Sweep Yuan

Chapter 219 Great things happen to the family and the country

In Hefei, in late October of the lunar calendar, the chill of late autumn was growing stronger. Inside the Marshal's Mansion, however, the atmosphere was filled with a tension and anticipation unlike the desolate atmosphere outside, due to the impending arrival of a new life.

Inside the main hall of the inner courtyard, the charcoal brazier burned brightly, dispelling the intruding chill, but it could not dispel the anxiety between Shi Shan's brows.

Liu Ruoyun's suppressed and exhausted groans echoed intermittently from the delivery room, each one like a heavy hammer blow to Shi Shan's heart.

He was no longer the composed and calm man he usually was. His brow was furrowed, and he paced back and forth in the thickly carpeted hall, his heavy footsteps betraying his inner turmoil. An invisible weight seemed to hang in the air, making it hard for those around him to breathe.

"Husband."

"Concubine Huang Shuyao called softly. She was more than four months pregnant, her belly slightly protruding. The girl had lost some of her playful and mischievousness, and gained a touch of gentleness and solemnity as she was about to become a mother."

Seeing that Shi Shan was in a bad mood, Huang Shuyao stepped forward and gently comforted him:
"My sister has always been healthy. During these ten months of pregnancy, she has not suffered from morning sickness like I have. Her diet and daily life have been very stable. She will surely be able to turn bad luck into good and have a safe delivery. Husband, please put your mind at ease."

Huang Shuyao tried to sound calm, but Shi Shan still keenly caught the slight tremor in her voice.

For women in this era, childbirth, especially the first pregnancy, was tantamount to walking through the gates of hell; the dangers involved were common knowledge.

Huang Shuyao might have had some subtle rivalries with Liu Ruoyun in the past, but now, as she stood with Shishan outside the delivery room, the thought of facing the same danger soon filled her with genuine fear, which she could not completely hide.

Shi Shan secretly mocked himself for having lived two lives, navigating the complexities of various forces and holding the lives of millions in his hands. He had long since learned to keep his emotions hidden, but when he was about to become a father for the first time and await the arrival of his child, he still couldn't remain composed and lost his senses, which even affected his concubine.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind, walked over and sat down next to Huang Shuyao, stretched out his arm and gently pulled her into his arms, holding her slightly cold little hand and giving her strength.

"Are you scared?" Shi Shan asked in a low voice, his fingertips conveying warmth.

"Ah."

Huang Shuyao nodded slightly, leaning against Shi Shan's shoulder. As always, she didn't hide her thoughts from her husband, and said:
"A little."

"Don't be afraid, this is a hurdle that every woman has to go through."

Ishiyama patted her hand reassuringly, trying to keep his tone as relaxed as possible, and comforted her:

"Besides, we're not entirely unprepared. In case... I mean in case something goes wrong, I've already ordered the craftsmen to make birthing instruments, so we'll have a better chance of success and won't be completely helpless."

Ishiyama was well aware of the dangers of childbirth for women in this era, and made some preparations in advance, such as special forceps to deal with difficult labor.

Since he wasn't an obstetrician in his later life, he naturally didn't know what this thing actually looked like. He could only refer to a description in an online article he remembered, find a few experienced midwives to describe its general function, have them research the specific shape and size, and then ask craftsmen to make it.

However, this device has only been made recently, and the midwives have not yet had the opportunity to use it in practice, nor do they know if it will work.

Shishan naturally didn't want to use forceps in his own home, but as a time traveler, having these advanced knowledge could ensure the safety of his wives and concubines, and also provide an extra layer of insurance for women in labor. He had to plan ahead, which made him feel a little more at ease.

As the two were whispering sweet nothings, a loud and powerful cry of a newborn baby suddenly rang out from the delivery room, breaking the heavy atmosphere like heavenly music.

"gave birth!"

Immediately afterwards, the midwife's voice, tinged with relief yet still tense, came through the door—"Delivering a baby for a noble person may bring generous rewards, but the pressure is immense; if something goes wrong, the consequences could be unimaginable."

"Congratulations, Marshal! Congratulations! It's a baby girl! Mother and daughter are safe and sound!"

"Good! Good! It's good that you're safe!"

Shi Shan suddenly stood up, his immense joy instantly dispelling all his anxiety, and he laughed loudly:
"A generous reward! The midwife will be rewarded with a hundred strings of cash, and all servants in the household will have their monthly pay doubled! The whole household rejoices!"

