Chapter 500: Child Betrothal

Chen Yan's eyebrows tightened instantly, the burning in his eyes suddenly turned to displeasure, and the Air Pressure around him dropped sharply.

He stared at the midwife, his voice suddenly rose, and he harshly demanded, "Why!"

The midwife, frightened, trembled all over, instinctively recoiled a bit, her face turned pale, yet she still forced herself to bend and reply, her tone respectful but unwilling to loosen her mouth: "Duke, calm your anger! This is against the rules!"

"The delivery room is a place for women to give birth; traditionally men are not allowed inside, and moreover the delivery room is unclean, fearing it would defile the Duke's noble body!"

"To hell with the rules!"

Hearing this, Chen Yan curled his mouth fiercely, and shouted, "Step aside for me!"

Then, he raised his hand, ready to push aside the midwife blocking him.

What nonsense feudal superstition, even uncleanness has come?

If there were truly such chances, the new era wouldn't have so many companions for delivery…

Pei Xun immediately hurried forward, grabbed Chen Yan's arm, and warned, "A Yan, don't act rashly!"

"You've been galloping on horseback through wind and snow, your whole body wrapped in cold; now barging into the Warm Chamber could easily chill Suiwan, ruining the big matter!"

His voice was steady and strong, bearing the authority and reason of an elder: "Matters of delivery are taken care of by the midwife and maids; you waiting outside is the best support for her."

"Do not let a moment's impatience ruin propriety, and instead cause Suiwan to be distracted!"

Cui Yuanrong, seeing this, quickly stepped forward, her tone as soft as warm water, full of understanding and consolation: "A Yan, I know your heart is urgent, and I also know you care most about Suiwan!"

Her gaze was earnest, with the sisterly concern of a woman, "But the matter of giving birth, we laypeople do not know medicine; rashly entering would only disturb the midwife's rhythm, and instead cause Suiwan trouble; better to stay outside and let her focus her strength."

The maid Qingyu also hurried forward, bowed and softly agreed: "Indeed, Young Master! Lord Pei and Madam Cui are right!"

She paused, then added: "Mingyue has been inside all along!"

Chen Yan took a deep breath, the breath carrying the slight chill from outside the Warm Chamber, and suppressed his earlier impulse; his tense shoulders slowly relaxed a bit, he slowly released his clenched white‑knuckled fist, fingertips trembling slightly, and said softly, "It was my impulsiveness."

The notion of uncleanliness, Chen himself despised, but his father‑in‑law's analysis was reasonable…

Caring for oneself would cause chaos, yet he forgot this crucial point.

The words fell, and he turned to look at the tightly closed Warm Chamber door, the burning in his eyes and his heartache fully revealed.

He inhaled again, raised his voice toward the door panel, his voice hoarse from the journey, yet full of genuine concern and certainty: "Suiwan! I'm back!"

"I'm waiting outside for you to come out! Don't be afraid, I've always been here!" Inside the Warm Chamber, the charcoal fire burned brightly, the swirling heat wrapped with mugwort scent; Pei Suiwan was drenched in sweat, her hair stuck to her pale cheeks, and she clenched her teeth enduring wave after wave of intense pain.

Just as her strength waned, almost unable to hold on, a familiar hoarse voice came from outside the door, like light piercing the mist, making her heart suddenly quake.

"It's my husband! My husband has returned!"

Tears welled in her eyes, a weak yet joyful smile curved her mouth, and she whispered softly.

An inexplicable warm current rose in her heart, and the previously exhausted strength seemed to return a few more points.

The experienced midwife beside her saw this, immediately seized the moment, and loudly urged: "Madam, that's it! Use this vigor, push! Push harder!"

The midwife steadily supported her, her tone urgent yet calm, guiding her to adjust her breathing.

Qingyu focused on the sounds inside, her peripheral glance caught a young couple hurriedly walking from the courtyard, led by Private Soldiers; she quickly turned to Chen Yan and whispered, "Young Master, the Prince and Princess have arrived!"

"Yuwen Ze has arrived?"

