Chapter 119

Chapter 119 This man had originally failed to elope with Xie Run when she asked, and afterward his family sent him to the academy run by the main branch of the Xie family. He took the autumn examination alongside Xie Jing but unfortunately failed and returned to his hometown. He had planned to shut himself away in his hometown to study hard in preparation for the next examination. But when Xie Jing sent someone to inquire, the man had disappeared. The moment Xie Run heard this, every alarm bell in her body went off. She had only kept Dantao by her side at this point. Xie Run said, "This man's disappearance may not necessarily be aimed at me! But I still have to be on guard!" Dantao was also extremely nervous. She knew that if any rumors started circulating at this time, not only would it damage Xie Run's reputation, but if it caused Xie Run to have a difficult labor, it could end in the death of both mother and child! Thinking of this, Dantao quickly asked, "Mistress, what should we do?" "Things outside the residence are beyond our reach..." But after learning of the hidden threat, Xie Run remained remarkably composed instead. "Don't be afraid." "Since it's a matter outside the residence, naturally we let people outside the residence handle it." Xie Run thought to herself that in Xie Jiang's script, Xie Jing could rise to the position of Prime Minister—surely he could handle something like this. Moreover, from what he had written in his letters, she could tell that Xie Jing was quite capable. "I'll write a letter right away asking Eldest Brother to help find this person—we must locate where he is!" When Xie Jing received the news, he also offered a suggestion. "If this man wants to cause trouble, he will inevitably come knocking at the Prince's residence gates." "Why not station some people to watch the entrance of the residence? If they spot anyone familiar, they can make a move ahead of time!" Xie Run agreed immediately and entrusted everything to Xie Jing. After handling all of this, it felt like she had fought a satisfying battle, and Xie Run slept even more soundly. On the day Princess Duanjing and Fourth Young Master held their full-month banquet, Xie Run sent gifts over, and right after, she went into labor. The people of Chunshan Courtyard had long been prepared. Everyone took their posts and actively carried out their duties. Prince Jing was still handling matters at the Ministry of Revenue. When the Princess Consort received the news, she sent word to the Ministry of Revenue and brought her people to Chunshan Courtyard to take charge. Seeing that Chunshan Courtyard was already well-prepared and everything was proceeding in an orderly manner, the Princess Consort was happy to take it easy. Xie Run had gone into labor after breakfast. When the early contractions weren't too intense, she supported her belly and paced around the delivery room. The maidservants had learned many new things during this period and knew their mistress was doing this to make delivery easier, so they didn't try to stop her. After an hour passed, Xie Run could no longer bear it and lay down on the bed. Just as Xie Run heard the midwife announce that she was five fingers dilated, Yueya'er suddenly came in. She whispered in Xie Run's ear, "Mistress, Fang Huaian really has come to the Prince's residence gates!" Xie Run's eyes flew wide open. Yueya'er quickly added, "But he's already been intercepted by the people Eldest Young Master sent ahead of time!" "Should we send word to Eldest Young Master?" Xie Run let out a long breath. Though her body ached, she remained steady. She gripped Yueya'er's hand. "If he dares to come to the Prince's residence gates, someone must be behind him pulling the strings." "At this moment, that person has probably arranged for others to be watching from the shadows!" "The more we do, the easier it is for them to find fault with us!" "Keep everyone in the courtyard under control. Just pretend we know nothing about this. We'll deal with it after I give birth." Having experienced many things in the residence, Yueya'er had become increasingly composed. Yueya'er said, "Then this servant will definitely keep watch over everyone in the courtyard!" Hearing that the threat of Fang Huaian had been temporarily resolved, Xie Run was completely at ease and focused on giving birth. But she was thinking too optimistically. Everyone in the rear courtyard of the Prince Jing's residence was a talent in their own right. Since they had prepared to strike at Xie Run, they wouldn't stop at just one scheme. At the critical moment of Xie Run's labor, a young maidservant suddenly shouted from outside. "Mistress, something terrible has happened! Our family's Eldest Master has fallen from his horse and broken his leg!" Xie Run, who was nearly losing consciousness from the pain, felt her mind go blank. Eldest Master? Who was that? What was this person shouting about? But Dantao, who was accompanying her through the birth, changed expression and immediately rushed out of the room, shouting, "Who was that speaking at the door just now?!" Chunjuan, who had been guarding the door, had already caught up with the person and dragged her back. She said angrily, "Sister Dantao, it's this little wretch!" Dantao said, "Throw her in the woodshed first. Have someone watch her. We'll deal with her after the mistress gives birth!" "Yes!" Chunjuan rolled up her sleeves, gnashing her teeth in fury. "Coming to cause trouble at the critical moment of the mistress's labor—you must not want to keep your life!" On the fourth day of the fourth month, at the beginning of the you hour, Xie Run successfully gave birth to a boy. The moment the child let out a cry, his wails resounded throughout the entire delivery room. Even the Princess Consort, waiting in the main hall, could hear it. The midwife holding the child couldn't help but praise, "Fifth Young Master has such a strong voice—clearly he's robust and healthy." Another midwife chimed in, "His newborn hair is thick too—clearly a sign of great fortune." The residence had produced three children in a row who were as small as kittens. Finally, they had delivered a sturdy young master, so the rewards would certainly be generous. They were about to bring the child to show Xie Run. Xie Run was utterly exhausted at this point. Looking at the child's tiny face, she finally let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, mothers. Dantao, double the rewards for the midwives." "They've worked hard too. Have the young maids attend to them—be sure not to treat them coldly." The two midwives grinned from ear to ear and hurriedly expressed their gratitude. Once they had left, Dantao seized the opportunity to ask Xie Run: "Master, what should we do with that little wench who disturbed your labor?" "Disturbed?" Xie Run was momentarily puzzled, only now recalling the young maid who had called out. It took a moment before Xie Run realized that the "Old Master" the maid had shouted about was Xie Run's own biological father. Seeing Xie Run silent, Dantao assumed she was unsure how to handle the matter for the time being. Dantao gnashed her teeth: "That black-hearted little wench!" "Shouting those things while you were in labor—she clearly meant to make your delivery difficult!" "The Old Master is far off in Chen Commandery; even if something truly happened, word couldn't have traveled this fast." "For her to come running and shouting like that, she's likely from the same lot as whoever sent Fang Huaian to our door—all to disturb your labor!" "Thank goodness you held steady, Master, and weren't affected by that little slut!" Xie Run couldn't very well say she actually hadn't registered who the Old Master was. Even if she had truly known it was Xie's father, she wouldn't have been affected in the slightest. It wasn't that she held steady—it was that she felt no attachment to the original owner's biological father. Xie Run: "Your guess is right. I suspect both groups are the work of a single hand." "This servant will have someone interrogate that little maid right away!" "No rush." Xie Run's brow also showed exhaustion: "She's a minor matter. What truly threatens your life and mine is Fang Huaian." "Since the other side could quietly smuggle Fang Huaian up to the capital, they must know about what happened between him and me back then." "If they use their tricks to make a scene before the Prince and embellish things a bit, my position could very well be in danger." Having just given birth, Xie Run was already deeply exhausted. But with these people refusing to let up, she had no choice but to force herself to carry on. "Don't be hasty either. I think I have a way to handle the Prince." "It's just that we're short on witnesses and evidence." Dantao immediately caught on: "This servant will find a way to get word to Eldest Young Master!" Xie Run nodded. "Have Eldest Brother start with the Fang family—ideally someone close to Fang Huaian. See if there's anything we can use."