Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 73

Giving birth at seven months, this was a premature child. Although Dong Shi didn't suffer much during the birth, she was extremely careful, afraid the child might fall ill.

She didn't even dare hold a grand full-month celebration, just closed the doors and had a simple meal to mark the occasion.

When Doctor Li came to take pulses, Ye Jiao specifically asked: "How is Spring Orchid's health, and the child?"

Doctor Li was originally the medicine shop's doctor, so he naturally knew Dong Shi's condition inside and out.

Hearing Ye Jiao's question, he said: "The child was born before full term, but he's not small. Fortunately he cries loudly, can eat and sleep well, so he's stabilized. Boss Lady's health is also well-cared for. Now that she's past her confinement month, her complexion has recovered nicely."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao felt relieved. Doctor Li was secretly grateful.

No one had expected Dong Shi's child to be born at seven months. Everyone said this child was hard-won, and coming out before full term seemed too hasty. But Doctor Li felt this was also Dong Shi's good fortune.

Not only because the child developed relatively completely and was born without deficiencies, but also because Dong Shi treasured this child so much. During pregnancy she was very careful, and because she'd lost a child from falling before, this time she didn't even dare walk around.

Though her pregnancy was a month later than Ye Jiao's, her belly looked even bigger than Ye Jiao's, who was now nine months along.

If she'd gone full term, she probably would have suffered greatly. Now the child would need delicate care for a while, but could eventually be nurtured back to health. At least Dong Shi's body hadn't suffered greatly.

After taking Ye Jiao's pulse, Doctor Li said: "Second Young Mistress should be careful these days. In any case, you might go into labor any day now." Then he looked at Little Su: "Pay close attention."

Little Su agreed. Ye Jiao touched her belly, also curious what the child would look like.

No grass, that would be fine.

Seeing Doctor Li begin packing up, Ye Jiao asked: "Does Spring Orchid's child have a name yet?"

Doctor Li replied with a smile: "Only a pet name, called Hu Zi."

Though he was rather thin, they gave him this name as a prayer.

Ye Jiao had Little Su fetch a box and handed it to Doctor Li: "These are things I prepared for Spring Orchid's child. I can't attend the full-month celebration, so please take them to her, Doctor Li."

Doctor Li immediately bowed, put away the box, and left.

Not long after he left, Hui Niang arrived.

Ye Jiao hadn't seen Hui Niang for some time. Seeing her today, she noticed Hui Niang's complexion looked much better than last time.

Though she still looked slender and delicate, her color was much improved.

Seeing Ye Jiao about to stand up, Hui Niang quickly stepped forward to help her sit back down, smiling: "Don't get up, you're heavy now and shouldn't move around. Rest well."

Ye Jiao settled back onto the soft couch, leaning sideways, looking at Hui Niang with gentle voice: "Hui Niang, why didn't you go to Spring Orchid's full-month celebration?"

"It finished this morning. I waited until it ended before coming to see you." Hui Niang gently held her hand, smiling warmly: "Hu Zi is doing well now. Spring Orchid also wanted me to give you a message, she's fine now, just worried about the child and can't come see you."

Ye Jiao didn't mind these things: "She should rest more. I'm fine now, no need to visit all the time."

These words were direct. Hui Niang just smiled hearing them, then as if remembering something, took out a brocade box.

Opening it revealed a jade ruyi.

Hui Niang handed her the box: "This jade ruyi is my sentiment, and I'm also giving it to you on behalf of Commander Ye, hoping everything goes smoothly for you this time too."

Ye Jiao couldn't tell the ruyi's value, but she always treasured things others gave her, smiling as she thanked Hui Niang.

While Little Su went to find a place for the ruyi, Ye Jiao asked softly: "Hui Niang, when will my elder brother return?"

Now that the family had split, Second Brother Ye was no longer her family. Ye Jiao was naturally asking about Ye Ping Rong.

Hui Niang's face still smiled, but her heart sank.

