Chapter 499

These words were like a thunderbolt, instantly shattering the calmness on Chen Yan's face.

The gathered steadiness retreated suddenly like a tide, his pupils contracted sharply, his Adam's apple rolled violently twice, and after a long while, he burst out a short and urgent exclamation from his tense throat: "What?!"

He calculated the days, there were still a few days...

Who would have thought it was today!

Gao Jiong heard this, and a loud exclamation exploded in his heart: "Lady Pei is about to give birth?!"

Liu Muzi beside him reacted faster, first stunned, then the gloom in his brows dissipated, and he instantly beamed with joy, his eyes and brows filled with hidden smiles.

His fingers stroking his beard trembled slightly, his heart full of surprise and expectation, secretly exclaiming: "There is going to be a little Prince Heir?!"

The Duke's mansion had been looking forward to these two children for a long time, and now they finally waited for the day of delivery, even he, a bystander, couldn't help but feel hot in his heart.

You know, it is very likely that one of them will be the eldest legitimate son!

And, in the future, it will probably be him, Liu Muzi, who will open the enlightenment for the young master and pass on the teachings...

Zhu Yi and Hongye not far away looked at each other, both full of surprise and urgency, and hearing the news, they exclaimed in their hearts in unison: "Lady is about to give birth today?!"

Chen Yan slapped the table suddenly, and his whole person stood up abruptly.

His eyes were surging with urgency that could not be dissolved, and the blue veins on his temples were jumping slightly due to emotional agitation.

His gaze was like a torch, instantly locking onto Old Zhu who was waiting on the side, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness due to urgency, but resounding, urging: "Quick! Hurry and prepare the horses! Return to the mansion immediately!"

Every word seemed to carry wind, wrapped in his concern for his wife and children, breaking the short stagnation in the hall.

Zhu Yi knew his young master's anxiety at this moment, and responded loudly without hesitation: "Obey!"

He knew that this matter could not be delayed, and before the words fell, he had already turned and walked away with big strides.

Chen Yan's footsteps had already taken half a step, and he was about to rush out, when his figure stopped abruptly as if he suddenly remembered something.

He forcibly suppressed the concern in his heart, turned around, his gaze sharply locked onto Liu Muzi.

"Muzi," he said urgently but clearly, ordering calmly, "You go to the Bright Mirror Bureau first, and return to the mansion after finishing the errand!"

Liu Muzi heard this, the joy on his face instantly converged, his expression became solemn immediately, he bowed and cupped his hands, his waist bent very low, and responded loudly: "Obey! I will go and do it!"

Immediately, he stood up straight, not daring to delay for a moment.

He turned his head and gave a look to the Embroidered Attire Envoys at the gate, and everyone understood, nodding in unison to wait for orders.

Liu Muzi didn't say much, turned and led a group of Embroidered Attire Envoys away with big strides, the sound of boots was urgent, and their figures soon disappeared outside the hall.

Chen Yan suppressed the urgency in his heart, looked at Gao Jiong standing by the table, his gaze solemn, carrying full entrustment, his speed was fast, but every word was clear: "A-Jiong, all matters of Jingzhao Prefecture will be presided over by you!"

Gao Jiong heard this, his expression firm, nodded heavily, his voice loud and powerful: "My Lord, go ahead!"

"Everything here is up to me!"

"Remember, maintain the status quo, don't startle the snake!" Chen Yan reached out, patted Gao Jiong's shoulder, with full force, and instructed: "You have worked hard!"

Gao Jiong nodded: "I understand!"

After everything was arranged properly, Chen Yan didn't hesitate for half a moment, turned around and walked out with big strides.

The afternoon daylight was dimmed by thick clouds, and fine snowflakes were still drifting all over the sky, falling on the bluestone road, accumulating a thin layer of silver white, making the road surface more slippery and difficult to walk.

On the street, the traffic of the past had long been driven away by the wind and snow, only four divine black horses broke the silence, their hooves like thunder, rushing wildly wrapped in wind and snow.

"Drive! Drive! Drive!"

The urgent shouting pierced through the wind and snow and echoed on the street.

Chen Yan's dark brocade robe was blown huntingly by the cold wind, and the hem of the robe was stained with splashing snow foam and mud.

The horse whip in his hand swung fast, drawing a sharp arc in the air, falling heavily on the horse's buttocks again and again, with such force that it almost split the whip tip.

His gaze was locked on the familiar vermilion gate not far ahead, the outline of the mansion became clearer in the wind and snow, but every step of the distance seemed to be infinitely elongated.

Chen Yan's throat rolled, and he unconsciously muttered to himself: "Faster! Faster!"

Zhiqing gave birth and he wasn't there, Suiwan gave birth, he couldn't be absent again...

Four divine horses galloped through the snow and finally stopped abruptly in front of the vermilion gate of the Wei State Duke Mansion, and the snow foam raised by the iron hooves flew all over the sky.

Chen Yan jumped off the horse almost before the horse's body was stable.

The moment his feet landed, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and he let out a long breath against the cold air coming toward him: "Hoo~"

The urgent journey just now made fine sweat beads ooze from his temples, which slid down his temples mixed with snow water, but he was completely unaware.

The private soldiers on duty at the gate had already heard the sound, and seeing Chen Yan return, they bowed and cupped their hands in unison, shouting loudly: "Greetings, Duke!"

Chen Yan's gaze was locked on the mansion, and he had no time to say much, throwing the horse whip in his hand to them.

"No need for formalities!" He just dropped four words and rushed into the mansion with big strides.

Zhu Yi, Hongye, and Chen Heyi followed closely, not daring to delay for a moment.

