FID – Chapter 661

Chapter 661: Xiao Maodou

There was no response from within the hall—only the sound of the wooden fish resuming its steady rhythm.

Qin Xiao never did push open the door. After standing outside for a moment longer, he finally turned and slowly walked away.

Inside, the dimly lit hall was illuminated by a single oil lamp. A wooden fish rested on a small table, and beside it sat an elderly woman with silver-white hair.

The ancient Buddha and the flickering lamp were meant to bring peace and cleanse the soul. Yet, in the reflection of the flame, the woman’s eyes surged like turbulent clouds, her gaze unsettled.

Only when she closed her eyes did she manage to conceal the hatred swirling within.

Five years had passed, yet even the Yangxin Hall (Hall of Nurtured Hearts) could not calm her own heart.

Her resentment remained as strong as ever!

In November, the imperial court issued the decree for an envoy’s journey.

At that time, the Liu family was gathered outside a chamber door, each member looking anxious.

From inside, agonized groans of pain occasionally broke the silence.

“Oh heavens, it’s been four hours already! Why hasn’t the baby been born yet? Is that midwife even capable?” Grandma Liu paced back and forth outside the door, frantic with worry.

Standing nearby, Grandpa Liu, along with Liu Dalin and Liu Erlin, were equally concerned. “When your mother gave birth to you, it was like a hen laying eggs—quick and effortless. Why is it taking Yuzheng so long? Could something be wrong?”

She had been in labor for hours, unable to deliver the child, suffering every moment.

With each painful cry from inside, Liu Zhixia’s brows furrowed even tighter. “The midwife was chosen well in advance—she’s highly reputable in Yunzhou City. There shouldn’t be any problems.”

His words reassured the elders but did nothing to ease his own anxiety. If he could, he would have taken Yuzheng’s place, bearing the pain for her.

Chen Xiulan and Du Juan shared the same worry in their eyes, but they continued to comfort the old madam. “Nannan is inside. With her there, nothing will go wrong. Our Nannan is blessed, and Yuzheng is also someone with good fortune. The child will definitely be born safely.”

“That’s right. This is Yuzheng’s first child—some difficulty is to be expected. Just wait a little longer; mother and child will surely be safe.”

Inside the room, Liu Yusheng and the midwife were both present.

Fu Yuzheng had started experiencing contractions around midnight, showing signs of labor.

The midwife had examined her and confirmed that she was about to give birth.

Now, four hours have passed. She was in so much pain that she had nearly fainted multiple times, yet the baby had still not been delivered.

Looking at Fu Yuzheng lying on the bed, her face deathly pale, her hair and clothes soaked with sweat, and her strength nearly drained, Liu Yusheng’s brows knitted together.

This wasn’t good. The longer the baby remained undelivered, the greater the risk of suffocation.

After a moment of thought, she quietly poured a few drops of spiritual spring water into a cup on the nearby table. Then, she walked back to the bed, gently helping Fu Yuzheng sit up slightly. “Sister-in-law, drink some water first to regain your strength. When the time comes, give it one last big push, and the baby will surely be born.”

With the young girl’s help, Fu Yuzheng drank the water, her voice weak and barely audible. “Nannan… if anything goes wrong, you must save the baby. Save my child…”

“Don’t worry. There won’t be any danger. You and my little nephew will both be safe. With me here, you don’t need to worry about anything else—just focus on giving birth. Remember to push when the time comes. Use the breathing method I taught you—exhale, inhale, and push with all your strength. My big brother is still waiting outside, and so are Grandpa, Grandma, Father, Mother, Second Uncle, and Second Aunt. Everyone is waiting for you. You can do this.”

Fu Yuzheng turned her head slightly toward the door. Even though there was a barrier between them, she could still picture the man standing outside, his handsome brows furrowed deeply, unmoving at the doorway.

And her grandparents, parents, second uncle, and second aunt—they were surely just as anxious, murmuring worriedly among themselves.

A faint smile appeared on Fu Yuzheng’s pale face. She still wanted to stay by that man’s side—to be with him for a lifetime.

She wanted to remain in this family, to continue feeling the warmth and love they surrounded her with.

