Chapter 457

Here is the improved translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Strategies of a Concubine's Daughter Chapter 464: Newborn (Part 2)

Auntie Peng was stunned.

She hadn't expected to encounter someone who understood medical principles.

Her extended hand hung in limbo, neither withdrawn nor fully extended, her face flushing crimson.

Eleven Miss grew even more certain that this Auntie Peng was a complete charlatan.

She pinned the woman with a glacial glare, her expression frosty.

The entire room went deathly still, watching the two of them. Only Jin Geer continued to wail loudly, his cries sounding even more pitiful now that the room had fallen silent.

Eleven Miss's heart clenched tightly, her expression gradually turning severe.

A tense atmosphere filled the room, thick with the threat of an imminent outburst.

Auntie Peng suddenly recalled the lethal gaze Lord Xu had given her in the birthing chamber. A shiver ran down her spine, and she regretted staying behind with the midwives, lured by the Xu household's generous rewards. But then she thought of the lavish gifts already secured in her bundle—how could she leave empty-handed after entering a treasure trove?

With this thought, she gritted her teeth and declared hastily, "The Young Master's pulse is strong... nothing to worry about... steady and vigorous..."

Eleven Miss listened as Auntie Peng persisted in her false claims, and her anger flared.

"Qiuyu," she interrupted calmly, "go to His Lordship's study and fetch his calling card. Have Steward Bai escort this woman to the Imperial Household Department. Then inform the department head that they must give me an explanation."

Auntie Peng's heart lurched.

This was how palace ladies spoke when they were about to have a maid executed—showing mercy for small faults because the person was already doomed.

Terrified, she collapsed to her knees with a loud thump.

"My lady, my lady, I'll tell the truth, I'll tell the truth!" Desperate to move Eleven Miss, Auntie Peng blinked rapidly, tears streaming down her face. "Our Peng family's Resurrection Pills are a secret ancestral recipe, passed down only through the male line, never to daughters or sons-in-law. No matter the illness, three pills will cure it. If they don't work, taking more won't help either."

Eleven Miss was taken aback.

Seeing this, Auntie Peng sobbed with renewed vigor. "My lady, I swear I'm not lying! When the little princess had diarrhea, the imperial physicians couldn't cure her even after half a month. It was these three Resurrection Pills that saved her life. Later, the crown prince's little daughter couldn't expel phlegm—again, it was my three pills that cured her."

Hearing this, Eleven Miss found herself hesitating.

Auntie Peng, who had earned her keep in rural villages by fortune-telling and treating children's ailments, was skilled at gauging people's moods. Seeing Eleven Miss's slight softening, she pressed on eagerly, "I've seen cases like the Young Master's before—that's why I dared to offer the pills. If the Young Master doesn't improve after taking them, you can send me to the Imperial Household Department. I'll go without a word of complaint!"

Eleven Miss looked at Jin Geer, whose cries had become ragged with exhaustion. Remembering that hidden talents often lay among common folk and that most herbal medicines were mild, she set her jaw in determination. "Is it one pill divided into three doses, or all three pills divided into three doses?"

Auntie Peng's face lit up with hope.

Yet the tension in the room remained.

"One pill divided into three doses!" she said eagerly, as if afraid Eleven Miss might change her mind. "I'll prepare the medicine for the Young Master right away."

Eleven Miss nodded.

Hong Wen immediately brought hot water.

After dissolving the pill, Auntie Peng pinched Jin Geer's jaw and poured the medicine down his throat.

The little boy's face twisted in misery, but he couldn't move, his tiny body squirming helplessly within the tightly swaddled blanket—a heart-wrenching sight. Eleven Miss kept urging anxiously from the side, "Be gentle! Be gentle!"

Here is the edited translation incorporating all expert suggestions:

Not a single drop of the herbal medicine spilled out, and the child didn’t choke either.

Lady Eleven felt a glimmer of hope.

Once the cupful of herbal medicine, about the size of a wine cup, was finished, Granny Peng cradled the child at an angle and walked him around the room.

"What are you doing?" Lady Eleven asked nervously.

Granny Peng replied, "He needs to spit out whatever’s stuck in his throat." Just as she spoke, Young Master Jin let out a hiccup and began spewing up mouthfuls of the brown medicine.

The people in the room went pale in alarm, but Granny Peng was overjoyed. "Good, good, it’s working!"

So Granny Peng had been taking a gamble after all!

The thought flashed through Nanny Wan’s mind, but she had no time to dwell on it. She quickly called for a maid to fetch water to clean and change Young Master Jin.

Half an hour later, Young Master Jin began sucking hungrily at the breast.

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

Lady Eleven hurriedly instructed Qiuyu, "Go to the outer courtyard and inform Steward Bai. Have a servant wait at the palace gate—once the Marquis comes out, let him know so he won’t worry."

Qiuyu acknowledged and left.

Only then did Lady Eleven realize her forehead was beaded with sweat.

Holding her son, who had eaten his fill and was now sound asleep, she let out a long breath. With a smile, she instructed Nanny Wan, "Go tell Steward Bai—have Gu Shi stay."

Since Gu Shi had come from the Imperial Wet Nurse Bureau, there were likely formalities to complete.

Gu Shi, having adjusted her clothes, quickly knelt and kowtowed in thanks.

Nanny Wan briskly agreed and led Gu Shi away. Another maid in Young Master Jin’s room, named A’jin, explained the household rules to her and showed her where to rest. She then sent Xiu Lian to deliver the news to the elder madam and Yu Mei to the small kitchen to arrange a meal: "The eldest daughter is also here—set out her usual dishes."

