Doctor Xiao and Manbao were waiting for him in the side room. In fact, before he arrived, Doctor Xiao had already told Manbao, "One of the fetuses is not doing well; the fetal heartbeat is very weak."
Manbao nodded, "Yes, I had to listen very carefully to hear it, but it’s only five months now, there’s still a chance to nourish it back to health."
Doctor Xiao was concerned, "I’m just worried about complications during delivery."
Manbao was also worried. She lowered her eyes and thought for a mont before saying, "Let’s take it step by step, try to save it first. If it’s not possible, we might have to reduce the number of fetuses."
"It’s already May, reducing a fetus now would significantly affect both the mother and the other fetus," Doctor Xiao opposed, "At this point, we have no choice but to move forward."
But when Lord Tang ca, Doctor Xiao still put on a smile, first calming him down, and then told him the truth.
In short, this pregnancy was very risky, and he should be ntally prepared.
Lord Tang didn’t expect this result. He clenched his fists and thought for a while before asking difficultly, "What if both children are removed?"
This indicated a firm decision to protect the mother.
Doctor Xiao paused for a mont and said, "Although it would cause significant harm to the mother’s body and is dangerous, it is better than taking risks during delivery."
Manbao then said, "This matter should be discussed with Madam Tang, right? Would she agree?"
Lord Tang was disheartened and said after a long pause, "I’ll try to ask."
The result of him trying to ask was that Lord Tang went to the morning eting the next day with a blue cheek.
Manbao was sitting beside him, saw the bruise on his cheek, and silently said nothing.
But after the eting, Lord Tang still approached her, "Your sister-in-law doesn’t agree, so we will have to trouble you more in the future."
Manbao had no problem with that and then advised him, "You can prepare a midwife at ho now, or have a nanny at your residence who knows a bit about childbirth. I will write down the necessary precautions for you that you can take back to teach the midwife and nanny."
She said, "I can leave the palace once every eight days. Given her current condition, a check-up every half month is sufficient, but if you are uneasy, having one every two days is also fine."
Manbao taught him how to asure the abdominal circumference, "Experienced midwives can tell whether the fetal position is correct by touch. This needs to be checked continuously, and if the position is incorrect, adjustnts should start slowly from now on..."
Lord Tang listened very attentively, standing with Manbao talking for a long ti beside the stone lion in front of the Taiji Hall.
So passing officials found their whisperings unusual and deliberately walked by pretending to pass, only to hear Manbao say, "Don’t be too nervous, my scholarly sister-in-law is healthy, and this isn’t the first child. It’s just a small issue, and we will solve it as it cos..."
Passing official: ...
So, just after lunchti, officials throughout the imperial city knew that Tang He was going to be a father again, as he was so worried about his wife that he went to find Zhou Man from the Imperial Hospital and talked at length outside the Taiji Hall...
Even the emperor, who was focused on state affairs, knew, so when he held a small eting with his ministers in the afternoon, he smilingly congratulated Lord Tang, "Courtier Tang is going to be a grandfather again, eh."
Lord Tang: ...
He spent the entire morning just being congratulated.
He could only squeeze out a smile to express gratitude, as the royal family was still in mourning, and he couldn’t celebrate with them.
The other officials couldn’t help but lower their heads and laugh. When they got ho, within half a day, the wonfolk at ho also knew about it.
Unfortunately, Madam Tang was in confinent and had turned down all invitations, so they couldn’t even tease her if they wanted to.
However, everyone still couldn’t help but express their admiration in private.
After all, among the many official families in the capital, few were as loving as she and Lord Tang, and Tang He didn’t even have a concubine.
"Family values are really important; look at how Lord Tang treats his wife and how Tang treats Madam Tang. Their son will be very sought after in the future."
"Our two little girls are just six years old this year, they are a perfect match in age."
Thus, many in the capital hoped to beco in-laws with Lord Tang, and even Manbao, who was in the palace, knew about it.
She was no longer alone in the palace now, as Bai Shan and the others had returned to accompany her. Even if he passed the Jinshi exam, it’s not imdiately possible to be selected for an official position.
He said, "The Ministry of Rites exam is scheduled for December, while the Ministry of Personnel’s exam is scheduled for next year, to be held together after the Ming Classic Exam."
The Ming Classic and other imperial exams are usually held in January, with the list released in February, followed imdiately by the Ministry of Rites exam, then the Ministry of Personnel assessnt, and afterwards, one can await selection for positions.
Since the Jinshi exam is the hardest, it is always held alone in October every year, and after a series of procedures, the final Ministry of Personnel assessnt is held together with the other exams.
This is a regular practice.
Bai Shan took out a letter and handed it to her, "It’s from Top Scorer Ping."
Manbao was very surprised, "Why did Top Scorer Ping send a letter?"
She opened the envelope and pulled out a thin gold leaf. Although it was just a gold leaf, it imdiately attracted everyone’s attention in the canteen.
Feng Zongping carried his bowl over from the next table, looked carefully at the gold leaf in her hand, and said, "It should be half an ounce. What did you do?"
Manbao also pondered what she had done.
Bai Shan himself hadn’t expected it to contain a gold leaf. He took the envelope and shook it, finding nothing but the gold leaf inside.
He and Manbao silently exchanged a look for a mont and then pulled her aside away from everyone’s eyes to whisper, "Top Scorer Ping wants you to help treat the acne on his face. I thought he would write a letter explaining the situation, but he didn’t. Instead, he directly gave money."
Manbao, hearing this, was reassured and put the gold leaf into her bosom, "When they read the board, I noticed it, but I still need to diagnose it in person. It’s better to check the pulse to determine the condition before prescribing dicine."
Bai Shan suggested, "He’s very anxious right now. Can he get his pulse checked outside, then bring the pulse diagnosis to you, and you prescribe the dicine?"
Manbao was puzzled, "Why is he so anxious? I see he already has a beard, so he should be married, right? Is he anxious to discuss a marriage proposal now?"
"No," Bai Shan said with difficulty, "In just over a month, there will be the Ministry of Rites exam, which only includes speech and appearance. He’s afraid that he’ll be rejected because of his face."
Manbao was shocked, "Is that even possible?"
"It certainly is," Bai Shan said, "This isn’t unheard of, and although he could reapply for the exam later, it wouldn’t sound good if word got out. So he hopes to clear up the acne on his face before the Ministry of Rites exam."
Manbao began to stroke her chin in thought, "I can’t be sure either, but such matters can be consulted with his wife. Applying powder then is fine."
Despite saying so, the necessary treatnt still had to be carried out. Manbao agreed, and the next day she received Top Scorer Ping’s pulse diagnosis.
Manbao looked at Bai Shan suspiciously, "Did you have the teacher pass on the ssage?"
"No," Bai Shan replied, "Why would I ask the teacher to do such a thing? I asked Liu Sanniang to help relay it."
Manbao: ...
Liu Sanniang was her apprentice; why didn’t she directly pass it on to her but instead transferred it to Bai Shan first?
It was naturally because Top Scorer Ping had sought out Bai Shan.
User Comments
0 comments from readers