Alternative Ending to Love Like the Galaxy (Ver 1)

The arrival of Huo Yu

From the ninth month onwards, both the midwife and the physician moved into the house. This was for the convenience of Shao Shang's check-up. They took turns checking on her every few days as Shao Shang's due date was drawing near. During one of the checks, the midwife shared that Shao Shang might be in labour soon as her cervix had dilated the size of one finger. Thus, the midwife prepared the birthing room and General Huo was becoming anxious too. This was partly because he heard a lot of scary stories from his comrades, some even shared that some of their children were birth through surrogation. Huo Buyi was determined to be by her side during childbirth even though it was taboo but General Huo simply couldn't be bothered. Huo Buyi had never left her side since the day he moved in and he had no intention let her go through this on her own.

After a day or two, Shao Shang started to feel an increase in the intensity and frequency of her contraction. For three days, she had been going through waves and waves of pain coming and going, her tummy felt so tight. In order not to let Huo Buyi worry, she kept quiet and bear with the pain. It was a rainy and cold night, however, Shao Shang was breaking out into cold sweat. The pain was unbearable. She nudged Huo Buyi up, and Shao Shang said, 'Zi Sheng, I think it's time our baby is coming.' Huo Buyi jumped up and went to fetch the midwife and the physician at the other end of the house. Shao Shang slowly stood up and made her way to the birthing room. After getting the midwife and the physician, Huo Buyi ran back to Shao Shang. He was just about to carry her, but she had insisted to walked to the birthing room instead.

The midwife ushered Huo Buyi out of the birthing room as he was in their way during preparation. Since then, he had been standing outside the door. From the occasional barking of the distanced dog to the light of dawn until the blazing midday sun shone on him. It had been ten hours. Things had gotten more and more intense. The moaning and groaning were getting louder and increasing in frequency. A familiar metallic scent started to fill the air, it was the smell of blood. Just how much blood she was losing, to be able to smell it from outside. He could not imagine, there was this tightness in his chest and a pain piercing through his heart. Everyone who was present comforted him.

Inside the birthing room, the physician and the midwife exchanged looks. Things weren't looking too good and the progress was slow. The physician went out to bring the medicine which he had prepared beforehand. The midwife started to encourage Shao Shang as she noticed that Shao Shang was starting to lose her strength. Shao Shang was simply exhausted. The midwife said, 'Here is another wave of contraction, push Mdm Huo, use your strength to push harder. Your baby is coming.' After speaking, the midwife immediately put her hand into her birth canal, she said, 'I am sorry Mdm Huo, please bear with this, I will help you break the waterbag. It will help hasten the whole birthing process and perhaps lessen the pain too.' At that moment, Shao Sheng arched her back, clenched her fist and wailed. The servant who was supporting her saw it, she quickly guided her hand to the side of the blanket Shao Shang was lying on instead. The servant cried, 'Mdm Huo grab onto this instead, your hands are starting to bleed.'

Shao Shang wailed was Huo Buyi's last straw! He slipped into the room while the servant was bringing a new basin of clean water for the midwife. He took over the servant who was supporting her, propping her. He helped her up a little more, Huo Buyi held her hand, and he said to her, 'Niao Niao, your Zi Sheng is here, a few more pushes and the baby is here. I'll help you.' The midwife told Huo Buyi the baby should come during the next contraction. He was tasked to help to push during the next wave of contraction. Shao Shang shared that she felt this intense pressure and burning sensation. The time was here and as she was pushing with all her might, Huo Buyi was also helping to push the baby downward. She wailed in excruciating pain, her mind was blank, and her skin, every muscle and bone was as though struck by lightning as the baby descended through the birth canal.

The baby's first cry filled the room. Everyone was so excited, the cry was vociferous. The midwife cried, 'Congrats Mdm, Congrats Sir, it's a healthy baby boy.' Huo Buyi signalled to have the baby carried out. He only had eyes for Shao Shang, he was worried for her. He fed her the medicine which the physician had prepared. Shao Shang was soft and weak. After cleaning up, Huo Buyi wrapped her up and carried her back to their room. He said, 'Shao Shang don't worry the baby is in good hands. Our baby is so adorable, Yi'er and Empress Quan are looking after the baby. You rest well, later I will bring you the baby. ' Shao Shang fell asleep and Huo Buyi accompanied her throughout. He whispered into her ear, 'Thank you Niao Niao for going through all these to ensure the continuance of Huo's lineage. Now that you have experienced the birth of the child. It's okay if you do not want any more children. We have both Yi'er and Xiao Yu it's enough for me. I do not want to put you through all these again.' The pain in his chest seemed to have returned as he recalled her journey to bring Xiao Yu into this world.