Wealth and glory seek stability

Jian Xi couldn't help but look sideways. She didn't expect that Qiangwei could see the future and predict the future. "I didn't expect that in just one or two years, Sister Qiangwei has become so discerning. It can be seen that staying in the back house before was really a waste of talent."

Qiangwei was always dedicated to her duties in the palace. She even refused to drink a sip of water. The huge Magnolia Courtyard was in perfect order under her management. Xia Shi even kept her in custody until she was eighteen years old.

Since she came under Jian Xi's command, she has been studying diligently, learning the skills of a shopkeeper, and personally went to the south of the Yangtze River to gain experience. Now, her eyes occasionally reveal a wise look, like a pearl that has been covered in dust for many years and suddenly releases its light, making people unable to take their eyes away.

Jian Xi said slowly, "You are right. This is the conclusion I came to after traveling to many places in the Xuanwu Dynasty."

Qiangwei was a little anxious. "What should we do? Spring ploughing is about to start. If no one does the farming then, we will become a laughing stock."

Jian Xi gave Qiangwei a look that urged her to stay calm, and then she took out a letter from the bookshelf beside her. It was inconvenient for her to do so as she was pregnant, so when Qiangwei saw Jian Xi trying to hand over the letter, she quickly stepped forward and took it.

There are two sheets of paper in total, both very short.

The northwest of Xia State suffered from drought, and Jian Xi offered to accept some refugees on behalf of Xia State.

Huang Yuan wrote back with a lot of words praising Jian Xi for being in Xuanwu but his heart was with Xia, and for being a man of great benevolence and righteousness. He also announced that the first batch of people would be sent to the border between the two countries soon.

"Great." Qiangwei couldn't help but applaud after reading the letter, then became a little annoyed, "Why didn't I think of it?"

After that, he analyzed: "Although Xia State looks powerful, it is just an empty shell. When Emperor Xuanyuan left, he had already taken away most of the treasures in the treasury. Fairy's treasury is just a decoration. Huang Yuan's occupation of Jingdu is just a good reputation. I'm afraid this bearded man is also worried about the refugees in the northwest. Your Excellency's actions not only help us, but also do a good thing for Xia State. It really kills two birds with one stone."

Just as Jian Xi was about to speak, she felt her stomach moving strangely.

Rose Sword Jian Xi's expression was strange, and she touched her belly again, "Is she about to give birth?"

Jian Xi nodded, "That should be it. Could you please call a midwife for me?" She just felt her stomach sinking a little and a dull pain coming from her pubic bone, but she could still bear it.

Qiangwei had never seen a woman give birth, and she felt that Jian Xi was a little too calm.

Jian Xi held onto the bookshelf and slowly walked to the small couch behind the screen and lay down.

Qiangwei hurried out to pass the message.

There was a flurry of activity.

Jian Xi was carried into the delivery room.

To be on the safe side, all the doctors and witch doctors available in the main city were called in to guard outside the door.

Jian Xi lay on the bed, feeling that she had never felt such pain in her life, as if all the bones in her body were crushed and reassembled.

The pain every once in a while made her whole body tremble uncontrollably. The hair on her temples was stuck to her face by the sticky sweat. Her lips, which were usually as red as roses, were completely bloodless, like scattered and broken delicate flowers after the rain, with a suffocating beauty.

The midwife was very experienced. After touching Jian Xi's belly, she smiled with relief, "Sir, the baby is in the right position. I just checked your body. This is just the beginning. Eat something when it doesn't hurt anymore. You will be born soon. Just listen to me and push hard."

Jian Xi swallowed her saliva through her dry lips. Was it so painful at the beginning?

The pain intensified, but I didn't scream or cry out. My head was tense with pain and I had no choice but to endure it. It was like a person in the abyss who could only silently bear the punishment sent down from the sky.

Her whole body seemed to be torn apart. Jane Xi's hair was mixed with tears and sweat and was completely wet.

Zi Cui's eyes were bloodshot as she looked at the dying man lying on the bed. She cried till she lost consciousness and could only listen to the midwife's instructions in a daze.

Chu Lu personally sat in the kitchen, watching the maid boil water and make medicine.

All boiled medicines must be tested personally by Wu Zhan before being given to Jian Xi.

Outside the delivery room.

Caixia was turning around in a panic, Qiangwei was inexplicably nervous, and the two of them were absent-minded, thinking about their own things.

"Why is there no sound from inside?" Caixia didn't care to remain calm and leaned over the crack of the door to try to hear any sound.

