Chapter 532: Giving Birth (Part Four)
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Madam Cui and the others didn’t expect Mingzhu to give birth so quickly. They had never seen anyone give birth so quickly, especially for the first child. Maybe in the common folk, but not among the nobility and royals in the capital. Normally, it would take two or three hours of labor. Mingzhu, excluding the previous contractions, had only been in labor for a little over two hours.
The birth of this child was very easy, without much trouble for Mingzhu, and he was a healthy and handsome boy. It’s not that girls weren’t good, but in families like this, a boy for the first child was always preferred.
“Your Highness is fortunate. This child is obedient and doesn’t trouble people. He’s a good child,” Madam Cui prayed with her hands together, making numerous wishes and offering countless oil money.
Lady Qian added, “This is also thanks to Sister’s usual lively and active nature. You, Third Sister-in-law, are on your third child, but the delivery isn’t as fast as yours.”
Lady Su chimed in, “Third Sister-in-law usually doesn’t like to move around. She loves lying down when she has free time. It’s incomparable.”
Mingzhu didn’t have the heart to analyze who gave birth faster or slower. She just urged the midwife, “Why isn’t everything cleaned up yet? Let me see first.”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. It’ll be done soon.” The midwife quickly tidied up the baby and brought him over to Mingzhu. “Your Highness, take a look at the little prince. He looks so much like His Highness.”
Mingzhu couldn’t see any resemblance to Yuwen Chu at all. The baby had decent hair, but his face was red, wrinkled, his head was big, his body was small, his eyes were tightly closed, and his eyelashes were sparse, like a dry little old man. While she was disappointed, she also felt a softness in her heart. She reached out and touched the baby’s face, and he immediately puckered his lips, turning his head to look for food.
Mingzhu’s heart melted instantly.
Madam Cui reminded her, “His Highness is still waiting outside. Bring the baby out for him to see, so he can be reassured.”
Mingzhu reluctantly watched as the baby was carried out, not entirely convinced, and asked Madam Cui, “Are all newborns like this? Why does he seem different from Stone and the rest?” In her memory, her nieces and nephews at home didn’t look like this. Anyone would be much cuter than this little one.
Madam Cui laughed, “Of course, all newborns are like this. You were even uglier when you were just born. The ones you saw, Stone and the rest were on the second day, so naturally, they looked much better.”
Lady Qian explained, “Newborn babies change their appearance after a while. Just wait, he’ll look different when you hold him again later.”
The midwife finished cleaning up Mingzhu and brought chicken soup for her to drink. After drinking the soup, Mingzhu felt drowsy and yawned, asking, “Why hasn’t the baby been brought back yet?”
At that moment, Yuwen Chu was holding the little thing in his arms and smiling. No matter how much he looked, he couldn’t get enough. Unlike Mingzhu, he felt that the baby looked so much like him. There wasn’t anything wrong with him, everything about him was perfect.
Fu Mingzheng reached out to poke the baby’s cheek, and the baby turned his head and puckered his lips, looking for food. When he couldn’t find any, he started crying.
Yuwen Chu became furious and turned away, hiding the baby in his arms. “You hurt him! Do you have to be such a lousy uncle?”
Fu Mingzheng stretched his neck to look at the baby, sneered disdainfully, “Crying like his Mother, what a crybaby.”
So irritating! Yuwen Chu glared at him angrily and sneered, “Tell me, isn’t it normal for newborn babies to cry and smile? I’d like to see if your child will laugh as soon as he’s born.”
Fu Mingzheng blinked, “Since it’s normal for him to cry, what’s wrong with me calling him a crybaby? Your Highness, how can you falsely accuse my child just because I spoke the truth?”
Zheng Momo saw that the situation was escalating, and the words were becoming harsher. She hurriedly stepped forward to take the child, “Oh my, our little baby is hungry and needs milk.”
Carefully, Yuwen Chu handed the child over and instructed, “Take good care of him, don’t let him go hungry or get cold.”
Zheng Momo agreed and happily took the child to the nurse to feed.
Fu Mingzheng, holding his arms, looked disdainful, thinking he thought it was impressive to have a son, but he was secretly delighted. He couldn’t help but ask Yuwen Chu, “Have you thought of a name?”
Yuwen Chu arrogantly replied, “Yes, but I’m not telling you.”
Fu Mingzheng was annoyed but tried to maintain a smiling face, “I hope Your Highness gets splashed in the face with pee by this little bundle of joy!”
Yuwen Chu retorted, “I’d be delighted. Don’t you dare to challenge me? If you’re so capable, let your son splash you with pee.”
Fu Mingzheng was speechless and turned to leave. Yuwen Chu, victorious, firmly stopped him, “Aren’t Mother-in-law and Sister-in-law still inside? Won’t you wait for them?”
Fu Mingzheng replied without looking back, “I can’t stand it anymore. I’ll wait outside.”
Li Quanxin, grinning from ear to ear, approached, “Your Highness, Zhou Changshi and Mr. Meng have heard the good news and are waiting outside to congratulate you. Also, the reward money has been prepared in advance. Shall we distribute it? Should we also send people to announce the good news to the palace, the Fu family, and other princely mansions?”
“Of course, we should reward them. It’s late now; we’ll send people to announce the good news tomorrow morning.” Yuwen Chu waved his hand confidently and asked Su Lan, “Is everything in order inside?”
Su Lan smiled, “Everything is in order.”
Yuwen Chu went in to see Mingzhu. The weather in June was hot and humid, and the delivery room was stuffy and poorly ventilated, with an unpleasant smell. Madam Cui, Lady Qian, and others felt a bit guilty when they saw him come in, but Mingzhu seemed spirited. “Your Highness, have you seen the baby?”
Yuwen Chu walked over, sat by the bed, and held her hand, smiling. “Yes, I’ve seen him. He’s doing well, and he looks like me.”
Another lie from him. Mingzhu said, “Your Highness, don’t you think he looks too wrinkled and small?”
Yuwen Chu replied, “Six pounds and eight ounces, this number is very auspicious. If he were any bigger, it wouldn’t have been as easy to give birth. So it’s just right.”
Well, if he says so. Mingzhu complained to Yuwen Chu, “Your Highness, don’t be fooled by my quick delivery. It was actually very painful. It felt like being cut in half with a knife, it was excruciating.”
Yuwen Chu placed her hand on his face and smiled softly, “I know, you’ve been through a lot.” He couldn’t find any other words to say, so he just repeatedly kissed the back of her hand and said, “I’m really happy.”
Mingzhu said, “I’m happy too. He’s a good baby, not troublesome at all.” This child, from conception to birth, except for the initial morning sickness, really didn’t cause her any trouble. He had always been quiet and obedient, accompanying her through so many thrilling experiences and he was still strong and healthy.
“This year is the Year of the Ox, so let’s call him Zhuangzhuang.” Yuwen Chu saw sweat on Mingzhu’s forehead and wiped it with a handkerchief. “As for his formal name, let’s pick one from the list we made a few days ago. I haven’t made up my mind yet, so I’ll think about it some more.”
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