The midwives Su Shang had prepared were all physicians from Qian Jin Fang, who had delivered countless babies over the years. However, they were so intimidated by Si Feng Wu's oppressive aura that they trembled and could barely walk steadily.
Lu Qing Wan was enraged. Mustering her strength, she removed the gauze from her mouth and roared, "Duan Yue, drag him out!"
Duan Yue, waiting outside, couldn't see the situation clearly, but observing the hesitant midwives, she understood.
She stepped forward, grabbed Si Feng Wu's arm, and began to pull him out.
Knowing Si Feng Wu wouldn't cooperate, Duan Yue had used considerable force when pulling him. To her surprise, she couldn't move him even then.
As soon as Lu Qing Wan removed the gauze, she couldn't help but cry out in pain. Now, her cries became even more agonizing.
Duan Yue became frantic and slapped Si Feng Wu's back, "Your Highness, wake up! Look, with you here, can these midwives deliver the Empress with peace of mind? Do you want to harm the Empress and the little prince?"
These words were undoubtedly bold but struck the nail on the head.
Si Feng Wu suddenly came to his senses. Seeing how the midwives were holding back, despite his deep concern for Lu Qing Wan, he still followed Duan Yue out.
Lu Qing Wan, being a physician herself, had taken care of her health since becoming pregnant. Moreover, the realm was already at peace during her pregnancy, so she hadn't experienced much fatigue.
Thus, the delivery went very smoothly.
When the baby was spanked by Su Shang and cried out, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Lian Yu, still prone to stirring up trouble, muttered, "I heard the ladies in Qian Jin Fang screaming like pigs being slaughtered during childbirth. How come our Empress didn't make a sound and just quietly gave birth?"
After he finished speaking, he was met with a barrage of glares.
"Do you wish the Empress to be in such pain that she screams to be satisfied?"
Li Su, forgetting their difference in status, rained a flurry of blows on Lian Yu.
"She's given birth, she's given birth! It's a little prince! Congratulations, Regent! Congratulations, Regent!"
The wet nurse, chosen long ago, carried the baby out, followed by a string of congratulations.
However, Si Feng Wu had no time to look at the child. He urgently asked, "Where's A'Wan? How is A'Wan?"
As he spoke, he moved to rush into the sleeping quarters.
Duan Yue, seeing that the baby had been born, didn't stop him. However, the moment Si Feng Wu stepped inside, he heard Su Shang anxiously exclaim, "There's another one, quickly! Bring the ginseng soup! Princess Consort, hold on a little longer..."
Before she could finish, chaos erupted inside again.
This time, without anyone's instruction, Si Feng Wu himself retreated from the sleeping quarters.
However, he walked out step by step, leaning against the wall.
"H-how can there be another one?"
Si Feng Wu was so terrified his legs went weak. Just one child had already pained him immensely. Now, two at once, how much must his A'Wan be suffering?
As he was consumed by anxiety, Li Su silently brought over a chair, and with Duan Yue's help, Si Feng Wu sat down. Then, she knelt before him.
"Your Highness, there is something I believe I must tell you now. Please remain calm, the sisters inside cannot afford to be startled."
Her preemptive tone instinctively gave Si Feng Wu an ominous premonition.
Refusing to let this premonition cloud his thoughts, Si Feng Wu, with a cold expression, urged Li Su, "Speak if you have something to say. I appointed you as the Imperial Guard to better care for A'Wan, not to learn the intricacies of court politics."
Li Su nodded silently and then stated word by word, "Actually, the Princess Consort is not carrying twins, but... triplets!"
Si Feng Wu felt his vision darken, and he almost slid off the chair.
Li Jin and Li Yang each grabbed him by the arm, narrowly preventing him from falling to the ground.
Si Feng Wu weakly asked, "I didn't hear clearly just now. Say it again, how many babies is A'Wan carrying?"
Li Su cautiously held up three fingers and repeated clearly, "Three babies."
Si Feng Wu was so angry he almost lost control and erupted in the Weiyang Palace. Li Yang immediately slid to the ground and hugged his leg.
"Your Highness, please quell your anger. Think of the Princess Consort. If you get angry, the midwives inside will be startled, and it will be the Princess Consort who suffers!"
Li Jin, forgetting all about dignity, followed Li Yang's example, kneeling and hugging Si Feng Wu's leg. "Li Yang is right, Your Highness, think of the Princess Consort!"
...
Si Feng Wu swore that he had used all his strength to restrain himself from channeling his energy and kicking the two fools away.
"The Princess Consort is carrying triplets. Such an important matter, why didn't you tell me sooner? The Princess Consort's pregnancy was unstable, and she acted capriciously. Were you not aware of this?"
Though his eyes were red with anger, he was afraid his anger would affect Lu Qing Wan, so he didn't dare to raise his voice, controlling even his tone of questioning.
Li Su knelt on the ground and earnestly confessed, "Your Highness, please understand. Although the matter of the Princess Consort carrying triplets was not reported to you, Su Shang has been treating her body according to the standards for triplets all along. The delivery team was also prepared according to the standards for triplets, and there was absolutely no risk to the Princess Consort."
After Li Su finished speaking, Si Feng Wu finally accepted the fact that Lu Qing Wan was carrying triplets.
He let out a deep sigh, his voice tinged with exhaustion, "But during the Princess Consort's pregnancy, I was overly cautious, making her uncomfortable. Is that why she had you all keep it from me?"
Si Feng Wu had actually been in excellent condition during the pregnancy, except for her excessively large belly.
Si Feng Wu had repeatedly questioned Su Shang and confirmed that everything was normal, only then did he feel reassured. It was precisely for this reason that Si Feng Wu hadn't suspected that Lu Qing Wan was carrying more than one baby. Other than his own over-cautiousness, he couldn't think of any other reason why so many people would help Lu Qing Wan conceal it from him. When Si Feng Wu asked, he had already pretty much concluded that this was the reason.
However, Li Su shook her head, "Although Your Highness was anxious, you did not interfere with the Empress's daily life. How could the Princess Consort have asked us to keep it from you? It was the Director of the Imperial Observatory who said the Princess Consort might be carrying twins. According to the rules of all previous dynasties, if the imperial family gave birth to twins, and both were boys, one would be executed. The Empress was worried that if they did indeed have two boys, she would need to find a way to protect both princes. For the princes' safety, only the Empress, Su Shang, and myself knew about her carrying multiple babies. Even the Director of the Imperial Observatory was not certain if the Empress was carrying twins."
Si Feng Wu felt an overwhelming pang of heartache. Lu Qing Wan, while pregnant, had carried such a huge secret alone. He, as her husband, had been utterly unaware and had failed as a husband.
Just as he was about to ask more questions, the wet nurse's voice sounded from inside again, "She's given birth, she's given birth! It's a little princess!"
Everyone in the hall breathed a collective sigh of relief and then began to pray together, hoping the last one would also be a little princess. If there were one boy and two girls, then the ominous saying about twins would naturally be of no concern.