Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Male pregnancies are shorter than female ones, typically lasting around 7 months before birth.

As Shen Qinglan's belly grew larger and the due date drew closer, Han Zhang kept his cool on the surface, but inside, he was more panicked than anyone else.

Even though his Power guaranteed Shen Qinglan would be fine, he still couldn't shake the worry.

After all, this was his first time becoming a father, and he had zero experience—his heart was just a mess of nerves.

With all that restless energy, Han Zhang found it impossible to sit still at the government office. When only half a month remained until the expected delivery date, he simply called it quits and stopped going to work entirely.

After all, he hadn't yet obtained any real authority—going to the office each day was just sitting around, watching Tongpan Yang, Tongzhi Zhou, and Secretary Xu tear into each other like dogs over a bone. Whether he even bothered to clock in didn't matter much.

Right now, nothing in the world mattered more than being by his husband's side as the due date approached!

Per the doctor's and midwife's orders, Han Zhang accompanied Shen Qinglan on walks around the courtyard every day, holding him with the utmost care, walking at a snail's pace, scared that the tiniest bump might hurt him.

With his husband by his side every day, the anxiety and fear Shen Qinglan had been feeling as the due date neared just melted away, replaced by a much more relaxed mood.

He tilted his head, watching Han Zhang look like he was bracing for battle while trying to play it cool, and couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Husband, are you taking me for a walk, or marching me to the gallows?"

"I'm just scared something might go wrong with you. You're pregnant now—if we slip up and something happens, what then? Even though Qiao Dong and the others have always taken great care of you, I can't relax unless I'm watching over you myself."

Han Zhang knew he was being way too jumpy, but as a first-time dad, he just couldn't think straight this time.

Qiao Dong and the others nearby hid their grins and snickered: "Young Master, don't tease the young master's husband. As they say, where there's love, there's worry; where there's love, there's fear—the young master's husband has his whole heart and mind set on you. It'd be weird if he wasn't worried."

Honestly, even though they were young, they'd seen and heard plenty.

As household servants handpicked and placed by Madam Shen, their folks, uncles, and even grandparents had spent their whole lives serving in big households—what kind of behind-the-scenes drama hadn't they seen?

A couple as devoted as their young master and his husband was so rare you could count them on one hand.

Their young master was really lucky in a simple, clueless kind of way—they never figured the young master's husband would be this genuinely devoted to him.

Shen Qinglan's ears went red from the page boys' teasing, and he feigned anger: "You're all so talkative! Keep running your mouths like this, and I'll make you sweep every last leaf in the backyard as punishment."

"Oh, please forgive us, Young Master! We wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare..."

Qiao Dong and the others immediately begged for mercy, though smiles of amusement still lingered on their faces.

That made Shen Qinglan huff, all flustered: "I-I'm not talking to you troublemakers anymore!"

Han Zhang stood to the side, watching his husband and the servants all laugh together, and the tightness in his nerves over his husband's upcoming delivery eased up quite a bit in the lighthearted atmosphere.

Once the laughter died down.

Shen Qinglan reached out and touched his face, saying with some concern: "Husband, with you keeping me in good health, I'm doing great. But you—ever since you took leave, you've been hovering over me all day, and you've already lost weight."

"Losing weight's a good thing—makes me look sharper." Han Zhang looked down at his beloved, his gaze tender with a smile: "Right now, nothing matters more than you and the baby being safe and sound."

Shen Qinglan felt a warm sweetness in his chest, then couldn't help but ask with anticipation: "Husband, do you think... is this baby of mine a boy or a girl? Doctor Li said our baby's so healthy he couldn't even tell—what a dummy!"

This actually wasn't Doctor Li's fault.

Back then, doctors figured out the baby's gender by feeling the pulse, going by the rule that "male is yang, female is yin"—basically, it came down to how strong the pulse was.

But you couldn't blame Han Zhang for having his Power as a cheat code, keeping both Shen Qinglan and the baby in his belly as fit as a fiddle. Doctor Li had never run into a case like this, so it made sense he couldn't figure it out.

"Well, we can't really blame Doctor Li—our situation's a special one..."

Han Zhang smiled and said a word in Doctor Li's defense, then gently drew his husband into his arms, carefully resting his palm on the rounded belly: "Whether it's a boy or a girl, it's a treasure we've been waiting for. But deep down, I keep hoping the kid looks more like you—that'd be perfect."

"But I'd rather the baby look like you..." Shen Qinglan leaned against his shoulder, his voice full of anticipation: "I've never seen what you were like as a kid. If there could be a tiny you, a spitting image, to play with me, wouldn't that be a blast?"

Han Zhang chuckled at this: "Then let's make a bet—if the baby comes out looking like you, you'll do whatever I say for a month; if the baby looks like me, I'll do whatever you say for a month. How about that?"

"What, so if we don't bet, you won't do what I say?"

Shen Qinglan immediately planted his hands on his hips and shot back, chin lifted in a smug little pose.

His face practically screamed that if Han Zhang dared say no, he'd be in for it.

Han Zhang instantly deflated...

Okay, fine, he didn't have the guts.

"Pfft hahaha."

Qiao Dong and the others couldn't hold back their laughter.

Given how totally the young master's husband was wrapped around his finger, it'd be a real struggle for him to ever be the "boss" in this lifetime!

Days slipped by in the blink of an eye, in that mix of excitement and a little tension.