A sharp wave of pain struck again, but she bit down hard on her lip, swallowing the agonized cry that nearly escaped.

Summoning every ounce of strength she had left, she gave her all to complete this transformation in her life.

“Waah—!”

A loud, piercing cry echoed through the room.

Everyone inside and outside the room let out a collective sigh of relief, followed by cheers of joy.

Amidst the family’s jubilant voices, Fu Yuzheng forced herself to take one look at the newborn baby before falling into a deep sleep.

At the door, Grandma Liu, Chen Xiulan, and Du Juan had already pushed their way in, with Liu Zhixia following closely behind.

The moment he stepped inside, the thick scent of blood filled his nose. The lingering joy in his eyes was quickly overshadowed by concern. 

In a few quick strides, he rushed to the bedside, checking on his wife first, completely oblivious to the midwife holding the swaddled infant and offering congratulations.

“The father is more worried about his wife, huh? Hand the baby to me—I’ll hold him first,” Grandma Liu said, reaching out for the newborn.

The midwife carefully passed the baby over, smiling as she said, “Mother and child are both safe. Congratulations to all of you.”

Grandma Liu beamed, her smile so wide that her teeth showed. “Congratulations to you too! Xiulan, give her a red envelope.”

After handing the midwife a red envelope and thanking her again, Chen Xiulan turned to look at her mother-in-law, who was now holding the baby tightly, unwilling to let go. A bad feeling crept into her heart.

Back when she had given birth to her daughter, she couldn’t win against her mother-in-law in holding the child. Would it be the same this time?

She was a grandmother now!

“Mother, let me hold the baby for a moment…”

But before she could even stretch out her hands, Grandma Liu dodged her. “No rush, no rush. Go outside and tell your father, your husband, and your brothers the good news. Also, have the servants bring in some warm water so we can wash the baby. You’ll have plenty of chances to hold him later.”

Chen Xiulan: “…” She knew this would happen.

Du Juan stifled her laughter and dragged her despairing sister-in-law away.

By the bedside, Liu Yusheng watched the scene unfold and couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Nannan, how is your sister-in-law? Is she alright?” Grandma Liu walked over, still holding the baby.

“She’s fine, just exhausted. She’ll wake up in a little while. Grandma, you should take Xiao Maodou to the prepared nursery. There’s too much of a blood scent here—don’t stay too long.”

Xiao Maodou was the baby’s nickname, which the elders had decided on before he was even born.

“Alright, I’ll take him there now. Later, your mother and second aunt will come to help clean up Yuzheng. Stay and keep an eye on things. Giving birth is the hardest thing for a woman—she’s really been through a lot.”

Liu Yusheng nodded and watched as her grandmother left before turning to her eldest brother, who had remained silent the whole time. “Brother, Sister-in-law is fine, just very tired. Don’t worry too much—she’ll be alright when she wakes up.”

She hadn’t planned on saying much, but her brother’s expression right now didn’t look any better than his wife’s, who had just gone through childbirth.

Liu Zhixia pressed his lips together tightly, then reached out to brush away the damp strands of hair sticking to his wife’s face.

After a long silence, he finally looked up. “Nannan, do you know how to make medicine to prevent pregnancy?”

“Do you want my sister-in-law to avoid pregnancy?” Liu Yusheng was surprised.

Liu Zhixia nodded and then shook his head. “I do want her to avoid pregnancy. But you know, medicine is never without its risks. If you can make those medicines, I’ll take them.”

“Sister-in-law might not agree,” Liu Yusheng said.

It was clear to anyone how much Yuzheng loved her elder brother. She certainly wouldn’t be satisfied with just one child.

Besides, in this time and place, having more children was considered a blessing.

“One child is enough.” Liu Zhixia held his wife’s slightly cold hand, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He wasn’t a woman, but he knew how dangerous and painful childbirth could be. It was like walking through the gates of death.

Yuzheng had already done enough for him. From now on, he only wanted her to stay by his side, to be with him for a lifetime.

He wanted to cherish her, pamper her.

Knowing that once his older brother made up his mind, he wouldn’t change it easily, Liu Yusheng sighed and looked up. “If Sister-in-law finds out, she’ll be furious with me.”

“Then let’s not let her know.”