Second Arc Chapter 1 brows raised in delight

méi kāi yǎn xiào brows raised in delight, eyes laughing; beaming with joy

Under the soft fluffy cloudy sky, chirpings of birds could be heard, butterflies flitting around the fragrant blooming flowers, the wind was blowing through the leaves. It was a pleasant summer day and there was a little well-dressed eight-year-old boy stretched his body before lying down on the patch of grass, both arms and legs crossed, while he smiled basking under the sun. The scene was like a painting and one could not help but be happy in their hearts looking at the boy.

The boy's maids were smiling while their little master napped under the tree. It was very common for their young master to run around and return home to sleep. Their master, General Murong XieChu, a feared and respected supreme general of their country, was sometimes treated like air when he started to scold his child of running out to play and got ignored. After he scolded the child and grounded her, the child would somehow escape and hopped out of the compound walls easily to play with the town children.

Afterwards, the shadow guards secretly stationed around the mansions would later be punished to return to the barracks for retraining. It was truly not the shadow guards' fault or that they were not skilful, in fact, they were the top ranked, most skilful ones from the army, trained by the General himself and even sent to great masters in the Xue Palace to learn martial arts.

The General Murong shadow guards even tried to par with the Palace's shadow guards, and they were proud they did not win or lose out to the Palace guards, it was just that their skills were just unmatched to the little monster that was their young master. Once, when they were kneeling to accept their punishment, the young master skipped into the compound and patted her father's hand. She told him not to change any more people as she could not keep track of the new guards' names, and the soldiers looked at the boy gratefully. Going for retraining was truly arduous and they had long passed those training days.

Since then, all the staff were pardoned and had not changed. All of them were paid highly to keep their mouths to themselves and in return, were promised for their family members outside to be treated kindly. It was a secret hard to keep as there were too many inconsistencies and the subject kept running out to play and being seen. The obvious secret that only young master's main maids knew was that the young master, was in fact their young mistress.

General Murong XieChu was born humbly by peasant parents, rose to fame by winning wars for the emperor Xue and was given the hand of Dugu FuMeng, a talented and pretty young maiden from the Empress' Dugu 独孤 Clan. Lots of sympathy were casted upon Dugu FuMeng, a delicate young miss from a large household to marry the rough general, who was widely known to have many concubines. Yet the Xue emperor, admired Murong XieChu's talent and wanted to tie him to do the royal family.

Dugu FuMeng gentleness had won over her husband and they lived harmoniously with Du FuMeng taking care of her husband's finances and their new large manor, which General Murong purchased with his boundless wealth from his war gains. She had not minded Murong XieChu's concubines, treating them fairly, knowing them as women of circumstances, some given to the General and some devoted themselves to the general who saved their families.

With the respect Murong XieChu had for his small wife, they both tried to expect a child for many years, without him dismissing her for not able to bear an heir for him. He had other concubines but according to social rules, the concubines were not allowed to bear a child unless the main wife gave birth first. Dugu FuMeng appreciated her husband's consideration and she could only respond to providing a well-managed household for him to return too.

Not only was Dugu FuMeng touted as an exemplar wife, she was also big in philanthropy, doing many kind acts towards the civilians, such as distributing grains to the poor, and sponsoring teachers wages to teach the uneducated street children. The town had considered the General's main wife as their local saint, and even included her in their prayers for luck.

It was when Dugu FuMeng in her late twenties, considerably an old age in Xue Kingdom, for her to finally conceived. Murong XieChu was very delighted and he gave rewards to their entire manor, and even gave out food to the poor. Dugu FuMeng thanked the heavens for listening to her prayers, she lovingly spoke to her growing tummy. The General would also return early from court and to his pregnant wife to learn from her and spoke to the child within, while he patted the round belly.

Both husband and wife were in harmony, while the concubines at the back manor felt neglected. They had thought with the main wife being pregnant, they could have their chance to gain favour and the chance to bear children to gain high status in the General's manor.

