Having witnessed the old Princess Ying give birth, Chu Yao knew that people inside and outside the house would be constantly on the move throughout the entire process, and that Jun Shu might even personally oversee things in the courtyard if he was worried.
He considered himself a master of martial arts, but the Marquis of Runan was no less skilled. Sneaking away under the other's nose seemed utterly unrealistic.
Besides, who knows how long Yang's life will last?
When Chu Wan was born, the old Princess of Ying suffered a difficult labor and stayed in the delivery room for a full day and night before finally giving birth.
He can't hide the baby until it's born.
After weighing the pros and cons, Chu Yao decided not to dodge. He bent down, picked up Wushuang who was clutching the hem of his robe, and put her back on his lap: "Don't rush."
It would be strange if we weren't in a hurry!
Wu Shuang didn't understand what Chu Yao was thinking. She twisted her little round body and tried to climb down again: "I'm going to get caught..." She was so anxious that she was about to cry.
With just this slight delay, the footsteps had already reached the door.
Wushuang's residence is a three-room house. The central room is used for living and dining, while the east and west side rooms are the bedroom and study, respectively.
She listened as the main room door was pushed open, followed by Li Mama's voice: "Qiqiao, you're on night duty, how come you're sleeping so soundly? It's so noisy outside, why aren't you awake?"
Qiqiao didn't respond. Wushuang then heard Li Mama walking quickly towards the east side room. The double wooden door creaked open, and Li Mama stepped in, coming face to face with Chu Yao.
"Your Highness...?"
Mrs. Li almost doubted that she was fully awake. She glanced at the Western-style clock on the long table by the wall. At this hour, even if a young man was energetic and slept late, he shouldn't be in her daughter's room.
Fortunately, the Jun family, from top to bottom, has always regarded Chu Yao as a great benefactor, and they are grateful and respectful. People's thinking has inertia. Because of their preconceived notions, even if they see Chu Yao doing something illogical, they will not immediately think the wrong thing, but will automatically find reasons for him.
"Your Highness, is there something you need that brings you so late?" Madam Li asked hesitantly.
“Indeed.” Chu Yao replied seriously, “I am acting on the Emperor’s orders to deal with those who cheated in the provincial examination. Today your daughter is outside the examination hall… so I have come to ask her a few questions. This matter involves confidential information and cannot be publicized, so I did not send a formal invitation in advance. I hope you will forgive my rudeness.”
Wu Shuang was a little confused. Could this be the important matter Chu Yao had mentioned earlier? Had he really come here specifically to see her?
Hearing that it was important business, Madam Li felt relieved and said, "Your Highness, my lady is about to give birth, and the young lady is still too young to stay here. I was just about to take her to the Governor and his wife in the main courtyard. Let me inform my master, and perhaps we can find a suitable place for Your Highness to continue the questioning."
The Lingguang Guard was renowned throughout the capital, known to all. Although Li Mama was merely a wet nurse, she had heard that the Lingguang Guard operated differently from ordinary government officials, acting more like the emperor's personal spies, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, striking fear into the hearts of officials. Thinking this way, her appearance in Wushuang's room in the dead of night became proof of her diligent work as the commander of the Lingguang Guard, tirelessly serving day and night.
Moreover, as the saying goes: If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear.
Madam Li thought to herself: The young lady hasn't done anything wrong. She just recognized a scholar she'd met once before. The so-called questioning is probably just to find out the whole story. There's nothing to be afraid of if the Prince of Ying comes to our door in person.
Li's mother helped Wushuang put on her baby clothes openly, and together with Chu Yao, they walked out of the room, each holding one of Wushuang's hands.
Madam Yang had already been carried into the delivery room, and the midwife brought from the capital was in place. Jun Shu and Wu Xia were waiting in the courtyard, watching Chu Yao walk out of Wu Shuang's room.
Chu Yao repeated what he had just said to Li Mama.
Given their different statuses, Jun Shu was naturally much more cautious than Li Mama. He had heard of how interrogators could manipulate testimonies and twist them into something else entirely. Although the Prince of Ying was a distant relative of his own, and they had been on very good terms for the past year, he couldn't help but be wary of matters of officialdom.
In short, I am worried that Chu Yao will ask Wushuang a question alone.
“Your Highness, why don’t I accompany you to the waterside pavilion and have the servants prepare some wine and dishes?” Jun Shu said.
Just then, a heart-wrenching scream came from the delivery room.
Wushuang had never been to a woman's birthing site before, and was so shocked that he was speechless.
"What's wrong with Mother?" She rushed over and hugged her father's leg, sobbing softly.
"It's alright." Jun Shu had seen his wife give birth twice before and knew that the childbirth process was long and painful for a woman. The fact that no one was coming out of the delivery room meant that the midwife was still in control and nothing serious had happened. Therefore, he was able to pick up his daughter and comfort her, "Don't worry, childbirth is always like this."
Wushuang pursed her lips and frowned, asking, "Was it this painful when you gave birth to Shuangshuang?"
Junshu nodded.
Wushuang waved her little fist and said seriously, "If Shuangshuang is not filial to her mother in the future, she can hit herself!"
Feeling that she hadn't said enough, she added, "If my younger brother is not filial to his mother when he is born, Shuangshuang will beat him too!"
Wu Xia interrupted, puzzled, "How do you know it must be your younger brother?"
Wushuang really didn't know.
She was just hoping that Yang would have a boy this time, and she said it offhand.
"If it's not a younger brother, it has to be a younger brother and a younger sister!" Wushuang pouted.
Their family really needs a boy to inherit the title, and with the child still unborn and of unknown gender, a good omen is still very important.
Yang's shouts, sometimes low and sometimes high, could be heard from time to time.
Jun Shu had no interest in the trivial matter of his two daughters bickering; he only frowned as he looked toward the delivery room, as if his gaze could penetrate the closed doors and windows to see his wife's condition.
Chu Yao was good at reading people's expressions, so he changed his words and said, "My lord, there is no need to rush the questioning. It is more important to see Madam Gu give birth smoothly. I think I should take my leave today and come to bother you again another day."
In any case, he has already achieved most of his real goal. If he were to force Junshu to deal with him under the pretext of asking questions, it would be too tactless.
Junshu did not linger any longer, exchanged a few more polite words, and then asked the steward to see the guest off.
Although Wushuang really wanted to stay by her father's side and accompany her mother, there was no rule that children should wait outside while a woman gave birth. In the end, she and Wuxia were taken to the main courtyard room where her maternal grandparents lived.
The two sisters lay on the same bed, neither of them sleepy. They hugged each other and waited together until dawn, when they finally received the news that Yang had given birth to a boy.
Chapter Index 51 | 50.49.2
Chapter 51: