A woman's scream reverberate through the whole courtyard sounding as painful as it could. Outside the room, where the scream originated, were Ming Peizi holding his wife's hand and all his children. Besides Madam Ming, all those who were outside had worried expressions. Seeing the worry and anxiety in the little ones Madam Ming couldn't hold her chuckle.
"Don't worry, Lady Ling and the child will be alright, the people who are helping her made all the births from the main wifes of this household. Instead of worrying unnecessarily, you guys should be studying, so that you can be your younger brother role model"
"Mother how do you know is a brother? I don't need another stink brat, is so much better if it is a cute little girl!"
"Woo is a stink bwat?! But I agwee with stupid bwothe, a baby giwl is so much better" (who is a stink brat?! But I agree with stupid brother, a baby girl is so much better)
Seeing her brothers bickering the nervousness that Ming Shu felt melted to nothingness. They sure spoiled any tense atmosphere with their usual quarrels, which didn't even change how they cursed each other.
Her mother was right, there was no reason to panic now, they had done all they could to ensure that today would occur without any mistakes.
Although she thought so, every scream that she heard, felt like a hand was gripping tightly her heart. It only got better when the desperate screams of a woman were replaced by a softer and less desperate one.
'It was born!'
A shared thought that passed through everyone's mind and elicited a similar reaction on those who were outside the room.
Even Madam Ming, Who was composed through all the ordeal, was now clamping her husband's sleeve.
Ming Shu held her sister's hand tightly in anticipation, while the brothers finally stopped arguing and fixedly looked at the door with the same sparkle of curiosity and anticipation on them.
As everyone expectancy started to turn to impatience, the door, which had almost got holes from the intense stares, was opened. A middle-age woman came out holding a bundle of cloth.
"Congratulations Master, congratulations Madam! It's a healthy boy!"
Taking the cue Ming Peizi got close to his new son. Seeing the meat ball wrapped with cloth, Ming Peizi got a hearty smile in his face.
'Healthy indeed, look at his chubby cheeks'
Although he was not close to his children, he always loved to hold all of them once they were baby. What his children may never find out is that he is addicted to pinching the fat meat on the baby's cheeks. This period perhaps is the time of their life that they had the most interactive Father.
Seeing their Father smile, all the four children circle around the maid to take a peek at the new addition to the family.
Looking at the peaceful look on her Brother's sleeping face, she thought on how ruthless one had to be to kill such a small life. Not that she hadn't done in the past too, but she was trained many years and was molded by the war. To her, It was amazing that a sheltered lady who never battle or even kill someone with her own hands could deprive a baby from their right of living. Thinking of how in her past life her brother couldn't even see the sun once, her eyes leaked a bit of murderous startling off the baby, which made her unusual loss of composure quickly fade. Seeing her family members with joy written all over their faces, Ming Shu erased the unpleasant thoughts and made a vow to herself.
'Baby, is good that you manage to overcome your first obstacle. Sister promise that she will do what she can, so that you can grow old and be happy. Not only you, all of our family will grow happy together'
As if sensing this silent vow, the baby took Ming Shu's finger that was close to him.
This made the other four filled with jealousy, but even after many trials, the baby boy only grabbed Ming Shu's finger.
On the next few months this was how Ming showed off every time she was inferior to her siblings in anything.
————
"Mistress I got something to report"
In front of the Old Lady Ming was the same mama that exited from the delivery room with the baby boy. Right beside the kneeled mama was a younger servant that lightly resemble her.
Hearing that her trusted mama had something to report just after leaving the delivery room, Old Madam was intrigued of what could have possibly happened .
"Oh? What happened?"
"Mistress, this is my granddaughter who also helped the deliver. She told me that just before she entered the room to help, Lady Ye called for her and demanded her assistance. Lun'er tell Mistress what exactly occurred"
"Reporting to Mistress, this servant serves at Lady Ye's courtyard, however because Grandmother had always taught me about how the baby delivery works, she called me to help today. Lady Ye must have been told by other servants, so when Grandmother sent someone to call me, Lady Ye retained me for a few minutes. She told me that she had already medicated Lady Ling with something that made the delivery very hard and painful and that the baby would born almost dead, I just needed to put a pill inside his mouth that my job was finished"
"The pill?"
Lun'er took the pill from her robe and put on Old Lady's hand.
"Here it is Old Madam. Lady Ye also said that this pill was made by the Poison Sect and it's impossible to identify. I don't know if she only said to assure me that I wouldn't be caught or if it's indeed true"
"You did well. Take this as a reward for your loyalty"
" " Thank You Old Madam/ Mistress" "
Old Madam put a bag with a few taels on both of the servants' hands. Calling the mama that was behind her, she whispered in her ear. After hearing her Mistress's instructions the mama exited the room.
"Wait a moment. I will need you to repeat the story once again"