“My elder brother was poisoned in his early years, and his body has been extremely weak. Recently, he has been coughing up blood continuously. Yan… would like to ask Physician Hong from the Bai residence to examine my elder brother. Would this be possible?” Xiao Rongyan asked.

Elder brother…

That would be the Emperor of Yan.

She pondered briefly, her fingers tapping intermittently on the table surface. After just a moment, her hand movements paused as she said, “I think this matter need not be done in secret.”

Bai Qingyan’s gaze fell upon Murong Li, who was watching Xiao Si with an envious expression. Xiao Si was speaking eloquently and animatedly about something.

“It could be that… the Fourth Prince heard that our Bai residence has a divine physician, Physician Hong, and requests Physician Hong to go treat the Emperor of Yan. The more openly and honestly this matter is conducted under the Jin Emperor’s nose, the less the Jin Emperor will suspect it. Just like… how you openly brought the Emperor of Yan boating on the lake, and today brought the Fourth Prince to visit the temple fair – the more upright you are, the better.”

Just now, seeing that Bai Qingyan hadn’t answered for a long while, Xiao Rongyan had thought she was weighing the pros and cons, but hadn’t expected that she was thinking of a solution.

“Just as the Princess says.” Xiao Rongyan revealed a smile, his profound eyes gazing deeply at Bai Qingyan. “In the Princess’s view, when would be best for the Fourth Prince to call?”

“My Fifth Aunt is about to give birth soon. How about… letting the Fourth Prince inquire about famous physicians these few days, then call after my Fifth Aunt gives birth? This would be more natural and logical. What does Master Xiao think?”

Xiao Rongyan felt grateful toward Bai Qingyan and nodded, “Yan thanks the Princess here.”

Bai Jinzhi ate the Baoxiang duck to her heart’s content at Baoxiang Restaurant, and even brought two home when leaving, happily bidding farewell to Xiao Rongyan and Murong Li.

Who knows what Bai Jinzhi had said to the child Murong Li just now – when Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi were about to leave, Murong Li’s eyes held light as he looked at Bai Qingyan.

As soon as they got in the carriage, Bai Qingyan asked Bai Jinzhi, “What did you tell the Fourth Prince of Great Yan?”

“Nothing much, just talked about Elder Sister’s troop deployment at Weng Mountain and Nine-Curve Peak. That child is quite clever – when I was standing outside the door listening to Elder Sister speak without a map, I was completely confused, but when I explained it to that child, he understood immediately!” Bai Jinzhi couldn’t hide her fondness for this new little friend in her words.

“You’re still a child yourself…” she said with a smile.

When Bai Qingyan’s carriage arrived at the entrance of Duke Zhenguo’s Princess residence, the two large lanterns and four small lanterns at the gate were already lit, illuminating the six vermillion lacquered wooden doors of Duke Zhenguo’s Princess residence extremely brightly.

The gatekeeper servants inside the residence saw it was Bai Qingyan’s carriage and hurriedly ran out from inside with quick steps, saying to those in the carriage, “First Miss, Fourth Miss! The Fifth Madam has gone into labor.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Jinzhi urgently rushed out of the carriage but was pulled back by her, “Don’t panic. Fifth Aunt has given birth to two children before – she has experience.”

“Elder Sister, do you think… will Fifth Aunt give birth to a son or daughter?” Bai Jinzhi was extremely anxious.

Being a girl herself, Bai Jinzhi had no prejudice against daughters. She was just afraid… if Fifth Aunt gave birth to a male child, and the Emperor wanted to move against the Bai family again, what would they do?

“Regardless of male or female, they are all blood of our Bai family, and Elder Sister will protect them!” Knowing Bai Jinzhi’s worries, Bai Qingyan tightly grasped Bai Jinzhi’s hand and said.

“I will also protect this child!” Bai Jinzhi said.

She looked at her sister who had already grown up and nodded, holding Bai Jinzhi’s hand as they got off the carriage together and walked toward Fifth Aunt’s courtyard.

Hearing that Fifth Madam Qi Shi had gone into labor, even Bai Jinxiu, who was far away at the Qin residence, couldn’t sit still and ordered a carriage to return home.

