HCB Chapter 395 The hero's stumbling block on the road to escape from the famine 46
Chapter 395 The hero's stumbling block on the road to escape from the famine 46
In this case, Gu Huairen would not be able to return before Xiaotao gave birth, but he had his younger brother Gu Huaiyi. He talked to the head coach Shen Qingchen and asked Gu Huairen to take the Chen royal family to the imperial city first.
Among them was Xiao Tao's biological mother, the former Concubine Chen Guoyu. On their way to the imperial city, they would definitely have to pass through Yuzhou Prefecture, so it would be normal for them to stay here for a few days.
When Xiao Yun received the news, he calculated that it would almost coincide with Xiao Tao's due date.
Thanks to the good weather, Gu Huairen and his companions had a smooth journey. Although it was late summer, they had not been rained for more than a month. It only rained at night, which was just right for them to find a place to rest. When they set off the next day, the sky was clear again.
Because the people being escorted were members of the royal family, they certainly could not be shackled and put in a prison cart like ordinary prisoners. To show the King of Qi's kindness, they were given a carriage and would stay in an inn along the way, but there would be soldiers guarding them along the way.
Gu Huairen even went to find Princess Yu to clarify his identity. Now that she was no longer a royal concubine, she changed her title back to Princess Yu.
He also repeated what was written in the letter, and Princess Yu burst into tears after hearing it.
She originally thought that sending the children away was a good way out for them. Even if their father and mother were gone, at least they still had their maternal family. Whether their brother or nephew became emperor, they would not neglect them.
Unexpectedly, this backfired. Not only did the two daughters suffer from childhood, but the eldest daughter also became a concubine of a lowly merchant and even died at his hands.
If she hadn't heard from the soldier who claimed to be her second son-in-law that the whole family had been poisoned to death, she would have made sure that the entire family was buried with her daughter!
After crying, she asked about Gu Huairen's family background. Although it was not high, it was okay.
If she was still the noble concubine of Chen State, or if her father was still alive, she might look down on the Gu family. After all, they had no background or foundation, and relying on military achievements was not stable enough.
Of course, Gu Huairen did not say that A Yuan was his cousin, otherwise the position of governor of this state would be quite important.
However, Princess Yu's identity is very awkward now. Even though the State of Chen was destroyed, she was still the concubine of the former emperor. As a princess of the State of Qi, their lineage has been driven out of power. Although the current emperor is still a member of the Qi family, he is from a different branch and is considered her cousin.
As a cousin, she might not be treated badly if she returned to Qi State and would definitely be well settled, but it would be impossible for her to get any privileges.
So she was very clear about her current status. Moreover, this son-in-law was young and promising, and his three brothers were also capable. They also showed some affection for their second daughter in their words and deeds. So he was a good choice.
Especially since his daughter was pregnant and about to give birth, he escorted Chen Guohuang to the imperial city this time so that he could go back to visit her when passing by Yuzhou Prefecture.
If the baby has not been born yet, stay a few more days and leave after the birth. If the baby has already been born, then it is also a good idea to go back and take a look. After all, giving birth is a big deal for a woman.
She was also a little nervous, as she didn't expect that she would be a grandmother the next time they met.
For this youngest daughter, although she had a hard life in the past ten years or so, now she can say that she has finally gotten through all the hardships. At least she is better off than her half-siblings.
Not only did none of the previous emperor's sons survive, but among the princesses, only three of them were still young. Those that grew up were either married off to foreign countries or to the families of court ministers whom the current emperor wanted to win over.
I just don’t know whether those princesses were too thoughtful or the in-laws they met were not good, but none of them lived past three years. They either died of illness or accidents, and some even died of depression at a young age.
……
When Gu Huairen came back, Xiao Tao had not started labor yet. She didn't know if she was too excited to see her husband and mother return safely, but her water broke before she even had a chance to talk to her mother.
"Hurry, hurry! Carry your wife into the east room. Everything has been cleaned up there. Xiaoju, go across the street and ask Mrs. Liu to come over. Xiaomei, go and boil some water..."
While Xiao Yun asked Gu Huairen to carry the person into the delivery room, she arranged for the maids to call people and make preparations.
After they all ran away, he called Princess Yu and said, "Mother-in-law, you must have been tired on the way. It's such a coincidence that your eldest grandson was born just in time. How about I take you back to your room to rest first? Xiao Tao will have to wait for a while before giving birth.
Don't worry, the doctor will come to check her pulse every other day. He said she is in good health, the baby is healthy, and she will definitely give birth safely..."
Princess Yu was indeed a little tired. It was already afternoon and they had been traveling for almost a whole day. But she didn't even have time to say a word when she saw her daughter. What's more, her daughter was still in labor, so how could she sleep?
"No need, mother-in-law, please take me with you to guard together, otherwise I won't be able to rest easy."
"Well, let's go sit in the main room and wait. I'll have someone bring some tea."
