The First Madam nodded and said softly, "Don’t talk, just rest well."

Xiqiu nodded. "Please sit." The Grand Dowager frowned. "You’re like this and still worrying about us. Close your eyes and sleep for a while. Let Fourth Master handle the rest."

"I know." Xiqiu showed a faint smile, looked at the Grand Dowager and the First Madam and said, "You don’t have to worry about me, I’m fine."

The Grand Dowager’s tears still fell, and the First Madam also turned her head to wipe her tears.

Just then the door curtain lifted and Fourth Master Xiao strode in. Xiqiu turned her gaze to him. He was still in his court robes, with her blood on the hem. She pressed her lips into a smile and said nothing.

At that tranquil voice, Fourth Master Xiao felt as if his heart were being twisted by a knife. It was only a few steps’ distance, yet he lost the courage to cross it. He simply stood farther away, unwilling to look away, watching her.

"Good child, rest for a while. When you wake up it will be all right." The Grand Dowager stroked her head with aching tenderness, her tears falling uncontrollably. "You’re still young. The most important thing is to nurse your body back to health."

Xiqiu pressed her lips in a smile, nodded slightly, and obediently closed her eyes.

The First Madam and the Grand Dowager sat by her side for a while, then supported each other out and sat in the main hall. Fourth Master Xiao finally moved, inching his way over step by step. Ruan Jingliu looked at him, shook her head, and withdrew, closing the door behind her.

Xiqiu turned her face away and lay on her side with her back to Fourth Master Xiao, and her tears fell.

She bit down hard on her lips so as not to let herself sob aloud, but her hand went to her abdomen.

Because of her negligence, a tiny life had vanished just like that. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Because of her negligence, her child had not yet seen this beautiful world before falling in her womb.

She clutched her belly, squeezed her eyes tightly shut, and tears kept sliding from the corners of her eyes onto the pillow...

"Girl." In that low voice, Fourth Master Xiao slowly sat down at the bedside. A large hand took the hand she had outside the quilt, which was clutching the covers, brought it to his lips and kissed it. He said gently, "Girl, I’m sorry. I failed to take good care of you and the child."

Xiqiu did not open her eyes, but her tears flowed even more fiercely. The fine, trembling sobs reached Fourth Master Xiao’s ears, yet he could not say anything. He could only grip her hand and keep kissing it at his lips...

After a long time, she turned her head, her tear-filled eyes looking at Fourth Master Xiao. "...Our child."

"I know!" Fourth Master Xiao cut her off, gently wiping her tears, but as soon as he brushed them away, more fell. He bent down and gathered her into his arms, his dry lips slowly kissing away every teardrop. In a low voice he said, "First get your strength back. Don’t let your thoughts run wild. You still have Zhi, and you still have Min."

At the mention of the two children, Xiqiu started, and recalled the man who had blocked her carriage before the accident. "That man spoke with a Fujian accent. Is he from that Shen family?"

Seeing that her attention had finally shifted, Fourth Master Xiao immediately replied, "Yes, that man is Shen An’s younger brother!" With that, he paused, then struck while the iron was hot and told Xiqiu about Ziyang, intending to divert her thoughts. "...Min already knows his parentage."

Xiqiu’s eyes widened in surprise. "Where is Min?" The child must be hurting. He was so young; how could he bear the huge shock of his identity changing?

"He’s in the courtyard playing with Zhi." Fourth Master Xiao said softly, then added, "Don’t worry. Your body is still very weak. Take care of yourself first before thinking about anything else, all right?"

When Xiqiu thought of Min, she grew very uneasy. She frowned and tugged at Fourth Master Xiao. "Call Min in. I can’t stop worrying about him."

Seeing how determined she was, Fourth Master Xiao paused, then finally nodded. "I’ll have someone call him. You rest for a bit first." Xiqiu agreed with a nod and closed her eyes as he said.

Min came into the courtyard holding Zhi’s hand. Zhi let go and ran quickly toward the main room. Seeing Fourth Master Xiao standing at the door, he greeted him in a rush, "Father," then, without another glance, stepped into the main hall. There he saw the Grand Dowager, the First Madam, and Ruan Jingliu in the hall. He hurriedly saluted. "Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, Aunt Ruan, I’ll come talk to you in a while." With that, he lifted the curtain and went to find Xiqiu.

"Mother." He rushed into the room and then froze, seeing his own mother lying there as if she were ill. He stopped running and walked over uneasily. "Mother... are you sick?" He reached out his small hand to feel Xiqiu’s forehead.

"Mother’s fine." Xiqiu took Zhi’s little hand away. "You were just out playing with your brother?" She looked behind him. "Where is your brother?"

Zhi reached up to wipe away the tears at the corner of Xiqiu’s eyes. He was puzzled why everyone had been crying today, all looking very unhappy. Pouting, he said, "Brother is talking with Father." Then he tilted his head at Xiqiu. "Mother, you really aren’t sick, then why are you lying down?"

Xiqiu gave a light chuckle. "Mother truly isn’t sick, just feels tired and wants to lie down and rest for a while."

"Oh!" Zhi climbed onto the bed and sat down. "Then you can’t fall asleep, right? I’ll tell you a story."

Xiqiu looked at her son and nodded. "All right."

Min stood with his head lowered before Fourth Master Xiao. "Father!" Fourth Master Xiao looked at him and nodded, lifting a hand as if to pat his shoulder, but stopping halfway. "Your mother wants to see you. Go on in."

"Yes!" Min answered. He lifted a foot to go, then stopped again and looked at Fourth Master Xiao. "Father... I..."

Fourth Master Xiao inclined his head slightly and cut him off. "Go first and set your mother’s mind at ease. We’ll talk about the rest later."

Min answered and went in. After greeting the Grand Dowager, the First Madam, and Ruan Jingliu, he entered the inner room.

"Mother!" Unable to wait, Min ran to the bedside. When he saw Xiqiu, his eyes reddened again. Xiqiu nodded slightly and took Zhi’s hand. "Zhi, your grandmother and Eldest Aunt are outside with no one talking to them. Will you help Mother and go keep them company?"

Zhi thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right!" He slid down from the bed in one motion. "Then you have to sleep nicely." He turned and admonished Min, "Third Brother, you coax Mother to sleep, I’ll go keep Grandmother company!" And he ran out.

After sending Zhi out, Xiqiu looked at Min. She drew her hand from under the quilt and beckoned to him. "Come."

Min moved over slowly. Seeing Xiqiu’s complexion and the bruises on the back of her hand from the needles, his nose stung and his eyes burned. "Mother!"

"Your father has told me everything." Xiqiu came straight to the point. "So you know it all now, don’t you?"

Min nodded, his head lowered, saying nothing.

Xiqiu sighed. "Your father and I had thought to wait until you were grown before telling you, but we never imagined you would learn it now." She looked at Min. "Min... I remember telling you that in a person’s life, many things can be chosen. But there is only one thing you cannot choose, and that is your birth..." She paused, then added, "Do you understand what I mean?"