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Chapter Text

The various reasons that the matter had been kept under wraps and especially from him should have been as plain as a nose on a face. Of course, this was Commandant Kan Lakan they were dealing with. Sooner rather than later, Jinshi fully expected his palace to be subject to a siege. Perhaps with real siege weaponry. It was just a matter of when his father-in-law caught wind of why Luomen and Maomao’s colleagues from the medical office were visiting her with increasing frequency. 

So, here Jinshi sat across from the strategist on more neutral territory, enduring the menacing glare of a monocle glass in hopes of forestalling any commotion that might negatively affect Maomao’s condition. Lahan was also there, looking genuinely pleased by the courtly rumors that brought them together that day. 

“I share this information in the utmost confidence, to avoid misunderstanding,” Jinshi addressed the pair diplomatically. 

“Misunderstanding?” Lakan drawled, mocking. “So I misunderstand reports that my precious daughter is showing enough that she can’t be seen outside despite only being under your roof these past four months. That you did indeed sully my precious only daughter’s honor at the height of her fame and that’s how you got her under your roof again as a concubine. That loose-lipped physicians are talking about complications -” 

“What my father means to say,” Lahan interceded as aides tried and failed to reduce the furious color in Lakan’s cheeks and the accompanying risk of high treason. “Is that congratulations are in order! What auspicious news that my dear sister is finally with child.” 

Finally. What a disturbingly common sentiment he and Maomao had been met with in recent months. Especially since Lakan technically had the right of it. Parts of it, at least. Jinshi kept a neutral expression. 

“When is the little one expected?” Lahan looked as greedy for the precious numbers as Maomao did for rare herbs and fungi. Little did he know, Jinshi was about to make his day. 

“About that…” 

Lakan about hit the roof, bolting to his feet suddenly. “You dog, if it’s already born-!” 

“They won’t be born for months yet,” Jinshi answered sharply. It was enough to cut off the strategist’s venomous curse. “So long as we manage the complications you have been hearing about and delay premature labor, Maomao should give birth in the first days of spring. We will be relying on others to keep the peace in the court so our household can focus on that goal.” 

Lakan grumbled about spring still being far too close, but his expression took on a contemplative edge at Jinshi’s indirect request. 

Of course, Lahan caught the exact numerical phrasing first. “Moon Prince, am I to take it that you were referring to more than one child being born this spring?” 

Jinshi nodded solemnly. “Maomao suspects, and the other physicians concur, that she is likely carrying more than one child.” 

Jinshi was utterly unprepared for how Lahan met this news much like Maomao met an ox bezoar. His day? More like make his year. “Twins?! Two children at once?! Moon Prince, I - I am beside myself with joy! What an extraordinarily rare blessing you have bestowed upon my dear sister!! The La Clan is deeply honored!” 

The metal cup in Lakan’s hand overflowed with juice red like blood as his grip squeezed the rounded bottom as if in a vise. Jinshi felt a chill run through him. Would he go for Jinshi’s throat or his -- Jinshi didn’t want to signal Chue with the liquor too soon. They needed to have a serious discussion about court factionalism. He wracked his brain for a method of de-escalation outside drugging. 

“The only thing that could make this better is triplets!!!”

Drugging it was then. 

Chapter Text

During the pregnancy, His Majesty acted with the utmost grace. He treated the matter with the full weight and gravity it deserved from the moment Jinshi explained the tears in his eyes at Maomao's late appearance at a banquet she had been meant to miss entirely. He knew what it meant for this particular young couple to take such a dramatic leap, hand in hand. This was well before the risk of more than one child threw all previous calculus to the wind. 

No report was received without a sincere inquiry after Maomao’s health and wellbeing. No drink was shared without solidarity with the younger man’s mounting dread. What’s more, His Majesty met what ailed the expectant parents with any and every politically viable prescription. Workflows were reconfigured and duties delegated to prepare for the Moon Prince’s extended absence. Bureaucratic irritants and fledgling threats were assigned new duties outside the capital through the end of the following year or else quietly brought in line by subterfuge Jinshi was left mostly in the dark on. Detailed plans were drawn up with the medical office to prepare, should any of the Emperor’s own consorts require medical attention at the same time as the Moon Prince’s sole consort. 

“I wish to set a harmonious tone for yours and Xiaomao’s family life,” The Emperor had told Jinshi once, hand heavy on his son’s shoulder. 

Jinshi was sincerely grateful. 

That said, he fully expected what came as soon as Maomao and all the children were deemed hale and healthy. No sooner had the naming ceremony passed than Jinshi’s staid late night drinks with the Emperor had turned to merciless ribbing sessions.

“I have been delinquent in my apologies, Zui,” His Majesty started off innocently enough. He had just finished pouring Jinshi’s drink. He had been generous with his pour. 