Yu Mei acknowledged and left. Just then, Nanny Wan saw Amber and Zhuxiang walking shoulder to shoulder, whispering together as they came.

During Lady Eleven’s labor, Amber had been inside the room while Zhuxiang waited outside. Both had gone two days and nights without sleep, only resting at dawn. Unexpectedly, they had returned so soon.

Nanny Wan greeted them with a smile. "Why not rest a little longer?"

Amber, concerned about Young Master Jin, asked, "Has the sixth young master started eating?"

Nanny Wan vividly recounted the earlier events, taking the opportunity to praise her own role in the matter.

The two women’s faces brightened upon hearing this, and they exchanged a few words like "Thank heavens Nanny Wan was here," before following her into the side room.

Lady Eleven reclined against the oversized pillow at the head of the bed, her eyes smiling. Zhenjie sat by the bedside, peering fondly at Young Master Jin. "Mother, look at Sixth Brother’s hairline—doesn’t it resemble mine?" She tugged at her fringe to show Lady Eleven.

"It really does look similar," Lady Eleven said with a laugh. Noticing Amber and the others entering, she was surprised. "You’re here so early?" Concerned about the time, she asked, "Have you had lunch yet?"

The two bowed to Lady Eleven.

"We’ve eaten," they replied in unison before inquiring about Young Master Jin. "We heard Young Master Jin has started nursing?"

Lady Eleven nodded, smiling. "Finally, the clouds part to reveal the moon." It was her heartfelt words.

Amber and the others chuckled at this.

Here is the improved translation incorporating all expert suggestions:

Elevenniang then remembered something and said to Amber, "Even if you hadn't come, I was about to send someone to fetch you." She pointed to the bedside cabinet, "The guest list for the Thirdday Ceremony is inside. Check it to see if anything is missing. Hand it to Madam Du before 2 PM."

Amber acknowledged with a smile.

Tian Ma and Yu Mei directed the older women to bring in the heated bed-table. Yu Mei and Xiao Li attended to Zhenjie as she had her lunch on the kang, while Tian Ma served Elevenniang porridge in bed: "...made with silkie chicken broth, strained and then cooked with millet, black rice, and glutinous rice. Taste it and see if it's good."

Elevenniang found everything pleasing at the moment, especially since the porridge was indeed fragrant and smooth. She nodded with a smile, "Serve a bowl to Zhenjie as well."

Zhenjie smiled, "That was made for Mother..."

"It's nourishing food," Elevenniang replied cheerfully, "having some won't hurt."

As they chatted and laughed, the Dowager and Second Lady arrived.

"They say he's started breastfeeding!" they exclaimed with boundless joy.

Elevenniang confirmed with a smile and was about to ask if the Dowager had eaten lunch when Xu Sizhun and Xu Sijie arrived. Seeing the Dowager, both shrank back timidly.

The Dowager suppressed a smile but kept a stern face, "Didn't I tell you not to disturb your mother and come straight to me after school? Why are you here again?"

Xu Sijie, not particularly close to the Dowager and always somewhat afraid of her, tugged at Xu Sizhun's sleeve and hid behind him.

Xu Sizhun looked pleadingly at Elevenniang and hesitated, "We... we just wanted to see our brother. We'll leave right away, eat lunch, and not delay our nap."

The Dowager said sternly, "Just take a quick peek and then hurry back. Madam Du is waiting to serve you lunch!"

The brothers sighed in relief and scampered to the bedside to see Jin Geer. Finding their brother asleep, Xu Sizhun was disappointed and whispered, "Why is he always sleeping when I come?"

Elevenniang squeezed his shoulder, "Because he's still little. When he grows older, he'll sleep less!"

"So Grandmother sleeps the least?" Xu Sijie chimed in from beside Xu Sizhun.

Everyone in the room laughed, even the Dowager couldn't maintain her stern expression.

Emboldened, Xu Sijie continued, "It's true! Last night I saw Mother getting up to check our blankets!"

Xu Sizhun quickly covered Xu Sijie's mouth.

The room fell into surprised silence.

The Dowager, recalling the incident when Xu Sizhun had wandered out at night, and now with the attendant on duty, grew serious, "Why were you still awake so late?" Everyone else listened intently.

Xu Sizhun stayed silent, so the Dowager turned to Xu Sijie. Seeing his brother quiet, Xu Sijie clamped his mouth shut, looking determinedly silent. The Dowager was both annoyed and amused.

Elevenniang stepped in, "Mistakes can be corrected. But if you know you're wrong and still hide the truth from your elders, Grandmother will be very upset!"

Xu Sizhun deflated visibly, "Fifth Brother and I wanted to make a big lantern for Sixth Brother."

"A lantern?"

Xu Sizhun dropped his head, "For his one-month celebration."

They wanted to surprise everyone!

Elevenniang pulled him close, "It's for your little brother, isn't it?"

Xu Sizhun nodded. "Well, he's asleep now and didn't hear anything. We won't tell him. That way, it's not really spoiling the surprise. Right?"

Xu Sizhun's face brightened upon hearing this.

"However, you mustn't work on the lanterns at night. If you want to make them, do it during the day. How can you pay attention to Mr. Zhao's lectures without proper sleep? If Mr. Zhao knew you weren't listening to his lessons, he'd be very disappointed."

Xu Sizhun nodded repeatedly, and even Xu Sijie from the Ant Manual Team immediately joined in nodding.

The second wife watched this scene, her eyes sparkling with interest.

Right now, I'm probably still heading home!