Ren Yaoqi took the Lei family’s carriage to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor. By this time, the sky had already darkened. The Lei family’s coachman knew the situation was urgent and drove the carriage at breakneck speed. Fortunately, there were almost no pedestrians on the road at this hour. Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat jolted sitting in the carriage, but she didn’t make a sound. Her heart was also anxious, fearing they wouldn’t make it in time.

The carriage soon arrived at the Yanbei Prince’s Manor. However, after nightfall, the manor’s guards were even more strict than usual. When the Lei family’s carriage reached the manor gates, it was stopped by the guards.

Ren Yaoqi quickly got out of the carriage and instructed Pingguo to find a familiar gatekeeper to report to Xiao Jingling or the Princess Consort. Though she didn’t visit the Yanbei Prince’s Manor frequently, the manor’s gatekeepers almost all recognized her senior maids, so finding someone to make the report wouldn’t be difficult.

Pingguo had just left to carry out her orders when a carriage drove out from within the manor. That carriage happened to stop right in front of Ren Yaoqi. When the curtain was lifted, the person sitting inside was Zhao Yingqiu.

Ren Yaoqi was anxious and didn’t plan to exchange pleasantries with Zhao Yingqiu, only nodding. However, Zhao Yingqiu said, “Does Miss Ren have urgent business requiring entry to the manor? I heard the County Princess isn’t in the manor today. Miss Ren could have someone report to the Princess Consort.”

Ren Yaoqi thanked Zhao Yingqiu and was about to say a few more words when Pingguo came hurrying over with a guard-like man. The guard had thick eyebrows and large eyes with a dark complexion, looking somewhat familiar.

“Miss Ren, do you need to enter the manor? Your carriage can go in.” After bowing, the guard grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

Ren Yaoqi was stunned: “No need to make a report?”

The dark-faced guard smiled honestly: “Others need to report, you don’t.” He paused, then added: “Oh, this was ordered by the master. Please proceed.”

At this point, Ren Yaoqi didn’t stand on ceremony. She thanked him, nodded to Zhao Yingqiu in the nearby carriage, then got into her carriage. The dark-faced guard called out to the guards at the manor entrance, and the Lei family’s carriage entered the manor gates just like that.

Because people at the Yanbei Prince’s Manor all recognized Ren Yaoqi, her entry into the manor’s inner halls was very smooth. When walking in front of Jiuyang Hall, Ren Yaoqi remembered that the dark-faced guard seemed to be called Mu Hu. But wasn’t Deputy General Mu a city gate guard? When did he come to guard the Yanbei Prince’s Manor gates?

Ren Yaoqi naturally didn’t know that Mu Hu had been unable to find Nanxing these past days, so whenever he was free or during his rest days, he would come to guard the Yanbei Prince’s Manor gates. The dark-faced man firmly believed that no matter where Nanxing went on missions, she would eventually return to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor. Regarding his persistent behavior, his master Xiao Jingxi turned a blind eye, and naturally, everyone else let him be.

Ren Yaoqi smoothly entered Jiuyang Hall and met the Princess Consort. By good coincidence, the Yanbei Prince was actually in the manor. When Ren Yaoqi entered, the Prince and Princess Consort were sitting together, drinking tea and talking.

Though Ren Yaoqi had much contact with the Princess Consort, she had never spoken with the Yanbei Prince, having only seen him a few times.

Knowing she had disturbed the Prince and Princess Consort, Ren Yaoqi felt quite apologetic. However, with the urgent situation, after performing her courtesies, she quickly stated her purpose.

“A difficult birth?” The Princess Consort was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

Ren Yaoqi had originally thought she was just borrowing a midwife, which shouldn’t be difficult. But because her gaze remained fixed on the Princess Consort’s face, she didn’t miss the fleeting hesitation that crossed it.

Ren Yaoqi’s heart sank. Could there be some hidden circumstances she didn’t know about?

However, the Princess Consort’s hesitation lasted only a moment. If Ren Yaoqi hadn’t been so observant, no one would have noticed. The Princess Consort quickly exchanged glances with the Prince, then the Prince, with his dignified demeanor, waved his hand: “It’s just a midwife, isn’t it? Nanny Xin, go call Nanny Gong and have her make a trip to the Lei family.”

The Princess Consort also nodded to Nanny Xin, who immediately bowed her head and withdrew.

Seeing the worry on Ren Yaoqi’s face, the Princess Consort comforted her gently: “It’ll be fine. Nanny Gong has some skills. With her handling it, your sister will be alright.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded, and the Princess Consort asked about Ren Yaohua’s condition. Ren Yaoqi told her everything she knew.

Nanny Xin quickly returned.

“This servant had Nanny Gong sent directly to the carriage.”

The Princess Consort nodded and instructed, “Yaoqi shouldn’t go to the delivery room. Nanny Xin, you go along and see if there’s anything you can help with.”

Nanny Xin immediately agreed and then left.

The Princess Consort said to Ren Yaoqi: “Though Nanny Xin isn’t a midwife, at her age, she’s seen all sorts of situations. Having her go might be helpful. Since it’s not convenient for you to go to the Lei family, just wait for news from there.”

