SGEIRS -Chapter 499 The Water Breaks

Around the second watch of the Yin hour—the time when the rooster crows—

By now, the servants in the residence were already up and working. Normally, Gu Jingxi would have been awake by this time, but since he had a day off today, he hadn’t gotten up yet. After waking briefly and seeing that the people beside him were still sleeping soundly, he went back to sleep.

Meng Jinyao had been sleeping peacefully as well, but she had a dream in which a little baby called out to her, “Mother.” Just as she was about to respond, she suddenly woke up and instinctively touched her belly.

Soon, she heard a soft “pfft” sound—not very loud, but she could hear it—and immediately felt something flowing out from within her. She realized what had happened at once and hurriedly reached over to push the man beside her.

Gu Jingxi woke up quickly. In his groggy state, he heard Meng Jinyao’s tense voice say: “H-Husband… I think I’m going into labor.”

At once, his sleepiness vanished. He didn’t think twice and hurriedly rolled out of bed—literally rolled out.

He rolled a bit too vigorously and ended up on the floor.

Meng Jinyao: “?”

She asked, bewildered, “Husband, what’s wrong with you?”

“N-Nothing,” he said, immediately standing up, slipping on his shoes, and leaving the bedroom at top speed.

Meng Jinyao was a little stunned. Why would her husband run off just as she was about to give birth?

Once outside, Gu Jingxi summoned the maid to notify the midwife and also sent someone to call Physician Baili, in case of any emergencies. Finally, he arranged for his mother and the two sisters-in-law to come, knowing their experience would help ease Jinyao’s fears.

Returning to the bedroom, Gu Jingxi sat on the edge of the bed, holding Meng Jinyao’s hand to comfort her: “Jinyao, don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. I’ve already sent for the midwife and the physician. Don’t worry, don’t worry.”

His voice trembled, unsure whether he was trying to soothe Meng Jinyao or himself.

Seeing Gu Jingxi break into a cold sweat from nervousness, Meng Jinyao, despite feeling anxious herself, smiled faintly: “Husband, I’m fine. I still feel okay. I’ve been waiting for this for so long… finally, the baby is coming. I’m actually not as anxious as I thought I’d be.”

Gu Jingxi could tell she was trying to appear calm. Feeling distressed, he asked gently: “Jinyao, does it hurt a lot?”

Meng Jinyao shook her head lightly: “Not yet. I don’t feel significant pain at the moment.”

Gu Jingxi, half in doubt, asked: “Really? No pain at all?”

Meng Jinyao replied: “Nothing noticeable for now.”

Seeing her in relatively good spirits, Gu Jingxi chose to trust her words for the time being and kept her company, chatting quietly.

The midwife arrived before Old Madam Gu and sisters-in-law. Observing Meng Jinyao’s condition, she said: “Madam, you’re still a bit early. Since this is your first birth, it will take longer. Once contractions begin, it will still take several more hours—probably until evening—before the baby arrives.” She then instructed Gu Jingxi to have hot water and all necessary supplies prepared.

Several hours of pain?

Gu Jingxi furrowed his brows in concern.

Meng Jinyao was calmer than he was, knowing her own body and feeling fine for the moment. She said: “Husband, I want to eat something. Otherwise, I might not have enough strength for childbirth.”

Gu Jingxi immediately said: “I’ll have someone prepare it right away.”

Soon, Old Madam Gu, Madam Zhang, and Madam Chen arrived to visit Meng Jinyao. At this point, Meng Jinyao was being fed breakfast by Gu Jingxi and looked in good spirits.

Old Madam Gu, learning that her daughter-in-law was about to give birth, first felt joy, then worry. Even seeing her in good condition couldn’t entirely ease her concern. She asked anxiously: “Jinyao, how are you feeling now?”

Meng Jinyao replied honestly: “Mother, please don’t worry. I’m doing well.”

Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt her lower abdomen tighten and harden, accompanied by a heavy, pressing pain. The sudden pang sent her anxiety skyrocketing, and fear crept in. Instinctively, she grabbed Gu Jingxi’s hand.

Gu Jingxi was startled, quickly setting down the bowl and asking anxiously: “Jinyao, what’s wrong?”

Meng Jinyao touched her belly and said: “It hurts… my stomach hurts.”

Old Madam Gu and Madam Zhang, having experienced childbirth themselves, immediately recognized the signs: contractions had begun. The pain would intensify as contractions grew more frequent until the cervix was fully dilated for delivery.

Madam Chen comforted her: “Third sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. Take deep breaths and relax. Everything will be fine.”

Recalling her own childbirth, Old Madam Gu remembered the midwife saying that hot water could ease contraction pain. She asked Chunliu: “Is the hot water ready?”

Chunliu replied: “Old Madam, it’s already been heated. It should be ready now.”

Old Madam Gu instructed: “Bring in the hot water later, and follow the midwife’s instructions for everything else.”

After the women arrived, the midwife stood aside unobtrusively. She rarely witnessed births in wealthy households. Usually, the matriarch was nervous but stayed outside, or went to the temple to pray for the mother and child’s safety. Old Madam Gu was especially anxious, probably because this was the first child of the Marquis of Changxing, the one they had been waiting for so many years.

Feeling the pressure from these prominent women, the midwife spoke cautiously: “Marquis, Old Madam, First Madam, Second Madam… the delivery room is a dirty place. Perhaps it’s better if you wait outside?”

Old Madam Gu understood her concern. After reassuring her daughter-in-law, she led the other two madams out to wait.

Meng Jinyao’s abdominal pain had eased slightly. Seeing Gu Jingxi still by her side, she said softly: “Husband, you should go outside. I’m not in pain now.”

Gu Jingxi replied: “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here with you.”

Meng Jinyao felt warmth in her heart but insisted: “I’m really fine. The delivery room is unclean; men shouldn’t be here.”

Gu Jingxi said gently: “Don’t listen to the midwife. How is giving birth unclean? Our child is very clean.”

The midwife: “…?”

Her meaning wasn’t that the child was unclean, but that women bleed during childbirth. This blood is considered impure, and the delivery room is a bloody place, traditionally seen as unlucky. Men entering such a place were thought to lose fortune. This wasn’t her personal opinion—it had been a long-standing belief.

Still, the midwife was tactful. She said: “Madam, you’re still early in labor. It’s fine for the Marquis to stay with you for now. He can step out when it’s time for the birth.”

Gu Jingxi gave her an approving look.

The midwife thought: fortunately, she knew how to read the situation. Otherwise, she would have annoyed people today. Lady Marquis was truly fortunate to have such a husband. In other households, when a wife’s water breaks, she is left in the delivery room to be cared for by maids and attendants. The husband doesn’t dare set foot in the ‘unclean’ room, fearing bad luck.