Volume 5: Fellow Traveler Chapter 814: Understanding
Pregnant women cannot touch knives or even scissors... Not only in this era, Zhang Shou remembered that there were also such rules that mothers-in-law or mothers would teach their daughters-in-law or daughters in the future. Of course, for young people in his era, this taboo was not mainly about whether it was auspicious or not, but just about the worry that pregnant women would touch sharp weapons and hurt themselves accidentally.
However, for Concubine Yu, who had fought her way out with Jiu Niang on the eve of giving birth and then both gave birth prematurely, swords were not just weapons for self-defense, but also another kind of spiritual sustenance for her.
Therefore, in Yonghe Palace, even though the two midwives who had moved in early to serve her and the two female doctors who had experience in serving pregnant women were extremely anxious, they still could not take the dagger from Concubine Yu's hand. Although her face turned pale with pain and beads of sweat were all over her forehead, Concubine Yu's hand was still firmly holding the sharp weapon, and she refused to listen to anyone's advice.
She heard a commotion outside, and then she heard Zhu Ying's familiar voice, and she couldn't help laughing. Soon, with a burst of hurried footsteps, the familiar girl rushed directly in front of her, calling her "mother" anxiously. Seeing Zhu Ying's face flushed with anxiety, she couldn't help laughing and said, "What are you afraid of? It's just giving birth to a child. I'm not going to die!"
"Your Majesty!" Zhu Ying was so angry that her eyebrows were raised. "How can you say such an unlucky word at this time! And this sword..."
Seeing Zhu Ying reaching out to grab the dagger in her hand, although Concubine Yu was already sweating profusely from the pain, she still refused to give it to her. It was not until Zhu Ying said something in a huff that she was slightly stunned and her mind was in a state of confusion, that the sword in her hand was snatched away by the girl in front of her, whom she had watched grow up since she was a child.
"Even if something does happen, I'm here. I'll guard you with a sword and make sure no one can get in! Just have peace of mind and have your baby!"
Yuquan, who was following behind, couldn't help but hold her forehead with her hand after hearing what Zhu Ying said. However, she had to stay calm after all. She asked the midwife and the female doctor and learned that although Concubine Yu had started labor early, the pain had already occurred, but the birth canal had just opened. She immediately frowned, not sure whether this was premature labor and she was about to give birth, or if there was some other problem with the fetus in her belly, or...
Or maybe it was the worst possibility - a difficult birth.
She took a deep breath with mixed feelings, but did not go forward to comfort her, because she knew that Concubine Yu did not need any comfort at all. She did not make any comments, but ordered the midwife and the female doctors to make preparations according to the plan in advance. Seeing that the palace servants and eunuchs in Yonghe Palace were trying to remain calm, she could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Not to mention the biological mother of the Third Prince, the Imperial Noble Consort lived in the West Six Palaces, and it would be difficult for her to come here quickly. Even if she was next door, her performance would not be much better than that of Concubine Jiang. Therefore, she did not think there was anything wrong until she got here.
However, there has been no more baby in the palace in the past three years. Even though the child in Concubine Yu's belly has no practical significance in the case of a master in the Eastern Palace, it can at least make up for the emperor's pain of losing a child. Regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl, it is a rare happy event. As for worrying whether the child will be as favored as the third prince when he grows up, it is really too early.
The famous King Wuling of Zhao was ruined by his succession. She was also worried about whether the current emperor would be the same, but this was a matter for the future. The Queen Mother would not do anything to the currently favored Concubine Yu for the sake of the future...
However, Yuquan, who was trying her best to reduce her presence, suddenly heard Concubine Yu's voice: "Yuquan Shanggong, where is Zhang Shou? Didn't Yingying say that she would bring Zhang Shou to see me today?"
Zhu Ying was about to answer when Yuquan spoke up first, "He's with Concubine Jiang, who is planning to rush over after hearing the news. He should be behind us. Concubine, do you want to see him now?"
If it were any other concubine, at this critical moment, she would definitely give up meeting an outsider with whom she had no relationship, but Concubine Yu was Concubine Yu after all. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and then she said in an unquestionable tone: "Of course, I want to see him. I didn't expect that I could have another child at my age, and I can have this luck thanks to his mother."
At this moment, Zhang Shou and Concubine Jiang were standing in front of the delivery room in Yonghe Palace. Even though Concubine Yu's voice was not loud, he could hear it clearly under the premise that everyone else almost held their breath and tried not to make any sound. Before he could decide whether to take this opportunity to go in openly, Concubine Jiang at the side spoke.
