The false alarm regarding the Saintess was over, and naturally, Zhui Yun was released.
A Mu patted him on the shoulder in satisfaction. "I didn't expect you to be so capable. The Saintess can finally eat properly. You can stay here for the time being. There will surely be a generous reward after the Saintess gives birth."
Zhui Yun resisted the urge to slap his hand away. "Thank you."
"Could you provide me with a list of foods that pregnant women should avoid?"
A Mu suddenly realized. "You're really meticulous. I'll go ask the witch doctor for it right away!"
In the Saintess's small courtyard, Sheng Mei had digested her food. Since she got pregnant, there had been few times when she had such a good appetite.
After a full meal, she felt energetic and in a good mood. Now she was lying on a recliner, basking in the sun, and lazily asking, "Have you found out about that person?"
A Ya knew she was referring to the cook. "Yes, we have. He's indeed a hunter from a neighboring county of Jing State. His surname is Zhao. There aren't many people in his family, only a younger brother. He often goes into the mountains and stays there for one or two months at a time."
It seemed that there was really nothing wrong with him.
"Does he know how to cook anything else?"
If he only knew how to roast meat, it would get boring after a while.
A Ya wasn't sure. "Maybe... he does. A Mu said he asked for a list of dietary taboos for pregnant women."
Sheng Mei nodded. "That's fine for now. You all should check carefully. Don't let anything go wrong."
Sheng Mei thought she just missed the food from Jing State. The food there was indeed more delicious than that in their Miao Region. There were not only more varieties but also more mature cooking methods.
In the past, the Miao Region had always been closed. Outsiders couldn't come in, and they didn't go out much. Only when they went out did they realize they were like frogs in a well. She had been thinking about gradually opening up the Miao Region, and it had finally started to show results this year.
It seemed that she should recruit some cooks from Jing State in the future.
A Ya replied, "Understood."
In the evening, there was a dish of shrimp and tofu. Sheng Mei ate quite a bit, and the rest went into A Ya's stomach.
"The people from Jing State are really better at cooking than us."
As A Ya said, she served a plate of washed wild fruits.
"A Mu and Hunter Zhao picked these wild fruits together. Hunter Zhao said that women there like to eat this kind of fruit when they're pregnant. Would the Saintess like to try?"
Sheng Mei had seen this kind of fruit before. It was very sour, and few people in the Miao Region ate it. But now that she was in a good mood, she was interested and picked one up.
It was sour.
But she could still tolerate it.
Sheng Mei ate one and felt much more comfortable. Then she walked around the room twice and was about to go to bed.
Zhui Yun, who was hiding in the dark, was relieved to see that she was willing to eat. Although he had never taken care of a pregnant woman, to be disrespectful, having been by the Emperor's side for a long time, he had at least seen how things were done.
In the next half - month, Zhui Yun cooked different dishes for Sheng Mei. Although his original cooking skills were limited, he took the time to buy a cookbook in the neighboring county.
Cooking depends on talent and timing.
Zhui Yun obviously had a bit of talent.
Although Sheng Mei always felt that the taste of the dishes was a bit familiar, she was about to give birth, and the baby took up most of her energy and attention. In the end, she couldn't figure it out.
The saying that a woman becomes stupid for three years after giving birth was really true.
Early one morning, as soon as Sheng Mei got up, she felt something was wrong. Before she could get out of bed, she heard a soft "pop", and then it seemed that something was flowing down from below.
By the time she realized it, her pants were already wet.
"A Ya!"
A Ya rushed in. "What's wrong, Saintess?"
Sheng Mei covered her stomach. "I think... I'm going to give birth."
Going to give birth!
Panic flashed across A Ya's face instantly. "I'll go and call the witch doctor right away!"
The witch doctors in the Miao Region were all women, and they were usually responsible for delivering babies.
As soon as Sheng Mei reached the ninth month of pregnancy, she had trusted witch doctors live nearby. So as soon as they heard A Ya's call, the witch doctors came quickly.
