Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Laidi shook her head sadly. âCousin didnât even get anyone to report the good news. Itâs not convenient for me to go.â
âItâs windy outside. Come in and sit for a while.â Li Fengqi stood up and helped Laidi into the house, making her sit on a chair. âLaidi, if I have the chance to go to the Directorate, Iâll definitely be on the list next year.â
âThe Directorate!â Laidi thought for a moment and looked at Li Fengqi. âDidnât you say that you couldnât enter if you didnât get a good ranking?â
Li Fengqi glanced at Laidi. âThereâs an opportunity now. Someone is willing to recommend me to the Directorate.â
âReally?â Laidi looked at Li Fengqi. âDid Lord Gu help you?â
Li Fengqi shook his head and said, âItâs not Lord Gu. Iâm not sure who it is. I only know that the other party is a noble.â
Laidi looked at him in confusion. âSince we donât know each other, why should they help us?
Li Fengqi looked at Laidi and hesitated for a moment. He felt that he had to try Laidi. âThey have conditions for helping us.â
Laidi was enlightened when she heard that. âI knew it! How can there be such a good person who helps you for no reason? How much silver do they want? If itâs too much, we canât take it out.â
âThey want⦠wantâ¦â Li Fengqi glanced at Laidiâs stomach and stammered.
Laidi smiled. âIt looks like you need a lot of silver. Tell me! If it really doesnât work, Iâll pawn the jewelry my cousin gave me.â
âLaidi, I did something and they caught me with something. They forced me, forced me⦠Laidi, help me for the sake of the child. Iâll definitely treat you and your mother well in the future.â
A bad feeling came over Laidi. âTell me first what theyâve got on you. What did they force you to do?â
Li Fengqi closed his eyes and said in one go, âThey want a child from your Cousinâs family. â
âYou want a child of my cousin? I donât understand what you mean.â Laidi looked at Li Fengqiâs pale face.
Li Fengqi did not dare to look into Laidiâs eyes. He lowered his head and said, âThey said that as long as we steal a child from your Cousinâs house and give it to them, they will recommend me to the Directorate.â
Laidi suddenly stood up and slapped Li Fengqi. âHow can you say that?â
Laidiâs hands trembled as she pointed at Li Fengqi with tears streaming down her face. âBeast, how dare you say such a thing? If they want our child, are you going to agree too?â
âHow is that the same?â Li Fengqi covered his face in a sorry state and looked at Laidi with a ferocious expression. âDo you think Iâm willing to do such a thing? Let me tell you, I used your cousinâs news to exchange for those exam papers at home. If you donât agree to them, theyâll tell your cousin about this. At that time, we wonât have a good time either!â
âNo wonder you kept asking about my cousin.â Laidi felt her heart ache and her stomach hurt. She looked at Li Fengqi in disappointment. âSo what if they tell about Cousin? Everyone in West Mountain Village and Phoenix Village knows about this. My cousin never said that she wouldnât let anyone tell.â
Li Fengqi roared in a low voice, âIf your cousin has always been a village girl, of course, thereâs nothing to say. However, sheâs now a First-grade Madam. Do you think sheâs willing to let the nobles in the capital know that she broke off the engagement and lived in someone elseâs house for a few years?â
âThatâs because you have dirty thoughts.â Laidi felt her stomach hurt uncomfortably. She bent down and held her stomach. She looked up at Li Fengqi. âGive up. Even if you donât get on the rankings for the rest of your life, I wonât do such a thing.â
âInexperienced village woman.â Li Fengqi pointed at Laidi. âIt wonât do you any good if I donât win in my life!â With that, he rushed out of the house.
Laidi chased to the door and held her stomach with a pale face. She looked at Li
Fengqiâs back and muttered softly, âMother⦠Mother⦠Iâm in so much painâ¦â
Another wave of pain hit her. Laidi fell to the ground and hissed in pain. Blood flowed down the side of her dress.
âBlood, Madam, youâre bleeding.â When the old woman heard Li Fengqi leave, she exited her room. When she saw the blood by Laidiâs skirt, she was shocked and shouted into the courtyard, âQiu, quickly call the midwife. Madam is about to give birth. Hurry!â
âIâm on it.â Da Qiu ran out of the hut and toward the alley behind.
The old woman helped Laidi into the inner room and placed her on the bed. She comforted her. âMadam, bear with it. The midwife is coming soon. Fortunately, itâs more than seven months old. The child can be raised after birth.â
Laidi looked at the old woman with tears in her eyes. âChild, my childâ¦â
The old woman looked at Laidi and felt a little sad. âMadam, bear with it. The child will be fine.â
The midwife followed Da Qiu into the courtyard and entered the house to take a look. She realized that the delivery path had already been opened. She looked up and said to the old woman, âWhy are you so early? Go boil hot water and get something to eat for your Madam.â
The old woman agreed and ran out. The midwife complained softly, âGirl, I told you a few days ago that your pregnancy is not stable. I told you not to be agitated. Why didnât you listen? Whereâs your man?!â
Laidi groaned and shook her head. When the midwife saw this, she understood and comforted her. âGirl, donât be afraid. Iâve delivered babies for decades. youâll give birth soon. Bear with it and donât scream. Otherwise, the child and you will suffer when you run out of strength later.â
âYes!â Laidi bit her lip and nodded.
The old woman cooked a bowl of sugar eggs and fed Laidi a few mouthfuls. Laidi shook her head and couldnât eat anymore. The midwife followed the old woman out and said to the old woman, âYour Madamâs pregnancy isnât good. Go and call someone back to call your master back. If anything happens, you can make a decision.â
When the old woman heard this, she hurriedly said to Qiu, âQiu, quickly go to the restaurant in front and find Master.â
After agreeing, Da Qiu hurriedly ran towards the small restaurant in the Tongzhou Guild Hall. When he arrived, Little Jiu stopped him. âUncle Da Qiu, are you here to drink too?â
Da Qiu asked Little Jiu, âDidnât my master drink in the restaurant?â
âYour master hasnât been here for a long time. What happened?â
Da Qiu was in a hurry to find Li Fengqi. As he ran, he said, âMy Madam is about to give birth. The midwife said that sheâs not very good and asked us to find Master.â
âIâll help you find him.â Little Jiu hurriedly greeted the shopkeeper and followed Da Qiu along the nearby taverns, but he couldnât find him after going to a few places.
Seeing that it was almost dark, Da Qiu suddenly thought of a place and brought Little Jiu to a restaurant. He found Li Fengqi, who was drinking with the barmaid.
When Little Jiu saw Li Fengqiâs red face, he couldnât help but spit at him. âWhat kind of person are you? Youâre actually drinking here when your wife is giving birth prematurely.â
Li Fengqi looked at Little Jiu angrily and shouted, âWho do you think you are? Iâm a dignified High Scholar. How dare you spit at me?â
Little Jiu looked at him disdainfully. âSo what if I spit at you?â
âMasterâ¦â Da Qiu hurriedly pulled Little Jiu back and told Li Fengqi about
Laidiâs premature labor..
Comments(0)
Join the discussion — sign in to leave a comment
Sign In to CommentNo comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!