One evening, as rosy clouds spread across the sky, Han Zhang was taking his usual slow stroll with Shen Qinglan in the courtyard.

"Husband, I... my belly hurts so bad."

Halfway through the walk, Shen Qinglan suddenly stopped, his face changing slightly as his hand instinctively went to his belly.

Then, feeling the warm wetness spreading down below, he instantly knew he was about to go into labor. Scared out of his wits, he grabbed Han Zhang's arm and blurted out: "Husband, I think I'm about to have the baby!"

"Quick, get the doctor! And the midwife!"

Han Zhang went into a panic, barking orders as he scooped his husband up and hurried toward the delivery room that had been prepped.

Even though they'd gone over this scenario a hundred times, when the moment actually hit, he was still a wreck, his heart in his throat.

The doctor and midwife had been staying at the Han house, so they showed up fast when they heard.

Grandma Han, Han's mother, and Second and Third Aunts had all been through childbirth themselves. Everyone pitched in to handle things—chaotic, but still organized.

But the midwife, seeing Han Zhang wouldn't budge from the delivery room, said helplessly: "Young master's husband, the delivery room is unclean. By tradition, you can't stay here—it might bring bad luck and hurt your official career..."

But there was no way Han Zhang was listening to that.

He bristled at that: "Bullshit! What bad luck?! My husband is going through the pain of childbirth to carry on the Han family line—that's a huge deal! How is that unclean?"

"Rules are rigid, but people aren't. Those old customs aren't worth a damn. I'm staying right here today, and nobody's changing my mind!"

Shen Qinglan on the bed didn't want him to leave either, clinging to his sleeve and refusing to let go, tears pouring as he whimpered: "Husband, don't leave... it hurts, I'm scared..."

Truth was, his belly wasn't nearly as painful as he was making it out to be, because when the contractions first started, Han Zhang had already quietly sent some of his Power over to ease most of the pain.

But right now, his emotional need and vulnerability had taken over—he just wanted his husband there with him. Without him, he was terrified.

The one thing Han Zhang could never stand was his husband crying.

Seeing Shen Qinglan's fragile, tearful appearance, clutching his sleeve and refusing to let go, his heart nearly shattered.

He dropped the argument with the midwife at once and rushed over to grab his beloved's hand, continuing to channel his power to ease the pain while pressing a comforting kiss to his forehead:

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Your husband is right here with you. It won't hurt for much longer..."

"Mm..." Shen Qinglan nodded, hiccuping through tears, then suddenly remembering something, he gripped Han Zhang's hand tightly and urged through his tears, "Husband, you—you must keep a close watch on our baby... Don't let anyone swap our baby in the chaos—like in those storybooks, or what happened to Fifth Aunt..."

Having read so many tales and witnessed Fifth Aunt's real-life example, he was terrified that someone might swap their child.

Han Zhang, of course, agreed to anything: "Alright, I'll definitely keep a close eye on our child."

Even at this life-or-death moment, the young couple were all lovey-dovey, clinging to each other.

The maids and servant boys in the room were completely used to it by now.

Only the midwife was completely dumbfounded:

She had long heard that the Lord Prefect and his husband were head over heels for each other, and while staying at the Han house waiting for the birth, she'd seen plenty of their lovey-dovey moments.

But to see them clinging to each other like that even inside the delivery room—she'd never seen anything like it in all her years!

Yet, no matter how the midwife muttered to herself, Han Zhang remained resolute, and Shen Qinglan refused to let him go, so in the end, she had to compromise and allow Han Zhang to stay in the delivery room.

Outside, Han's grandfather, father, and the others heard the commotion inside and were both worried and amused by what they heard.

Han's mother couldn't help but tease a bit sourly: "That little rascal sure knows how to spoil his husband..."

Though she was used to her son's deep bond with his husband, seeing him no longer depend on her, now with his whole heart given to someone else, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as a mother.

Ah well, the child had grown up, and in the end, he had someone who mattered more to him, no longer needing his parents.

However, this complex feeling did not last long.

When a loud, vigorous baby's cry suddenly rang out from the delivery room, all of Han's mother's thoughts were instantly replaced by pure joy as she rushed forward to ask:

"Did she give birth? Is the baby here? How's Lan Geer? Is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's a little master!"

The curtain lifted, and Qiao Dong emerged beaming, his voice barely containing his excitement: "Congratulations, Master and Madam! Our young lord has safely delivered a fine little master! Weighing six jin and five liang—a healthy six-plus pounds—with a loud cry and robust health!"

In these times, when boys were prized over girls, only having a son could guarantee your place in your husband's family. Now that their young lord had delivered a healthy little master, they no longer had to worry about the son-in-law's heart wandering.

Hearing this, Han's mother's face lit up with a huge smile, and she clapped her hands together excitedly:

"Wonderful, wonderful! I have a grandson! Quick, have Doctor Li examine Lan Geer thoroughly—make sure he's not injured! Whatever tonics or herbs he needs, get them brewed for Lan Geer right away!"

The old lady's pride and joy: her youngest son and her first grandson.

Having just been feeling wistful that her son no longer needed her, Han's mother now couldn't even think about Han Zhang anymore, her heart and mind entirely on her newly arrived chubby grandson.

Han's grandfather and Grandma Han were beaming with joy, supporting each other, so overjoyed they could barely stand.

"Our Han family has a great-grandson... Four generations under one roof, the family's growing strong!"