Chapter 161: Shu'er, Throw! [Many thanks for everyone's support! Bowing again!]

In the room, many candles had been lit.

Wei Wei Shuyi gritted her teeth and exerted all her strength; at the foot of the bed, Nurse Li watched the situation beneath the quilt and shouted, "Young Lady, push harder! Push!"

"Ah!!!"

Wei Wei Shuyi screamed in agony, turning her head to look around the room, hoping to see something else to distract herself and lessen the physical pain.

Wherever her gaze fell,

The roof beams!

The bed curtains!

It still hurt!

Suddenly, amidst the flickering candlelight, she caught sight of the pitch-pot set upon the cabinet, followed immediately by another wave of intense pain that forced Wei Wei Shuyi to shut her eyes tight!

Perhaps the pain was too severe, for Wei Wei Shuyi experienced a brief moment of dizziness and disorientation.

Indistinctly,

Wei Wei Shuyi seemed to see the scene her younger sister had described that night:

Father sat in a chair, holding a pitch-pot arrow in his hand.

Though only middle-aged, white hair had already appeared at his temples.

The torment of prolonged illness had made him much thinner, yet his beard was surely combed neatly.

Father's pitch-pot skills were superb; Gao Chao, he must have hit the target with every arrow.

"Thump."

The arrow landed inside the pot's mouth.

The father in Wei Wei Shuyi's memory turned his head, glancing at the empty space beside him, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

Looking at the pitch-pot not far away, he threw another arrow.

Wei Wei Shuyi watched its trajectory and knew it would likely miss.

Father realized this too; shaking his head with a smile, he glanced once more at the empty space beside him: If Shu'er were here, she would certainly see it too!

But... she... was thousands of miles away.

Seeing the disappointment in Father's eyes, Wei Wei Shuyi felt a pang of pain in her heart.

Suddenly sensing something, he raised his head, furrowed his brows, and gazed intently, as if seeing Wei Wei Shuyi now, her head drenched in sweat; instantly, tears filled his eyes, brimming with tenderness and pity, while his lips trembled unconsciously.

But then he seemed to see the nurses and maids supporting and assisting her by her side.

He smiled faintly with relief.

And breathed a sigh of relief.

In a trance,

Wei Wei Shuyi returned to her childhood memories: in the dim yellow lamplight, Mother sat nearby smiling while holding her younger sister, and the household maids watched her with smiles.

Much younger and full of high spirits, Father squatted beside her, saying with eyes full of encouragement and joy:

"Shu'er, throw!"

All the scenes slowly faded away.

Once again, Wei Wei Shuyi's eyes filled with hot tears.

"Ah!!!!!!"

"Wah!!!"

"Wah!!!"

Loud crying sounds emanated from the bedchamber.

Everyone waiting in the side courtyard stood up abruptly; Nurse Fang felt the Old Lady's hand trembling violently.

Wei Wei Yuyi stood anxiously at the doorway, asking in a low voice, "Is it a boy or a girl? Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Master! Da Da Niangzi! Old Lady! Great joy! Great joy! It's a son!"

Hearing the sounds from the bedchamber, the Old Lady gripped Nurse Fang tightly, and the mistress and servant exchanged looks of disbelief.

Sheng Hong was also delighted; glancing at Wang Shi, he said, "Reward everyone! Reward them all!"

Then, pressing his palms together, he prayed, "Thank you, Liezulie Sect!"

The experienced midwife skillfully cleaned up the bedchamber.

Soon, everyone gathered in Wei Wei Shuyi's bedchamber.

Nurse Cui held a wrinkled infant in her arms; glancing at the Old Lady and Nurse Fang standing behind Sheng Hong and the others, and noting their slight head shakes, Nurse Cui placed the infant into Sheng Hong's arms.

Looking at the infant in the swaddling clothes, Sheng Hong smiled at Wei Wei Shuyi and said, "Wei Shuyi, you have worked hard."

Weakly, Wei Wei Shuyi smiled at Sheng Hong, or rather, at the swaddling clothes in Sheng Hong's arms.

Wang Shi smilingly took the swaddling clothes from Sheng Hong's arms; part of her smile stemmed from solidarity as a woman, knowing Wei Wei Shuyi had crossed the ghost gate of childbirth, but the greater reason was that with this child, the fairy of Linqi Pavilion would have some of her favor divided.

Hua Lan leaned over to take a look, then said to Minglan, "Ming'er, we have gained a younger brother."

