Chapter 159 Twins

Chapter 159 Twins

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather quickly turned chilly, and a cold snap soon followed.

The crops on the estate had all been harvested, and the empty fields awaited next year's planting. The granaries, both large and small, were filled to the brim. People changed into warm layers and began preparing for winter.

Qiu Huanian's belly became increasingly noticeable, and he temporarily relocated from the inner to the outer courtyard for a few days while craftsmen replaced the green gauze partition in the main room of the inner courtyard with a warm room.

The warm room and the green gauze partition are two things of the same origin, both being small rooms enclosed within the house by partitions that reach the ceiling.

The difference is that the panels of the green gauze partition are hollow in the middle, covered only with a thin layer of gauze to allow ventilation and cooling; whereas the partitions of the warm room are sealed, and the small room below has a heated floor, to keep the warmth in during winter.

In addition to the main room of the inner courtyard, Qiu Huanian also had warm rooms built in the side rooms and various small courtyards of the inner courtyard. The estate stocked up on over ten carts of charcoal to ensure that the servants would have sufficient charcoal in winter. Qiu Huanian never skimped on himself or his people as long as he had the means.

Unconsciously, as the weather turned hot and then cold again, Qiu Huanian had been pregnant for more than six months. According to Mumian's suggestion, the birthing room should be prepared at this time, and wet nurses and experienced midwives should also be invited to the mansion in advance, as a precaution.

Qiu Huanian had no experience with childbirth, and the psychological preparation he had barely built up began to waver as his belly grew large enough to affect his sleep and walking. He was always anxious, afraid that the child might fall out at any moment.

Qiu Huanian was someone who liked to make plans and was very good at self-regulation. Realizing his unease, he reassured himself by overseeing the birthing preparations.

Once again, while discussing the preparations before childbirth with Mumian, Mumian hesitated and said, "I always feel that the Qishu County Princess's belly is larger than usual for this month. Could the dates be off?"

This was no joke. If the date of conception was wrong, the due date would likely be miscalculated, and all the preparations made now would be misplaced.

Qiu Huanian frowned, thinking it over, feeling that there was no possibility of miscalculating the date.

After all, it was during the metropolitan exam and the Palace Examination that he and Du Yunse had not been truly intimate. The only time they had let go was... ahem!

Qiu Huanian pushed those inappropriate images out of his mind, his cheeks flushed slightly. "It shouldn't be wrong. Is my belly really bigger than usual?"

He frowned slightly, his hand gently resting on his swollen belly, beginning to worry.

In his previous life, Qiu Huanian had inadvertently read a health article that said pregnant people should not eat too much, or the baby might become too large and difficult to deliver. Therefore, since becoming pregnant, he had been restraining his diet and taking daily walks in good weather to control his figure. Who knew even this could cause issues?

Seeing Qiu Huanian's expression change, Mumian quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, Qishu County Princess. Your pregnancy has been very stable, and nothing will go wrong. The large belly might be..."

A possibility flashed through Mumian's mind, and his eyes lit up. "Hold on, I’ll fetch Uncle Putao to take a look."

Putao was a newly hired midwife that Qiu Huanian had brought on, a man in his forties with rich experience. Putao was a symbol of fertility and prosperity, and just the name alone was a good omen.

So Qiu Huanian sat on the daybed, watching as Mumian and Uncle Putao circled around him, occasionally touching his belly and pressing lightly. Just as his heart was about to leap out of his throat, they finally came to a conclusion.

"I think the Qishu County Princess is probably carrying twins."

"Huh?" Qiu Huanian didn't react immediately.

Uncle Putao had personally cared for dozens of pregnant people over the years, and after asking Qiu Huanian a few questions, he was mostly certain.

However, to be absolutely sure, he said, "Qishu County Princess, why not invite a doctor who specializes in this field to take a look?"

Qiu Huanian was somewhat dazed by the news that "he might have two children at once," and in a daze, he sent Quan Yu with his card to the Imperial Hospital to invite someone.

Being able to use the famous doctors of the Imperial Hospital was a privilege that came with being promoted to Qishu County Princess. The family had been very healthy, and this was the first time Qiu Huanian had invited a royal physician.

The Imperial Hospital was located on the outskirts of the imperial city, not far from Nanxunfang. The people of the Imperial Hospital did not dare to slight the newly appointed Qishu County Princess, who was in the emperor's favor, and within less than two quarters of an hour, Quan Yu returned with a royal physician specializing in prenatal care.

At the same time, news of the Qishu County Princess's mansion inviting a royal physician reached the ears of those who were paying attention to him.

Du Yunse keenly sensed Qiu Huanian's recent unease and had been trying to return home earlier these days to accompany his little husband. Upon hearing the news of the mansion inviting a royal physician, Du Yunse immediately became restless.

