Her white inner garment, semi-transparent, clung to her skin. Her black hair dripped water like streams, pressed tightly against both sides of her face. Her hands gripped the edge of the tub, supporting her body in the water. Her snow-white complexion seemed utterly exhausted, but the eyes that suddenly opened released vigorous life force, followed by another muffled exertion of strength.
Wu Youyan gazed at Mo Zi immersed in the wooden tub, her heart conquered by her resilience for the countless time.
It had definitely been more than an hour. Old Madam Hua hadn’t appeared, and Lanyi had led people to seal off this courtyard. When fetching hot water, she heard clashing sounds from outside from time to time, but they quickly disappeared, returning to an incomparably quiet night.
Yang Qiao’s breathing was even faster than Mo Zi’s. Zan Jin hadn’t come, and neither had A’Hao or A’Yue. They were Mo Zi’s closest protectors. She didn’t dare imagine just how formidable this group of black-clad intruders was to keep all three unable to spare a moment. She had no time to think about it either, because Mo Zi’s labor was extremely difficult. By the time Wu Youyan was at her wit’s end and she herself was dizzy and disoriented, they finally couldn’t refuse Mo Zi and adopted her unheard-of water birth method. Wu Youyan said there was no major hemorrhaging, so the situation wasn’t too bad. But in her view, Mo Zi looked like she could collapse at any moment, yet her fighting spirit kept reigniting, which was heart-stopping—afraid it would burn out.
One shout, two bangs.
Had the black-clad intruders broken in? Yang Qiao bit her lip and looked at Wu Youyan.
Wu Youyan’s expression also changed, but seeing that Mo Zi hadn’t noticed at all, she immediately shook her head at Yang Qiao, signaling not to say anything.
Mo Zi felt she could barely hold on. The water was only body temperature, but she was so hot she couldn’t catch her breath. Who said water birth didn’t hurt? It still hurt enough to make her see stars. She could only say that because of her natural affinity for water, being in water made her feel a bit more confident.
“Mo Zi, the baby is almost out. You must hold on.” Yang Qiao clenched her fists and shrugged her shoulders.
“Where did you…” Taking a breath, Mo Zi smiled bitterly. “See… that the baby is almost out? Talking… nonsense with your eyes wide open.”
“Just before you got in the water, I saw the little one’s hair.” Wu Youyan told this lie quite skillfully. “When you push, you need to direct the force downward, not into your hands.”
Mo Zi wanted to say this midwife seemed quite convincing, when suddenly another contraction began. She groaned and exerted herself, then immediately cried out loudly, her whole body sinking into the water.
Because Wu Youyan had said crying also wasted energy, Mo Zi had been enduring silently. This time Yang Qiao was startled by her loud cry, and seeing her sink into the water with only her black hair floating on the surface, thinking she had given up, the tears that had been pooling in her eyes fell. She was about to vow in her heart to never marry and never have children.
Wu Youyan was alarmed and reached out to pull her up.
Splash—
The water parted to both sides, and a pair of hands lifted up a pale pink little meatball, its entire body glowing golden in the lamplight.
Wu Youyan stared in amazement.
Yang Qiao didn’t dare blink. “What is—that thing?”
“She gave birth!” Wu Youyan snapped out of her daze. “Quick, quick, get the scissors and dry cloth.”
“Gave birth?” Yang Qiao jumped up. “She gave birth, she gave birth! She gave birth, she gave birth!” While handing over the scissors and spreading out the dry cloth, she could only say those two words, crying tears of joy.
Mo Zi surfaced. All the pain passed with the child’s birth. The little thing in her hands filled her heart with joy.
The baby had been still and quiet initially, but as soon as Mo Zi appeared, as if sensing its mother had escaped danger, it burst into loud wails, its tiny hands and feet dancing on the water’s surface.
“It’s a baby boy!” Wu Youyan’s movements were somewhat clumsy and excited, but she finally finished the preparations and wrapped the little one securely in dry cotton cloth.
“I won.” Yang Qiao helped Mo Zi out and changed her into clean clothing, her tears having turned to laughter. The previous moment was hell, this moment was heaven. Mo Zi seemed safe, the baby seemed healthy—they weren’t afraid of the flashing blades and swords outside.
Mo Zi lay on the bed and drank the medicinal soup. According to Old Madam Hua’s explanation, it had effects similar to preventing inflammation and helping postpartum recovery.
“The baby is so beautiful, though we can’t tell who he looks like yet.” Wu Youyan handed the child to her.
Mo Zi carefully examined the little thing in her arms. Probably not even three kilograms, his skin seemed wrinkled from soaking in water too long, but showed pink and was very soft. His little palm was only half the width of her finger, his eyes hadn’t opened yet, but his eye lines were very long. His little mouth was pouty, utterly adorable.
“Are you sure it’s a boy?” She looked at that delicate little face.
“Of course.” Yang Qiao and Wu Youyan answered decisively.
“Though he hasn’t developed yet, these features look like a girl’s.” How fortunate—she’d been hit on the lower back and given birth several days early, yet it was a smooth delivery.
“This is called a handsome boy.” Yang Qiao took him, feeling the little thing was boneless, such a soft bundle, making her a bit flustered.
As a result, the baby burst into loud wails.
“Hungry, right?” Wu Youyan frowned. “The wet nurse can’t come in either. What do we do?”
Mo Zi beckoned with her hand. Yang Qiao quickly brought the baby over. “I didn’t hire a wet nurse. I’ll feed him myself.”
Wu Youyan was used to her strong opinions and didn’t seem surprised. “This child is very blessed.”
“What’s the baby’s name?” Baby, little one, little bundle—he should have a name. Yang Qiao asked.
“Not yet. We’ll wait for his top scholar father to choose one.” Mo Zi was too lazy to think.
