Imperial Physician Li withdrew his hand and said, “Abdominal tightness is actually uterine contractions. Normally, noticeable contractions should occur in the eighth or ninth month, but Second Young Madam has only been pregnant for five months. For contractions to appear so early…” He paused, then continued, “Does Second Young Madam feel her abdomen dropping downward, with a sensation of being unable to straighten her back?”
“Occasionally.” Seeing Imperial Physician Li’s grave expression, Zhangsun Shi felt an ominous premonition and said, “Imperial Physician Li, is there something wrong?”
“From Second Young Madam’s pulse, there’s nothing seriously wrong—just that her body is slightly weak. However, such obvious contractions are truly not a good thing.” After asking a few more questions, Imperial Physician Li stroked his beard and said, “Before labor, Second Young Madam should remain bedridden as much as possible, minimize walking around, and maintain a relaxed mood. Additionally, great joy or sorrow must be avoided—this is a major taboo for pregnant women. The reason Second Young Madam is experiencing contractions so early is due to excessive worry about Second Young Master previously, so this point must be remembered again and again. At the current stage of pregnancy, if premature birth occurs, this child would have no chance of survival.” A five-month-old child would only be palm-sized and couldn’t possibly survive—at least seven or eight months would be necessary.
“This official will prescribe a formula for Second Young Madam to take, which should help suppress the contractions. If there’s no improvement after three days of taking it, send someone to inform this official, and I will examine and treat again.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Li.” After Zhangsun Shi finished speaking, Yunyi said, “I know Imperial Physician Li is skilled in women’s medicine, far superior to ordinary physicians in the city. For the child in elder sister’s womb, please trouble Imperial Physician Li to take extra care.”
Imperial Physician Li bowed and said, “Princess is too kind. This subject will certainly do his utmost.”
Yunyi nodded and said to Ruyi, “Go with Imperial Physician Li to get the prescription, then go fill it.”
After Ruyi left with Imperial Physician Li as instructed, Yunyi said, “Elder sister heard Imperial Physician Li’s words. From now on, you must rest in bed. Unless absolutely necessary, you cannot get out of bed.”
This time, Xiuzhu rarely failed to contradict her, saying, “The Princess speaks correctly. This servant will help you go inside to rest now.”
Zhangsun Shi was also extremely nervous about this child and immediately nodded, allowing Yunyi and Xiuzhu to support her as she went into the inner room to rest.
Yunyi had just taken a soft pillow to place behind Zhangsun Shi’s waist when a servant entered and said with bowed hands, “Reporting to Second Young Madam, Ji Garden has sent word that their rice and grain supplies are running low. Tomorrow is the first day of the month again, so someone must be sent quickly to deliver supplies, or there will be no rice to distribute tomorrow.”
Zhangsun Shi frowned and said, “The mansion’s rice and grain supplies are also running low. We need to go to the rice merchant to purchase more. I’ll go now…” Before she could finish, Yunyi was already shaking her head, saying, “Have you forgotten so quickly what we just discussed? Elder sister is now forbidden to go anywhere except the bed.”
With this reminder, Zhangsun Shi also recalled Imperial Physician Li’s previous instructions and said with difficulty, “But what about Ji Garden?”
Yunyi thought for a moment and said, “Tell me which rice merchant and what the prices are—I’ll go make the purchases.”
Zhangsun Shi had indeed intended to have Yunyi help manage household affairs, so she told her about the rice merchant and prices one by one, and instructed her about several other matters. Finally, she said, “For this matter, by custom, Second Mother’s approval is needed before the accounting office can release the silver, so remember to find Second Mother first.”
“I understand.” After Ruyi brought in the brewed medicinal soup and handed it to Xiuzhu, Yunyi finally rose to leave.
Xiuzhu sat by the bedside, feeding Zhangsun Shi the medicine while saying worriedly, “Miss, is it really alright to entrust the purchasing matter to the Princess?”
Zhangsun Shi laughed softly, “What, are you afraid the Princess will be flustered and confused on her first purchasing trip?”
Xiuzhu frowned and said, “This servant isn’t worried about that at all. This servant is worried that the Princess will use this opportunity to seize Miss’s authority.”
Zhangsun Shi avoided the spoon Xiuzhu brought to her lips and said with focused eyes, “I’ve told you so many times—why do you still have such thoughts? Earlier you even deliberately spoke such improper words in front of the Princess. Fortunately, the Princess is magnanimous and doesn’t hold it against you, otherwise I couldn’t have helped you even if I wanted to.”
Xiuzhu said defiantly, “The one being improper was Jixiang, saying things like ‘fate brings together those separated by a thousand li.’ If not for Princess Jinyang’s appearance, Young Master wouldn’t have suffered imprisonment at all, and Miss wouldn’t have had to lie in bed constantly from worrying about Young Master. She’s simply a harbinger of misfortune. This servant truly can’t understand why Miss treats her so well.” Unlike Zhangsun Shi’s tolerant magnanimity, Xiuzhu was someone who cared extremely about right and wrong, so in her view, Zhangsun Shi shouldn’t have allowed Yunyi to enter the household at all.
Zhangsun Shi stared at her displeasedly and said, “You wicked girl, kneel down!”
“Miss…” Before Xiuzhu could continue, she shouted again, “Kneel down!”
Xiuzhu reluctantly knelt down, but she didn’t think she was wrong. Having been orphaned since childhood and following Zhangsun Shi from a young age, Zhangsun Shi was her only family and the only person she cared about. Anyone unfavorable to Zhangsun Shi was wrong in her eyes, even including Li Shimin.
“The ones who caused husband to suffer imprisonment were Xin’an and Duan Li—it has nothing to do with the Princess at all. Moreover, if not for the Princess, husband would have already been beheaded by now. How could he be safe and sound?”
Xiuzhu said stubbornly, “Those who acted may have been Princess Xin’an and the others, but all of this arose because of Yang Yunyi. She is the root cause. Such a person has an evil heart and simply doesn’t deserve Miss treating her so well.”
“Impudent!” Zhangsun Shi shouted, “You’re becoming more and more outrageous! From the beginning, you’ve harbored prejudice against the Princess. I’ve advised you repeatedly, thinking you had at least listened to some of it, but it turns out you’ve treated my words as wind in your ears.”
“It’s not that this servant deliberately refuses to listen to Miss’s words, but… Miss, you’re wrong. Keeping such a scheming woman by Young Master’s side brings you nothing but harm.”
Zhangsun Shi laughed bitterly in her anger, “Then according to you, husband should divorce her, is that it?”
Xiuzhu immediately said, “If that could happen, it would naturally be best, but I’m afraid Miss can’t harden her heart to do it.”
“You!” Zhangsun Shi was so angry she kept shaking her head, not knowing what to say. Xiuzhu had been with her for more than just a day or two—everything about her was good, except regarding Yunyi, where she consistently disagreed with her. She didn’t know where such strong opinions came from.
Seeing her face turn slightly pale, Xiuzhu feared she might harm herself with anger and said, “If Miss doesn’t want to hear it, this servant won’t speak of it, but still…”
Zhangsun Shi interrupted, “Have you ever considered that if she truly wanted to harm me, why would she have Imperial Physician Li come to treat me now? Or do you think that even requesting Imperial Physician Li was with ill intent? That she also wanted to harm me?”
“This servant doesn’t know, but being cautious is always good.” Seeing that Xiuzhu still wouldn’t listen to her words, Zhangsun Shi was deeply disappointed and waved her hand, saying, “Go out and think carefully about what I’ve said. When you understand, then come back in.”