Chapter 452

Strategies of a Concubine's Daughter Chapter 459: Danger (Part 1) Revised

Lord Xu looked coldly at the midwives prostrating before him and let out an icy laugh, instructing Amber to summon the imperial physicians.

"...Only violent medicine can be used," the physician deliberated. "In that case, the child would most likely not survive... and the mother may also be in grave danger!"

Lord Xu remained silent for a long moment, his piercing gaze falling upon the midwives.

"It seems none of you have any solutions left!" He ordered Amber, "Call Steward Bai. Have him escort the three sent from the palace back. Tell them the House of Yongping Marquis has no need for them."

They had been dispatched under the Empress's orders. To say they were "of no need" would sound no different from "defiant and ungovernable" in the ears of the palace nobility. The consequences of such words from the Empress's own brother were self-evident. Even if the Empress did not pursue the matter, there would be no shortage of those eager to curry favor with the Yongping Marquis by taking offense on his behalf!

The three midwives shook like leaves.

These words were meant for the midwives, but they might as well have been directed at them!

The two physicians exchanged uneasy glances.

Amber had already departed to carry out the order.

Rather than face an uncertain fate, it was better to take a desperate gamble.

One of the physicians spoke up, "My lord, there... there is a folk remedy!"

If it were a risk-free solution, the midwives would have used it long ago. Why wait until now to mention it?

Lord Xu's expression remained impassive.

The physician continued, "We can have the midwives manipulate the lady's abdomen to help the child descend sooner!"

Lord Xu turned his gaze to the midwives.

They appeared visibly panicked.

He then looked toward Wan Mama.

Wan Mama's face had paled, her hands tightly clenched together, showing her tension.

In other words, Wan Mama was also aware of this method!

Lord Xu's eyes returned to the physicians.

Both had already knelt.

"My lord, though dangerous, this method has been used before," the physician said, his voice trembling. "When Consort Sun gave birth to the Sixth Prince, this same method was used."

Auntie Peng felt a chill and elbowed the midwife beside her, whispering a reminder, "When the time comes, it will be you delivering the child."

The midwife trembled and immediately protested, "My lord, this method is far too dangerous. It is only used as a last resort. Most children delivered this way... perish."

"Absolutely not!" Eleven Miss, who had heard everything clearly, felt her heart ache at the thought and immediately objected. "This won't do!"

She wanted to give birth to this child.

Lord Xu turned back to his tearful Eleven Miss.

Her bright eyes, clear as mountain spring water, like the waters of Lethe, had the power to make even his heart feel clear.

His peripheral glance fell upon her rounded abdomen.

Under his caress, the child had grown little by little, playfully responding to him—it was his own flesh and blood... Lord Xu's face twisted in pain: "Is there no other way?"

The midwife caught the hesitation in Lord Xu's voice.

At this moment, doing nothing would surely mean death. Following the lord's wishes might offer a slim chance of survival. Besides, the lineage was paramount! Even in the palace, such choices were made.

She made up her mind and whispered, "There... there is another way."

Lord Xu's eyes brightened.

"We could perform a surgical cut..." the midwife said calmly, "but the mother..."

Lord Xu understood.

They could only save one—the mother or the child.

Lady Eleven understood too.

She shuddered.

She never imagined she'd meet such an undignified end.

Lady Eleven smiled self-deprecatingly and gently placed her hand on her belly.

A motherless child faces hardship. No matter how materially comfortable, there would always be an emptiness in their heart.

If only their marriage had lasted longer—if there had been more time, deeper memories. Then, for the sake of their bond and the child's loss, he might have shown more tolerance toward this child, even if he took another wife and had other children later.

At this thought, she couldn't help but stroke the child in her belly gently.

Born into privilege as this child is, overindulgence could breed arrogance, while too much severity could lead to timidity and weakness, leaving them vulnerable to cruelty... They would need someone reliable by their side.

Binju and Wan Daxian were loyal but lacked cunning; Amber was sharp, but being wed to the steward, she would belong to the Xu household. If Lord Xu remarried, she would be constrained—hardly suitable. Zhuxiang was still young, and without Lady Eleven, her marriage would be decided by Lord Xu or the Luo family, leaving her future uncertain... For now, there was no perfect candidate.

Still, better a simple soul than a cunning one. Circumstances changed constantly—who could predict their loyalty?

Suddenly, she thought of Madam Tao.

Back then, had Eldest Miss faced the same dilemma and choices as she did now?

Lady Eleven went still before seeing Lord Xu slowly approach.

He advanced with deliberate steps, his brow resolute, lending his expression a solemn air—clearly, he had already made his decision.

His smile when he learned of her pregnancy, his satisfaction when he caressed her belly, his joy when he felt the baby's kicks... flashed through her mind like lantern slides.

Why must people always face such trials?

Why couldn't life remain untroubled?

Lady Eleven gazed at Lord Xu sitting beside her and said quietly, "I want the child," as grief overtook her, tears streaming down her face.

