After having been examined by the physician, Xiao Jun was announced as 2 months pregnant. As she was still early on in pregnancy, the news was not announced to anyone and kept under wraps."Madam! There"s news from the General!" a young servant ran in, she was a new servant that Xiao Jun had recently bought, she was bright and thought throughly before acting and speaking.
"What is it, Ying?" Xiao Jun, sitting up straighter. The little maid named Ying replied, "The war has subsided and the General is taking care of smaller rebel groups. The General also sent a message telling Madam to not worry for he is safe."
Nodding, Xiao Jun sent Ying to go on with her ch.o.r.es, letting her do very light tasks at the moment. Ying was currently only 13, the same age as Mei"er, but had gone through one too many traumatic experiences, both to her mind and body.
"That Ying is likable, like a little child." Yue laughed. Xiao Jun then nodded, "It is understandable, she had a hard life since young and didn"t grow up serving a young Miss as a play pal as she should have. Instead, she had served a young male master that was wicked in his habits, having a young girl be his bed warmer."
When Mei"er had heard everything that happened to Ying, she wasn"t disgusted and instead of being rude and calling her names, she had cried all night for the girl and had befriended her, calling Ying her little sister.
[A: as little as Mei"er shows up in this story, I love her so much ohmagah...]
Getting up, Yue put a thick fur cloak around Xiao Jun and put a hand-warmer in her hands.
"Let"s go keep mother company. It"s been a while since I"ve gone over to keep her company." she said, walking to the other manor, Ying ran over while crying.
"Ying, what"s wrong? Who made you cry?" Xiao Jun asked. Ying looked up and wiped her eyes, "It"s those front yard maids! They called me names and belittled me.."
Looking at Ying, she sent Yue over to the maids and she heard the slapping and crying of more maids, soon they were being dragged away for 20 floggings each.
"Ying, accompany me the to go meet Mother."
Ying nodded and wiped her tears with her dress sleeve before walking closely to Xiao Jun.
In the heated room, Madam Huo had maids bring in tea and some very light snacks for Xiao Jun"s visit.
"Jun"er! Quick! Quick! Come sit." Madam Huo smiled, she stood up from her seat and held Xiao Jun"s hand before glancing at Ying.
"Oh? Who is this young girl?" Madam Huo asked, sitting down. Xiao Jun smiled and then said, "Her name is Ying and she"s a girl that was recently bought from a slave trafficker. She was traumatized both physically and mentally and I took her back so she could recuperate from it and live freely in the Manor."
Ying came forward and bowed lightly.
"This servant greets Madam Huo."
Madam Huo smiled and let her go back to standing to the sides. "It"s good that you brought her here, let her start anew."
Chatting for a while, a maid ran in with a frantic look as she kneeled in front of Xiao Jun. "Madam Feng! My Madam Sheng is in labor, she"s looking for you!"
"Aiya! Jun"er! You are good friends with that Madam Sheng, quick, go and see her!" Madam Huo frantically said, an equally worried look on her face. As they said, during childbirth, a woman was on h.e.l.l"s doorstep.
Getting up, Xiao Jun let the maid direct her to a carriage from the Lin Manor that had been prepared for her and she got in. Yue was just about to join them in the main hall but when she saw the situation, Yue accompanied Xiao Jun and even had Ying come along.
At the Lin Manor, Xiao Jun ran in as she heard screams of pain coming from the room. Mama Chu, Madam Sheng"s trusted servant, ran out to greet Xiao Jun.
"Mama Chu, what happened? Didn"t the physician say that Madam Sheng has a month left?" Xiao Jun asked, Mama Chu sighed and frowned, "Indeed! But that vixen, Lady Liu! She dared have my Madam walk outside this morning when the Commander is out at war and she made my madam fall. There was so much blood!"
Lady Liu was a concubine from the Liu family, she wasn"t a favored concubine but because of an older aunt of hers being married into the imperial family as a concubine, Commander Lin could not afford to offend her family.
Her face turned black as her eyes narrowed, "Where is the physician?!"
"We indeed called for a physician but Lady Liu claimed that she was the one who called and said that Madam Sheng was fine! Right now, they have him confined!" Mama Chu exclaimed.
"Take some strong men and see if you can bring the physician here, quick!"
Xiao Jun ran in and quickly went to Madam Sheng"s side, "I"m here, don"t worry. I"ll make sure you"re fine."
Madam Sheng nodded as she held Xiao Jun"s hand, a scream of pain erupting from her mouth as she pushed again, her forehead covered in sweat.
"Bad! Lady Liu has said the physician has gone back!" a maid yelled, Xiao Jun had Ying help tend to Madam Sheng and ran out with Yue.
"He is still here, Lady Liu is simply lying. Quick, have men go search her courtyard." Xiao Jun said, a group of male servants nodded and ran over to Lady Liu"s courtyard.
"Hey! Who are you to search my courtyard?!" a shrill voice exclaimed, Xiao Jun turned to face Lady Liu and her face turned a few shades darker in anger. "You are but a concubine in this house, who gave you the guts to act like this? What lady?"
With a motion of her hand, two strong mamas came forward and took a hold of Lady Liu, pinning her down and making her kneel.
"You! My aunt is an Imperial Concubine! My uncle is the Emperor, you can"t do this!" she exclaimed.
Xiao Jun just laughed and then there was yelling as the physician was brought over in the protection of the male servants.
"Quick! Physician Ye, you must help Madam Sheng!" Xiao Jun said, Physician Ye was a doctor that specialized in childbirth.
Physician Ye quickly nodded and was directed inside.
The night was long as all you could hear outside the Lin Manor were the cries of pain.