Being continuously grateful, Dugu FuMeng continued her kind acts during her pregnancy. In winter time, with a big belly, Dugu FuMeng gave out thick blankets and personally giving out hot porridges to the poor, until the general returned and ushered her into the manor. Both general and the wife were very loved in their town and had many people thanking the madam for her generosity and blessing her with many well wishes for the General's family and her birthing.

Dugu FuMeng was due in spring but the child in her belly seemed to be eager to be out earlier than scheduled, and the petite Dugu FuMeng water broke when she was preparing to oversee dinner for her husband. Words was sent to the palace and the general rushed back. It was early spring, yet the night wind was as cold as earlier months in winter, two midwives were rushed to the general's manor, to see the ashen faces of maids, shuttling about with basins and the seated General outside the closed-door room had a grim expression.

The two midwives looked at each other. Since the ancient times, a woman's birthing was a step to the death's door, but were anything to happen to an important lady, their maids and midwives would be sent to accompany the lady to Underworld. There was no other way but only into the candle lit room that opened for their entrance and was hastily closed to prevent the cold wind into the birthing room.

The lady of the manor was being supported by her shoulders by her trusted handmaidens, YuQin and YuQi. Her brows wrinkled, eyes were glassy, hair hung loosely and cold sweat around her pale face. The ginseng on her mouth was barely bitten anymore. Both handmaidens were in tears looking at their mistress but moved quickly when the midwives told them to position their mistress differently. One of the midwives helped to moved the belly to position the baby's delivery and asked the madam to push harder.  

Dugu FuMeng was already very weak while she struggled with the pains, tears flowing out from her eyes silently, no energy to even cry out. With almost her last breath, Dugu FuMeng pushed out her child from her body, the midwives with their extensive experiences, knew that Du FuMeng had slim chance to survive. Once the baby came out, without cutting the umbilical cords, they quickly passed the child to mother's bosom. The mother smiled at her baby gently and whispered she loved her before she closed her eyes. The baby received her mother's first warmth and love before the mother passed on the world.

The shut door finally opened, the people inside the room, looked at the General walking into the scene of the mother holding the child, and all looked away, busying themselves to clean the baby, cut the cords connecting mother and child and the others tidied up the bloody room. The morning spring was crisp and air came inside to purify the room. A petal from the peach blossom tree was also blown gently into the room, swirling around until it landed on the quiet infant's forehead. Murong XieChu looked at Dugu FuMeng's peaceful face, then at the swaddled baby child on one of the midwives' arms.

The midwife did not dare to look at the general, and with a respectful and trembling voice, she squeaked out that the baby was fine. She did not dare to voice out that the baby was too quiet. Unlike the other babies who cried when they were out from their mother's womb, this baby that she just helped birthed was just peacefully sleeping, even when the Madam gave her last push, the baby was just serenely out without making a fuss.

In her usual business with other normal households, if the baby did not cry, she would smack the babies' backside and hand them to their proud parents when the babies cried loud and healthily, with arms and legs moving. How could she mention that the general's child was different?

Murong XieChu first did not dare to carry the tiny bundle, worried his thick arms might crush the fragile tiny baby. The other midwife worried for her life, tried to butter up to the general and encourage him to carry, teaching him how to hook his arms, while the other midwife gently handover the baby to the General's arms.

The baby in her father's arms, wiggled, and Murong XieChu quickly tried to hold the precious cargo, afraid she would fall over. The General looked and felt helpless, wondering if his baby was uncomfortable in his arms. Just as his fingers grazed the baby's healthy round cheeks and towards her soft curly hair to remove the petal from her forehead, the baby long lashes fluttered and opened to see a bearded man looking down at her with brows raised and surprised round eyes. The baby seemed to laugh at the sight of her father, smiling and gurgling happily, tickling Murong XieChu's heart.

The sun ray shone into the room, towards Murong XieChu and everyone in the room smiled at the burly general smiling silly at his child, there was a sense of peace and happiness. They also very delighted that with the baby's sudden laughter, their escape from certain deaths was definite. All knelt and congratulated the General for gaining a beautiful treasure.