TSWPF -Chapter 424 Labor Pains

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and Li Qingling entered the final stage of her pregnancy. Liu Zhimou became more and more nervous.

Looking at her carrying such a huge belly, he worried endlessly. He couldn’t eat well, couldn’t sleep well, and had lost a lot of weight.

Seeing this, Li Qingling felt deeply distressed and told him not to worry. She would definitely give birth safely.

He responded with “mm” and “okay” verbally, but in practice, he couldn’t do it. He was still extremely anxious.

She was honestly afraid that before she even gave birth, he would collapse from excessive worry.

“I’ll come back as soon as I finish my official business at the yamen. Stay at home and behave, okay?”

This was Liu Zhimou’s daily reminder before leaving for work. Even though Li Qingling could recite it by heart, she still nodded obediently and agreed.

She didn’t want him to worry.

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, said “Be good,” then stood up and reminded Xichun and Nianxia again before leaving.

After he walked far away, Nianxia let out a breath and smiled.

“I feel like Master is getting more and more nervous.”

Every morning, if he didn’t repeatedly remind them, he wouldn’t feel at ease going to the yamen.

“Master is worried about Madam,” Xichun replied.

If he weren’t worried, why would he tirelessly remind them every day?

This also proved how good the relationship between Master and Madam was.

Nianxia nodded. “Yes.”

She felt very envious of their relationship.

If only she…

Thinking of Ling Yi, Nianxia felt a little embarrassed.

Li Qingling stroked her belly, smiled at Nianxia and Xichun, and asked, “When are you two planning to get married?”

Hearing this, Nianxia pushed Xichun and laughed.

“Madam, you should ask Xichun. As for me… it’s still early!”

She hadn’t even agreed to Ling Yi’s proposal yet. How could she get married so soon?

She felt a little inferior, thinking she wasn’t worthy of Ling Yi, and didn’t dare agree lightly.

She admired the love between Master and Madam and also hoped to have a husband who would be devoted to her for life. But she didn’t know whether Ling Yi could do that.

Good men like Master were extremely rare. She… didn’t dare gamble.

In the end, it was her own lack of confidence that made her hesitate.

Xichun’s face turned red. She lowered her head shyly.

“It’s still early for us too.”

Liu Shi had urged her many times, asking when she would marry him.

But since Madam was about to give birth, she didn’t want to disturb her, so she told him to wait.

At least until Madam finished her confinement.

Besides, she wanted to take good care of Madam during her postpartum period.

The confinement period was very important. If it wasn’t handled well, it could leave lifelong health problems.

Li Qingling laughed.

“Xichun, are you sure it’s still early? From Liu Shi’s looks, he wishes he could marry you today.”

Liu Shi often hovered around Liu Zhimou, hoping he would put in a good word so that Li Qingling would let Xichun marry him sooner.

He had long wanted to start a family, but the girl refused, making him very distressed.

He couldn’t force her, so he could only seek help from Liu Zhimou.

Even Liu Zhimou had mentioned it to Li Qingling a few times.

That was why she asked today.

Xichun blushed even more and stammered, “He… he’s not in a hurry.”

Hearing this, Li Qingling burst into laughter.

Not in a hurry? Please!

“Madam…” Xichun stomped her foot shyly.

Madam was so bad—always teasing her.

Li Qingling suppressed her laughter and became serious.

“Xichun, you don’t need to worry about me. I have the nannies here. Nothing will happen. I hope you two can be happy for a lifetime. Don’t refuse marriage because of me, okay?”

“It’s not refusing,” Xichun explained. “Just delaying it a little. I want to wait until you give birth before getting married.”

That way, she could feel at ease.

Li Qingling didn’t force her. As long as she knew what she was doing, it was fine.

Then she looked at Nianxia.

“And you? When will you accept Ling Yi’s proposal?”

Nianxia walked out from behind Xichun and shook her head silently.

She didn’t know.

Li Qingling frowned.

“What are you worried about?”

Although Nianxia seemed carefree, she was actually very sensitive.

Nianxia remained silent.

Xichun grew anxious and gently pushed her.

“Do you have some difficulty? Say it. We’ll solve it together.”

Had Ling Yi bullied her?

“Nianxia… did Ling Yi bully you?” Xichun asked anxiously. “Don’t be afraid. If he did, say it. Madam will stand up for you.”

“Yes,” Li Qingling said firmly. “I’ll back you.”

Nianxia hurriedly waved her hands.

“No, no, no! He didn’t. It’s my own problem.”

“What problem? Tell us,” Li Qingling said. “Three heads are better than one.”

After hesitating for a while, Nianxia finally spoke her thoughts.

After hearing her, Li Qingling and Xichun exchanged glances and sighed.

So that was it…

“Nianxia, you’re excellent. You don’t need to feel inferior,” Li Qingling said sincerely. “You’re totally worthy of Ling Yi. As my head maid, you must have this confidence.”

Nianxia looked at her.

“Really?”

Li Qingling nodded firmly.

Then she signaled to Xichun.

Xichun pulled Nianxia outside and whispered to her.

“Nianxia, why are you so silly at critical moments? I used to think the same way about myself.”

She had once felt unworthy of Liu Shi too.

“You’d better not make Ling Yi wait too long,” she warned. “Or someone else will snatch him away.”

Nianxia held her head and smiled sheepishly.

“I’ll think it through. Then I’ll agree.”

“I won’t let him wait too long.”

“You won’t overthink again, right?”

“No, no, I won’t.”

Xichun glanced at her.

“I’ll trust you one more time.”

Nianxia laughed and hugged her arm.

“You’re the best, Xichun.”

“Now you know that?” Xichun scolded lightly.

They returned to the room.

“Done,” Xichun said.

“I’ve figured it out,” Nianxia said shyly. “Thank you, Madam.”

Li Qingling smiled.

Ling Yi should thank them.

Otherwise, he might never marry her.

If he knew the real reason, he would probably cough up blood in anger.

“Next time Ling Yi proposes, don’t reject him,” Li Qingling reminded her. “Men have pride too.”

“I won’t!” Nianxia shook her head vigorously.

She even wanted to run to him now.

Li Qingling smiled and was about to speak when—

Suddenly, her stomach cramped violently.

She gasped.

“Madam, what’s wrong?” Xichun and Nianxia asked nervously.

She touched her belly.

“It’s nothing. The baby kicked too hard.”

Then the pain came again.

No.

This wasn’t kicking.

She inhaled deeply and said with effort, “I’m going into labor. Help me to the delivery room.”

Xichun and Nianxia panicked.

“Calm down! Go call the nannies!” Li Qingling gritted her teeth and ordered.

“Nianxia, go get them. I’ll stay with Madam,” Xichun said, forcing herself to stay calm.

Nianxia ran out in a panic and almost tripped.

She grabbed the door and laughed awkwardly.

“I’m fine, I’m fine!”

Li Qingling: “…”

Xichun: “…”

“Nanny Yao! Nanny Jin! Madam is going to give birth!” Nianxia shouted as she ran.

Soon, the whole household knew.

The two nannies rushed over.

“Where’s the midwife? Call her!”

After checking, they relaxed.

“It’s just contractions. The water hasn’t broken yet.”

“Come, Madam. Let’s go to the delivery room.”

Li Qingling held her belly and carefully moved forward.

She had heard that giving birth hurt more than breaking twenty ribs.

Just thinking about it made her scared.