A Single Tie Of Long Hair Seals A Lifelong Commitment - Chapter 56.1

Dawn broke, and the light swallowed by darkness ascended once more, yet the Prince’s estate still had not welcomed the baby’s first cry.

Xun Shuheng had fainted several times, and a wave of repressed chaos filled the sleeping chamber.

Granny Ji squeezed sideways out of a slit in the inner room door, quickly closing it with a noticeable sound, fearing a draft would enter. Wiping the sweat from her neck, Granny Ji’s face was pale and troubled, “She has lost too much blood. If the child is not born by noon, the Princess Consort’s life may be in danger.”

In the evening, Xie Yuan had come to check once, given a few instructions, and then returned to the main hall to discuss matters with the various military commanders.

The entire household had not closed their eyes all night.

Chen Liangyu had traversed the front and back courtyards countless times in the night. Xie Wenjun waited beneath the hall, watching the dark circles under Chen Liangyu’s eyes grow heavier.

Xie Wenjun said: “Invite more midwives and doctors. We must ensure the Princess Consort’s life is safe!”

Granny Ji replied, “Replying to the Grand Princess, replying to the General, the best birthing experts and doctors were invited to stay at the estate early this morning, and they are all here now. For a woman giving birth, her qi must be smooth. The Princess Consort is in turmoil, and after being tormented all night, she has no strength and is unwilling to push. What should we do?”

The best midwives only understood delivery, but lacked the ability to truly save lives or cure illnesses. Furthermore, the doctors were all external males, only permitted to wait outside the chamber and ask questions. Xun Shuheng was barely conscious, so they could only question the midwives and maids inside. Several doctors, fearful of misdiagnosing her condition, dared not use medicine rashly, only brewing a few gentle herbal remedies.

Chen Liangyu stared intently at the door. By mid-morning (Sun-on-three-poles), Xun Shuheng voice was getting softer, nearing silence. Chen Liangyu knew a little about treating external injuries and could identify some medicinal herbs herself, but she was only useful for bandaging and stopping bleeding on a messy battlefield; it was of no use here.

Several doctors waited anxiously outside the door, asking questions non-stop. Before long, the midwives inside would answer one by one. Chen Liangyu immediately said, “Please, let the doctors enter and examine her!”

“That is unacceptable!”

“At a time like this, are you still concerned about the segregation of men and women? What is more important than a human life?”

“Why not invite a female physician to take a look inside?”

Who was speaking?

Chen Liangyu suddenly turned her head, raising her eyelids, seemingly asking, Why are you here?

Pu Ping’er looked at her with an innocent expression. She had only found the Prince of Shen’s estate at 9:30 PM the previous night after closing her stall, intending to report on the matter of recruiting female soldiers. Chen Liangyu had told her, “Later,” and then completely forgotten about her.

Pu Ping’er had followed Chen Liangyu back and forth between the front and back courtyards all night, shadowing her like a servant. One could say she earned her keep through hard work, if not merit. Yet, this busy, muddled noblewoman had entirely forgotten her existence, failing to even glance at the figure—human or ghost—who had been trailing her all night.

“A female physician?” Chen Liangyu said, “There is one in Liangxi City, but it’s too late to send for her now.”

Pu Ping’er said, “Coincidentally, there is one right here.”

A black figure passed through the arched gate decorated with hanging flowers. Chen Liangyu recognized the black attire from a distance. The woman had just been searched by the estate’s matrons, and she hadn’t yet managed to wrap her veil back on.

“Is that her?” Xie Wenjun asked.

Only today did Xie Wenjun clearly see the other half of her face: a dull red mixed with traces that were almost white, like a strange, red-and-white python coiled across her forehead and cheek.

Zhu Ying was about to perform the customary salute but was stunned when she clearly recognized the two women before her, “It’s you two?”

Chen Liangyu quickly raised her right hand, pointing towards the inner room, “Hurry, please!”

Zhu Ying wrapped her veil and plunged into the sleeping chamber. She felt Xun Shuheng’s pulse with her fingertips, pulled back her eyelids to examine her eyes, and then spread out silver needles.

After a few needles were inserted, the purplish color on Xun Shuheng’s lips began to fade, slowly giving way to a rosy hue. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, accompanied by a sharp, mournful cry, the midwives shouted excitedly, “She’s delivered! She’s delivered!”

