Chapter 451: Survived the Crisis
Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Jinghua’s chest heaved up and down. Her breathing was heavy as she said, “The child… protect the child…”
Mu Yangling looked straight at her. “Sister-in-law, if you’re not even willing to give birth now, how can you protect the child?”
“Can I give birth if I want to?” Li Jinghua was very suspicious.
“Yes.” Mu Yangling looked at her firmly and said, “As long as you’re willing to work hard, you will definitely be able to give birth!”
The hired midwife walked over with a smile and said calmly, “Madam, I’ve checked your pulse and situation. As long as you’re willing to believe me, I’ll definitely help you and the child.”
Perhaps she was provoked by Mu Yangling, or perhaps the midwife’s smile made Li Jinghua feel at ease. In short, Li Jinghua’s fighting spirit was reignited and she was willing to try again.
Mu Yangling asked Wen Cui to cut the ginseng into pieces and let Li Jinghua hold a piece in her mouth. Only then did she retreat to the bed and hold her hand tightly, hoping to give her some encouragement.
As the midwife encouraged her with words, she adjusted her fetal position. The pain made Li Jinghua’s face turn pale instantly. She immediately gripped Mu Yangling’s hand tightly, her nails digging into her flesh. Ignoring the pain, Mu Yangling encouraged Li Jinghua softly.
After a while, they heard the midwife say in a brisk voice, “Madam, the fetal position is now correct. Have a bowl of brown sugar eggs to replenish your strength. We’ll start delivering in a while. Don’t worry, you and your baby will definitely be safe and sound.”
Mu Yangling heard it, but Li Jinghua was in so much pain that she almost lost consciousness and could not hear what the midwife was saying at all.
Mu Yangling patted her hand gently and quickly took the brown sugar egg from Madam Xia’s hand and slowly fed it to her.
Li Jinghua only took two bites before she couldn’t eat anymore. Mu Yangling said, “One more bite, one last bite.”
Li Jinghua could only endure her disgust and take another bite. Mu Yangling cut a piece of ginseng for her to suck on and looked at the midwife. The midwife smiled and said, “Madam, you just have to listen to us and push hard from now on…”
Outside the room, Qi Haoran said coldly, “No, since Old Master and Madam want to see her, let them. Before Eldest Madam’s condition stabilizes, no one is allowed to leave this courtyard.”
Nanny Wu was sweating profusely. “But Senior Madam Zhang and Senior Madam Shu came personally…”
Qi Haoran looked at her coldly. Nanny Wu was speechless. Qi Haoran looked away and said calmly, “It’s fine if my sister-in-law and nephew are fine. If anything happens to the two of them, no one can escape.”
Nanny Wu shivered and could only turn around and leave. When the women of the three families heard this, their faces turned pale. Third Madam Zhang could not help but defend herself. “Assistant Commander Qi, even though this matter is our fault, your Qi family has to share some of that responsibility. Madam Li is pregnant, but she’s still running around outside…”
Qi Haoran looked at her murderously and asked in a hoarse voice, “So you bumped into her because you couldn’t stand her?”
“Of course not.” Third Madam Zhang’s expression changed drastically. “Don’t slander others.”
“Alright.” Fourth Madam Shu pulled her back and looked up at Qi Haoran. “Assistant Commander Qi, I know you’re worried, but it’s not a solution to detain us like this. Our three families aren’t nameless people. Don’t worry, we won’t shirk our responsibility.”
“Since that’s the case, let the government office decide. Rain, get Fei Bai to go to the government office immediately and invite someone over,” Qi Haoran said angrily. He was already burning with anxiety and anger. Since they were going to provoke him, he wouldn’t stand on ceremony with them.
The expressions of the three women changed drastically. Fourth Madam Shu said angrily, “Assistant Commander Qi, don’t be unreasonable. We’re talking to you nicely.”
It was already dark and they had been detained since morning. Other than breakfast, they had not eaten a single grain of rice the entire day. Coupled with Madam Li’s shouts in the delivery room, they were already filled with anger.
“Yo, what the Shu family means is that even though you bumped into someone, it’s our Qi family that’s at fault.” Fan Zijin said bluntly, “Since you’re so afraid that our Qi family will extort you, isn’t it better to report it to the officials? Let the officials decide. Speaking of which, you still have an advantage. There’s a second-grade Minister of Revenue in the Zhang family, and there are many descendants of the Shu family who are officials in the court. Eldest Cousin is the only one in our Qi family who’s considered useful. However, he’s far away in the north. It’s only right for his wife and children to be bullied.”
Fan Zijin was not Qi Haoran. Once he spoke, he did not give the other party a chance to refute at all. With a sneer, he said, “Therefore, I’m afraid reporting to the officials won’t be of much use. We have to seek His Majesty’s judgment. Haoran, tomorrow, you’ll petition His Majesty to rule on this and see if there’s still justice in the world.”
The three women’s faces turned green. Seeing that Fan Zijin was so angry that he could not speak, they turned around and dragged the three young ladies into the courtyard. However, they were blocked by a group of guards at the door. Third Madam Zhang pointed at them angrily and shouted, “Move aside. Do you dare to offend us?”
Qi Haoran said coldly, “Just stand there. If you have the ability, just charge out like this.” There was a cold glint in Qi Haoran’s eyes. “I don’t mind making the men of your three families cuckolded!”
The three women did not expect Qi Haoran to be so shameless. They pointed at him and were so furious that they could not speak. Just as they were about to flare up, two low cries of a baby suddenly came from the house. If not for the fact that they were so angry that they could not speak for a moment, they would not have heard it.
Qi Haoran was stunned for a moment before rushing towards the delivery room. He paced around anxiously at the door and asked loudly, “Ah Ling, Ah Ling, has she given birth?”
Wen Cui rushed out with tears all over her face. As she cried, she said, “Fourth Master, Eldest Madam gave birth to a young master.”
Qi Haoran grinned. Seeing her crying like this, he asked worriedly, “What about Sister-in-law?”
“Both mother and son are safe!”
Qi Haoran was baffled. “Then why are you crying?”
Wen Cui wiped her tears and said, “These are tears of joy.”
The women of the Zhang, Shu, and Zhou families also heaved a sigh of relief. It was good that the mother and son were safe, for it was much more beneficial to them. At the thought of this, they stared at Qi Haoran righteously.
Seeing this, Fan Zijin sneered and asked, “Where’s your Fourth Madam?” After asking, he blocked the line of sight of the three women behind him and gave Wen Cui a look.
Those women had already walked near the entrance of the courtyard, so they were some distance from the door. Coupled with the fact that it was dark, they did not notice at all.
Seeing the look in Fan Zijin’s eyes, Wen Cui glanced at the women from the three families. She was also filled with anger. She had heard most of their argument in the room just now. She already hated them for being rash and causing Eldest Madam to suffer greatly. Now that she saw them shamelessly shirking responsibility, she hated them even more. Hence, she immediately understood what Fan Zijin meant and replied, “Fourth Madam is taking care of Eldest Madam and Young Master. I was afraid that you guys would be worried, so I came out to inform you.”
“Quickly go in and see what they need. We’ll prepare outside,” Fan Zijin immediately said.
Wen Cui agreed and turned around to enter.
The three midwives were stopping Li Jinghua’s bleeding. The baby’s body was a little bruised, probably because he had been holding it in for too long. Mu Yangling was carrying him gently. Madam Xia helped wash him clean before wrapping him in soft swaddling clothes.
Madam Xia was both elated and heartbroken. “This child is crying so softly like a kitten. Will he be fine?”
After a pause, Mu Yangling said, “Why don’t we let the doctor and imperial physician take a look?”