Chapter 54 (1/2)
Glossary
儿 | er | (lit. child) diminutive marker used as a form of endearment
时辰 | sichen | time system comprising of 12 two-hour periods of the day; one sichen is the equivalent of two modern hours
The servants standing by the side were all stunned silly. If anything occurred to the Eldest Miss, and Master was infuriated and started investigating, even they did not need to think about surviving this ordeal.
Ruan Ju finally knew to be scared: “It has nothing to do with me. It was her that insisted on provoking me. She fought with me for my bedwarmer; she fell by herself; I didn’t push her……”
Yun Shi Wei was terrified and shouted towards the servants: “What are you all foolishly standing there for? Not going to quickly invite a physician?” Seeing the deathly pale face of the wife in his arms, his long-fearless heart started pounding violently. He lifted her up horizontally and ran towards Furong Garden as if he was flying.
Midway there, they just so happened to meet Ruan Ju, who was on the veranda, instructing a few of the residence’s servants in sweeping the snow-covered courtyard. Seeing Yun Shi Wei running over with Ruan Zhu in his arms, she knew something had happened.
She hastily rushed towards them to inquire: “Second Cousin, what happened to my Eldest Sister?”
Yun Shi Wei did not stop and sprinted past her while yelling: “She was pushed by your family’s third daughter. Seeing her like this, she’s probably about to give birth. Hurry and go find my brother, and then find those midwives in the residence and send them over.”
Ruan Ju dazedly stared at the figures growing further away and turned to point at the servants that were still working: “Xiao San Zi, go tell my Eldest Sister’s matter to my Pa. Xiao Si and Xiao Wu, follow me in finding that slut. I must peel off her skin!”
Right at that time Yun Shi Yi was in Ruan Zi Xu’s study, speaking of Xuanyuan Min Zhi’s origin, how he currently was in the residence as a slave, and the matter of him being whipped by Ruan Ju.
Ruan Zi Xu was so angry he directly slapped the table. He had bore it all for his wife and kindly bestowed food for the Wei family to eat. But this evil creature has unexpectedly gone in the opposite direction and ruined the Ruan clan. This time, he absolutely could not tolerate this.
“Master, not good, something has happened.” A servant pushed the door open in a rush.
“Outrageous! Who allowed you to be like this without manners? If there is something, do you not know to announce yourself?” Ruan Zi Xi was in a fit of anger and opened his mouth to berate him.
The servant continued to pant for air. With one glance, it was clear he had just very anxiously sprinted over: “Master……Eldest Son-in-Law……it’s not good, Eldest Miss, she……”
Yun Shi Yi’s face rapidly changed and he suddenly grabbed the servant: “Say it again!?”
The servant’s two shoulders were captured in Yun Shi Yi’s grip, and he saw a pair of glaring eyes that seemed as if flame were about to erupt. He couldn’t help but become tongue-tied from panic and trembled: “Eldest Miss……Eldest Miss had an accident……it looks like she can’t……”
Yun Shi Yi couldn’t spare the time to ask him for a reason. Pushing the other aside, he flew out of the study.
Ruan Zi Xu had walked forward a few steps and aimed a kick towards the servant, roaring: “Tell me everything in order. If you dare to stutter one time, I’ll sell off your entire family, old and young, to the mountains to dig iron ore.”
Upon hearing those words, the servant immediately calmed down and said everything clearly: “Eldest Miss had been pushed to the ground by Third Miss and couldn’t take it. Second Son-in-Law met Second Miss in the courtyard while carrying Eldest Miss. After Second Miss heard the situation, she let this small one report the situation and also said to find the midwives without delay.”
Ruan Zi Xu’s heart was frantic. He exited the study, asking as he walked: “Have you gone to find the midwives yet?”
The servant followed behind him: “Replying to Master, the several midwives that Master had invited previously reside in the connecting courtyard and us little ones all know. Second Miss has already instructed Xiao San Zi to find them.”
“What about Second Miss?”
“Second Miss was full of anger and she took Xiao Si and Xiao Wu to collect her debt from Third Miss.”
Hatred appeared on Ruan Zi Xu’s face: “Bring a group of servants with you to tie up that animal and throw her in the woodshed. When I have time, I will go handle it. Then call people to keep a tight watch on Wei Rong.”
“This small one understands.”
“Oh right, hurry and go inform the Madam and tell her I will wait for her in Furong Garden.”
