SGEIRS -Chapter 273 Woken by Pain

Before dawn had even broken, Meng Jinyao was already awake.

She had been woken by pain.

A heavy, dragging ache spread through her lower abdomen. The cramps were unbearable, so intense that cold sweat broke out on her forehead and her face turned pale.

She clutched her stomach with both hands and clenched her teeth, forcing herself not to make a sound so as not to wake the man beside her. She remembered that her husband had to attend the early court session today and needed proper rest to stay alert. Besides, this wasn’t really an illness—her monthly cycle had arrived.

Gu Jingxi was a light sleeper. The moment the person in his arms stirred, he woke up. By the dim light of the single lamp left burning near the bed, he saw her pale face, beads of sweat on her forehead, and her obvious distress. He was instantly startled.

He hurriedly asked, “A-Yao, what’s wrong? Where do you feel unwell?”

Seeing that he was awake and looking at her with concern, Meng Jinyao froze for a moment, then softly murmured, “It hurts… my stomach hurts.”

There was an unconscious note of grievance in her voice, mixed with a hint of coquettishness.

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi abruptly sat up and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with his sleeve. Though he felt panicked inside, he remained outwardly calm and gently coaxed her, “A-Yao, don’t be afraid. It’ll be fine. I’ll have someone fetch the physician right away.”

“No, don’t…”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao forgot about her pain and reached out from her stomach to grab his sleeve, trying to stop him.

Gu Jingxi thought she was being willful because she was ill and soothed her, “Be good. If you’re unwell, you must see a doctor. Don’t avoid treatment.”

She quickly shook her head, feeling embarrassed, and replied awkwardly, “No, I’m fine. It’s just… it’s just my monthly cycle.”

Gu Jingxi froze. He knew women had such cycles, but seeing his young wife so pale and seemingly in serious pain, it didn’t look like “nothing.” He couldn’t help worrying.

“A-Yao, are you sure it’s okay not to see a doctor?”

She nodded. “It’s always been like this. If I endure it, it’ll pass in a couple of days.”

He frowned deeply. Pain this severe must be unbearable. Forcing herself to endure it wasn’t a solution.

Gently, he asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

She thought for a moment and whispered, “My clothes… they’re dirty. And the bedding too.” Her voice was pitifully soft. Embarrassed, she buried her face in the quilt and added quietly, “Let Qingqiu and Ningdong come in. They know what to do.”

Gu Jingxi immediately understood. He put on a cloak and went out to instruct the night-duty maid to summon Qingqiu and Ningdong. He also told her to have a servant inform the front courtyard that he would take leave for the day due to illness, and to invite Physician Wen from the Imperial Medical Academy.

When he returned to the room and removed his cloak, he was about to check on Meng Jinyao when he noticed a streak of bright red on his white trousers—it had been stained with blood.

Meng Jinyao noticed it too and instantly felt unbearably ashamed. Her face burned hot as she tightly clutched the quilt.

Her period had come suddenly in the night, and she had been unprepared, so she had soiled her clothes, the bedding, and even her husband. She had heard that many men were sensitive about such things, considering menstruation dirty and impure. Anxiety rose in her heart—she was afraid he would dislike her.

Gu Jingxi glanced at her and saw the nervousness on her face. Guessing what she was worried about, he stepped forward, patted her head reassuringly, and said gently, “It’s fine. I’ll go change first. The maids will be here soon.”

Seeing her relax, he took clean clothes behind the screen and changed.

Soon, Qingqiu and Ningdong arrived. Upon learning what had happened, Ningdong quickly brought in a basin of warm water to wipe her down. Together, they helped her change clothes, replaced the bedding, and carried away all the soiled items.

Only then did Gu Jingxi return to bed to warm it. He pulled his still-uncomfortable little wife—curled up like a frightened quail—into his arms. His warm palm rested on her lower abdomen, gently rubbing in circles.

His hand was very warm. With it pressed against her stomach, Meng Jinyao felt, perhaps just psychologically, that the pain eased a little.

After a long while, Gu Jingxi suddenly asked, “A-Yao, you didn’t seem this bad before. Could something be wrong with your body?”

She replied, “It’s normal you didn’t notice. This is the first time I’ve had my period since marrying you.”

He froze, confused. “But… doesn’t it happen every month? Why did it take so long?”

“My cycle isn’t regular. Sometimes it only comes every few months,” she said.

His brow furrowed. Realizing the seriousness, he asked, “Have you seen a doctor about this?”

“When I was in the Meng household, I asked the family physician once. He said it’s normal for young girls to be irregular for two or three years after their first period.”

Besides, every time it came, the pain was unbearable. Sometimes she even thought it was better when it didn’t come at all. Since it was irregular anyway, she never paid much attention.

Gu Jingxi was silent. He didn’t understand medicine, but was pain like this really normal? He decided to wait until Physician Wen arrived later.

After rubbing her for a long time, he asked softly, “A-Yao, do you feel any better?”

“A little, maybe,” she answered honestly. “But it still hurts a lot.”

With no experience in such matters, he didn’t know how else to help. All he could do was hold her and keep rubbing gently. Seeing her so listless and weak, barely able to speak with strength, made his heart ache.

She couldn’t sleep either. The pain was so severe that her stomach felt like it no longer belonged to her. With no mood to talk, she turned her back to him and curled up, which made her feel slightly better.

When it was nearly time, she turned around and asked, “Husband, there’s court today. Why aren’t you getting up?”

“I took leave. I’m not going,” he replied.

She was puzzled. “Why did you take leave?”

“How could I be at ease going to court when you’re like this?” He said, reaching out to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead again. Her paper-pale face made his heart ache.

Caught off guard, Meng Jinyao suddenly felt as if her heart had been filled with honey. Even the pain in her belly seemed to lessen.

For her sake, he had given up attending court—something so important. That meant she truly came first in his heart.

She hadn’t wanted to cry from the pain.

But this feeling of being cherished and valued made her eyes slowly turn red.