"Thank you for your work..."
"Well, we are all family from now on, no need to be so polite~"
Xiao Yun took Princess Yu to Gu Huairen's courtyard with a smile on her face. The midwife came in at almost the same time as them.
As soon as they entered the inner room, they drove Gu Huairen out and only left the maid who served Xiaotao inside to help.
Seeing his eldest son scratching his head and fidgeting, Xiao Yun spoke to comfort him: "Don't worry, Xiao Tao is in good health. Hurry up and sit down and wait obediently. You've dazzled me."
Gu Huairen looked at his mother with an uneasy look on his face. "Are you really okay? I heard from my comrades that their wives were in excruciating pain when giving birth, and some even nearly lost their lives..."
"Pooh, pooh, pooh, children speak without restraint, pooh, you have grown so big in vain, but you really can't talk!"
Xiao Yun glared at his son and scolded him.
"Pooh, pooh, pooh, pooh... I was wrong. My wife will be able to give birth safely!"
Gu Huairen quickly said "Pooh" obediently, fearing that his nonsense would come true.
Princess Yu looked at the interaction between the mother and daughter with a look of curiosity. She was born into a royal family and married into the royal family. She usually came into contact with people who were either very polite or had hidden meanings. She had never seen such a relaxed way of getting along.
Xiao Yun and Princess Yu did not go into the inner room, but sat in the main room waiting. Princess Yu knew that she could not help and did not go in to cause trouble. Xiao Yun knew that nothing would happen, as she had given Xiao Tao a pregnancy period, so there would be no problem with her body giving birth to a baby.
Sure enough, Xiao Tao screamed in pain a few times, and the baby was born in less than half an hour. When Mrs. Liu came out holding the baby, her face was filled with disbelief.
This was too fast! She had been delivering babies for more than ten years, and this was the first time she had seen one delivered so quickly. She didn’t do much except cut the umbilical cord.
"Sister Liu, what's going on? But what's wrong with the child?"
Seeing that the midwife looked dazed, Xiao Yun asked quickly.
"Ah? Oh, no, no, both mother and child are safe. Congratulations, Madam Gu. The young lady has given birth to a big fat boy~"
Mrs. Liu came back to her senses after hearing her question. She quickly congratulated her and put the child into her arms.
"Congratulations, my grandson is so fat. Is Xiaotao okay?"
Xiao Yun took the child with joy and asked about Xiao Tao's situation.
"It's okay, it's okay. The young lady is blessed. Not only did she give birth quickly, but she didn't get hurt by the child even though she's grown up like this. The young master will definitely be a filial son in the future~"
"Hahaha, then I'll borrow your good wishes. Xiaoju, quickly give the wedding money to Sister Liu. I'll have to trouble Sister Liu again during the third day of the lunar year."
"Ma'am, rest assured. Leave the third day bath to me. I will make sure everything is prepared properly."
After saying that, he took the red envelope handed over by Xiaoju and said with a smile: "Then I won't be rude to Madam. I will also share in the good fortune and have a big fat grandson next year."
"Of course. I think your daughter-in-law is a good fertile woman..."
The two talked for a few more words, and Xiaotao's maid came out and said that the placenta had come out. Only then did Midwife Liu wash her hands again and go in to deal with it.
Princess Yu and Gu Huairen gathered around the cradle that had been prepared early in the morning, looking at the child inside with smiles on their faces.
This child is really well taken care of. He is not red and wrinkled like other newborn babies. This child is white and plump with thick hair, and his sideburns are even past his ears.
"Mother-in-law! The child has opened his eyes!"
Princess Yu said to Xiao Yun with a look of surprise.
Gu Huairen looked confused. He didn’t know why his mother-in-law was so surprised. Can’t the child open his eyes when he is born?
Xiao Yun was not surprised. Not to mention in ancient times, even in modern times, due to insufficient nutrition during pregnancy, the baby would not open its eyes until two or three days after birth.
So it can be said that she raised her grandson well, and the magic water, magic fruits and magic eggs she fed him were not in vain.
"This woman took good care of herself while she was pregnant, and the baby opened his eyes when he was born. However, most women don't know how to take care of themselves, and blindly feeding them is not enough. If the baby grows too big, they may not be able to be born.
Mother-in-law, let me tell you, you should eat some fruits when you are pregnant, like apples. Xiaotao ate them for three months, and then I made bone soup for her, and she ate some fish..."
Xiao Yun told them all how he nourished Xiao Tao during her pregnancy. The two of them were amazed to learn that there was so much knowledge involved.
But think about it, she gave birth to five children and raised them all to healthy adulthood, so this experience is definitely useful.
……
In the evening, when Gu Lanzhang came back, his family held a banquet to welcome Princess Yu and Gu Huairen. Of course, Xiaotao could only eat the confinement meal in the house.