Chen Yan, hearing this, temporarily withdrew his gaze from the Warm Chamber door, and turned his head to look.

He saw Yuwen Ze dressed in a sapphire Brothel, accompanied by the equally eager Du Shuying, and followed by Lu Cangfeng, the three walking quickly through the accumulated snow.

Yuwen Ze took a few steps forward, his face full of concern, after a slight nod to Pei Xun and his spouse, he turned to Chen Yan, urgently asking, "A Xiong, how is your sister‑in‑law?"

Chen Yan's gaze subconsciously drifted to the tightly closed Warm Chamber door, faintly hearing his wife's restrained low moan from inside, his brows slightly furrowed, and said, "She's still inside!"

Then, pointing to the chair padded with thick brocade, he continued, "You two don't stand, sit quickly."

"It should still need some hours…"

Du Shuying, hearing this, did not sit immediately, but raised her hand to gather the stray hair at her temple, then from the wide sleeves embroidered with entwined lotus patterns, took out a neatly folded bright‑yellow brocade silk pouch.

She lightly brushed the tassel on the pouch edge with her fingertips, a gentle and resolute smile on her face, stepped forward and handed the brocade pouch to Chen Yan: "Brother, this is a prayer document I specially went to Dazhi Hu Temple a few days ago to earn sincerely for Suiwan."

"The senior monk at the temple personally recited the sutra and empowered it; it will surely protect her smooth delivery, and you will have mother and child safe!"

The brocade pouch was warm to the touch, still carrying a faint sandalwood scent; Chen Yan quickly reached out, took it, his fingertips pinching the orderly document, a warm feeling rose in his heart.

He respectfully clasped his fist to Du Shuying, his tone full of gratitude: "Sister‑in‑law, you are thoughtful!"

"I have thanked Suiwan for this friendship!"

Saying that, he carefully tucked the prayer document into his chest.

Du Shuying quickly waved her hand, a hint of embarrassment yet firm on her face: "What does the Duke say that's right?"

She then turned sideways, gently took Yuwen Ze's arm, tightened her fingertips, her tone solemn and earnest: "You and my husband are brothers, inseparable; I and Suiwan have been friends since we were of marrying age, drawing eyebrows together, chatting heart to heart, the closest confidantes."

"Now she is in labor, how could I not care?"

"These are what I should do, only wishing her to be safe and smooth, giving birth to a healthy child."

Yuwen Ze, standing beside, nodded repeatedly, echoing, "Brother, rest assured, A Sister is blessed by heaven, and with this prayer document, it will surely be smooth."

"We will stay here with you, waiting for good news!"

Cui Yuanrong's eyes instantly warmed, heart full of emotion, she stepped forward, grabbed Du Shuying's hand, fingertips trembling with excitement, her tone sincere: "I haven't mistaken, Shuying truly is a good child!"

"For Suiwan to have a confidante like you is her fortune, and also our Pei family's fortune!"

Her eyes were full of content.

After all, even she, as a mother, hadn't thought of these things…

Du Shuying, praised, blushed slightly, gently shook her head, softly replied, "Aunt, you overpraise!"

She looked up at the Warm Chamber door, her expression becoming more solemn, "I am like a sister to Suiwan; her matters are my matters."

"As long as Suiwan can safely give birth to a child, everything is worthwhile!"

Cui Yuanrong nodded repeatedly, her concern and emotion intertwined, she looked at Du Shuying, then at the tightly closed Warm Chamber, a hint of devotion flashing in her eyes, and suggested, "Let's pray to the Buddha together; the more sincerity, the more protection, hoping Suiwan can be smooth."

"Alright." Du Shuying immediately nodded, her tone firm.

The two stood side by side on the corridor, released each other's hands, gently pressed their palms together, eyes slightly closed, faces solemn and devout.

Cui Yuanrong was the first to softly recite the prayer sutra, the voice gentle yet clear, full of earnest wishes.

Du Shuying followed closely, also chanting the sutra, the words sincere.

Yuwen Ze watched the two praying in the corridor, suddenly remembered something, raised his hand and took out two palm‑sized objects from his pocket.

