Chapter 408: Mother, Ranran Has Suffered

Chapter 408: Mother, Ranran Has Suffered

Mrs. He took a few steps back and carefully examined her daughter.

Although Hel Ziran was no longer dressed in coarse linen, she was not adorned with the silk and brocade of old. If it weren't for her face, which remained as beautiful as ever, she would easily be overlooked in a crowd.

Mrs. He's hands trembled as she caressed Hel Ziran's face, which had become slightly fuller than before. She held back her tears and said:

"Mother, Ranran has suffered."

Hel Ziran quickly tried to reassure her: "Mother, I'm doing well; I haven't suffered at all."

Mrs. He didn't believe a word of it.

"How could one not suffer during exile?"

Thinking about the journey of exile, Hel Ziran found it hard to explain. She changed the subject.

"Mother, look, we've built a new house here. Our neighbors on both sides are my brothers and sisters-in-law."

If it weren't for building a similar courtyard for Mo Han Yue as a dowry, Hel Ziran and Mo Jiuyue's courtyard would have been at the far west end of the row.

Now, there was an additional courtyard on their western side, given to Mo Han Yue, making their neighbors all family members.

Mrs. He had already heard from Hel Yuanming that the Mo family men were not dead, but she didn't know the specifics.

Seeing Hel Ziran mention her neighbors being her siblings, she asked with concern: "Is the Mo family doing well now?"

To Mrs. He, the Mo family men were all pillars of Great Shun, who had made great contributions. She sincerely hoped they were all alive and well.

Hel Ziran could hear the underlying meaning in her mother's words.

"Mother, not only are all eight of my brothers alive, but even my father-in-law was rescued by my husband. The Mo family is now complete, with no one missing."

This answer was a shock to Mrs. He.

After all, the news of the Mo family men dying in battle was known throughout the land. Even if a few had come back to life, it would have been considered a miracle.

But now, her daughter was telling her that all the Mo family men were alive, including the old Duke.

After a long pause, Mrs. He nodded, crying and laughing at the same time.

"Good, good, it's good that they're all alive. As long as the family can be together, a little hardship is nothing."

In Mrs. He's mind, how good could life be in such a place? Her son-in-law and daughter saying they were doing well was just to put their minds at ease!

Thinking about how considerate her daughter and son-in-law were, Mrs. He felt a pang of sorrow.

Seeing that Mrs. He's tears were about to flow again, Hel Ziran quickly changed the topic.

"Mother, let me show you our home in the Northwest."

Mrs. He wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, trying to control her tears, and then reached out to hold her daughter's arm.

"Let me support you."

Mrs. He had been so focused on reuniting with her daughter that she hadn't noticed until now how large Hel Ziran's belly looked.

As someone who had been through childbirth, her first thought was that her grandchild must be very big.

A large baby in the womb often led to difficult labor.

Thinking of this, Mrs. He broke into a cold sweat.

She tightly gripped Hel Ziran's hand.

"Ranran, how much longer until your due date?"

If there was enough time, she would send someone to the Imperial City to bring a renowned obstetrician to the Northwest, ensuring her daughter's safety.

Only the Mo family knew that Hel Ziran was carrying twins. Mo Jiuyue had not mentioned this when he went to the Imperial City, to avoid worrying his in-laws too much.

Now, with her large belly, it was impossible to hide.

Especially since Mrs. He's expression had turned worried.

She must have seen how large her belly was and feared complications during childbirth.

"Mother, I'm carrying twins, and my due date is around July."

"What did you say? Twins..." Mrs. He's eyes widened in disbelief.

Since Hel Ziran had decided to tell her, she anticipated her mother's reaction.

She held Mrs. He's hand and patted it gently.

"Mother, don't worry. Even though I'm carrying twins, I will give birth smoothly."

"How is that possible?" Mrs. He, in her anxiety, blurted out her thoughts.

In her experience, she had only heard of two cases of women carrying twins, and both had died in childbirth.

Her daughter, she thought, would surely not be able to escape such a fate.

But soon she realized her mistake and quickly covered her mouth, correcting herself: “No, no, no, it won’t happen. A month is enough time; Mother will send someone to the Imperial City immediately.”

“No matter how much silver it costs, we must bring the renowned obstetrician here. As long as he is here, neither you nor my little grandson will be in danger.”

Without waiting for her daughter’s response, Mrs. He hurriedly walked toward the main gate. She instructed the coachman, “Zhang San, ride back to the Imperial City at once. Tell Master to use any means necessary to bring the renowned obstetrician here before the seventh day of the seventh month.”

Though her heart was in turmoil, Mrs. He did not lose her wits entirely. While ordering Zhang San to return to the Imperial City, she personally retrieved several silver notes from the carriage’s package and handed them to him.

“Don’t hesitate to spend silver on the journey. Change horses when they tire, and travel as fast as possible to reach the Imperial City.”

Mrs. He’s anxious state was almost palpable, and she nearly pushed Zhang San to leave more quickly.

Seeing this, He Ziran rushed forward to stop her.

“Mother, don’t worry, listen to me.”

At that moment, Mrs. He’s mind was solely focused on ensuring her daughter’s survival, leaving no room for He Ziran’s explanations.

She continued to urge Zhang San, “Leave now, and don’t waste a single moment on the way.”

“Mother, please listen to me. It’s not as dangerous as you think.”

Only when Zhang San began to unhitch the horse from the carriage did Mrs. He turn to look at He Ziran.

“I’ve been through more than you, and I know better. Matters of life and death cannot be taken lightly.”

As she spoke, Mrs. He began to cry again, gripping He Ziran’s hand and sobbing:

“Your father and I only have you as our daughter. If anything happens to you, how can your father and I go on living?”

They already felt immense guilt for marrying her off to the Mo family, exiled in the Northwest. If she were to die in childbirth now, she feared she could not bear to live.

“Mother, don’t worry. Although I’m carrying twins, I’ve already made all the necessary preparations.”

The original He Ziran had never left the house, spending her days reading peculiar medical books. Thus, He Ziran felt her excuse was quite convincing.

Seeing that Mrs. He was listening, He Ziran continued.

“Mother, don’t you remember?

When I was at home, I read those medical books every day. Don’t underestimate them; they contain methods for delivering twins safely.”