A cacophony of gratitude erupted both inside and outside the delivery room.

Outside the delivery room, Shi Shan was overjoyed, but a thought also flashed through his mind: Liu Ruoyun had given birth to a daughter as her first child. In this feudal era that valued offspring and a mother's status depended on her son, she, as the matriarch, might feel some disappointment and grievance.

He himself didn't really care about this matter. He was destined to have many wives and concubines in his life. As long as he worked hard, having a son was only a matter of time. He was still so young, so he wasn't in a hurry about the issue of succession.

On the contrary, in a sense, it is not a good thing for a leader of power to have a son too early.

But while Ishiyama could understand this, his wives and concubines, who were deeply entrenched in the prevailing ideas of the time, would not think the same way.

Huang Shuyao also stood up, gracefully bowed to Shishan, and smiled sweetly, saying:

"My sister has given birth to a beautiful daughter for her husband today. She will surely grow up to be a virtuous and gentle lady. Congratulations, husband!"

Her smile was radiant, and it was clear that she was genuinely happy—how much of that happiness was for Liu Ruoyun's safety, and how much was for the fact that her mother had given birth to a daughter rather than a son, perhaps even she herself couldn't tell.

Looking at Huang Shuyao's slightly protruding belly, Shi Shan shook his head inwardly. It seemed that he would need to guide and discipline Huang Shi more in the future to prevent her from having any inappropriate thoughts that could lead to disharmony in the inner quarters.

The delivery room is a restricted area, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter or leave at will, so as to avoid causing hygiene contamination or disturbing the mother and baby.

Shishan's eldest sister, as a woman in the family with experience in childbirth, was in charge of the affairs outside the room, directing the maids waiting outside the door to take the miscellaneous items handed out from inside, such as bedding stained with blood, towels, blood, placentas, etc., and to deal with them in a timely manner.

They also need to promptly deliver the prepared herbal decoction, nourishing food, and clean hot water.

Although Shishan was anxious, he couldn't help with these matters and could only stand outside the door and wait patiently.

Fortunately, the midwife in charge of everything in the room was experienced and skilled, while Du Ruo and Ma Xiuying, who served her closely in the inner room, were both quick and meticulous. Before long, the delivery room was cleaned up, and the smell of blood was diluted by the aroma of medicine and the smell of charcoal.

The midwife then came out with a smile on her face, and carefully reported the condition of the mother and baby to Shishan, gave him some instructions, and then accepted the reward money with great gratitude and left happily.

Shi Shan first gently told the slightly tired Huang Shuyao to go back to her room to rest before carefully pushing open the door to the delivery room.

The brazier inside was burning brightly, making it warm and cozy, and the candlelight was also quite soft (Shishan specifically requested that it not be dim, so as not to affect the mood of the mother and the midwife's operation).

Du Ruogang had just finished wiping the sweat off the weak Liu Ruoyun and was carefully tasting the temperature of a bowl of softly cooked millet porridge. Ma Xiuying, meanwhile, was gently and skillfully swaddling the newborn baby in soft swaddling clothes.

Upon seeing Shi Shan enter, the two women quickly put down their work, rose, and bowed, saying:
Congratulations, Marshal, on the birth of your daughter!

"Haha, great! All good!"

Shi Shan was in a great mood, and with a wave of his hand, he said:
"I said the monthly wages would be doubled, and everyone would get a reward! You two will get an even bigger reward."

The two women thanked Marshal Shi again. Ma Xiuying, remembering that husbands usually looked after the children first, reached for the swaddled baby, but Shi Shan waved his hand and said:

"No rush, let me check on Yunniang first!"

He went straight to the bedside. Liu Ruoyun had just given birth and lost a lot of blood. Her face was pale and her breath was weak. When she saw her husband coming over, she struggled to sit up.

Shi Shan quickly stopped her, took the soft cushion from her, and carefully helped her to lie down. He then took the bowl of warm rice porridge from Du Ruo's hands, tasted it himself to check the temperature, and, finding it just right, patiently fed it to his wife spoonful by spoonful. "You've suffered a great loss of energy. You should rest and recuperate for the next few days. Don't worry about anything. With me here, things won't fall apart in the household."

