Chapter 3: Helping Third Auntie with Labor

A bit ugly!

Qin Liuxi: "……"

You’re pretty, but can you eat that? You’re still destined for the family’s downfall!

Old Lady Qin coughed, casting an unhappy glance at Lady Wan. Is this the time for pleasantries?

How thoughtless!

Lady Wan immediately became subdued.

Old Lady Qin then asked, "Where are the children?"

Xie Shi hurriedly replied, "They have all been taken to settle down by Lady Pan. Mother, what about Third Sister-in-law?"

She looked at Gu Shi lying on the bed, her eyes filled with a bit of sympathy. Normally, she didn’t think much of Gu Shi’s mild and peace-loving demeanor, but now, as a woman and a fellow sufferer, she was somewhat worried for her.

"Still hasn’t given birth," Wang Shi replied first, then said to Old Lady Qin, "Mother, you should go down to wash up and have a bowl of ginger soup. We can handle things here."

"Lady and Lady Dagu can go too, you’ve both been caught in the rain. We’ve all had our ginger soup, and we can temporarily watch over things here," Lady Wan said.

Old Lady Qin walked to the bedside of her young daughter-in-law and, seeing her in pain, said, "Gu Shi, don’t shout, save your strength. You have to give birth to two."

Gu Shi opened her eyes slightly, tears rolling down, her eyes filled with a bit of confusion and panic: "Mother, I..."

Old Lady Qin reached out and covered her mouth: "Don’t be afraid, we’re here for you." She then looked at Qin Liuxi: "Have them prepare hot water, basins, scissors, bedding, and cloth. If possible, get a doctor to come and sit. Add more brown sugar to the ginger soup, beat two eggs, and let Third Auntie regain her strength. If there are ginseng slices, prepare them as well."

She was making the worst-case scenario plans, in case they couldn’t get a midwife, they would have to deliver the baby themselves.

Fortunately, although it was delayed for a while, the midwife was eventually brought in.

After a thorough examination, the midwife’s face turned a bit grim. She put down the blanket covering the laboring woman and walked towards Qin Liuxi.

Old Lady Qin was about to ask, but saw the midwife bow to Qin Liuxi, which made her pause.

"Miss, this lady is not full term, but she has seen red and her water has broken. Her cervix hasn’t dilated, and she may need to take labor-inducing medication. Moreover, some preparations need to be made. Please give your instructions, Miss."

Qin Liuxi didn’t react much to this, but the other women present changed their expressions.

All of them were experienced, most of them mothers, and they understood that childbirth is like crossing the gates of hell. This particular situation was even more dangerous, with the path paved with swords. If anything went wrong with Third Lady Qin, it could result in three lives lost.

Old Lady Qin, realizing this, felt her legs go weak, clenching her prayer beads tightly, her wrinkled face looking even more haggard and aged.

The two concubines had already started sobbing softly, and Old Lady Qin, finding it inauspicious, sternly scolded, "Why are you crying? Get out."

The crying stopped abruptly.

Qin Liuxi then said, "Grandmother, what do you think?"

Old Lady Qin glanced at the young daughter-in-law on the bed and said wearily, "Have the doctor write a prescription and have it boiled."

Qin Liuxi nodded, looked at Qihuang, and the two of them walked out.

"Go to my small storeroom and pick the herbs, and boil them yourself," Qin Liuxi quietly told Qihuang the names of a few herbs.

Qihuang had no objections and quickly walked away.

Qin Liuxi watched the shadowy figures inside the room through the window, rubbed her eyebrows, sighed, and took the medicine box to a side room.

Opening the medicine box, she took out paper, a brush, and dark red cinnabar, gathered her breath, and began to draw a talisman.

Her brush strokes were steady and quick, the sharp tip of the brush pressing firmly on the paper, as if a golden light flashed. After the golden light passed, the lines on the paper, which were incomprehensible, suddenly became lively.

(End of Chapter)