Chapter 108: A Triple Celebration (Part III)

It is said that ten months of pregnancy culminate in a single day of labor.

Calculating the time, the event was due within this month. However, a series of recent variables had caused much upheaval. Cao Ji had successfully leaped through the dragon gate, transforming from a common craftsman into a supervisor with a rank equivalent to six hundred shi. This dramatic shift left the entire family dazed. Subsequently, both Cao Peng and Deng Ji were preoccupied with finding a new house and settling in, inadvertently neglecting this major event.

The journey from Longshan to Xudu was not particularly long, but the constant jolting of the carriage left Cao Nan unable to stand the moment she stepped down.

Wang Mai and Deng Fan carried Cao Nan toward the residence, but as soon as they reached the steps, Cao Nan cried out in sharp, piercing pain.

Dong Xiao, who had arrived from behind, witnessed the situation and shouted, "Don't move her! Quickly, put her down, put her down!"

The problem was that the stone steps were freezing cold, and there was not even a cushion to be found.

Cao Peng ran to Cao Nan’s side and pointed toward the gatehouse behind the main entrance, saying, "Get her into the room first, get her inside! Quickly, go find a midwife!"

But in such a short time, where could they find a midwife?

Dong Xiao said, "It looks like there’s no time! Aunt Hong, Madam, please come and help. We must stabilize the situation first."

"Yes, yes, let Nan lie down first."

The group scrambled to help, some rushing to boil water, others fetching bedding.

The gatehouse was small, but it would have to serve as a makeshift delivery room. A simple wooden bed was covered with a thick layer of mugwort. In the Central Plains, mugwort was believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits. When moving into a new home, people liked to place mugwort in every room to drive away lingering malevolent energies. The gatehouse happened to have a large pile of it. Someone fetched a mattress from the carriage, laid it over the mugwort, and helped Cao Nan lie down.

Cao Nan continued to moan in pain, and Dong Xiao felt helpless. The reason was simple: he was a man. In this era, men did not handle childbirth; it was a task almost exclusively for female midwives. Yet, the midwife had not arrived.

Dong Xiao could only try to soothe Cao Nan’s pain while constantly urging them on. Fortunately, Lady Zhang and Aunt Hong had both given birth before and possessed some experience. They could not bring themselves to chase Dong Xiao out, as they needed his medical expertise to stabilize Cao Nan’s condition. Cao Nan groaned incessantly, and Lady Zhang was at her wit's end. Cao Peng wanted to help, but was repeatedly pushed away by Lady Zhang and Aunt Hong.

"Your sister is giving birth; what are you doing here? Go out and see if the midwife has arrived!"

"Mother, the midwife will come, but I can help here too..." Hearing his sister’s cries, Cao Peng lost his composure. After all, she was his sister in this world. Although they hadn't shared much emotional intimacy, the same blood flowed through their veins. He wanted to help but didn't know how.

"This is women's business; what can a man do?"

"A-Fu, go out... you will bring bad luck by staying here."

Cao Nan, enduring the pain, also urged him to leave. Before she could finish, she let out another scream.

As Cao Peng walked out, scratching his head, he tripped over the mugwort piled at the door. A sudden thought struck him.

"Master Dong, use moxibustion!"

"What?"

"Use moxibustion!"

Mugwort had been recorded as early as the works of Mencius: "For a seven-year illness, seek three-year-old mugwort." However, its true medicinal applications were not detailed until the Ming Dynasty in Li Shizhen’s *Compendium of Materia Medica*. Mugwort leaves were warm, bitter, non-toxic, and possessed a pure yang nature. They could traverse the twelve meridians, restore yang, regulate qi and blood, dispel cold and dampness, and stop bleeding to secure a pregnancy. Hence, it was known as the "medicinal herb." It was recorded that mugwort could warm the uterus and dispel cold.

