MFMH C106

Chapter 106 — Extra

Gu Changfeng was about to give birth, and the entire Duke’s residence began moving in perfect order. By the time Shen Yanbei returned, everything had already been prepared.

“How do you feel? Does it hurt?” Shen Yanbei, not even catching his breath, rushed straight into the birthing chamber.

Seeing that he had worked up a sweat despite the cold weather, Gu Changfeng had someone bring him a cup of water. “It’s manageable, not very painful.” After Shen Yanbei had left, he began to feel some pain in his belly. He paid close attention to it, and when the pain grew sharper and the intervals between contractions shorter, he quickly ordered someone to summon Shen Yanbei back.

Shen Yanbei stroked his face. “Don’t be nervous, it’ll be fine!”

His words were steady, but his hands trembled.

Gu Changfeng grasped his hand tightly, locking eyes with calm black irises. “The midwife examined me. The position is good, the children aren’t too large, and my foundation is strong. Everything will be fine. You don’t need to worry.”

Shen Yanbei gave a dry laugh. “That’s good, that’s good…”

“Your Grace, Lord Shen!” The housekeeper’s wife entered carrying a bowl of egg and brown sugar soup. “The cervix is only two fingers dilated. It won’t be so quick. Please have the Duke drink this to keep up his strength.”

“Thank you!” Shen Yanbei took the bowl and fed it to Gu Changfeng spoonful by spoonful. He needed something to do — sitting idle only made his heart uneasy.

Seeing the sweat still beading his brow, Gu Changfeng pushed one spoonful back toward Shen Yanbei’s lips.

Shen Yanbei froze. Only when Gu Changfeng urged him with his eyes did he open his mouth and swallow the spoonful.

Made with fine brown sugar and free-range eggs, the soup was sweet and fragrant.

Shen Yanbei’s Adam’s apple bobbed. As the warm sweetness slid down his throat, his mind finally settled somewhat.

Just then, a voice rang from outside. “Young Master! The Imperial Physician has arrived!”

Earlier, after delivering Shen Yanbei home, the servant had also been sent to summon the head physician of the Imperial Infirmary. Now, he had been brought in.

Gu Changfeng looked surprised. “Why call the physician?”

Shen Yanbei rubbed his nose. “Just in case…” Though he had prepared carefully for the children’s arrival, now that the moment was here, he couldn’t help but worry.

The head physician, rushed in by the servants, was relieved to see Gu Changfeng calmly eating.

The servants had barged into the Infirmary in a panic, saying the Duke was in labor. He had thought complications had arisen, so he grabbed life-saving tools and raced over. Yet the babies weren’t even born yet!

Shen Yanbei looked sheepish. “Sorry to trouble you.”

“No matter, no matter. Lord Shen’s deep affection for his spouse is admirable,” the physician teased, stepping forward to take Gu Changfeng’s pulse. Everyone in the capital already knew Shen Yanbei treasured the Duke as his very heart; he was long used to it.

The pulse was strong and steady. Seeing Gu Changfeng so calm, the physician silently marveled — truly worthy of being the Duke, not like any birthing spouse he had ever seen.

After reassuring Shen Yanbei with a few words, the physician was invited to the main hall for tea.

Since it would not be immediate, Gu Changfeng rose from the bed to walk. Under Shen Yanbei’s attentive care, his body was strong. If not for his swollen belly, he could still kill a tiger with his bare hands.

Shen Yanbei felt no embarrassment for his over-anxiousness. Gu Changfeng was used to enduring pain, but to say it did not hurt at all was a lie — he was simply bearing it well.

Half an hour later, Gu Changfeng’s expression was no longer relaxed. With his belly taut, he rubbed at his back, frowning.

“Lie down. I’ll massage you,” Shen Yanbei said.

“Mm.” Gu Changfeng obediently agreed. As Shen Yanbei said, he could endure it, but the discomfort — especially at his waist — was real.

Every night Shen Yanbei massaged him, and now he skillfully pressed at the tense muscles. Just as Gu Changfeng began to feel some relief, a sudden gush of warmth spilled from below—

“The water has broken!” Shen Yanbei gasped.

The midwife hurried forward to check, but the housekeeper’s wife blocked Shen Yanbei and ushered him out. “The birthing chamber is unclean. Now that the Duke is delivering, Young Master, you must wait outside!” Before, when labor had not yet begun, they allowed him to remain. Now, they had no choice but to send him away.

Shen Yanbei’s face darkened. “What’s unclean about this? That’s my spouse, and the children are mine! I will stay!”

His harsh tone startled them, leaving the midwife and housekeeper’s wife exchanging glances.

“Yanbei…” Gu Changfeng called softly.

Shen Yanbei’s expression eased. He stepped past the housekeeper’s wife to the bedside.

“Lower your head.” Reclining on the bed, Gu Changfeng gazed at him with clear black eyes.

Shen Yanbei bent down, and a pair of warm hands cupped his face. Gu Changfeng lifted his head and kissed his lips. “Go out. Later, I’ll want to drink your chicken soup.” The cervix was already eight fingers dilated — he would deliver any moment.

