Since Wei Luo’s hand was small, her hold on the writing brush was unsteady and it was very strenuous for her to write. So, Wei Kun held her hand to teach her how to write each stroke.

Just as they finished writing the Chinese character for “quiet”, a maidservant hurriedly reported from outside the study, “Master, madam is about to give birth!”

Wei Kun’s hand that held the writing brush stiffened. He turned his head to look at the doorway.

Hong Ya was a servant girl that had been recently attending to Du-shi. She had run here and was now puffing and blowing to try to catch her breath. She was too worried to follow the rules at this time.

Wei Kun frowned, put down the writing brush, and asked, “This shouldn’t be the time yet?”

Du-shi­’s was one month pregnant in March. It was calculated that she would give birth at the end of November. It was only early November now. How could she be giving birth?

Hong Ya explained, “The snow had fallen yesterday. Madam had wanted to walk around the courtyard. Who could have known that the steps would be slippery? Madam wasn’t paying attention for a moment and fell down the stairs.”

During this time, she and Lu Yi were washing clothes. There was no one else in Gingko Courtyard and they had to do everything themselves. It was a bitterly cold day. They weren’t carefully watching over Du­-shi. Who could have expected that in a blink of an eye, she would have an accident?!

Hong Ya and Lu Yi had been forced to follow Du-shi to Gingko Courtyard. Previously, they had already felt discontent towards her and normally didn’t do their utmost. However, in the end, Du-shi was the fifth madam of Duke Ying’s family. If something did happen to her, they wouldn’t be able to avoid being punished. This was why they were so frightened at the moment.

Wei Kun asked, “Has someone been sent to fetch the midwife?”

Hong Ya lowered her head, “Not yet… it happened too quickly. We only had time to bring Madam back to her room.”

Besides, Du-shi was still under punishment and fifth master was angry with her. Who would dare mention anything about Du-shi in front of him? So, even now, there wasn’t a single midwife attending Du-shi.

At this moment, unprepared for the pain, Du-shi could only cry and scream on her bed.

Wei Kun thought about the matter, and then said, “Fetch a midwife and bring her to Gingko Courtyard. I’ll decide after the child is born.”

After Hong Ya received his orders, she didn’t delay and quickly left.

Wei Luo wiggled her way out Wei Kun’s lap and looked in the direction that Hong Ya had departed. For a long time, she didn’t say anything.

This child was a protective talisman to Du-shi. If she gave birth to a boy, Wei Kun might bring her back from Gingko Courtyard. How could Wei Luo let that happen? She quickly thought. Without saying a word, she ran outside.

Wei Kun called out, “Ah Luo, where are you going?”

Wei Luo didn’t stop. She only diligently ran. She was so absorbed that she collided with many servant girls on the way. Finally, she firmly stopped in front of Wei Chang Hong’s room.

Wei Kun finally caught up to her. He was worried that something had happen to her because of her unusual behavior. He didn’t expect that she wanted to see Chang Hong. He let out a relieved sigh. He stooped over and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Why were you so anxious about seeing Chang Hong…” Before he finished his question, he suddenly stopped.

The little girl’s face was covered in tears that had been scattered across her face by the wind. She cried without saying anything. The teardrops continued to roll down her face. She was looked indescribably pitiful.

She finally said, “Daddy… daddy doesn’t want us anymore. I feel bad.”

Wei Kun’s heart felt sorry for this child that he loved dearly. He used his sleeve to wipe away her tears.

He couldn’t help lowering his voice to say, “Why are you saying such nonsense? How could daddy not want you? Daddy loves the two of you the most.”

She choked with sobs and murmured, “After the head-wife gives birth to a child, daddy will like him and won’t like us anymore…”

Wei Kun was speechless. He didn’t expect that she would understand everything. A child’s intuition was the most accurate. Even though he had hid everything from her, she was still aware. She was only an innocent, young child. But, her heart was unexpectedly filled with worries.

Wei Kun felt remorse. He squatted down to hold her and gently patted her head to appease her worries.

“Ah Luo, don’t be scared. Even after the head-wife gives birth to a child, daddy will still like the two of you the most.”

Alarmed by the sound outside, Chang Hong opened the door.

Seeing Wei Luo sobbing at the door, his expression changed, “Ah Luo?”

Wei Luo wiped away her tears on Wei Kun’s shoulder. She looked at Chang Hong with red eyes.

Chang Hong walked closer and asked, “Were you crying?”

