Zhulan feared Zhao Shi would have a difficult childbirth. “Zhao Shi’s pregnancy isn’t easy; I’ll go see her.”

Zhou Shuren pursed his lips, unwilling. He was worried about Zhulan, knowing it was useless to say anything, and sighed, “I’ll go with you.”

“Aren’t you going to Pinggang tomorrow? You should continue to rest. I have a momo with me, don’t worry.”

Zhou Shuren replied while putting on his clothes, “Without you by my side, do you think I can lie here peacefully?”

Zhulan fell silent. Even before she was pregnant, Zhou Shuren was always concerned about her, let alone now.

But she had to go see her; after all, she was her mother-in-law, and she had just had a nightmare. She was truly afraid something might happen.

Zhulan and Zhou Shuren heard Zhao Shi’s cries before they even reached the second room’s door. It was from pain. Zhulan’s heart tightened, and Zhou Shuren’s face turned pale instantly. He grabbed Zhulan’s hand, preventing her from entering the courtyard.

Zhulan felt Zhou Shuren’s hands trembling. She thought to herself, Zhou Shuren is already tense enough; when she gives birth, she will try her best not to cry out, to put Zhou Shuren at ease.

Zhulan pulled Zhou Shuren into the courtyard. Second Master Zhou was pacing back and forth. Seeing his mother, he immediately felt reassured. “Mother, you’re here!”

Zhulan asked, “How is it?”

Second Master Zhou’s face was pale; Zhao Shi had lost a lot of blood. “The midwife went in; I didn’t know.”

Zhulan, heavily pregnant, didn’t go in. She couldn’t stand there for long, and she didn’t want to cause trouble. She said to Song Momo, “Go in and see.”

Song Momo replied, “Yes.”

Second Master Zhou, hearing his wife’s increasingly painful cries, broke out in a cold sweat. “Mother, Zhao Shi gave birth twice!”

“She has never been in so much pain before, Mother. Will Zhao Shi be alright?”

Zhulan, having been in the delivery room several times, was quite experienced. Hearing Zhao Shi’s painful cries, her heart sank. She hoped for a difficult labor and that the baby wouldn’t be breech. Zhulan noticed Second Master Zhou staring intently at her, seeking reassurance. “It’ll be alright. There’s a midwife and Song Momo inside.”

Second Master Zhou pursed his lips, feeling slightly more at ease. Song Momo was mysterious, usually like a shadow beside his mother, but quite capable, even teaching her medical principles. He hoped Song Momo was even more skilled.

Zhulan couldn’t stand any longer; her belly was quite large. Soon, the doctor arrived, and with the doctor’s help, Zhulan tried to calm her feelings.

Time passed slowly. Zhulan hissed; her legs were cramping. As her pregnancy progressed, leg cramps became frequent and painful.

Zhou Shuren called for the doctor, “Come quickly!”

The noise from Zhulan startled Second Master Zhou, fearing his mother was also about to give birth.

Zhulan said, “I just have some leg cramps.”

Zhou Shuren was still worried and asked the doctor to check her pulse. The doctor felt her pulse and said, “Madam and the fetus are both healthy, but she has been sitting for too long. It’s best to go back and rest as soon as possible.”

Before his father could even look at him, Second Master Zhou said anxiously, “Mother, I’ll keep an eye on things here. You go back and rest first. Once the baby is born, I’ll go to the main courtyard to report.”

Zhulan listened to the sounds coming from the delivery room. Since Song Momo went in, Zhao Shi’s cries had decreased considerably. Zhulan was indeed getting restless; she had to think about the baby in her belly. “Alright, come to the main courtyard immediately if there’s any news.”

Second Master Zhou saw the satisfied look in his father’s eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Heaven knows that ever since his father entered the courtyard, he had been giving him a lot of glares. He was worried about Zhao Shi, afraid of his mother’s belly, and had to endure his father’s glares. He had it the hardest.

Zhulan returned to the main courtyard. Zhou Shuren said, “You keep yawning. Lie down and rest.”

Zhulan’s eyelids were drooping. “Okay.”

