Chapter 411: Chapter 396: Going into Labor
Sending Fengyu away was the most correct decision made by Su Yuejiao and the Old Madam.
Su Yuejiao was so ill she couldn’t get out of bed. The Old Madam, red-eyed and sorrowful, said, "Shu’er is still waiting for you. You can’t just fall apart like this. Do you expect an old woman like me to save her?"
"Mother..." Su Yuejiao, already devastated by Mr. Su’s situation, now found herself under siege from all sides. It was the darkest moment of her life, and she was beyond despair. "Mother, don’t worry, I’ll get better!"
Yes, Shu’er was still waiting for her.
She couldn’t be defeated!
Feng Shu, now nine months pregnant, couldn’t hide her heavily pregnant belly even under the thickest fox fur cloak. As a result, she remained indoors all day, fearing the consequences of being seen. Ever since Zhang Lingzheng had gone to Yangzhou, Feng Shu had been particularly vigilant about her diet and rest. She knew that if anything went wrong, no one could save her or her child.
For the past half year, Dongxue and Xia Zhu had been as relentless as the Shadow Guards in learning how to care for pregnant women and assist in childbirth. Dongxue had even secretly ventured down the mountain to seek advice from a renowned gynecological doctor, carefully studying the potential dangers of labor and learning how to handle emergencies. She had practiced delivering foals alongside Xie Jue’s Shadow Guards multiple times, in preparation for any contingency.
But despite their last-minute efforts, none of them felt completely confident. Whether it was the Shadow Guards, Dongxue, or Xia Zhu, everyone hoped that Feng Shu would deliver safely and without incident!
Mid-February arrived with the warmth of spring and the melting of snow.
The peach blossoms at Xiangguo Temple were beginning to bloom, their fragrance rich. Feng Shu, with only half a month until her due date, dared not move about freely. Dongxue and Xia Zhu, concerned about her health during labor, supported her during daily walks in her room. Though Feng Shu was over nine months pregnant, her belly wasn’t particularly large. During her pregnancy, she had been wearing mourning attire, avoiding meat, and dealing with anxiety and fear, vomiting up most of what she ate. There was even a period when Zhang Lingzheng feared the baby might die in her womb and forced her to consume small amounts of liquid food.
Despite her efforts to nourish herself, there wasn’t much improvement. Thankfully, she could frequently feel the baby’s movements, which reassured her about the child’s health.
Lady Thirteen visited Xiangguo Temple to offer incense and came to the back courtyard where Feng Shu sat by the window, dressed in plain white mourning clothes. Thin and sickly, Lady Thirteen feared a gust of wind might blow her away. Feng Shu, in her weakened state, now resembled the fragility of Fengyu.
"Grandmother and mother haven’t come up the mountain in a month. Has something happened to the Feng Family?" Feng Shu asked.
"Yuwen Jing has confiscated the Feng Family assets and those of the Su Family in the Capital City. But don’t worry; survival isn’t an issue—I’ve been working with Manager Zhou to oversee things. Yuwen Jing is hesitant to kill them outright."
Feng Shu understood. This hesitation—this restraint—was because of her.
As long as she remained in the Capital, Yuwen Jing wouldn’t destroy the Feng Family. But if she left, all bets were off.
"Second Miss, don’t fret about the family. Focus on recovering and taking care of your pregnancy—you’re about to give birth."
"I understand!" Feng Shu was worried about her family, but she knew that her worries were futile. Thankfully, Ayu had left some people behind, and her business assets could ensure her family wouldn’t go hungry or be left out in the cold. Her only priority now was safely delivering her child.
Feng Shu rested her hand against her belly as Lady Thirteen said, "Second Miss, the conditions for childbirth in the mountains are always rudimentary. I’ve carefully inspected the area around Xiangguo Temple, and the emperor hasn’t stationed anyone to watch. What do you think about going down the mountain to give birth and then sneaking back? It will be discreet and untraceable."