“How can that be so when I am the servant in your debt, Your Majesty?” Jinshi asked. “Not long ago at all, you did everything in your power to ease my family’s way to a peaceful existence. I owe you my children's smiles. In fact, allow me to regale you with the cute expressions Xiyu’s been making when vexed by his sisters.” In other words: My nerves are still too raw for what you're planning. Be distracted by talk of your grandchildren, I beg of you. 

Alas, all the Emperor heard was that Jinshi was in his debt and at his mercy. 

“That’s exactly my point,” His Majesty rebutted. His expression was still the very image of dignity but Jinshi caught that glint in his eye. What a menacing sparkle…  

“On behalf of your elders, know that I now understand we were wrong to pressure you to wed. We gave you a good deal of grief over wasting your youth. But as it turns out, you really know how to make up for lost time. Eh, Zui?” 

Jinshi’s cheeks burned. How was he meant to respond to such a statement? If he said anything at all or made a noise, he sincerely feared it would make the next round worse. He focused on knocking back a long, deep drink from his cup. His Majesty cracked, openly laughing at him now. 

“Don’t be shy. Really, many are impressed with you two. Physicians across the country are clamoring to hear how the pregnancy and birth were safely managed, while merchants fetch tidy sums selling tonics, talismans, and manuals they say helped the Moon Prince do the deed.” 

Jinshi did not spew his wine. But it was a near thing. 

Instead, he dusted off the old eunuch smile. “Your Majesty, that reminds me. I was thinking we could pass new laws regarding fraudulent endorsements for market goods.” 

“Hm,” The Emperor stroked his beard. “Denied. You’re giving a needed boost to the local economy.” 

Jinshi wondered if it would truly be an overreach in power if he requested a small tax on such goods, at least, to fund the installation of Maomao’s greenhouse. 

“And are they really all frauds? I suppose you have made no open statements but…” His Majesty trailed off meaningfully. 

Jinshi bowed his head. “Forgive me. I’m not sure what you could possibly mean, Your Majesty.”

Somewhere, he hoped Maomao felt an abrupt swell of pride in her chest. Though she might just take it for heartburn and then happily go about compounding a treatment for it. At least then one of them would have a pleasant, peaceful evening.  

There was a ruffle of fabric and the creak of furniture. When Jinshi lifted his eyes again, the Emperor had moved to an even closer seat on the couch just adjacent to Jinshi’s chair. His Majesty was grinning and leaning hard on one of the arms, giving his next words a conspiratorial air. 

“Come now, Zui, be honest,” The Emperor entreated him. “Did you take something for vigor? Or…did you peek one of Xiaomao’s books?” 

Jinshi’s face was still pink by the time he returned home hours later. Maomao felt his temperature with her own forehead and offered him the same mild fever-reducer she’d fixed up for Ziwan weeks earlier. So perhaps that evening’s karma evened out in the end.

Chapter Text

“It was Miss Chue’s bridal training that did the trick,” Chue boasted. “Our new little princesses and little prince are owed to Miss Chue’s expert selection of underthings. Because of them, Lady Maomao was finally able to entice the Moon Prince to expend all his pent up energies.”

“Is that really something to be proud of?” Basen yelped, scandalized. “There are people whispering about the Moon Prince deflowering a medical court lady who was supposed to go untouched while in the Rear Palace. Besides, I doubt that Lady Maomao would tell you about it, even as her lady-in-waiting. You weren’t serving her when she was tending the consorts during the quarantine.”

Miss Chue paused mid swaying victory dance. She tilted her head and smiled at Basen. 

“Did the Moon Prince not share with you then, dear brother-in-law? You couldn’t serve him while he was under quarantine in the Rear Palace either.” 

“I - that’s not my place to say!” 

In truth, the Ma clan was troublingly in the dark on what led to the present circumstances. While the Moon Prince and his lover had always been subject to surveillance before and during their return to the Rear Palace, no one was privy to intimate details of their sudden consummation within its confines. The Moon Prince had been in a delicate mental state after the plague had infiltrated Lady Ah-duo’s villa. And something had shifted in Lady Maomao’s behavior around the time she learned the Madam of the Verdigris House had passed away. But what happened behind closed doors on the north side of the Rear Palace was educated guess work. Whatever had transpired, the pair was observed meeting semi-regularly in what limited privacy the Rear Palace truly afforded in following months, previous reservations seemingly set aside. This, despite the heightened risks from how thoroughly the current Rear Palace Manager had rooted out natural abortifacients from the gardens and cosmetics.  They were aware Maomao had managed to meet privately with the Empress while attending to the Empress Dowager's hot flashes. That was likely when terms were reached on the possibility of pregnancy. Which still did not fully explain the final outcome. 

Gaoshun caught Taomei’s eye. 

