Chapter 10: Lee's Premature Birth
The Main Courtyard of the Fourth Prince's Mansion
Yihuan was dressing with her eyes closed when Nanny Chen came back and said, "Fujin, Princess Song and Princess Li are here."

After the confinement period, Yihuan could no longer be lazy, so she resumed the custom of having concubines pay respects on the first and fifteenth day of every month.

Li Gege was still dressed brightly and beautifully as usual. Her clothes and jewelry were not part of a Gege's allowance, but were obviously a reward from Yinzhen.

In comparison, Song Gege was much more low-key. Her clothes were mostly plain colors. She sat with her head down and would not speak unless asked.

Yihuan has become familiar with the way of getting along with these two. In addition to them, Yinzhen also has several maids sent by his servants. These people are not qualified to pay their respects or ask how they are, and Yihuan always treats them as if they don't exist.

"I think we called the court doctor yesterday. Who among you is sick?" Yihuan asked.

Yesterday, Yinzhen rarely remembered to go see Song, but from what he heard from the court doctor, it seemed that the message came from the East Courtyard. It seemed that Li was trying to intercept him again.

Except for those concubines, Li didn't dare to use force against Yihuan, but Song would suffer.

The original owner wished that whenever the two princesses quarreled, she would never get involved in their feud. After Yihuan came, she focused on her confinement and did not discipline her. Li became more and more arrogant, and eight out of ten times, she won over Song.

Li touched her belly and said with a smile, "Yesterday, I suddenly had an unbearable abdominal pain. I went to Sister Song and disturbed the master. Fortunately, the palace doctor examined me and said that I had caught a cold, but it was not a big problem."

"Since the servant is ignorant, have you punished him?" Yihuan asked.

"..." Li was silent for a moment, "Of course, I fined her three months' salary."

"Since you have already punished me, I will not say much this time. I was in confinement before and had no energy, but I am much better now. If my sisters are not feeling well or have any problems, please report to me. If I cannot make the decision, I will report to the master. If anyone disturbs the master's rest for matters as big or small as yesterday, no matter who it is, they will be beaten with thirty boards first." Yihuan set the rules. Since she was the wife, she was naturally their immediate superior. Reporting to a higher level was a taboo in the workplace.

"Yuxiao, pick out some brightly colored cloth from the warehouse and take it to Song Gege. Spring is here, make a few more clothes for her. Not to mention the master, I will be happy too." Reprimand one and comfort the other, as long as the two of them don't stick together.

Song Gege didn't like it very much, and after thanking the emperor as per the rules, she didn't say much.

Li gritted her teeth and accepted the instruction, her hand involuntarily stroking her belly. As long as the baby was a boy, what could Lady Fu do?
***
Raising children always goes by quickly.

Honghui is now six or seven months old. He doesn’t like lying in his crib anymore. As soon as he opens his eyes, he stands up holding on to something at hand. From time to time, he lets go of his hands and sits on his buttocks. He doesn’t cry, but just says “Eh~Eh~”

Young masters in the Qing Dynasty sometimes had to drink human milk until adulthood. Yihuan did not like this way of eating, so she prepared egg custard and fruit puree for Honghui early on, feeding him a little bit every day, hoping to wean him off milk by the time he was one year old.

Ever since Honghui had eaten the egg custard and fruits, he would stare eagerly every day. When he saw Yihuan bringing out his little plate, he would clap his hands happily, shout "ahhh", and then eat it all up, wishing he could stick out his head to lick it clean.

The wet nurse and Nanny Chen disagreed with Yihua's feeding method. In their opinion, human milk was the most nutritious and only nobles could afford it until adulthood. But the easy-going Yihua was very persistent on this matter, and seeing that the young master also liked it, they didn't say anything more.

Someone went to report this to Yinzhen. Yinzhen thought about Honghui's plump and lovely appearance, and finally acquiesced to Yihuan's approach.

That afternoon, Yihuan teased Honghui as usual and trained him to walk.

"Madam, Princess Li fell down and immediately started bleeding. Please go and take a look." Hongmei, a second-class maid, suddenly ran in in a panic.

Upon hearing this, Yihuan signaled the nurse to take Honghui away, then stood up and put on her cloak: "What's going on?"

Hongmei supported her and walked towards the East Courtyard. "When the court doctor examined Li Gege's pulse before, he said that she was overnourished. Since then, Li Gege has gone for a walk in the garden every afternoon. The master is rarely in the house at this time. You have been taking care of the young master in the main courtyard. Since Song Gege knew Li Gege's habits, she has never been to the garden again." "Who would have thought that Li Gege slipped and fell today? The doorman hurried to find the midwife. The court doctor said that she is in danger."

On the way, Yihuan understood the whole story. She ordered someone to invite Yinzhen back, and at the same time sent someone to the palace to invite the imperial physician to come to the palace to take charge.

East Hospital Delivery Room.

Yihuan walked into the inner room and took a look at Li. She was lying on the bed with her hands and feet held down by the nanny. Painful moans came out intermittently from Li's mouth, and her hair was wet and stuck to her ears.

The midwife was frantically touching Li's belly. Blood was pouring out in pools, and it looked dangerous.

Yihuan calculated in her mind that Li's belly was almost eight months old. "Seven months of life, eight months of death", the old saying among the people still has some truth.

Although she knew that in history, Li gave birth to a prince, who died soon after. But only through personal experience could one understand the danger of a few words in history books.

The midwife seemed to have found a backbone when she saw Yihua, and said anxiously: "Fujin, Li Gege's water broke, and the baby hasn't come out yet. If it takes too long, the baby may be in danger."

"Adult or child?"

"Both. Please make a decision as soon as possible."

"Pour the ginseng soup into her mouth and let Li hold on a little longer. I will be back to see her soon." Although Yihuan is the wife of the emperor, she has no right to make decisions. Everything here has to wait until Yinzhen comes back to be decided.

The midwife continued to knead Li's belly, trying to ensure a smooth delivery of the baby.

Yihua came out of the inner room and suddenly thought of the eldest princess: "Madame Chen, go and carry the eldest princess to accompany Honghui first. Don't tell the eldest princess a word about Li's situation."

"Yes."

Li almost lost two lives in one pregnancy. If anything happened to the eldest princess, Yihuan would have to commit suicide to apologize.

Fortunately, Li had a strong desire to survive and he regained consciousness with the help of medicine.

Yihuan sat outside, listening to Li's increasingly weak voice, and her heart unconsciously tightened.

Now that Li is in this situation, what would Yinzhen think? Would he feel that as his wife, he cannot tolerate a princess with children?

Yinzhen was not busy today. After receiving Yihuan's report, he immediately took the imperial physician back home. He arrived just in time for Li to give birth. The imperial physician went in and came out holding the child.

"Congratulations, Fourth Prince, congratulations, Fourth Lady, the princess has given birth safely, and both mother and child are safe." The midwife followed behind the imperial physician, constantly wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Yihuan leaned forward slightly and saw the baby in the cradle.

Just one glance, Yihua secretly thought it was not good
(End of this chapter)