Chapter 56: Delivery

Huang Min hurried over to support her and looked at Aunt Ge who came out of the house.

Madam Ge was also frightened and said hurriedly, "Mrs. Huang said she couldn't sleep and wanted to go home to see Yan'er. This..."

Huang Min saw that his wife's face was pale and her lips were trembling with purple color. He knew that she had just been through a lot and had suddenly heard the news of her brother's death. Her condition must be bad. He hurriedly supported her and walked into the house.

Yang Jiazhi grabbed his hand, covered her stomach, and struggled to squeeze out a sentence: "It hurts... My stomach... hurts so much..."

Madam Dingxiang hurried over to check on her. As she got closer, she saw a pool of blood under her skirt. She was so shocked she forgot to cry. "Is she... about to give birth?"

Qian Deng immediately turned around and ordered, "Quickly call Doctor Jiang, send someone to Huichun Hall to find Doctor Liang, and also call Madam Ping and Lady Liu!"

Since Yang Jiazhi became pregnant, she has been overworked and her pregnancy has been unstable. Now, due to panic and grief, she went into labor prematurely, and the situation is extremely dangerous.

After taking the mother's pulse, the two doctors both agreed that there was no need to save the baby and that the child would be born prematurely. Now they could only help the mother give birth as soon as possible.

Yang Jiazhi endured the pain while being fed various medicines. However, she was exhausted and her birth canal could not be opened. She continued to toss and turn until midnight, her moans becoming intermittent, but she still could not give birth.

Huang Min kept pacing outside the house in the wind and snow, muttering to herself that Yan'er was safe and this pregnancy would definitely be fine.

Lady Dingxiang cried bitterly and prayed to God, saying that she had lost her son and asked God not to let her lose her daughter.

Qiandeng held Lady Dingxiang's hand, which felt as cold as ice. She couldn't help but recall the day when she brought Yang Jiazhi home and saw a glimpse of her aunt's face in the mirror, with tears streaming down her face.

To this day, she still doesn't understand why Lady Dingxiang broke down and cried.

Aunt Xuanji advised, "I don't think the baby will be born for a while, and Madam Huang needs to rest and gather her strength. It's almost three o'clock in the morning, and the county lady and the lady have been busy these past few days, exhausted. They should just close their eyes and rest for a while."

Huang Min also said, "I will definitely stay by Jiazhi's side at all times. Mother-in-law and the county lady, please rest assured. If there is any news, I will send someone to inform you as soon as possible."

Qiandeng had been running around and working hard today, and she was really exhausted. Worried that she would faint again, she gave careful instructions to the nanny and maids, and accompanied Madam Dingxiang back to the palace first.

"Don't worry, Auntie. Sister Jiazhi has raised children before, and the doctor and midwife are very attentive. Everything will be fine."

"I hope so..." Lady Dingxiang murmured, "But even if the child can be born safely, we still don't know whether it is a boy or a girl. I wonder if the Huang family is willing to take it in..."

Qian Deng said, "If it really is a baby girl and the Huang family doesn't want it, then your aunt will take her home to raise her. You won't be lonely with a granddaughter by your side."

Lady Dingxiang was stunned for a moment, and a fleeting light appeared in her tired eyes, but it only lasted for a moment and soon disappeared.

"Forget it. My granddaughter can't support the family. I've raised her for more than a decade in vain. She'll eventually get married off. Why would I raise someone else's child..." Lady Dingxiang shook her head woodenly and murmured, "Fortunately, Jiazhi gave birth to a son in her first pregnancy. She's made great contributions to the Huang family. Even if this child doesn't work out, she still has Yan'er, a son to rely on. She won't be abandoned by her husband's family... I hope the Bodhisattva blesses Jiazhi and she's pregnant with a son. Everything will be fine. I hope it's not a daughter..."

Qiandeng didn't say anything else and asked Madam Ge to take care of the lady so that she could have a good rest.

After Madam Ge helped her back to her room, Aunt Xuanji, who was accompanying Qiandeng, sighed and said, "Madam Dingxiang is really... Her daughter is on the verge of life and death, and she still only cares about these things."

Qiandeng shook her head and could only pray secretly for Yang Jiazhi, hoping that she could give birth to the child as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, she went back and rested for half the night. When she woke up, the first thing she asked about Yang Jiazhi's situation, but the response she got was a shake of the head.