Ye Ping Rong still hadn't returned, which actually surprised both Chu Chengyun and Hui Niang.

Originally they'd sent Ye Ping Rong to the capital just to report safety at Prime Minister Meng's residence and tell him about Chu Chengyun's situation here, so both sides could coordinate. If the capital changed hands, they'd have support.

But recently Prime Minister Meng had written saying Ye Ping Rong never came to his residence.

Going to the capital for months, it was impossible to still not show up after so long. After all, this time was enough for several round trips. Not only had Ye Ping Rong not gone to Prime Minister Meng's residence, there was no word at all, not even a letter. Hui Niang's visit was also to see if he'd contacted Ye Jiao.

It seemed he hadn't.

Hui Niang hadn't expected to lose contact with Ye Ping Rong completely. Besides anxiety, she felt guilt.

Though Ye Ping Rong was now part of Prince Duan's household and should naturally serve his master, from the beginning Hui Niang hadn't treated him as an ordinary guard. He was someone who could help Chu Chengyun in the future.

Now facing Ye Jiao, Hui Niang felt she should consider things more carefully.

Prime Minister Meng was searching because Ye Ping Rong had been with Chu Chengyun long enough that he couldn't fall into other princes' hands.

Chu Chengyun and Hui Niang were also searching because Ye Ping Rong had protected them all the way. They couldn't ignore him now.

But Hui Niang couldn't speak directly now, afraid of worrying Ye Jiao. She only smiled gently: "Soon, don't worry. He can't bear to leave you." But in her heart she was determined to find Ye Ping Rong no matter what.

Ye Jiao looked at her and smiled, nodding.

The jade ruyi was placed on the inner room's table, its lustrous white color quite beautiful.

But when Qi Yun returned, he didn't notice the extra item in the room. His heart and eyes were now completely full of Ye Jiao, unable to see anything else.

Especially hearing from Doctor Li that Ye Jiao might go into labor any day, he was even more nervous, not daring to delay a moment.

Perhaps toward others he remained cold and composed, but once before Ye Jiao, he was like fire melting ice, warm as a pool of water, careful in everything and cautious in all matters, not daring the slightest oversight.

Little Su recently didn't go back to sleep either, instead sleeping in the outer room, ready at all times to care for her.

As the person everyone was nervous about, Ye Jiao wasn't anxious. Probably because the child in her belly was particularly well-behaved, not fussing or crying, so she didn't worry too much.

Just counting days like this for several more, one night Qi Yun suddenly felt someone pushing him.

Second Young Master Qi always slept well beside Ye Jiao, but recently worrying about her condition, he slept more lightly, waking easily with a slight push.

He sat up directly, first looking at Ye Jiao: "Are you in pain?"

Ye Jiao heard his nervousness and quickly reached out to grasp his wrist: "No, I'm just hungry."

Hearing this, the expression on Qi Yun's face relaxed somewhat. He leaned down to kiss her forehead and asked: "What do you want to eat?"

"Chicken soup noodles."

Being pregnant made one easily hungry, but this was the first time his wife was hungry at night.

Yet Qi Yun didn't dare slack off at all. He sat up, opened the inner room door, and saw Little Su had already heard movement and gotten up, lighting candles.

"Little Su, have someone make a bowl of chicken soup noodles."

Hearing this, Little Su immediately put down the candlestick, grabbing her outer garment while putting it on and running outside.

Qi Yun returned to help Ye Jiao sit up. Little Ginseng was somewhat drowsy but still bravely supported herself against Qi Yun to prop up her upper body.

But just after getting up, she touched her belly.

It hurt a little.

Qi Yun quickly sat down and held her: "What's wrong?"

Ye Jiao lowered her head, feeling it had hurt just then but quickly stopped moving, so she shook her head, mumbling: "Hungry."

Qi Yun went to get clothes to drape over her. Since it was now autumn, there was some chill at night. He feared Ye Jiao would catch cold, so his first concern was wrapping her up warmly.

