A few days later, Qi He rushed back overnight and brought with him a reply from Xie Muhua.
Mingxi rewarded Qi He and urged him to rest, then entered the room and opened the letter.
Zhiyi was hardly ever seen these days. The little one was so lively that even the royal estate could barely contain her.
The contents of Xie Muhua’s letter made Mingxi’s heart skip. Her son hadn’t fallen ill from a simple cold—on the day of the incident, the deposed Crown Prince had suddenly insisted on seeing the boy. Left with no choice, Xie Muhua sent him over. But after he was returned that night, he began to burn with fever.
Mingxi’s expression darkened. Xie Muhua wrote that the deposed Crown Prince’s personality had changed drastically—he was now erratic, nearly mad. Had she known, she would have stayed with her son.
The deposed Crown Prince had kept the child alone and sent Xie Muhua away, not returning the child until late afternoon.
Mingxi had a bad feeling. She suspected Xie Muhua had guessed as well—that the Crown Prince might have done it on purpose.
But why?
That was his own son.
Unable to figure out the Crown Prince’s intentions, Mingxi could only take comfort in the fact that Xie Muhua was still composed.
Duan Huirou’s due date had arrived. When Mingxi received the news, she had already gone into labor. By the time she reached Jin Wang’s residence, Side Consort Chen was already waiting outside.
“Greetings to Duan Wangfei,” Side Consort Chen hurried forward to curtsey.
Mingxi helped her up. “No need for formality. How is my sister’s condition? Has Jin Wang been notified?”
“Wangfei is doing alright. The message has been sent to the palace—His Highness should be back soon,” Consort Chen replied.
Mingxi nodded slightly. “I’ll go take a look.”
Side Consort Chen didn’t dare stop her and could only watch as Duan Wangfei entered the birthing chamber. A trace of envy rose in her heart. Everyone used to say Duan Wangfei and her sister were at odds, but now, it didn’t look like that at all.
Inside, Duan Huirou was supporting her waist, drenched in sweat from pain. A midwife was helping her walk circles around the room, soothing her as they moved: “Childbirth is always like this. Just bear with it, Wangfei.”
“Greetings to Duan Wangfei.” Another midwife glanced up and was startled to see who entered, quickly kneeling in salute.
Duan Huirou turned to look. “Sister, you’re here?”
Seeing her drenched in sweat, Mingxi knew the pain must be terrible. “I came as soon as I got the news. If Lanjiang’s wife hadn’t sent word, were you planning to wait until after the birth to tell me?”
Duan Huirou forced herself to speak through the pain, “The midwife said it’d still be a while, so I thought I’d wait a bit.”
Mingxi nodded, looking at her with concern. “Don’t worry, I’ll be waiting outside. Just make sure you and the baby stay safe. Remember to eat something to keep your strength up.”
Duan Huirou nodded vigorously. “I’ll definitely listen to you.”
Mingxi knew there wasn’t much she could help with directly. Saying these things was just to ease her sister’s mind, so she could focus on delivering the child without worry. Seeing that she had passed the worst of the pain and was now sitting and eating, Mingxi stepped outside.
Waiting for a birth was always long and drawn-out. When Jin Wang arrived with Xiao Muchen, Duan Huirou was still struggling inside.
“What are you doing here?” Mingxi greeted Jin Wang, then turned to ask Xiao Muchen.
“Someone from my brother’s manor came with the news. When I heard you were here, I came over,” Xiao Muchen replied.
Mingxi glanced at him, then at Jin Wang.
She didn’t know what Xiao Muchen looked like while waiting outside when she was giving birth, but she was sure he hadn’t looked as calm and composed as Jin Wang did now.
Lowering her eyes, she looked toward the birthing room where Duan Huirou was and suddenly remembered they hadn’t sent word to the Dingyuan Marquis’s household. She quickly had someone deliver the message.
Unexpectedly, upon receiving the news, Madam Jiang actually came over.
