The cold wind was howling, and there were continuous cries from the delivery room. Rong Xuan was waiting outside, his heart in his throat.
Shi Ning'an was accompanying Princess Zhaoming, equally worried.
According to what happened in her past life, this child was coming a bit early, and it should have been a girl. In her past life, her niece didn't make it to birth, but there must be no problem this time.
Shi Ning'an couldn't help but clasp her hands together, her face full of hope. It had taken generations for the Rong family to have a daughter, and they had always cherished them dearly. This little one in the younger generation was surely going to be spoiled rotten.
She was also filled with joy.
Before long, an old woman came out of the delivery room, carrying a baby in her arms. She bowed to Rong Xuan with a beaming smile. "Congratulations, Young Master! Congratulations! The young mistress has given birth to a young master."
Without a moment to think, Rong Xuan nodded absent - mindedly. He took a quick look at the baby and said, "Go and inform the Duke."
He craned his neck to look inside. A maid came out and quickly reassured him, "Young Master, don't worry. The young mistress is fine. After she's cleaned up, you can go in."
Princess Zhaoming stepped forward and went to the adjacent warming room with the old woman. Hearing that it was a grandson, she showed no sign of displeasure. She took the baby in her arms, clapped her hands, and laughed. "This child is so handsome! He's the spitting image of his father."
Shi Ning'an stood at a distance, too afraid to come closer. A boy? Why was it different from her past life? In her past life, Mrs. Shao hadn't taken good care of herself during this pregnancy. When Rong Xuan had an accident, the baby was only over five months old, and it was clearly a girl.
She remembered that at that time, her grandfather had knelt in the ancestral hall for a whole day to mourn that granddaughter.
Now, it was a boy?
Princess Zhaoming looked up and called to Axi and Ning'an. "Come on, come and have a look. Isn't this baby adorable?"
Although Axi had seen a lot of the world, it was the first time she had seen a newly - born baby. She stared at it in surprise for a long time. She thought to herself that both her elder brother and sister - in - law were good - looking, and Han'er was as cute as a porcelain doll. How come this baby looked like a little monkey? And her mother - in - law even said he was handsome and resembled his elder brother?
The moment Shi Ning'an saw the baby, she couldn't take her eyes off it. When she had pretended to be pregnant for nine months and "given birth" to Zhi'er, Zhi'er had only been born for two days. He had been a bit fairer and more tender than this baby, but they had the same look.
Zhi'er, it was her Zhi'er!
Her eyes welled up with tears. Before she died in her past life, she had said that if there was an afterlife, she wanted to be a real mother to Zhi'er.
Shi Ning'an reached out and took the baby in her arms. Just then, the baby opened one eye. His mouth rounded into a circle, he blew a bubble, and even twitched the corner of his mouth, as if smiling at Shi Ning'an.
Princess Zhaoming was overjoyed. She clapped her hands and laughed. "Oh, this baby is so destined to be with Ning'an. Look, the first person he sees when he opens his eyes is Ning'an, and he's even smiling at her!"
Just then, another maid came over and reported to the princess. "The Duke has given the baby a name, Zhi."
Princess Zhaoming asked, "Which Zhi?"
"The Zhi in 'Zhilong'."
Princess Zhaoming nodded. "That's a good name."
Tears welled up in Shi Ning'an's eyes. After all these twists and turns, he was still Zhi'er. She buried her head and kissed his cheek.
When she looked up again, she saw Rong Sui standing by the door, quietly looking at her.
The baby's birth brought joy to the whole family, even though it wasn't the long - awaited daughter. There were also many things to take care of.
Shi Ning'an spent the whole day around Zhi'er. Even when he was asleep, she waited by his side. It was not until the second watch that she reluctantly let go of Zhi'er's little hand and went back to her own courtyard.
As soon as she reached the courtyard, Rong Sui picked her up in his arms.
Shi Ning'an was startled and let out a soft cry. "Third Brother, what are you doing?"
Rong Sui pouted. "Everyone in the mansion is saying that it's as if the baby born by the eldest young mistress belongs to the third young mistress. The third young mistress has been circling around that baby all day long and even wishes to sleep with the baby at night."
Shi Ning'an's mind drifted back to the past. At that time, maybe Zhi'er had some kind of premonition. He would cry all night long and couldn't fall asleep. No matter how many wet nurses and nannies took care of him, they couldn't calm him down. So she would hold him in her arms every night. That little baby would only be able to sleep soundly by her side. Maybe he knew that in the whole Wei family, only she would protect him.
It was a pity that in the end, she hadn't been able to protect him.
In fact, thinking about everything in her past life, she had given everything blindly. Only that baby had truly been her source of joy.
Shi Ning'an burst out laughing. "If I weren't afraid of making elder brother and sister - in - law angry, I would really like to take Zhi'er back. Third Brother, in the future, there will be a baby between us. When he wets the bed at night, I'll kick you. How about that?"