“That concoction you and the Moon Prince were taking all those years,” His wife spoke. “I thought there was a risk of it damaging virility. Not causing the inverse.” It would be a problem if the drug didn't work. Even with the new female physicians, there were few of them and still occasions that male physicians needed to briefly come in contact with consorts. But if Gaoshun didn’t know better, he might also suspect Taomei was looking green around the gills at the prospect of reliving her childbearing years. In the background, Chue and Basen were still bickering, with Basen definitively losing. 

Gaoshun felt the blood drain from his own face. “No! Or rather, yes. That is to say, it’s fortunate that the Moon Prince seems to have experienced no such complication. I can attest to the drug's dampening effects myself. I suppose we could simply put down the triplets’ miraculous conception to fate.” Or, Gaoshun silently admitted to himself, to that prince’s equal parts commendable and damnable persistence. To which Xiaomao had rarely ever been a stranger. 

“That’s good.” Taomei looked relieved, for all she had looked uneasy to the untrained eye. Her sharp eyes flicked to Chue and Basen, immediately bringing the pair to order. “It seems Chue’s methods do not pose a substantial risk to maternal health. And if they may have played some role in successfully transitioning the Moon Prince and Lady Maomao to married life, then I think it’s a good idea if she showed your new wife part of her collection, Basen.” 

Gaoshun respected and admired his wife. He sometimes felt those sentiments boasted more loudly than other more sweepingly romantic terms. But just then, he felt Taomei might as well have announced she wanted their son and new daughter-in-law to drop stone dead. Basen certainly looked well on his way whereas Chue giddily accepted her new mission. 

Chapter Text

Because fortune had smiled upon her strapping young up-and-coming officer at the outset of an epidemic, Joka nor Meimei had been able to pay a visit to Pairin’s new household until she had been settled in for well over a year. By then, there was plenty for the former princesses of the Verdigris House to catch up on over drinks. 

They toasted the old Madam’s boat ride to paradise. Congratulated Joka on her ascension as the new Madam. Reviewed and approved Master Lihaku’s performance as a husband thus far in various categories. Teased and endured teasing over Meimei becoming a guest of the La Clan when the Go sage passed in the epidemic. Applauded her efforts to open her own go academy. Interspersed, they refilled their cups a dozen times each and repeated just how proud they were that Maomao had finally been legally recognized as a physician. 

“It’s about time!!!” The three furiously drunk ex-princesses roared at once. 

Joka nodded quite sagely as she cradled her latest drink like a fragile egg. “The Madam was right. There’ss no going back to the Verdi - the Verdigree -- Vergrriz -- blegh, you know where I mean. You all lived there.” She drowned her offending, uncoordinated tongue in another wave of strong liquor. Pairin was a great hostess, bringing out her good stuff for them. Apparently it was a gift from Maomao, too.

“But it made Meowmeow sad~,” Meimei complained from where she had folded her arms and rested her head on the table. “They sent her and her friends straight back to Master Lakan’s house but I know she wanted to visit everyone.”

“I’m the lonely boss,” Joka complained. “The owner even sent Chou-u to an appren - apretiss - to learn art.” 

“Oh-ho! No guest of mine is allowed to be lonely! Let Pairin show you hospitality!” Pairin’s soft and motherly vibe and top-notch alcohol had surmounted Joka’s hard-won savvy, allowing her to be  snatched up into a suffocating hug. “Maomao isn’t the only little sister of concern to me at this tea party,” Pairin crooned. Joka had to admit, after months of playing hard-ass as she asserted herself in her new role and being without her closest companions, she appreciated Pairin’s special variety of affectionate harassment. She could just tuck her head into Pairin’s bosom and fall asleep then and there. Or maybe that was just the lack of air making Joka weak. 

“Don’t envy Meowmeow too much, Joka~,” Meimei sing-songed. “She’ll have her own full house to manage soon~” 

Joka’s content expression suddenly darkened. She was further tempted to hide her face in the depths of Pairin’s cleavage and ignore reality. “Oh, yes. That man made quick work of it, I hear.” Her voice was devoid of celebration. And slightly muffled.

“Well~, not exactly~,” Meimei squirmed, and Pairin giggled and jiggled. Joka extricated herself and used the silent, penetrating stare she had cultivated as her own brand of madamly intimidation to compel courtesans to fess up. 

“When Meowmeow came to the La residence, she was different,” Meimei explained with a lilt. “Lots and lots of people were visiting her and letters were flying back and forth and being burned. It felt like Meowmeow was being pulled in different directions. Also, she was throwing up a lot despite me never seeing her test poison ~ so I figured, ya know?” 

Joka sighed. “So, she really let him win it all.” 

“He didn't just march up to the La clan and whisk her away, Joka." Though Pairin thought that also would have been super romantic. "I believe that I saw it all unfold before my very eyes at the Emperor's banquet. From the moment I saw Maomao there, I knew something had changed! Not just a little weight gain in her face but her very presence was different. It was a big party but she wasn’t resigned to it. Maomao looked determined to be there.” Watching her entrance, Pairin had been certain another threshold had been crossed in the same instant. The sensation had rocked Pairin like a thunderbolt, leaving her brimming with a swirl of emotions and quivering all over. She and Lihaku had departed the banquet early. But not before -- “And the Moon Prince - when his eyes found her, he looked like Maomao had snatched his beating heart from his chest.” Pairin swooned. She fully draped herself across Joka's lap. 

