Chapter 407 "Sister Xia Tian has started!"
(Thanks to reader 20190216130958332 for casting 4 monthly tickets.)
"October!"
Li Shiyue was genuinely shocked when she saw Li Xiatian, whose belly was noticeably swollen and protruding.
It's only been a little over a month, how, how did it become like this!
"Sister! You, you, you..."
Li Xiatian was about to step over the threshold and walk towards Li Shiyue when Li Shiyue quickly reached out to stop her.
"Sister, stop! Stop!"
My sister Qiutian, my brother, and I just came back from outside, and we were all very dirty!
My sister is pregnant and is of great importance; please do not come near her!
Knowing that my sister is alright makes me feel much more at ease!
"Sister," Li Shiyue turned to Li Qiutian, "you and brother stay home. I still have a mission to complete. I'll go to the inn first to see how things are arranged, and I'll come home when I have time."
Before leaving, Li Shiyue specifically instructed her mother: "Mother, boil some water so that my elder sister and elder brother can wash themselves properly before getting close to Sister Xiatian."
"We're out there, who knows what we might have picked up on? A bath is the best way."
After entering the house, Li Shiyue left the courtyard, mounted his horse, and headed towards the village entrance in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Upon arriving at the inn, they found that Li Shiliang had already arranged everything for the staff, and even the cartloads of wool were neatly arranged and parked at the entrance.
She went up the steps and entered the main hall, where she saw Zhou Yiran, Sixth Sister, and Xie Mingyue already sitting down and enjoying their tea.
"As long as nothing unexpected happens on the way, Chen Yong and Sun Xiaoliu should already be leading the general's men towards the village."
I reckon they'll arrive around dusk, or at the latest, after nightfall.
Li Shiyue was saying this to everyone.
Zhou Yiran nodded to Li Shiyue first, "I'll arrange for someone to settle the wages and travel expenses for those hired workers later."
The sixth sister only looked down at the big-bellied teapot on the table. She was listening to Li Shiyue and Zhou Yiran talking, but she didn't actually hear or listen to anything.
She really did return to Andong, but it didn't feel real at the moment.
Her hands, resting on her thighs, were twisting together. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, and for some reason, she felt a sense of trepidation, as if she were returning home.
"Sixth Miss? Sixth Miss?"
"Huh? Ah!"
Sixth Sister, who was awakened by Li Shiyue raising her voice, exclaimed "Ah!" twice before realizing that Li Shiyue was talking to her.
"Sixth Madam, regardless of whether the General comes tonight or not, it's already quite late. I'm sorry to trouble you to stay here for the night."
"Tomorrow, the general will surely have a plan, and I will send someone to escort my wife back."
"Thank you, General!"
Then, Li Shiyue looked at Xie Mingyue.
"I will stay here for one night, and I will go to see the General tomorrow."
After everyone was settled, Li Shiyue said to Li Shiliang, who had been standing by his side, "I'd like to trouble you, Third Brother, to get some food and send it to the Xuanjia Army at the foot of the mountain."
After arranging everything, Li Shiyue led Gu Lanzhi and Wuji aside and said to Zhao Min, "Sister-in-law, this is Gu Lanzhi and her son Wuji. They helped me a lot in Turkic territory this time!"
"Please trouble you, sister-in-law, to arrange a place for them, mother and child. After I report this mission to the General, I will take them to settle down in Sanshan County."
After Zhao Min agreed, Li Shiyue handed a purse to Gu Lanzhi, who looked uneasy, and said, "Stay here for a few days. There's some silver in here. Take it and use it."
I will acknowledge your and your son's contributions before the General.
Don't worry, the General is a man who rewards and punishes fairly, and your merits will naturally be rewarded!
When the time comes, I will personally take you to settle down in Sanshan County.
This is Zhao Min, the wife of my third brother. If you need anything, just go to her.
After everything was explained and arranged, Li Shiyue left the inn and headed to another place.
Instead of going home first, she went to Jin Daping's residence, which was essentially a village TCM clinic.
Before even entering the courtyard, just standing at the entrance, Li Shiyue could smell all sorts of medicinal herbs.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, the large courtyard was filled with round, disc-shaped winnowing baskets, stacked one on top of another on the rack, and filled with all kinds of medicinal herbs.
The lamb wasn't there; Li Shiliang had called him away to join others in delivering food to Wang Datou and Gao Jin, who were guarding the horses and livestock at the foot of Daheishan Mountain.
The two people standing in the courtyard at this moment are Jin Daping, whose hair is gray, and Li Yueniang.
The sound of the courtyard gate being pushed open startled the two of them. Li Yueniang looked up and saw Li Shiyue walking in, looking travel-worn.
"Sister October!"
"Little Moon Maiden!"
Li Yueniang was a perceptive child; she knew that Li Shiyue's arrival at this time must mean she had something private to say to Jin Daping.
So, after pouring tea for the two of them on the stone table in the courtyard, she said to Jin Daping, "Master, I'm going to get some food from home."
My mother said she made steamed fish, which is my master's favorite, for dinner.
Li Yueniang bowed to the two of them and considerately closed the courtyard gate, leaving only Jin Daping and Li Shiyue in the courtyard at this moment.
Li Shiyue stopped exchanging pleasantries with Jin Daping, finished her tea, and looked directly at him, asking, "Dr. Jin, will my sister be able to give birth smoothly this time?"
Is it alright if only my mother and aunt are here?
Shouldn't we invite two midwives back?
I just saw my older sister; her face is swollen. How can she possibly give birth to her child at full term?
Li Shiyue asked many questions urgently, and for a moment Jin Daping was speechless.
Li Shiyue picked up the teapot and poured herself another cup of tea. After finishing the second cup, she heard Jin Daping say to her slowly, "I've noticed that Madam Li has always been in good health."
Although she was pregnant with twins, I often took her pulse throughout her pregnancy.
Her health and her child are both fine; nothing serious has happened, which is quite good.
As for Lady Li, her face was swollen?
This is something that most women experience to some extent in late pregnancy, and it's not a big problem.
If you are worried, it would be good to go outside and invite two midwives back.
As for when production will begin?
I checked her pulse just two days ago. She should give birth in ten days at most.
Twins are rarely born at full term, since the uterus is only so big. If the baby grows too big in the womb, it will be very difficult for the mother.
Some women are too big to give birth to.
"If...if Madam Li still hasn't given birth in ten days, then I'll have to give her medication to induce labor!"
Li Shiyue gripped the teacup tightly, so tightly that her fingertips turned white.
Suddenly, the sound of running could be heard outside the courtyard.
Li Yueniang ran all the way to the courtyard gate. She pushed the gate open and, without even having time to greet the two of them, shouted to Li Shiyue, panting, "Sister Xia Tian has started labor!"
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