Chapter 06: Delivery

That ... ... '' a flash of inspiration quickly passed through my mind, and before I had fully thought it through, I had already blurted out: `` Hong Taiji -- ''

"Dong Ge ... ..." Sister Meng Gu held my hand, sighed softly, "Thanks to you ... ..."

The delivery room is not a place suitable for men and outsiders to enter casually, so Nurhaci must take the child outside to see. Sister Menggu's face was full of worry as she tightened her grip on my hand: "Dong Ge, I have a request for you..."

I grew increasingly anxious and impatient, while outside there was a lively commotion. Through the window, I could faintly hear someone congratulating Nurhaci. His boisterous laughter, which was almost unbearable, occasionally drowned out the voices of the shamans seeking blessings. However, in stark contrast to the cheerful scene outside, the atmosphere inside was chillingly desolate. I was shivering all over from the cold and could no longer endure it, so I rushed outside.

I shrugged noncommittally, continuing to play with the little baby, watching as his small mouth moved incessantly like that of a goldfish, unable to help but chuckle.

In an instant, the entire room resonated with a profoundly significant name—Aisin Gioro Hong Taiji

How are you?

The outdoors is still bustling, and it seems that the news of Yehenara Fujin giving birth to a young master has spread throughout the city of Feiala. As a result, relatives and friends have filled the entire inner courtyard to offer their congratulations. I am quite relieved that I no longer have to see those shaman priests; their eerie masks truly unsettle me.

The two midwives finally regained their senses and hurriedly rushed to provide assistance

Nurhaci paused for a moment and laughed heartily: "What a good name! Let it be called Huang Taiji!" He lifted me high by my waist, and I desperately suppressed the scream at the tip of my tongue, holding the swaddled child tightly, fearing that I might accidentally drop the baby. However, Nurhaci only shouted excitedly, "Eighth Brother—Aisin Gioro Huang Taiji!"

What... what is happening? Even with the stove burning in this room, the heat is still far from sufficient. I heard what seemed to be someone moaning from the inner room, and I suddenly shivered, crawling out from under the covers. "Who? What is happening?"

Hai Zhen was just bringing in hot water for washing when she saw this scene, and in her panic, tears streamed down her face as she shouted hoarsely: "Miss! Miss, you must hold on!—Miss!"

Sister Menggu trembled all over, murmuring and shaking her head: "Ene... Ene! Save me... Ene, Ene..."

I increasingly threatened in a stern voice: "Today, I am right here. If any of you dare to show even the slightest negligence, I will ensure that you have no place to be buried!"

The room in Gun Dai is very hot, in stark contrast to the cold and icy room of Sister Meng Gu. For some reason, the dry heat in this room has made my eyes feel dry and painful.

What is going on? I suddenly stood up from the edge of the bed, wanting to lift the curtain and go out, but I was blocked at the door by Ajina

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but glare fiercely at Gun Dai beside me. Gun Dai was momentarily taken aback, and upon seeing Nurhaci looking at her, she hurriedly smiled and tried to smooth things over, feigning ignorance as she said: "Is this our Eighth Brother? Quickly bring him over for me to take a look!"

I also began to panic. I have seen a lot about childbirth in television dramas, but when it comes to facing reality, even the experienced old midwives are at a loss, let alone someone like me who has never given birth before

"Hai... Hai Zhen!" I called Hai Zhen over to take my place, then hurriedly crawled in front of Sister Meng Gu. Seeing her pale and dazed appearance as she mumbled incoherently, I steeled myself and slapped her face twice with my hands.

The crisp sound of a slap startled everyone in the room into silence. I grabbed Sister Menggu's collar and shouted in her ear: "If you don't want your child to die with you, then wake up!"

Aunt, please do not speak and take a rest for a while

Having been here for more than a month, I have come to understand that in this society where the hierarchy between master and servant is particularly pronounced, the lives and deaths of the servants are merely a choice made at the whim of their masters. Those two midwives may not be my servants and are not subject to my control, but my current identity is that of a Gege of Yehe, a member of Menggu's family, and I represent the entire Yehe tribe.

