Chapter 57 Chapter 57 is about to give birth

Chapter 57

Jinyao always felt scared when she looked at that thing, and she always felt that it was not a good thing.

Mrs. Li noticed her embarrassment and smiled, "This thing can help you and your wife strengthen our relationship."

Jinyao was very suspicious. Is that it?

She looked at it more closely and noticed that the fox's tail had two ribbons hanging down. Before she could think about it, a palace maid came to report, "Your Majesty, it's time to go to Jiying Palace."

"knew."

Li turned to Jinyao and said, "I'll be leaving first. You can stay here in the palace. You don't have to go upstairs. I'll have the maids guard outside the palace. If you're thirsty or hungry, just let me know."

Before Jinyao left, the county lady reminded her that no matter how close the queen was to her, she must not forget etiquette and hierarchy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jin Yao knelt down and saluted obediently.

Li led the palace maids and left in a grand manner.

Jinyao stayed in the side hall and would leave the palace with the county lord only after the banquet was over.

After the banquet, Jin Yao supported her waist and walked out of the palace.

As soon as she left the palace, she found a palace maid holding a small box outside. Seeing her come out, she smiled and said, "Madam He, this is something the Queen asked you to take away."

Jin Yaofang thought of those strange things.

"Yunqiao," Jinyao instructed Yunqiao to take the box. The maid continued, "The Empress has gone to see His Majesty. Please leave on your own."

Jin Yao nodded slightly, then left the palace with Yun Qiao.

The He family's carriage was parked at the palace gate. It was already dark, and she felt relaxed and at ease as she walked along.

Jinyao returned to the mansion in a carriage. Yunqiao asked her, "What should we do with this box of things?"

"Lock it up, no need to take it out." Jin Yao always felt that those weird things were not very good, and she also felt that Li's smile was really strange, so it was better to lock it up.

"Okay." Yun Qiao locked it in the innermost part of the box after hearing that.

As the days passed, Jinyao's original anxiety gradually settled down, and she quietly waited for the day of delivery.

It happened to be the end of the year, and all the government offices were busy preparing for the New Year holidays, such as the New Year and the Lantern Festival. The government offices were busy and the cabinet affairs were piled up. Even so, He Anting still worked on official business during the day and handled household affairs at night.

Gradually, the news spread.

Many colleagues teased him about this when he was in and out of court. He Anting was not angry, but instead explained to others that "my wife is in good health, so I have to do this."

The county lady was already used to being asked this question in the circle of officials' wives. Every time, she would just smile awkwardly and listen to their teasing and envy.

After Jinyao entered full term, she felt her body was heavy, her waist was often sore, and her legs were swollen. Sometimes she would cry looking at her bulging calves.

He Anting would comfort her and massage her legs at night.

His wife was about to give birth, and He Anting didn't want to be hindered by official duties, so he concentrated his official duties to be completed within a few days, and handed the rest to his subordinates, or worked at home.

Unfortunately, it was almost the end of the year and Xiao Zongqi still didn't let him go, which made He Anting angry and helpless.

He Anting goes out early and comes back late, and Jinyao is a little uneasy. Which woman doesn't want her husband to be by her side when she is about to give birth?

Unfortunately, she could not disobey the official order, so she had to endure the disappointment and wait obediently.

However, something soon diverted her attention. The security guards at the He Mansion sent news that Jing Xunyuan had been harassing her mother frequently recently. Jin Yao was so angry that she wanted to harness the carriage to confront him.

Now Jinyao is very strong-willed and has a very majestic temper. She no longer suffers losses like before.

Besides, Cui had been asking for excessive money a few months ago, and for some reason, she hadn't come again.

"No, I have to go check it out." Jin Yao was worried and said to Yun Qiao, "Change my clothes."

"Young Madam, you are full-term now, so you can't move your body casually. What if..." Yun Qiao was very worried.

"Doctor Han diagnosed that the due date is about half a month away, so it should be fine. Make the carriage thicker and softer, and bring more people. Take Qingwu with you."

He Anting had left Qingwu to her a long time ago. Qingwu was careful and considerate and could arrange everything properly.

Jinyao was worried about her mother and insisted on going out.

Yun Qiao went to inform the county lady and explained the reason in detail. The county lady was unwilling but could not stop it, so she had to send Nanny Yuan to follow.

An ordinary trip turned into a huge commuter trip.