Wei Luo didn’t want him to know why she was crying. After all, her fake tears were only meant to deceive Wei Kun.

She rubbed her eyes and said, “Today is really cold. It was so cold that my tears came out.”

Chang Hong wasn’t a fool and he said, “Nonsense. How could cold weather cause you to cry?”

Wei Luo insisted that this was true with an obstinate look on her face.

Chang Hong pursed his lips while looking at her. He wasn’t good at quarreling, so he could only accept her nonsensical logic.

——–

Without entering Du-shi’s bedroom in Gingko Courtyard, one could hear a woman screaming herself hoarse.

Wei Kun stood outside. Fourth madam had also hurried over after she was informed.

Wei Luo was wrapped in a large cloak decorated with red peony flowers. She and Chang Hong played with the snow under the pine trees. The two of them would throw snowballs at each other. In a short time, they were both covered in snow. A snowball happened to hit Wei Zhang’s foot. She was standing next to Wei Kun.

Wei Zheng turned around to glare at them with red eyes.

She tugged at Wei Kun’s sleeve and asked, “Daddy, will my mom die?”

Wei Kun asked fourth madam to watch over Ah Luo and Chang Hong. He was worried they would catch a cold if they kept playing with the snow.

As for Wei Zheng’s question, he thought for a moment before saying, “She won’t.”

As expected, his words set Wei Zheng’s mind at ease. She continued to patiently and quietly wait.

The screams from inside the room continued from morning until evening. At the beginning, the sound was intense and reverberating. By the end, it was only faint gasping for breath.

This birth was more painful than her first child’s. Since it was a premature baby, it would be fortunate enough if she could give birth to the baby safely.

At nightfall, when the stars twinkled, a baby’s cry was finally heard in Gingko Courtyard.

It was followed by the midwife’s delighted voice, “The baby is born!”

Wei Kun and fourth madam looked at each other for a moment before entering the room. Inside Du­-shi’s bedroom, they went around the room divider screen that was decorated with four joyful magpies only to see Du-shi weakly lying on her bed. She was soaked in sweat. It wasn’t clear if she was aware or not.

After the midwife saw Wei Kun entering the room, she happily brought an infant swaddled in a cloth that had been embroidered with words “more sons, more happiness” in front of him.

She joyfully said, “Congratulations master, it’s a baby boy. Master has such good fortune. Look at this child…” When she talked to this point, she didn’t see Wei Kun showing any reaction. When she raised her head to look at his face, she saw that this master wasn’t the same as other fathers.

When he looked at his child, his gaze didn’t have any joy. There were only calmness and quietness as if he hadn’t looked forward to the birth of this child.

The midwife immediately stopped talking and stiffly continued to hold the child. She wasn’t sure what she should do next.

Wei Kun went past the midwife to walk to the bed. He opened the curtain veil to look inside.

Du-shi had gone through a day of torment, so she was currently deeply unconscious. After she had given birth to the child, she probably didn’t have the energy to look at the child to see what he looked like.

Wei Kun looked away from her and said to fourth madam Qin-shi, “Fourth elder sister-in-law, I’ll have to trouble you to take care of this child.”

Qin-shi took the child from the midwife, and then she pulled up her lips to smile and said, “What are you saying? You don’t need to thank me. In the future, the child will not suffer under my care.”

The midwife finally understood what was happening. She was astonished. Could it be that the fourth madam will raise this child? Then this fifth madam…

Early on, Wei Kun had planned this. Once this child was born, regardless of gender, he would give this child to the fourth madam to foster. After the child was five, he would let the child meet Du-shi. Du-shi’s moral character was corrupt, so she wasn’t suitable to look after a child. This could also be counted as her punishment. She had previously wanted to sell Ah Luo and he had almost lost his most precious daughter. Now, he would let her experience the feeling of losing a child. She didn’t need to think about using this child to threaten him or improving her position through this child.

From the moment this child was born, it had no connection to her. He had only stayed in her womb for ten months. Once he grew up, he wouldn’t remember. He would have spent more time with Qin-shi and considered her as his true mother. He would only call Du-shi fifth aunt instead of mom.

A servant girl gave the midwife money for helping with birth and also gave her hush money. Although the midwife was curious, she also knew not to ask any questions. After she received the money, knowing her place, she quietly left through a corner gate.

Qin-shi asked, “Have you thought about the child’s name? What would be a good name?”

In Chang Hong’s generation, the male descendants’ names in Duke Ying’s family all started with “Chang” or “Gong”.