"Mr. Zhang, since the Imperial Concubine has said so, then you may go in." Concubine Jiang was almost making a fool of herself because she had forgotten the instructions of Qingning Palace in a hurry. She was a little uncomfortable at first, but when she came here with Zhang Shou and he told her about the Fourth Prince as if nothing had happened, she had completely calmed down.
This is her son’s favorite and most respected teacher, not an outsider!
After Concubine Jiang said this, she smiled and personally opened the door curtain. Faced with her warmth and kindness, Zhang Shou could only bow and thank her, then calmed himself down and quickly stepped forward across the threshold to go in.
Even though the palace maids and eunuchs of Yonghe Palace had known that Zhang Shou was coming - they had seen him before - they were shocked to see . He was handsome and elegant, and seemed to be three times more handsome than before. Some of them were impressed by him, while others secretly went to see Zhu Ying.
Compared with Princess Yongping, who was the daughter of the emperor, even though her background was unknown, Zhu Ying not only received great love from both the palace and the Duke of Zhao's mansion, but also got such a husband. She was simply blessed. Now, even the word "marriage" has become a taboo for Princess Yongping!
Zhang Shou ignored the eyes focused on him. He saw Zhu Ying coming forward and grabbing him and walking towards the bed. He saw a midwife lowering the curtain and then being sent away by Yuquan with a shake of her head. He hesitated for a moment and stopped three or four steps away from the bed.
Although he was not very averse to the so-called rule that men were not allowed to enter the delivery room in those days - after all, a lot of obstetricians and gynecologists in later generations were men, and there were also men who entered the delivery room to accompany their wives because they felt sorry for them, and ended up being scared out of their wits - but Concubine Yu was not Zhu Ying, and even if she was actually half mother-in-law, he shouldn't get too close to her.
When he started to greet her, he said apologetically, "Madam, I think I came at the wrong time."
"No, you came at the perfect time."
Concubine Yu smiled very naturally. Seeing Zhu Ying, who was sitting at the head of the bed, hurried over to help her wipe the sweat off her face, she continued softly, "I didn't expect that the child would move when you came today. It seems that he also wants to be born into this world as soon as possible. Ah Shou, your mother is the lifesaver of Yingying's mother and me. She and I both owe her a life."
Before Zhang Shou could object to this statement, she blinked at him and said, "Now, Yingying is marrying you. Although this cannot be regarded as a favor from me or Jiu Niang to your mother, after all, you two love each other, and it is not just the will of your parents or the matchmaker. However, we are relieved because of your fate after all."
She took a deep breath and said, "Yingying, take Xiaoyue to my bedroom in the main hall. There is a box in the west corner. When you and A Shou go back, take the whole box with you."
Zhu Ying was about to refuse, but when she saw Concubine Yu's eyes were blazing, clearly unquestionable, and Yuquan beside her was silent, she also saw Zhang Shou hesitated for a moment but did not refuse, so she thought for a moment and said coquettishly, " Okay, I'll go over and take a look. If there's anything in the box that we like and can use, I'll take it away later, and leave the rest to Mingyue and her brothers and sisters!"
Seeing Zhu Ying looking at him after she finished speaking, Zhang Shou couldn't help but give her a thumbs up - such a tacit and excellent wife, she was really perfect.
Compared to simply rejecting Yu Fei's good intentions, which even seemed like entrusting her with her last wishes, Zhu Ying's unreserved approach was the best. Zhu Ying was naturally delighted by his silent praise, and she called Xiao Yue, whom she was very familiar with, and went there immediately.
Yuquan stood by and watched quietly, without any intention of making any comments. Soon, she heard Zhu Ying's voice outside, saying something like "I won't be polite to Mingyue..." When she quietly observed Zhang Shou, she saw that Zhang Shou was joking with Concubine Yu in a calm and relaxed manner.
"Your Highness said before that she felt she owed my mother something. If you give birth to a prince, how about you become my student in the future?"
Seeing Concubine Yu was slightly stunned, he smiled and spread his hands and said, "Of course, even gods cannot tell the gender of a child, but if it's a girl, isn't there Yingying who can be the teacher? This time the girls' school is opening, she said before that she didn't want to manage it, but she is running around with great enthusiasm. I guess she won't retire in the future. How about letting her teach the little princess then?"
