"Ah!"
Song Zhaoyang jolted awake with a start. A searing pain shot through her abdomen, and it felt as if every bone in her body was being crushed.
"Madam, hurry! Push!"
Song Zhaoyang opened her eyes and saw the midwife's face looming large. Beside her, Magpie was anxiously wiping the sweat off her forehead. She stared in disbelief, her eyes wide open.
Wasn't she dead?
She had perished together with Xue Yunning. How could she be seeing someone who had died during the purge of the family?
Just as she was in a daze, another sharp pain hit her lower abdomen, making her instinctively lift her body to look down.
Her swollen belly...
Could it be that she had returned to the moment when she gave birth to her daughter?
She bit her tongue, and it hurt!
God wasn't playing a joke on her. She had been given a second chance at life to seek revenge!
In her past life, her good sister - in - law, the younger Mrs. Wen, was giving birth. She, who was pregnant herself, shouldn't have been there.
But her good mother - in - law, Mrs. Wen, was so worried about her niece that she sent someone to tell Song that the younger Mrs. Wen was having a difficult labor and needed her to come and discuss countermeasures.
As the mistress of the household, she had no choice but to waddle over to the second branch of the family with her big belly. But as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she slipped and fell, which led to the premature birth of her child.
In her past life, she had exhausted all her strength to give birth to her daughter, only to find that the baby had been swapped by the second branch of the family.
Her own daughter was named "Fall Willow" by the younger Mrs. Wen. Before she even reached puberty, she was given to a eunuch in the palace as a fake wife and was eventually tortured into a human pig.
As for her niece, Xue Yunning, who had been doted on and raised as the most noble young lady in the capital, thinking that she was her own daughter, after reaching puberty, she joined hands with the second branch of the family and the Prince Rui to kill Song's husband and two sons.
Song was imprisoned by Xue Yunning and suffered all kinds of torture in the prison.
When Xue Yunning was interrogating her about the treasure of the Xue family, Song managed to devise a plan and died together with Xue Yunning.
Thinking of this, Song tightened her grip on the quilt beneath her. This time, she would never let the younger Mrs. Wen succeed!
Just as Song Zhaoyang was pushing, Nanny Yu, who served Mrs. Wen, came in with a bowl of ginseng soup and said to Song, "Madam, the old madam sent me to check on you!"
"Drink this bowl of ginseng soup while you still have the strength. Hurry up and give birth to the little master!"
Hearing this, Song gave Nanny Yu a long look and then drank the ginseng soup in one gulp under her service.
The baby's life was the most important thing.
She would settle all the scores after giving birth!
Song bit down on a clean silk handkerchief. Her legs were held up, and she endured the overwhelming hatred and excruciating pain. Following the midwife's instructions, she exerted all her strength.
"Yes, madam, push, breathe out, breathe out. Don't push yet. Yes!"
Song was sweating profusely, her whole body drenched. Her pale face turned red from the exertion.
She felt something slip out from below. Finally, a loud cry rang out. The baby was born!
The moment Nanny Yu saw the baby, a look of surprise flashed across her eyes.
"I'll take the little master out to show the old madam."
With that, she made a move to pick up the baby.
"Stop!" Song Zhaoyang gritted her teeth and commanded sternly, enduring the discomfort of her body. "Magpie, hold the baby!"
Hearing this, Magpie immediately snatched the baby and stood aside with it in her arms.
Nanny Yu stiffened for a moment and then tried to persuade Song, "Madam, you still need to clean up your body. The old madam is waiting outside to see the little master."
Song Zhaoyang, exhausted and not yet tidied up, had no patience left.
"Shut up! You're so annoying. Get out!"
Nanny Yu felt Song's murderous gaze and had no choice but to leave the room reluctantly.
After everything was sorted out, Song Zhaoyang lay weakly on the bed. She was drowsy but still endured the discomfort and said, "Magpie, bring the baby here!"
Magpie walked over to Song with the little girl in her arms and said with a smile, "Madam, look. This young lady doesn't look like a premature baby at all. Her little eyes are looking at me so curiously. Oh, she's smiling at you!"
Looking at her daughter's smile, the hostility in Song's eyes faded.
She gently stroked the soft fuzz on her daughter's face, her eyes slightly red. Her precious daughter. This time, she would definitely protect her well and give her double the love that she hadn't been able to give in her past life.
Song motioned for Magpie to come closer and whispered something in her ear.
Magpie was startled but didn't say much. She immediately took the little girl aside to check.
Not long after, an elegant and noble old woman walked in surrounded by a group of people. It was Mrs. Wen, the old madam of the marquis's mansion. She walked in with a big smile on her face.
"Eldest daughter - in - law, you've had a hard time. The second daughter - in - law just gave birth to a daughter. I've already ordered that the whole mansion be rewarded with half a month's salary!"
"It's getting late now. You can stay here in the second branch for one night and go back to your own courtyard tomorrow. What do you think?"
Song Zhaoyang said weakly, "It's all up to mother to decide."
Mrs. Wen teased the baby and said to Magpie, who was holding the baby, "Give the baby to the wet - nurse and let her take the baby out to feed. Don't disturb the eldest madam's rest."
Magpie hesitated and looked at Song. After seeing her nod slightly, she handed the baby to the wet - nurse.
The wet - nurse took the baby out.
"Eldest daughter - in - law, you should rest well."
With that, Mrs. Wen led the group out.
No one noticed that Song Zhaoyang's hand under the quilt was tightly gripping the silk quilt. She closed her eyes to hide the killing intent in them.
What a heartless mother - in - law!
She must have been involved in the baby - swapping scheme.
They wouldn't give up just because they failed this time!
...
Sure enough, the wet - nurse took the two babies next door. As soon as she put the babies down, Nanny Yu appeared.
"The imperial physician is here. The old madam told you to take the little master out!"
The wet - nurse picked up the baby. Magpie wanted to follow, but Nanny Yu stopped her.
"Go and serve the eldest madam. I'll take care of the young lady here. Don't get in the way."
Magpie said calmly, "The madam told me to follow the young lady."
Hearing this, Nanny Yu was so angry that she laughed. She said impatiently, "Do you think I'll eat the young lady?"
Just as Magpie was about to retort, a little maid called out to her.
"Sister Magpie, the madam wants to see you."
Then she turned to Nanny Yu.
"Nanny, the madam told you to take the young lady to the imperial physician for a check - up quickly."
Nanny Yu nodded, glared at Magpie, and then walked away haughtily.
Magpie frowned and came to Song Zhaoyang's side. She asked puzzledly, "Madam, are you just going to let them take the young lady away like this? I'm worried that they'll do something bad to the young lady."
A cold light flashed across Song Zhaoyang's eyes. She sneered, "I'd like to see what tricks they're up to."
It was still too early to tell who would win!
The dejected younger Mrs. Wen was lying on the soft couch, complaining to Mrs. Wen.
"I feel so bad that I can't raise my own child by my side."
Mrs. Wen was disappointed with her and said, "You're so short - sighted!"
"If you had given birth to a boy, there would be no need for the swap.
But it's different for a girl. The eldest branch will surely dote on her. She can marry into a good family and help you in the future.
As for her daughter, just raise her casually."
Hearing this, the younger Mrs. Wen grinned and said, "Mother is so wise."
On Nanny Yu's side, after sending the wet - nurse away, she quickly swapped the swaddling clothes of the two baby girls.