Li Tai paused, then froze.
The woman's family members were wailing and begging him to stay and help, otherwise their wife would really die.
On one side is a complete stranger, and on the other is your own daughter. The choice is actually quite easy.
Even if he had left immediately, no one could have said anything to him, since his blood relatives, his only daughter, were waiting for him on the other side.
He trembled all over and stood up to leave, but looking at the child whose head was already vaguely visible, he couldn't bear it in the end and said to the servant, "Wait, wait a little longer, it will be ready soon!"
It will be quick, just give him a little more time!
The servants were so anxious that they stamped their feet and shouted at each other, disregarding their master-servant relationship.
"That's the young lady! She's your own daughter, sir!"
Li Tai continued to deliver the baby while tears streamed down his face, muttering to himself.
"It'll be ready soon, it'll be ready soon, wait, just a little longer..."
His daughter can definitely wait!
Fifteen minutes later, the woman finally gave birth to her child, and both mother and child were safe.
Li Tai didn't bother wiping the blood off his body, nor did he have time to listen to the other party's gratitude. He abandoned the carriage and rode back on the servant's horse.
But he was too late; shortly before he entered the room, his daughter breathed her last.
He looked at the bloodstains all over the bed, knelt in the room and wailed, but no matter how much he cried, he couldn't save his daughter.
What good is a doctor's skill if he can bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded? It's all a lie.
Once a person is dead, they are dead; even Hua Tuo couldn't bring them back to life.
From then on, Song Shi never smiled again, and almost severed her marital relationship with Li Tai, even making a huge scene and wanting to divorce him.
Li Tai naturally refused, and humbly and cautiously stayed by her side. Many years later, their relationship finally improved, but it was difficult to go back to the way it was before.
"Later I learned that men are unreliable, and it's always better to rely on yourself than on others, so I started to study medicine."
Song's Way.
"I specialize in the field of childbirth, especially matters related to women's childbirth."
"I have read many books and asked many people. Although my medical skills have been mediocre for many years, there is one thing I am certain of."
"Most of the women who have difficult labor are young, while older women are more likely to give birth safely, and their babies are less likely to be born prematurely."
"Therefore, if Your Highness likes the Princess Consort, it is best not to let her have a child so early."
Her expression grew even more somber as she spoke: "My child got married and became pregnant at the same age as her, and then..."
And then nothing was left.
She lost not only her grandson, but also her daughter.
If she had known earlier that this would be bad for her daughter, she would have delayed her marriage for a few years, even if it meant risking her daughter being labeled an old maid.
Even after they get married, she won't let her have children so early.
"But the princess is neither my daughter nor my daughter-in-law. No matter how much I say, it's useless. The choice is up to Your Highness."
Wei Hong remained silent for a while, then asked her if there was any way to prevent a woman from getting pregnant temporarily.
So Song gave him the prescription for this contraceptive decoction.
"Every medicine has some degree of toxicity. Although this contraceptive soup is a formula that you, Li Bo, have researched and prepared, and its toxicity is minimized, it is still inevitable that drinking it often will harm your health. Therefore, Your Highness should consider the appropriate amount."
"Also, if you want to have children in the future, it would be best to have the Princess take care of you beforehand to remove the toxins accumulated from these contraceptive soups."
Wei Hong frowned immediately, repeatedly confirming whether the poison could really be removed and whether it would harm Yao Youqing's body.
Song told him that as long as he didn't take it often, it would be fine. For example, if he drank it two or three times a month, the toxicity wouldn't accumulate, so there would be no problem.
If you drink ten or eight doses, you'll definitely end up with some left over.
It means he should avoid having sex with Yao Youqing too often.
Because once sexual intercourse occurs, one will inevitably have to drink this contraceptive soup, and the toxicity will accumulate over time.
Wei Hong initially intended to restrain himself and try to get Yao Youqing to drink less, only one or two doses a month.
But after he tasted a little himself and saw that the girl clearly didn't like it but was forcing herself to drink it, he suddenly didn't want her to drink a single drop.
She could drink medicine she didn't like and do things she didn't like for him, so why couldn't he just endure it for her?
Didn't we tolerate this for so many years before we got married and didn't have concubines? Why can't we do it now?
Wei Hong held Yao Youqing in his arms and gently rubbed her cheek.
"We'll think of another way; we won't have children."
Other methods?
Yao Youqing looked up, about to ask him what method he had, when he felt her pulling his hand down towards his lower body.
Yao Youqing's expression changed slightly, and she quickly shook her head.
"I...I don't want to..."
That thing was dirty and ugly. Every time she thought about it, she felt like her hands were sticky and unwashed, which made her feel terrible.
Wei Hong chuckled softly and lowered the bed curtains.
"Since you didn't want to do it yourself, I'll have to think of another way."
When Yao Youqing saw his wicked smile, she instinctively felt that it wasn't a good thing, but because she had little experience, she had no idea what he was going to do.
A moment later, several pieces of clothing fell off the bedside, and the bed curtains swayed gently with the movements of the person inside.