Joka had not been there but she could picture the scene. Perhaps with a bit more blood spatter than what reflected reality. She was still shaken by the news. Of the three of them, Joka knew the least of what had been going on with Maomao in recent months. 

“We can only assume Maomao had made her decision by then,” she quietly remarked, petting Pairin's hair.

Pairin sighed dreamily and nodded. “It’s hard to believe that any man got past our Maomao’s defenses like that. It’s as you said, it had to be someone persistent who she wouldn’t mind letting win. By all accounts, the Moon Prince fits that criteria. But rumor has it Maomao is expecting twins …” Pairin wet her lips, eyes glazing over. “I wonder just how potent a son of heaven is?” 

“Down, girl~," Meimei scolded laughingly. “Your husband will be home soon enough!” 

Pairin let out something between a whine and a squeal. “My husband, that’s right! I have one of those now! Aww but I’m jealous of Maomao, too! Of all the types I never got to sample before getting married. Oh!” Pairin perked up and knocked a fist into her palm. “Me and Maomao could just compare notes! She loves research.” 

“Another time, Pairin ~ We’re busy comparing notes now ~ Right, Joka? Joka?" 

Joka was distracted. She was busying cursing the Moon Prince for all his days if he failed to ensure Maomao and her children had everything he no doubt promised. For it was one thing for Maomao to accept him and bearing his child, but twins surely amounted to changing the terms of a contract after it had already been signed. 

Chapter Text

“It’s unlikely for a mother carrying more than one child to reach full term before going into labor. But the closer Maomao can get, the better.” 

Luomen’s words governed their actions for months.

Every care was taken with Maomao’s diet from the start, but after that, even spicy foods were eliminated out of an abundance of caution. Suiren did her utmost to find satisfactory meals and flavors to keep Maomao well-nourished first through intense bouts of nausea and then gastric reflux. It was found that Maomao had developed a craving for soft-boiled eggs and dirt . The latter of which was quickly substituted with an abundance of dark leafy greens and iron supplements.

Maomao reluctantly permitted own personal medical stores to be purged and redistributed to the medical office to remove any risk of misuse or cross-contamination with her environment. She guarded what was deemed safe viciously from the collecting eunuchs, practically hissing when one mistakenly grabbed a jar of magnesium sulfate. It turned out to be essential to treating her various aches through warm water soaks as her belly grew and grew. Maomao also foretold its usefulness in delaying premature labor when used internally, though it was something she had only read about. 

Jinshi moved his office farther from his residence. No matter how close he wanted to be to Maomao, he also did not want to invite additional stress to the atmosphere or create opportunities for Maomao’s curiosity to sink its teeth into one of Jinshi’s problems. When Luomen handed down a bedrest order that kept Maomao confined to her chambers rather than just the palace, the Emperor imposed a leave of absence on Jinshi as well to be a comfort to her. They both spent a great deal of time flipping through books, Maomao occasionally jotting down observations on her condition. If Maomao could end the day with a boring note of “no significant change”, it was a good day.

As the bitter nip of winter air slowly lost its teeth and the sunlight pouring through the windows grew stronger, Jinshi dared to grow hopeful. They were almost through. Spring was just around the corner. 

“What do you mean surgery?” Jinshi demanded. 

“Moon Prince, you have every right to be concerned. However, I do not make this recommendation lightly.” At once, Jinshi realized he was practically looming over Maomao’s father, a man who had helped his family again and again, only to suffer for it again and again. He stepped well away. 

“Why schedule a surgery when you said it was better the closer Maomao could get to a more typical due date? Why can’t we wait for a natural labor?” It didn’t make any sense to Jinshi. 

After all the sacrifices Maomao had made, they were really just going to cut her open? 

Luomen was quiet. He looked at Jinshi, then past him. 

“Jinshi.” Maomao’s even voice cut in. His whole body swiveled in her direction; Maomao remained tucked into bed cluttered with books, notes, writing implements, and whatever else she required these past few weeks to make things bearable. Her hands were empty now, though, merely folded over a large belly that was only continuing to grow. Her expression was nothing short of crestfallen. It dragged Jinshi’s heart into his stomach like an anchor. At last, she spoke again. 

“Waiting might have been possible if there were only two babies. But Yao used this tool from the West to listen to the fetal heartbeats.” Maomao reached into the folds of her sheets and produced something resembling a horn with a narrow cone. Before Jinshi could do more than furrow his brow, she continued. “It took a few tries, and En’en had to verify, but she distinguished three heartbeats.” 

