Before turning back into the house, Cui Shi said to Nanny Qin, "Nanny, please personally invite Mr. Gongsun to come over."
As soon as Cui Shi finished speaking, Mr. Gongsun arrived at the doorway. "Madam!"
"Mr. Gongsun!" Cui Shi, supported by a maid, was neither humble nor obsequious, acting with composure and order, truly living up to her status as the legitimate daughter of the Cui family.
"The Duke feared Madam would worry, so he sent me to tell you he is unharmed. He has merely been demoted; the sky will not fall!" Gongsun Zhi said calmly.
"It's good that he's alright. Sir, do you know when the Duke will return home?" Cui Shi's heart still could not rest easy.
"The Duke has urgent matters to attend to at the yamen. He should be back in about an hour," Gongsun Zhi replied respectfully.
"Alright, I understand. Thank you for making the trip, Sir. I have many things to attend to today, so I won't be able to offer you tea," Cui Shi said with a composed expression.
"You are too kind. Madam, please go inside and rest. The Duke will be back shortly," Mr. Gongsun said, bowing before taking his leave.
Cui Shi turned to go inside, but as she lifted her foot, she felt a warm flow surge downwards. She stopped in her tracks.
Nanny Qin looked down and saw blood. She tightened her grip on Cui Shi's arm. "Miss!"
In her anxiety, she had even reverted to her old way of addressing Cui Shi.
Dongzhi was about to call for help but was stopped by Cui Shi. "Do not make a sound. Please ask Nanxing to come here!"
If the news spread, no one would be able to control the Old Madam, and the household would descend into even greater chaos.
"Yes!" Dongzhi's voice was choked with emotion.
Nanxing, a medical practitioner in Cui Shi's courtyard, was particularly skilled in gynecology. Upon seeing Cui Shi's condition, she immediately used silver needles to stop the bleeding. "Madam, the young master may be arriving earlier than expected."
"This old servant will immediately instruct the kitchen to make ginseng soup and boil hot water. Madam, do not be afraid. This old servant will be back shortly," Nanny Qin said, her voice full of concern.
She had watched Cui Shi grow up, accompanied her in her marriage, and seen her bear children. From a flower-like maiden to the noble lady she was now, Nanny Qin cared for her more than her own children and was confident this would also go smoothly.
"Mother," Yu Mingyue, having seen the bloodstains in the courtyard that had not yet been cleaned up, ran in unsteadily.
"Yue'er, you're here? Mother is fine. You're going to be an older sister soon." Cui Shi forced herself to speak with spirit.
Yu Mingyue looked at Cui Shi's pale face, a layer of sweat on her forehead, her hair damp. She felt like crying but held back her tears.
"Mother, please be well." Yu Mingyue thought of Cui Shi in the storybooks.
"Mother will be well. Yue'er, be a good girl and wait outside for your father to return. Can you do that?" Cui Shi squeezed her daughter's soft little hand. She was growing weaker, and speaking was becoming difficult.
"Yes, I will wait for Mother." Yu Mingyue saw that her mother was trying her best and dared not delay further, obediently following her instructions.
Nanny Qin brought in the ginseng soup and fed it to Cui Shi. Cui Shi's lower abdomen ached severely, making it difficult to eat. However, to gather her strength, she endured the pain and drank it down mouthful by mouthful.
"Madam, do not be afraid. This old servant will stay with you," Nanny Qin said, wiping Cui Shi's sweat.
"Nanny," Cui Shi's eyes welled up with tears.
She had always been healthy, and her previous two pregnancies had been smooth. This time, she... was indeed a little afraid.
Nanxing was also sweating profusely, her brow furrowed.
Nanny Qin, seeing Nanxing's troubled expression, quickly asked, "What is it?"
"Madam... is having a difficult labor."
Nanny Qin swayed, almost fainting. She cried out, "Impossible! Madam's previous two births were very smooth. Nanxing, you are most skilled in remedies for ladies, quickly think of a solution!"
Tears streamed down Cui Shi's cheeks. Her Jing'er had gone north to battle, his fate uncertain. Yue'er was still so young. She couldn't leave them.
Cui Shi looked at Nanxing. Nanxing bit her lip and, with a determined expression, said, "I once read about a prescription in ancient texts, but no one has ever tried it... I only have a ten percent chance of success."