AN: This story came about after I decided to Google search for Chinese birthing traditions. The idea of Xing'er actually being able to handle many of the customs had me cackling because I just knew that she'd completely disregard most of these traditions and that some people would be bothered by that. I tried to figure out whether Yuwen Yue, as a man of his time, would insist on her abiding by these traditions, but I decided to come down on the side of established characterization rather than cultural customs. I allowed Yuwen Yue himself to defend his position (and his Xing'er, of course). I should probably add a disclaimer that I'm an American who's largely ignorant of such traditions, and that I am, of course, interpreting them through a 21st century lens.
Yuwen Yue loved his grandfather and did the best that he could to maintain a good relationship with him. He'd tried his hardest to make Green Hills a place where his grandfather felt at home, but the truth was that his marriage to Xing'er had changed things to a degree that his grandfather simply wasn't comfortable with. Yuwen Yue knew that his grandfather didn't like Xing'er and was always waiting for her to betray him just as the maid he'd fallen in love with all those years ago had done to him.
So his grandfather kept to the shadows, preferring to spend his time either in his own rooms or the secret spy lair of the Eyes of God. He knew that Xing'er had no real love for his grandfather, but he recognized that his normally outspoken wife always did her best to be polite to his grandfather even when he was somewhat rude to her. Yuwen Yue had, of course, properly thanked his wife the first time she'd managed to hold her tongue around his grandfather.
One of the things that bothered his grandfather most about Xing'er was her almost complete disregard for tradition and rules. Yuwen Yue knew that his wife assigned little value to superstitions and customs that didn't make any sense to her. In fact, she'd discarded most of the pregnancy tips that the various physicians and midwives had given her since most of them involved sitting around, being peaceful and tranquil, and not doing much of anything.
The final straw had come yesterday when one of the midwives had told Xing'er that her rebellious ways would transfer to her child if she didn't take up more relaxing habits so close to delivery. Her reply had been both loud and descriptive, and his parrot had gleefully repeated some of her choicest phrases at random intervals for the rest of the day. Of course, his parrot had also enthusiastically repeated some of what she'd had to say to a doctor who had suggested that she sleep separately from her husband during her entire pregnancy. To Yuwen Yue's pleasure and relief, said doctor's advice had not been heeded.
His mouth twitched slightly as he walked towards the secret door that would take him to where his grandfather was waiting for him. He had a feeling that this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation, and he put his mask firmly in place before he triggered the secret mechanism.
Years of training from his grandfather allowed him to keep all of his thoughts behind his mask as he walked into the chamber and greeted his grandfather with his typical affectionate courtesy. As they exchanged pleasantries, Yuwen Yue tried to hold onto the irrational idea that he might be able to soon escape the chamber without getting into yet another argument about Xing'er with his grandfather.
"So has your Cangwu parrot stopped quoting Xing'er yet?"
Yuwen Yue mentally sighed and let that sliver of hope go.
"He's been a perfect gentleman all day."
"Does that mean that Xing'er has actually been a lady for once?"
"Xing'er is doing well. Thank you for asking."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
"What would you have me say that I haven't said to you already?"
"I told you that she would make an unsuitable mother for your children."
"She's the only woman I've ever considered making the mother of my children."
"I heard Yan Xun felt the same way about her."
"Did you also hear about the way Yan Xun died?"
"How do you know she didn't do anything with Yan Xun beforehand?"
"Do I really have to give you the talk?"
"I just insulted your woman and you're not even angry? Are you sure you're even a man?"
"My wife's current condition should answer your second question, and as for the first question, once again, what would you have me say that I haven't said to you already?"
"I would have you tell me why you're not insisting that Xing'er observe the same traditions and customs that our women have been observing forever."
"Why would I do that?"
"For the good of your unborn child!"
"What evidence do you have that the things that Xinger's been doing during her pregnancy have negatively affected our child?"
"It's common knowledge that if women don't do certain things during pregnancy—or if they do certain things—that the child will suffer later in life."
"So what did your mother do to make Yuwen Xi turn out the way that he did?"
His grandfather reeled back as if slapped.
"How dare you!"
"Well, you have been insulting my wife during this entire conversation and you did question whether or not I was a man. I'm just being a real man and asking a tough question. If these techniques are so effective, then why did so many of the people that we know turn out to be so bad? Did their mothers not read enough poetry while pregnant? Did they eat the wrong food? Drink the wrong drink? Get too angry at someone?"
"Our traditions are the bedrock of our society!"
