Sweat drops the size of beans fell from Song Yuan's forehead.
He looked at the imperial physician with some fear, "Is it that serious?"
The imperial physician's tone also grew anxious, "Yes, Master Song, the situation is very serious. This collision combined with the cold water might lead to the death of both mother and child!"
Of course, the concubine must be saved!
Song Chaoyu's heart answered this question without hesitation.
However, what he didn't expect was that Song Yuan's expression was filled with pain and struggle, and he said with a trembling voice, "Save—save the child!"
"Father?!"
Song Chaoyu looked at Song Yuan in surprise and confusion. Even the old madam frowned and stared at Song Yuan, "What did you say?"
Song Yuan's voice trembled, but he remained firm, "I said, save the child! The master calculated that it's a boy! I'm doing this for the Song family. Our Song family is sparse in male descendants, and I only have Yang'er as my son. I..."
He could feel Song Chaoyu's gaze, so he couldn't go on.
The imperial physician, having seen such situations many times, sighed.
But before the imperial physician could return, Song Chaoyu, for the first time, disregarded the rules and stepped forward, grabbing the imperial physician's arm, "Save the mother! Please, no matter what, save my concubine's life! No matter what, I only have this one concubine! I beg you, you must save my concubine's life!"
"Yes!"
Rarely, even the old madam did not side with Song Yuan this time.
She said sincerely to the imperial physician, "Please be sure to save Concubine Liu's life."
The imperial physician understood and nodded, "Rest assured, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will save both their lives. I will do my best, please, old madam, do not be so distressed."
The imperial physician turned and entered the inner chamber. Song Yuan held his head in his hands, trembling incessantly.
The old madam also stepped forward and took Song Chaoyu's hand, "Yu'er, don't blame your father. He is thinking of the Song family. If it were possible, he would least want anything to happen to your concubine. Forgive him, he was just flustered, it was not his true intention."
Whether it was for the peace and harmony of the household, or because Song Yuan was her son, the old madam had to say this, and could only say this.
Song Chaoyu nodded, not saying much.
After all, she had long witnessed Song Yuan's cold indifference, hadn't she?
"Ah—Yu'er! My Yu'er!"
From the inner chamber, Concubine Liu's cry was suddenly heard again.
Song Chaoyu withdrew her hand from the old madam's and ran into the inner chamber, "Concubine, I'm here, I'm here!"
She entered the inner chamber, grabbed Concubine Liu's hand, her eyes involuntarily reddening, "Concubine, I'm here! No matter when, I will be with you, don't be afraid!"
In fact, Concubine Liu had also heard Song Yuan's words from outside. Now, her face was unclear whether it was tears or sweat.
She tightly grasped Song Chaoyu's hand, her mouth holding ginseng slices, yet speaking clearly, "I knew... I knew this would happen, I shouldn't have brought you back in the first place! Yu'er, it's mother who has harmed you! Mother cannot die, mother absolutely cannot die! Mother must give birth to this child properly, mother must protect you!"
Even though Concubine Liu was in such pain, her mind was still focused on her child.
Song Chaoyu's eyes involuntarily reddened, "Mother, nothing will happen, nothing will happen to any of us."
"Concubine Liu, keep pushing! We can already see the baby, you're doing very well!"
Fan Jiangyue was also encouraging Concubine Liu, "Concubine, relax a little first. When I tell you to push, then you push. Make sure to use your strength effectively, and try not to waste it on shouting."
"Okay!"
Veins bulged on Concubine Liu's forehead. The pain made her want to cry out, but she firmly remembered Fan Jiangyue's words and kept taking deep breaths.
"Concubine, I'll stay with you, I'll always be with you!"
Song Chaoyu placed Concubine Liu's hand on her cheek, tears streaming down her face as well, "In the future, we will have so many good days! Mother, hold on!"
The single word "Mother" caused Concubine Liu's tears to well up and stream down again.
"Now, Concubine, push!"
Fan Jiangyue and the midwife spoke almost at the same time. Concubine Liu's face turned red, and then she began to exert herself.
She held Song Chaoyu's hand and exerted force, but from beginning to end, she never squeezed Song Chaoyu too hard.
Song Chaoyu watched as the veins on Concubine Liu's neck bulged more and more. She stared intently, her whole body trembling.
"That's it!"
The midwife's voice finally carried joy, "I see it, I really see it! Concubine Liu, try a little harder, don't slack off!"
"Mmm—"
The pain almost made Concubine Liu cry out, but she endured it and directed all her strength downwards—
"Waaah!"
As Concubine Liu released Song Chaoyu's hand, the cry of an infant suddenly echoed throughout the room!
Song Chaoyu felt as if everyone had let out a sigh of relief.
But she looked at Concubine Liu fearfully and saw Concubine Liu pull at the corners of her mouth tiredly, smile at Song Chaoyu, and then close her eyes.
Song Chaoyu paid no attention to the baby, but turned to look at Fan Jiangyue for help, "Jiangyue, what's wrong with my concubine?!"
Fan Jiangyue hurried forward, looked under Concubine Liu, and then took her pulse, before reassuring Song Chaoyu, "There's some bleeding, but it's nothing serious. I'm here, don't be afraid. You go see the baby first, leave this to me. Concubine Liu is just too tired, possibly exhausted. It's good for her to rest. You go see the baby first!"
Only then did Song Chaoyu turn her head to look at the little one being carried out from behind the screen by the midwife and examined by the imperial physician.
Song Chaoyu saw at a glance that it was indeed a baby boy.
His body was small, but his limbs waved, and his crying with closed eyes seemed exceptionally vigorous.
The imperial physician carefully examined the little one, then let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Song Chaoyu, "Congratulations, Fourth Miss! Your concubine has given birth to a young master. Although premature, he is very healthy! Have the midwife wash the young master, and I will go out to report the good news to the old madam and Master Song!"
The imperial physician left the inner chamber with a smile, and at the same time, Fan Jiangyue's voice came, "Concubine's bleeding has stopped. Use hot water to clean Concubine's body, and then change these bedsheets to clean ones. Do not open the windows in the inner room for now, but you can open the windows outside for a while to air out the smell of blood. However, remember, the charcoal basin in the inner room must be warm. Neither the concubine nor the young master can catch a cold."
With the head maids like Tiao Hong present, Song Chaoyu was naturally relieved that they could handle things, and only then did she properly begin to examine her little brother.