I shuddered. This is not giving birth; it is clearly the brutal murder of a mother! The midwife, seeing Sister Meng Gu faint and unresponsive, instructed a nearby young girl to pinch her philtrum. The girl, whether due to her young age and lack of strength or being frightened by the situation, trembled and pinched for a long time, but Sister Meng Gu showed no reaction at all

The midwife's eyes brimmed with tears as she helplessly kowtowed to us at the kang, saying: "Your Highness, if the Fujin does not awaken with strength, even the shaman's divine intervention would be powerless. We... we have truly done our utmost! It is simply..."

I curiously leaned in to take a look, and unlike the plump little babies shown on television, the small creature in the swaddling looked red and thin, resembling a little monkey, and was not at all attractive. Its black hair was damp and matted together, its eyes squinted into slits, and its little nose was flat, covered with white millet-like rashes on the tip and wings.

For the first time, I truly detest the backwardness of ancient times. If only...! If only cesarean sections were possible! If only there were anesthetics!

Congratulations, noble lady, it is a son! The midwife knelt by the bedside, holding the child, with a beaming smile on her face

The world is turning upside down

So ugly

These two slaps are indeed effective, as Meng Gu's long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she actually moaned softly while slowly opening her eyes

Consort! Consort... Please wake up... Put in a little more effort!

The midwife was drenched in sweat, and half of that sweat was likely due to fear. The two elderly women exchanged a glance, and I could see the look of terror on their faces, which made my heart skip a beat. A sense of foreboding rose within me, and I couldn't help but shout, "What are you two standing there for? If anything happens to my aunt, I will hold you both accountable with your lives!"

However, after hearing it many times, it seemed to cause a bit of mental fatigue, including the repeated phrases from the midwives outside, such as "Don't exert yourself..." and "Lady, take a rest, conserve your strength..." I lay drowsily on the bed, watching as the color of the paper on the window gradually became translucent.

The more I think about it, the more infuriated I become. The Jurchens are different from the Han people; they practice polygamy, and powerful men are surrounded by numerous women. The status of women, not to mention being compared to men, is clearly stratified even among wives and concubines. Sister Menggu, as a princess of the Huren Yehe tribe, may not be the primary consort who holds power in Nurhaci's inner court, but she is still his consort, not a secondary one. How could they treat a consort who is expecting a child with such neglect?

Congratulations to you... I said softly, my nose tinged with a sense of bitterness, and tears involuntarily slipped from the corners of my eyes

Nurhaci was in the room of Gundai when I entered, holding the tightly wrapped young prince. Nurhaci clearly paused for a moment, his eyes flashing with surprise, and then he slowly stepped down from the warm kang.

My heart is anxiously tied in knots, what more can I do? What else can I do to help her?

Ajina swiftly wrapped me in a coat: "My little master, what are you doing in such a hurry... quickly put on your clothes, be careful not to catch a cold"

My heart trembled, and I felt an inexplicable shiver throughout my body. I stammered, "Is there anyone outside?"

I was in a daze, seeing Ajina's face filled with joy, and suddenly I came to a realization. I called out a couple of "oh oh" sounds and stammered, "Is it time to give birth?" Looking at the sky, it was pitch black outside

The cold in Liaodong is severe, yet the kang in this room has not yet been lit. We rely solely on the two charcoal stoves in the room for warmth. If we are not careful and the fire goes out, we will be awakened in the middle of the night by the biting cold.

I helped Sister Menggu to sit up, allowing her back to lean against me. She reclined halfway while the midwife shouted, "Fujin, we can see the head of the little master, please exert a bit more effort..."

A midwife trembled as she brought over a bowl of dark, viscous medicine, gently persuading Sister Meng Gu to take it. I angrily exclaimed, "She is in this condition, can she even hear what you are saying?" I lifted Sister Meng Gu's head and held her chin, while the midwife took the opportunity to pour the medicine down her throat

The 25th day of the 10th month in the year of Renchen, the first day of the Chou month

Uh... uh... cough cough... she was still in a daze, her consciousness unclear

Since I learned that the man before me is the renowned Qing Taizu in later generations, I have intentionally and unintentionally begun to avoid him. Fortunately, Nurhaci is busy with official duties and is rarely in the enclosure during the day. Because Sister Menggu is pregnant, he also stays in the rooms of other concubines at night and seldom lingers in Sister Menggu's quarters. It is precisely for this reason that Gundai dares to secretly set traps for Sister Menggu, knowing full well that she is a heavily pregnant woman, yet still allowing her to remain in a room without a heated kang, just like the young concubine.

