“Dalang’s wife, don’t cry anymore. The child is gone, then it’s gone. Once your body recovers, you can still have more children in the future.”
Wei shi tried to comfort Jia shi.
Jia shi, with a sudden burst of strength from nowhere, gripped Gu Rui’s hand tightly, her face twisted in desperation as she begged him, “Save the child, please save the child. This is our only child, please don’t give up on him.”
Gu Rui’s face was stiff and tense, he forced himself to keep control, otherwise he was afraid he would break down.
He held Jia shi’s hands in both of his: “Don’t overthink this. We can still have children in the future.”
“No, we won’t. If you give up on this child now, we will never have children again.” Jia shi burst into tears.
Gu Rui’s eyes reddened. “Your life is more important. I cannot risk your life just for the child.”
“I’m not afraid of death. Please, I beg you, save the child.”
“But I’m afraid of losing you. Stop making trouble, please. The child is already gone, gone! What matters now is keeping you alive.”
The light instantly drained from Jia shi’s eyes, her expression froze.
Gu Rui panicked. “Mingyue! Mingyue, don’t you dare! Taiyi, quickly, what’s happening to her?”
“She’s bleeding again. The child must be removed immediately.” Hu taiyi frowned deeply. Her condition was critical. A single mistake could result in both mother and child dying.
Hu taiyi instructed Gu Rui: “Keep talking to her, keep her awake, she must not fall unconscious.”
Gu Rui nodded firmly.
Wei shi quietly asked: “Can her body withstand it if the child is removed now?”
Hu taiyi decisively walked out of the room.
Wei shi quickly followed.
Gu Mei, seeing them leave, also went over.
This time, Wei shi did not drive her away.
Hu taiyi lowered his voice: “To be frank, if the child is taken out now, the young madam still has a chance to live. If we delay, I fear the worst outcome.”
The worst outcome, of course, meant the death of both mother and child.
Gu Mei covered her mouth, too frightened to speak.
Wei shi frowned and asked: “If we remove the child now, how certain are you of saving the mother?”
Hu taiyi replied: “At most, I have a fifty percent chance. It also depends on the young madam’s will to survive. As long as she does not give up, the chances are much higher.”
Wei shi nodded firmly, gritting her teeth: “Then do everything possible to save the mother’s life. As for the child, we will accept whatever happens.”
Hu taiyi agreed. “The procedure will be long and cruel. I worry the young master cannot bear to witness it. It’s best to ask him to step outside. A few capable maids and attendants will suffice to help.”
Wei shi answered: “I will handle this.”
Hu taiyi prescribed medicine. Maids bustled in and out, decocting herbs, cleaning the bedding, carrying out basins of bloody water.
Wei shi, with coaxing and persuasion, finally managed to bring Gu Rui out of the room.
His eyes were bloodshot, his face heavy with sorrow.
He sat dazedly in a chair, staring at the bedchamber, watching helplessly as the door shut.
His fists clenched tightly, jaw locked, his whole body rigid. If anyone had touched him at that moment, they would have found every muscle of his body stretched taut.
Gu Jiu opened her mouth, intending to speak words of comfort, but after some thought, she gave up.
At this time, any words were powerless.
Besides, Gu Rui did not need anyone’s comfort. His heart was already crystal clear.
Gu Mei looked at him and sighed.
She sat with Gu Jiu and whispered, “Xiao Jiu, I’m afraid.”
“Don’t be. It’ll be fine.”
Gu Mei nodded. “Dasao will surely survive this crisis safely.”
She glanced at Gu Rui again. Seeing him like that made her heart ache as well.
Time crawled by. Groups of people came and went.
Gu Mei and Gu Jiu completely missed the noon banquet, and neither had any appetite.
As for Gu Rui, he felt no hunger at all.
The waiting was too long. Everyone’s nerves were stretched tight.
More people arrived, this time, familiar faces.
Wei lao furen, Wang shi, Duan shi, as well as Zhang shi and Xie shi, and the young ladies of both houses.
Wang shi supported Wei lao furen into the main hall.
Gu Jiu and Gu Mei quickly stood up.
Only after being reminded did Gu Rui notice their arrival, and he hurriedly rose as well.
Wei lao furen asked: “What is the situation now?”
Gu Mei replied: “Reporting to lao furen, the taiyi is still inside. The child… could not be saved.”
Everyone’s faces showed regret and sorrow.
Wang shi said: “Dalang’s wife suffered so much through this pregnancy, yet in the end, the child still could not be kept.”
“Dalang, don’t dwell on it. Once your wife regains her health, there will be more children in the future.” Duan shi tried to comfort him.
Gu Rui seemed like a walking corpse, his soul locked inside that bedchamber.
It took him a long moment before he responded to Duan shi’s words: “Thank you, san shenniang, for your concern.”
Wei lao furen sighed. “Dalang, take it easy. The matter of children is all destined by fate.”
