“‘Xiao Xiao Jiang’ is fine as it is.” Xiao Yingtao practically buried her face into the swaddling blanket. “Xiao Xiao Jiang, don’t you think so?”

Little Xiao Xiao Jiang was still too young to understand and respond, of course.

“Wait until Qiaomu wakes up,” came Feng Jiang’s voice from the inner room.

Everyone fell silent, looking toward the curtain.

Feng Jiang continued, “She once said she wanted to name her son herself.”

“Brother-in-law, little Xiao Xiao Jiang is smiling!” Xiao Yingtao called out happily.

“Mm-hm.” Yue Qinchun nodded vigorously. “He really is smiling — look, he’s smiling again.”

No more sound came from inside the room, but the laughter in the outer hall grew louder and louder.

Under a night sky bright with the moon and sparse with stars, nearly every open space around the small farmhouse had been set up with military tents.

Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought something major had happened here.

For three days and three nights, Feng Jiang barely left the room except when absolutely necessary.

Because there was ample milk, little Xiao Xiao Jiang grew increasingly rosy-cheeked and good-looking.

On the fourth night, Feng Jiang had just finished wiping down Qiaomu’s body. As he turned around, he seemed to sense something was different.

When he turned back, Qiaomu was slowly opening her eyes.

“Qiao.” Feng Jiang tossed aside the cloth and returned to sit by the bedside.

Excitedly, he clasped her small hand and brought it to his lips.

“Qiao, you’ve finally woken up. Thank the heavens, you’ve finally woken up.”

Feng Jiang turned his head toward the outside and called out softly, “Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, Qiao has woken up.”

The curtain lifted, and Feng Jiu’er appeared at the bedside.

She looked at Qiaomu, and her eyes instantly welled up.

Only she knew — if Qiaomu hadn’t woken up tonight, the chances of her waking up at all would have been slim.

To keep everyone from worrying, she had concealed the true severity of Qiaomu’s condition.

Given how much blood Qiaomu had lost at the time, it could truly be described as a brush with death.

But she couldn’t say that out loud. She needed to let Third Imperial Brother see hope — and in doing so, Qiaomu, too, would have more hope.

“Qiaomu, can you talk?” Feng Jiu’er crouched down beside Feng Jiang, watching Qiaomu without blinking.

“Is it a boy, or a girl?”

Qiaomu’s voice was very hoarse, but it was still enough for the two people present to make out.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together tightly and turned to look at Feng Jiang.

Hearing Qiaomu’s voice again, she was so moved that her eyes brimmed with hot tears.

“A boy, it’s a boy.” Feng Jiang’s own eyes were also clouded with tears. “Qiao, it’s a boy, plump and fair-skinned.”

“Qiaomu’s awake!” Xiao Yingtao stepped through the doorway.

Yue Qinchun, carrying little Xiao Xiao Jiang, followed her in.

Qiaomu closed her eyes, then opened them again.

She looked at the small bundle in Yue Qinchun’s arms, and the hand resting in Feng Jiang’s palm stirred slightly.

“Qiaomu, no rush.” Feng Jiang comforted her gently.

“Sister Qiaomu, this is your son. Look, isn’t he handsome!” Yue Qinchun bent down close to Qiaomu.

Feng Jiu’er drew Qiaomu’s hand out of Feng Jiang’s grasp.

“Bring little Xiao Xiao Jiang to Third Imperial Brother. The rest of you, go on outside for now. Xiao Yingtao, the eighth prescription can be used today — go brew the medicine.”

“Qinchun, keep watch outside. I’ll call you if I need anything. The room’s too small — we should leave Qiaomu more air to breathe.”

“All right, I’ll go prepare it now.” Xiao Yingtao walked off with a spring in her step.

Yue Qinchun waved and said with a smile, “Sister Qiaomu, I’ll head out first — we’ll talk again later.”

Feng Jiu’er held Qiaomu’s wrist, taking her pulse.

But Qiaomu’s mind was entirely on the child in Feng Jiang’s arms. “The boy — let me see him.”

Feng Jiang casually wiped the corner of his eye with a long finger, then bent down and carefully placed little Xiao Xiao Jiang beside Qiaomu.

He pressed his lips together and said hoarsely, “Wife, you’ve been through so much.”