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The sedan chair went directly to the front yard, where Madam Lu was barely visible, with only her eyes peering out from being heavily wrapped up. She walked unsteadily, supported by two individuals. She trembled as she uttered, “Good child, we are at our wits’ end.”
Lu Man was touched by the rare display of respect towards a granddaughter-in-law by an elderly feudal lord in the feudal society. She replied, “Madam, you are too kind.” Then, with difficulty, she added, “I have just found out about my pregnancy and physical activities like assisting with childbirth are certainly beyond my capability.”
Disappointed, Madam Lu added, “Congratulations on having a son, Third Young Lady. You can guide them from the sidelines, the old lady thanks you.”
Unable to ride in a carriage due to her pregnancy, Lu Man continued in the sedan chair.
Upon arriving at the Lu residence, Lu Man proceeded directly to Lady Liu’s courtyard. The area was brightly lit, with over a dozen people present, including Second Madam Lu, eldest Madam Lu, a young master, two imperial physicians, and several servants.
Before entering the delivery room, Lu Man changed into work clothes in a nearby room, accompanied by Lu Ying and Xiao Xi, who were also dressed for work.
Lady Liu had already fainted, her eyes tightly shut, with amniotic fluid and blood still present. Despite her cervix being fully dilated, the baby couldn’t be delivered.
After assessing the situation, Lu Man shook her head. She administered treatment while instructing a stewardess who had followed them, “Go outside and inquire whether we should prioritize saving the mother or the child. If we save the mother, there’s hope for her survival. If we save the child, the mother is likely beyond saving, and the child might not survive either. If there are any delays, both could be lost.”
Initially, the midwife suggested that neither the mother nor the child may survive. However, Madam Lu disregarded the advice and personally sought Lu Man’s assistance from Princess Changting’s residence.
Upon hearing Lu Man’s decision, the stewardess’s face brightened, and she hurried outside to relay the message.
Second Madam Lu’s face showed a glimmer of hope, torn between wanting to save the child and the difficulties involved. Madam Lu’s son urgently exclaimed, “Of course, we must save the mother.”
Second Madam Lu hesitated to echo the sentiment of “saving the mother”, Witnessing Second Madam Lu’s indecision filled her with disdain. The message was clear: prioritizing the mother offered a chance of survival, whereas focusing on the child might result in losing both.
Seeing Second Madam Lu’s reluctance, the stewardess stood there uncertain of what to do, not daring to push for a decision.
At that moment, old Madam Lu (the grandmother) arrived, and eldest Madam Lu relayed Lu Man’s words to her. Tragically, old Madam Lu tremulously stated, “If there’s a better chance to save the mother, then save her. The child may be beyond help. Alas, the poor child, unfortunate to have encountered such confused decisions; it seems his fortune is bleak.” She wiped away tears and shot a stern look at Second Madam Lu.
Initially, old Madam Lu thought that Lu Man assisted her granddaughter-in-law with the baby’s positioning, assuming that if Lu Man couldn’t manage it, the situation was hopeless. It was only when her granddaughter-in-law’s condition deteriorated that she realized Lu Man had not been involved due to her second daughter-in-law’s prior discourtesy.
Having met Lu Man before and hearing about her from Madam Xie, old Madam Lu believed the young daughter-in-law wouldn’t seek fame without reason. Aware that her daughter-in-law had offended Lu Man, she swallowed her pride and personally implored Princess Changting to seek Lu Man’s help.
The stewardess hurried to the delivery room to report the decision to Lu Man.
The midwives attending the delivery at the Duke’s residence were undoubtedly the most experienced, capable of handling even the most challenging childbirth situations.
Lu Man had brought Lu Ying and Xiao Xi to witness the difficult delivery, not just as assistants but also to observe firsthand how to handle such cases. Lu Ying had previously trained with a physician from Tongren Hall and had shadowed midwives during normal deliveries in ordinary households.
Administering the necessary medications herself, Lu Man instructed Lu Ying and Xiao Xi to assist Lady Liu in childbirth. The midwife intervened by breaking some of the baby’s bones to reduce its size and then forcefully extracted the stillborn child. It was a boy, already showing signs of discoloration—a clear indication that even if born alive, he wouldn’t survive.
Looking at the lifeless stillborn child, Lu Man felt a pang of sorrow. The poor child never saw the light of day, meeting such a fate.
Throughout the labor, Lady Liu remained unresponsive, almost as if lifeless herself.
After the stillborn baby was delivered, Lu Man immediately administered medication to stop Lady Liu’s bleeding. Otherwise, it would have led to severe hemorrhaging, endangering the mother’s life.
Old Madam Lu and Second Master Lu briefly glanced at the child, while Madam Lu, Second Madam Lu, and Young Master Lu couldn’t bear to look.
Upon learning that it was a chubby boy, Second Madam Lu and Young Master Lu wept. Hearing that the child was already lifeless, they felt a mix of sorrow and relief, knowing that even if the child had survived, his chances would have been slim.
Lu Man worked tirelessly until dawn, first stopping the bleeding and then administering emergency care. Lady Liu finally regained consciousness.
People refrained from informing her about the child’s demise, stating that the child was weak and being cared for in another room by a wet nurse.
Lady Liu had previously given birth to a daughter, so upon hearing that it was a boy, she became emotional, expressing gratitude to Lu Man repeatedly. Her heartfelt gratitude brought tears to the eyes of her wet nurse and maidservants.
Realizing that Lady Liu would likely not conceive again, Lu Man advised her to rest and focus on recuperating.
She prescribed medications for Lady Liu to drink and apply, including a special herbal ointment brought by Lu Ying.
Lu Man was drenched in sweat and worried about catching a chill on the way home. Lady Liu’s grandmother invited her to bathe, and she obediently took a hot bath, having planned ahead by bringing a change of clothes.
Afterward, Lu Ying dried her hair, and old Madam Lu and Second Madam Lu joined her for breakfast before bidding her farewell. They expressed their gratitude by sending gifts to Lu Man’s residence, with old Madam Lu giving ten taels of silver to Lu Ying and Xiao Xi each.
Once home, Lu Man instructed Lu Ying to administer treatment to Song Mo before retiring to her room for a deep sleep.
Upon waking up later in the day, Lu Man had a meal, took her pregnancy-preserving medicine, and received news that gifts had arrived from the Lu residence.
Declining the gifts, Lu Man suspected Second Madam Lu’s earlier reluctance stemmed from her considering Lu Man too costly for assistance. Her intention in aiding Lady Liu was not monetary, so she refused to accept the gifts.
Subsequently, she headed to Crane Hall to inform the elderly lady about her pregnancy.
Princess Changting, concerned about her husband potentially disturbing Lu Man’s rest later in the day, had arranged for Song Mo and the others to play at Crane Hall.
After updating Princess Changting about Lady Liu’s situation and her own pregnancy, Lu Man concluded her visit.