The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 995

Chapter 995: 470 Labor (Third Watch of the Night)

Gu Yan’s eyes widened as he said, "Aren’t the imperial advisers amazing? My brother-in-law is the most powerful!"

Marquis Gu chuckled, "If he’s so powerful, then why hasn’t he made it into the imperial advisors?"

Gu Yan said huffily, "My brother-in-law... he just... doesn’t want to go! Otherwise, not to mention the imperial advisors, even the Jinluan Hall would be accessible to him whenever he wishes!"

Oh boy, this kid is really full of hot air.

Does he even know what the imperial advisors are, or what the Jinluan Hall is?

In Zhan Country, only officials of the fifth rank or higher qualify to be presented to the Emperor, but that doesn’t guarantee an audience, even for someone with his esteemed position. Take him for example, as a prominent official in the Ministry of Works, he hardly ever attends court.

"He thinks he can just go if he wants? Who do you think he is?"

"He, he, he," Gu Yan struggled, as he couldn’t reveal his brother-in-law’s true identity, and his face turned red, "His surname is Xiao!"

Marquis Gu sneered, "So what if his surname is Xiao? There are so many with that surname. Do you think everyone is a young marquis from Zhaodu?"

Gu Yan puffed up like a little pufferfish: "What if... what if he really is?"

Marquis Gu didn’t realize his son was stating a big truth and took it as just an angry retort of a child. Pointing to Xiao Hen, he said to Gu Yan, "He is the young marquis of Zhaodu, I’ll address you as my dad!"

Gu Yan looked at his father with an unspeakable feeling and silently responded in his heart, "Alas!"

"Mother!"

As the father and son were verbally sparring, Xiao Hen suddenly spoke out.

The voices of father and son abruptly stopped as they turned to look at Madam Yao in unison, who was pale and clutching her belly, with her skirts dampened below.

She said in disbelief, "I, I think I’m about to give birth..."

Madam Yao’s onset of labor caught everyone off guard, her waters broke without a hint of contractions. Fortunately, Gu Jiao had previously shared some childbirth precautions with her and the household, advising against moving about in such circumstances.

Marquis Gu carefully carried Madam Yao back to their room.

Xiao Hen said to Gu Yan, "I’ll go boil water. Have the shadow guards find your sister at Medical Hall. If she’s not there, bring Dr. Liao first."

Dr. Liao was originally a local midwife, distinguished for her deep understanding of women’s complicated medical issues, and hence, was hired by Gu Jiao for a generous sum to join Medical Hall.

Though people were still accustomed to calling her midwife Liao, Xiao Hen followed Gu Jiao in respectfully addressing her as Dr. Liao.

Housekeeper Mrs. Fang and Yu Yaya were tidying up the bedding in the next room when Yu Yaya heard the commotion and ran over. She exclaimed in shock, "Housekeeper! The lady is going into labor!"

"Her due date hasn’t even arrived, is it another premature birth?"

Mrs. Fang’s face turned pale; she forgot all about the bedding and hurried through the small door connecting the two households.

She stumbled as she hurried.

"Housekeeper!" Yu Yaya swiftly steadied her with hawk-like reflexes, "Don’t panic. The young master’s shadow guards have already gone to call the young mistress. She’ll be back shortly. Madam will be fine!"

Mrs. Fang, seeing even a young girl like Yu Yaya more composed than herself, brushed the sweat from her brow and sighed, "I’m just anxious. I wasn’t by the lady’s side when she bore the young mistress and the young master, and both times involved premature births and a baby mix-up. That worry has always been a knot in my heart..."

Yu Yaya couldn’t empathize with Mrs. Fang’s deep concerns but nodded understandingly, "I get it, Housekeeper. Don’t worry. The lady is blessed and will surely have a safe delivery!"

In Gu Jiao’s absence, Dr. Liao arrived.

Dr. Liao was an experienced midwife who Marquis Gu felt fortunate to have hired on Huang Zhong’s recommendation when they were searching for a midwife for Madam Yao.

However, Gu Yan and Xiao Hen both wished it were Gu Jiao who came instead.

Yet if Madam Yao’s condition permitted, Dr. Liao’s medical expertise would suffice.

Unfortunately, Madam Yao’s condition wasn’t good.

"Could you have made a mistake? My wife’s pregnancy went smoothly. She could eat, sleep, and even walk briskly! Her belly wasn’t big either! Everyone said it would be an easy birth!"

Having served as a midwife for many years, Dr. Liao was not unfamiliar with cases like Madam Yao’s, where pregnancies went smoothly only to face weak labor at birth.

A woman’s journey through childbirth, not just limited to the day of labor, is akin to passing through Ghost Gate Pass, filled with unforeseen risks throughout pregnancy. Although most pregnancy risks affect the fetus, at the onset of labor, both mother and child face significant threats.

After all, if the mother encounters complications, the child’s survival is also in jeopardy.

In front of Madam Yao, Dr. Liao naturally refrained from uttering any ill-omened words. She smiled and said, "Don’t worry just yet; this is only the beginning. Once Madam Yao fully starts labor, I have brought my labor-inducing medicine. It can be taken with water."

Previously, labor-inducing treatments involved on-the-spot herbal concoction. In disagreement with this time-consuming and inconvenient method, Gu Jiao had prepared wax pills, removing the wax coating to reveal medication that could be taken directly or mixed with water.