Chapter 26: Xiao Chunyu Gives Birth

The Wu residence in the capital was a scene of chaotic activity, with maids and matrons rushing back and forth in a flurry.

"Quick, go find the Second Young Master and bring him back! The Second Young Mistress has gone into labor!"

"What good will calling the Second Young Master do? Go find a physician and fetch a midwife!"

"But isn't the Second Young Mistress not due until around the Dragon Boat Festival? Why has she gone into labor now?"

"It’s all because of that wretched girl, Xiao Lan. She climbed into the Second Young Master's bed last night. When the Second Young Mistress woke up this morning and heard the news, she was so furious she started complaining of stomach pains. She's been in pain for most of the day now..."

"The Second Sister-in-law is really something," Wu Fangfang said, her voice carrying clearly. "It’s perfectly normal for a man to have concubines. How can she be so jealous? Does she still think she’s the young lady of the Xiao family? She should look at her own situation now; why is she still trying to control the Second Brother so tightly?"

"Fourth Young Lady, please, say no more." Even Matron Ma couldn't stand to listen any longer. "It is not for us servants to meddle in the affairs of our masters, but as a woman myself, I must say that the Second Young Master did not handle this matter correctly."

"Matron Ma, what do you mean by that?"

"Fourth Young Lady, you are not yet married. You will understand when you are."

Why must women make things difficult for other women? If the Second Young Master had simply enjoyed himself with that hussy Xiao Lan and left her as a bed warmer, it would have been one thing. But he had insisted on bringing her before the Second Young Mistress to serve tea, demanding she be recognized as a concubine.

At the time, the Second Young Mistress had been stunned and indignant. Her face flushed with anger, she refused to drink the tea, citing that she was doing it for the Second Young Master’s sake—after all, he was still in the mourning period for his mother, and taking a concubine would ruin his reputation. She hadn't drunk the tea, but she had given Xiao Lan a silver bracelet as a reward.

Yet, Xiao Lan, disgruntled at not officially becoming a concubine and emboldened by the Second Young Master’s new favor, had acted with the arrogance of a small-minded person. After thanking the Second Young Mistress for the gift, she added, "They say the Xiao estate was confiscated—it seems it was true. No wonder the Second Young Mistress couldn't bring out anything of value. Did you perhaps use all the good things to bail out your maiden family?"

Already heavily pregnant and grieving the disaster that had befallen her family, Xiao Chunyu was deeply wounded by the taunts of a lowly concubine. Being a gentle soul, she could not bring herself to curse back. She could only tremble with rage, her stomach tightening in agony, until she collapsed in pain.

Her maid, Molan, had helped her into the inner chamber, but after resting for half an hour, she felt no relief. At a loss, Molan had run to find Matron Ma, who then arranged for the physician and midwife to be summoned.

To make matters worse, the Lady of the house had returned to her maiden home, and the Eldest Young Mistress had gone to the Han residence for a cousin’s wedding. In the vast Wu household, the one in charge was the oblivious Fourth Young Lady. Hearing her blame the Second Young Mistress, Matron Ma wished she could stuff a rag into her mouth.

*Wait until your own husband takes a concubine while you are in labor,* she thought, *then you will know how much it burns when the fire reaches your own feet.*

"When I marry, I won't be like her," the Fourth Young Lady continued, unfazed. "The Xiao family has been confiscated and exiled; it’s already a blessing that my Second Brother hasn't divorced her."

"Fourth Young Lady, you should return to your courtyard and rest." Matron Ma’s face was livid. Though she was a long-serving member of the household, she stood by what was right, not by her own kin.

Truth be told, in what way was the Second Young Mistress unworthy of the Second Young Master?

Years ago, it was the Wu family who had eagerly begged for the marriage. When the previous mistress was nearing death, the Wu family had insisted on an early wedding out of fear that the Second Young Master’s prospects would be delayed. The Xiao family had not made things difficult for them and had readily agreed.

Physician Xiao was a man of impeccable character and brilliant medical skills; in the capital, many noble families held the Xiao family in awe. The Fourth Young Lady, however, was clearly adept at kicking someone when they were down.

"Rest, then! Who wants to watch her give birth? Don't come looking for me if anything happens." Wu Fang turned and walked away.

Matron Ma wished she could spit at her back. How could a person be so heartless? She still remembered when the Second Young Mistress first entered the Wu family; the Fourth Young Lady had been all smiles, calling her "Second Sister-in-law" at every turn. The Second Young Mistress had even gifted her many skincare creams from her maiden home... In the end, the Second Young Mistress’s sincerity had been fed to the dogs.

Inside the room, Xiao Chunyu had heard every word of Wu Fang’s remarks. She bit her lip until it bled, tears streaming down her face.

"Mistress, please don't cry," Molan said, her own face streaked with tears. "Mistress, I have heard that when giving birth, one must conserve one's energy so that you have the strength when it is time to deliver."

"That's right, you must eat something. Jianlan, go to the kitchen and boil some eggs for the Mistress. She must be full to have the strength to bring the young master into the world."

"Yes, I’m going right now."

Jianlan was also a maid who had accompanied her from her maiden home. Their parents both worked for the Xiao family, and when the women of the Xiao family had returned to Shu, they had returned the servants' contracts to them. They would never forget this kindness and had vowed to serve their mistress well.

Molan wiped the sweat from Xiao Chunyu’s forehead while trying to comfort her, occasionally running out to see if the physician and midwife had arrived.

"Physician Zhang is here," Matron Ma reported. "Midwife Jiang from the east end of the city was not at home, so I sent someone to the west end for Midwife Zhang. She should be here soon."

"Where is the Second Young Master?" Molan still hoped he would be by her side; after all, her mistress was his legally wedded wife.

"Someone saw the Second Young Master go to the academy. The Fourth Young Lady gave orders that he is not to be disturbed while he is studying."

When the servant reported this, Matron Ma gritted her teeth in fury. Wu Fang was truly a person who caused more trouble than she solved. What did she mean by "not to be disturbed"? She hoped that when she herself was in labor one day, her own husband would not be "disturbed"!

Upon hearing that her husband had not returned, Xiao Chunyu’s tears fell once more. Her heart had died the moment he brought that woman to serve tea this morning.

All the talk of a loving couple, of harmony and bliss, was nothing but self-deception. He had promised never to take a concubine, yet barely a year into their marriage, he had done exactly that. What was more laughable was that he had chosen to dally with a servant girl during his own mother’s mourning period. She couldn't even reprimand him; he had truly climbed all over her.

At this moment, Xiao Chunyu felt nothing but regret.

When the Wu family had first come to propose, her grandfather had said he wanted to consider it. But then, she had encountered the Second Young Master at the Pearl and Jade Pavilion, and he had treated her with such special attention that she had been completely swayed. When her grandfather had warned her that the Wu family was complicated and not a good home, she had already been blinded by his appearance. In the end, she had gotten her wish and married the man she had fallen for at first sight.

She had always believed that the Second Young Master was the exception in the Wu family—that he loved her deeply. Who would have thought that the moment her grandfather met with misfortune, he would show his true colors?

As she wept, Xiao Chunyu missed her family dearly.

"Mistress, the eggs are here. Please, have some." Like Molan, when no one else was around, they still habitually called her "Mistress."

"I can't eat." Xiao Chunyu groaned in pain.

"Mistress, you must eat, even if you can't," Molan urged. "My mother said that giving birth takes a lot of energy. You must be full to have the strength to deliver."

Xiao Chunyu pursed her lips.

"Mistress, for yourself, for the Xiao family, and for the little master to come, you must eat."

"Alright... I will eat."