Wei Hong looked at the girl's smooth back and slender waist, his eyes slightly reddening with desire. He put one arm around her waist and the other under her armpit, gently caressing and kneading her.
The girl whimpered at his actions, blushed, and tears welled up in her eyes.
He opened his mouth and nibbled on her earlobe, his voice hoarse as he said, "Who just said they didn't cry all the time? Hmm?"
The girl pleaded softly, "Your Highness..."
The soft, trembling voice made Wei Hong's gaze deepen. He gasped, "Good Ning'er, keep your legs together..."
Chapter 53 Juggling (Added 1800 words)
In the capital, the first imperial concubine selection after Wei Chi ascended the throne was being prepared in full swing, and almost all the eligible and unmarried young ladies from prominent families had registered.
The Ji family originally thought this matter had nothing to do with them, because they only had two daughters in total, one of whom was already dead and the other was over the age limit for the talent show.
The age requirement for this talent show is the same as before: thirteen to eighteen years old. Ji Yunwan just turned nineteen a few days ago.
At the time, Ji Huai'an breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he had avoided the situation. Otherwise, Ji Yunwan was not in the capital at all, and she was determined to stay in Hucheng and not come back. Even if he sent people to look for her, if she was unwilling and dragged her feet, and people found out that she had not gone to visit her aunt but had gone to Hucheng, then the Ji family would be ridiculed, and the emperor would be even more unable to explain.
But to everyone's surprise, his daughter was on the final list!
Wei Chi made an exception and included Ji Yunwan on the list because she was virtuous, talented and beautiful.
Many people couldn't understand his actions, but whether they understood or not didn't matter; it didn't stop them from praising and extolling the man sitting on the throne.
"This is His Majesty's consideration for the Ji family."
"This is His Majesty's way of reassuring the old minister, knowing that the Ji family is uneasy because of their previous marriage negotiations with the Prince of Qin."
"Your Majesty is virtuous."
"Your Majesty is magnanimous."
"Your Majesty is truly a wise ruler, a blessing to our Great Liang!"
Amidst the praise, the number of people visiting the Ji family increased overnight.
Because in everyone's eyes, making an exception means being pre-selected; otherwise, why would Wei Hong put Ji Yunwan's name on the list?
Is it just a formality to write it down? Wouldn't that just earn you a reputation for seeking fame and fortune?
"Your Majesty is doing this to win over the people."
"That's what Ji Huai'an's wife, Madam Cao, said."
“If we select Wan’er to enter the palace, everyone will think that he is forgiving and doesn’t care about our past marriage negotiations with the Prince of Qin. They will think that His Majesty is a virtuous and magnanimous ruler, just like he is now.”
Their family wasn't the only one in the court who had dealings with the Prince of Qin. At least their family's dealings were due to marriage. Some people were genuine supporters of the Prince of Qin, and even considered supporting him to ascend the throne before the late emperor.
Unfortunately, Emperor Gaozong never agreed to change the crown prince. These people were neglected after the late emperor ascended the throne, and some are now in a worse situation than the Ji family.
After all these years, these people must have suffered enough. If His Majesty were to offer them some sweetness now, they would be like ants drawn by the scent of sweetness, groping their way over in droves.
"If that's the case, then that's good," Ji Huai'an said. "I was just afraid that's not what His Majesty meant!"
"What else could it mean if not that?"
Cao said.
"Could it be that he actually likes Wan'er?"
He laughed as soon as he finished speaking.
Everyone knows that His Majesty liked Miss Yao back then. If Wan'er could have caught His Majesty's eye, she would have done so long ago. Why would it have taken until now?
Ji Huai'an paced anxiously in the room, and said in a deep voice, "I'm afraid His Majesty has discovered something."
Cao was slightly taken aback, and her expression changed after she understood.
"Really? Although Wan'er is a bit stubborn about the Prince of Qin, she's not a child who doesn't know her place. If someone from the palace comes to the Prince's residence to deliver a reward, she will definitely find a way to avoid it. She would never be so tactless as to bump into them."
"If it really was an accidental collision, she would definitely write to us to tell us; she wouldn't just leave us without saying anything."
But she never mentioned it in her previous letters, so it must be because she just didn't run into it.
"Besides... if His Majesty were to anger the Ji family because of this, he should be furious or even more distant from us. Why would he choose Wan'er to enter the palace instead?"
Ji Huai'an frowned slightly, a guess forming in his mind, but he couldn't be sure at the moment, so he didn't say anything. He skipped over the previous conversation and asked, "Where are the people sent to pick up Wan'er?"
Cao replied, "We've only been traveling for four or five days. Even if we travel day and night, it's still a long way off."
Ji Huai'an, his face grim, instructed, "Send more men! Bring Wan'er back as soon as possible! If she's unwilling, tie her up and bring her back!"
Cao was reluctant to hear this: "Isn't it unnecessary? The selection of concubines is such a big event, Wan'er will definitely know the importance of it and won't not come back."