Jinshi was stunned. “Could one have been your own?” 

Maomao shook her head. “We accounted for that. It appears that I’m carrying triplets.” 

Twins did not have as good odds as other infants. That is what they had been warned again and again since the quickening first stirred Maomao’s suspicions. It would take a high quality of care and caution to ensure the health and survival of two children and their mother. What are the odds of three babies surviving? That was Jinshi’s first terrible thought. 

“My dad and I have actually discussed this option before,” Maomao plowed on, merciless. Jinshi supposed she had every right to be. “It’s the best intervention to get ahead of any complications of labor. Yao and En’en have been studying surgery techniques and will assist in the procedure so they can perform it in the future, if needed. It’s just a matter of scheduling it now.” 

She stared at him, expectant. Right, as the father, he was responsible for what happened next. It took a moment for Jinshi to summon the words. “I will defer to the expertise of the physicians in the room.” He put the power back in Maomao’s hands. 

He watched father and daughter debating the best timing to cut her open in hopes she and any of their children might survive. They settled on a date twelve days from today. That was how long they would have to brace themselves for tragedy. 

After Luomen left, the chamber was deathly quiet. Save for the shuffling of paper. 

Jinshi lifted his eyes from his feet to find Maomao situating herself to write something in bed.

“Let me help grind the ink,” He insisted. It was the least he could do at this moment. 

“Thank you, I’d hate to ruin the sheets.” 

Jinshi bit his tongue. Of all the things to be concerned about right now. No, he’d seen her face earlier. She was upset by this news, too. Maomao was probably far more keenly aware of all the medical risks involved than Jinshi could dread to be. 

Striking like a cut-throat’s blade, Jinshi wondered what exactly she was preparing to write. More observations, or --

“If it came to it, I’d choose you.” 

Maomao blinked at him. 

“...I’m quite aware. You’ve made yourself clear many times over the years.” 

At least a half dozen blunders flashed before Jinshi’s eyes. His hands started trembling as he grinded the ink. Had he really been such a pest, claiming uselessly he’d do the impossible, only to be fine settling for things halfway and then putting her life at risk in new, previously unknown ways? Perhaps he should have been more insistent on her taking the chance Loulan offered months ago. No,  before that Jinshi should have maintained the will to refuse her request for mutual comfort. Just because Maomao always knew what he refused to know did not mean she wanted this. 

“Or,” Maomao tilted her head. “Did you mean me over the fetuses? That’s good to know. I agree. May I mention that?” She gestured to the blank page before her. 

Jinshi’s hand slipped and ink went everywhere. It hit the floor and his clothes in rain droplets. His hand was smeared black. “Ah, don’t touch your face!” Maomao chided him as his head dropped into the soiled cradle of his hands. “Tell Lady Suiren I warned you, okay?” He could not yet bear to speak.

She ventured again. “Jinshi?” 

“I’m sorry,” Jinshi whispered, bowing low next to Maomao’s bedside. There was so much he could and should apologize for, for having gotten them to this point. But one wrong felt more immediate than the rest. “You shouldn’t be having to write a will because of me.” 

Outside, there was a bird call.  

“A will?” Maomao echoed. “These are my instructions to Yao and En’en for the procedure.” 

Jinshi lifted his ink smeared face from his hands. “Instructions?” And not the sort to do with who inherited her various herbs and fungi? 

“Well, obviously I won’t be in any position to make detailed observations.” Maomao’s expression turned shifty and her voice dropped to a near whisper. “Also, there are certain samples I’d like them to preserve…”

Jinshi decided he couldn’t mentally handle whatever that was about, at the moment. He focused on what was important. “What about that face you made when your dad said you’d need surgery? You looked more devastated than I’ve ever seen you.” 

“Because I will have to be asleep for a surgery being performed by my dad,” Maomao answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Jinshi was suddenly overwhelmed with equal parts fury with her disposition and relief at its normalcy. Of course, Maomao would not doubt Luomen’s abilities. She readily placed her life and their children’s lives in his hands.

Maomao let out a dreamy sigh and went a little starry-eyed. “At least I’ll get to analyze the recovery process first-hand. Oh, and also experiment with medicines for treating the incision site!” And - and - and - Maomao went on prattling off every aspect of the surgery and recovery process that excited her. Jinshi sat on his knees next to the bed, listening. Somewhere around Maomao listing off the different methods of anesthesia the medical team might opt for according to their benefits and side effects, Jinshi allowed himself to feel reassured. He needed to trust that Maomao was making the best possible decision available to them. 

“Besides, I made a will back when I decided to keep the pregnancy. The terms should work even with two more heirs.” 

Jinshi did not and could not hide his grimace. 

Maomao narrowed her eyes at him. “Why so squeamish? Don’t tell me you don’t have an updated will.” The accusation carried, unspoken. Did Jinshi think he was immune to mortal peril in the near future just because of his parts? 