By chance, Wen Huiyang, who caught a snippet of the conversation, was also on edge and said to his disciple, "Leave me the historical materials that are still unsorted from today, hurry back and see how Huanian is doing, and then have someone inform me of what's going on."

Du Yunse didn’t hesitate and hurried home with Bai Quan, filled with anxiety. As soon as he entered, he was greeted by the beaming Xing Mi.

"Master, you're back? What brings you home so early?" Xing Mi was startled.

Bai Quan gave Xing Mi a meaningful look, and Xing Mi caught on, "Brother Hua sent me out on an errand, Master, please go in, let Brother Hua tell you himself if there's anything."

Seeing Xing Mi's expression, Du Yunse felt it likely wasn’t bad news and felt slightly relieved. He quickened his steps toward the inner courtyard.

In the main room of the inner courtyard, the newly built warm chamber's door was slightly ajar, and the room was awash with golden sunlight, spilling over.

Through the small gap, Du Yunse saw Qiu Huanian lying on a daybed under the window, one hand gently caressing his belly through loose clothing, taking a short nap.

He was bathed in brilliant sunlight, and the faint shadows of the lattice window floated on his beautiful face, as though time had paused.

A gentle breeze entered through the half-open window, lifting the jade silk curtain, making it rise in a large arc before slowly falling. The beauty beneath the silk curtain smacked his lips, and his slender jade hand absently touched his rounded belly.

Du Yunse held his breath, pushed the door a bit wider, and tiptoed into the warm chamber to close the window, so the wind wouldn’t give Brother Hua a headache.

Just as he leaned over to place his hand on the window, the person on the daybed let out a soft moan and woke up, his sleepy eyes half-open, murmuring softly.

"You're back, what time is it?"

"Three forty-two PM." After the grandfather clock was installed at home, everyone instinctively switched to the more accurate 24-hour format when telling time.

Qiu Huanian thought he had napped for a long time, but it turned out to be less than ten minutes.

"If you're tired, I'll take Brother Hua to bed to rest."

Qiu Huanian shook his head. Seeing Du Yunse, the drowsiness brought by the warm afternoon sun had already vanished. He reached out to Du Yunse, using his strength to barely lift himself up, and melted into his lover's arms.

Du Yunse, still in his court robe, sat down on the daybed, holding Qiu Huanian and gently stroking his slender and beautiful back.

"I heard you summoned an imperial physician, are you feeling unwell?"

Qiu Huanian was stunned, "How did you know?"

Du Yunse tapped the forehead of his usually clever lover who had become a "little fool," "To summon an imperial physician, you first need to hand over your name card to the guards at the east or west gate of Chang'an, who will then send someone to inform the imperial hospital, and it will be recorded and reported. After all that, those who want to know will naturally find out."

Qiu Huanian had never summoned an imperial physician before, nor had he seen others do it, and truly didn’t know that summoning an imperial physician outside the palace was such a "grand" process.

With his usual wit and intelligence, he could have sensed a clue, after all, the imperial hospital is located in the imperial city, Quan Yu certainly couldn’t enter the imperial city, and summoning an imperial physician required handing over the card to someone else to pass on, which naturally leaked the news.

But at that time, Qiu Huanian was completely preoccupied with what Mumian and Grape had said about "possibly being twins," and was in a daze, not thinking much, resulting in the current "making a mountain out of a molehill" situation.

Qiu Huanian awkwardly cleared his throat, "I just thought the imperial physician's medical skills must be better than those outside."

Why settle for less when you can have the best?

Du Yunse laughed and comforted, "It's fine, this is the treatment a county lord should have, it's just that the news spreading will make everyone worry a bit."

The "worry" Du Yunse mentioned was clearly not just "a bit." Soon, the Azure Phoenix Lord's residence, the Taiping Marquis Kang Zhong's residence sent people to inquire, the Crown Prince also sent someone, and even Sixteen came in person. After a while, the Yuanhua Emperor and the Noble Consort Kang from the palace also sent people.

Qiu Huanian passively received a lot of concern, greetings, precious medicinal herbs, and supplements, repeatedly emphasizing that he was fine, and was both amused and exasperated.

"If I had known summoning an imperial physician would cause such a stir, I wouldn’t have done it."

Sixteen, who had been hiding in the shadows waiting for everyone to leave, coldly said, "Even if the fuss were ten or a hundred times greater, who would dare object? Your health is the most important."

Du Yunse wasn't taking Qiu Huanian's side either. As he massaged Qiu Huanian's sore lower back, he sighed, "Brother Hua, you don't realize how special you are."

