Chu Chenyi was also speechless. He didn't even get a chance to speak and decided it was best to keep his mouth shut and be a mute.
From inside the room came Feng Jin's intermittent cries, each one hitting Ling Mohan's heart like a heavy blow. He wished he were the one suffering inside.
After a while, when silence fell in the room, Ling Mohan's anxiety grew. He clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the urge to rush in.
The midwife rushed out of the room in a panic, the blood on her hands stinging Ling Mohan's eyes. "It's bad... it's bad... sir, madam is having a difficult labor, the baby's head is stuck."
Ling Mohan's heart felt as if it were being savagely gripped. His body swayed, and he quickly steadied himself, then bolted towards the room, rushing directly behind Feng Jin.
Seeing Feng Jin's pale face on the bed, Ling Mohan was instantly flustered. He tightly grasped the woman's slightly cool hand. "I'm here... I'm here..."
His murmured words reached Feng Jin's ears. She painstakingly opened her weary eyelids and saw Ling Mohan, his face full of worry, by her side, his eyes tinged with a faint redness. "Who... who let you in... you... go out... go out."
"Don't move around... how can I be at ease outside? I'll stay here and watch over you."
Ling Mohan was determined not to leave. Rather than enduring the torment outside alone, he preferred to stay here.
"You... ah..."
Another contraction struck, and Feng Jin's pain was so severe she nearly fainted. She bit her lip tightly.
"Madam, push... push hard..."
Feng Jin mustered all her strength, her face turning red from the effort. She suddenly felt her strength drain away, her mind going blank.
"Madam, if you continue like this, the baby won't come out. Its head is caught."
The midwife was also sweating profusely. Even with her immense skill, if the laboring woman couldn't exert force, she was helpless!
Feng Jin lay on the bed, panting heavily, truly exhausted. She didn't even have the strength to lift her arm.
"Ling... Ling Mohan, take the ginseng slices from my pouch... and let me put them in my mouth."
"Alright."
Ling Mohan took out the ginseng slices and gave them to Feng Jin.
She had prepared these ginseng slices in advance, anticipating such a situation. With the ginseng in her mouth, Feng Jin felt a surge of strength.
"Madam, you must push. The baby can't be stuck for so long."
Feng Jin nodded. Feeling the intense pain in her abdomen, she cooperated and exerted all her force.
"It's coming out, Madam, push a little harder."
Ling Mohan watched Feng Jin's face turn slightly purplish from the strain, his heart in his throat. He gripped Feng Jin's hand tightly, his nails digging into her flesh without him even noticing.
"Wah... wah..."
Accompanied by a crisp infant cry, Feng Jin finally let out a sigh of relief. One had finally come out.
Without a moment's rest, the intense pain returned to her abdomen.
"Madam, there's another one... push..." the midwife urged Feng Jin to push.
"Ah..." Feng Jin screamed, using all her might.
"Wah... wah..."
The cries reached Feng Jin's ears. Her heart suddenly felt lighter. The hand she was gripping, Ling Mohan's, lost its grip, and fell limply onto the bed. The sounds around her faded, and her vision blurred until it disappeared completely.
Unsure how long she had slept, Feng Jin felt as though she had dreamt something, but she couldn't recall the details. When she awoke, she saw familiar surroundings. The faint fragrance in the air gradually restored her consciousness.
She moved her lips slightly, but no sound came out. Her throat felt as if it were burning dry.
She moved her arm slightly, but it was held firmly by another force. Turning her head, she saw Ling Mohan leaning against the bedside with his eyes closed.
Feng Jin reached out to move his arm. The moment she touched him, the sleeping man opened his eyes. The moment he saw Feng Jin, the joy in his eyes was unmistakable.
"You're awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? I'll go call the doctor."
Ling Mohan asked a string of questions, standing up awkwardly and about to walk out.
"Ling Mohan... I'm fine." Feng Jin's hoarse voice stopped the man's departure.
"I... I want some water."
Feng Jin's voice was extremely weak, and she looked listless, her complexion pale and devoid of any color.
"I'll get it for you. Lie down and rest first."
Ling Mohan carefully helped Feng Jin lie down and then quickly fetched a cup of water, handing it to her.
"Drink slowly, don't choke."
Having been thirsty for a long time, Feng Jin took the cup and drank large gulps. After several cups, her throat felt much more comfortable.
"Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"
Ling Mohan asked Feng Jin softly, his eyes filled with affection.
"I'm not hungry." Feng Jin shook her head. Her gaze swept around the room, but she couldn't see the children. She grabbed Ling Mohan's hand and urgently asked, "Where are the children?"
"The children are in the next room, being looked after by Cai Qing and the wet nurse. They're fine. The most important thing now is you; you need to recover well after losing so much energy during childbirth."
Ling Mohan forcibly kept Feng Jin on the bed, preventing her from moving freely.
The day of her delivery, Feng Jin had fainted and remained unconscious for three days. He had stayed by her bedside every day, constantly worrying that Feng Jin would never wake up again.
"I'm fine, I need to go see the children."
Feng Jin was consumed with worry for her children. She wouldn't feel at peace until she saw them with her own eyes. As soon as she spoke, she started to lift the quilt to get out of bed.
Ling Mohan was startled and quickly pressed her back onto the bed. "Don't move around, I'll go bring the children back."
Ling Mohan hurried out and returned in less than fifteen minutes, carrying one child in each arm.
"How are you holding them? Put them down quickly!"
Feng Jin was so frightened by his way of carrying the children that her heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly told Ling Mohan to place the children on the bed.
Then Cai Qing and the wet nurse rushed in in a panic. When the young general had entered, he had snatched up the two children and run out, terrifying them so much that they almost lost their wits. They followed him in haste, afraid of dropping the babies.
"Young Madam, you're finally awake."
The moment Cai Qing saw Feng Jin, the pent-up emotions of the past few days erupted. Her eyes welled up, and tears flowed down her cheeks. Her voice choked with emotion, "Young Madam, this servant... this servant thought... thought you... you wouldn't wake up..."
"I'm fine now. Stop crying, you'll scare the children awake."
Cai Qing quickly stopped her sobs, wiped the tears from her face, and took a while to calm down.