Chapter 131: Qi'er Arrives at the Ground
Su Wanrou regained consciousness amidst excruciating pain and suffocating panic. Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, and she struggled to open them a crack. Through her blurry vision, she saw the swollen eyes of Granny Zhou and Qingdai, as well as the solemn face of Physician Lin, which seemed to be dripping with tears.
"My child... my child..." She couldn't even utter a clear sound, only repeating it in a hoarse breath, her chapped lips opening and closing slightly.
"Madam! Madam, you're awake!" Granny Zhou practically rushed to the bedside, tightly grasping her cold hand, tears streaming down her face. "It's good that you're awake! It's so good that you're awake!"
"Young Master... how is the Young Master?" Su Wanrou struggled to get up, but a wave of dizziness and a feeling of emptiness in her abdomen pressed her back onto the bed. Postpartum weakness overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, but what was even more painful than her physical condition was the feeling in her heart that hung precariously above an abyss.
Physician Lin stepped forward, his tone weary from the ordeal yet extremely cautious: "Madam is blessed with good fortune, and the young master... is out of danger for now."
For now... there's no worry...
These two words pierced Su Wanrou's heart like needles, casting a heavy shadow over the faint hope that had just begun to rise within her.
“Let me…see him…” she pleaded, her voice weak but filled with unwavering determination.
Granny Zhou and Qingdai exchanged a glance, a hint of pity flashing in their eyes. Imperial Physician Lin sighed and nodded slightly. Qingdai turned around and carefully took out an extremely thin infant from a soft swaddling cloth that had been kept warm with hot water.
When the child was gently placed beside Su Wanrou's pillow, her breathing almost stopped.
What a tiny little person he was!
He was incredibly small, like a newborn kitten wrapped in thick brocade swaddling clothes, yet still appearing empty. His skin was translucent, reddish-brown and wrinkled, so thin that the tiny bluish-purple veins beneath could be seen. His eyes were closed, his breathing so faint that the rise and fall of his chest was barely perceptible; only the occasional, extremely slight twitch of his nostrils proved that this fragile little life was still stubbornly fighting against fate.
He didn't even cry like a full-term baby; he just lay quietly, so fragile that he seemed like he would break at the slightest touch.
Is this her and Yan Gui's child? Is this the child she risked her life to give birth to, a child who had narrowly escaped death? Su Wanrou's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making it hard to breathe. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her pale cheeks, dripping onto the pillow and onto the baby's almost hairless little head.
“He…he’s so small…so quiet…” She reached out her hand, trembling, wanting to touch the child, but afraid that her touch would hurt him.
“Madam,” Physician Lin’s voice was low and serious, “the young master was born prematurely in July, with congenital deficiencies, especially in his weak lungs. He also aspirated amniotic fluid just now, so it’s a miracle he survived. The next month will be the real challenge. He needs absolute quiet, warmth, and meticulous feeding. He cannot be exposed to the slightest cold or any disturbance. The slightest mistake, I fear…”
Physician Lin didn't finish his sentence, but everyone in the delivery room understood the unspoken meaning. This child was still teetering on the brink of life and death.
"Can I... hug him?" Su Wanrou's voice was choked with sobs.
Physician Lin hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Madam, you must be gentle and not for too long."
Granny Zhou and Qingdai carefully helped Su Wanrou turn to her side, gently placing the almost weightless swaddled baby into her arms. As the baby's faint warmth seeped through the fabric, Su Wanrou's tears flowed even more fiercely. She lowered her head, gently pressing her cheek against the baby's cool forehead, and a surge of maternal love, originating from the depths of her blood, instantly overwhelmed all her fear and sorrow.
This is her flesh and blood, the crystallization of her love with Yan Gui, and the source of strength that sustained her through all despair.
"Baby..." she choked back tears, whispering softly in her child's ear, as if afraid to disturb the fragile peace, "Don't be afraid... Mommy's here... Daddy... Daddy will be back soon... We'll all be with you... You have to be okay... You have to hold on..."
As if understanding its mother's call, the baby in her arms moved very slightly, its wrinkled little face furrowing slightly, and then it let out a soft whimper, as weak as a sigh.
Although the voice was so faint as to be almost inaudible, it was like a ray of warm sunshine that instantly shone into Su Wanrou's cold and desperate heart.
He's alive! He's responding to her!
A powerful force surged from the depths of her exhausted body. Su Wanrou gently patted the child, raised her head, and looked at Physician Lin and Granny Zhou. Although her face was still as pale as paper, her eyes regained their firmness and clarity.
"Imperial Physician Lin, please tell me clearly how to treat the child and how to care for him. Whatever medicinal herbs are needed, no matter how precious, have Uncle Fu find them immediately. Everything in the manor revolves around the young master's safety." Her voice, though weak, carried an undeniable decisiveness. "Granny, increase the number of people inside and outside the delivery room to ensure absolute quiet. Everyone entering and leaving must be strictly checked to prevent the introduction of even a trace of cold air. The child's wet nurse must be healthy, gentle, and have ample milk; arrange this immediately."
She issued each instruction clearly and meticulously, as if the frail woman struggling in pain and panic had disappeared, replaced by the calm and decisive mistress of the Duke's mansion.
Seeing her like this, Granny Zhou and Physician Lin felt somewhat relieved and quickly agreed, then went about their respective tasks.
Su Wanrou lowered her head again, gazing at the fragile yet tenacious little life in her arms. She softly hummed a vague, unknown tune from Jiangnan, a melody of warmth and peace from the depths of her childhood memories. Her voice was low and husky, yet it carried a strange, comforting power.
The child seemed to calm down a bit in her gentle humming and warm embrace, and her faint breathing gradually became more even.
Outside the window, the sky was already bright, but the sunlight seemed unable to completely dispel the gloom hanging over the Duke's mansion. News from the front lines remained cut off, a storm was brewing in the court, and the future of this newborn child was filled with unknown dangers.
But at this moment, Su Wanrou's heart was filled with unprecedented courage. She had lost her temporary support, but had become someone else's support. For this child, for her husband far away, for this family, she had to be stronger than anyone else.
She gently kissed the child's cold forehead and made a vow in her heart:
"Baby, don't be afraid. Mother will do anything to protect you. Let's wait together for Daddy to come home."
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