Unexpected Complication, Unconscious in Labor

Little Dumpling had no idea that the moment he left, his mother collapsed into a chair from the pain.

"I'm going into labor!" Serena screamed, her composure shattered by the intense pain.

"Ah... Her Highness is going into labor!" The attendants Spring and Autumn turned pale and rushed forward.

They never expected Serena to go into labor so suddenly—there hadn't been any warning signs at all. "Someone, help! Her Highness is going into labor!"

But when they helped Serena up and saw the chair already soaked through, Spring and Autumn realized she’d been in labor for a while—she’d just been holding it in so as not to scare the First Prince.

Spring and Autumn turned white with fear, terrified something might happen to Serena. They shouted, "Hurry, Her Highness is going into labor! Her Highness is going into labor!"

"Her Highness is going into labor?" The eunuchs and palace maids outside immediately sprang into action. Imperial physicians and midwives rushed to the delivery room, and even before Serena arrived, buckets of hot water were being brought in one after another.

The shadow guards also dashed toward the front hall, terrified that if they were late, His Majesty would deem them incompetent...

Receiving the news, Prince Nolan immediately settled Little Dumpling and raced toward the delivery room. Just like last time, he didn’t hesitate to go straight in—but this time, he was stopped at the door.

"Your Majesty, you can’t go in. You won’t be able to help, and the midwives will only get nervous with you there. In the end, Serena will be the one to suffer." Like the imperial physicians, the Valley Master was already waiting in the delivery room. As soon as Serena arrived, he checked her pulse and confirmed that although labor had started, the birth wouldn’t happen right away.

Prince Nolan said nothing, only staring coldly at the Valley Master. The Valley Master was nervous too, but far steadier than the imperial physicians; even facing Nolan's icy aura, he held his ground and firmly blocked Nolan’s path.

"Serena won't deliver right away, and this birth is especially dangerous. For her sake, please... don't come in and make things worse." The Valley Master gritted his teeth as he forced out those last words.

He truly believed that Prince Nolan would only add chaos by entering right now. Serena was no fragile, delicate woman—she didn’t need someone clinging to her side to survive. Whether Nolan came in or not made no real difference to her.

But no matter what the Valley Master said, Prince Nolan refused to back down. His lips parted, and he pronounced each word slowly: "I want to stay with her."

"Serena doesn't need you here."

"She does." Prince Nolan stopped arguing and simply shoved the Valley Master aside. "I make my own decisions."

With heavy steps, Prince Nolan headed for the delivery room. People bustled in and out, steam filled the air, but Nolan saw none of it—his mind and eyes were fixed only on Serena, lying in bed and gasping in pain.

Ignoring the stares of the midwives and palace maids, Prince Nolan walked straight to the bedside and crouched down at Serena’s head.

"Why did you come in? Didn’t I tell you to stay out?" Serena gasped in pain, sweat pouring down her face, and Nolan’s heart ached for her.

Brushing the damp hair from Serena’s forehead, Prince Nolan gripped her hand tightly. "I’m here with you."

"It’s not time yet—the cervix hasn’t opened." Serena panted heavily, but she didn’t ask Prince Nolan to leave. Having him there to talk with her helped distract from the pain.

"It’s okay, I’ll stay with you." Prince Nolan gripped Serena’s hand tightly, refusing to let go. Serena managed a weak smile, only to have it wiped away by another wave of pain.

"Ah... it hurts, it hurts so much." Serena clung to Nolan’s hand, her nails digging in so hard his skin turned purple. Nolan didn’t even flinch, nor did he scold the midwives or palace maids.

He wasn’t there to make trouble—he was just there to be with Serena.

Seeing this, the midwives and palace maids secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Their biggest fear was hearing His Majesty demand they find a way to make Serena’s pain disappear. Childbirth is always painful—there’s no way to make it painless, no matter what they did.

