SGEIRS -Chapter 498 About to Give Birth

Changxing Marquisate.

The three generations of scheming in the Meng family no longer interested Meng Jinyao, nor did she have the energy to care. Now, as she was about to give birth, she spent every day anxious and restless.

The Gu family had already arranged for wet nurses—two, just in case one didn’t have enough milk for the baby—and also hired a midwife with experience and a good reputation. She stayed at the house for twelve hours on standby, ready to assist the moment Meng Jinyao went into labor.

Seeing her supported by a maid as she strolled through the garden with her large belly, Madam Zhang stepped forward to greet her. “Third sister-in-law, out for a walk again?”

Meng Jinyao smiled and replied, “Sister-in-law.”

Looking at her belly, Madam Zhang asked, “Third sister-in-law, are you going into labor in the next few days?”

Meng Jinyao nodded slightly. “That’s what the doctor said, but there’s still no sign. It seems the baby isn’t planning to come out just yet.”

Madam Zhang responded, “Some expectant mothers go a few days past their due date, so don’t worry. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, the baby will insist on coming out.” She reminded her again, “When labor starts, remember to send for the Imperial Physician Baili. He’s experienced in all matters concerning childbirth. Even if everything is fine, having him there is reassuring.”

Meng Jinyao replied warmly, “Thank you for the reminder, Sister-in-law.”

Madam Zhang added, “I have some business to attend to. We’ll talk another day.”

Meng Jinyao smiled and nodded. “Alright, Sister-in-law, go ahead.”

Madam Zhang nodded slightly, then turned to leave. Quietly, she sighed to herself. Her own daughter was only a year younger than Third sister-in-law, yet here Third sister-in-law was about to become a mother. Since her daughter’s divorce, she resisted marriage, spending her youthful days with her grandmother in the Buddhist hall, chanting sutras and performing rituals—almost like a nun.

Last night, Madam Zhang had told her daughter that the young master of the Yu family was a fine man—handsome, knowledgeable, and virtuous—and that his mother was kind and would make a good mother-in-law.

But her daughter barely paid attention, softly turning the prayer beads in her hands while chanting, ignoring her words entirely. After finishing a passage, she even spoke in the tone of a nun: “Benefactor, haven’t you returned yet? I will fast tonight, and the meal might not suit your taste. You’d better go back.”

Madam Zhang had been angry already, and her daughter’s serious tone only infuriated her more, leaving her unable to sleep half the night. She wanted to confide in her husband, but thinking of him dallied away in the concubine’s quarters, she had to calm herself alone.

This morning, she got busy early and had no time to brood.

Three days passed, and still no sign from Meng Jinyao’s belly. The baby showed no intention of coming out.

Her anxiety grew by the day. The more she learned about childbirth, the more afraid she became. Even knowing roughly when labor would begin, she had to calm herself every morning to greet the day peacefully—but now, with labor delayed, she had an extra day of worry.

Gu Jingxi noticed her anxiety and fear. To distract her, he delegated many official duties to the two junior ministers, freeing himself to spend more time with her. He returned home immediately after finishing work.

That day, when he came back, he saw Meng Jinyao staring at her belly in a daze. Even as he approached, she didn’t notice him. He reached out, gently touching her belly, and asked softly, “A-Yao, what are you thinking about?”

Hearing him, Meng Jinyao lifted her head, met his tender gaze, and smiled. “You’re home, husband.”

Gu Jingxi nodded. “Yes, just got back. What are you thinking about?”

She shook her head lightly. “Nothing much. Just wondering why the baby isn’t out yet. The doctor said labor should start in the next few days, but nothing has happened. I’ve been waiting since morning, and still no sign of labor.”

Gu Jingxi comforted her. “Don’t worry, A-Yao. Maybe our baby is just a slowpoke.”

Meng Jinyao pursed her lips and sighed softly. “But every extra day the baby stays inside me is another day of anxiety. I just want the baby to come out so I can stop worrying.”

Watching her belly, Gu Jingxi felt anxious too. Learning about the dangers of childbirth had left him worried as well. He had already decided that after this child, there would be no second one. This pregnancy alone was already so exhausting for A-Yao.

After a while, Meng Jinyao said, “Husband, since I’m free today, I thought of several nicknames for the baby and finally settled on one.”

Gu Jingxi was slightly surprised and curious. “What nickname?”

Meng Jinyao smiled. “The baby’s nickname will be Wanwan. What do you think?”

Gu Jingxi thought it was the gentle, elegant ‘Wan’ and immediately said, “There’s a beauty named Wanru Qingyang. Wanwan would be lovely too. Our little girl will surely have delicate features and a gentle temperament.”

Meng Jinyao paused slightly, then shook her head with a smile. “Not that ‘Wan’. Guess again, husband.”

Gu Jingxi guessed, “Then is it the ‘Wan’ from Wanyan? Though silver hairpins may fade, Wanyan will not. Wan means beautiful jade—it suits our little girl well.”

Meng Jinyao shook her head again. “Not that either. Guess again.”

Gu Jingxi thought, “Could it be ‘Wan’ as in lush trees, flourishing and bright? That’s a fine choice too, suitable for our daughter.”

Meng Jinyao gave him a peculiar look and shook her head once more. “None of those. Though your guesses have good meanings, the ‘Wan’ I mean is the ‘wan’ from ‘dinner’.”

Gu Jingxi was stunned. He never imagined it was literally the ‘wan’ from dinner. “A-Yao, why choose this ‘Wan’?”

Meng Jinyao asked in return, “Husband, don’t you think the ‘wan’ from dinner suits our little girl?”

Gu Jingxi shook his head; he didn’t see it fitting.

Meng Jinyao explained, “The baby hasn’t come out yet. We can’t call her ‘Early-Early’, and ‘Late-Late’ might sound odd. ‘Wanwan’ works just right.”

Gu Jingxi fell silent, but looking into his wife’s eyes, he nodded in agreement. “You’re right, A-Yao. Since she’s taking her time, we’ll call her Wanwan. That will be her nickname.”

Meng Jinyao was very pleased, smiling again as she gently caressed her belly. She added, “But Second Sister-in-law says, judging from my belly, this baby might be a boy.”

Gu Jingxi replied, “I don’t think so. When I first suggested her name, she immediately moved in response—it showed she liked it. She’s a girl.”

Meng Jinyao agreed. “I think she’s a girl too.”