Jinshi’s grimace turned to a cringe. He averted his gaze. “I’ll work on one tonight.” 

Chapter Text

Yao felt as if she had just laid her head down when Lady Suiren had hammered down the guest room door. Not with a flurry of panicked blows but with measured knocks that resonated through Yao. She knew what was happening before she opened the door. En’en had heard Yao whispering with Lady Suiren out in the hall and wasn’t far behind. 

They had attended a middle-ranked consort’s labor before, during the quarantine, and that woman had been agitated, loud, tearful, and angry at the world. The consort had clung to Yao, spitting venom at Maomao and En'en for their perceived coldness toward her, and had collapsed into Yao's arms when her daughter -- a princess -- finally came squalling into the world. Yao hadn’t stopped thinking about that consort in months, trying and failing to imagine Maomao in her place. She really shouldn’t have been shocked by how calm Maomao was when Yao and En’en came barreling into her chambers. She was actually standing upright, though leaning over the back of a chair while her head lady-in-waiting rubbed circles in her back.  

“Oh, good,” Maomao greeted them. “Did you bring the magnesium sulfate?” 

Yao’s eye twitched, just a little. “You want to soak your feet now? You’re in labor!”

“Yes, I’d like not to be. Please fetch it.” 

Of course, Maomao of all people wanted to show off niche medical knowledge in the midst of her own labor pains. Yao supposed -- and was grateful -- that Maomao remained Li's first female physician even after becoming the Moon Prince’s consort. One certainly came before the other. 

“Labor is essentially the contraction of uterine muscles to expel a fetus," Maomao explained in only slightly labored breaths. "If we can relax those muscles, we can theoretically delay labor. Magnesium sulfate is commonly used in baths to relieve muscle tension via absorption of the mineral through the skin. But how would one go about making this effect penetrate deeper? Orally, magnesium sulfate is a diarrhetic suitable to treat to constipation. No, the medicine would need to be fed to the body far more directly than the stomach to forestall labor.” 

In short, Maomao wanted Yao and En’en to administer the treatment using equipment that was still very new to the West, let alone Li, involving special tubes and needles she had quietly commissioned from craftspeople in the previous weeks. The designs were based on what she had read on trials and errors in the West over the last few decades. One such case even involved a religious leader seeking a cure for his wasting sickness, though he purportedly died soon after receiving the blood of commoners through a pig bladder and quill. Maomao was certain her proposed treatment could be done successfully based on more recent developments she had been reading up on.

Her bed chamber really did more closely resemble a library than a princess’ private quarters. No doubt, Maomao had spent all her time cooped up in the prince’s palace studying medicine. That she’d kept her mind occupied was reassuring. That it had been allowed to fixate on this terrifying idea for weeks was unnerving. 

En’en grabbed the tubing from Maomao’s hands as she attempted to hand it to Yao. She held it up to the candle light and sniffed it, but the materials were uncertain. Natural fibers? Animal intestine? Asking felt like entertaining insanity. 

Maomao even had a theoretical starting dose already calculated, which was chilling. They were rapidly running out of excuses not to do it. Maomao, somehow, was technically an imperial consort now and a physician. Did that give her medical opinion more weight? Did Yao and En'en have to obey her orders to perform this dangerous experiment? That wasn't fair. It wasn't even included in her instructions! 

“Not a bad estimate,” Luomen fortunately arrived to restore order. Yao could kiss the cane he hobbled in on. “But now is not the time to be using yourself as a test subject, Maomao.” He chided Maomao like a normal parent would their small child for bringing toys to the dinner table. 

Yet Maomao, who respected her foster father more than anyone, as both a person and a teacher, did argue with him. 

“Dad...It would have been better if I never had the chance to test this. But even a few hours might be the difference between life and death under these conditions.” 

Something passed between father and daughter then. Yao felt it, like a breeze pricking her skin to goose flesh. 

“My eyes and hands are old. It’s true I’d like to avoid performing the surgery by candlelight alone,” Master Luomen finally determined. It was still plenty dark out with clouds hiding the moon and the morning far away. “But if needs must.” He looked directly at Yao and En'en.

So, their team worked through the night in shifts. Physicians and maids took turns monitoring Maomao’s condition and returning to their rooms to rest. Though, Yao didn’t think Chue left Maomao’s side once. Maomao’s mute servant girl Zulin, however, slinked in and out of the room bearing tea trays and notes that Maomao scribbled on and sent back...En’en, who was familiar with the Moon Prince’s household, prepared a light but invigorating meal to keep everyone’s strength up. The Moon Prince’s chief servant, Lady Suiren, seemed to be around every corner with fresh water, towels, and yet more snacks. She was never empty-handed, even when seeking a formal update on behalf of the Moon Prince, who had been sequestered in his own chambers. A familiar military officer, either Basen or Lihaku, was always posted in the hall outside. To keep him out of the way, it was silently understood. 

