Song Mo noticed the bump on Songluo’s head. Although he didn’t praise him, he rewarded him with two taels of silver.
Songluo happily withdrew.
Liao Bifeng reported to Song Mo about the various matters concerning the inventory of the upper courtyard.
Song Mo was very satisfied and said, “First, seal off the upper courtyard and assign experienced maidservants to look after it. Prepare yourself, in a couple of days I want to reclaim the properties under Song Han’s name. When the time comes, you’ll lead the accountants to help with the audit again.”
Liao Bifeng respectfully acknowledged with a “Yes.”
Song Mo returned to the inner chamber.
Dou Zhao had earlier instructed the kitchen to prepare ginseng chicken soup for Song Mo, which was now ready. She was ladling the soup into small bowls. Seeing Song Mo’s furrowed brow, she gently advised, “You have to eat one mouthful at a time and handle matters one by one. You didn’t sleep all night yesterday. Apart from wearing yourself out, what good does that do? Drink the soup, then go to the office! Mr. Liao is taking care of things at home, nothing will go wrong. Even if he’s not up to it, don’t we still have Mr. Yan?”
Liao Bifeng’s skillful handling of the fake accounts last night impressed not only Song Mo but also Dou Zhao.
Song Mo couldn’t help but smile.
He gently pinched Dou Zhao’s nose and teased, “I almost forgot, we have you, our female advisor, at home.”
Dou Zhao raised her eyebrows and smiled, saying, “If Mr. Yan can’t handle it, I can always step in.”
Song Mo laughed heartily.
His mood improved significantly.
After drinking the chicken soup, he discussed with Dou Zhao, “We can’t get any answers from Father about why he turned against Mother. I was wondering if you could find an opportunity to sound out Old Madam Lu and Princess Ningde. Among the living elders who know about our family affairs, they’re the only ones left.”
“I was thinking the same,” Dou Zhao said, instructing Ganlu to bring in Song Mo’s court robes. “We can also ask First Aunt, Third Aunt, and Fourth Aunt. Different standpoints and perspectives lead to different views on things. They might know something we don’t.”
“I’ll leave this task to you,” Song Mo sighed. “I just can’t understand. Mother was a reasonable person, and spouses were supposed to be the closest. What could Father not discuss with Mother? Why did he inexplicably exchange his legitimate eldest daughter for an illegitimate child from outside, and then poison Mother to cover it up… What was he thinking?! How did Mother wrong him that he would harm her like this?!”
As he spoke, his anger rose again.
Dou Zhao quickly stepped forward to soothe his chest, saying, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry!”
Song Mo took a deep breath and said, “I’m fine,” his face showed a hint of apology. “All this commotion when you’re about to give birth, and you can’t even have peace.”
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “After I give birth, I’ll punish you by making you empty the child’s chamber pot every night.”
“Certainly, certainly,” Song Mo said, gently stroking Dou Zhao’s belly and softly instructing her, “I’m going to the office now, take care. I’ve left a message with the guards at the palace gate. If any of our servants come looking for me, have them inform me immediately. If you feel unwell in any way, send a servant to call me right away.”
He was worried that Dou Zhao might go into labor while he was on duty in the palace.
“I know, you just go to the office with peace of mind!” Dou Zhao saw him off.
Two days later, when she went into labor, she quietly ate half a black chicken before asking Ganlu to call for the midwife.
Ganlu turned pale with fright and stammered, “I’ll send someone to inform the Young Master right away.”
Dou Zhao smiled and said, “What use is there in informing the Young Master? Can he give birth to me? Just go tell Mr. Yan and Mr. Chen.”
Song Mo was in the palace.
Yizhi Hall was full of Song Mo’s people, with Yan Chaoqing and Chen Qushui guarding outside. Even if Song Yichun came personally, they could hold him off. What did she have to worry about?
Ganlu hurried off in a fluster.
News of Dou Zhao going into labor quickly spread throughout Yizhi Hall.
Although Dou Zhao said there was no need to call Song Mo back, Yan Chaoqing still sent Songluo to inform him.
Jiang Yan ran over, her face pale.
“Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, how are you?” She tightly held Dou Zhao’s hand. Seeing Dou Zhao gritting her teeth in pain without speaking, tears streamed down Jiang Yan’s face. “Shall I fetch you a basin of hot water? And the little blanket for my nephew, I’ll go get it right away.”
The midwife by Dou Zhao’s side couldn’t help but say, “These things are all taken care of. Miss Jiang, just wait outside.”
