It was already the dead of night when they returned to the mansion, but the compound was brightly lit, with maids scurrying back and forth. Lu Hongxi and Lu Wanning exchanged a surprised look.
As they entered further, they saw Lady Wei feeding Lu Cheng in the main hall.
Lu Cheng had sharp eyes. Spotting Lu Hongxi and Lu Wanning, he immediately pushed Lady Wei away and ran over. "Grandfather, Auntie, you're finally back!"
Lu Wanning was surprised. She bowed to Lady Wei and asked, "Lady Wei, why are you here so late? Has something happened to my mother or sister - in - law?"
Lady Wei quickly explained, "At noon, when your sister - in - law heard the bad news, she went into labor. She's been in labor for several hours but still can't give birth. The princess was so worried that she asked someone to invite my mother - in - law..."
Lu Hongxi quickly asked, "Is Zhao Zhao about to give birth?"
Lady Wei was also anxious. "It's her second child, but she's been in labor for five hours and still hasn't given birth... The midwives and female doctors..."
Lu Wanning's heart skipped a beat. She let go of Lady Wei's hand and immediately ran towards Wei's courtyard. There were even more maids in the courtyard, carrying water, basins, bowls, and dishes. A strong smell of blood filled the air.
However, neither the princess nor Lady Wei was in sight.
Lu Wanning pushed open the door, but the old woman at the door quickly blocked her.
"Oh, Princess, you're an unmarried girl. You can't go in."
Lu Wanning pushed her aside. "At a time like this, how can you still be so particular? Mother, how is my sister - in - law?"
Wei had stopped shouting. Her breathing was faint. The midwife kept shouting for her to push, but where did she still have the strength? Lady Wei sat in front, holding her daughter's head. She wanted to cry but dared not. She gritted her teeth and whispered words of encouragement.
Lu Wanning ran over. "Sister - in - law, big brother is safe. Our whole family is safe. Prince Yu is also alive. The battle report was false. Sister - in - law, you don't have to worry."
There was a glimmer of light in Wei's eyes. She tried to reach out her hand. "Ning'er... Is it true?"
Lu Wanning nodded firmly. "It's true. It was Prince Chen's trick. Prince Chen staged a rebellion, but he was captured by father. Father is back too. He's outside. Sister - in - law, I'm not lying to you."
The princess quickly said, "Yes, Zhao Zhao, everyone is safe. You can rest assured. Come, drink some chicken soup. Get some strength and you can give birth to the baby."
Wei forced a bitter smile. She held Lu Wanning's hand, feeling that her hand was wrapped. She knew Lu Wanning was injured but didn't have the strength to ask. She just said, "Ning'er... Ning'er, you promise me... Save it, save it..."
Lu Wanning's eyes were filled with tears. "Sister - in - law, you're talking nonsense. You and the niece will both be fine. You'll both be okay."
Wei said, "Ning'er... I'm not going to make it, but she... If it's a daughter, you have to be kind to her, be kind to her."
Lu Wanning shook her head desperately. "I'll be kind to her. Whether it's a daughter or a son, I'll be kind to her. But I'm not her mother. You're her mother, sister - in - law. You have to hold on..."
The midwife was extremely anxious. "Princess, if the baby can't be born, it will suffocate inside."
Lu Wanning wiped away her tears. "What about my sister - in - law? Can she be saved?"
The midwife explained, "If the baby can't come out, the mother..."
"You're talking nonsense. They're blessed. Our Lu family has deep blessings. How could my sister - in - law be in trouble? Go, call the doctor, call the imperial physician. Hurry up. My sister - in - law must live!"
Lu Wanning tightly held Wei's hand. Her hand hurt badly, but she tried to say, "Sister - in - law, do you remember big brother? Big brother is the most intelligent and wise person in the Lu family. You and he are the envy of everyone. Right? Are you willing to leave him alone? Are you willing for Cheng Cheng to grow up without a mother at such a young age? Big brother is the most responsible man in the world. He loves you the most. If you leave, he will surely hurt himself and may not even be able to go to the battlefield. Are you willing for the Great Zhou to lose their bravest general?"
Wei's eyes were a bit scattered. She subconsciously called out, "Hanchi..."
Lu Wanning quickly added, "Sister - in - law, big brother is fighting for the country. He said that when he wins the battle, he will come back and hold his daughter. Do you remember?"
Wei's voice was a bit louder. "Hanchi..."
Lady Wei was overjoyed. She quickly said, "Chicken soup, hurry, chicken soup..."
She carefully fed her daughter the chicken soup and replaced the ginseng slices under her daughter's tongue. She continued, "Zhao Zhao, you've married into such a good family. Your sisters envy you. Everyone is hoping for your well - being. You have to be strong, you know?"
The pain came. Wei couldn't think. Her cries became louder and louder.
And the midwife's voice became more and more urgent. "Yes, yes, push. Come on, just like this. Good, good. Hold on. It'll be over soon. Don't push. Just hold on a little longer."
Lu Wanning was sweating profusely. She was pushed out by the princess. She stood stupidly in the courtyard, not knowing what to do.
Not long after, a meowing - like cry came from the room, followed by the happy shouts of the maids.
"She's crying. It's okay now that she's crying."
Lu Hongxi was holding Lu Cheng's hand at the courtyard gate. Both of them were overjoyed.
When the old woman carried the tightly wrapped baby out and handed it to Lu Hongxi, she said, "Congratulations, Your Highness. The heir's wife has given birth to a daughter."
Lu Hongxi had never held such a small baby before and didn't dare to take it. He asked Lady Wei beside him to help hold the baby. Then he laughed heartily. "Good, great. Reward everyone in the mansion!"
Maybe his voice was too loud, and the little one in the swaddle was scared into crying.
Lu Wanning complained, "Father, your voice is too loud. You've scared my little niece."
She leaned over to look at the baby in Lady Wei's arms and frowned. "Huh, my elder brother and sister - in - law are so good - looking. Why is my little niece so ugly?"
Lady Wei didn't mind. She said with a smile, "Your sister - in - law had a difficult labor. The baby was in the womb for too long and soaked in the amniotic fluid for too long, so she's wrinkled. With such a beautiful aunt like you, how could she be ugly?"
Lu Wanning nodded without a trace of self - consciousness. "Well, Lady Wei is right. My niece must be the most beautiful girl in the world."
Just then, the baby in Lady Wei's arms opened one eye halfway. From an oblique angle, it just so happened to be looking at Lu Wanning.
Lu Wanning was stunned. "Huh, what does she mean? Is she rolling her eyes at me and mocking me?"
Lady Wei burst out laughing. She thought this baby seemed more lively and intelligent than others.
Lu Wanning pouted. "You little rascal. Wait until you grow up. See how your aunt will teach you a lesson."
Not long after, the princess also came out. She eagerly reached out to take the baby. She looked at the baby from left to right and nodded in satisfaction. "She's so cute. Just like Ning'er when she was a baby."
Lu Wanning was dissatisfied with her words but didn't say much. She just asked, "Mother, is my sister - in - law okay?"
The princess nodded. "Yes, your sister - in - law is okay. She's a bit tired now. Her mother is with her. Lady Wei, thank you for your hard work today."