Jinyao leaned against the car window to look at the scene around her and whispered to Nanny Yuan, "It doesn't have to be like this."

"Everything is for the safety of the young lady." Okay, Jin Yao shut up and shrank into the carriage.

The carriage was wrapped in thick satin on all sides, preventing the cold wind from getting in. Thick cotton blankets were laid inside the carriage, so there was no feeling of bumps while moving.

And so we traveled all the way to He's house.

Unfortunately, she happened to meet Jing Xunyuan who was arguing with the security guard at the door. She lifted the curtain of the car with her delicate hands and watched cautiously for a while.

"Tell your wife to come out to see me immediately. If she doesn't, don't blame me for telling the neighbors about the true face of this vicious woman."

"What true face? What does father want to say?" A soft but cold voice interrupted Jing Xunyuan's nonsense.

Jing Xunyuan suddenly turned around: "Yaoyao?" He looked her up and down in disbelief, almost not daring to recognize her.

The timid girl in the past was now dressed in rich clothes, wearing an ermine fur cloak, which wrapped her body tightly but could not hide her nobleness. She wore gold and silver hairpins on her heart-shaped bun, and red agate pendants on her earlobes, which made her skin look fair and charming.

Jin Yao slowly walked over and asked, "I wonder what brings you here, father?"

Jing Xunyuan coughed lightly. "I have something to ask your mother. Our family is having financial difficulties right now, and business is not doing well. Your stepmother has been running around begging for your brother every day, and she has spent all her money, so..."

Jinyao understood and still came to borrow money.

"Let me say this. Father and mother divorced a long time ago. Zong Ge'er has nothing to do with mother. Why would you need to borrow money? Father, please don't bother me. Go back."

Jing Xunyuan was a little annoyed: "How can it be okay? Zong Ge'er has called He Shi mother for so many years, and now when something happens, you just ignore her?"

"Or, as a member of the clan, now that you're rich, you should at least help out at home. I'm still your father, after all, so you should be filial to me."

Jing Xunyuan said confidently, "Even if Lord He comes, I will still say the same thing. Where in our country's laws does it say that children can ignore their parents?"

Jinyao had a stern face and was extremely angry at his expression.

Just as she was about to argue with him about his actions, He Anting's words suddenly popped up in her mind.

"I can't control your reputation, so you have to make sure he can't find any fault with you. If you want to punish him, the best way is to give him some favors and make him kneel at your feet and beg you."

His serious expression appeared before her eyes.

She cannot be led by the other party. Now it is the Jing family that needs her. Even if the other party is arrogant and unreasonable, and has a thick skin, it is still the family that needs her. She must not be led by the other party by the nose. In the end, she will suffer while the other party leaves happily.

Jinyao snorted in her heart.

"Okay, it's okay to pay." She deliberately dragged out her voice, and Jing Xunyuan looked at her anxiously.

"But father also knows that the He Mansion has strict rules and spends money like water. If the county lady knew that I subsidize my mother's family, she would definitely blame me."

She pretended to sigh.

Jing Xunyuan was very disappointed: "It is natural for a daughter to subsidize her parents' family. You should talk to your uncle. After all, you are pregnant, and he will definitely not refuse."

"Father, what you said makes sense. Then come and get the money tomorrow."

Jing Xunyuan sighed, then smiled flatteringly, and said, "But you must come with Madam Cui."

"That's natural."

Jing Yao easily dismissed Jing Xunyuan. Yun Qiao asked her in surprise, "Young Madam, are you really going to give him money?"

"Who said that? I just ran away. If they want money, then they'll wait in the snow day and night. When they get cold, they'll be taken to a room without a charcoal fire. They won't be allowed to ask the servants to refill their tea. They'll sneak away for a few days and slip a little silver through their fingers. If they keep coming back every few days, it'll become increasingly difficult to get the money."

Jinyao wanted to laugh when she thought about it. This way she could not only protect her own reputation, but also teach the couple a lesson.

Yun Qiao was surprised that her master had also learned the tricks used in the mansion.

Jinyao then went into the mansion and had a warm reunion with He. When she returned home in the evening, she talked about this with He Anting: "My husband, am I really that great?"

He Anting frowned and said, "It's the coldest time of the year, don't go out anymore. Just ask Qingwu to handle this matter."

"I just want to go there myself. I won't be happy if I don't get this done."

Although He Anting disagreed, he couldn't bear to show his disapproval: "Yes, Yaoyao is very majestic now."

