Su Cuiping's condition remained stable, with no unexpected events occurring. Su Muqing chose to prioritize the baby's critical situation, as prolonged oxygen deprivation could lead to hypoxic brain damage.
Su Muqing positioned the baby on his side and gently cleared his mouth of any debris. She then lifted the infant by his legs and lightly patted his feet. After a period of patting, she massaged the baby's feet, and as the skin on his body regained a healthy color, the infant finally let out a sharp cry.
"Waaah~"
The baby finally cried, and Su Muqing was so relieved she almost wept. She had no idea how terrified and tense she had been. If anything had happened to the baby, she wouldn't have known how to face Su Minghui and his wife, nor Leng Kui and Sister Cuiping.
Once the baby started crying, he didn't stop. Fortunately, Su Muqing's cultivation had progressed significantly. In the past, the piercing screams in the space would have given her an unbearable headache.
Su Muqing quickly wrapped the baby in a cotton-lined swaddle and handed him to Leng Kui to show Su Cuiping. Leng Kui awkwardly extended his hands, "holding" the baby with great tension, not daring to breathe too deeply. He was afraid that with one wrong move, he might accidentally blow this infant, who was smaller than his two palms, away.
Su Muqing wasted no time and returned to attend to the subsequent suturing for Su Cuiping. Suturing was much more difficult than a C-section, requiring meticulous layering. Fortunately, she had her detector providing constant guidance, so Su Muqing didn't have to worry about any gauze or surgical tools being left behind in Su Cuiping's abdomen.
After another forty minutes, she finished suturing Su Cuiping's wound. Mother and child were safe, and the delivery was successful. Su Muqing applied disinfectant to the wound, covered it with a bandage, and then exited the space to replace the previous bedding with sterilized ones.
Returning to the space, Su Muqing found Leng Kui and Su Cuiping cooing over the baby. Su Cuiping, who had been drowsy, seemed more alert now, perhaps cheered by the sight of her child. They had spent over an hour in the space, but outside, only about ten minutes had passed. Although the infant couldn't speak, as soon as they left the space, he seemed to sense it and began crying loudly again.
Su Minghui and Wang shi, who were anxiously pacing outside the door, said, "Hui Ge, they've been inside for so long, why isn't there any movement from inside? We haven't heard Cuiping or our son-in-law's voices, nor Muqing's. Do you think something has happened to our daughter?"
Su Minghui rebuked Wang shi's anxious thoughts. "Bah, bah, bah! Spit three times quickly. Have you forgotten Muqing is inside? With her there, how could anything happen to Cuiping? Put your mind at ease; our daughter and our grandson will be fine."
Although he said this, Su Minghui also believed that with Su Muqing present, Cuiping would be safe. However, he had heard from the servants that Su Muqing had been inside for the time it took an incense stick to burn. After such a long time, and with no sounds emanating from the room, they couldn't help but feel worried and fearful.
Just as Wang shi was about to rush in, they finally heard the sound of an infant crying. She excitedly grabbed Su Minghui's hand, tears streaming down her face. "Hui Ge, do you hear that? Cuiping has given birth, she's given birth…"
"I hear it, I hear it. Stop crying, you'll need to take care of the baby when he's brought out." Su Minghui was also overjoyed, his body trembling uncontrollably. With red-rimmed eyes, he wiped away Wang shi's tears. He, too, was deeply moved but as a man, he couldn't cry as easily as a woman.
A while later, the bedroom door finally opened. As Su Muqing opened the door, Wang shi rushed in immediately. Su Minghui peered nervously into the room but could see nothing. Despite being Su Cuiping's father, he was a man, and it was inappropriate for him to enter directly right after his daughter had given birth.
Seeing Su Minghui's hesitant desire to enter, Su Muqing quickly reassured him, "Uncle, don't worry. Sister Cuiping and the baby are doing well. In a moment, I'll have Brother Leng San bring the baby out for you to see."
Knowing that his daughter had delivered safely, Su Minghui relaxed. He waved his hand with a silly grin, "No need, no need to bring him out specifically. Newborn babies are too small; they shouldn't be exposed to the wind. I can see him in a few days."
"Cuiping, how are you? Mother didn't expect your first delivery to be so quick! Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Mother will make it for you. Oh, right! Let me see the baby. Is it a boy or a girl?" As soon as Wang shi saw Su Cuiping, she began bombarding her with questions.
Su Cuiping knew her mother was concerned, but ever since she became pregnant, she found it bothersome and unsettling to have people constantly talking in her ear. Leng Kui noticed that Su Cuiping's expression soured as soon as Wang shi started speaking. Muqing had said Cuiping shouldn't get angry, especially after just giving birth.
"Mother-in-law, Cuiping is doing very well. His Majesty just said she cannot eat yet and can only have her lips moistened with water on a cotton swab. She needs to pass gas before she can eat."
Wang shi, not noticing Su Cuiping's impatience, became agitated upon hearing Leng Kui's words. "She can't eat? Who said a woman can't eat after giving birth? Muqing herself is an unmarried girl and hasn't had children, so she surely doesn't know how tiring childbirth is. How can she have any strength without eating?"
Seeing Wang shi getting boisterous again, Leng Kui quickly stopped her. "Mother-in-law, Cuiping didn't have a natural birth. His Majesty performed surgery to deliver the baby, so she cannot be cared for like ordinary women. She said Cuiping suffered a major wound that depleted her vitality, so all her diet and wound care must be according to His Majesty's instructions, without any errors."
Wang shi blinked in confusion, not quite understanding Leng Kui's meaning. "You said Cuiping suffered a wound? What do you mean she suffered a wound? Where did she get wounded?"
Leng Kui, seeing Wang shi's expression, patted his mouth in annoyance. "It's nothing. In short, we should just follow His Majesty's instructions." Leng Kui stammered, making up a few words, unwilling to continue the topic.