. The tears simply came, unstoppable and overwhelming.
This must be the feeling of blood connection. From now on, there was a tiny person in the world carrying her and A Jin’s blood.
So this was what it felt like to be a mother.
“Princess Consort, please don’t cry. You might hurt your eyes,” the midwife holding the baby said, somewhat flustered.
Could it be that the Princess Consort was unhappy?
Jiang Si smiled and said, “I’m just happy. Please take the baby out to show the Prince.”
The midwife relaxed and carried the infant outside.
Yu Jin, waiting outside, had already heard the baby’s cries. He was about to push past the obstructing Madam Ji when the midwife emerged just in time.
“Congratulations, Your Highness. The Princess Consort has given you a precious daughter.”
“A girl?” Yu Jin strode over.
The midwife smiled awkwardly, “First comes the blossom, then the fruit—”
The Princess Consort seemed content, but was the Prince disappointed?
Yu Jin stared at the wrinkled little infant in the red swaddling cloth, dumbfounded.
“Your Highness?”
Yu Jin reached out and gently poked the baby’s cheek. “Is this… born of the Princess Consort?”
This child looked as ugly as a monkey, and it was a girl—
The midwife was stunned by the question. “Ahem, Your Highness must be joking.”
If not born of the Princess Consort, did he think the baby had materialized from a rock?
The Prince must indeed be disappointed!
Startled by her clumsy father’s poke, the infant burst into loud wails.
Yu Jin panicked. “She’s crying… Madam Ji, quickly have the wet nurse soothe the child. I’m going to check on the Princess Consort.”
As Yu Jin rushed inside, Madam Ji helplessly rolled her eyes.
The midwife hesitated before carefully inquiring with Madam Ji, “Is the Prince upset that the Princess Consort bore a daughter—”
Madam Ji smiled. “His Highness is overjoyed. He’s handed the young miss to the wet nurse. You may go collect your reward now.”
The midwife outside didn’t understand. How could she know that as long as it was the Princess Consort’s child, even if it were a monkey instead of a girl, the Prince would never be disappointed?
Ahem, she must have been added by the Prince’s behavior to even think such things.
Madam Ji felt her serious and proper image was in danger of crumbling. She quickly composed herself and began arranging subsequent matters. With the Princess Consort’s safe delivery, there was much to be done—messages needed to be sent to the palace and the Princess Consort’s family without delay.
Inside the room, the smell of blood lingered. The June heat made it feel like a steamer, as opening windows was forbidden.
Yu Jin looked at the figure lying on the bed.
A pale face, disheveled hair, torn bedsheets…
His heart clenched as he quickly moved to Jiang Si’s side, grasping her hand. “A Si, how are you feeling?”
Jiang Si opened her eyes, her voice weary. “I’m exhausted. A Jin, I want to sleep for a while. Please go.”
“Alright, you sleep.”
Jiang Si closed her eyes again.
For a first-time mother, this ordeal had indeed drained all her energy.
Yu Jin didn’t move.
The faint smell of blood in the room made him feel as if he could sense the pain Jiang Si had endured earlier.