In the Miao Region, a woman giving birth was a very important event. The whole family would pray for the mother and the baby outside the delivery room, not to mention that the one giving birth was the Saintess.
So soon, many people came spontaneously outside the courtyard where Sheng Mei lived to pray for her and the unborn baby.
Zhui Yun naturally heard about it. Not to mention, A Mu was a big - mouth.
With him around, he didn't need to go and inquire about the news specifically.
Zhui Yun followed A Mu there. Looking at the closed courtyard gate, he had the urge to break in for the first time.
But he managed to hold back.
At this time, a scream came from inside.
"Ah..."
The sound was not loud, but Zhui Yun heard it clearly.
His heart seemed to be suddenly grabbed by a hand, and his body stiffened. A painful and numb feeling spread from his heart to his whole body, giving him goosebumps.
He had seen how anxious the Emperor was when the Empress was giving birth. At that time, the Emperor didn't care about anything and accompanied the Empress in the delivery room the whole time. But he couldn't even enter her courtyard gate. He could only disguise himself as a commoner and pray for her outside.
If it were at night, he could hide on the roof or in the trees, but it was daytime. If he climbed up, he would be discovered immediately.
However, fortunately or unfortunately, it started to rain before noon, and the rain got heavier and heavier.
The guard inside came out specifically to say, "The Saintess said that since it's raining heavily now, everyone doesn't need to wait outside. Praying at home is the same."
Although the crowd didn't want to leave, the rain was too heavy. They would surely get sick if they got wet, so they dispersed.
Zhui Yun took the opportunity to climb over the wall into the courtyard. As soon as he got close to the delivery room, he heard a panicked voice, "The baby's position is incorrect. The Saintess may suffer a difficult labor!"
A Ya's hands were covered in blood, and she was about to cry. "Witch doctor, what should we do?"
The witch doctor's face was also ashen. She shook her head. "My ability is limited. If we could find a more skilled doctor, maybe..."
A Ya was so anxious that she paced around. "But there is no witch doctor in the Miao Region more skilled than you!"
"Send someone to Jing State to invite...," Sheng Mei's weak and patient voice came. "Hurry up. I can hold on!"
"Yes!"
A Ya wiped her face and quickly sent someone to invite a doctor from the neighboring Jing State.
It was already difficult to walk on the mountain road, and now it was raining heavily...
After hearing their conversation, Zhui Yun rushed into the rain curtain. It was only today that he realized how important Sheng Mei was to him. Just thinking that something might happen to her made him panic from the bottom of his heart.
She should hold on. He would surely invite the doctor over!
The witch doctor was still trying her best to correct the baby's position for Sheng Mei and using good medicine to keep her strength up.
If she couldn't give birth after a long time and the amniotic fluid ran out, both the mother and the baby would be in danger!
Zhui Yun ran all the way. Fortunately, he had traveled to and from the neighboring county several times, so he was quite familiar with the road. He found the doctor in the city who was best at dealing with women in labor.
After briefly explaining the situation, he took the doctor back with him.
Zhui Yun also took out his token and borrowed the best carriage from the county magistrate. The old doctor was too old to ride a horse in the heavy rain. Otherwise, he would have taken the doctor there on a fast - horse directly.
By evening, Sheng Mei still hadn't given birth, and her strength was almost exhausted.
There was still no news from the person who had gone to invite the doctor.
"Saintess..."
Sheng Mei held A Ya's hand. "If I still can't give birth... save me..."
She could hardly keep her eyes open.
It wasn't that she didn't love her child, but she couldn't die yet. There were still so many people who needed her...
The next Saintess didn't necessarily have to be her child, but if the Saintess died now, the Miao Region would surely be in chaos.
"Saintess..." A Ya couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
At this moment, the door of the delivery room suddenly opened, and a familiar yet strange voice came, "The doctor is here!"