The warm pavilion deep in the mansion was baked warm by charcoal fire, which was a different world from the wind, snow, and cold outside the mansion. This was exactly the delivery room of Pei Suiwan.

The pavilion door was tightly closed, and one could vaguely hear the low soothing voice of the midwife inside, and the air was filled with the faint scent of mugwort and anxious expectation.

Pei Xun, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, stood with his hands behind his back on the veranda, his brows furrowed slightly, his gaze locked on the pavilion door.

Cui Yuanyong was sitting and standing uneasily, her fingertips repeatedly twisting the silk handkerchief, the pearl hairpin on her temples swaying gently with the slight movement, her eyes full of concern for her daughter.

Chen Yan strode across the courtyard, and as soon as he looked up, he saw the two on the veranda. His urgent footsteps slowed down slightly, he stepped forward and bowed deeply to Pei Xun and Cui Yuanyong, his voice carrying the hoarseness after the journey, but unable to hide the respect: "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law!"

Hongye, Zhu Yi, and Chen Heyi behind him followed closely, and seeing this, they immediately stopped, bowed and saluted in unison, their tone respectful and neat: "Greetings, Lord Pei! Greetings, Lady Cui!"

Pei Xun on the veranda heard the sound, turned around slowly, his gaze fell on Chen Yan, and his previously tightly locked brows relaxed slightly: "A-Yan is back?"

As soon as the words fell, he raised his eyes and looked at Chen Yan up and down.

Only to see the person in front of him in a dark brocade robe, stained with snow foam and mud, his hair disheveled and sticking to his temples, his cheeks flushed with abnormal redness due to galloping all the way.

Fine sweat beads were still oozing from his temples and neck, flowing down mixed with melted snow water, and his breathing was obviously heavy, completely losing his usual orderly bearing.

One look and he knew he was in a hurry to rush, and couldn't take care of anything else...

Seeing this, Pei Xun flashed a hint of realization in his eyes, and then opened his mouth: "Look at you sweating profusely, you must have galloped all the way back, right?"

Chen Yan still hadn't calmed his rapid breathing, his chest heaving constantly, hearing this, he nodded heavily, his throat rolled twice, and he barely stabilized his breath, panting and responding: "Exactly!"

He paused, took a breath, and continued: "After getting the news, I rushed back without stopping for a moment!"

The anxiety and urgency in his eyes did not dissipate, and his gaze still unconsciously glanced at the tightly closed door of the warm pavilion, his heart full of his wife inside.

Pei Xun looked at Chen Yan covered in dust, and opened his mouth slowly, his tone peaceful but carrying a hint of comfort: "Your mother-in-law and I also arrived not long ago, we were almost one after another."

Lady Cui saw Chen Yan in this state, and stepped forward half a step, her tone carrying heartache, and handed over a clean silk handkerchief: "Wipe your sweat quickly, be careful of catching a cold..."

Chen Yan hurriedly reached out to take the silk handkerchief, his heart warmed, and he bowed and nodded to Lady Cui: "Many thanks, Mother-in-law."

Immediately, he raised his hand and wiped the sweat beads and snow water on his temples and neck in a hurry.

The disheveled hair was slightly smoothed, and the redness on his face faded a bit, but the anxiety in his eyes still did not decrease.

Handing the silk handkerchief back to the maid beside him, Chen Yan's gaze was firmly locked on the tightly closed door of the warm pavilion again, his throat rolled, and he finally couldn't suppress the concern in his heart, turned to Pei Xun and Lady Cui, and asked urgently: "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, how long has Suiwan been inside?"

Pei Xun thought for a moment and replied steadily: "About an incense stick of time."

Lady Cui's gaze was always glued to that tightly closed pavilion door, and the embroidery handkerchief was twisted into an unrecognizable shape in her hand.

After a long while, she sighed lightly, her voice full of worry and heartache, carrying a hint of undisguised heaviness: "Suiwan has a tribulation to cross today..."

"Since ancient times, women giving birth is a ghost gate!"

Pei Xun heard this, his brows immediately furrowed slightly, turned to look at his wife, his tone carrying a hint of reproach, but more of comfort and certainty: "What unlucky words are you saying!"

He paused, his gaze swept over Chen Yan, whose expression was becoming more and more solemn, and looked at the warm pavilion, his voice resounding: "Our daughter is blessed, she has been smooth and healthy since childhood, and her temperament is tough, she will definitely give birth to two children safely!"

Lady Cui reacted suddenly that she had spoken wrongly, these words were too unlucky, how could she say them at this juncture.

She hurriedly raised her hand to pat her mouth, repeatedly saying "Pah pah pah," her face full of annoyance and urgency: "It was me who spoke nonsense!"

Saying this, she clasped her hands tightly, her eyes closed slightly, her expression as pious as the most loyal believer, and prayed softly toward the warm pavilion: "Buddha, you must bless Suiwan!"

"Bless my child to go smoothly!"

"As long as Suiwan can be safe and sound, and give birth to a healthy child, I will distribute porridge at Dazhihu Temple for three months, to help the poor, and accumulate blessings and longevity for her!"

Chen Yan pursed his already dry lips, his gaze stuck to the warm pavilion door, his throat rolling with concern for his wife, and said in a deep voice: "Now by Suiwan's side is the time when she needs people the most..."

"I will go in and watch her, and face it with her!"

This is the time when a woman is most vulnerable, and she cannot be left alone inside.

Before the sound fell, he walked toward the warm pavilion door.

But just as he reached the door, an elderly midwife guarding the door immediately stepped forward, stretched out her arm to block Chen Yan firmly, her face full of urgency and embarrassment, her tone carrying determination: "Duke, no!"