Shishan's voice was exceptionally gentle, and his movements were extremely meticulous.

Liu Ruoyun obediently finished half a bowl of porridge, feeling a little strength returning to her body. After all, a mother and daughter are connected at heart, and her gaze involuntarily drifted to the swaddled baby in Ma Xiuying's arms. She whispered:

"My lord, please have Miss Ma bring the child over so I can take a look at him?"

If Shi Shan hadn't needed to appease his wife first, he would have long wanted to see his first child from his two lifetimes. Hearing this, he immediately nodded, and Ma Xiuying carefully took the baby, smiling:
"Marshal, Mistress, look at Miss, she is so beautiful, like a porcelain doll."

"Ah."

Shishan leaned closer, gazing intently at the little red, wrinkled face. The newborn had only recently emerged from the amniotic fluid, so its beauty was still difficult to discern, but in its father's eyes, it was the most precious treasure in the world. A wondrous, blood-connected feeling surged within Shishan, making it almost impossible for him to look away.

"So cute," he murmured, his tone filled with the naivety and joy of becoming a father for the first time.

Liu Ruoyun said she was looking after the child, but in reality, a large part of her attention was still on Shishan, carefully observing his reactions.

Seeing her husband so focused and loving, without showing the slightest disappointment at the birth of her first daughter, her anxious heart finally settled back into her womb, and a truly relieved smile appeared on her pale face.

After Ma Xiuying carefully looked after the child, Liu Ruoyun took a breather and suddenly brought up another seemingly unrelated matter.

"Husband."

Her voice, though soft, was exceptionally clear as she said:

“Du Ruo has been by my side since childhood. We are mistress and servant in name, but in reality, we are like sisters. Since you married outside, she has served us with all her heart and soul, and with great care and consideration. Now… husband, could you please give her a proper title in consideration of her diligence and loyalty?”

Du Ruo was carefully tucking the blanket around Liu Ruoyun by the bedside. Upon hearing this, she instantly blushed deeply, wishing she could disappear into the ground. However, she couldn't leave without permission, so she could only lower her head deeply, her ears turning bright red, yet they stood up nervously, awaiting Shi Shan's reply.

Shi Shan, with his keen intellect, immediately understood Liu Ruoyun's intention.

This is still a precautionary measure under the concept of "a mother's status rises with her son's"—although Liu Ruoyun had a safe delivery, her "first pregnancy was not smooth" and she was unable to give birth to a son. She was still uneasy and worried that her and her child's status would be affected in the future.

Therefore, he was eager to promote his trusted maidservant to consolidate his favor and increase his power in the inner quarters.

Although Du Ruo was a maid, she was pretty and gentle. She had studied with Liu Ruoyun since childhood and was also a maidservant whom the couple had long tacitly agreed to be her concubine. Shi Shan had a good impression of her and would not refuse her.

After a moment's thought, he came up with a more comprehensive solution and smiled:

"In that case, your mother-in-law will definitely come to visit you when she receives the good news. You should take this opportunity to ask your mother-in-law to pass on a message to your father-in-law to choose an auspicious day to formally adopt Du Ruo as his goddaughter. Since you two are as close as sisters, you might as well become true sisters. It will sound better if word gets out in the future."

Upon hearing this, Du Ruo suddenly raised her head, her eyes instantly filling with tears, her lips trembling slightly with emotion.

She never expected that the marshal would not only be willing to take her in, but would also be so considerate of her background.

From then on, she was the nominal daughter of the Liu family, no longer a rootless maid who was promoted to a higher social status. No matter how much the Marshal's "harem" expanded in the future, Du Ruo could stand tall among the Marshal's many wives and concubines.

This kindness is so profound!
Liu Ruoyun actually shared the same thought, but she was worried that Shishan would dislike it, so she didn't dare to bring it up herself. She immediately smiled broadly, but deliberately put on a stern face and said to Du Ruoyan:

"You silly girl, what are you daydreaming about? An incredible opportunity is right in front of you, hurry up and thank your husband for his kindness!"

"Du Ruo... Du Ruo thanks... Thank you, my husband!"

The young maid's voice choked with sobs, her words broken and fragmented. She felt burning hot all over, as if she were walking on clouds, floating and unaware of what was happening. Her surprised, delighted, and bewildered expression amused Shi Shan and Liu Ruoyun, filling the delivery room with a warm and joyful atmosphere.