Usually, during childbirth, they had to comfort the nervous mother-to-be, but here she was, having to comfort this young miss.
Jiang Yan’s face turned as red as a cooked shrimp.
As the contraction passed, Dou Zhao gently comforted her, “I’m fine. Your brother has arranged everything. The medical woman was recommended by the Crown Princess; the midwife was found by my sixth aunt from my maiden home, who had delivered for my eleventh sister-in-law before; there are two doctors from the Imperial Medical Academy waiting outside; Gao Xing’s wife has given birth to two children and has experience… You don’t need to worry. Listen to the midwife, and go sit in the outer hall. My sixth aunt and eleventh sister-in-law will be coming soon, help me receive the guests.”
Jiang Yan nodded and was escorted out by Ganlu.
The sixth aunt and Madam Han rushed over.
“Wasn’t it supposed to be the end of June? It’s only the 25th, why has she gone into labor early?” the sixth aunt asked anxiously.
“This is the young madam’s first child, a few days early or late is normal,” both the midwife and Dou Zhao were very calm, in contrast to the sixth aunt and Madam Han who seemed a bit nervous.
“Where’s the ginseng? Where’s the medical woman? Who’s in charge of the kitchen?” she asked Gao Xing’s wife sternly.
Ginseng was used to sustain life and nourish qi; the medical woman was responsible for examining the patient to inform the doctors outside; the kitchen needed to boil water and prepare food.
Gao Xing’s wife hurriedly pointed out the prepared herbs and personnel to the sixth aunt.
Ganlu reported from behind the curtain, “The fifth madam and the sixth and tenth young madams from Locust Tree Alley have arrived.”
The sixth aunt gave Dou Zhao a few instructions and went to the hall.
Madam Han took the brown sugar water from Gao Xing’s wife’s hand and fed Dou Zhao a few sips. “If the pain becomes unbearable, just cry out. It’ll feel better after you cry out. Don’t drink too much of these soups and waters, I’ll have someone boil you a few eggs later.” She then took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Dou Zhao’s forehead.
Dou Zhao smiled at her.
Madam Han said, “We’re all family here, don’t smile so much. Save your strength for giving birth later.”
Dou Zhao couldn’t help but grin.
Meanwhile, the fifth aunt had not only brought her two daughters-in-law but also Gao Sheng’s wife.
She followed behind the fifth aunt, Madam Guo, and Madam Cai, stepped forward to greet the sixth aunt, and said in a low voice, “Our master had instructed earlier that if there was any news from the fourth young madam’s side, I should come over to see.”
The sixth aunt nodded.
The fifth aunt complained to the sixth aunt, “Why didn’t you wait for me when you got the news? I rushed over and only brought a thirty-year-old ginseng. I don’t know if it’s good enough.”
“We’ve already prepared two-hundred-year-old ginseng roots here, so we have enough herbs,” the sixth aunt said. “There’s no elder in Shou Gu’s inner courtyard, so I was feeling anxious.”
The fifth aunt’s gaze fell on Jiang Yan, who was accompanying the sixth aunt.
Jiang Yan quickly said, “Sister-in-law asked me to help her receive guests,” and invited the Dou family women to sit down.
The sixth aunt noticed the fifth aunt’s displeased look at Jiang Yan, knowing she felt Jiang Yan, as a widow, was inauspicious here. She quietly explained Jiang Yan’s identity to the fifth aunt.
The fifth aunt was greatly surprised.
Although Dou Zhao had taken Jiang Yan to Locust Tree Alley before, she hadn’t discussed Jiang Yan’s identity in detail. Now, hearing the truth, the fifth aunt couldn’t help but look Jiang Yan up and down. Thinking about how Dou Zhao told Ji Shi everything, she felt a bit sour inside.
Feeling uncomfortable under the fifth aunt’s gaze, Jiang Yan pretended to go check if the tea was ready and left the hall.
She ran into Song Mo, who had rushed back covered in sweat.
“How is your sister-in-law?” he asked Jiang Yan from afar.
“Sister-in-law’s aunt and sister-in-law from her maiden family have arrived,” Jiang Yan quickly went to meet him. “The midwife and medical woman are also in the birthing room.”
Song Mo nodded and said, “You should quickly return to your room. I can handle things here.”
Jiang Yan had heard that when women give birth, they have one foot in the coffin and one foot out, extremely dangerous. But her gentle nature never allowed her to contradict others. Hearing Song Mo says this, although she is worried about Dou Zhao, she doesn’t dare to speak up. She pressed her lips together and silently followed Song Mo into the hall.