Cao Peng had not read the *Compendium*, nor did he fully understand the herb's specific effects. But as a child, he had often seen his father use moxibustion. Once, during a mission in a mountain village, he had seen a woman about to give birth before the doctor arrived. The village elders used moxibustion to stabilize her until the doctor arrived, and both mother and child survived. Could it be that mugwort had an effect on stabilizing a pregnancy?

Dong Xiao turned back, stunned and unsure of what to do. His medical skills were solid, but he lacked experience and adaptability. *Moxibustion? Would it work?*

Cao Peng had already been pushed out of the gatehouse. He stood outside and shouted, "Master Dong, use moxibustion, moxibustion!"

"How do I use it?"

Cao Peng closed his eyes, straining to recall the technique he had seen in his previous life, and shouted the instructions.

Dong Xiao hesitated, looking at Lady Zhang and Aunt Hong. He rose, pulled mugwort leaves from the pile, and quickly rolled them into sticks. "Two madams, should we... give it a try?"

"Let's try it."

At this point, Lady Zhang was desperate enough to try anything. Moreover, she agreed because Cao Peng had spent a year studying under a hermit; who knew what he had learned? Over that year, he had brought them many surprises. Perhaps this method really would work.

Dong Xiao lit the mugwort sticks and applied them to the acupoints Cao Peng had described. Cao Peng couldn't explain the theory, only the rough locations. But that was enough; once a principle is understood, everything else falls into place. Dong Xiao was, after all, a disciple of Zhang Zhongjing; he knew exactly which points had which functions.

Outside the gatehouse, Deng Ji looked pale. "Nan, hold on!" he murmured, anxiety etched on his face.

The others gathered at the gate. Cao Ji and Wang Meng paced back and forth, peering into the gatehouse. Guo Yong stood to the side, unsure of how to offer comfort. He hadn't been with the Cao family long and felt out of place. Besides, he truly didn't know what to do when it came to childbirth.

"Why hasn't the midwife come yet?"

"It’s over a mile from the western village; it takes time."

"How could I forget this? Last month, your sister-in-law accompanied Nan to see the doctor. Master Xiao at the Huichun Clinic warned it would be these past few days! We were so busy moving that I completely forgot. If I had known, we should have waited until after the birth to move." Cao Ji blamed himself, and Wang Meng could only offer quiet consolation.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached. Wang Mai jumped off his horse, helped a plump midwife down, and practically dragged her toward the house.

"The midwife is here! The midwife is here!"

The plump woman was panting, her face drained of color. She had been at home when Wang Mai burst in, dragged her away without a word, and galloped at breakneck speed.

"You young man, you didn't even say what was happening! Childbirth requires calming medicine and many preparations. You just dragged me here—I need an assistant!"

The midwife grumbled as she entered the gatehouse.

Soon after, Dong Xiao emerged, his face flushed, and let out a long sigh.

"Master Dong, how is Nan...?"

"Don't worry, Uncle Sun. The Madam is doing well. The midwife is inside with the two ladies; there will be no trouble." Dong Xiao looked at Cao Peng. "A-Fu, how did you know mugwort had such an effect?"

"This..." Cao Peng’s eyes darted around. "I saw it in a book."

"What book? May I borrow it?"

"It’s... I don't mean to be stingy, but I saw it when I was in Jiyang. Later, as you know, my parents were arrested, and we lost many things. We were fleeing for our lives and couldn't carry it with us. I don't know where it ended up."

"Then do you remember the title?"

"The Classic of a Hundred Herbs!" Cao Peng blurted out.

Dong Xiao frowned, puzzled, trying to recall who might have written such a book, but he couldn't place it. A pity! He sighed inwardly and turned to look at the gatehouse.

"It hurts so much..." Cao Nan’s agonizing scream echoed from within.

"Nan, hold on!" Deng Ji could no longer contain himself, clenching his fists and shouting.

Cao Peng leaned in and yelled, "Sister, breathe! Exhale through your mouth! Brother-in-law, what are you doing?"