It was strange to suddenly not have the prince buzzing around Maomao's chamber as physicians checked her over. Almost as strange as it was to find him in that tizzy when they arrived at his palace. It was now more like their time in the Rear Palace, when the Moon Prince had been akin to a specter, around but not around. A rumor that made women swoon speculating upon. More than one maid Yao attended for a cold or workplace accidents openly hoped that his stay in the Rear Palace was their chance to rise through the ranks. Even some of the low-ranked concubines seemed to have an eye out for him all those months. But Yao only saw him once or twice by happenstance, walking around the Rear Palace. He had been quartered in the north but he never ventured near the clinic where the then medical court ladies made their temporary home. But he must have run into Maomao in other parts of the Rear Palace sometime, too. Otherwise, the medical team wouldn’t be in his palace that night. 

And it was a long night. 

Eventually the sky began to fade to a pale, grayish blue. It was light enough to make out the rain falling on the fresh garden sprouts outside Maomao’s window. It was then that Master Luomen declared the risks of allowing labor to progress further outweighed any reward. The team fully shifted toward preparing for surgery. 

“Yao,” Maomao’s hand darted out to squeeze Yao’s arm with the last of her strength before the anesthesia (specially chosen for her wicked constitution) took her under. Her voice was sleepy but urgent. “You and En’en read my instructions, right?” 

“Yes, Maomao, I’ve told you already.” 

Maomao squeezed hard. “Promise you’ll do it!” 

“Ow! Ow! I promise! I promise!” 

En’en still needed to help pry Yao free after Maomao was finally dropped into unconsciousness. 

After that point, the surgery proceeded more smoothly and quickly than Yao had envisioned. One after another, Master Luomen pulled a new baby royal -- Maomao’s child -- into the world.

The first girl was fortunately healthy and, per Maomao’s detailed instructions, this first healthy baby was whisked away by Lady Suiren to meet her father upon being cleaned. The second girl was slow to cry. En’en took her from Yao’s arms before her panic could take hold. Even so, her knees felt weak when En’en finally managed to pry a noise, however soft, from those small, bluish lips. But Yao had to remain standing, because then Master Luomen was gesturing for her to step closer and take his place. She helped bring forth the sole boy. Not quite as loud as his eldest sister but thankfully not half so quiet as the younger sister either. Past all the gore, Yao thought he looked chilled from having been yanked from his warm abode, and she couldn't contain the urge to hold him close. En'en made him cozy again in a blanket prepared by Chue soon enough. 

From there, it was all clean-up.

En’en took care of…other tasks, while Luomen showed Yao how to properly stitch the incisions. They used a topical medicine on the site that Maomao had pre-prepared, another one of her specific instructions. And of course, Yao and En’en dictated the parts of the surgery that they thought Maomao would find most interesting to the servant girl Zulin to write down. Maomao had wanted it done as soon as possible, with their observations and experiences still fresh in mind and the blood not quite dry on their robes. Zulin diligently kept her eyes on the page as she wrote. 

Maomao really does place a lot of faith in that girl, Yao observed in passing. Her responsibilities seemed to have grown since her stint serving Maomao in the Rear Palace. The girl was now well-versed in the business of cleaning of medical instruments and moving unconscious patients around. She was of great help to their team's efforts. 

Once everyone and everything was washed up, En’en forced Yao to take the first shift back in bed even over their venerated elder. Yao protested. But Master Luomen was determined to stay by his adoptive daughter’s bedside anyway. Blood-stained physician garb long confiscated by Lady Suiren, he looked like any other doting dad. 

When Yao returned later, well-rested and well-fed, Master Luomen was still seated in the same spot. This time, in the company of the Moon Prince and three newcomers to this life. Each man held a swaddled infant while the remainder was set next to Maomao on the bed.

Yao blushed a little at being caught peeking around the door frame. She bowed her head. "Begging your pardon, Your Highness." 

“We’re still waiting for her to awaken,” The Moon Prince explained. His voice was soft and honey-like. But he also sounded like he hadn’t slept at all. Perhaps like the honey was sticking to the back of his throat. 

"I see. Please excuse me then, Moon Prince. I'll check in later." Yao went to make herself scarce from the vulnerable family scene, but they did not wait long at all. Maomao slowly blinked to wakefulness right then. Her eyes moved from the bed canopy and first found the bundle placed directly next to her head. From that perspective, there was nothing else for Maomao to see except her baby. 

Yao’s heart caught in her throat, watching a glimmer of pride surrender to what Maomao thought she was seeing. Maomao’s fingertips brushed the baby’s rosy cheek. 

“I see…so only this one survived.” 

The Moon Prince turned as pale as his namesake. Whatever heinous noise Yao made summoned En’en into the room. They all clamored to show Maomao her other two beautiful, healthy (more or less) newborns and set her world to rights. All three infants were placed next to her on the bed -- where she could see them all -- and Maomao finally looked content. It rather reminded Yao of a mother cat lying down with her kittens.  

