Chapter 305: The Male Infant
Someone fed her a bowl of sugar water, but she couldn’t taste any sweetness.
Jinchao was drenched in sweat from the pain. The maids kept wiping her face with handkerchiefs, yet the child showed no signs of movement.
She opened her eyes, staring at the patterned ceiling as she gasped for breath. The midwife continued to comfort her while maids bustled in and out with hot water, the room a flurry of activity.
Caifu entered and grasped her hand. "...Madam, Third Master has returned. He’s waiting outside!"
Jinchao clutched her hand in return, her nails unconsciously digging into Caifu’s skin. Caifu bore it without a sound.
Yu Wanxue had also rushed over. The East Side Room was already crowded with people waiting outside. Chen Xi, held by a nursemaid, kept peering toward the room. Wang Shi and Madam Ge stood guard nearby.
Chen Yanyun had just returned and strode quickly toward the East Side Room, followed by a group of people.
Madam Chen hurried forward to take her son’s hand.
With her son here, Madam Chen felt anchored. As long as he made the decisions, nothing would go wrong.
She had sighed in relief the moment she saw Third Master Chen return.
Chen Yanyun inquired about the situation—when the labor had started, how it was progressing. When he heard it was a difficult birth, his brow furrowed, his tone grave. "First births often take a day or two of pain. Why is she struggling so much?"
Madam Chen sighed. "...The midwife says she lacks strength. Jinchao’s belly is too large, and the child is likely well-developed, making it hard to deliver." She added, "I’ve sent for Physician Ji, but I don’t know if it’ll help."
Jinchao’s belly had indeed been larger than usual, which had worried him from the start...
Chen Yanyun shook his head. "Physician Ji may not be of use." After a moment of silent deliberation, he turned and instructed Chen Yi, "Prepare a fast horse. Go to Dongjiaomin Lane immediately and fetch Imperial Physician Guo."
"Imperial Physician Guo specializes in women and children’s ailments. He oversees the births of imperial concubines in the palace," Chen Yanyun explained to Madam Chen. He then said, "Mother, you’ve been standing guard here for half the day, and it’s already dark. You should go back and rest. I’ll keep watch here. Nothing will go wrong."
Madam Chen smiled wryly and shook her head. "I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I went back. I’d just send people over to ask for updates. It’s too much trouble!"
Chen Yanyun had no choice. He could only have a room prepared beside the East Side Room for Madam Chen to rest in.
Her health had been poor lately, and she was getting older. She likely couldn’t endure the strain.
Only after Madam Chen had left did Jiang Yan lower his voice and say, "Third Master, the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Pharmacy have always been under Marquis Changxing’s control... Could Imperial Physician Guo take advantage of the situation..."
The Imperial Hospital was a den of mixed allegiances. That was why the Chen Family usually avoided imperial physicians for medical treatment.
"At a time like this, I can’t afford to care about that," Third Master Chen said, his voice quieter. "If he dares to play any tricks, I won’t let him off. He should know better."
Jinchao’s labor had started in the morning at the hour of Si. Now, it was nearing the end of You in the evening.
Chen Yanyun stood outside the East Side Room, listening to the commotion inside—the midwives speaking, the maids assisting, and Gu Jinzhao’s groans of pain.
She must be in unbearable agony. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lost control like this.
...The birthing chamber was considered unclean, so he couldn’t enter to stay with her. He didn’t know how she was faring.
Chen Yanyun took a deep breath and turned to wait in the study of the main hall.Listening to her voice from here, he couldn't help but want to go in and see her. Jinchao had always been stubborn and definitely wouldn't want him to see her in such a state... though he very much wished to stay by her side.
When Jiang Shi was giving birth to their first child, he was still serving in the Office of the Directorate of Instruction. Madam Chen had sent someone to inform him, but he was occupied with official duties and didn't return immediately. By the time he got back, the child had already been born. Even Concubine Xue's delivery had gone smoothly, with Jiang Shi bringing the baby to show him.
Chen Yanyun had just copied a page of Buddhist scriptures when he heard the sound of a carriage outside.
Physician Guo had arrived.
Unable to remain still any longer, he quickly set down his brush and went out.
Upon hearing that the wife of Chen Ge Lao was in labor, Physician Guo naturally didn't dare delay and hurried over with his medical chest.
After assessing Gu Jinzhao's condition, Physician Guo wrote a new prescription for a labor-inducing decoction and repeatedly instructed, "Give her another dose of ginseng soup, but the ginseng shouldn't be too old—preferably around twenty years. Brew it strong and have her drink it."
Jiang Yan immediately took the prescription to Physician Ji for verification before sending someone to prepare the medicine.
Third Master Chen asked, "In your opinion, is there danger?"
Physician Guo hesitated. "This official cannot say for certain... it depends on Madam's constitution. The child's prolonged delay puts both mother and baby at great risk. The cervix has begun to dilate, but if there's no progress within three hours, then..." He didn't dare continue.
Third Master Chen closed his eyes briefly before striding toward the eastern wing.
Gu Jinzhao was given another dose of the decoction.
She turned her head weakly and asked the midwife, "...Didn't it start opening earlier? How... is it now?"
Her voice was noticeably weaker than before.
The cervix had only dilated slightly and showed no further progress, with the baby still not descending. The excruciating pain in her lower abdomen had drained her strength.
The midwife's heart trembled at the question, but she forced a smile. "Don't worry, this decoction will help!"