Wei Kun thought about it and then decided, “Let’s call him Chang Mi.”

Mi had the meaning of unable to have. This child would be considered to have come here to make up for Du-shi’s offences.

Qin-shi nodded. She saw that it was already dark outside, so she held the child to prepare to leave and said, “Chang Mi was prematurely born. At present, he is still in poor health. I’ll bring him back to Plum Courtyard to raise him well, so be at ease.

Wei Kun nodded. He was reassured with leaving the child with Qin-shi. Qin-shi had done a good job in bringing up and educating her three children in manners and culture. Even the most mischievous Wei Chang Xian is more or less sensible at the critical moments. If she raises Wei Chang Mi, he will live better than if he was raised by Du-shi.

After he watched Qin-shi leave, he didn’t stay here much longer. He instructed the two servant girls to take care of Du-shi, and then left with Wei Luo and Chang Hong.

Since Wei Zhang refused to leave and insisted on staying watching over Du-shi, Wei Kun let her have her way.

——–

When Du-shi woke up the next day, it felt as if her entire body had been run over by a horse carriage. Her body ached and felt powerless.

She opened her eyes to see that it was the next morning and there wasn’t anyone in the room, not even a servant girl to wait upon her. Her hoarse voice called out to summon servants.

In a short time, Hong Ya came inside and said, “Madam, you woke up?”

Du-shi thought there was something wrong. Her train of thought went round and round. She finally thought of something. With great difficulty, she managed to sit up.

She stared at Hong Ya and asked, “How’s my child? Was it a boy or a girl? Where’s my child?”

Hong Ya twisted her hands. She knew what happened. Wei Kun had already explained to them and wanted them to pass on the information to Du-shi.

Now that Du-shi was awake, Hong Ya felt hesitant to speak, “The baby was a young master. Madam, be at ease. He’s doing well…”

Du-shi let out a relieved sigh. Hearing that it was a boy, Du-shi was unable to conceal her joy and she thought she had hope now.

“Where the child? Quickly bring him here to let me see. I haven’t seen what he looks like yet.”

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be able to see him…

Hong Ya didn’t move for a while. She was in a difficult position.

Du-shi raised her eyebrows and said discontentedly, “Why are you still here? Did you not hear me?”

Hong Ya couldn’t continue to keep concealing.

After she mulled over the issue, she truthfully said, “After madam gave birth to the young master, master named him Chang Mi. Master had already given the child to fourth madam to raise. After the child turns five, fourth madam will legally adopt him…” As she talked, Du-shi’s face became pale.

She continued, “Master also said that you will continue to live in Gingko Courtyard. If there isn’t anything important, it would be best if you don’t see young master’s face…”

Du-shi felt as if she had been struck by a thunderbolt. Her ears only heard a buzzing sound. She didn’t hear anything else that Hong Ya said. She felt this was inconceivable and difficult to believe…

He was her son. Why was he given to fourth madam to bring up? Why wasn’t she allowed to see her son?!

Du-shi eyes became frenetic and her hands trembled. She didn’t even put on her shoes before rushing outside.

Hong Ya hurriedly followed her and called out, “Madam! Madam, where are you going?”

At this point, Du-shi couldn’t hear anything. She just wanted to see her child or ask Wei Kun what was happening. This was her son that she had carried in her womb for ten months and hadn’t even seen once. Don’t tell her that he would be given to someone else to raise. Wei Kun was so cold-blooded!

Du-shi staggered to Gingko Courtyard’s entrance. Before she could step through the entrance, the swords of the two guards barred her way.

Without any expression, a guard said, “Madam, please return. Master has ordered that you’re not allowed to leave Gingko Courtyard.

Du-shi tried to push them away. Unfortunately, there was a big contrast between the two parties. She wasn’t able to move them the slightest amount. Her hair became messy in her struggle. She was only wearing a thin layer of inner clothes. Her eyes were red.

In spite of everything, she screamed, “I want to see Wei Kun. I want to see him… I want to see my son…”

The guard looked at her and mildly said, “Master has gone to the Imperial Hanlin Academy. He probably won’t return until nighttime.”

She stumbled back two steps and absent-mindedly dropped to the ground. For a long time, she held her face and cried bitterly. This was the first time she had lost all hope.

She thought that after she gave birth, she would have a chance to turn her situation around. She didn’t expect that Wei Kun would be so heartless. He had stolen away her child and didn’t even leave a stray thought about her.