The palpable air of relief about the Moon Prince’s palace was the sweetest incense. Lady Suiren's humming as she went about her chores filled the halls. She only stopped once to scold Chue, who was hanging a comically large banner in the main sitting room. Zulin and the other maids were treated to a huge plate of sweets for their troubles throughout the night and early morning. Lihaku and Basen kept darting glances through Maomao's chamber door as it opened and closed, clearly after a glimpse of the babies.

Everything had gone about as well as could be hoped with such a high-stakes delivery, even with the premature start. Yes, the younger princess was a bit poorly, but her life was not in immediate danger for the moment, and her siblings were rather healthy. The elder girl was even close to an average birth weight. As it turned out, they hadn’t needed Maomao’s experimental technique at all. 

Yao and En’en had completely let their guard down by the time Maomao pounced. 

“So,” Maomao inquired casually after Lady Suiren had left her chambers with a tray of dirty dishware. To promote the replenishment of blood, Maomao had inhaled an abundance of meat for dinner, predominantly liver. “Where are they?”

Yao and En’en stopped and shared a look. Their eyes then drifted to the large, thoroughly occupied cradle directly next to Maomao’s bed. 

Maomao’s small, tired smile flipped right upside-down. “The placentas?” 

A wave of disgust crashed over Yao, recalling a subsection of the clean up -- another highly specific, most reiterated instruction -- that she must have mentally blocked out until that moment. 

En’en stepped forward as if shielding Yao from it. “I handled that task, Lady Maomao. I sealed them in a jar with ice as requested.” 

The way Maomao’s face lit up may well have surpassed her glow when meeting her children. “Please, bring it to me!” She demanded with girlish glee. 

En’en complied, retrieving the jar from its clandestine storage place in Maomao’s own lab. En’en insisted Yao need not linger for this but Yao could not turn away at this point. They watched together in dull horror as Maomao dug into the jar and brought its visceral contents into the dying light of day. They heard the impish noises she made at the sight of the first…which only grew more distasteful with the second -- and then offended upon her turning to the jar one more time and finding nothing else, save ice. 

“Pardon, but where’s the third?” 

“There is none, my lady…Don’t give me that look. I have no reason to withhold one from you. There were only ever two.” 

Maomao’s venom gave way to curiosity. “Interesting. If that’s the case, then it stands to reason that two of the fetuses shared one placenta while another had one all to themself,” she pondered aloud. 

Yao’s eyes widened. It made perfect sense. “That’s right! I wonder why, though. Could it be that the girls shared while the boy had his own?” In a sense, it was disturbingly reflective of society outside the womb. 

“Possibly,” Maomao conceded. “But that doesn’t necessarily explain why they share at all. In the case of twins, it’s already been documented that most are born with two placentas but not always. This seems to apply even to same-sex pairs. Could it then be a way for the body to allocate resources equally or even to favor one fetus over another? It would be interesting to learn if there were ever triplets born with three placentas or just one. And if so, if the fetuses were all the same sex or a mixed set.” It was an interesting, worthwhile discussion up until Maomao let out a menacing little giggle. “Fortunately my set furnished at least two intact placentas for my experiments. I’ll start by observing any difference in quality between the organs. En’en! Could you please -- eh? What’s with those faces? I warned you what I wanted to do with them.” If mailing them pages of instructions days prior to delivery really counted as a fair warning. 

Yao regarded Maomao with something akin to betrayal. 

“Maomao, did you…?” Yao couldn’t even voice the accusation. 

“What did I do?” Maomao asked, growing impatient. 

Yao continued to stare at Maomao as if making sense of an optical illusion, at long last.

The timing of everything with the Moon Prince  had felt rather sudden and suspicious. Yao had even been briefly convinced her friend and colleague had been drafted into a political arrangement against her will. But then it turned out Maomao had entered the Moon Prince’s palace already bearing his child, so it seemed like a hasty bandage over a political scandal caused by reckless lovers. But that sounded even less like Maomao! En’en had surmised that Maomao must have hidden advantages from the arrangement. But why bear a child so quickly? That could never be explained by anything but love. Love even made that girl Zulin's odd errands around the Rear Palace on Maomao's behalf make more sense. The La Clan could have pushed Maomao through as a consort easily enough without entrapping the imperial family in scandal. Lahan had practically thrown Maomao over the Moon Prince's palace walls in his eagerness to get his adoptive-sister inside once arrangements were officially in the works. So, it had to be love! 

But Yao was suddenly struck with the sneaking suspicion that, in addition to affection for the Moon Prince, Maomao had been motivated by her pursuit of rare medicinal ingredients. And furthermore, that Maomao had used her esoteric medical knowledge to somehow induce herself to carry multiple children, just so she could harvest extra placentas.