Rong Sui carried her all the way back to the room and tapped her on the forehead. "He has his own wet nurse and his own parents. Why do we need to take care of him?"
Shi Ning'an got out of his arms and went to the dressing table to take off her jewelry. "That baby is destined to be with me. I like him as soon as I see him. It's as if he was my baby in my past life. Third Brother, do you think people have past lives?"
Rong Sui sat beside her and looked at her. "If there are past lives, your baby must be mine."
Shi Ning'an was slightly taken aback, then laughed. "Yes, if it weren't for you, I'd rather not have a baby."
Rong Sui hugged her and whispered, "Since Ning'an likes babies so much, why don't we have one of our own?"
The night was thick. The two people in the hibiscus - flowered bed were entangled with each other. It was hard to tell who was happier.
In a daze, Shi Ning'an couldn't help but smile. She thought she had let go of everything in her past life, but it wasn't until she saw Zhi'er today that she realized she had truly let go.
Even if they couldn't be mother and son, she was happy. Her Zhi'er could live well, in the Rong family, by his biological parents' side.
Axi only understood when she gave birth to her own baby that newly - born babies were actually so ugly. Maybe because her sister - in - law had already had two children, there wasn't much of a stir when she gave birth.
As usual, it was a son.
The old master couldn't hide his disappointment, but her father - in - law and mother - in - law were extremely happy.
Rong Zhuo hugged the baby and leaned against her. "Look, the baby seems to look more like you."
That ugly baby, how could one tell who he resembled? Just one look and her heart melted.
Rong Zhuo kissed the baby's cheek. "Axi, I'm so happy. Axi, thank you for giving birth to our baby."
The rain was pattering. Both branches of the Rong family had new babies, but Shi Ning'an's belly showed no sign of movement. The old Duke was getting too old. Every time he saw Ning'an, he would get anxious, as if he couldn't be at peace until a baby popped out of her belly.
Mrs. Shao even secretly came to talk to Shi Ning'an. "Ning'an, that doctor you recommended to my sister - in - law through your Fourth Uncle Zeng is really quite skilled. Why don't you go and ask him?"
Shi Ning'an was holding Rong Zhi in her arms, coaxing him while feeding him egg custard.
Rong Zhi ate quickly and finished half a bowl of egg custard. He pointed outside and babbled.
Shi Ning'an didn't let the maid take him. She hugged Rong Zhi and coaxed him. "Does Zhi'er want to go outside and play? Auntie will take you. Okay?"
Mrs. Shao followed behind. "Ning'an, did you hear what I said? I know you like babies and want to have your own. Ning'an..."
Shi Ning'an turned around and smiled at her. "Sister - in - law, I like Zhi'er. Isn't it good to spend more time with him?"
Mrs. Shao frowned. "If you were an unmarried girl, I'd be happy for you to spend more time with him. But you're a wife and a daughter - in - law. Having children is the most important thing."
Compared with Mrs. Shao's anxiety about Ning'an, Princess Zhaoming finally couldn't hold back. She stopped Rong Sui and had a private conversation. "A Sui, although you're not my own child, you've grown up under my care. Don't be shy. Tell Auntie, do you not want children or can't you have children?"
Rong Sui rarely showed emotions in front of others. He frowned and asked, "What do you mean, Auntie?"
Princess Zhaoming counted on her fingers. "Look, look. You've been married for more than half a year, but Ning'an's belly still shows no sign. Auntie has heard that having children isn't just a woman's business. Ning'an eats well, drinks well, and is well - nourished at home. She only looks a bit thinner, so her body must be fine. But A Sui, you..."
This kind of "concern" didn't stop until Shi Ning'an was finally diagnosed as pregnant.
However, since Shi Ning'an got pregnant, Nanny Liang had regarded Rong Sui as a scourge. Not only was he not allowed to sleep in the same bed with Shi Ning'an at night, but even if he got a bit closer on weekdays, Nanny Liang would stare at him with bulging eyes, wishing she could throw him out immediately.
Rong Sui put his hands on his hips and impatiently pushed Nanny Liang out of the door. Then he pulled Shi Ning'an into his arms and kissed her.
Shi Ning'an giggled. "Don't be naughty. Otherwise, Auntie will come and tell me to be careful again."
Rong Sui hugged her tightly and gritted his teeth. "When this baby comes out, whether it's a boy or a girl, I don't want a second one. It's getting in the way of me giving you a good kiss."
Shi Ning'an put her arms around his neck, her eyes curved into a smile. "Grandfather is eager for me to have a girl. What if the first one isn't a girl?"
Rong Sui kissed her and said in a hurry between kisses. "Even if it's not a daughter, I don't want to have another one. In this lifetime, having you is enough for me."