Madam Song awoke startled from a dream, drenched in cold sweat, her body sticky, and her heart felt as if it were being crushed by a massive stone, unable to breathe.
Upon opening her eyes, she was shocked to find herself in tears, her stomach spasming with pain, and dampness beneath her.
She reached out to touch her stomach, feeling the bulging abdomen, constantly reassuring herself, it was just a dream, merely a dream.
As childbirth approached, there was no one absent from Madam Song's room, even under her bed where a maid was curled up keeping watch at night, who was roused by the sound of groaning.
"Madam? What's wrong?"
The lamp was always lit in the room. Seeing Madam Song's pale face, with sweat or water unknown covering her forehead and face, Shaoyao was alarmed.
Just as Madam Song was about to speak, a sharp pain gripped her stomach, causing her to moan out in pain.
