When the sky was just beginning to lighten, Shiyiniang suddenly woke, feeling a wave of pain in her abdomen.

She quickly pushed Xu Lingyi awake: “My lord Marquis…”

At Shiyiniang’s first movement, Xu Lingyi was already awake. Just as he called out to her, she had already anxiously said: “What is it?”

“My stomach hurts.”

Taking into account the dates, it was indeed time for the birth. In any other circumstance one need not be in a rush, but if it had truly started, first births were long affairs; and besides, the midwives and the medical matron were already waiting in the front courtyard.

Xu Lingyi rose and threw on his clothes: “I’ll go call someone!” His tone was composed, his manner unhurried.

Shiyiniang’s heart settled at once. She had the junior maid call in Hupo, who was now a married woman: “In a moment you will come with me to the birthing chamber.”

Hupo was a little nervous and kept saying “yes, yes.”

While they were speaking, the contraction had already passed. Shiyiniang washed, combed her hair, and dressed.

The two palace-sent midwives came in first; Medical Matron Peng and the two midwives engaged by the Elder Madam — Nanny Tian and Nanny Wan — followed close behind and filed into the inner chamber.

Shiyiniang felt the abdominal pain again.

One of them felt her belly and said: “Go to the birthing chamber — it seems labor has begun.”

Medical Matron Peng stepped forward to take her pulse and also nodded: “It seems labor has begun.”

Shiyiniang nodded, lay on the sleeping platform to rest for a while, and waited for the contraction to pass before being helped to the birthing chamber by Nanny Tian and Nanny Wan.

By this time the Elder Madam had already received the news. Supported by Nanny Du and surrounded by a cluster of maids and serving women, she came into the main courtyard. Seeing Xu Lingyi standing beneath the eaves, she quickly asked: “How is she?”

“They say labor has begun.”

The Elder Madam let out a sigh of relief and comforted Xu Lingyi: “Don’t worry — it won’t come quickly at first.” She thought for a moment and said: “Let us go inside and sit.”

“Please go back to rest, Mother,” Xu Lingyi said. “It is enough for me to keep watch here.”

The Elder Madam shook her head: “I can’t be at peace in my room either — I may as well keep watch here.” She instructed Nanny Du: “Go to the birthing chamber and see what the situation is right now.”

Nanny Du smiled and said “yes” and went quickly to the birthing chamber.

Xu Lingyi helped the Elder Madam into the eastern side room of the main chamber and sit down; the junior maids served tea and refreshments.

Before long, Nanny Du came back: “It has only just started.”

The Elder Madam pressed her palms together and bowed toward the west: “May the Bodhisattva watch over her — peace and safety, all going smoothly.”

The Second Madam and the Fifth Madam had also received the news. The Second Madam, being a widow, sent her maid to inquire; the Fifth Madam came in person with Nanny Shi.

“Would you like Nanny Shi to go inside and take a look?”

“Not yet,” the Elder Madam smiled. “The earliest would be tonight or tomorrow morning; if it takes longer, it might be tomorrow afternoon or evening — it could even drag on until the morning after.”

The Fifth Madam thought of her own childbirth and smiled: “Then I’ll have Nanny Shi come after dinner tonight. Having an experienced nanny nearby at night gives one more courage.”

The Elder Madam “mm”-ed: “Then tonight, have Nanny Shi and Nanny Du attend here.”

Nanny Shi agreed with a beaming smile, went home to sleep well, and came at lamplight. The Elder Madam was reclining in the heated alcove of the main chamber; the Marquis was writing in his study. She paid her respects to both, then went to the birthing chamber.

The birthing chamber was quiet. The two midwives engaged by the Elder Madam were seated on low stools before the bed; Hupo was seated at the bedside, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Shiyiniang’s forehead and neck. Nanny Tian stood to one side holding a copper basin in attendance. There was no sign of Nanny Song, Nanny Wan, or the two palace-sent midwives and Medical Matron Peng.

Hearing movement, Nanny Tian gave Nanny Shi a gentle nod.

Nanny Shi tiptoed over and, seeing Shiyiniang lying with her eyes closed, as though asleep.

