Chapter 7: 007 Child

After that miserable scream, the room returned to silence.

Murong Lan lay stiffly on the floor, while Murong Wei remained on her back, her teeth clenched so hard they felt as if they might shatter. Her hands gripped the pillow tightly, the miniature stun baton lying right beside it.

Her luck had turned; with one touch of the three-hundred-volt shock, Murong Lan had collapsed, stiff and convulsing. It was a miracle she hadn't gone into shock!

Murong Wei’s chest heaved violently. Even though she had no strength left, she had to squeeze out every last bit!

The old master often said she was like a long spring—usually wobbly and carefree, able to withstand pressure without much trouble, but once pressed to the limit, she would inevitably rebound with explosive force.

Her jaw was clenched so tightly that her face was distorted, and blood seeped from her gums. Her legs were taut, and a dragging pain radiated from her lower abdomen. It felt as if every inch of her body was in agony, yet she was helpless to stop it.

She still made no sound, feeling as if her entire lower body no longer belonged to her. It was wet and hot, and she felt something about to emerge.

The child...

Must be safe!

Push!

Suddenly, she relaxed her jaw, let out a muffled groan, and then began to breathe heavily.

She didn't know why she was suddenly so determined to bring this child into the world safely. It had nothing to do with her own life, nor the innocence of the child; it seemed to be an instinct—a need to protect him.

"Push!"

"One, two, three... push..."

"Murong Wei, hold on, exert yourself! Deep breaths!"

She chanted in her heart, taking deep, ragged breaths. She seemed completely immersed, forgetting the pain, the exhaustion, and the passage of time...

Just like every life-or-death moment in her past, she told herself: as long as the heart does not die, one can endure. It must be possible!

...

"Waa..."

Finally, that cry—clear and piercing—resounded throughout the courtyard, like a high-profile announcement.

Everyone was stunned. General Murong, Murong Bo, who had just stepped into the courtyard, froze, completely unaware of what had happened.

Upon returning to the manor, he had heard that his fourth daughter had been ill for months and had rushed over without pause, never expecting to witness such a scene.

The child’s cry was clearly coming from the master bedroom.

"What is going on?" Murong Bo barked, his voice sharp. Years of warfare had left countless traces of hardship on his face, and this stern, uncompromising expression was terrifyingly severe.

The dying old nanny, seeing a glimmer of hope, tried to struggle, but when she met the warning gaze of the burly man, she slumped back down powerlessly. To betray them now would mean certain death; she chose silence.

"Reporting to the Master, the eldest young lady also just arrived. She has been inside for a long time without a sound, and then suddenly, there was the sound of a child crying," the burly man replied respectfully, keeping his head bowed.

"Where is Fourth Daughter!" Murong Bo felt a sense of unease. He strode forward and pushed the door open.

He saw Murong Lan lying stiffly on the floor, seemingly fainted, while on the bed, a newborn baby was crying incessantly, its umbilical cord still uncut. Fourth Daughter was in a wretched state, her clothes disheveled, her long hair a mess. She lay weakly on the bed, reaching a hand toward him, her lips murmuring, though the words "save me" never escaped.

She knew how pathetic she looked, her clothes unable to hide the shame of her lower body. She knew everyone outside was watching—men and women alike—but she disregarded the humiliation; she had to protect this child.

Murong Bo felt the world spin; he could not accept what was before his eyes. The old nannies who had just arrived shrieked, and ignoring the Master’s orders, they rushed forward to close the doors, find a midwife, and fetch a doctor, descending into chaos.

The Second Madam was the first to rush in, cradling Murong Lan and wailing as if her daughter were already dead.

Murong Bo was supported by his attendants to the outer hall, where he finally regained his composure after taking a heart-saving pill.

"Seal this courtyard! No one is allowed in! Go!" he commanded, gasping for air. He slammed his palm down onto the side table, and the poor piece of furniture collapsed with a crash.

"Master, what on earth is going on? Why was Lan'er fainted inside? It’s as if she’s been possessed—her whole body is stiff! Even the doctors can't do anything!" The Second Madam soon came running, crying out.