The two changed into pajamas and got into the warm bed. Jin Yao rested her head on his arm and rubbed his chest tenderly. He Anting was resting with his eyes closed, and then he accurately grasped her little hand: "Don't make a fuss, go to sleep."

Jin Yao was a little disappointed when she heard that, but she still didn't give up and reached out to touch his Adam's apple.

As expected, he still looked as still as a mountain.

Although Jin Yao thought he was vulgar before, she gradually got used to it and found him quite interesting. But when he suddenly turned into Liu Xiahui, she really couldn't get used to it.

Is it because I have gained weight that he dislikes me?

Jinyao felt a little aggrieved, so she silently withdrew her hand and buried herself in the quilt without making any sound.

Soon, her jaw was forced up, and her red eyes fell into the man's solemn gaze.

"You're about to give birth, just bear with it, it'll be over soon."

The large palm fell on her back, stroking it again and again. The hot temperature burned her heart. Jinyao sniffed and fell asleep reluctantly.

A few days later, Jing Xunyuan and his wife indeed came to the He Mansion and were received by Qing Wu personally.

On the first day, the reason was that the young lady was resting, so the two were asked to wait outside the door.

It was the dead of winter, with ice and snow everywhere. The two stood for more than half an hour, and their hands and feet were frozen.

The smile froze.

Finally, he couldn't bear it any longer and urged them to wait. Qing Wu, with an apologetic look on his face, took the two of them to a cold room and asked them to continue waiting.

This went on for three days. The two men could no longer bear it and were on the verge of getting angry. Only then did Jin Yao meet them leisurely.

There was no tea or entertainment. Jing Xunyuan originally wanted to act like a father, but when he saw that he was surrounded by guards and maids with cold faces, his arrogance was somewhat weakened.

Jin Yao asked Yun Qiao to give the two of them a few taels of silver, and Cui's smile froze.

"You girl, you can only fool us with such a small thing."

Jin Yao's eyes suddenly turned red when she heard this: "This is also because I am frugal. I can't touch anything in the He Mansion, and the dowry is only enough for my daily expenses."

Jing Xunyuan said anxiously, "Then we'll just use your dowry as a last resort."

Yun Qiao secretly rolled her eyes, and Jin Yao also secretly snorted, "My dowry is just that much. If my husband knew about it, he would definitely take his anger out on my father. Could my father bear to see his daughter being taken out on him?"

Jing Xunyuan gave up after hearing that. Well, his brother-in-law was indeed not someone easy to get along with.

The two men left with a few taels of silver in their pockets, which was not a good thing.

As the two of them left, Yun Qiao couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Young Madam, did you see that? Their hands are frozen purple. They were told to come here with sullen faces. When you were a few years old, Cui made you stand in the snow as punishment. You got frostbite on your hands, and it took a lot of effort to heal them."

Jinyao said with a gloomy face: "Let's see when they come next time."

Her boring days suddenly became a little more interesting. In order to cooperate with his wife, He Anting deliberately pretended to be very fierce in front of the two of them. Jin Yao was very afraid of him and dared not breathe.

This made the two of them believe it even more. Although she appeared decent on the surface, she was actually very nervous.

Seeing her like this, the two men endured it and continued to think about asking her for more money, although it was more difficult each time.

After countless times, Cui couldn't stand it any longer: "In that case, you can find a warmer room for us to stay for a few days, so we don't have to run back and forth."

Jin Yao looked at the two of them innocently and said, "Then we need to ask the county lady's opinion on this matter first."

Cui couldn't stand it anymore. Thinking that she was still being bullied, she pointed at her head and said, "You are really useless, you might as well send my Ran'er here."

Jin Yao thought she could no longer pretend. She was about to say something when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen and cold sweat broke out in an instant. Then a hot stream of water soaked her underwear.

She was startled, and a look of pain appeared on her face: "Yunqiao, hurry up, I think I'm about to give birth."

Yun Qiao was horrified and quickly called for the midwife. Fortunately, the maids had already trained the midwife in advance, so although it was urgent, everything was done in an orderly manner.

Jin Yao's face turned pale, and she clutched Yun Qiao's arm: "Where's He Anting?"

"Qing Wu has already gone to call him. He will probably be back soon. Don't be afraid, Madam." Yun Qiao's voice was trembling, but she still comforted her firmly.

