Chapter 297 - 296: Old and Young Alike
The cries of the baby gave Mingzhu strength. With a single push, she gave birth to the second child in less than fifteen minutes.
It’s a boy.
His cries weren’t as loud as the first baby’s, and his body was smaller, like a little kitten.
Xie Yunzhen’s heart pounded rapidly.
He thought of the previous life, of the child who had stopped breathing in his palm.
He was very afraid something would happen to the second baby.
He wrapped the little one in a soft blanket and sent him off to the doctor for a check-up.
Mingzhu was exhausted but her thoughts were preoccupied with the child. She didn’t dare to sleep even though she wanted to.
"You go keep watch over him."
To Xie Yunzhen, Mingzhu was the most important.
He asked her a few questions to make sure she was alright before going outside to see the baby.
After the chaos settled, Mingzhu was cleaned up.
The doctor examined her and both children.
The final conclusion was that the second child was a bit weak, but not in any life-threatening way. As long as he was well cared for, he’d grow up like any other child.
Mingzhu and the first child were in good health, just needed proper care.
Xie Yunzhen, still worried, asked Xi Yu to perform another check.
Receiving the same answer from him, Xie Yunzhen finally felt his heart settle back to its original place.
Xie Yunzhen suddenly had two children.
A son and a daughter, making Xi Yu quite envious.
Watching the tiny red babies on the small bed, Xi Yu asked Xie Yunzhen, "With so many kids, can you handle it?"
"Get lost!"
Xie Yunzhen’s tone was chilly.
These children were born through Mingzhu’s hard labor; each one was precious to him.
Even if there were twenty, he wouldn’t mind!
Xi Yu touched his nose, "I’m not arguing with you, why are you getting riled up?"
Xie Yunzhen let out a light snort, "You think you can take them away?"
Xi Yu stood upright, "Mind your attitude, don’t bite the hand that feeds you."
Xie Yunzhen couldn’t be bothered with him.
Carefully, he tucked the children under their blankets, then checked on Mingzhu.
No one paid attention to Xi Yu, so he left.
As a grown man, staying there wasn’t appropriate.
Even though he and Xie Yunzhen constantly bickered, wishing to pierce each other’s hearts.
Now that Xie Yunzhen’s family was complete with children around, Xi Yu was genuinely happy for him.
Thinking to himself, if fate brought him the chance, he would also marry and have children.
Otherwise, when Yunzhen boasts about his kids, he wouldn’t be able to keep up!
When Xi Yu left, Xie Yunzhen hadn’t even noticed. Fearing that Mingzhu would be cold, he added another blanket.
Childbirth took a tremendous amount of energy and blood loss, leaving Mingzhu looking quite pale.
Xie Yunzhen couldn’t share her physical pain and discomfort, so he did his best with the postpartum care.
Ensuring she ate well, drank well, rested well, and stayed in good spirits.
Helping her to recover early.
Afraid of causing her pain, he didn’t dare to hold her. Instead, Xie Yunzhen sat by the bedside.
He asked, "Are you hungry? There’s chicken soup simmering in the kitchen, I’ll have someone bring a bowl in."
By now, daylight had broken.
After a tumultuous night, Mingzhu was exhausted and wanted to sleep.
But she was indeed hungry.
She nodded, "I want some."
Being able to eat was a good sign, and Xie Yunzhen was overjoyed.
At this moment, he finally felt completely free from the shadows of the past life.
"Wait for me."
He hurriedly got up and went to the kitchen to fetch the chicken soup himself.
Postpartum women shouldn’t eat greasy food; the soup had no oil, just a rich fragrance that filled the air.
Lying down made it difficult for Mingzhu to drink the soup.
Luckily, Xie Yunzhen was prepared; with a straw, he could feed the soup directly to her mouth, without fear of spilling.
Mingzhu felt an inexplicable urge to laugh, "I only gave birth to two kids, but you’re treating me like I’m paralyzed or something."
"Don’t say such inauspicious things."
Xie Yunzhen feared nothing but now held life and death in reverence.
He didn’t want to say anything ominous.
Afraid it might come true.
Mingzhu said no more, taking small sips of the chicken soup.
The food entering her stomach slowly replenished her energy.
Xie Yunzhen watched her without blinking.
"What are you looking at?"
"I think you’re amazing."
Ordinarily, she seemed so fragile, who would have thought she could give birth to two children.
Two!
Both his and Mingzhu’s!
Mingzhu also thought she was amazing, "I gave birth to two people."
The man sitting by the bed was momentarily stunned.
He chuckled, "We are both human, so naturally we gave birth to humans."
His gaze glanced at the small bed beside them.
The two tiny babies were sleeping soundly, their little bodies reddish, their foreheads wrinkled, looking small and elderly.
Xie Yunzhen couldn’t help but smile widely, "Though they look a lot like little monkeys, they will grow out of it. Don’t dislike them."
Mingzhu’s mouth twitched; these were the children she risked her life to give birth to, even if they looked like monkeys forever, she wouldn’t mind.
Suddenly, a thought struck her mind.
"Earlier you said the daughter looked like me, very pretty, so why are you now saying she’s like a monkey?"
Xie Yunzhen laughed, "She is very pretty, but red and small, she does look like a little monkey."
Mingzhu’s tone was wistful, "I’ll remember every word you’ve said today and tell them to our daughter in the future."
Xie Yunzhen felt a chill run down his spine.
"Can I change what I said?"
"It’s no use."
Seeing his nervous face, genuinely worried she’d tell on him, Mingzhu couldn’t help but want to laugh.
But her stomach really hurt, so she held it in as best as she could.
Sipping the soup, she asked Xie Yunzhen.
"Have you decided on the children’s names?"
"Yes."
Previously, Mingzhu had looked through books to name the children, but Xie Yunzhen had stopped her.
Saying he’d come up with them.
To spare her eyes.
After Mingzhu finished the soup, Xie Yunzhen brought the chosen names to her.
Since they weren’t sure if it would be a boy or a girl, Xie Yunzhen had come up with five names for each.
His lips brushed gently against Mingzhu’s hair, "Madam did the most work, you choose."
Mingzhu’s gaze swept over the names one by one.
Finally settling on a pair, "Zimu and Zishan, they sound smooth, with nice meanings."
Xie Yunzhen laughed, "I thought so too."
And so, the children’s names were decided.
The first child, Zimu.
The second child, Zishan.
Xie Yunzhen took the paper away, insisting Mingzhu close her eyes and sleep.
"They might wake up wanting milk."
Mingzhu was grateful her body had recovered well enough; otherwise, nursing two children would be really taxing.
If her milk supply wasn’t enough, even if she didn’t want a wet nurse, she’d have to hire one.
Xie Yunzhen had also considered this issue.
"Hire two, just in case."
This time Mingzhu agreed, anything that was good for the children, she was willing to accept.
Xie Yunzhen knew her thoughts, as he coaxed her to sleep, he said, "Once the children turn one, we can send the wet nurses away. If they’ve done well, we can give them a little extra silver."
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Mingzhu’s cheeks flushed, "Do you think I’m small-minded?"
Xie Yunzhen pinched her cheek, "You’re the mistress of the house, do whatever you want, and if anyone dares complain, we’ll send them packing."