Gu Qianying's meaning was that surgery was needed to deliver the child.
The woman heard this and immediately nestled into Grand Tutor Su's embrace, weeping. However, due to the pain, her cries were intermittent.
Seeing his beloved in such agony and hearing Gu Qianying mention surgery, Su Ye was also somewhat alarmed.
He was concerned about the Empress's life; he cared nothing for the child.
Aunt Wang, who was outside, overheard the conversation within and her heart was immediately filled with panic.
"My lord, do you require this old servant to prepare anything? Will the noble lady's body be in danger?"
The first part of the question was directed at Grand Tutor Su, while the latter was for Gu Qianying.
"If we delay further, I cannot guarantee it, but if we proceed now, I will do my utmost."
Although the Grand Tutor's child was not yet full-term, it had already formed and could be delivered via cesarean section.
However, this surgery was not like natural childbirth. After the Empress successfully delivered the child, she would certainly need a period of good rest.
Thus, Gu Qianying calmed her mind and reminded Su Ye.
"Grand Tutor Su, leave this to me. Your priority now is to stabilize the court during this time. Her Majesty the Empress will need some time to recuperate. Only if you stabilize the court can she rest assured, and her recovery will be faster."
Gu Qianying's words instantly brought Su Ye back from his panic.
Yes, as a man, he could not panic at this moment. He had promised Yan'er his support, and he must not break his word.
"Very well, this Grand Tutor trusts you. I leave this to you. Remember, no matter what happens, I must see her safe and sound, or you will be waiting to collect the corpses of those two attendants."
Although he still threatened her as he left, Gu Qianying no longer had time to argue with him.
She nodded and then instructed Aunt Wang outside to prepare the necessary items.
"Go to my residence and fetch my medical chest. Then, prepare plenty of gauze, hot water, candles, and hemostatic bandages."
The surgical supplies were all in her chest; there was no need to prepare too much here.
"Oh, and leave one trustworthy person inside to assist me." She knew that if she couldn't handle the situation alone, she would need an assistant.
Aunt Wang hesitated for a moment, then instructed the maids to prepare the items, while she personally came to help.
"Gu, Gu Qianying, when I give birth, do I need to exert myself?"
Now, only Gu Qianying and Aunt Wang were in the room. Seeing that they were trusted individuals, the Empress spoke.
Gu Qianying felt the Empress's fetal position.
"The surgery is performed when you cannot exert yourself. Before that, you still need to try to give birth yourself, also to ensure the child is in a better position for easier extraction during surgery."
Knowing she needed to exert herself, the Empress suddenly reached up and touched her face. With the force of her hand, she actually tore off a piece of facial skin.
It turned out she had been disguising her appearance all along, and this was her true face.
Gu Qianying was greatly shocked. What other unknown secrets did this Empress hold?
For a moment, she had a feeling that what she was about to face was not as simple as the entanglement between Su Ye and the Empress.
If she truly stayed in the Nan Yi Kingdom, she would undoubtedly learn more incredible things.
"Ah, it hurts so much."
After tearing off the false mask, the Empress's abdomen suddenly contracted, and she clutched Gu Qianying's wrist in pain.
"Now, follow me and breathe slowly. First, regulate your breathing."
This was not the time to overthink. Gu Qianying quickly bent down and sat in front of the Empress, guiding her to attempt natural childbirth.
Aunt Wang, though anxious, could only help the Empress calm her emotions.
"Be at ease, Grand Tutor Su has already returned to the palace. He will handle the situation there. Don't think about anything else, just focus on giving birth."
Her words were gentle, and it seemed she had a different feeling towards the Empress.
Gu Qianying held the Empress's hand. She looked at the person on the bed and, in a daze, felt as if this face was very familiar.
But this was her first time in the Nan Yi Kingdom; how could she feel a sense of déjà vu towards the Empress?
Shaking her head, Gu Qianying dismissed it as a hallucination brought on by anxiety.
Time passed slowly, and the Empress was losing her strength.
Aunt Wang, seeing the person on the bed's voice growing weaker, grabbed Gu Qianying's wrist.
"Isn't it time for the cesarean section? If this continues, I fear Her Majesty's life will be in danger."
Gu Qianying had been observing the Empress's condition all along, and also probing the fetal position.
She reached out and pressed on the Empress's abdomen, finally nodding.
"Bring in the prepared items. We need to begin the surgery to deliver the child."
Finally receiving the confirmation, Aunt Wang went out and brought in the items prepared by the maids one by one, while Gu Qianying prepared to begin.
"Remember this for me, if anything happens to me, you must protect the child. Do you understand? I want my child to live."
The Empress was holding Gu Qianying's hand at this moment.
She knew her body had reached its limit and understood how difficult it had been for this child to arrive.
After enduring so much, she absolutely would not let the child be harmed.
When she was in the Grand Tutor's room, Su Ye had asked her to protect the noble lady, and here the Empress was vehemently requesting her to save the child.
It seemed these two cared deeply for each other.
Since that was the case, Gu Qianying would certainly not let the mother and child suffer.
"Rest assured, I have the confidence to bring both of you back from the gates of hell."
With that, she took out a scalpel from her medicine chest and, with a slight flick of her wrist, sealed the Empress's acupoints for anesthesia.
"Although I have sealed your pain acupoints, you will still feel some pain. Please bear with it."
She cautioned Her Majesty the Empress, lest her fear cause her to move and create danger.
"I know. No matter what, I will protect my child."
With the Empress's words, Gu Qianying could finally begin with peace of mind.
Due to the premature birth, Gu Qianying was extremely cautious. And due to the prolonged pressure, extracting the child was very difficult.
"Why is there so much blood? Will Her Majesty be in danger?"
The surgery was halfway through, and the Empress had fainted from lack of strength. Aunt Wang, seeing the basins of blood being collected outside, became worried.
"The child has not been delivered yet. If you start worrying now, it will undoubtedly be more dangerous later."
Gu Qianying naturally had experience.
Time passed slowly, and after much effort, the child was finally extracted.
Because the cesarean section was performed at the opportune moment, the Empress did not suffer severe bleeding.
As Gu Qianying released her acupoints, she also opened her eyes.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a girl!" Aunt Wang happily brought the newborn infant over.