"You’ve found a place?"
"At the foot of the mountain. I’ve arranged for a doctor and midwife—it’s all set. After you deliver, you can recover for a few days down there and return without anyone noticing," Lady Thirteen explained. She felt the temple’s amenities were too spartan but didn’t dare bring too many people up the mountain. Although Yuwen Jing hadn’t stationed guards everywhere, any commotion around Feng Shu’s courtyard might alert the Jinyi Guards, and that would spell trouble.
Lady Thirteen continued, "You can disguise yourself as my maid to leave the mountain. As long as Dongxue and Xia Zhu remain in the temple, we can cover for you. The Jinyi Guards haven’t bothered you much these last few months."
That seemed true enough. Yuwen Jing had stationed four Jinyi Guards on the mountain to monitor Feng Shu’s activities.
Until five months into her pregnancy, Feng Shu had often appeared before them to ease their concerns. After five months, winter clothing could conceal her belly, but she still rarely left her quarters. Her outings became nearly nonexistent, except for the day of a temple event when the Jinyi Guards had gone to the front courtyard to watch the festivities, allowing Feng Shu a brief moment outdoors.
The guards sent updates to the palace every two days—they couldn’t be eliminated. If Yuwen Jing stopped receiving reports, he would undoubtedly come to Xiangguo Temple himself. Feng Shu weighed the possibility of going down the mountain to give birth.
With Dongxue and Xia Zhu in the temple, childbirth and recovery could proceed undetected within five or six days. While they had studied midwifery, they were still far less skilled than actual doctors and midwives.
However, plans never keep up with changes. Feng Shu intended to head down the mountain at the end of February, leaving her maids and a Shadow Guard behind to cover for her. But unexpectedly, Yuwen Jing suddenly came to Xiangguo Temple.
Feng Shu was nearing labor. Three of Xie Jue’s Shadow Guards were stationed on the mountain as a precaution. If Feng Shu were to go down for childbirth, they would need to help her avoid the eyes of the Jinyi Guards.
Yet nothing could have prepared them for Yuwen Jing’s arrival at Xiangguo Temple.
The emperor traveled with Chen Mo and a thousand Jinyi Guards in his retinue—a grand spectacle. The Shadow Guards were all on the mountain, and Yuwen Jing had made the trip on a whim. By the time they received the news, Yuwen Jing’s procession had already reached halfway up the mountain.
"Young Madam, something’s wrong—the emperor is here!" A Shadow Guard avoided the crowd and entered the courtyard to report. Xia Zhu, who had been pouring water for Feng Shu, was so shocked she knocked over the cups and plates!
"What?" Feng Shu exclaimed, standing up abruptly as her heart raced. Lady Thirteen had already made the arrangements at the foot of the mountain and was planning to come up the following day to take her down for childbirth. Who could have anticipated Yuwen Jing’s sudden arrival?
Yuwen Jing’s visit to Xiangguo Temple would inevitably involve meeting her. He wouldn’t be content with seeing her through a screen or behind a door—she had to find a way to conceal herself.
"Dongxue, bring me the thickest fox fur cloak!"
Dongxue promptly brought the cloak over, and Feng Shu wrapped herself in it. She used the loose fitting of the cloak to conceal her pregnant belly. Though it was late February and the season for spring attire, the heavy cloak seemed overly extravagant. But given her sickly appearance, the outfit could be plausible.
Sitting still with the cloak around her, Feng Shu could use it to hide her belly.
"Can you tell?" Feng Shu asked nervously.
Dongxue fastened the cloak tightly, completely covering Feng Shu’s figure. The disguise proved effective.
"Ah..." Feng Shu suddenly clutched her abdomen, bending over in pain. Her face turned pale as cold sweat collected at her temples and rolled down. A Shadow Guard’s eyelid twitched. "Young Madam, what’s wrong?"
"I... I think I’m about to give birth!"
Dongxue: "..."
Shadow Guards: "..."