"After a night of tossing and turning, they say the baby's head has emerged, and we can see the top of the head. But my cousin is completely out of strength. She's tried several times but couldn't get it down, and she's completely exhausted. The doctor prescribed her some ginseng soup, which is being brewed in the kitchen. I hope it will boost her energy and allow her to push a little harder."

Qiandeng was worried the whole night and couldn't sleep well. He felt a buzzing in his ears, the veins in his temples were throbbing, and he had a terrible headache.

She felt a little regretful, thinking that she should have asked Meng Lanxi to come over to help her sleep last night, but then she thought again, it had only been a few times, and she had to rely on his help. Being so weak was not a good thing.

After a quick breakfast, she was about to go to Yang Jiazhi to check on her, but she heard Liuli remember something important and said, "Ji Langjun came twice this morning, but because the county lady hadn't gotten up yet, he went back."

Qian Deng asked, "Did he say anything?"

"It's about something about the Gao Kingdom Princess's Lady. I thought the Princess's Mansion and our Palace don't have any dealings, so it shouldn't be a big deal."

Qiandeng didn't answer, but obviously quickened the pace of packing up, and went straight to the backyard after going out.

"Yesterday, I heard Tianshui mention the female historian from Princess Gao's mansion. She said that because her family was punished by our prince, she was seeking revenge and slandering the county lady. I was furious! So I rushed directly to the Ministry of War to look for the files - the documents from the prince's army back then were all sealed there. I called a few soldiers to help me search through them, and finally found them!"

Ji Linyou felt quite pleased with himself for having obtained the files so quickly. He placed a few hastily copied pages in front of her. "Look, Yao Gaotu. In the 12th year of the Dali period, he was promoted to the rank of seventh-rank Zhiguo Xiaowei. In the 13th year of the Dali period, he volunteered to lead troops to guard the remote pass of the Anxi Protectorate and served under the Prince of Changhua. However, despite his title of guard, he secretly led his men to rob merchants, killing and stealing. When the Prince of Changhua discovered this, he was executed according to military law."

Qiandeng quickly scanned the picture and looked at the next one.

Since he violated military discipline, he naturally received no compensation. In addition, his clansmen seized his property and his family had no means of support. Yao Gaotu's wife abandoned his orphan daughter and remarried. His daughter was also bought by the flower and bird envoy and brought to the palace. Later, she was given to Princess Gaoguo's mansion.

"I found this after I found Yao Gaotu and then followed the place of origin listed in the file to the neighborhood where he originally lived."

Qian Deng looked at her brief life for a long time and asked, "Doesn't she have any brothers or sisters?"

"No, she's the only daughter in the family. I heard from the neighbors that her father asked to go to the remote border pass because he was afraid that if something happened to him, his wife and daughter would be unable to protect themselves. That's why he was afraid to fight and didn't dare to risk his life." Ji Linyou curled his lips and said, "How can a grown man be a soldier and achieve any merit if he is so timid!"

Qian Deng looked at the two thin pieces of paper, and the family crying and hugging each other in front of the gate of the Northern Yamen Forbidden Army Camp yesterday appeared in front of his eyes.

"He was worried about not being able to protect his wife and daughter, but did he ever think about the wives and daughters of the merchants he robbed?" Qian Deng said, putting away the files and saying to Ji Linyou, "Thank you, Mr. Ji, for taking care of me this time."

"Hey, why are you being so formal? I'm your husband after all..." Ji Linyou said this, his face, which was tanned from years of riding, turned a little red, and he changed his tone awkwardly, "After all, I've been staying in your backyard for so long, it's only natural for me to do some small things for the county magistrate."

Qian Deng nodded at him, and as he stood up, he heard him say bitterly, "I can't believe these people have such sinister intentions. They can find someone to harm the county lady because of an old grudge from so many years ago!"

"I'm afraid this is just the beginning." Qian Deng said calmly, "Now that the true intentions are revealed and blood has been shed, there's no way this can end peacefully."

Ji Linyou opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He just looked at her calm profile and suddenly thought to himself, why, knowing that there is a huge danger in front of her, the county lady seems to be so indifferent?