You must endure! For the sake of the child, you need to be strong! I beg you, please hold on! I casually wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with my sleeve, but my heart was filled with bitterness. Poor woman, she is only seventeen years old, still a minor by modern standards, yet at this moment she is already suffering immensely to become a mother.

For some reason, my heart suddenly filled with bitterness, overshadowing the joy I felt earlier for Sister Meng Gu's childbirth

I was taken aback, staring blankly at the baby in my arms. Can he see me?

Ah—" Sister Meng Gu gritted her teeth and screamed heart-wrenchingly, her hands tightly clutching the white silk bound around her wrists

The result of this watch is a day, and lunch is also eaten in the west room. As it approaches dinner time, the cries of the midwives outside have changed to: "Push! Put in some effort!" "Lady... please wake up... put in a bit more effort!"

The midwife was overjoyed, quickly wiping down the rosy, wrinkled baby and wrapping it up neatly

Help the noble lady sit up! The midwife no longer cared who I was, and sharply ordered me, "Support her!"

He did not look at the Eighth Prince in my arms, but instead fixed his gaze on me without blinking. That look was too complex; I dared not meet his eyes again after just a glance, feeling disheartened as I lowered my head

The attendant beside him smiled and said, "The young master has just been born and cannot see clearly yet."

Nurhaci laughed heartily, startling me greatly: "How foolish! He is neither a kitten nor a puppy, how can one tease him like this?"

Ajina was still kneeling on the ground, unaware as I lifted the curtain and dashed out.

In the bustling room, people came and went. After a while, Haizhen stumbled in, slightly out of breath, saying: "Your Highness... the master said he wants to see the young prince"

"Naming?" I looked up in confusion

I shake my head, how can I possibly sleep like this? I must have been the Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy in my past life

Dong Ge! A voice softly called from above.

The room was in complete chaos, and Sister Menggu, with a pale face, lay unconscious on the cold kang, her long black hair spread out on the pillow, further accentuating her lifelessness. The room was filled with nurses, and two elderly midwives knelt at the corner of the kang; one was supporting Sister Menggu's legs while the other was pressing down hard on her abdomen.

Relatively speaking, Sister Menggu's voice has become barely audible.

As I was nestled in my blanket, reminiscing about my modern old dreams, I was abruptly awakened by the clamor of voices in the room. With a hint of irritation, I poked my head out from under the covers

"Push! Push!" the midwives shouted loudly

New straw and mats have been laid on the kang, and several elderly women and young girls are assisting in helping Sister Menggu onto the kang. Ajina takes my hand and leads me to the west room, which is small but has three charcoal stoves burning. After thinking for a moment, I say to Ajina: "Move two of the stoves outside"

Consciousness returned once more, awakened by the bright and piercing cries of a baby

After all, I am not a child who does not understand the gravity of the situation. Although I feel anxious inside, I can only sigh helplessly and sit down again. The calls from the crowd continue to rise and fall, but at the same time, a clanging sound of bells comes from outside. Along with the drumbeats, the incantation-like lyrics begin to hum.

Hai Zhen went to call someone, and the Fujin instructed that the Gege should go sleep in the west room—this kang needs to be tidied up, and the Fujin needs to move this kang over... Aji Na muttered as she spoke, and it was evident that she was quite nervous. Sister Meng Gu was in labor with a stomachache in the middle of the night, and with the familiar Hai Zhen not present to attend to her, the two of us, Aji Na and I, who were merely guests here, felt exceedingly superfluous

Apply force—apply a bit more force, the head is out, again...

The breakfast was delivered by Haizhen, but her eyes and nose were a bit red; it was unclear whether it was from the cold or from crying. When she brought the breakfast, she seemed somewhat distracted, only reminding Ajina to stay with me in the room and not to run outside.

"I never expected... haha, it’s actually you... Dong Ge, how should I reward you?" He lifted the small cotton blanket and felt covering the swaddled infant, revealing a rosy little face of the baby wrapped in the swaddle. Perhaps due to the sudden exposure to light, the eyes that had been tightly shut began to blink slightly, and the swollen upper and lower eyelids parted, revealing shiny black pupils.