Jin Wang was properly respectful when he saw his mother-in-law. Xiao Muchen merely gave a slight nod.
Mingxi hadn’t expected to meet Madam Jiang here, and Madam Jiang clearly hadn’t expected to see her either.
Madam Xiao quickly stepped forward, smiling to smooth things over. “The Old Madam received word that Second Sister was giving birth, so she sent me to take a look. As it happened, Mother was also at the manor, so we came together.”
Mingxi noted that Madam Jiang already showed signs of age and wear—far worse off than she had been in the previous life. Clearly, things hadn’t gone smoothly for her this time around.
In the past, Madam Jiang had always looked down on her, her expression and manner tinged with superiority.
Now, all of that arrogance was gone. She didn’t even dare meet Mingxi’s eyes. Knowing that Mingxi held no affection for her, she sat stiffly in the corner without attempting conversation.
The atmosphere in the hall grew a bit awkward. Mingxi sat beside Xiao Muchen, who handed her a cup of tea and gently said, “Have some tea to soothe your throat. Don’t just worry about others.”
The word “others” made everyone present twitch slightly.
Mingxi suppressed a smile. Even at a time like this, Xiao Muchen was still helping her vent—how rare and considerate.
She no longer cared, really. But being protected like this—who wouldn’t like that?
She was an ordinary woman. And she liked it very much.
From sunrise to sunset, they finally heard the cry of a newborn baby from inside. Everyone visibly relaxed.
The emperor summoned Xiao Muchen, and Qi He came to fetch him.
Xiao Muchen was reluctant to leave, but when he met Mingxi’s reassuring gaze, he had no choice but to go.
The midwife soon emerged with the baby in her arms, smiling broadly. “Congratulations, Your Highness. The Wangfei has given birth to a little county princess.”
Mingxi looked up at Jin Wang and saw the smile on his face freeze for a moment. But he quickly recovered and leaned in to look at his daughter. Still, there was something indescribable in his expression.
Mingxi stepped forward with a smile. “All newborns look like this. In a few days, she’ll look much better.”
Though Jin Wang’s wives and concubines had all been pregnant before, not one child had ever been born alive. He had never seen a newborn.
However, he had met little Zhiyi once. That child was plump and lively—an absolute joy to look at.
He instinctively nodded and said, “As long as she grows up like Zhaohua, that’ll be enough.”
Looks sturdy and easy to raise.
Madam Jiang and Madam Xiao also came over to look at the baby, lavishing her with praise.
Truth be told, the baby was born at full term and looked healthy—who wouldn’t be pleased?
Madam Jiang’s eyes gleamed with joy.
Mingxi turned away indifferently. Jin Wang spoke a few words to Duan Huirou through the door before heading to the palace to report the good news.
Mingxi also rose to take her leave. Madam Xiao, knowing she didn’t want to stay with Madam Jiang, smiled and said, “Little Sister, you should head back. Princess Zhaohua is still waiting for you. Second Sister is in good hands with us and Side Consort Chen.”
“Thank you, Sister-in-law,” Mingxi said with a smile, then thanked Side Consort Chen as well, who quickly returned the courtesy.
Before leaving, she didn’t go into the birthing room to say goodbye to Duan Huirou. She really didn’t want to see that concerned, doting-mother look on Madam Jiang’s face.
The next day, Mingxi learned that the emperor had bestowed the title of “County Princess Ruiping” on Jin Wang’s daughter.
It was said that Jin Wang wasn’t too happy about it. The deposed Crown Prince’s daughter had a “Rui” title, Xiao Muchen’s daughter had a “Zhao” title, and now his daughter’s title followed the deposed Crown Prince’s daughter. Of course he wouldn’t be pleased.
I really like how the relationship between sisters developed into a good one as time went, Even Mingxi worrying for her sister.
I would love a man who is protective of me, and worry for me like Xiao Muchen