After meeting the sisters Gu Lanzhang and Gu Mingyue, Princess Yu felt relieved. Her father-in-law, mother-in-law and sister-in-law were all good people. Her little daughter should be able to live a good life in the future, so she could return to the imperial city with peace of mind.
A few days later, after attending the lively third-day bathing banquet, it was time for Gu Huairen and others to set off for the imperial city.
Before leaving, Princess Yu handed a jade pendant to Xiao Tao and said softly, "This was given to me by my mother. I have always worn it. Now I pass it on to you as a keepsake. Seeing it will be like having it by your side." Xiao Tao's eyes were red and she held the jade pendant tightly.
"Silly girl, don't cry. Your mother-in-law said that crying during confinement is bad for the eyes. Your mother-in-law is a good person. You should be filial to her in the future. If you have the chance, you can also bring the child to the imperial city to see your mother. Your mother should not leave casually..."
After talking for a long time, Princess Yu finally left Xiaotao's room. She had finally seen her daughter, but now she didn't know when they would meet again.
The next day, Gu Huairen and his party were about to continue on their journey. Gu Lanzhang specially made time to bring Xiao Yun and her daughter to see them off.
Xiao Yun prepared a separate carriage for Princess Yu. Before that, she had to share one with other female relatives. But there was no other way. Gu Huairen was in a hurry to travel and had no time to prepare one.
Xiao Yun made several secret compartments inside the carriage, in which he placed a lot of food and daily necessities, and also covered it with several layers of furs and bedding, as well as a small red clay stove and a teapot.
It is early autumn now. It will take at least two months to walk from here to the imperial city, and it will get colder and colder.
Of course, some things were also prepared for Gu Huairen, but he was going to ride a horse, so what was prepared was thick clothes, shoes, socks and silver, which he could buy on the road at any time.
……
After that, Xiao Yun started her daily life of taking care of her grandson. Gu Lanzhang took advantage of the fact that Gu Huairen was at home and named the child Gu Jinnian. This was the order of their Gu family, which means "learning the sea, waves, and jade", and when it came to her grandson, it happened to be the Jin generation.
Gu Huairen did not return from the imperial city until Xiao Jin was half a year old, while the brothers Gu Huaiyi and Gu Huaili stayed directly in the states of Chen and Rui.
Yaoyao had told Xiao Yun about this matter in advance, and asked them to temporarily help the officials sent to manage the two countries, and also left the military power in their hands.
It’s not that he trusts his adopted brother whom he has never met, but he believes that his biological mother will not let anyone stab him in the back, after all, he is her biological mother.
Life has been very peaceful for Xiao Yun, except that Yuzhou Prefecture was a bit chaotic due to its crazy infrastructure construction, nothing else happened.
It was different in other places, especially the remaining Yun Kingdom, where people were in panic all day long, worrying that Qi would attack them at any time.
The hero Shen Qingchen did live up to everyone's expectations. In the early spring of the second year, he conquered the Yun Kingdom. From then on, the four kingdoms were unified. Yaoyao ordered that his name be changed to Jiuyao, which was a homonym of his original body and name.
After that, he began to vigorously develop agriculture and industry, promote high-yield and high-quality varieties, build the Ministry of Industry Research Institute, and recruit talents without any restrictions. As a result, Jiuyao developed to the point where the people could have enough food and clothing, and even live in blue brick and tile houses in just three years.
As early as when Shen Qingchen returned victoriously, he was named a king of a different surname, and the title was hereditary.
Gu Huaiyi was also appointed as the governor of Chenzhou, the former imperial capital of the State of Chen, so that he could continue to manage the area. Of course, before taking office, he rushed back to Yuzhou to get married. The bride was the daughter of another chief official of A Yuan, and they fell in love with each other as soon as they saw each other.
Gu Huaili was named a brave general and stayed in the former imperial city of Rui State to manage the garrison there. Of course, he was sent two military advisors, otherwise he would not be able to do it alone.
He also got married, and married the daughter of the governor of Ruizhou. The fate came from an incident where he rescued a beautiful girl. The girl was out for a walk and her horse was startled. She almost fell into a mountain stream. At the critical moment, Gu Huaili knocked the horse unconscious with a stick, and the girl was saved.
Gu Huaili was quite good-looking and brave, which made the girl fall in love with him immediately. Afterwards, she asked her father to find out more about him and found out that he was a young general. Her father was also very happy about it, and they decided on him after a few discussions.
Gu Huairen was also appointed as the governor of Yuezhou, which originally belonged to the State of Chen. It was right next to Yuzhou, separated by a mountain. Xiaotao took the children with him to take up the post.
A Yuan and Gu Lanzhang remained unchanged until the fifth year of Yaoyao's reign, when they actually issued an order to move the capital to Yuzhou Prefecture!
It is appropriate to establish the capital in the center of these four countries, and it also has a reason for the continuous expansion of Yuzhou Prefecture in recent years.