Even if it were a princess born to a proper prince, calling for a royal doctor wouldn't have the same impact as Qiu Huanian did, making them send messengers right away to check on him.

Sixteen thought about it and still wasn't reassured. "Tomorrow, you should just send in a request to have a royal physician stay at your mansion to take care of you. It's already been more than six months; you should have a doctor watching over you at all times."

Qiu Huanian looked at Sixteen's serious face and then glanced at Du Yunse's approving gaze. He bit back the words 'too much' on his tongue and accepted his uncle's advice with a proper attitude.

Back then, medical care wasn't great. It was always better to be safe, especially now when he was highly suspected of carrying twins...

Qiu Huanian didn't fully process the news until bedtime. Du Yunse also became even more cautious, often touching his belly gently and then pulling his hand away.

In the stillness of the night, Qiu Huanian leaned silently against Du Yunse's chest and suddenly spoke, "If it's twins, how are we supposed to raise them?"

"..." For a moment, neither of them spoke.

In fact, even with just one child, this would still be a tough question.

As his belly grew more noticeable and the due date approached, both Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse, first-time fathers-to-be, were haunted by the same question—how are we going to raise them?

Raising children requires not only material conditions but also many more precious things. They have to plan for their kids' future, be responsible for their growth, look out for their mental well-being, and show them what love and respect mean...

They wanted their kids, their own flesh and blood, to thrive in this world and grow into strong, beautiful people.

Du Yunse kissed Qiu Huanian's forehead and spoke in a deep, slow voice, "Years ago, I read a poem by a wise man about parenting. Back then, I didn't get its deeper meaning, but now, looking back, I see it was heartfelt."

"What was it?"

Du Yunse quietly recited the centuries-old poem, written by a wise man with a father's love.

"All men wish their children to be wise, but I was misled by wisdom all my life."

"Yun Se..."

Du Yunse lowered his head and gently stroked Qiu Huanian's bulging belly. The little life inside playfully moved its hands and feet, greeting its father through the belly.

Du Yunse's lips curled into a smile, but his eyes dimmed, and his voice became slightly hoarse.

"May my child be simple and foolish, free from calamity, and rise to high office."

After reciting the last line of the poem, Du Yunse hung his head as if deflated and held Qiu Huanian tighter.

Qiu Huanian's heart raced a bit. He knew that the line "I was misled by wisdom all my life" was the deepest curse in Du Yunse's heart.

Du Yunse was undoubtedly extremely intelligent. Born with the grace of a dragon and phoenix in a remote borderland, he displayed extraordinary talent from a young age, as if a star had descended from heaven.

Enlightened at seven, he topped the county and prefectural exams at ten. His brilliant essay attracted the great scholar Wen Huiyang to personally visit the small village to take him as a disciple. For the next nine years, he traveled across the land with his master, broadening his horizons. He caught the emperor's eye and became a candidate for the crown prince's trusted advisor. At nineteen, he returned home to focus on his studies, passing the academy exam, provincial exam, metropolitan exam, and Palace Examination in one go. At twenty-one, he achieved the unprecedented feat of topping all six levels of the imperial examination, becoming the first in history to do so.

But on this path, the days and nights overshadowed by glory were filled with the loneliness of leaving home at ten, the hardships and obstacles along the way, the early deaths of his father and mother, the broken home, and the eternal regret of not being able to fulfill his filial duties to his parents.

If he hadn't been so smart, if he had stayed in Du Village, studying at the local school while helping his father with carpentry, his mother with household chores, taking care of his siblings, saving money to build a house, buy food, and growing up with the little husband his mother had exchanged for food... Would this imagined life have been happier?

Du Yunse knew that the path he had taken could not be regretted, and he knew that his current state was what his parents had fervently hoped for. The pain and hardships of the past were not enough to become the ropes that bound his steps.

But now that he was about to have his own child, he began to hesitate and panic. He didn't want this little life to be like him. He would rather they be a bit foolish, a bit simple, but he also greedily hoped they would have a smooth life, free from harm and bullying.

The gap between "simple and foolish" and "free from calamity, and rise to high office" may sound easy, but in practice, it is separated by more than one bottomless chasm!

Qiu Huanian tightly held Du Yunse's hand, looked up, and kissed him, biting his lower lip with his teeth as if he wanted to merge with the person before him.

He understood Du Yunse's concerns and desires, because deep down, he wrestled with the same inner conflict.

But he believed that they would make excellent fathers, and the children raised with love would never disappoint the world.

Author's Note:

The poem mentioned in this chapter is from Su Shi's "Washing the Child"—

Everyone raises their children hoping for intelligence, but I was misled by intelligence all my life. I only wish my child to be simple and unpretentious, free from disasters and hardships, rising to high office.