Chapter 1668: Chapter 1606: Signs of Premature Labor
Madam Zhou uttered a cry of pain, causing Purple Jadeâs expression to change. In a flash, she was by Madam Zhouâs side, supporting her with both hands.
"Madam, whatâs wrong?"
Zhou Xiuer and Madam Lu blinked, thinking their eyes deceived them. How did she get there so quickly?
"Iâm fine." Madam Zhou paused for a moment, exhaling deeply. "It was just a stomach ache. Perhaps the baby kicked."
Purple Jade, without thinking, placed her fingers on Madam Zhouâs pulse, her brow furrowed. "Madam, youâre close to delivery; you mustnât be careless. Iâll send someone to fetch a doctor immediately."
Her medical skills werenât precise enough to tell if anything was wrong with Madam Zhou, so she dared not be careless.
Purple Jade coldly glanced at Madam Lu and her daughter, saying, "Please, Eldest Sister-in-law Zhou and Miss Zhou, return to your quarters and refrain from wandering around."
"What do you mean by that?" Madam Lu jumped up.
"Youâve just returned from worshipping at the temple, carrying various incense scents. Madamâs condition is heavy, and she canât bear such strong odors," Purple Jade said bluntly.
"You..."
"Mother." Zhou Xiuer grabbed Madam Luâs arm, pinching it gently. Looking at Madam Zhou, she said, "Aunt, weâll head back to our room first then."
With a mix of pulling and persuading, she managed to drag Madam Lu out of Madam Zhouâs room.
Outside the courtyard, Madam Lu shrugged off her hold and spat, "What a dog relying on her masterâs power, so domineering!"
"Mother, please say less. Didnât you hear her mention Wufuâs return?" Zhou Xiuerâs face turned extremely unpleasant. "Should we really let her catch us on the wrong foot, then tell tales in front of Wufu so he throws us out?"
Madam Luâs body stiffened, her voice firm yet weak, "She wouldnât dare; Iâm her elder, her aunt."
Zhou Xiuer gave her a mocking glance, and Madam Lu awkwardly followed her away.
Meanwhile, Purple Jade instructed a little maid to open some windows, letting fresh air in to dispel the dense fragrance inside.
After settling Madam Zhou down, she called Qiu Xiang to speak: "Has Madam shown any abnormalities in the past few days?"
Qiu Xiang looked slightly bewildered, shaking her head hesitantly.
"Speak directly."
"Today, when Madam went to the cleansing room, I noticed thereâs some red on her underclothes." Qiu Xiang said nervously.
"What!" Purple Jade nearly screamed. "Why didnât you say something about such a serious matter earlier?"
Qiu Xiang replied, "Madam said not to mention it, claiming itâs normal and not important. I, I have never experienced this..."
"Fool!" Purple Jade lightly shouted, "Her pregnancy is already so heavy; she could give birth at any time. Spotting is a major issue, even if inexperienced, you should knowâ"
Qiu Xiang turned pale, trembling as she said, "No, it canât be? Itâs still some time before December, isnât mid to late December the due date?"
"Childbirth is unpredictable. How can you expect a full-term birth every time? Especially at Madamâs age!"
Listening, Qiu Xiang became increasingly fearful.
At this moment, Nanny Cheng came with the doctor. Purple Jade personally led him to check Madam Zhouâs pulse. After some time in the room, she stepped out to ask the doctor about Madamâs condition.
The Senior Doctor asked a few questions, which Purple Jade answered one by one. The doctor furrowed his brow deeply, saying, "This Madam is of advanced age. Her pulse indicates some weakness, occasionally turning urgent... In my opinion, there are signs of a potential early birth."
Upon hearing this, everyoneâs face changed drastically.
"Iâll prescribe two doses of fetus-preserving medicine first. If the spotting doesnât improve, weâll need to call the doctor again." The Senior Doctor said, "Also, prepare for delivery any time."