"Is that so?"
At this moment, Mu Changxi could no longer think of anything else.
Only Song Chaoyu and the child were what he truly cared about.
Seeing him like this, even the midwife couldn't help but smile wryly. She quickly nodded at Mu Changxi, "It is true, of course it is true. This old servant would not dare to deceive Your Highness. The Princess Consort and the child are both fine. Please rest assured, Your Highness!"
In fact, Song Chaoyu had also faintly heard Mu Changxi's voice.
She felt a bit amused, but more so, she was deeply touched and warmed.
Perhaps life had given her too much misfortune. But that was all to lead her to meet Mu Changxi.
Mu Changxi, was she not his greatest fortune?
As she thought this, the pain struck again—
Accompanying it was the joyful shout from outside as Tiaohong entered, "They're here, they're here! The ginseng slices have been found!"
—
Song Chaoyu had even forgotten how the ginseng slices were put into her mouth.
But not long after the ginseng slices entered her mouth, Song Chaoyu indeed felt her spirits lift.
Tiaohong quickly brought over the prepared porridge. Mu Changxi, however, personally took the porridge and looked at Song Chaoyu as if pleading, "Ayu, please have a sip?"
If she refused, Song Chaoyu felt she would be letting down Mu Changxi's pitiable state.
She took the porridge and drank a mouthful. Mu Changxi's eyes filled with much joy.
At the same time, the midwife also sensed that Song Chaoyu could now exert more force. She quickly said to Song Chaoyu, "Princess Consort, quickly, now! Your water has not all broken yet. Although we still have time, the sooner the better! Princess Consort, please listen to this servant and start pushing!"
Song Chaoyu now had much more strength than before. She also longed for her and Mu Changxi's child to be born safely.
"Ah—"
Thus, she could no longer hold back. With a soft cry, she grabbed Mu Changxi's hand and began to push.
In Mu Changxi's eyes, there was only heartache.
At this moment, he even wished that he could bear this child in place of Song Chaoyu.
"Push, Princess Consort, it's much better now, the baby's head can be seen!"
The midwife's joyful voice rang out, giving Song Chaoyu endless strength, urging her to push again…
"Waa—"
When the baby's cries echoed through the room, Song Chaoyu herself didn't even know how she had managed to give birth to this little one.
It was like a dream she had.
In the dream, she had used almost all her strength, running across a vast, deserted land.
She didn't know what the destination was, but running with all her might was enough.
And when she woke from the dream, she was utterly exhausted, with only a feeling of complete satisfaction.
As if upon hearing the baby's cry, she knew that everything else was no longer important.
Her life was complete.
Thinking this, Song Chaoyu could no longer hold on. Her head tilted slightly to the side, and she fell asleep.
—
Song Chaoyu's action startled Mu Changxi: "Ayu? Ayu, what's wrong? Ayu, don't scare me!"
He tightly held Song Chaoyu's hand, his entire body tensing.
He called out Song Chaoyu's name with a depth of affection he had never known.
"Your Highness, it's alright, don't be nervous!"
The midwife, while attending to the newborn, looked at Mu Changxi, "The Princess Consort is fine! She's probably just exhausted and has fallen asleep. Giving birth uses up all the Princess Consort's strength. Don't shout, just let her sleep!"
"Asleep?"
Mu Changxi finally reacted from his shock.
He gently stroked Song Chaoyu's hand and indeed found that her hand was still warm. Hadn't she just fallen asleep?
The midwife, after checking Song Chaoyu's body and confirming she was fine, also breathed a sigh of relief. She was afraid that if something happened to the Princess Consort of Chang today, all their heads would be forfeit!
After her examination, the wet nurse had also finished cleaning the little one.
The midwife carefully carried the little one to Mu Changxi's side, "Your Highness, congratulations to Your Highness. The Princess Consort has given birth to a little prince! The child is very healthy. Listen to how loud his cries are! You know this child will surely be strong and robust in the future."
Mu Changxi then looked at the child.
He had seen newborns before and always felt they were somewhat wrinkled and ugly, like little monkeys.
But at this moment, seeing his own child, Mu Changxi felt completely different.
The tiny little one, crying at the top of its lungs, was red all over, yet somehow… it was very beautiful!
Mu Changxi couldn't help but reach out. The midwife also carefully placed the child into Mu Changxi's arms, "See, isn't this child very robust?"
Despite being such a tiny newborn, Mu Changxi felt he saw a trace of Song Chaoyu in the child.
And strangely, the little one, who had been crying loudly moments ago, quieted down a bit after being held by Mu Changxi.
The little one's eyes were not yet open, but it was already waving its hands, as if trying to grasp Mu Changxi.
Mu Changxi's heart softened immensely at this moment.
He gestured for Tiaohong to push his wheelchair, and then he slowly placed the little one beside Song Chaoyu's pillow.
The baby's cries grew fainter, and its outstretched hand grabbed Song Chaoyu's hair.
Mu Changxi's first reaction was a slight fear that the little one might pull Song Chaoyu's hair and hurt her.
But to everyone's surprise, the little one only held Song Chaoyu's hair and did not pull.
As if the tiny child merely wanted to feel its mother's scent.
The strands of hair felt exceptionally soft in its small hands.
Even the midwife and the wet nurses marveled at the sight, "The little one recognizes its mother. Your Highness, look, he knows the Princess Consort!"
Mu Changxi was almost shaken by this.
It seemed that only now did he truly understand the meaning of "home."
He suddenly dared not speak, fearing he might disturb this beautiful scene.
The midwives said no more, leaving Mu Changxi there to be with his wife and child, to savor this quiet moment.
Mu Changxi stayed with Song Chaoyu and the child that entire day.
Only when the child cried again was it handed over to the wet nurse.
But he remained in the room, accompanying Song Chaoyu.
It wasn't until the morning of the next day, when the Song family came to Chang Wangfu to see Song Chaoyu, that they were shocked by the "devastation" of the manor.
What shocked them even more was Mu Changxi, with his stubbled face and dark circles under his eyes!
He had stayed up all night, but he himself was unaware of it.
It wasn't until Concubine Liu stepped forward and pulled Mu Changxi away from Song Chaoyu's bedside with a wry smile, "Your Highness, Ayu is fine. Why don't you quickly wash up and get some rest? You wouldn't want Ayu to see you like this when she wakes up, would you? She'll likely worry. Please go wash up quickly."
Indeed, at any time, only mentioning Song Chaoyu was the most effective.
Mu Changxi reached up and touched his stubble, then stood up and cupped his hands at Concubine Liu, "I entrust Ayu to the care of her father and mother for a while."