Jing Xunyuan and his wife were terrified. Yun Qiao scolded them harshly, "What are you standing there for? How dare you disrespect the young lady? If anything happens to the young lady and the child, be careful that the son-in-law will peel off your skin."

With just a few words, she put the hat on the two of them. Jing Xunyuan quickly distanced himself from the matter: "It has nothing to do with me. It's all her fault, it's all her fault." He pushed Cui away, but he himself stepped back.

Soon, no one cared about them anymore, and Yunqiao and the midwife helped Jinyao to the bed.

The county lady also heard the news and hurried over.

Jin Yao was lying on the bed, surrounded by a mess. The voices of the midwife and the maid were mixed together, as was the conversation between the imperial physician and the county lord. Her lower abdomen was aching as if her ribs were broken, and the pain was so severe that she couldn't help crying.

The feeling of panic seemed to overwhelm her, and she couldn't even hear the midwife's voice telling her to push harder.

The midwife thought something had happened to her and was startled. Then a cold fragrance came from beside her, and a low but safe voice sounded above Jinyao's head: "Yaoyao?"

The warm big hand held her sweaty hand, and Jinyao's heart froze in an instant.

She had a wet and pale face, and she wanted to say something but hesitated. She looked extremely aggrieved, which made He Anting's heart suddenly tighten and ache.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Jinyao calmed down and could hear what the midwife said. She gritted her teeth and pushed hard as she spoke.

The county lady paced back and forth outside the house. She was too lazy to stop He Anting from entering the house. She felt unusually uneasy.

"Don't worry, County Lady. The imperial physician has said that the young lady will be safe."

Yun Qiao's heart was in a state of panic, and she was sweating profusely. He Anting remained calm throughout. Looking closely, one could see that his frown had never relaxed.

After an unknown amount of time, the midwife shouted, "Madam, give one last push and you can see the baby's head."

Jinyao clenched her lips and teeth, and in a daze, a hand seemed to reach her mouth. She bit it hard, and as she exerted force, her body suddenly became lighter, and everyone's surprised voices suddenly rang out.

"It's a boy. Congratulations, ma'am, sir. Both mother and child are safe."

Jinyao squinted her eyes lightly, she was extremely tired and the pain had not yet subsided.

He Anting let out a long breath. There were deep teeth marks on his palms, and blood was oozing out, but he didn't care. The moment he lowered his eyes, the watery color in his eyes disappeared.

Jinyao didn't know how long she slept before she woke up. When she woke up, she smelled the familiar cold fragrance, which made her feel extremely at peace.

She blinked, "Husband?"

"I'm here." He Anting stroked her head. "It's over, it's all over." There won't be a next time.

Jinyao asked, "Where's the child?"

"The wet nurse is watching, right next to us."

The nurse responded: "Don't worry, Madam, my brother is fine. Can you take a look?"

He Anting said, "Let her rest first."

"yes."

Jinyao couldn't explain her feelings at the moment, which were complicated and touching: "Husband, have you chosen a name yet?"

"You can choose a nickname. I haven't decided on a full name yet."

Jinyao fell into deep thought. After this incident, she felt that nothing was more important than safety.

"Can you call me Ping An?"

He Anting didn't hesitate: "Okay, let's call him Ping An."

By the evening, Jinyao had recovered and was able to stand up. The wet nurse asked her to hold her and watch for a while, and then He Anting asked the wet nurse to take her away.

Jinyao was still a little reluctant: "Call me to see it again."

The nurse held the child in her arms and showed it to her, asking cautiously, "Isn't he hungry? Shouldn't he..."

"With this old servant here, the young master won't go hungry."

Jin Yao felt a little disappointed when she heard this. Does that mean that as a mother, she can do nothing?

"You haven't recovered yet, so you don't have to worry about these things. Just focus on taking care of yourself." He Anting said while hugging her.

"I want to sleep peacefully at night."

He Anting frowned, and the wet nurse said, "The young master cries in the middle of the night and it's easy to disturb you. It's not too late to sleep after the confinement is over. I am in the outer room, and you can call me over at any time."

He Anting noticed that she was a little depressed, so he had to coax her in a low voice.

"Go get me some clothes from the box. I want to change."

He Anting responded, walked to the box and opened it. While rummaging through the clothes, his hand accidentally touched something hard.

Out of curiosity, he pushed aside the clothes and opened the small box. When he saw what was inside, his expression became meaningful.