She whispered in Nanny Tian’s ear: “How is she?”

“Most likely until tomorrow,” Nanny Tian murmured.

Nanny Shi was about to ask more when Hupo raised her head and made an expression to them both: “Don’t speak.” The two of them stopped their conversation by unspoken agreement, and waited until Hupo had finished wiping Shiyiniang down before Nanny Shi followed Nanny Tian to empty the water basin — only then did they have a chance to talk.

“Is Madam all right?”

“Madam is truly brave,” Nanny Tian said, her eyes full of admiration. “Calmer than the rest of us. She said that since the birth would happen tomorrow, she told Nanny Tian and the palace-sent women to go rest — she said she didn’t want everyone to exhaust themselves, so that by the time of the actual birth they’d have no energy left. She’s been in pain all day, yet managed to catch some sleep in between. I made six poached eggs in brown sugar syrup — she ate all of it, soup and eggs alike.”

Nanny Shi was quite surprised, yet also relieved.

With Madam being so sensible, they could feel easy as well.

Just then, a junior maid came running in.

Before she could open her mouth, Nanny Tian was already smiling: “Come back and ask again tomorrow morning!”

The junior maid smiled and agreed, and ran off in a flash.

Nanny Tian raised her head, seeing Nanny Shi staring at her in surprise, and smiled as she explained: “That was the little maid from Wen Yiniang’s room — she’s been sending a maid to ask since early this morning, and the Marquis has seen it too and hasn’t stopped her.”

Nanny Shi heard this and chuckled quietly: “That Wen Yiniang is quite a character.”

Nanny Tian could not comment, and just smiled.

Wen Yiniang calmly went to sleep.

Qiao Lianfang, however, could not help thinking back to how the whole household had treated her differently when she was with child — if Shiyiniang gave birth to a son this time, this inner courtyard would be entirely her domain for the next decade.

With that thought, she gave a rueful laugh to herself.

“So Madam won’t give birth until tomorrow?” Yang Shi murmured, gazing at the shimmering amber-colored horn palace lantern.

“First births are all like this,” Nanny Yang smiled. “Being able to give birth tomorrow — that’s even considered quick.”

Yang Shi pressed her lips together, her expression somewhat blank.

Nanny Yang, seeing this, went and fetched some water: “Yiniang, the hour is late — wash up and go to sleep. If Madam gives birth at daybreak, you’ll still need to go offer your congratulations!”

Yang Shi gave a vaguely distracted “mm” but did not move.

“Yiniang!” Nanny Yang gently urged.

Yang Shi suddenly roused herself and asked: “Where is the Marquis? Do you know what the Marquis is doing?”

Nanny Yang was taken aback and said: “The Marquis is in his study.” She thought for a moment and added: “Just now when the junior maid went to check, she said the lamp in the study was still lit.”

Xu Lingyi’s study was in the eastern wing room of the main house; Shiyiniang’s birthing chamber was set in the ear room to the west of the main house.

Yang Shi pondered for a moment, then asked again: “And Wen Yiniang — has Wen Yiniang retired for the night?”

“She should have,” said Nanny Yang. “I saw her door shut early.”

Yang Shi let Nanny Yang attend to her hair and wash for the night, then said: “Have the junior maid bring the lantern — I’m going to the main house to look in.”

“Yiniang,” Nanny Yang was greatly alarmed, “Wen Yiniang has already retired, and there’s no movement from Qiao Yiniang either…” Then, it dawned on her: “Is Yiniang thinking of going to see the Marquis?” Her expression shifted to one of disapproval. “Madam is in the middle of labor — how could the Marquis possibly be in the mood… and if Madam were to find out…”

“I have my own judgment in this,” Yang Shi cut off Nanny Yang’s words, removed her crimson figured-silk summer tunic, changed into a white silver-stripe gauze top, and still wore her original bright blue eight-panel silk skirt. Leaning on the junior maid’s shoulder, she went to the main house.

Xu Lingyi heard the watch drum sounding and asked the junior maid attending him: “What hour is it?”