The cheer soon fell silent.

Xie Wenjun also sensed that something was wrong and suddenly stood up, “Why is there no sound of crying?”

The child was silent.

Chen Liangyu’s heart tightened. Ignoring the doctors’ objections, she pushed open the door and entered the inner room with Xie Wenjun.

Chen Liangyu: “A-Heng.”

Xie Wenjun: “Imperial Sister-in-Law.”

Xun Shuheng lay there, her hair soaked, silver needles still stuck in her, gleaming brightly.

A group of terrified, pale-faced maids and grannies knelt before the bed.

“The child was premature and was in labor for too long. It might not survive.”

Zhu Ying held the baby by its fragile little feet, upside down, patting and rubbing it for a while. She then swept the items off the dressing table—gold hairpins and ornaments scattering everywhere. She snatched a clean cloth from a maid, covered the dressing table with it, and placed the baby’s delicate body, which had turned a dark purple, onto the surface, patting it repeatedly.

The child remained motionless.

Xun Shuheng’s eyes were half-open, looking in the direction of the dressing table, where her newborn child was being flipped and turned by Zhu Ying, handled like a lump of clay, kneaded and patted.

“A few times tonight, I felt I wouldn’t make it. And in my heart, I thought, that would be fine… that would be fine too.”

She spoke feebly, articulating her words with great difficulty.

“Jiangning…”

Xie Wenjun: “Imperial Sister-in-Law.”

“She must be properly rewarded. If the child doesn’t survive, there is no need to punish her. It is fate…”

Chen Liangyu pressed and massaged the hukou (tiger’s mouth) acupuncture point on Xun Shuheng’s left hand, which could relieve pain. “The Prince has already succeeded to the throne yesterday. This child is born of imperial lineage, with great fortune and longevity. She will surely be safe.”

Xun Shuheng was utterly exhausted, and hearing this, she didn’t show the slightest hint of joy.

Zhu Ying bent down and sucked some mucus from the baby’s mouth and nose, spitting it into the copper basin held by a maid. She took two silver needles and inserted them into the baby’s hukou points, and then patted the soles of its feet dozens of times.

Finally, the tightly clenched fists slowly opened, and a tiny hand grabbed randomly at the air.

After a few weak whimpers, a crisp cry pierced the deadly silence.

A page boy quickly ran to the front hall to report the good news. Xie Yuan arrived upon hearing the sound.

Granny Ji wrapped the child in a swaddling cloth and brought her before Xie Yuan, “This servant congratulates His Majesty on the birth of a Princess. The little Princess is blessed with great fortune, and both mother and daughter are safe.”

Xie Yuan took the child from Granny Ji’s arms, holding her with great care. He gently touched her eyebrows and cheeks with his fingers, speaking softly, “This is my child. I have a child now?”

His eyes were full of wonder. Smiling, he seemed a little foolish.

Chen Liangyu walked out and said, “Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Everyone inside and outside the room offered congratulations in unison. Xie Yuan asked, “How is the Princess Consort?”

Chen Liangyu replied, “Her Highness is out of danger, but she is merely too tired and has fallen asleep again. The little Princess’s birth was truly difficult, thanks to the deep fortune and benevolence of Her Highness and the little Princess.”

Xie Wenjun stood behind Chen Liangyu at some point and said, “Why doesn’t Third Brother bestow a title upon her? Accumulating fortune is always better the more there is.”

Although the Princesses of Da Lin were of noble status, they did not have their own fiefdoms like the Princes. However, even without a fiefdom, they could still be supported by the common people.

Once a title was granted, she would receive an entitlement of land and people.

Princesses’ titles were usually selected and proposed by the Ministry of Rites only when they reached the age of fifteen and were about to marry, before being submitted to the Emperor and Empress for a final decision. When Empress Huixian gave birth to Xie Wenjun, Emperor Xuanyuan broke tradition and, without consulting the Ministry of Rites, immediately decided on the Princess’s title. Jiangning County was a wealthy county, with over ten thousand households of permanent residents. Emperor Xuanyuan bestowed the title using the place name, granting her an entitlement of ten thousand households. Later, Consort De repeatedly made trouble, and the entitlement of ten thousand households was canceled, leaving her with only a title. After the Crown Prince became Regent, Xie Yu took the initiative to restore the ten thousand households to her.