Gu Rui nodded heavily. “I know. I’m just worried about Mingyue.”
“Your wife is blessed, Heaven will protect her, she will be fine.”
Gu Rui turned his head, secretly wiping away tears at the corner of his eyes.
Wang shi helped Wei lao furen sit down.
Wei lao furen said: “Everyone find a seat. At this time, there’s no need for formalities. Sit wherever you like.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Wei lao furen looked at Gu Jiu and Gu Mei again: “You two haven’t eaten, have you? You must be starving. I’ve already ordered food prepared in the side room. Go eat something and rest a bit. With me here, nothing will happen.”
Gu Jiu and Gu Mei both nodded. “Thank you for your concern, lao furen. It’s our fault for troubling you.”
“What nonsense. Go quickly and eat.”
Gu Jiu and Gu Mei went to the side room to have their meal.
Neither of them had much of an appetite. After barely eating half a bowl, they told the maid to clear away the dishes and tidy the table.
When the two of them finished eating, the other young ladies also came into the side room.
Gu Mei asked: “Have all the relatives left?”
Gu Qi nodded. “With such a big incident happening at home, the opera troupe that had been booked was cancelled. No one was in the mood to listen to opera anymore. The guests all left after the luncheon.”
Gu Mei sighed inwardly.
For today’s banquet, a famous troupe from the capital had been specially invited to perform. The plan had been for everyone to watch the opera after the luncheon and enjoy some lively entertainment.
But since the incident with the eldest young madam, no one was in the mood.
And so, the banquet ended early, and the troupe was sent away.
“Is dasao all right?” Gu Qi asked worriedly.
Gu Mei frowned and said: “We don’t know yet.”
“The child… is really gone?” Gu Ying asked.
Gu Mei nodded. “Dasao suffered severe bleeding. The child could not be saved. Right now, the only choice is to give up the child in order to save the mother.”
The moment she finished, everyone’s faces went pale in unison.
“She’ll be fine, won’t she? Hu taiyi is a master of gynecology, surely he can save her.”
The others all nodded one after another.
They couldn’t help but glance toward the bedchamber, each hoping everything would turn out well.
The bedroom door opened, and Hu taiyi walked out, looking exhausted.
Everyone turned to him nervously.
He said directly: “The child has been taken, and the mother is safe. But the next few days are critical. There is a high risk of further hemorrhaging. In short, the attendants must be diligent, there cannot be a single moment when the young mistress is left alone.”
Wei shi asked: “Would Hu taiyi be willing to stay in the household? With dalang’s wife’s condition, if anything happens and we have to send for you, I fear it will be too late. This is a matter of life and death, I hope you can make an exception.”
Following Gu Mei and the others into the main hall, Gu Jiu noticed Hu taiyi glancing at her.
She quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
Hu taiyi immediately seemed to understand. He nodded and said: “Lao furen is right. At such a time, it is indeed best that I do not leave. There is little business in the palace these days, so I shall remain here for now.”
Wei shi finally breathed a sigh of relief. “That is excellent! Someone, go prepare a guest room in the outer courtyard for the taiyi, and assign suitable servants to attend to him.”
Hu taiyi replied, “Lao furen is too courteous. I will leave Jinju here today to personally look after the young madam.”
Wei shi said gratefully: “With Jinju tending to her, I will be at ease. You have worked hard today, taiyi. Please rest in the guest room. Later, houye will invite you for tea.”
Hu taiyi chuckled. “It has been a long time since I last drank tea with the houye. A happy coincidence indeed.”
After Hu taiyi took his leave, Wei shi led the group into the bedchamber.
The young ladies were all blocked outside, not allowed in.
Wei shi was keeping watch by the bed, looking exhausted.
Gu Rui had already rushed into the chamber the moment the door opened. He now remained at Jia shi’s side.
Jia shi was unconscious and would likely not wake until nightfall.
Wei lao furen asked Wei shi: “How is dalang’s wife now?”
Wei shi replied: “She has taken medicine. Hu taiyi instructed Jinju to stay by her side. If there is another major hemorrhage…”
She did not finish the sentence.
But everyone understood the unspoken words, if there were another hemorrhage, Jia shi might not survive.
Wei lao furen noticed a bundle on the table and asked softly: “What is this?”
Wei shi nodded with a sigh and opened it. Inside was the stillborn child.
It was a boy, already well-formed, about the size of a grown man’s palm, with tiny traces of blood still on his body.
Duan shi, nearly cried out when she saw it. She quickly covered her mouth, panic rising within her.
Wei lao furen let out a sigh. “Find someone to bury him.”
Since the child had not been born alive, and had no name, he could not be interred in the ancestral tomb. He would have to be buried outside.
Wei shi nodded softly. “After this, dalang’s wife’s health is gravely weakened. I fear she will not be able to conceive again for two or three years.”
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Wei lao furen said, “They will have children eventually. As her mother-in-law, you must not burden her with too much pressure.”
