Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Turbulence (Part 2)
"I don’t know." Xiqiu shook her head and replied, "The person hasn’t returned, and no news has been sent back!" Daijuan, full of anxiety, said uneasily, "Our Fourth Miss didn’t sleep all night, worried about the safety of the eldest young mistress, and asked me to inquire. I thought and thought but didn’t know where to go, so I thought of coming to ask you, Sixth Miss."
"I don’t know either." Xiqiu shook her head, "I don’t know what happened, and I’m worried. Tell Fourth Sister not to worry. If something really happened, I’m sure someone from the Marquis Mansion would come with news. Since there’s no news, perhaps things aren’t as we fear."
Daijuan actually knew in her heart that if the Fourth Miss didn’t know, then the Sixth Miss likely wouldn’t have any solutions either. It’s just that once she left the courtyard, she immediately thought of the Sixth Miss, always feeling that as long as she came here, there would surely be a solution. Hearing the Sixth Miss’s words now, she inexplicably felt much comforted.
"Sorry to trouble you, Sixth Miss, I’ll be going back then." Daijuan bowed to Xiqiu, turned, and was about to leave.
Xiqiu called her back and asked, "How is Fourth Sister?" Daijuan turned and looked at Xiqiu, her eyes turning red, "She hasn’t eaten for two days. Nanny Qian coaxed and persuaded her to drink some water. Now she is lying in bed, so thin that she’s unrecognizable."
Xiqiu frowned and said to Daijuan, "Don’t worry, I’ll have someone inquire, and once there’s news, you’ll be informed."
Daijuan nodded, dipped her body in a curtsy, "Thank you, Sixth Miss, I shall take my leave!" With that, she lifted the curtain and went out.
Xiqiu sighed, called Sixing and said, "Go find Laiwang’s wife and ask her to find out what happened to Big Sister." Sixing nodded, "I’ll go right away."
Sixing didn’t return until the first watch, panting, obviously having run back. As soon as she entered the room, she reported to Xiqiu with a difficult expression, "Laiwang’s wife said she sent Nanny Fang away yesterday. While in the carriage, Nanny Fang was scolding a young maid; she overheard that the Eldest Miss had a premature birth!"
Premature birth? Tong Xihua is just over eight months, how could she give birth prematurely?
"Did she hear what caused it?" Sixing shook her head, "Nanny Fang lowered her voice on purpose, fearing she would be heard. But tomorrow, Lady will be back. It was said that a servant reported that at the hour of 7 a.m., they would go to greet the Lady!"
Xiqiu nodded, if Tong Xihua had indeed given birth prematurely, then Nanny Lin and Lady’s reaction made sense. Yet, one wondered if the mother and child were safe. It had been two days; if she had given birth, the Marquis Mansion should have sent someone to congratulate them, right?! How was it that there had been no movement until now?
A night of uneasy waiting passed, and sure enough, the next morning, a servant from the Marquis Mansion came with news. Since the Lady wasn’t home, it was Second Lady who received her, confirming the rumor: Tong Xihua’s abdomen had started contracting since the morning the day before yesterday, and she had shown blood, but despite the pain, there was no sign of her giving birth. The Grand Dowager had summoned the Imperial Physician and four or five midwives, Xiao Yanyi even went to the palace nursery to bring back a wet nurse, but after two entire nights of pain, Tong Xihua’s voice was hoarse, yet the baby was still in her womb without even the slightest movement.
The midwives were so frightened they almost fainted. Eventually, it was the Grand Dowager who had the method, pleading with the Imperial Physician to perform acupuncture, a highly risky measure but better than such lingering uncertainty. As expected, after two needles, Tong Xihua gave birth to a son after midnight. Because of the premature nature of the birth, he was somewhat lacking in energy, and it took a while before they heard his first cry.
The legitimate grandson of the Marquis Mansion, born at such a turbulent time, brought hope to the entire mansion. The Grand Dowager wept with joy, as did the Lady. The two of them held the wrinkled, red baby in their arms, and the Lady immediately gave him the small name "Xing," a homonym for "heart" and "hardship."
By noon, the Lady returned. Xiqiu, along with the maidservants, concubines, and Tong Xiyu, went to offer congratulations. Upon entering the room, however, they found the Lady’s face looking very grim. Xiqiu’s heart sank, swallowing her words of congratulations and simply said, "Mother!"
The Lady looked at her mindlessly and nodded; Tong Xiyu also went over with a smile, "Congratulations to Mother, and congratulations to Big Sister."
"Hmm." The Lady’s expression changed slightly, with no trace of joy on her face. Xiqiu grew even more suspicious; could there be something wrong with the child? While she pondered this, she heard the Lady say, "I have to go to your Big Sister’s place this afternoon, so I’ll leave the household matters to Madam Mei and Nanny Qian. If you have any issues, speak to them."
Xiqiu nodded, while Tong Xiyu, eyes filled with joy, lowered her head, not noticing the flash of disdain in the Lady’s eyes. She said, "You all can go back, I’m tired and need some rest."
"Yes!" The two knelt and complied, then left together. Standing at the door of the Zhui Garden, Tong Xiyu said to Xiqiu, "Sixth Sister, take care. I’m going to see aunt."
Xiqiu raised an eyebrow, seeing the joy on Tong Xiyu’s face almost uncontrollably pouring out. She smiled and replied, "Eighth Sister, take care too." After speaking, Xiqiu took the small path back to the West Courtyard.
As soon as she reached the courtyard, Laiwang’s wife was already waiting at the door. Seeing her, she approached, looked around, and whispered in Xiqiu’s ear, "The eldest young mistress gave birth to a young master last night. Although the little master has some deficiencies, he’s generally fine. But the eldest young mistress..." Xiqiu was stunned, Laiwang’s wife continued, "The eldest young mistress had massive bleeding. The Imperial Physician worked all night to save her, and she hasn’t woken up yet."
So it was like that, no wonder the Lady’s face was not joyful but rather cold and scary. In this era, childbirth for women was akin to walking through the gate of Hades, lucky ones returning, while unlucky ones often faced a one-body-two-lives situation.
Tong Xihua had always been in poor health and now this premature delivery...
Laiwang’s wife’s face was solemn, secretly worrying for the Marquis Mansion, as Marquis Xuanning’s coffin was still at home waiting for the funeral. If something happened to Tong Xihua as well, it would be an add-on to the disaster for the Xuanning Marquis Mansion. Thinking about it, she shook her head, full of lament: "Amitabha Buddha, bless the eldest young mistress and child with good health!"
Xiqiu said nothing. With Tong Xihua in this condition, it’s likely the baby’s third-day ceremony couldn’t be held the next day!
But the next day unexpectedly, the Lady returned, looking somewhat better than the previous day. She called for Xiqiu and Tong Xiyu and released Tong Xiyan, telling the three of them, "Go back and get ready, then join me at the Marquis Mansion for Xing’s third-day ceremony. As aunts, you shouldn’t be absent!"
In just two days, Tong Xiyan had lost a lot of weight, her face small and thin with only her eyes appearing particularly large, yet they seemed unfocused and lacking in spirit. Upon hearing the Lady mention Xing, her eyes lit up slightly, then she lowered her face and curtsied, "Daughter understands!"
Xiqiu and Tong Xiyu both nodded as well, and the Lady looked at Tong Xiyan and said, "Fourth girl, stay. You two go prepare, and later go directly to the second gate."