I never seen someone showing signs of pregnancy in my entire life.
So it came as a great surprise to watch Pei Ling swell bigger and bigger. I knew how it worked, but from what I can remember it makes you gain more weight and puts more strain on your feet as my mom mentioned whenever I asked.
Pei Ling can't go anywhere anymore, she is unable to walk and move around herself very much unless to bother herself with going to the bathroom.
The consorts grew more frustrated with her and refused to serve her.
At this point, I too was getting annoyed. It was time I acted on it.
"This is some lovely rice Wenrou." I state eating some of my non-drugged rice.
At dinner, the doctor recomended I drug Pei Ling's rice with cannabis. This way she wouldn't be lucid enough to interupt a delicate surgery.
"What's the green spices in my rice?" She asks.
Wenrou answers.
"The doctor said it would be good for you."
"Oh,"
That's right, I planned ahead and talked it out with the doctor on fixing her feet. She will be just as normal as Hua Li and Wenrou. No more going on about how she is superior compared to the rest of the women's feet in the house.
As long as she is numb the reseting should go steady.
She eats the rice without any other suspicion and then she begins to start showing visual expression of tiredness.
"All of a sudden I feel sleepy. Must have to do with being pregnant."
She finally excused herself from the room to rest.
A knock comes from the door.
"I should let them in." I say standing up.
"Hello, Gao gonzu. The patient is in her room?"
I nod.
"I only used a small amount. So we should hurry." I tell him.
---------
Once inside Lady Pei's room we get to the bindings and pull them off.
"You sure you wish to pull them off? Small feet are all the rage with noble women." The doctor says.
"Fads are temporary, her bodily functions are forever. Being able to walk and run is very important and should be important to her as well.
"Very well, young lord. I will do my best to reset them."
"That you should."
The first crack was loud and resounding. giving the sense of tingles down the back. By the second foot getting ready to be unbroken, Pei Ling woke up.
"Huh!"
Thanks to her lucid state she acted as if she was swimming through murky water. Her movement slowed and her reactions twitching. The operation could continue once again without another dose of drug.
She started panicking as the doctor prepared the next foot. I restrain her so that the work can be finished.
"Calm down!" I shout as her arms start to gain sense. It was however too late a warning as she knocks herself out with a surprising amount of force.
The night ended with the doctor giving me instructions on how to keep her feet protected and aid in the healing process by smoothing an oil over her feet.
__
"She is to stay off her feet for 17 weeks since the damage was so severe. Other than that, she and the baby are healthy. That is one strong woman."
"Yeah, I know." I smile.
__
When Pei Ling wakes up she looks down at her feet which already have rapidly healed to 10 cm in length thanks to the doctor.
He may be the same age as Hua Li, but he is proficient in knowlege and skill like his father trained him to, as upsetting as it was that his father couldn't come like usual, it was great enough that someone did try.
The handiwork is flawless and the stitching unoticable.
"What are you doing?" I ask as she sits up.
She looks down at her feet are unfurled to 20 cm finally becoming closer to normal as the blood rushes back to her toes that she once used to walk on. She looks scared for a second and finally acknowleges my presence.
Covering her feet is a gauze wrapping only over the top and bottom to hold the bones that have been reset so that they can grow back and fuse how they are supposed to.
The growing process will leave Pei Ling with jelly feet, but it is fine. It is worth it to have her walking normally for once in her life.
"You took them off." She growls glaring at me.
"Four months of healing. You should be thankful to the doctor. Mr. Shen worked for hours." I say.
"The doctor said you should keep off your feet. Many of the blood vessels in your toes were cut off, he was almost unable to save them. Now you will be able to hold your son without pain and keep up with him."
"But..."
"You are also no longer in the palace. It makes no sense to live the way you had. Your nobility is now representing of mine. Your noble birth will not be erased. But, how you live will. Adapt."
"You can't do this!" She screams.
"I am putting my foot down. You will help with cooking and housework with Wenrou, maybe even fieldwork with me and Hua Li if you are up for the challenge. Whatever it is you will be helping out."
I leave the room and shut the door.
I have to take in a large gasp of air. I did that. And I don't feel scared for my life. Warranted, she is unable to move.
"I talked back to her." I say catching my breath.
Leaning up against the door I breathe out a sound of relief. "I didn't know I had it in me."