Ren Yaoqi quickly expressed her thanks.

The Princess Consort smiled: “We’re all family – what’s there to thank? Isn’t that right, Your Highness?” The Princess Consort glanced at the Yanbei Prince, who had maintained his dignified demeanor throughout.

“Mm.” The Yanbei Prince nodded, very much the head of household.

Having secured the midwife, Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to disturb the Princess Consort and Prince further. After sitting briefly, she took her leave. The Princess Consort, knowing she was worried about her sister, didn’t detain her long, only sending some people to escort her back.

After returning from the manor, Ren Yaoqi still couldn’t sit. Seeing her restless state, Ren Shimin said, “Since you’re so worried, go take a look. You can’t enter the delivery room, but you can wait outside the main gate.”

Ren Yaoqi thought about it and felt Ren Shimin made sense. Going to wait there would let her know the news immediately. So finally, Ren Shimin accompanied Ren Yaoqi to the Lei family. After all, it was getting late, and Ren Shimin wasn’t comfortable letting Ren Yaoqi go out alone. Moreover, at such a time, it was good for him to go and keep watch.

However, Ren Yaoqi was afraid that entering the Lei family might bring bad luck to the child. After all, many families in Yanbei paid attention to such customs, and both the Princess Consort and Nanny Xin had repeatedly emphasized this point. So finally, Ren Shimin went inside while she waited in the carriage.

Fortunately, the weather in Yanbei wasn’t cold in August, and there was a slight breeze at night that wasn’t stuffy. Ren Yaoqi sat in the carriage, continuously waiting for news from inside.

However, Ren Yaoqi hadn’t been waiting long when she suddenly heard “tap tap tap” sounds – someone was knocking on the carriage wall.

Ren Yaoqi was startled, then immediately realized what was happening and gently lifted the carriage curtain.

The Lei family’s lanterns were lit brightly. Ren Yaoqi saw Xiao Jingxi standing under the lights. Xiao Jingxi was backlit, his handsome features taking on a mysterious charm in the hazy lamplight, making him seem even more otherworldly.

Ren Yaoqi held the carriage curtain in her hand and said softly, “How did you come?”

Xiao Jingxi said in a low voice: “I just returned to the manor and heard you’d been there. I guessed you’d come here, so I came to check.”

Ren Yaoqi remained silent, not knowing what to say. Her heart was still unsettled. Having experienced her previous life, she didn’t want to see her loved ones leave again, or all her efforts would be wasted.

Xiao Jingxi stood separated from her by only the carriage window and asked quietly: “You requested Nanny Gong from beside my mother?”

Ren Yaoqi nodded: “Yes, I heard Nanny Gong is a very skilled midwife who can save even cases with wrong fetal positioning.”

Xiao Jingxi smiled: “That’s true. She delivered both Jingling and me when my mother gave birth. I heard my birth wasn’t smooth either – father was ready to give up on this son, but mother insisted that Nanny Gong save me. That’s why I’m standing here perfectly fine before you now.”

This was the first time Ren Yaoqi had heard this story, and she couldn’t help being drawn to give it some attention. She thought, no wonder Xiao Jingxi had been in poor health since childhood.

“Was your elder brother also delivered by Nanny Gong?” Because of her unsettled state of mind and facing Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi didn’t think much when speaking. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t easily mention the deceased heir – the dead cannot return, but the living relatives still grieve and suffer.

Xiao Jingxi paused, then smiled: “Yes, my elder brother was also delivered by Nanny Gong.”

The two continued talking like this, though it was just casual conversation. Sometimes when neither spoke, they would fall into silence, but Ren Yaoqi felt much more at peace with Xiao Jingxi by her side.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, there was finally movement from the Lei residence.

Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to send someone to check, Ren Yaohua’s maid Xiangqin came running out. Before even crossing the threshold of the Lei residence gates, she called out loudly: “She’s born, she’s born! Miss has given birth!”

Ren Yaoqi’s spirits lifted immediately. She quickly lifted the carriage curtain and urgently asked: “How is sister?”

Xiangqin ran over in quick steps, her face unable to hide her joy: “Miss is fine! Mother and daughter are both safe!”

Only then did Ren Yaoqi truly breathe a sigh of relief, then discovered her palms were completely covered in cold sweat.

“As long as they’re safe. How is her body? Is she still conscious?”

Xiangqin said, “Miss fainted once earlier, giving us quite a scare. We thought… That Nanny Gong from the Prince’s Manor is amazing. I don’t know what method she used to wake Miss up, then gave her a bowl of some medicine, and the child was born. However, Miss is somewhat weakened now and has fallen asleep. Nanny Gong said this is normal after giving birth. Miss will wake up tomorrow. She also gave us a prescription, saying if we follow her recipe for medicine, Miss’s body will recover quickly and future births will go more smoothly.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded, then asked: “Sister gave birth to a daughter?”

Xiangqin thought Ren Yaoqi was worried that having a daughter would make things difficult for Ren Yaohua in her in-laws’ house, and quickly said quietly: “Fifth Miss, don’t worry. Though our miss gave birth to a daughter, the son-in-law wasn’t unhappy at all. The son-in-law was just worried about our miss. He’s a good man.”