They were a pair of exquisite pure‑gold longevity locks, the lock bodies engraved with intricate "longevity for a hundred years" patterns.

Tiny lotus tassels adorned the edges; sunlight filtered through the corridor eaves onto them, reflecting a warm and dazzling sheen, instantly revealing them as meticulously crafted.

He leaned close to Chen Yan, handed the longevity locks over, his face showing a hint of expectation: "A Xiong, I had a craftsman make these beforehand, these two golden longevity locks!"

"Put them on the children later, to keep them safe and healthy all their lives."

Chen Yan, seeing this, couldn't help but exclaim, "You brat!"

Yuwen Ze thrust the gold lock into his hand, laughing, "No need to thank me! Between brothers, we don't need that word!"

Then, rubbing his hands, his tone edged with eager anticipation: "You'd better be a hands‑on kid!"

"When the time comes, I'll be their godfather!"

Chen Yan held the warm gold locks, a genuine smile tugging at his mouth, and readily nodded, "Fine. I'll take charge of this for them!"

Yuwen Ze gently nudged Chen Yan's arm with his elbow, his tone teasing and mysterious, lowering his voice as he laughed, "A Xiong, before I arrive, my father said that if we could arrange another child‑marriage, a marriage upon a marriage, that would be perfect!"

Da Zhongzai Baba, are you trying to make up for your own regret? ……… Chen Yan heard this, raised an eyebrow slightly, muttered inwardly, and laughed, "Brother, I'm more than happy!"

A good father and mother didn't happen; he and A Ze are both grown men, with no daughters to marry into the Duke of Wei's mansion, so it seems they plan to fulfill the wish through the next generation…

He paused, then his tone suddenly shifted; his gaze swept over the Princess Consort beside Yuwen Ze, and with a teasing tone he said, "But you and your sister‑in‑law must step up your effort!"

Yuwen Ze blinked, his face instantly showing confidence, his tone brimming with unhidden pride, lowering his voice as he replied, "Soon, soon! In nine months we'll know…."

"Oh?"

Chen Yan saw his mysterious yet confident demeanor, instantly understood, a knowing smile tugging his mouth, raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "From what you say, does your sister‑in‑law already have (one)?"

Yuwen Ze puffed his chest, lifted his head high, his tone exceedingly proud with a hint of bragging, "Since returning from Hezhou these past months, I haven't had a single idle moment!"

Over an hour later, a sharp, mournful shout suddenly rang from the Warm Pavilion: "Ah—!"

The sound pierced the door, carrying a heart‑rending pain, instantly shattering the courtyard's warmth.

Chen Yan shuddered, his expression froze, his heart clenched hard, and almost reflexively cried out, "Suiwan!"

He staggered forward two steps, his gaze fixed on the Warm Pavilion doors, eyes filled with panic and anguish, even forgetting his breathing rhythm.

Cui Yuanrong's silk handkerchief was already twisted beyond shape; hearing her daughter's cry, tears instantly welled, she bit her lip hard, her voice trembling with pain: "My daughter!"

Beside her, Pei Xun's face grew solemn, his brows knotted, the hand he held behind his back clenched tightly, fingertips whitening.

Yuwen Ze and his wife also wore faces full of worry.

Du Shuying instinctively grasped Cui Yuanrong's hand, soothing her softly, yet herself was so nervous her palms sweated.

Everyone's hearts were tugged to the throat by that cry, the corridor instantly fell into dead silence, only the rapid breaths of the crowd remained, starkly contrasting the sudden stillness inside the Warm Pavilion.

Chen Yan anxiously guarded the doorway, his ear pressed close, trying to hear any movement inside, but after that cry, the Warm Pavilion was utterly silent.

His mind grew more frantic, muttering, "Why is there no sound? Suiwan, how are you?"

Just as everyone's nerves were frayed, the Warm Pavilion door creaked open.

A sweating midwife emerged from inside, her face weary yet unable to hide the joy in her eyes; she hurried to Chen Yan, bowed deeply, then straightened, beaming, and shouted loudly, "Congratulations, Duke! Congratulations, Duke! The lady has given birth…."