“Then let’s give him a nickname.” Yang Qiao had completely forgotten the lively fighting outside.
Mo Zi thought for a moment and casually suggested, “Shuisheng.”
Wu Youyan turned away to suppress her laughter.
Yang Qiao was very direct. “Of all the vulgar names, you as his mother actually thought of that one. This is Minister Yuan’s son, gathering the earnest expectations of the people of Yang City and even Song territory. Shuisheng? Why don’t you just call him Ergouzi?”
“Born in water—it doesn’t connect to Ergouzi. Besides, isn’t it just a nickname? We can call him whatever.” She loved this little one, no matter what he was called.
“No way.” Yang Qiao wouldn’t allow the first beautiful baby she’d delivered to have such a rustic nickname.
“Yuanbao?” After Mo Zi said it, she laughed herself. “This one could even work as a formal name.”
Wu Youyan snorted.
Yang Qiao put her hands on her hips. “Are you the baby’s real mother?”
“I gave birth to him, so he has to obey unconditionally.” Yuanbao was fun. Mo Zi gently touched the little one’s head, seeking his opinion. “Right?”
The little one naturally ignored this unserious mother, huffing as he first needed to fill his belly.
“Forget it, let’s just call him baby for now. We’ll decide when Minister Yuan returns.” Wu Youyan could see that being clever and dexterous didn’t necessarily mean being good at naming.
Isn’t that just Yuanbao? Yang Qiao reconsidered and looked at the adorable little one with a helpless, bitter smile.
“What’s the situation outside?” Mo Zi’s voice rose slightly. Giving birth didn’t mean she was oblivious to everything, especially when the flashing blades and swords were reflected in the windows.
“There are still six left.” Outside the window, Lanyi answered.
“Six?” The Yuan household didn’t have many servants, but it had secretly placed skilled fighters trained by Lei Zhen Gate for Yuan Cheng. Those with Ming Nian, and those now outside guarding with Lanyi, were these people. Lanyi wouldn’t say it twice.
Mo Zi didn’t need him to repeat it. “Do you know their origin?” Lanyi not only had high martial skills but also recognized all schools.
“Northern Domain Divine Sect.” Lanyi answered again.
Mo Zi’s eyes immediately turned cold.
“What is the Northern Domain Divine Sect?” Yang Qiao didn’t understand jianghu matters.
The Northern Domain Divine Sect and the Southern Hua Sword Sect were the two great renowned schools of the jianghu. Southern Hua was strong in swordsmanship, with many disciples under its banner, including ordinary swordsmen and peerless masters. In contrast, Northern Domain was very mysterious, with few disciples traveling abroad, but any who were known were necessarily first-rate formidable figures. Their martial arts methods were extremely sinister, using all kinds of weapons, but their internal arts were all vicious.
Actually, Mo Zi also didn’t understand the jianghu, except for matters related to ships. But she knew about the Northern Domain Divine Sect and understood it because of its special status in Daqiu. To put it simply, it had very deep connections with the Daqiu imperial family. How deep? The shadow guards around Wu Yan came from the Divine Temple, and the Great Zen Master in the Divine Temple was a protector of the Northern Domain Divine Sect.
So that was why Granny Zhao’s skills were so astonishing, and why those black-clad intruders were so difficult to deal with. She had been able to injure Granny Zhao and escape from her hands entirely by the luck of striking instantly with her blade. This also meant one thing—Wu Yan had finally become like those Daqiu nobles. If he couldn’t have her, he would kill her.
At this moment, Mo Zi’s heart wasn’t troubled. Her feelings for Wu Yan were gone. Thinking back now, there had been his deception and betrayal, but also her selfishness and naivety—it wasn’t one-sided fault.
She could reflect on it, but she wouldn’t turn back, because the past was the past. She and he certainly couldn’t be friends either—not before, and even less now.
Song territory and Daqiu were enemy nations. Yuan Cheng and Wu Yan were enemies, so Wu Yan was also her enemy. If Yuan Cheng wanted to wage war against Daqiu, she would firmly stand beside Yuan Cheng and contribute her shipbuilding abilities without hesitation. She had been confused before—because Wu Yan had always demanded she give using affection as his reason, and after she refused, he had changed from overt to covert methods, making her furiously angry, while Yuan Cheng never demanded anything, yet in the end she had changed her initial stance and was willing to support all his decisions. However, looking at the child in her arms, she understood—she loved this man called Yuan Cheng far more than her feelings for Wu Yan. She could sacrifice her life for Yuan Cheng, and could compete with any woman who had feelings for him, simply because while she enjoyed his complete trust in her, she had already fallen deeply in love with him.
Therefore, when Wu Yan swung his butcher’s blade at her, she won only a calm smile. This was good too—they could have a decisive showdown. When they met in military conflict, memories wouldn’t block the way between them anymore.
“Lanyi.” Mo Zi made up her mind.
Lanyi’s shadow didn’t move.
“It doesn’t matter if we can’t leave any alive. The Northern Domain Divine Sect’s skills are sinister and poisonous—we shouldn’t be too benevolent either. There are many good things in the storehouse that should come in handy.” That storehouse couldn’t be opened without Mo Zi’s permission.
Mo Zi took out the key and had Yang Qiao pass it out. Before long, explosions could be heard everywhere.
After the baby finished eating, he fell asleep, very well-behaved. The rumbling sounds outside seemed like a lullaby to him, his breathing even.
“Qiaoqiao, with such a commotion, your father should be able to hear it, right?” Learning from Yuan Cheng—everything must be done thoroughly and completely. Although she believed the household could handle it, reinforcements were still good to have.
Yang Qiao nodded but noticed Mo Zi had lain down and closed her eyes.
Wu Youyan made a gesture to keep quiet and pulled her away on tiptoe to the outer room.