Qiangwei pursed her lips, her face normal. She had always been very well behaved, but now her fingers were twisting the hem of her skirt unconsciously. "I heard from Mother Xing that it's best not to scream during childbirth, otherwise you'll run out of strength at the last moment."

Basins of hot water were brought in and bloody water came out.

Caixia was so frightened that her legs went weak. She held onto a pillar and sat on a chair nearby. The handkerchief she was tightly clenched in her hand was already wrinkled beyond recognition.

Rose wasn't much better.

Caixia stood up suddenly, her eyes lit up, "It's born, I heard it!"

Qiangwei looked at Caixia in confusion, then tilted her head and said, "Why didn't I hear it?" She stood up, walked to the door, and put her ear to the crack.

There seemed to be a baby crying, intermittently. Qiangwei finally breathed a sigh of relief, "It's indeed born. You have a good ear."

There was a sound of footsteps inside, and Qiangwei quickly stepped back. The one who opened the door was a midwife with a happy face, "Oh! Mother and daughter are safe. I have never seen such a beautiful baby girl."

Qiangwei took off a heavy red gold bracelet from her wrist and placed it on the midwife's hand, "Thank you for your trouble."

Seeing this, Caixia took off the purse from her waist, thought for a moment, and handed the entire purse to the midwife, "Thank you."

The midwife felt the gold bracelet and the hard, bulging purse, and the wrinkles on her face deepened a little. Usually, the most she got from delivering a baby was some stuff or food. It seemed that the woman was the head of this family, but she was really generous.

Apart from anything else, the quality and weight of this gold bracelet are worth several hundred taels, not to mention the exquisite carvings on it.

The midwife was also happy to say a few more words, "Thank you both for the wedding money. The lady just gave birth and is in good spirits now. The room has been cleaned up and you can go in and take a look."

Hearing this, Qiangwei and Caixia pushed the door open anxiously.

There was still a lingering smell of blood. The woman on the bed had changed her clothes and was half lying on the bed. Next to her was a fair and tender baby in a small pink package. The baby had his eyes closed and his mouth wide open as if he was smashing something.

"elder sister."

"grown ups."

Jian Xi smiled indifferently. She felt more comfortable than ever before. She felt indescribably relaxed all over. The pain just a moment ago made her want to commit suicide, but now she seemed like a normal person.

"You are here, sit down."

Zi Cui and Mother Xing were dealing with the bloodstained mattress and handkerchief in the corner.

Mother Gui brought in a bowl of brown sugar eggs. Seeing that there was no one around, Qiangwei went over and placed the kang table next to Jian Xi's legs.

"Madam, drink some sugar water first. You can't eat greasy food right after giving birth." Mother Gui put the sugar water aside and looked at the baby in the cradle lovingly. The baby had fair skin, two slightly red spots on his face, his eyes were closed, and his little hands moved from time to time. He was so adorable.

"This child is so pretty. His lips look exactly like the master's."

Listening to what Gui's mother said, Jian Xi looked over and saw that there was indeed a bit of a resemblance. Gao Yunhuai's lips were clearly angular, and his thin lips were very recognizable.

He used a spoon to stir the brown sugar water, thought for a moment, then picked up the bowl and drank it all.

Caixia and Qiangwei were squatting on the ground looking at the baby.

Jian Xi suddenly remembered something, and awkwardly picked up the child and pulled open her clothes. Sure enough, there was a birthmark on her back that looked like a red plum.

It was exactly as Lu Feiman had told her at the beginning, there was this birthmark.

Jian Xi looked at the baby. Even though there was a birthmark to prove it, she still felt that the baby was unfamiliar.

This is her birth-

people?

After feeling it carefully, I really didn't have that kind of mother-daughter feeling of mutual understanding.

Huh?

This shouldn't be the case.

Caixia looked at Jian Xi, who was playing with the child like a rag doll, and said stumblingly, "Sister, go slower, be careful with the child." But she got a roll of the eyes from Qiangwei, "She is your biological mother, and you are afraid that she will harm your own daughter."

The child was sleeping very soundly, and did not wake up even after all the tossing and turning. Jian Xi looked at Qiangwei's awkward expression and put the child in her hands, "Hold him, it's fun."

Zi Cui opened her mouth wide in surprise, "How come the lady looks fine after giving birth? It is said that giving birth is a life-threatening experience for women, but how come she looks so energetic except for the one hour when she was in pain?"

Suddenly, he thought of something and shuddered, "Could it be a last burst of energy?"