Ye Jiao also got clothes to wrap around Qi Yun: "Husband must also dress warmly."

Qi Yun smiled, caught her hand and kissed it lightly: "Good, I'll listen to Jiao Niang."

Soon Little Su pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of steaming chicken soup noodles.

Qi Yun took it, used chopsticks to lift some up, felt it was hot, and said: "Let it cool a bit before eating. This hot, it would be uncomfortable going down." Finishing, Qi Yun prepared to put the bowl on the outside table.

Little Su quickly went in, preparing to support Ye Jiao.

But Ye Jiao looked at no one, or rather, her attention was no longer on the noodles.

Little Ginseng lowered her head, somewhat bewildered as she shifted her body. Her belly hurt somewhat, then feeling a wave of wetness, she said to Little Su beside her: "Am I about to give birth?"

Hearing this, Little Su immediately looked down.

At home, she'd seen her mother give birth, so she could tell at a glance this was the start of labor.

Not caring about much else, Little Su helped Ye Jiao sit properly, then ran out like the wind.

Qi Yun in the outer room had been holding the chicken soup noodles bowl, watching Little Su rush out the door, frowning slightly.

The next moment, he heard Little Su shouting: "Second Young Mistress is in labor! Midwife, quickly get the midwife!"

"Crash!"

Ye Jiao had been sitting in the room. Though her belly hurt, it stopped hurting after a while, and she still remembered the chicken soup noodles.

Hearing commotion outside, Ye Jiao couldn't help saying: "Husband, where are the noodles?"

Qi Yun looked somewhat dazed. He entered the inner room empty-handed, wanting to help Ye Jiao but not knowing what he could do. His hands hung in mid-air as if frozen.

When Ye Jiao asked, he remembered to speak: "The noodles... I dropped them."

Ye Jiao blinked, somewhat regretful: "How did you drop them?"

Second Young Master Qi also forgot what exactly he'd just done, trying hard to recall: "You said you were giving birth, I got anxious."

These words were sincere. At that moment Qi Yun's mind went completely blank. His usual composure and calm all flew to the clouds, his heart full of Ye Jiao, unable to think of anything else.

His hand shook, the bowl fell to the ground and broke.

Ye Jiao could see Qi Yun was worried. She stopped talking to scare him, but still felt hungry.

But just looking up, she saw Qi Yun begin pacing around the room.

Sometimes circling around her, muttering what seemed like sentences from medical texts, sometimes circling the table, thinking who knows what.

But Qi Yun didn't dare move Ye Jiao, having never seen a woman give birth, afraid one careless move would harm his Jiao Niang.

Though less than a cup of tea's time had passed, Qi Yun felt like days were passing, wishing he could close his eyes and open them to find Ye Jiao had finished giving birth.

Ye Jiao just watched him wander everywhere. Though she still occasionally felt pain, her face smiled.

The usually most composed person was now frantic as an ant on a hot pan.

Her husband was truly the best.

Ye Jiao endured another wave of pain and said softly: "Never mind the noodles, are there snacks? Husband, I'm very hungry."

These words sounded no different from usual to Ye Jiao, but in Qi Yun's ears, his Jiao Niang sounded pitiful, probably in severe pain.

Now Second Young Master Qi's head was a complete mess, unable to settle down.

With Ye Jiao's words, Qi Yun ran to get snacks for his Jiao Niang, then ran back to coax her to eat.

Seeing him like this, Ye Jiao couldn't help pulling Qi Yun's sleeve: "You sit for a while first. I'm not in much pain yet."

Qi Yun agreed and went to sit on the nearby couch, but sitting and sitting he stood up again, unconsciously beginning to pace back and forth.

Ye Jiao was helpless, could only put snacks in her mouth, her eyes following him back and forth.

When Liu Shi hurriedly brought the midwife over, she saw Ye Jiao sitting calmly on the bed eating snacks, and Qi Yun sweating profusely and breathing heavily.

For a moment, she couldn't even tell who was supposed to be giving birth...