Gu Jinzhao no longer believed her. She knew her fading strength wasn't a good sign.
Pressing her lips tightly together, she suddenly felt a surge of bitterness!
Childbirth hadn't been this difficult in her past life! After finally attaining peace and stability, was... was heaven unwilling to let her live well? Why must this child's fate be so fraught? If anything happened to her... the baby wouldn't survive either.
What would become of Third Master Chen then?
If she died in childbirth, would Third Master Chen repeat history and be murdered by others? Would the Chen Family collapse again, with nothing changed...
Gu Jinzhao forced herself to abandon such thoughts!
She had to believe everything would be fine—she would be fine, the baby too... Yet despite her resolve, tears flowed uncontrollably.
After another half-hour passed with little movement in the birthing chamber, Third Master Chen finally stepped inside.
Granny Sun guarding the entrance was too startled to stop him in time.
Gu Jinzhao saw his tall figure enter, his usually smiling face now stern and unsmiling.
His expressionless demeanor always inspired fear.
Fresh tears welled up as she whispered weakly, "You must leave! You... can't... this isn't proper."
"I know," he soothed in his usual gentle tone. "I'm staying with you."
Only the dire circumstances could have driven him to disregard propriety like this.Gu Jinzhao's heart sank further as she tightly grasped his hand. "Is it... is it not good..." Before he could answer, she hurriedly added, "Don't... hide it from me! I want to know, Yanyun..."
It was the first time she had called him by his given name. Her voice trembled as if she were on the verge of tears. "You must tell me!"
Chen Yanyun held her hand in return, his throat tight with emotion, unable to speak.
After a long pause, he finally steadied himself. "I'm here. Even if it's not good, nothing will happen."
Gu Jinzhao felt the sweat in his palm and couldn't suppress the ache in her heart. "I... need to tell you. Chen Yanyun, ever since I married you... I've been so happy. I've never felt this good before. My life used to be so hard..."
Marrying Third Master Chen had truly been the best time of her life. The regrets and misery of her past life, the scheming and struggles of this one... She had once been so guarded. But now she relied on him, trusted him completely. She had long since let down her defenses. If he ever hurt her in the future, she would have no way to resist.
Third Master Chen couldn't find the words. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
His voice was hoarse. "I know..."
Sometimes, he disliked this part of himself—always holding back, always restraining. Even in grief or anger, he never let it show. But inside, the pressure was unbearable.
Now, as he struggled to remain composed, even his hands trembled.
If Gu Jinzhao had spoken to him like this under normal circumstances, he would have been overjoyed. But now, her words weighed heavily on him.
She choked back a sob, enduring another wave of pain before continuing, "...If anything happens to me, remember... be careful of those close to you... Don't go to Sichuan. The Bodhisattva revealed this to me in a dream. I forgot to tell you sooner..."
In this critical moment, she could only use the dream as an excuse.
"Alright, I won't go," Third Master Chen murmured, kissing her sweat-drenched forehead. "Don't think like that. Nothing will happen..."
Gu Jinzhao felt she had said all she needed to. Clutching his hand tightly, she found comfort in his presence.
...If she really didn't survive, at least she would die before him.
Caifu and the other maids had tears brimming in their eyes but dared not cry. Wiping their faces, they followed Physician Guo's instructions and brought another dose of ginseng soup for Jinzhao...
Madam Chen sat on the heated bed, draped in an outer robe, too worried to sleep.
Granny Zheng placed a candleholder on the heated bed table, while a maid brought in a plate of pine nut cakes.
Madam Qin and the others were exhausted, yet no one suggested leaving to rest. Especially Madam Qin, whose heart was in turmoil... Everyone had heard Physician Guo's words—Gu Jinzhao's labor was perilous.
Part of her hoped Gu Jinzhao would deliver the child safely, while another part wished she wouldn't. If the birth failed, Madam Qin would inevitably be blamed. But if it succeeded, with a child as her support, the Gu family would truly have no place for her.
Yu Wanxue, however, stared blankly at the flickering candlelight, her thoughts drifting to Chen Xuanqing, far away in Suining.
The sorrow of others is hard to truly share.
Madam Ge wept quietly until Madam Chen sharply reprimanded her, startling her into silence.
Wang Shi stood and distributed the pine nut cakes, but Madam Chen waved her off with a sigh. "Never mind, you all eat..." Her worry for Gu Jinzhao was too great.When it came to affection, Gu Jinzhao hadn't been married into the Chen Family for long, so the bond wasn't particularly deep. She was also worried about the third son—his life had been far from smooth. As a child, he had been closest to the fifth son, but the latter had drowned in an accident. Just as he entered the Office of the Directorate of Instruction, his father fell seriously ill. And when he finally achieved success and fame, Jiang Shi passed away before him... Others only saw his high position, unaware of all he had endured to reach where he was today.
The room was silent except for the steady drip of the clepsydra, lending an air of quiet melancholy.
Then, at last, a commotion arose outside. Madam Chen straightened up in her seat. Soon, a maid came running in to report, "Tai Furen, the mistress's cervix has dilated further. The midwife is assisting with the delivery and says there are no major complications!"
Hearing this, Madam Chen brightened and beckoned, "Quick, help me up!" Everyone was overjoyed, laughing and crying all at once. The maids helped her into her shoes, and the group hurried toward the eastern wing.
By the hour of mao, Gu Jinzhao had given birth to a healthy baby boy weighing seven jin.
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