Wang Yongzhu thought nothing of it, only assuming that the Imperial Noble Consort was inherently gentle and considerate, especially now since they were in the sa boat. To win them over, she would have to feign a gentle and magnanimous deanor, wouldn’t she?
However, the palace maids and nannies serving the Imperial Noble Consort, while not showing it on their faces, were secretly amazed.
They knew that apart from in front of His Majesty, their mistress had never been so amiably conversational, even with her own family.
After exchanging pleasantries for half a day, the two exchanged a glance, understanding that with the small talk over, it was ti to discuss the main topic.
So, the Imperial Noble Consort spoke frankly, "I heard the Wife of the Heir-Apparent studied under Old Doctor Du. Now, in my current state, the Wife of the Heir-Apparent has seen how it is. With the birth imminent, I’m feeling a bit overpowered. Every ti the Imperial Physician takes my pulse, they say everything is normal."
"But I always feel uneasy, like sothing’s not quite right with my body. Truth be told, since I’ve been pregnant, I’ve been extrely cautious, entirely avoiding incense. My diet is extrely careful, yet I still got affected."
"If it weren’t for the Fetal Protection Pill that the Wife of the Heir-Apparent had Ninth Master Lee bring in, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to keep this child. So now, I trust only the Wife of the Heir-Apparent, and I must trouble her to check my pulse and see how the child in my womb is doing."
The Imperial Noble Consort’s words were candid, not a hint of evasion or secrecy, even referring to herself in the first person instead of her formal title.
Wang Yongzhu was taken aback, looking up to et the eyes of the Imperial Noble Consort.
In the eyes of the Imperial Noble Consort, there was worry, honesty, and expectation.
Wang Yongzhu didn’t know why the Imperial Noble Consort trusted her so much, nor why she was being so forthright.
But with things having been said to this point, she couldn’t refuse, could she?
So she pondered for a mont, "Since Your Ladyship trusts , then please extend your hand."
The Imperial Noble Consort unhesitatingly extended her wrist, placing it on the kang table.
Wang Yongzhu stood up and apologized, "Then I must be impolite!"
As she said this, she walked over to the Imperial Noble Consort. A quick-witted palace maid brought over an embroidered stool for her to sit and take the pulse.
The Imperial Noble Consort gave Wang Yongzhu a playful look, "The Wife of the Heir-Apparent is the savior of and my child, please take the seat of honor."
Wang Yongzhu didn’t hesitate and sat down readily.
As she rested a hand on the Imperial Noble Consort’s wrist, checking the pulse, she asked, "Has Your Ladyship been feeling unwell anywhere recently? Or is anything uncomfortable?"
The Imperial Noble Consort furrowed her brows, "I can’t quite say, but there’s a vague sense that the child in my womb isn’t as lively as before. Last month, he was quite restless, waking with his kicks in the middle of the night. But over the past half-month, his movents feel less frequent and less forceful."
"I asked the imperial physicians, and they said the pulse shows that the child is safe. They said it’s normal for him not to move much now, that children at their natal ho with birth experience say it’s because the child is being considerate of , his mother, and that’s why he’s moving less. Others say it’s because the child is about to descend in preparation for birth, a sign of impending labor—they told not to worry."
"The imperial physician said it’s because it’s my first labor, it’s normal for pregnant won to have many concerns, and that I should keep an open mind, as prolonged worry would be bad for the child. But, I can’t express this nagging worry—"
The Imperial Noble Consort spoke up to this point, looking at her abdon with eyes filled with concern.
Wang Yongzhu, knowing she was to be in the sa boat as the Imperial Noble Consort, had already started researching obstetrics and gynecology.
Especially since she exchanged her Points for modernized knowledge of obstetrics; she understood theoretically that in late pregnancy, as the fetus grows larger, the space in the uterus becos limited, thus restricting fetal movent.
Furthermore, so fetuses enter the pelvis early, resulting in less movent, which is within the normal range.
Her pulse diagnosis revealed indeed that the pulse was normal, with no obvious concerns.
When speaking again with the Imperial Noble Consort, it was evident that she didn’t show signs of prenatal syndro, and her concern wasn’t baseless but seed to genuinely sense sothing amiss with the fetus.
In this world, there is a particularly strong bond between so mothers and their children.
Wang Yongzhu pondered for a mont; to be safe, it was better to be cautious.
"I would ask Your Ladyship to have everyone leave, leaving just the two of us, so I may check once more,"
The Imperial Noble Consort’s eyes fixed on Wang Yongzhu.
Wang Yongzhu calmly returned the gaze of the Imperial Noble Consort.
She wasn’t in a hurry, but the palace attendants nearby were, aware that the Imperial Noble Consort and her unborn child were now the most important in His Majesty’s eyes. If anything were to happen, their heads could very well be on the line.
How could they dare to let the Imperial Noble Consort and the Wife of the Heir-Apparent be left alone together?
