Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Soon, Yulan found a few rough-working women and invited them into her room for tea, wondering what purpose the young mistress had brought them over for.

Chunyan found Xiuluan and explained her purpose. Xiuluan was quite enthusiastic—she was familiar with the place because Hongxinger had learned etiquette in her mother's courtyard when she was young. She led Chunyan to the study courtyard, and Rong Yiniang, without a word, took out her token and handed it over. This token was a special gift from Master Liu after Rong Yiniang became pregnant; it allowed her to leave at any time without being stopped by the gatekeepers.

The gatekeeper dared not stop Consort Rong's people, but would he dare stop Hongxing'er's? The gatekeeper wouldn't recognize her at all; even when Xiu Luan's maid relayed her message ordering him to open the gate, it was no use. "Miss Guixiang, this is Consort Rong's nameplate. If Consort Rong sent Yanyan out, I would open the gate immediately. This Chunyan isn't serving Consort Rong, how dare she impersonate her? Good girl, I'm just a gatekeeper dog, I can't even guard the gate, what face do I have to eat here!" Hearing Chunyan call him a gatekeeper dog, the gatekeeper retorted without hesitation, "Sister Guixiang, this Chunyan hasn't given birth before, what does she know? A child isn't something you can just have whenever you want. I already sent word to find a midwife, why does she still insist on going out?"

"Uncle, it's been an hour, why hasn't the midwife arrived yet? My daughter can't wait any longer, please have mercy and let me out!"

"Miss Chunyan, childbirth is always painful! Even if a midwife comes, she still has to give birth on her own! Besides, is the midwife only there to serve your young lady? She didn't say anything beforehand, so who knows if she'll even be home? You think you can just go and find her? When you were having your fun, you didn't think about this coming, did you?"

Chunyan was almost in tears, but she held back her tears and said, "Uncle, how about we send someone to invite Second Master back?"

The doorman leaned close to her ear and said in a low, menacing voice, "You don't deserve it!" He then reached out and twisted her chin.

Chunyan stared in astonishment at the ugly face before her. Even in her youth and ignorance, she knew the gatekeeper was deliberately trying to make things difficult for her, so she turned and left without a word. In a secluded spot, Guixiang took her leave to return and report. Chunyan squatted down in despair and began to sob. After crying for a while, knowing that crying was useless, she stood up and fiercely wiped away the tears on her face, pondering whether to beg Xiu Luan, who was indeed a sibling of Rui Cai, to go and plead with her.

Aunt Rong asked Yan Yan, "When did Hong Xing'er go into labor? How many people are in her room?"

Yan Yan whispered, "Auntie, this is clearly the Second Young Mistress trying to punish her. We shouldn't get involved! That plaque shouldn't have been given to her in the first place! We didn't want to anger the Second Young Mistress! Why offend people for her sake? Besides, you're pregnant, how can you go into the blood transfusion room? The Eldest Young Mistress isn't going to stand up for you either, is she? We shouldn't bother!"

"You know nothing!" Without saying another word, she got up and walked out. "Auntie, that person is too precious to bear!" Yan Yan hurriedly chased after her. Aunt Rong ignored her. She understood what Yan Yan meant. She wasn't actually helping Hong Xing'er; she was helping herself. If she were in the same situation during childbirth, her Yan Yan probably wouldn't even be half as good as Chun Yan'er. Was she supposed to just leave it to fate? She was afraid that the eldest young mistress wouldn't stand idly by and would have to lend a hand. Why not do a favor? Thinking of this, she stopped and scolded Yan Yan, "Stop talking nonsense! Hong Xing'er is carrying the second master's child. If it's a boy, he'll be the master's eldest grandson. How can I sit idly by!" Yan Yan pouted and stopped talking!

Before even reaching Hongxing'er's room, they heard her wailing. Aunt Rong coughed dryly in the courtyard, and an old woman rushed out, "Aunt Rong, pregnant women shouldn't enter the ward! You'd better avoid it!" Aunt Rong was currently very favored and pregnant, so the old woman was very obsequious to her.

"Are you the only one in the room? Where are the others?" Aunt Rong interrupted the old woman.

"Look at what you're saying, isn't one concubine and one maid enough? The little maid went to find a midwife, but she's been dragging her feet and hasn't shown up yet. There's no one else!"

"Mom, what do we need to prepare for childbirth? Tell me!" Aunt Rong interrupted her impatiently.

The old woman hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Replying to Auntie, everything we need has already been prepared. We just need to boil some water and cook the scissors. There's nothing else to do!"

"Chunyan, go to the small kitchen in the front and boil some water! Be quick!" As she spoke, she called out into the house, "Miss Hongxing, the old lady and the master and mistress are not home. Miss is a young lady, and the eldest young mistress is too heavy to come over. Don't be afraid, the midwife will be here soon! I'll be watching over you right under your window!"

Inside the room, Hongxing'er was writhing in pain on the kang (a heated brick bed). Hearing this, she calmed down a little and asked, "Why hasn't Second Master come back yet?" Hongxing'er's voice was already trembling with sobs.

"Silly child, even if Second Master comes back, he can't go into the blood-making room! Don't be afraid, Second Master came back a long time ago. He went to find a midwife for you before he even entered the house. The old woman who lives near our house was invited away, so Second Master went to find one from afar. He has already sent someone to inform the Old Madam and the Master. He will be back soon. Don't be afraid, I'm here with you!"

Hongxing felt a little more at ease!

Upon hearing Guixiang's report and looking at Chunyan'er's disheveled face, Xiuluan's expression darkened. "Guixiang, go and ask Young Master Liang to help out at the front gate. Tell him I asked him for help! Chunyan'er, go find the eldest young mistress and see if she can keep those people in check."

Upon hearing Chunyan'er's words, Fengxian sat up straight and said in surprise, "Why are you so rigid? Let me go take a look!" As she spoke, she gave Liulian a wink, and Chunyan'er helped her put on her shoes and led her outside.

The gatekeeper, naturally, dared not neglect the young mistress, but still refused to open the door, insisting that someone had already been sent to fetch a midwife. "Young mistress, this maid is so inconsiderate. How could she bother you and the young lady? She's not even a proper mistress, yet she acts so arrogantly! Master ordered that no one is allowed to go out, and besides, someone has already been sent to fetch a midwife. Go back and wait patiently!"

"Bullshit! Even a proper master is more respectable than you! Open the door and send someone to fetch a midwife from all directions."

"Young Madam, please don't make things difficult for me. Master ordered that no one is allowed to leave!"

"You scoundrel! If something happens to Hongxing'er and her child, can you take responsibility?"

"Look at what the eldest young mistress is saying. What does it matter to her whether something happens or not? The master gave instructions before leaving that no one is allowed to leave. Is the eldest young mistress going to disobey the master's orders? I dare not!"

Liu Lian, accompanied by six or seven maids and servants, rushed over and asked, "Did Master Liu say that even if you're giving birth, you're not allowed to go out and call a doctor?"

"Seventh Miss is joking. What woman needs a doctor to give birth? And what doctor would even bother to come? Hahaha, if all the doctors are out delivering babies, what use are midwives!"

Fengxian stopped wasting words with him and ordered several rough-looking women, "Take him down!"