Lord Xu looked at his wife, who had been distraught moments before but now sat silently weeping upon learning there was another way to save the child. He expected this—yet it shattered him nonetheless.

Tenderly, he brushed away her tears.

"Elevenniang!" Lord Xu's gaze grew distant, his tone bitter. "You’ve always been so reasonable... You heard what the physician and midwife said... If we use scissors, you’ll certainly... But if the midwife massages, the child might..." He paused briefly before continuing with difficulty, "Have the midwife massage you..."

Elevenniang widened her eyes.

Her thoughts churned—a tempest of emotions... The realization "he’s choosing to sacrifice the child" surged like a tidal wave, overwhelming all else.

"No, no!" she cried out. "I’ve carried him for ten months... He can already turn over and play games with us." She grasped Lord Xu’s hand. "Remember how... When you placed your hand on the left, he kicked to the right; when you placed it on the right, he kicked to the left... You even said he was lively, clever, and adorable..."

His eyes glistened.

But Elevenniang, wholly focused on persuading him, didn’t notice.

"Lord Xu..." She looked at him imploringly. "He’s at full term—he’d live if born now..."

The room held its breath. Everyone waited in trepidation as Lord Xu leaned weakly against the bedpost, hearing the clock strike nine.

Slowly, he stood up and instructed the midwife, "Begin."

His voice was hoarse, yet his tone was steady. He stood straight as a spear, carrying an air of finality.

"No!" Elevenniang could restrain herself no longer, struggling to clutch Lord Xu’s sleeve. "No..."

Lord Xu looked at her face wet with tears and sat back down, embracing her.

"Elevenniang, listen to me," he said, his eyes filled with sorrow. "If the midwife massages, both you and the child might survive... If scissors are used, there’s only one outcome. Medicinal brews are even riskier. Let’s try this, alright?"

Who wouldn’t fight to live?

Logically, Lord Xu’s reasoning was sound.

But reason was one thing; emotion was another.

She couldn’t bear to take the risk—she couldn’t endure the alternative.

"No, no!" Elevenniang clung to Lord Xu’s arm, weeping quietly. "I can’t..."

Amber stifled her sobs behind her hands, while Wan Mama turned her face away.

Poor Elevenniang—how terrified she must be!

Men weren’t supposed to enter the birthing chamber, but since he’d already thrown propriety to the wind, he might as well disregard the rules entirely.

"Elevenniang!" Lord Xu called her name solemnly.

She looked up at him.

"I’ll stay with you," he said calmly. "We’ll face this together." He squeezed her hand tightly. "Trust me."

Elevenniang stared at him blankly.

"I’ve stood firm through blood and thunder," Lord Xu murmured, pulling her into his embrace. "The monk Fashan once told my fortune, saying I was the reincarnation of the Martial Star—even hellspawn dare not cross me..." His voice was resolute. "With me here, you’ll be safe." With that, he nodded to the midwife.

The midwife steeled herself, rolled up her sleeves, and stepped forward.

"The fourth son went into the delivery room!" The dowager went rigid upon hearing this.

"Yes," Madam Du whispered. "None dared bar his way..."

The dowager could no longer remain seated. She removed the wooden prayer beads from her wrist, worrying them between her fingers, but still felt unsettled. Finally, she stood. "To the ancestral hall—now."

"May our ancestors protect them through this peril!"

......

The midwife's hands pressed down heavily, and after just a few kneading motions, Eleven Miss regretted it.

She grabbed the midwife's hand: "Stop! You'll hurt the baby!"

The midwife threw an uncertain glance at Lord Xu.

Lord Xu stood silent.

The midwife then avoided Eleven Miss's gaze and lowered her head to press forcefully on her abdomen.

Eleven Miss's heart quivered, and she looked up at Lord Xu.

His jaw was tightly clenched, his lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes staring vacantly into the distance, unsure of what he was seeing.

Eleven Miss couldn't help but tightly grasp Lord Xu's hand.

Knuckles prominent, his broad hand normally warm, yet now it trembled uncontrollably like a leaf in the autumn wind.

"My lord!" she sobbed uncontrollably.

Lord Xu shuddered and jolted back to awareness. He held her close, pressing his face against hers, soothing her softly: "Save your strength! If the child isn't born, you'll be in great danger too!"

Using scissors would ensure the child is born without any risk.

With this method, the child might not survive, and the mother could also die from exhaustion. Comparing the two, the former is the safer option.

Never before had she comprehended Lord Xu's dilemma as clearly as she did now.

She was the child's mother, and he was the child's father.

Facing this choice tore her heart apart, and he suffered just as deeply.

"Lord Xu!" she gazed at him tearfully, "Get me some food - now!"

Additional update for March 11th!

PS: Wrote this in a hurry today, so it might be rough around the edges. I've made major revisions to the previous chapter. If it feels a bit disjointed, please look back at the ending.