It was a beautiful day indeed. A fact stated many times by the members of the Zhen family how fortunate the boys were to be born in the spring. Flowers, butterflies and the brilliant sun were out to play and it cast the most breathtaking scenery on the paradise that was the Zhen family home. Everyone agreed. It had become a tradition that every once in a while, one would pause and just breathe in the fresh air and feel the warm sun on your face. And take in the beautiful fragrances that emitted because of the busy bees, which lulled you into a sense of ease and peace. Perhaps that was why the family patriarch sat beneath a majestic tree that had seen many more winters than the oldest member of the Zhen family. He sat overlooking the small town that came to be as the family business grew, smiling softly at his achievement and that of his forefathers.
All this fulfillment yet one thing bothered him incessantly. "You say they haven't seen in a week?"
"Yes sir," his secretary replied, pushing up the heavy rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. "In eight days to be precise."
"But I gave an order that they sleep in the same room. Did Xerxes refuse?"
"I am not certain of the facts sir, but it seems even the younger miss is compliant and proactive in staying out of the young masters way."
The chairman grunted unhappily. "What is that child doing? She said she still wanted the marriage, it must be Xerxes. He is the one to blame. Her living conditions?" He inquired. "How is she being treated?"
"Apart from being totally ignored by both Master Hermes and her husband Xerxes, the older Madam has been quite crude towards her."
"Why am I not surprised that Layla would act this way? And Xian? How is she responding?"
"She makes herself scarce whenever any of them go to visit the nursery."
"Hmm... it appears I should go and visit my little heirs. How are they now?"
***
"Why are you packing that? Is the treatment over?" Zena asked, pushing herself of her chair and walking over to the twin cribs at the edge of the room. She kept get gaze steady on the trolley where the doctor and his nurse packed away the IV bags, the blue light machine and some other devices. Zena referred to them as torture devices because the boys would always cry like they were being punished whenever it was used.
"Yes ma'am."
She pursed her lips and folded her arms across her chest. "Already? Nanny Shu told me it would continue for another week, it's only been one. They've only been receiving treatment for three weeks is that okay?"
"What do you think as the babies mother?"
Zena almost jumped when she heard that familiar rasp. Her heart dropped when her gaze fell on the white haired granny, whose defined lines and stained skin expressed the vast experience she had. This woman with her thin, tiny frame. Bent over a wooden cane with her long woollen sweater and longer brown skirt had been nothing short of a pain in the ass for Zena the entire week.
'Do this, no! Don't do that. How could you do that as a mother?! Your babies are crying and you are think of going to the bathroom? Do you have no conscience. Is this the kind of love you give your babies? How can you eat? Why haven't you eaten yet? What energy are you supposed to use to take care of them if you do not eat?!'
Just remembering every thing she had to endure and the numerous contradictions was enough to cause a shiver to zap down Zena's spine.
Now she stood perfectly still, seriously contemplating the answer to this nanny's obvious trick question. It was quite certain that there was no right answer in this yet... Zena did not think she had it in her to suffer through another lecture.
"Well they are looking more alert and their skin and eyes have lost all coloration. They eat more readily and frequently and they aren't so tiny anymore," Zena said. "I see what the doctor sees but I am worried that this might be too early. My boys are overachievers but I would still feel at peace when they undergo the same treatment as other babies."
"They are fine Ma'am, most of the issues that they had have vanished with proper feeding and the jaundice has finally cleared," the doctor said calmly. "They are strong boys."
Zena nodded turning to the tiny babies whose bright eyes rested on her curiously. She picked one up and cradled him in her arm as he blew spit bubbles all over.
"Then I will trust you. Thank you very much," she said and they bowed and left the room.
Zena glanced at Nanny Shu then at the wet nurses.
"What are you thinking?" Nanny Shu asked.
Zena bit her lips and glanced at the wet nurses again.
"Spit it out already," the nanny reprimanded.
"I want them to stop breast feeding the boys," Zena muttered but she was audible enough for the surprised gasps to surround her.
"You want what?!" A loud huff filled tore through the room and her eyes shot up to meet with the glowering gaze of her mother in law.
"Ma'am!" Zena exclaimed and her mother-in-law rushed into the room to confront her.
"What the hell do you mean by that?" She asked and Zena glanced at Nanny Shu for support but the older woman simply took a step back and kept her expression blank.
'Children need their mother, I am their mother. I am allowed to make these decisions for them.' She chanted in her head before she looked up at her mother-in-law.
"I mean exactly that, I do not want my children to suckle the breasts of other women."