………………
This type of agony exceeded any other kind of pain in the world; even the pain of a knife being stabbed into one’s legs or arms and then forcefully wrenched out could not compare. In the beginning, the pain came once every four to five minutes, then changed to once every two minutes, then finally became once every minute.
If it was only pain that lasted for a while, it would be fine, but this sort of agony did not have an end and continuously tormented her body, her energy, and her will.
She was on the bed, her body curled up. The pain that had just passed was immediately followed by another wave of pain that could topple the mountains and overturn the seas[a].
She wanted to alleviate her suffering and hastily hit her own leg; doing this seemed to be of some help.
Yun Shi Wei did not know what was best to do and was completely panic-stricken. He pulled her into his embrace to comfort her and continuously looked outside the window to see if the midwives had arrived yet.
“Second Cousin, it hurts so much.”
“I know, I know. Spouse, hit me, don’t hit yourself. Hit me, I’m resistant to beatings.”
Nuan Chun and Nuan Qing had never experienced this before and had long run out ideas.
Yun Shi Yi burst inside the room. Seeing his wife so feeble, he took her out from Yun Shi Wei’s arms, continuously asking: “Wife, what happened, are you injured? Quickly tell this husband where it hurts; did something happen to our child?”
Ruan Zhu saw him and it was like she had saw hope. She pulled on his arm: “Eldest Cousin, help me pound my legs. Do it strongly……”
Yun Shi Yi’s heart was in unspeakable pain and he gently pat the one in his arms: “Be good and listen, later when the midwives come, all will be fine. Endure it, okay?”
“I can’t……I can’t……AH!……”
Another wave of acute pain attacked her and her entire body shook. She grabbed onto his lapel as if she was clutching at life-saving straws.
After the three midwives had arrived, they saw that the amniotic fluid had basically all flowed out and they all became nervous.
Under the circumstances of an expecting mother not having any amniotic fluid, she could only have a dry birth, which was extremely difficult and also extraordinarily dangerous. The child was also in danger as without the amniotic fluid, they were without an environment to live in, causing breathing to become difficult. After a long time, the fetus could even suffocate to death.
The midwives inspected Ruan Zhu’s cervix and discovered that it had not fully opened. It simply was not yet time to give birth.
Yun Shi Yi saw that their expressions were not right and inquired. They honestly answered and even added that under the condition of having no amniotic fluid, childbirth would be very difficult, and preparations must be made.
What sort of preparation was this? Preparing their hearts or preparing for what comes after? The midwives did not clarify.
But Ruan Zhu felt despair. If it was her past world, then it would be fine as a cesarean birth was possible if a natural one was not. But this surgical procedure did not exist in Tian Chu. Her thoughts were pessimistic and tears flowed from the corners of her eyes into the hair at her temples.
The midwives wanted Yun Shi Yi to leave, but how could he be willing to do so? He continued to hold onto Ruan Zhu’s hand to reassure her.
“Wife, everything is all right. Listen to me and pull yourself together, okay? In a little while, the child can be born.”
Ruan Zhu was tormented by contractions to no end. Thinking of something, she suddenly grabbed him: “Eldest Cousin, listen to me. In the case that I can no longer give birth and am no longer breathing, you should quickly have someone slice open my stomach and take out the child. This way, the child can live.”
Yun Shi Yi’s emotions stirred: “What words are you saying? What is this ‘if I can no longer give birth’? Ruan Zhu, you listen to me, even if it is just one breath, you must continue living for me. Clench your teeth and give birth to the child for me.”
“I know.” Ruan Zhu sobbed out: “Even if I only have one breath left, I’ll still give birth to the child. Can’t……can’t let the child be without a mother right after they’ve been born, can’t let you live alone with the pain.”
Yun Shi Yi shouted in a loud voice: “As long as you know, then that’s good. You have to understand, if you are no longer here, I will immediately follow you. If you don’t believe me, you can try me.”
Tears suddenly came out of Yun Shi Wei’s eyes and he hugged one of Ruan Zhu’s arms. He was choked with sobs: “Spouse you must survive. Listen, if……if you are no longer here, I will also follow you.”
“I will, I will definitely survive.” For them, she also had to live. Again, another wave of painful contractions hit her. Her entire body spasmed from the pain and she sucked in air between her teeth to scream: “Both of you should leave! I don’t want either of you to see me like this.”
She wanted to give the most beautiful side of herself to her Lord Husbands, not this battered and exhausted state.
Yet the two Yun brothers tightly hugged her.