Concubine Yu's eyes lit up, and when she saw Zhang Shou's relaxed smile, she asked softly, "Are you serious?"
"Of course it's true!" Zhang Shou said seriously, "Yingying said before that I have a lot of students now, and she also wants to accept a few. But Hailing County Princess is very interested, but I guess she can't stand the hardship of practicing martial arts, so she can only protect herself... If your majesty is not worried about the little princess suffering in the future, then just let Yingying be the teacher."
"Okay, okay." Concubine Yu's eyes were full of smiles at this moment, and her whole body was completely relaxed. "When the child is born, no matter whether it is a boy or a girl, I will give it to you and Yingying as a student. If the child has good aptitude, you can teach him mathematics and other various subjects, and Yingying will teach him martial arts. If the child has poor aptitude... it would be good for him to learn cooking from the son-in-law of King Jiangdu."
Hearing this, Zhang Shou was once again certain that even though Concubine Yu was physically strong and mentally tough, she seemed a little pessimistic about the birth of her child for some reason, otherwise she would not have entrusted her personal belongings and even her children to them in advance.
Thinking of this, he smiled and said, "Your Majesty is really open-minded. Compared with you, the elders of the noble children in the public school Banshan Hall are not so open-minded."
Seeing Zhang Shou calmly talking about the gossip of the students in Banshan Hall, such as the elder of a certain family who chased his children for an hour with a cane because they said they wanted to open a horse farm; the servant of a certain family married a commoner and asked for a lot of family property, which was like selling a daughter; the son of a certain family went on several blind dates and met a professional blind date girl...
Meeting the same substitute player three times was a kind of unusual fate. It was said that she was the daughter of a poor family.
Yuquan saw Zhang Shou talking with great relish , as if he was chatting with an ordinary elder, while Concubine Yu's expression gradually relaxed and she asked a few questions from time to time. While she breathed a sigh of relief, she also admired Zhang Shou's calmness.
After all, it has been an unwritten rule for a long time that men are not allowed to enter the delivery room. Even the closest people can only wait outside for good or bad news. Zhang Shou, at such a young age, faced this emergency, but he was able to come up with such a way to comfort the woman in labor.
Zhang Shou changed the subject in various ways, trying to make Concubine Yu think less. During this time, he saw the midwife going in and out of the curtain, so he had to step back a few steps to avoid being in the way. Soon, his helper came back. But Zhu Ying came in briskly, and then said with a smile: "A Shou, the queen's box is so big, all of which are the books she has collected over the years, and there are also a few weapons!"
"Those books are all kinds of strange stories and literati's notes, so she thought Mingyue, who loves classics and historical articles the most, would not like them. As for weapons... hehe, Mingyue would not even touch them! There is even a set of armor in it. Oh, I really wanted to put it on and let you see it just now!"
Yu Fei's eyes suddenly lit up with a strange light, the relaxed look just now disappeared without a trace, replaced by a bit of urgency, she even grabbed the mattress and wanted to sit up like this: "Since you want to wear it, then go and put it on and show it to me! Although it is a few years old, it is well maintained and has never been worn outside, so there is no need to worry about any evil spirits... Come on, show me after you dress up!"
Zhu Ying was slightly stunned, but then without much hesitation, she just said yes and went back in a hurry.
Zhang Shou saw that the midwife standing by the bed suddenly turned her head to look at Yuquan, and then the palace lady of Qingning Palace looked at him and shook her head very slightly. He was nervous at first, thinking that Concubine Yu was in a very bad condition, but when he saw Yuquan's calm expression, and the busyness of the group of people and the strange smell, he thought about it again and thought of another possibility.
Could it be that... Concubine Yu's preparations for delivery were going smoothly and she's about to give birth, so he needs to step away?
Zhang Shou didn't have time to think about it, and immediately said with a smile: "I have never seen Yingying wearing armor. I heard that armor is difficult to put on. Even if there is help, I think it will be difficult for her. Don't blame me, Your Majesty, I will go over to help her, and you will appreciate what this modern Hua Mulan is like in a moment."
Seeing Zhang Shou nod to Concubine Yu with a smile, and then really rolled up his sleeves and went over to help, Yuquan felt relieved. You know, the midwife moved her lips to hint that Concubine Yu's birth canal had opened five fingers and was about to open six fingers. Who knows what will happen next, so of course she hoped that Zhang Shou, a man, would understand the hint and get out of the way!