Shen Yanbei froze. His husband’s expression was utterly serious.

Pressing a kiss to his forehead, Shen Yanbei unwillingly murmured, “Alright, I know.”

Once he had stepped out, the midwives sighed in relief. They had truly been intimidated earlier, but the Duke’s single sentence had settled him.

Adjusting his position, the midwife praised him before instructing, “The cervix is fully dilated. Your Grace, grasp the handles like this. Take a deep breath, hold it, and push downward with strength. When you need to breathe, don’t slacken — exhale quickly, inhale quickly, then continue holding and pushing. Above all, don’t waste that breath on crying or shouting…”

But before she finished, Gu Changfeng’s grip tightened, veins standing out. His head tilted slightly, and with a muffled groan—

The midwife gaped as a baby’s head slipped out. She hurried to catch it.

The housekeeper’s wife, stunned, quickly handed her a prepared blanket.

As the weight lifted from his body, Gu Changfeng exhaled the held breath, drew another deep one, and bore down again.

The midwife slapped the newborn’s bottom, and the red, wrinkled body wailed aloud. She swiftly wrapped the child, but before she could even check its sex, another baby was already emerging!

Even with her vast experience, Gu Changfeng’s effortless delivery left her flustered.

“Young Master!” In the kitchen, servants saw Shen Yanbei deftly tending the stove. By now, they were used to this man who could debate in court and cook in the kitchen.

A fat hen had already been prepared. Shen Yanbei’s cleaver flashed as he chopped it into pieces. He placed them in a clay pot with ginger slices, covered it, and set it on the fire.

“Young Master!” A servant burst in, beaming. “It’s done! The Duke has delivered!”

Shen Yanbei jolted, nearly dropping the pot.

“Watch the fire! Once it boils, turn it to a simmer!” Tossing the order behind him, he bolted away.

“Congratulations, Your Grace — a son and a daughter!” The midwife and housekeeper’s wife, faces glowing, carried the cleaned, swaddled infants to Gu Changfeng.

The tiny babies were red and wrinkled, fragile in their blankets. Gu Changfeng spread his arms. “Let me hold them.”

“This is the young master.” The midwife passed him a bundle wrapped in light blue.

“Changfeng!” Shen Yanbei strode into the room. The sharp tang of blood hit his nose at once.

He frowned, lifting his gaze. There was his husband, propped against the headboard, cradling a swaddled infant with utmost care. His usually stern brows and eyes were softened, filled with deep tenderness, his lips curved in a quiet smile.

Hearing the sound at the door, Gu Changfeng turned. “Come, look at them.”

His face glowed with healthy color, his lips vivid red. He looked vibrant, not at all like a man weakened by childbirth.

Clearly, the delivery had gone smoothly. Shen Yanbei’s heart eased, and he strode forward.

“Young Master, this is the little miss. The Duke bore dragon-and-phoenix twins,” the housekeeper’s wife said, passing over the pink swaddle.

Inside lay a tiny baby girl, eyes still closed, small hands curled upon her chest, body tucked just as if she were still in her father’s womb.

This was his daughter…

Shen Yanbei’s chest softened. He hurriedly accepted her. “Have they been weighed?”

“The young master is five jin, eight liang. The young miss is five jin, six liang,” the midwife praised. “The Duke gave birth beautifully! Both children are robust. Usually twins are smaller — four or five jin, often uneven in size. But these two are as big as singletons. Clearly, the Duke was well cared for during pregnancy!”

Holding the warm bundle, Shen Yanbei felt his heart swell to bursting. Lowering his head, he kissed Gu Changfeng’s cheek and whispered hoarsely, “You’ve worked hard.”

Gu Changfeng answered simply, “Not hard. They came out in one go.”

The midwife was awed.

It was said the Duke was strong and skilled. When she accepted the task, she had assumed such a fit, powerful man would bear more easily than the frail double-gendered who screamed and wept through labor. But she had never expected this — so fast, so smooth!

Less than two quarters of an hour from start to finish. It was the easiest birth of her career, and with twins no less.

Just as Shen Yanbei was about to praise him, Gu Changfeng looked at him, eyes bright. “Bearing your children isn’t hard at all.”

Shen Yanbei’s heart quaked violently. He wanted to meld him into his very bones. With others present, he could only squeeze him tightly and murmur, “Thank you, my wife.”

Gu Changfeng smiled, joy shining from his brows and eyes.

The chamber was stifling, filled with steam and the smell of blood, unpleasant to remain in. Shen Yanbei handed the babies to the wet nurses and prepared to carry Gu Changfeng out to be washed.

“Put me down, I can walk myself!” Gu Changfeng protested. Stronger than most men, and plumped with the weight of pregnancy, he worried Shen Yanbei could not carry him — besides, he truly could walk.

But Shen Yanbei only replied, “It’s fine,” and lifted him steadily.

Meeting his husband’s startled gaze, Shen Yanbei straightened his back with pride.

He had been keeping up his training all along!