Second Madam Liu Shi was worried that her daughter would be frightened hearing Fifth Madam’s cries of pain during childbirth, so she had Nanny Luo settle Bai Jinxiu in Qingzhu Pavilion to wait for news.

When Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi arrived, Dong Shi had just had the midwife bring in chicken and rice porridge, telling her to let Qi Shi eat a couple of bites during the intervals between contractions to have strength for childbirth.

She grasped her mother, Dong Shi’s, hand and said, “Fifth Aunt has given birth to two children before – this birth will only be smoother.”

Third Madam Li Shi nodded.

The sky had completely darkened, and the corridor lamps under the azure bricks and emerald tiles were all lit.

Inside the birthing room it was chaotic. Soon the midwife called out loudly for hot water. The maids holding copper basins and lined up in orderly fashion under the small kitchen corridor immediately filed in upon hearing this.

The two women heating water in the small kitchen lifted the large pot, pouring hot water into the copper basins. The maids received the hot water and carried the copper basins, hurrying into the birthing room one by one.

Not long after, Nanny Jiang, who had received the news, also returned.

Except for several young children accompanying Bai Jinxiu in Qingzhu Pavilion, and Fourth Madam Wang Shi praying before Buddha for Fifth Madam’s safe delivery of mother and child, everyone else from the Bai family sat in Fifth Aunt’s courtyard waiting for news.

In late March, the night breeze was slightly cool.

From time to time, the midwife’s voice urging Fifth Madam Qi Shi to push came from the birthing room. When they heard the midwife shouting that they could already see the child’s head, Bai Qingyan couldn’t contain herself and stood up.

“Good, good! Once we can see the head, it’s fast – being the third birth, it’s much faster than last time!”

The nannies in the birthing room lifted the curtain and shouted outside, “Hot water!”

Soon, another round of hot water was sent in.

“Push hard, Fifth Madam! Quickly! It’s about to come out!” the midwife called out loudly.

Sitting in the courtyard, Bai Qingyan heard Fifth Madam’s hoarse scream, followed by the loud crying of a newborn from inside the birthing room.

“Born! Born!” Nanny Zhai, with her sleeves rolled up, came out with quick, small steps, beaming with joy. After respectfully bowing, she said, “Fifth Madam has given birth – it’s a particularly beautiful young lady!”

Indeed, Fifth Aunt had still given birth to a daughter.

Dong Shi breathed a sigh of relief, pressing her handkerchief to her chest, exhaling a long breath, and laughing, “When women give birth, it’s like walking through the gates of hell. Fortunately, mother and daughter are both safe! Quickly, Nanny Zhai, send someone to report to Fifth Madam’s maternal family that Fifth Madam has given birth and the mother and child are safe!”

Nanny Zhai was Fifth Madam Qi Shi’s dowry nanny. With a face full of joy, she curtsied and responded, “This old servant has already had someone prepare a carriage and wait. I’ll have someone go to the Qi residence to report immediately. The Old Madam will be able to relax knowing this, too.”

Dong Shi saw Nanny Jiang standing to one side, also relieved, and said, “Nanny Jiang should also quickly go report to Mother that mother and daughter are safe, so Mother won’t worry anymore!”

Nanny Jiang smiled and agreed, her heart finally at ease, but… if only it had been a young master!

“Yes! Thank goodness, mother and daughter are safe!” Second Madam Liu Shi looked very happy, but amid her happiness, she inevitably felt it was a pity – if Fifth Sister-in-law’s child had been a male baby, that would have been wonderful.

Probably everyone in the Bai family would feel it was a pity, but what could be more important than Qi Shi and her child being safe?

Dong Shi turned and instructed Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi, “Alright! You and Xiao Si go back and change clothes before coming over. Your aunts and I will go see your Fifth Aunt!”

Bai Qingyan could see the disappointment in Nanny Jiang’s smile and said, “Nanny Jiang should still take a look at Eighth Sister for Grandmother before leaving.”

Nanny Jiang nodded, “First Miss is right!”