Song Mo’s mind was entirely on Dou Zhao, hardly paying attention to anyone else. As soon as he entered, he asked, “How is Shou Gu?” Then he greeted the fifth and sixth aunts and others.
The sixth aunt shooed him out: “Women’s matters, men shouldn’t interfere. This is her first child, it won’t be born so quickly. Go wait properly in the study, take a nap, and by the time you wake up, the child will be born.”
Hearing this, Song Mo broke out in a cold sweat and said, “Then I’ll wait in the side room!”
“When I tell you to go to the study, you go to the study,” the sixth aunt said firmly. “Don’t make us worry about two things at once.”
Dou Zhao also called from inside, “Young Master, please go read in the study. I have my aunts and sisters-in-law taking care of me here, nothing will go wrong.”
Song Mo reluctantly went to the study.
But after a while, he sent Wu Yi to ask how things were going.
Wu Yi, being a manservant, could only stand at the door and ask.
The people inside would casually answer “Fine,” and that was all. It wasn’t appropriate for him to ask more, nor would they tell him more.
Song Mo paced anxiously, then thought of Jiang Yan and called her over: “Go see how your sister-in-law is doing.”
Jiang Yan was married before, so the fifth and sixth aunts didn’t avoid her too much.
Seeing her brother’s agitated state, she gently said, “Sister-in-law is fine. The midwife said the birth won’t happen until midnight. They’ve asked the kitchen to boil sugar-coated eggs for sister-in-law to eat!”
Finally knowing the specific situation, Song Mo breathed a sigh of relief and asked curiously, “Can your sister-in-law still eat?”
“Yes!” Jiang Yan said. “The midwife said eating gives strength for childbirth.”
“Oh!” Song Mo responded vaguely.
Jiang Yan, seeing her brother’s dazed expression, felt much closer to him and said, “Then I’ll go back in.”
Song Mo urged her, “Go quickly, go quickly. If anything happens to your sister-in-law, come tell me immediately.”
Jiang Yan went to the birthing room.
Not even a quarter of an hour later, she was called out by Wu Yi.
“The Young Master asks how the madam is doing,” Wu Yi said sheepishly.
“Sister-in-law is doing very well!” Jiang Yan said.
Wu Yi bowed to Jiang Yan: “Miss Jiang if I report back to the Young Master like this, I’m afraid I’ll be slapped out. Please go give the Young Master a detailed report—how many sugar-coated eggs has the madam eaten? How is her complexion? Is she in severe pain? The more detailed you are, the more at ease the Young Master will be.”
Jiang Yan went to the study and, following Wu Yi’s instructions told Song Mo in detail.
Song Mo was quite pleased and told Jiang Yan to quickly return to the birthing room: “If anything happens, come and report to me.”
But the midwife said their sister-in-law was doing very well! Better than most mothers-to-be…
Jiang Yan grumbled inwardly but didn’t dare say such things in front of Song Mo. She returned to the birthing room.
Soon after, Wu Yi came to ask again.
Jiang Yan’s back-and-forth caught even Dou Zhao’s attention.
She couldn’t help but ask Jiang Yan, “What’s going on with you?”
Jiang Yan blushed and said embarrassedly, “It’s brother. He insists that I report every detail of what’s happening in the birthing room to him.”
Dou Zhao was quite surprised.
In her previous life, when she gave birth to Wei’er, Wei Tingyu was drinking with others outside. When he was finally found by Madam Tian, he complained that she was taking too long to give birth. When she gave birth to Rui’er, she simply didn’t tell him. When she gave birth to Yin’er, he was quite concerned but only waited in the study for the child to be born.
She thought she could face this life bravely on her own, but when she heard Jiang Yan’s words, she couldn’t help but tear up.
“Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?” Jiang Yan looked panicked. “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
“I’m fine,” Dou Zhao wiped the corners of her eyes and said, “I’m afraid you’ll tell your brother about my disheveled state during childbirth.”
“No, no,” Jiang Yan shook her head repeatedly, promising, “I definitely won’t tell brother.” She added, “Sister-in-law’s complexion is rosy and beautiful! Even if I wanted to tell brother, there’s nothing to say.”
These two siblings.
Dou Zhao burst into laughter.
The next morning at the hour of Si (9-11 AM), she gave birth to a son weighing six jin and seven liang (about 3.35 kg).