She reached out her hand to receive it, and I took a step to the side, avoiding her while inadvertently bumping into Nurhaci

The cries of the midwife seemed to grow stronger and more powerful. Suddenly, I felt a wetness beneath my feet, and when I looked down, I saw a pool of bright red blood spreading across the mat. Gazing at the deep crimson that bloomed like flowers in the night, my mind buzzed, and I was instantly overcome with dizziness.

Boom! It was as if a bolt of lightning struck beside my ear

Ajina, however, wore a joyful expression and knelt down with a look of devotion, saying, "Oh, Shaman God!" while continuously bowing her head.

Tsk tsk tsk... here. Unable to contain my emotions, I kept making tsking sounds in an attempt to make him laugh

Ah—ah—

Hai Zhen has been gone for over an hour. The inner courtyard is not particularly large, and I do not understand why it took her so long to return. Fortunately, she finally brought back the two midwives, but by this time, Sister Meng Gu's screams had already sent chills down my spine

Nurhaci suddenly said: "Since you like him so much, why not give him a name?"

Indeed, as his biological parent, it is only natural for you to give him a name

Before long, Sister Meng Gu, with a pale face, was escorted out of the room. Although she was not feeling well, she still remembered to wave at me, saying: "Go... go inside and take a nap..."

We were talking when suddenly a cheer erupted outside, amidst the cacophony of voices, a particularly loud one mixed with Nurhaci's excitement: "Great! This is my Eighth Brother..."

I do not know how the former Dong Ge endured the cold with such resilience, but I only know that every night I find it difficult to fall asleep due to the freezing temperatures. After enduring this for over a month, I am severely sleep-deprived and feel extremely drowsy every day, yet I am constantly awakened by the cold, even while lying next to my pillow. I sleep in the bright room outside Sister Meng Gu's dormitory, and since this room does not have a separate kitchen, heating the kang has become an extraordinary luxury. Sister Meng Gu knows that I am afraid of the cold and has urged several times, but each time there has been no response. Last night, I fell asleep in a daze while my maid A Jina and Sister Meng Gu's eldest maid were chatting idly while watching the stove boil water and embroidering. From their tone, it seems that the kang in the room of the Grand Princess Gun Dai has already been heated.

Is it the elder brother or the young lady? Although Sister Menggu is weak, her eyes are still barely open

It should have been initiated ... ...

Startled by her few sharp calls, I suddenly came to my senses. Without caring about any reservations, I rolled up my sleeves and swiftly climbed onto the kang. The midwife looked at me in astonishment, momentarily unable to comprehend where this little girl had come from. I didn't have time to explain; instead, I pinched the acupoint on Sister Menggu's upper lip. My nails were long enough, and I applied enough force that, with this pinch, Sister Menggu surprisingly stirred awake, though her expression was one of extreme pain, her eyes tightly shut, and her whole body trembling.

Gege! Gege! You... she wanted to stop me, but her gaze kept flickering as she scrutinized my expression, afraid of provoking my anger

I listened intently for a long time, hearing what seemed like a sudden uproar in the delivery room, the midwife's frantic screams causing one's heart to tremble

I am not quite sure what he means by 'cai sheng ren', but when it comes to naming... If I were to choose a Chinese name, I would, but I have no basic concept of the names of the Jurchens. What if I make a mistake? Wouldn't that lead to a big joke?

I steeled myself and looked up

Gege ... ...

I wrinkled my nose, but when I turned my head, I saw Sister Menggu sobbing with barely suppressed excitement

I have already recognized that the voice is coming from Sister Menggu, and I hurriedly put on my clothes and went downstairs: "What happened to Auntie?"

Sister Menggu smiled weakly yet gently, a smile that made it impossible for anyone to refuse: "Be good... hmm!" She furrowed her brow in pain, cold sweat beading on her forehead. After catching her breath, she continued to smile at me, "You are still young... it is not suitable for you to stay here, go sleep in the west room. Ajina, take good care of Dongge Gege."

From childhood to adulthood, I have not been without making such fierce threats to intimidate others, but clearly, it is only at this moment, facing a room full of servants, that my words truly have a terrifying effect. I raised my voice to all the maids in the room, sternly declaring: "If the noble consort and her child are safe, then all is well; otherwise, I will have you all accompany them in death"

Ajina sat beside the kang, lowered her head to look at me, her face filled with anxiety: "Gege, wake up."

Hiss... I covered half of my head with a thick blanket, and my eyelids opened a slit, feeling dry and heavy.