Chapter 591 Heartbroken
Madam Zhang held onto her trusted old woman's arm, her chest pounding as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest.
Madam Zhang did not cry; her tears had already dried up when her sons died one by one.
In truth, Madam Zhang was also afraid. She was afraid that she would not be able to give birth to a son, that the children she had "killed" at her behest would be waiting for her on the Bridge of Helplessness, and that the child in her womb would still be a disabled child.
Just as Sun Cuilan, who had abortion, would go to a temple to light a lamp for her child's demise, Madam Zhang secretly had her trusted servant go to a Taoist temple to light lamps for her three sons who were not even allowed to enter their ancestral graves.
Even after Li San Niang said that, Madam Zhang still refused to believe Li San Niang's claim that consanguineous reproduction was harmful.
"Guihua, go, go and inquire. Take the silver and buy information. There are quite a few people in Chang'an who are married to close relatives like me. I don't believe it. I don't believe that God is so cruel to me. I don't believe that others can have healthy children but I can't!"
I'd like to know, are all those other kids fake?
Money makes the world go round. Madam Zhang took a year's profit from her dowry shop and gave it to Granny Guihua, asking her to go out and inquire about the matter of inbreeding.
In just seven days, Granny Guihua got a piece of paper from the news shop. Granny Guihua couldn't read, so she folded the paper, put it in her close-fitting brocade pouch, and hurried back.
"Madam, this is the information we purchased."
Madam Zhang took the folded paper into a small square, but instead of looking at it, she looked at Granny Guihua. Seeing this, Granny Guihua leaned closer to Madam Zhang and whispered something to her.
"We found an old woman in the Wang family kitchen, and she said that during that period, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wang family did drink medicine that seemed to be for nourishing her body, like medicine for postpartum recovery."
Madam Zhang's eyes widened in surprise. The family she had sent Guihua to inquire about, although not related to her, were all members of the official families in Chang'an. Moreover, Madam Wang's situation was similar to hers; both had married their cousins.
Even now, Madam Wang has not given birth to any children. All of Wang Dalang's children were born to the two concubines in the family and are registered under Madam Wang's name.
Over the past ten years, apart from the first time she was pregnant, there has been no news of Madam Wang getting pregnant again. It is said in the official's circle that she is infertile and has a physical illness, which is why she had to let her concubine have a child.
"Could it be that Madam Wang, like me, gave birth to a child with defects?"
So, she had already given up hope?
Madam Zhang's emotions were in turmoil. She felt as if she were a kite flying in the sky, and the rope that held her had broken, leaving her adrift and uncertain in the wind.
At this moment, Madam Zhang impulsively thought that she really wanted to find Madam Wang and ask her properly, "Is it because you are married to a close relative and cannot have a healthy child that you have stopped having children?"
But reason told her that she couldn't go to their door to talk about it, and she had to pretend she didn't know anything about it, and that she shouldn't even care.
After listening to Granny Guihua's words, with a heavy heart, Madam Zhang finally opened the message that had been folded into small squares and purchased with silver.
After reading the records on the paper about the offspring of families in Chang'an where cousins had married, Madam Zhang burst into tears.
But Madam Zhang cried very quietly, without making a sound.
"lady!"
When Granny Guihua saw Madam Zhang's expression, what else could she not understand?
Granny Guihua realized that what Li Sanniang said was true and correct!
Madam Zhang and her husband will never have a healthy child!
Why is Heaven treating me this way?
If I had known I would end up in such a miserable state, how could I have happily married my cousin?
I...I'm suffering so much, Osmanthus, I'm suffering so much!
...
Half a month later, Li San Niang never expected that she would be invited to Madam Zhang's house again.
Although Li San Niang's face showed no sign of anything amiss, she actually felt somewhat embarrassed inside.
But Madam Zhang's attitude was no different from when Li San Niang first came, so Li San Niang naturally didn't ask, "Why did you ask me to come to your home for a consultation?"
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, from the recent weather to the preparations made in Chang'an for the Emperor's birthday celebration in a month and a half, Madam Zhang finally steered the conversation to the main topic of visiting Li San Niang.
"If I don't want this child, can Dr. Li guarantee that my life will be safe while I abort the child?"
And it won't affect my health?
Li San Niang was genuinely surprised at this moment. Ever since she was kicked out of the house by Madam Zhang last time, she had only thought that Madam Zhang, who desperately needed a child, would not listen to her anymore and would give birth to this child despite her reluctance.
But when Li San Niang looked at Madam Zhang and saw the determination in her eyes, she realized that Madam Zhang was serious!
She was really determined to abort the child!
Therefore, Li San Niang straightened up and explained to Madam Zhang with a serious expression: "Whether it is a full-term delivery or a premature abortion, it is a kind of harm to a woman's body."
The lady has also given birth, so she should understand all of this.
All I can say is that I will do my best to minimize the harm to my wife, and I will be very attentive to her postpartum care.
After a pause, Li San Niang continued, "Since Madam has asked me to come here again, she must understand that after this abortion, even if Madam has finished her postpartum confinement, it would be best if she did not get pregnant again."
If you require a formula for a contraceptive decoction, I can write it down for you.
Madam Zhang felt a slight liking for Li San Niang at this moment. Although Li San Niang's words were unpleasant, Madam Zhang knew that they were the truth. There was no ambiguity or shirking of responsibility; it was the doctor's responsible attitude.
"Then I'll trouble Dr. Li to come back in three days."
This time, Granny Guihua saw Li San Niang off properly and naturally received her consultation fee.
Three days later, early in the morning, after seeing her son-in-law off in the carriage, Madam Zhang arranged for Granny Guihua to invite Li Sanniang to come over.
The reason for deliberately choosing this day is that the son-in-law has official business to attend to and will be leaving the city today.
Madam Zhang did not intend to tell her husband that she was going to have an abortion. When her husband returned home, he would only assume that the child was lost due to an accident.
Then, after she has recovered and finished her postpartum confinement, Madam Zhang will confide in her husband that she can no longer have children and that she wants to elevate her concubine to bear a son in order to preserve her husband's bloodline.
Everything went as Madam Zhang had anticipated, but after drinking the abortion medicine prepared by Li San Niang, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen from the contractions, and tears still welled up in Madam Zhang's eyes.
Having an abortion at this time of year is not significantly different from giving birth to a full-term baby.
The physical pain made her wish she were dead, and the mental pressure made her feel like there was no hope left to live. Mrs. Zhang's heart was dead.
Finally, just as Li San Niang saw with her X-ray vision, she indeed gave birth to a deformed child with a large head and no arms.
Because Li San Niang had prepared in advance, she wasn't frightened. However, Qiu Xiang and Granny Gui Hua, who were following behind Li San Niang as her helpers, were startled.
Especially Granny Guihua, her terrified eyes seemed to scream "monster."
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