"Master, you must seek justice for Lan'er. She is an unmarried maiden; how could she be in a delivery room? How could she see... Oh, Master, you must investigate this thoroughly. If word gets out, not to mention A-Zi, the entire Murong household will be disgraced!"

"To think she could hide it for so long, and even try to give birth to the child! Whose bastard is this, anyway!"

"Are you finished?" Murong Bo suddenly barked, cutting off the Second Madam’s wailing.

The Second Madam sniffled and retreated to the side, sullen. Even though she was favored, she dared not act out at a time like this. She knew this matter was inextricably linked to Lan'er, though she didn't know the full details herself.

The room fell into silence, the atmosphere growing increasingly eerie. Murong Bo said nothing; his face was as dark as the sky outside, which was thick with storm clouds, signaling an imminent downpour.

It wasn't until a gale whipped up sand and dust, rattling the windows and doors of the simple hall, that Murong Bo slowly raised his head and looked outside.

The Second Madam hurriedly stepped forward to close the door and offered a cup of tea, feigning comfort. "Master, if you are angry, take it out on me. Please, don't ruin your health."

Murong Bo remained unresponsive, staring blankly at the door, seemingly lost in thought.

The Second Madam set down the tea and sat silently by his side for a long time. Even as the rain poured down and eventually cleared, and as the nannies came and went, Murong Bo didn't even glance at them.

"Master..." The Second Madam stepped forward again, gently tugging at his sleeve, her voice sounding somewhat coquettish.

Murong Bo glanced at her, then let out a long sigh and said indifferently, "How is Fourth Daughter?"

"Word just came: mother and child are safe," the Second Madam said flatly, her tone concise, though a hint of hatred hid in her eyes. He always asked about Murong Zi first!

She had been the first to marry into the Murong household, but due to her status, she had been forced to settle for the position of a secondary wife, and her daughter, despite being older, had to take a backseat.

"And Lan'er?" Murong Bo asked then.

"Her body is no longer stiff, but she hasn't woken up yet. The doctor said she suffered from extreme shock, and combined with her weak constitution and blood deficiency, she must be carefully nursed for a few days to avoid lasting illness. It would be best to use some nourishing medicine and let her recover slowly," the Second Madam replied quickly.

Murong Bo nodded without a word, stood up, and headed toward the master bedroom.

The Second Madam was puzzled. She felt the Master was different today, as if he had something on his mind. Murong Zi giving birth out of wedlock was a major event; how could he be so calm?

Puzzled, she hurried to follow, but after Murong Bo entered the room, he forbade anyone else from approaching.

Inside, a dim lamp was lit, making the room feel even more tranquil.

On the bed, the newborn baby was wrapped in a clean blanket, sleeping quietly beside Murong Wei. It was a boy, his features handsome and delicate like a porcelain doll. He looked nothing like Murong Wei, making one wonder who his father was.

Murong Wei lay on her side, her face as pale as paper. Her eyes drifted in and out of focus, but she forced herself to stay awake. From the beginning until now, she hadn't closed her eyes once.

She couldn't rest easy; she didn't trust anyone here.

She had struggled so hard to bring this child into the world. Regardless of who the father was, and regardless of whether she was considered his "real" mother, she was determined to keep this child and raise him.

She had been fatherless and motherless since she was small, abandoned at birth and left to wander the streets. She had nearly starved or frozen to death several times. She had suffered such bitterness, and she would never allow this child to suffer.

She braced herself as she watched Murong Bo approach step by step. This must be General Murong, her father now.

"Fourth Daughter, are you still in pain?" Murong Bo sat down and asked softly, his expression one of a kind, loving father.

Murong Wei shook her head, saying nothing, but she couldn't help but shield the child more tightly. She could see the determination in the old man's eyes.

"Fourth Daughter, do you know why I rushed back this time?" Murong Bo asked calmly. From the beginning until now, he hadn't even glanced at the child.

Murong Wei shook her head again. She had been bracing herself, waiting for a storm, for an interrogation, but the old general hadn't mentioned a word of it.

"The King... has spoken. The date for the marriage alliance with the Xuanyuan envoy has been set. It is at the end of this month, the 28th—ten days from now." Murong Bo’s tone remained very, very calm, and his gaze finally drifted downward, landing on the face of the sleeping child!