"And look at where they've gotten us. No, I have no intention whatsoever of forcing Xing'er to observe traditions that cut so strongly against the grain of who she is. I won't make my wife suffer on the off-chance that something she does during pregnancy might be able to have a greater effect on our child's life than our actual guidance of the child later."
"Those traditions are in place to help the wife as much as the child. Do you really have so little regard for Xing'er's health?"
"Nothing matters more to me than Xing'er's well-being, Grandfather. Nothing. As long as I've known her, I've done my best to equip her to survive in this world. When I was at the front, I spent some time in small villages and learned more about life than could be found here at Green Hills. I heard women giving birth, heard stories from others, and heard the sobs of men who'd lost their wives in childbirth. When I learned that Xing'er was pregnant, I vowed that I'd do everything I could to help her stay strong and happy. So I kept training her, kept loving her, kept freeing her. I don't regret a bit of it."
"So you know better than generations of conventional wisdom?"
"The results speak for themselves, do they not? I've never seen Xing'er look more radiant or beautiful. She's clearly healthy, strong, and as ready to bring a new life into the world as she can be. For all that childbirth is often presented as a beautiful and natural process, I know the truth: My wife is going into battle, and I stand by my decision to do my best to equip her for war."
His grandfather snorted in derision.
"Next you'll be saying something ridiculous like that you'll actually be present when she gives birth."
"Of course I will," Yuwen Yue said without missing a beat.
"What?!"
Yuwen Yue calmly reflected that he'd never seen his grandfather turn that particular shade of purple before.
"Xing'er has no female relatives who are able to be here for her at this time. They're all either dead or incapable of being here, so I'm all she has. She wants me to be there for her; I want to be there for her. Nothing else matters to me. Nothing else ever has."
"But it's just not done."
"Why not?"
"What do you mean 'Why not?'"
"I mean...why not? Why is it never done? I can understand the general desire for women to have female companionship over male companionship at such a time, but my wife doesn't have that option and has already told me that she wants me to be there. I can understand that some men might be scared of or disgusted by the birthing process, but I've already seen far worse and would just be anxious the whole time anyway if I were somewhere else. Some men might not want to face the possibility of losing their wives, but I...we've already faced death, she and I, and I can do no less for her than she's willing to do for me."
His grandfather sighed in resignation.
"So I take it she won't be sitting the month?"
Yuwen Yue's lips twitched again.
"I'll be lucky if I can get her to sit a week—or even a day."
"Unruly, rebellious, selfish, reckless-"
"Resilient, capable, beautiful, strong."
His grandfather sat sullenly silent.
"Xing'er values freedom and the ability to protect the ones she loves most of all; I won't ask her to give up either. If she wants to rest in isolation for a month—or even a year—after giving birth, then she can. But given how quickly she's recovered from far worse traumas, I wouldn't hold your breath. And no, I won't insist that she stay isolated from our child, either. Denying our love for each other did far more harm than good; I don't see the value of denying our love for our child."
"Speaking of denying your love for one another..." his grandfather said smugly.
"Yes, I know," Yuwen Yue said calmly. "That's one thing the doctors were emphatic about, and Xing'er and I agree that it makes sense."
"If you'd have married another woman-"
"Then I'd still be spending my nights at Xing'er's side helping her through this time."
"Will you really be able to stand it? Many men could not."
Yuwen Yue was silent for a couple of moments.
"I waited for her to return my love for so long with little hope that she ever would; what's a matter of weeks in comparison? To have Xing'er in my bed, even just to hold, is not something I could ever regret. Besides, she's the one who's carried our child inside of her for 9 months and will soon bring it into the world through a long and painful process. The least I can do is to handle a few weeks of self-denial."
His grandfather shook his head but ultimately allowed a small smile to briefly shape his lips.
"I can't say that I understand you, Yue'er, but I do honestly wish you and Xing'er good fortune."
"Thank you, grandfather," Yuwen Yue said, clasping his hands and bowing. "I will leave first."
He walked back through the rotating door and was instantly greeted with the sound of his wife complaining about something or other. Not that he could blame her; were he within a week of giving birth, he'd probably be complaining, too. He also knew that she was upset that her beloved Xiuli armor no longer fit and that she had to wear the maternity robes he'd had made for her.
She heard him approaching and turned around, stopping mid-rant and smiling at him. He smiled back and led her over to their bed, getting into it first and leaning back in invitation. Without a word, she got into the bed and settled between his legs, leaning back against him gratefully and closing her eyes. He wound his arms around her middle, rested his head on top of hers, and closed his own eyes, reflecting that he couldn't imagine how life could possibly get any better.