Wei shi nodded. “I understand. I wouldn’t dare give her pressure.”
Jia shi’s health was so fragile that Wei shi feared even a glance might frighten her to death.
So in front of her, she always spoke gently and softly.
But fate had denied Jia shi children, and now, even this hard-won pregnancy had ended in loss.
Gu Rui held Jia shi’s hand in silence all along.
Wei lao furen tried to comfort him: “There will be children in the future. Try to think positively.”
Gu Rui lifted his head, his eyes vacant and dazed. Then his gaze fell on the bundle on the table.
Wei shi grew tense and quickly said: “Don’t worry, the child will be properly buried.”
Gu Rui nodded, his voice hoarse: “Prepare a fine coffin for him.”
Wei shi clenched her teeth and agreed.
Gu Rui added: “I want to see him. I have not seen him yet.”
Wei shi frowned. “Better not. At least leave yourself with a kinder memory.”
Then she hurriedly ordered a maid to take the bundle away.
Gu Rui stared blankly as the maid ran out with the bundle, as if he still hadn’t realised what was happening.
Wei lao furen looked at him with deep concern.
“Dalang, in your wife’s condition, you mustn’t fall apart as well.”
Gu Rui nodded. “Grandmother, don’t worry, your grandson can hold up.”
Wei lao furen sighed. “I’m not asking you to force yourself. You need to come to terms with it first before you can comfort your wife. Otherwise, if the two of you just sit and cry together, can her body take it?”
Gu Rui choked back his tears and nodded heavily. “I understand. I’ll wash my face and come back.”
With that, he hurried out.
Wei lao furen shook her head. “This child thinks too much.”
Wei shi said flatly, “As his mother, there’s really nothing I can do about it.”
Gu Rui and Jia shi had grown up together and shared deep affection.
But Jia shi had always been frail. When the marriage was being arranged, Wei shi had objected, fearing that Jia shi would be unable to bear children and shoulder the duties of principal wife and matriarch.
Yet, she couldn’t overcome her son’s insistence. With the old houye himself giving his approval, she had no choice but to accept the match with her nose pinched.
As expected, after entering the family, Jia shi had great difficulty conceiving.
And now, just when she had finally fallen pregnant, this had happened.
Wei lao furen saw through Wei shi’s thoughts clearly.
She said, “If you have something to say, speak it.”
The group filed out of the bedchamber.
Inside, the maids and Jinju were keeping watch, there was no need to worry.
Outside, Zhang shi hurriedly asked, “Is the young madam all right?”
Wei lao furen answered, “We invited you here as guests, and instead you’ve had to share our worries. The child could not be saved, but thankfully the mother’s life is not in danger. With rest and care, she can try again in a couple of years.”
Zhang shi quickly said, “That’s good, that’s good.”
Xie shi added, “When the young madam has recovered, she must go pray at a temple. Before I conceived, I went to pray to the Bodhisattva, and only then did I give birth smoothly to four children.”
“Yes, she ought to go to the temple,” Duan shi echoed.
During the New Year, to lose a child, what ill fortune.
Wei lao furen merely said, “We’ll discuss the temple later. For now, all is well here. You’ve all been busy enough today, go back and rest. Especially you, Xiao Jiu. You’ve been keeping watch here with Mei yatou all day, even missing the banquet.”
Gu Jiu stepped forward and said, “Thank you for your concern, lao furen. I’m fine, not too tired.”
Wei lao furen frowned. “You’re a young lady, all the more reason to take care of yourself. Don’t show off your youth by overexerting. Go back and rest.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “I’ll listen to lao furen.”
Zhang shi said, “Then we’ll take our leave for today, lao furen. Tomorrow we’ll come again to visit the young madam.”
“Go on then. We didn’t host you properly today, tomorrow I’ll arrange a banquet to make it up to you.”
They left the inner court, passed through the second gate, and went to the outer courtyard to take their carriages.
As Gu Jiu was boarding, she saw Hu taiyi watching her intently.
She shook her head slightly at him, the meaning plain: don’t reveal anything about her.
The day had been too crowded and chaotic, she hadn’t found a chance to speak with him privately, so this was the only way to express her stance.
Hu taiyi gave her a small nod, reassuring her not to worry.
Relieved, Gu Jiu got into the carriage and returned to Gu fu.
After leaving the hou fu’s gates, it was only a short distance before they reached Gu fu.
As they alighted under the second gate, Xie shi remarked, “The young madam is truly unfortunate, so far along, and yet the child couldn’t be saved.”
Zhang shi replied, “She’s been frail since childhood. This result isn’t surprising.”
Xie shi sighed. “Fortunately, our daughters are all healthy, well, except for er yatou. She’s been raised on medicine since she was small. But at least her marriage is settled, and with His Majesty himself bestowing the match, we don’t have to worry about any accidents.”
Gu Jiu turned back to look at Xie shi. Really? With nothing better to do, she had to drag her into this too?
Leave a Reply