The junior maid quickly ran to the heated alcove to check the clock: “In reply to my lord Marquis — it is the exact hour of xu.”

“Go and see — is Madam resting or awake?”

The junior maid assented and set off. Xu Lingyi tilted his ear to listen.

There were low voices in the courtyard.

Had something happened?

Xu Lingyi’s expression shifted slightly; he strode out of the study and saw a white-clad figure standing on the covered veranda at the corner between the main house and the study, speaking with two junior maids.

“What is going on!” His brow furrowed slightly.

The deep, stern voice made all three of them freeze at once.

The white figure was the first to recover, stepped forward a few paces, and curtsied: “This concubine heard that Madam had been in labor all day without giving birth,” she said, then paused, and her voice filled with deep concern: “My lord Marquis, are you all right?”

Her voice was crisp and clear, carrying a faint seductiveness.

It was Yang Shi.

Xu Lingyi’s expression cooled a few degrees.

Yang Shi felt a blade-like gaze lock onto her, sharp and inescapable, making her feel utterly exposed.

“My lord Marquis need not worry — Madam is blessed with great fortune and a strong fate; she will surely have a safe delivery and the child will be well.” Suppressing the fear deep in her heart, she knelt on the ground with composed and proper bearing. “This concubine was worried at first too. It was only after hearing from Xiulian that I understood this is entirely normal. It was this concubine who was ignorant.” Her voice took on a note of unease: “This concubine was just about to go back — and did not expect to have disturbed my lord Marquis in the least…”

“Madam will have news tomorrow.” His voice held a touch of coolness, yet the gaze that had rested on her gradually lost its bone-chilling cold edge.

Yang Shi lowered her head; the corners of her mouth curved into a small, sweet smile. “This concubine will come to see Madam tomorrow!”

She rose with composure, her expression one of respectful humility.

Yang Shi withdrew with graceful deportment and light steps.

Xu Lingyi’s gaze fell on the ear room to the west.

A junior maid came out of the ear room.

“My lord Marquis — Nanny Tian says Madam has just fallen asleep!”

Xu Lingyi’s heart eased, and his expression softened a few degrees more.

Shiyiniang did not know how much longer she could hold on.

The pain seemed to have no end, wave after wave, leaving her wrung out. She knitted her brow and called for Hupo.

Her voice was somewhat hoarse.

Hupo quickly sat down on the edge of the bed: “Madam, what is it?”

“In a moment — remind the midwife to wipe the scissors with strong liquor several times…”

Nanny Tian had said to let Madam rest well so she would have strength for the actual birth.

“Madam, rest easy,” Hupo finished Shiyiniang’s sentence before she could complete it. “Everything you said, I’ve kept in mind. The scissors are to be wiped with strong liquor; all the cloths are to be boiled in water; and when the midwife examines you, she must wash her hands with salt water…”

She had not slept a wink, keeping watch over Shiyiniang through the night, and looked somewhat worn and tired.

Shiyiniang nodded and said no more, but her lips pressed tightly together.

Hupo knew she was in pain again and kept talking to her to distract her attention: “The Elder Madam has been in the heated alcove of the main room all along. The Fifth Madam also came after breakfast. I heard from Qiuyu that the lamp in the study was on all last night. Last night, Yang Yiniang came specially to see you. She ran into the Marquis, heard you had gone to sleep, and then left… and Wen Yiniang, she sent a junior maid again this morning to ask…”

Shiyiniang tried her best to ignore the discomfort in her body and listened to Hupo talk of household matters.

“Nanny Du stayed here last night attending to me, and the Elder Madam slept in my room — so who was looking after Zhun Ge and Jie Ge?”

“Last night, Fifth Master took Fourth Young Master over to his rooms. Fifth Young Master had Nan Yong’s wife helping to look after him.”

Shiyiniang sighed silently.

The midwife came over with a smile: “Steward Qing’s wife — let me check on Madam.”

Hupo stood up and made way for the midwife.

Then came a startled cry from the midwife: “The waters have broken!” — and in that cry was just a trace of poorly concealed alarm.

* * *