What if the Wife of the Heir-Apparent harbors so malicious intent, what should be done?
Thus, the leading Palace Attendant spoke up: "Your Highness, this surely must not be! Your Highness is now of noble status, how can you be without people? Moreover, even if the Wife of the Heir-Apparent conducts an examination, is there anything that needs to be hidden from others?"
Wang Yongzhu just looked at the Imperial Noble Consort.
The Imperial Noble Consort was a very decisive woman; with just a couple of words, she made the decision.
"All of you, leave!"
The Palace Attendants wanted to persuade further, but the Imperial Noble Consort just gave them a glance, and they dared not speak more, unwillingly retreating.
Once the Warm Pavilion was empty, the Imperial Noble Consort slowly looked at Wang Yongzhu: "How does the Wife of the Heir-Apparent wish to proceed with the examination?"
Wang Yongzhu supported the Imperial Noble Consort: "Your Highness, lie down first, relax—"
The Imperial Noble Consort complied and lay down. Only then did Wang Yongzhu reach out and place her hand on the Imperial Noble Consort’s abdon, ntally calling Chen Xing, asking him to scan whether the Imperial Noble Consort’s fetus was healthy.
Chen Xing quickly communicated the scan results to Wang Yongzhu. The fetus was indeed healthy. However, due to being overly active previously, the umbilical cord was now wrapped three tis around its neck.
Although the umbilical cord wasn’t too tight yet, it restricted the fetus, resulting in less movent over the past fortnight.
After viewing the scan report, Wang Yongzhu couldn’t help but marvel at the Imperial Noble Consort’s intuition.
If left unchecked, by the ti the child was born, with the umbilical cord looped around three tis—it could still be delivered by caesarean in modern tis—in this era, they could only gamble with life.
A double fatality could occur, or a stillborn child might be delivered. Even if, by sheer luck, things went smoothly against all odds, the Imperial Noble Consort’s health would likely be severely compromised.
With her mind set, Wang Yongzhu gently pressed several acupuncture points on the Imperial Noble Consort’s abdon to improve umbilical blood flow.
Sure enough, after a while of pressing, the fetus seed to receive ample oxygen, delivering a strong kick to the Imperial Noble Consort.
That kick—wow—even through the Imperial Noble Consort’s belly, the shape of the foot could be seen.
Clearly a lively one!
The kick caused the Imperial Noble Consort to involuntarily exclaim "ouch."
This sound prompted the Palace Attendants outside to rush in, thinking sothing serious had happened.
Upon seeing the scene inside, they were dumbfounded; their mistress was lounging half-lying on the bed, wearing a rare smile from the past half-month, gently caressing her belly and murmuring, "You mischievous child, why so naughty?"
The child inside seed to understand the mother’s words and kicked twice more.
The Imperial Noble Consort clutched her belly, smiling uncontrollably.
After the fetal movent settled, the Imperial Noble Consort looked eagerly at Wang Yongzhu, grasping her hand tightly: "The Wife of the Heir-Apparent indeed possesses excellent dical techniques, you are the benefactor to and my child! With just a few presses, my child moved, and I feel much more relaxed!"
The nearby Palace Attendants, chanting their thanks, shrewdly ca forward to express their gratitude to Wang Yongzhu.
Wang Yongzhu waved them off, stating she needed to continue taking the pulse and requested everyone to leave.
The Imperial Noble Consort, hearing this, felt her heart drop, sensing an ominous premonition. Hastily, she waved everyone away before shakily asking, "Wife of the Heir-Apparent... no, dear Wang Family girl, tell the truth, is it that my pregnancy is ill-fated, or is it—?"
Wang Yongzhu, frowning, reassured: "Your Highness, the fetus is healthy, only the Little Prince is too lively, wrapping the umbilical cord around his neck—"
Instantly, the color drained from the Imperial Noble Consort’s face. Since becoming pregnant, she had heard from Imperial Physicians, her natal family, and Midwife Nannies, that childbirth is like passing through a ghost’s gate, one foot in the gate of life, one in death.
With umbilical cord entanglent, the closer the birth, the tighter the constriction becos, eventually choking the child’s neck. If a quick birth occurs, there might still be hope for the child to survive.
For a first-ti birth like hers, the child might be suffocated alive in the womb!
Even as the foremost woman of the Six Palaces, the Emperor’s favorite, she was at a loss.
Clutching Wang Yongzhu’s hand, "Then, is it, is it—?" She dared not finish her question.
Wang Yongzhu patted the Imperial Noble Consort’s hand, "Your Highness, don’t worry—"
The Imperial Noble Consort’s eyes lit up, flipping her hand to grasp Wang Yongzhu’s tightly, "Do you have a way to protect my child and ? If, if you can save us, regardless of the requirent, as long as we can manage it, we will fulfill it—"
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