Ma Xiuying smiled along, but deep within that smile lay a barely perceptible hint of envy and a faint bitterness.

She was born into a wealthy family in Suzhou. She was intelligent from a young age, literate, and skilled in poetry and painting. She was especially proficient in history. Her mother, Ma Zhengshi, died early, and her father had no children of his own, so he regarded her as the apple of his eye. Although her family was not perfect, she lived a carefree life.

Unfortunately, her father died far from home after committing murder and seeking revenge. Before his death, he entrusted her to his friend Guo Zixing.

After Guo Zixing's uprising in Dingyuan, things went awry, and he could only be incorporated into the powerful Red Flag Battalion. From then on, he had to rely on Shishan for support.

Shishan naturally had to take precautions and counterbalances against generals like Guo Zixing who brought their own troops. In addition to transferring him away from his original post and placing him under Fu Youde's command, he also detained Guo Zixing's only son, Guo Tianxu, and his adopted daughter, Ma Xiuying, as hostages.

Guo Tianxu is still young and has great potential. He is only of average appearance, so we can send him directly to the hostage camp.

As a woman, Ma Xiuying was already quite old (two years older than Shishan), so her situation was somewhat delicate if she stayed by Shishan's side.

Shi Shan had never met Ma Xiuying before, and since he wanted to suppress Guo Zixing, he arranged for her to work in the Yulin Camp, teaching children calligraphy and painting, and also to explain physiological knowledge to the older girls, which was a good way to make the best use of her talents.

After that, Shishan gradually completed the complete assimilation of the Dingyuan rebels, and Guo Zixing also entered his new role, no longer needing to be on guard.

Later, during his inspection of the Imperial Guard camp, Shi Shan saw that Ma Xiuying was dignified and elegant, with graceful manners and great patience when teaching children. He appreciated her and transferred her to the inner quarters of the Marshal's mansion as a maid.

This incident occurred just before the northern expedition to Xuzhou. Liu Ruoyun roughly guessed her husband's intentions and went along with it, arranging for Ma to serve by her side. After spending time together, Liu Ruoyun quickly grew fond of this generous, calm, and knowledgeable maid.

So much so that during this delivery, she specifically requested that Ma Xiuying be by her side to take care of her.

Ma Xiuying was naturally intelligent; how could she not understand the underlying intentions of Marshal Shi and his mistress?

She deeply admired and respected Marshal Shi, who had built his vast empire from scratch, and had long harbored feelings for him.

However, she was a bit older and her marriage was still undecided. Seeing Du Ruo happily gaining a title, and thinking about her own awkward status and uncertain future, she couldn't help but feel a bit bewildered and sad.

Fortunately, Liu Ruoyun was equally observant. Having just resolved Du Ruo's status issue and consolidated her own camp, she noticed the slight unease beneath Ma Xiuying's forced smile. Deciding to do another favor, she smiled and said to Shishan:

“Since my husband has decided to take Du Ruo as his wife, in my opinion, the matter of Miss Ma should not be delayed any longer. Miss Ma is virtuous and kind, a rare and good woman. Why don’t you settle her status now, so that she won’t feel uneasy?”

Shi Shan was straightforward and disliked being wishy-washy. He admired Ma Xiuying and also wanted to marry her, so he readily agreed.

“Very well. Commander Guo has recently made new contributions on the front lines of Liuhe. Once this battle has subsided, I will summon him back to Hefei to report on his duties. At that time, I will arrange this marriage with him in person, which will also fulfill the proper etiquette.”

Upon hearing this, Ma Xiuying felt a great weight lifted from her heart. Though composed by nature, she couldn't help but show joy, gracefully performing a deep curtsy towards Shishan, her voice gentle yet clear, saying:
"This humble servant thanks the Marshal for his favor!"

As the saying goes, good things come in pairs. Today, Shishan has just welcomed his beloved daughter and has also arranged two other wonderful events. It is a time when his family is thriving and filled with joy.

As if good fortune were rushing in, before the domestic affairs in the inner quarters were even fully settled, a guard hurriedly came from the front yard with another piece of good news from the front lines of Liuhe:

Zhao Lian, the Vice Minister of the Huainan Province of the Yuan Dynasty, once again led a delegation to the city of Liuhe, requesting entry and the resumption of peace talks!

(End of this chapter)