Cao Peng had told Cao Nan to breathe, but Deng Ji had started hyperventilating beside him. "Hoo, hoo, hoo... Nan, breathe!" Deng Ji stood in a wide stance, fists clenched, his face turning a deep red as if he were the one giving birth.

Cao Peng watched, finding it both funny and heartening. His brother-in-law was a sincere and passionate man—not in a promiscuous way, but in his deep love for his wife. Seeing Deng Ji, Cao Peng stepped over and supported his arm. "Brother-in-law, don't be nervous. Mother and Aunt Hong are inside, and the midwife is there. It will be fine."

Dong Xiao also comforted him. "Uncle Sun, don't worry. The Madam is in good health; there won't be an accident."

The entrance was in total chaos. Just then, a horse arrived at the Cao residence. Guo Jia dismounted, looking at the mess in front of the gate with astonishment. When he climbed the steps and saw Deng Ji standing in a wide stance, clenching his fists and breathing hard, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Uncle Sun, what is this?"

Deng Ji turned, stood straight, and said awkwardly, "Fengxiao, you're here! Nan is giving birth; I'm a bit worried."

"The sister-in-law is giving birth?"

"Yes!" Deng Ji said with self-reproach. "I was so focused on this house that I forgot... If I had known, I wouldn't have been in such a rush to move. It would have been better to stay at the fortress until she had safely delivered."

Cao Ji sighed. "Uncle Sun, you cannot blame yourself for this!"

"Aah..." Another scream came from the gatehouse. Deng Ji ignored Guo Jia and rushed to the entrance. "Nan, breathe, breathe... hoo, hoo, follow me, breathe!"

Guo Jia scratched his head, watching Deng Ji with amusement. He didn't disturb him, instead standing to the side and observing the chaos. Suddenly, he saw Cao Peng and smiled. "A-Fu, you're here too."

"Master Fengxiao."

"Hey, don't 'Master' me. I'm older than you and have a bond with your brother-in-law. Just call me 'Elder Brother' or use my name."

"Then, I shall call you Elder Brother."

If this had happened earlier, Cao Peng would have been thrilled, as he greatly admired Guo Jia. But now, he was too anxious to be excited, though he remained polite.

"Elder Brother, have you had a physical checkup recently?"

Guo Jia was stunned. "I'm perfectly fine, why would I need a checkup?"

In history, it was said that Guo Jia died from overwork during the campaign against Liucheng. But the exact cause was unclear. To Cao Peng, Guo Jia’s illness and death seemed suspiciously sudden.

"Elder Brother, you can't say that. As the saying goes, 'Caution is the parent of safety.' Your body is the capital for serving the nation. Lord Cao values you so much; you should cherish your health." Cao Peng almost said "the revolution is the capital," but corrected himself just in time.

"It just so happens that Master Dong is here. Why not let him take a look later?"

Guo Jia frowned, not understanding why Cao Peng was so insistent. He looked toward Dong Xiao, who immediately bowed. Although Dong Xiao did not serve in the court, he knew of Guo Jia's reputation. Among Cao Cao’s strategists, Xun Yu and Guo Jia were his right and left arms. Dong Xiao had been waiting for a chance to establish himself in Xudu, and this seemed like a golden opportunity.

Guo Jia looked at Dong Xiao with curiosity.

"Elder Brother, don't underestimate Master Dong," Cao Peng added. "He is the closed-door disciple of Master Zhang Ji, Zhang Zhongjing of Nieyang."

Guo Jia was startled. "The Prefect Zhang from Changsha?"

"Indeed!" Cao Peng knew he had piqued Guo Jia's interest.

"Actually, my health is not bad..." Guo Jia hesitated, then said softly, "But since he is a disciple of Prefect Zhang, a checkup wouldn't hurt."

