In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

Because Zhu Qingyu had imperial duties to perform, she had to go out on official business every day and couldn't take care of matters in the inner quarters.

Therefore, she never had to worry about the household affairs of the Governor-General's residence since she married into the Duke's mansion; the Duchess of Dingguo, as the head mistress, handled everything.

Since the Duchess of Dingguo came to Jiangning last year, she has been busy with many happy events and has not returned to the capital.

First, she was busy with her son's engagement, then she was busy with the wedding. After finally completing the three letters and six rites for the wedding, her daughter-in-law became pregnant, and the Duchess of Dingguo was even more busy.

Because her daughter-in-law's due date was fast approaching, the Duchess of Dingguo, having chosen a wet nurse, summoned Gu Zhao and discussed the matter with him:

"The wet nurse is no ordinary servant; she'll be serving Gu Heng from now on. If Gu Heng is a girl, the wet nurse's entire family will follow her into marriage. If he's a boy, the wet nurse's son will be working for him to secure his future, so we can't be careless. I've selected several women; they're all from respectable families, honest, kind, and easy to get along with. Go back and ask Qingyu to pick one out and see if she finds one she likes."

As the two were talking, a maid rushed in:

"Madam's water has broken! She's going into labor!"

She was completely fine when we were having breakfast, but after leaving for just a short while, she's about to give birth.

Lady Dingguo, having experience with strangers, couldn't help but feel a little anxious. As she took out her cloak and put it on, she said:

"It looks like a sudden labor; quickly fetch a doctor!"

The maid is answering:

"Madam has instructed us to go to Hui Medical Clinic to invite Doctor Tan. Granny Qin has already arranged for someone to go."

Upon hearing that Zhu Qingyu was about to give birth, Gu Zhao couldn't even wait for his mother to put on her cloak and go over with him. He walked past the maid who was answering and rushed out.

The first snow of the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter) came unusually quickly. When Gu Zhao first entered the courtyard of the Duchess of Dingguo, it was just a light snowfall. Now that he had left the courtyard, the snow was falling heavier and heavier. By the time he arrived at his residence, it was a heavy snowfall, just like when he first met her three years ago.

The girl he caught a glimpse of under the eaves back then, a girl he could never forget, is no longer under the eaves; she is now his wife, and they are having a child together.

Childbirth is always dangerous for women, and it is even more dangerous if it is a rapid delivery.

Gu Zhao had been listening to Zhu Qingyu talk about medical books every day for a while, and had even written about them in the book himself. He remembered these few sentences particularly clearly.

A maidservant brought over a copper basin from the tea room. Upon seeing Gu Zhao, she called out:

"Young Master."

Hearing the maid's bow, Granny Qin lifted the curtain and came out:

"Young Master! Lord Xiong has already gone to fetch the doctor!"

Gu Zhao nodded and went into the outer room, while Zhu Qingyu in the inner room remained completely silent.

Worried that rushing in would bring the chill with him, Gu Zhao took off his snow-covered cloak, washed his hands in the copper basin, and asked anxiously:

"How is she? Why is she so quiet?"

Granny Qin helped him put away his cloak and replied:

"Master Zhu said to save his strength for the delivery, so he can't shout. Miss Zhuang is talking to Master Zhu right now."

Gu Zhao remembered that she had mentioned a method for breathing during childbirth, and had even asked him to write it down in a book.

Because Zhu Qingyu herself was a doctor, and could even be said to be the most outstanding and authoritative doctor in the court, this realization put Gu Zhao at ease.

She's a doctor, she's saved so many lives, she definitely knows how to give birth, she'll definitely be fine.

After washing the coldness off his hands with warm water, Gu Zhao pushed open the door and went into the inner room.

Is it permissible for a man to go in and watch when a woman is giving birth?

Granny Qin knew a lot about these rules. In the past, she would act according to the mood of the mistress of the house. When she was in other houses, she would selectively say many rules that were completely contrary to the rules, depending on the occasion.