Time crawled by. Serena was in agony, but her cervix still wouldn’t open. After two hours, not only the midwives and imperial physicians were anxious—even Serena herself was starting to worry.

If this kept up, the amniotic fluid would dry up and something would surely go wrong with the baby. Gritting her teeth, Serena told the midwife, "Induce labor—have the imperial physician prescribe medicine."

The midwife glanced at Prince Nolan, making sure he had no objections, then hurried off to get the prescription. Once the medicine was prepared, the formula was handed to the Valley Master, who personally selected the herbs. As soon as Tong Jue and Tong Yao arrived at the palace, they took over the job of decocting the medicine.

Wave after wave of pain crashed over her, but Serena had gotten used to it—once you’re accustomed to the pain, it doesn’t seem quite so unbearable. Glancing at Prince Nolan’s ashen face and tense expression, Serena managed a weak smile. "Don’t worry. We’ll be fine."

"Mm. We’ll be fine." Prince Nolan echoed mechanically, his eyes fixed and unmoving.

Every minute, every second was torture for him. Until Serena’s child was born, Prince Nolan couldn’t stop worrying. Last time, when Little Dumpling was born, it had already been agony—this time was even worse…

The medicine was quickly decocted. Tong Jue brought the bowl herself. Prince Nolan wanted to feed Serena, but as soon as he took the bowl, most of it spilled. Tong Jue hurriedly took it back, not daring to say a word. "Your Majesty, let this maid do it instead."

Prince Nolan didn’t insist. In truth, Serena didn’t need help—she still had the strength to drink a bowl of medicine herself.

She swallowed the medicine in one gulp, then lay back with her eyes closed, gathering her strength. She knew the birth was near.

The midwives and palace maids kept a close watch. Serena tried to empty her mind. Seeing Tong Jue and Tong Yao standing in the corner, Serena thought of Little Dumpling and called them over: "Go look after the First Prince."

She’d hoped to wait until the baby was born before speaking to Little Dumpling, but seeing how things were going, it was clear the birth wouldn’t happen anytime soon. With how clever Little Dumpling was, he’d surely guess what was happening.

Tong Jue and Tong Yao were worried, but they knew there was nothing they could do to help in the delivery room. After bowing, they left to look after Little Dumpling.

This chapter isn’t over yet ^.^ Please click next page to continue reading!

"I’ve settled Little Dumpling." Prince Nolan saw Serena’s face improve a little and finally relaxed—perhaps too quickly. Before Serena could reply, another wave of pain overwhelmed her.

"It hurts..." Serena tried to stifle her cries and save her strength for the birth, but the pain was truly unbearable—worse than any surgery without anesthesia.

"Ah... I’m never doing this again." Tears streamed down Serena’s face as she clenched her teeth so hard they rattled. Prince Nolan, afraid she might bite her tongue, quickly put his hand by her mouth.

In that moment, Serena’s pain overwhelmed her reason. She didn’t care what was in front of her—she just bit down. Only when her mouth filled with the taste of blood did she realize she’d bitten Prince Nolan.

She turned away, letting Nolan move his hand, but before she could say anything, another wave of pain hit—and she bit down again.

"So... mm... much pain." Serena felt her strength draining away.

Serena was deeply uneasy, forcing herself to stay conscious—she couldn’t allow herself to faint from the pain. Just then, she finally heard the midwife shout, "Quick, quick—the cervix has opened! The cervix has opened! Your Highness, the cervix has opened—push!"

"I..." Serena just opened her mouth to push, but a sudden, stabbing pain shot through her brain, and her left arm burned—far worse than childbirth itself.

Something was wrong. This wasn’t normal.

Her mind was in chaos, her vision gray and hazy. Serena found she couldn’t think or move at all.

"Help... help..." Serena tried to call for help, but her mind wouldn’t obey—she couldn’t react at all. She was acutely aware that she was losing consciousness...

Just before blacking out, one thought flashed through Serena’s mind: The Smart Med‑Pack had malfunctioned!