After all, Zhang Ji’s reputation was too great. Cao Cao had wanted to recruit him, but Zhang’s home was in Nieyang, Liu Biao’s territory, and he had a large family, making a move difficult.

"Master Guo!" Cao Peng called out to Guo Yong, who was directing Zhou Cang and others in moving furniture. Cao Nan was in labor, but the house still had to be organized. In this, Guo Yong showed his dedication—he couldn't help with the delivery, but he knew exactly what needed to be done while everyone else was panicked. This was a true talent.

"Please find a quiet room for my Elder Brother and Master Dong," Cao Peng requested.

"Uh... there is no hurry. Let's wait until the situation with Uncle Sun is settled," Guo Jia interjected.

Cao Peng nodded. After all, his sister’s safety was the top priority.

"A-Fu!" Dong Xiao walked over, lowering his voice. "The condition of the Military Advisor Guo seems somewhat poor."

"How so?"

"I observed him just now. He looks energetic, but his lips are slightly blue and dry. His gaze is intense but unfocused... I suspect he may be taking 'Five-Stone Powder.' When he spoke, there was a strange, fishy aroma. His tongue coating is whitish—these are all symptoms of Five-Stone Powder usage."

*Five-Stone Powder?* Cao Peng didn't know much about it, as it wasn't mentioned in *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, but Dong Xiao’s tone made it sound serious.

"Master Dong, what is that?"

Dong Xiao hesitated. "Actually, my master created it. Back in Changsha, he developed it for typhoid patients. It is a dry, hot medicine. But it is not good for the body if taken too much, and it becomes addictive."

*Guo Jia... a drug addict?* Cao Peng frowned.

"Can it be treated?"

"If he hasn't been using it long, he can recover with proper care. The key is to stop immediately. I need to diagnose him more carefully."

Cao Peng nodded, but before he could speak, a baby’s cry rang out from the gatehouse. It was loud and clear.

"It's born! It's born!" Deng Ji was ecstatic, and Cao Ji and Wang Meng were equally thrilled.

"A-Fu, we have a little nephew!" Wang Mai and Deng Fan cheered.

Even Guo Jia couldn't help but smile at the scene of pure joy.

"Congratulations, son-in-law!" Guo Yong stepped forward to offer his respects.

Deng Ji was grinning like a fool. A moment later, the midwife emerged carrying a bundle. "Congratulations, sir, it's a boy!"

Deng Ji, a new father, was nearly overwhelmed with joy. He took the infant from the midwife and kept smiling blankly.

"How is Nan?" Cao Ji asked, rushing forward.

Deng Ji finally came to his senses, looking at the midwife nervously.

"Mother and child are safe. The young mistress is exhausted, but with rest, she will be fine."

Cao Peng leaned in to look at the baby. "Father, he looks so ugly!"

Cao Ji retorted, "You were even uglier when you were born."

Deng Ji glared at Cao Peng, cradled the baby, and walked into the gatehouse. The others followed.

Inside, the room was warm from the stove. Cao Peng asked, "Brother-in-law, have you thought of a name for my little nephew?"

"Ah..." Deng Ji slapped his forehead, annoyed. "I forgot..."

Guo Jia walked over with a smile. "Uncle Sun, it's not too late to name him now."

"Yes, give the child a name," Cao Ji agreed.

Deng Ji paced the room. A moment later, he picked up a mugwort leaf and sat beside Cao Nan. "The poem says: 'Gathering mugwort, not seeing each other for a day is like three years.' Nan, just now, though we were only separated by a curtain, it felt like a thousand miles... And thanks to A-Fu's idea to use it to soothe your pain, why not call him 'Ai' (Mugwort)?"

Cao Nan blushed, tears welling in her eyes. "Yes, let's call him Deng Ai!"

Cao Peng, who had been moved by Deng Ji's words, felt like he had been struck by lightning.

*Deng Ai? My nephew is Deng Ai?*

This time, Cao Peng was truly stunned.