But now that she was watching Gu Zhao go in, Granny Qin chose not to say a word, and simply hung up Gu Zhao's cloak.

Gu Zhao went into the inner room. Zhu Qingyu was lying on the bed, but she couldn't concentrate on him at all.

Waves of pain surged from her abdomen, growing increasingly intense and frequent. The pain was so intense that Zhu Qingyu saw stars and could only try to distract herself by counting her breaths. She couldn't pay any attention to Gu Zhao at all.

Zhuang Min moved a stool and sat down beside Zhu Qingyu's bed, holding her hand and wiping the cold sweat from her face with a handkerchief.

Several maids were busy in the room, and someone was working on the brazier to make it burn brighter, so that if Lady Zhu were to give birth halfway through, the brazier would go out and she would get cold.

Someone was preparing hot water and towels, which were items that Zhu Qingyu had written down and asked them to prepare. So as soon as she started, the maids brought them up in an orderly manner.

Gu Zhao walked over and said to Zhuang Min:

"Dr. Zhuang, let me do it."

Childbirth is unlike other illnesses; sometimes, family members play a more significant role than doctors.

Zhuang Min stood up:

"it is good."

When Zhuang Min was around, Zhu Qingyu didn't dare to hold her hand too tightly, afraid of hurting herself too much and not being able to control her strength.

But when it was Gu Zhao, there was no such concern. Zhu Qingyu gripped his hand tightly, her nails digging into his palm so hard they almost drew blood.

Gu Zhao silently endured it, letting her pinch him with one hand, while using the other to take the warm handkerchief handed to him by the maid and wipe the sweat from Zhu Qingyu's face and neck, coaxing her:

"Yes, that's it. If it hurts, then apply more pressure to my hand. I can take it."

Since he had said that, Zhu Qingyu, who was in so much pain that her soul was almost leaving her body, became even more impolite and pinched Lord Gu until he bled.

Both were located in the bustling area of ​​Jiangning City. Huiyi Clinic and the Governor-General's Mansion of Liangjiang were not far apart. Before long, Xiong Kun returned with Doctor Tan at breakneck speed. Not only Doctor Tan, but Su Mu and the others also came along.

Five or six doctors and physicians surrounded Zhu Qingyu, indicating an overabundance of medical resources.

Dr. Tan was forty-eight years old. She was taken in by Zhu Qingyu on her way back to Jiangning from the northern frontier. Before entering Huiyi Medical Clinic, she was a well-known female gynecologist in the surrounding area.

Upon entering, seeing that Master Zhu was so quiet, with only the sound of breathing and no loud shouting, Doctor Tan judged that he was still far from death.

Upon examination, even Dr. Tan was astonished:

"Madam, you're about to give birth! Don't hold back, you can push now!"

Zhu Qingyu was about to give birth, so Doctor Tan immediately began clearing the room to kick Gu Zhao out.

Gu Zhao sat by Zhu Qingyu's bedside, refusing to leave:

"No, I'll sit here. I won't get in your way."

It wasn't impossible, and Dr. Tan didn't insist, and began arranging the delivery.

When little Gu Heng was in Zhu Qingyu's belly, he was as steady as a mountain. But when it was time for him to come out, he came in a hurry. At 1:15 am, his water broke. Just after 1:15 am, a loud cry rang out, and little Gu Heng had arrived in this world. The speed was as if he had traveled in a time machine.

From the start of labor to the end, it took a total of one hour. Zhu Qingyu was in so much pain that she almost lost consciousness. After giving birth, she felt cold all over and was shivering.

Someone whispered congratulations in my ear:

"Congratulations, Lord Zhu! Congratulations, Lord Gu! You have a wonderful daughter!"

Someone placed the cleaned Gu Heng next to her, his soft little face pressed against hers, and a little warmth came from Gu Heng's face, trying to dispel the cold that wanted to devour her.

Someone else exclaimed loudly:

"Oh no! Lord Zhu has suffered a massive hemorrhage!"