Minglan, whose eye corners were still wet and whose long eyelashes were dotted with teardrops, nodded.

"Mother, please take a look too," Wang Shi said, carrying the swaddling clothes over to the Old Lady.

The Old Lady somewhat awkwardly took the child; looking at the infant in the swaddling clothes, her eyes were full of affection, while Nurse Fang brushed aside the edge of the swaddling to reveal the infant's ear.

The Old Lady smiled and nodded, then glanced at Sheng Hong.

"Just like the Master, there is a mole on the ear," Nurse Fang said with a smile. Hearing Nurse Fang's words, Sheng Hong subconsciously touched his own ear.

"Husband, really? Let me see," Wang Shi said from the side, reaching out to check, which made Sheng Hong feel somewhat embarrassed.

The Old Lady carried the infant over to Wei Shi's bedside, and Nurse Cui hurriedly took over to place him beside Wei Wei Shuyi.

"There are many matters these few days; Da Da Niangzi, please assign a few more maids to come help with the work."

"Yes, Mother," Wang Shi replied with a smile.

Lin Qige

Lin Lin Qinshuang listened to Zhou Zhou Xueniang's report, her expression extremely grim.

"That little whore; despite all those schemes, she still managed to give birth to that bastard!"

"Wei Xiaoniang, I think we should stop; ever since Guan Guan Pozi was beaten to death, the maids below have become increasingly difficult to control."

Lin Lin Qinshuang slowly steadied her breathing and said, "No rush, no rush; we still have ways. You may go down and let me think."

"Yes, Wei Xiaoniang."

After Zhou Zhou Xueniang left the room, Lin Lin Qinshuang, seated behind the desk, pressed her forehead and closed her eyes.

Splash, crack!

The brush washer that Mo Lan loved most was immediately thrown out by Lin Lin Qinshuang.

"Little bitch!"

"Old hag!"

"Young Master, Young Master."

Seeing Seeing Qingcao ran to the side chamber of Shou'an Hall, panting heavily as she spoke to Xu Xu Zaijing under the candlelight: "Young Master, Wei Wei Xiaoniang has given birth; it is a boy."

Hearing Seeing Seeing Qingcao's words, Xu Xu Zaijing clenched the book he was reading, then nodded and said, "Good; go to the second gate and tell Brother Qingyun to notify my sister."

"Yes, Young Master."

After Seeing Seeing Qingcao left the room, Xu Xu Zaijing put down the book, which had been crushed out of shape in his grip, and exited; in the dim garden, gazing at the sky full of stars, Xu Xu Zaijing slightly clenched his fist!

Two ke of an hour later

The Old Lady returned to Shou'an Hall and, seeing Xu Xu Zaijing standing at the door, smiled and said, "Jing-ge'er, why are you standing at the door?"

Behind the Old Lady, Minglan, Fang Mama, and the others saw him and immediately squatted to offer a bow.

"Congratulations, Great-Grandmother, on the birth of your grandson."

"Good; come inside quickly."

"Great-Grandmother, so few people returned with you; did you leave Mama Cui over there?" Xu Xu Zaijing asked.

The Old Lady nodded and said, "Wei Wei Xiaoniang's maid will not be back for a few more days; I have asked Cui Cui Ruan to manage things there for a few days."

"By the way, Jing-ge'er, how are matters with the Da Da Niangzi of Lady Ningyuan Marquis? If we can depart together at that time, we will have someone to look out for us."

"Great-Grandmother, that is exactly what I wanted to tell you; the Da Da Niangzi of the Bai family has said she will depart with us at that time."

The crowd entered Shou'an Hall.

The Old Lady pulled Xu Xu Zaijing by the arm to sit down and said, "I heard from Cui Cui Ruan that these past few days you have been dragging Physician Chen from Yishou Hall around our neighborhood? Jing-ge'er, you have been thoughtful."

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Great-Grandmother, it was merely a precaution; fortunately, it was not needed."

Minglan, standing to one side, looked at Xu Xu Zaijing with her bright, large eyes; when Xu Xu Zaijing looked back, the little girl hastily turned her gaze elsewhere.

While writing this,

I thought of that girl in Dream of the Red Chamber who cried out all night,

I thought of the protagonist in Interstellar, sitting happily before his aged daughter,

I thought of Wei Wei Shuyi lying on the bed with no one to help her.

Sigh...

Who is not the treasure in their parents' heart?

Deeply moved by my own sentiments, I wipe away my tears.

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(End of Chapter)