Zhulan closed her eyes and then quickly opened them again. “If there’s any news later, be sure to wake me up.”

“Okay.”

Zhulan really couldn’t hold on any longer. She had nightmares in the first half of the night and hadn’t rested much. In the second half of the night, she was worried about Zhao Shi. She was mentally exhausted, and she fell asleep the moment she closed her eyes.

After Zhou Shuren finished sleeping, he said to Liu Ya, who was guarding outside, “If the second branch of the family sends word that they need ginseng, just go and get it. No need to inform Madam.”

Liu Ya lowered her head and replied, “Yes.”

She had already guessed that her Master would do this; in his heart, the Mistress was the most important person.

Zhulan slept soundly. When she woke up and looked at the brightness in the room, she fell silent. Based on experience, breakfast time had long passed; it was probably past nine o’clock now.

Hearing the noise, Liu Ya rushed in. “The Mistress is awake.”

Zhulan looked at the bowed Liu Ya. “Oh well, it must be Zhou Shuren who instructed her.” She shouldn’t have trusted Zhou Shuren to call her if something happened. She sighed and asked, “Has Zhao Shi given birth?”

Liu Ya, still bowing her head, replied, “The Second Madam hasn’t given birth yet. Ginseng was sent over this morning.”

Zhulan couldn’t sit still any longer. “I’ll go see.”

Liu Ya replied, “Yes.”

Zhulan washed up, changed her clothes, and went over wearing a cloak. Zhao Shi’s cries were much softer. Zhulan was terrified that the dream had come true. She couldn’t help but clench her hands. Zhao Shi’s childbirth had brought her considerable fear; she felt a pang of anxiety about giving birth herself.

She had memories of the original owner’s childbirth, but she herself had never given birth. The original owner’s memories included no difficult births; all her children had given birth smoothly. With Zhao Shi, Li Shi, and her daughter all having safe deliveries, Zhulan was quite confident. She felt she could do it too.

Now, Zhulan’s usually calm heart was filled with fear. If she was afraid, then Zhou Shuren must be even more worried. Zhou Shuren was already tense; he must be even more anxious now.

Zhulan stood motionless at the door of the second wife’s quarters. Liu Ya didn’t dare utter a sound; it was truly unlucky if the Second Madam was in any danger, especially since the Mistress was pregnant.

Liu Ya didn’t want the Mistress to go in again, fearing it would bring bad luck.

Liu Ya admired the Mistress; she was pregnant, and no one had said anything if she hadn’t come last night, but she had still persuaded the Master to come despite her large belly, and not only did she come, she even stayed for a while.

After the doctor’s examination yesterday, the Mistress had asked the Second Master to find a century-old ginseng, this one specifically prepared for the Second Madam, and the money paid from the public account.

Jinzhou truly lived up to its reputation as the closest prefecture to the capital; the clinics there had a complete selection of precious medicinal herbs, and they bought it back on the spot.

This morning, the ginseng was used.

Zhulan took a deep breath, suppressing her unease, and entered the second courtyard.

Second Master Zhou had stayed up all night; his eyes were dark, and he stared blankly at the delivery room. Zhao Shi’s labor was getting weaker and weaker; now that they had used the century-old ginseng, if she still hadn’t given birth, he really didn’t want to think about what would happen.

Seeing Second Master Zhou’s appearance, Zhulan knew the danger inside. Li Shi was also in the courtyard, and seeing her made Zhulan feel a little more at ease.

Li Shi came over. “Mother, I’m here. You should go back first. When there is some news, I’ll come and tell you.”

She was genuinely worried, not only about Zhao Shi but also about her mother-in-law. This morning, her father-in-law had told her to stay and that her mother-in-law should be persuaded to go back.

Zhulan shook her head and sat down. “I’m fine.”

She wanted to stay. If she didn’t overcome her fear, she would only overthink things when she went back. Scaring herself was the most frightening thing. She believed Zhao Shi wouldn’t give up easily.

Li Shi felt a chill run down her spine. What to do? She wanted to speak up, but meeting her mother-in-law’s indifferent gaze, she chickened out. She could only pray silently that Zhao Shi would be safe.

(End of Chapter)

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