That night, Su Li was deep in a dream.
Suddenly, a faint commotion began to drift in from outside.
Su Li opened her eyes, got up, and dressed in her clothes and shoes by the moonlight. She then took out her Luminous Pearl, instantly illuminating the room as brightly as day.
Just then, Si Qin entered, still fumbling with her buttons.
"Miss, you're awake?" Si Qin asked.
Su Li quickly walked towards the door. "Hurry to the Main Courtyard! Mother must be going into labor!"
As she stepped out, Si Qin rushed in from the courtyard entrance.
Her face was etched with urgency. "Miss, Madam has gone into labor!"
Su Li's heart pounded even harder, a mix of excitement and fear.
"Let's go!" Su Li's feet didn't stop as she hurried towards the Main Courtyard with her two maids.
Along the way, the entire residence was already brightly lit with lanterns.
Su Li arrived at the Main Courtyard to find Mo Hua waiting in the yard.
"Miss, you're here!" Mo Hua greeted.
Su Li nodded, asking, "What's the situation?"
Mo Hua replied, "Madam had the bloody show. She's in pain right now, and Master is inside."
Su Li looked around and saw mostly maids.
"Have the midwives and wet nurses arrived?"
Mo Hua nodded. "Yes! They're all inside."
Su Li still felt uneasy. "I'll go in and see!" Just as she was about to enter, Father Su emerged from the room.
"Father! How is Mother?" Su Li quickly asked.
Father Su's face was equally anxious. "Your mother found me bothersome, and the midwives said it was inauspicious for men to be in the room, so I was driven out."
"Then how is Mother doing?"
Father Su said, "She's alright for now. Miaoyan just fed her a bowl of congee, and she looks to be in good spirits."
Su Li remained worried. "I'll go in and take a look!" she insisted, making to walk inside.
The events of her previous life had left too deep an impression; she could never forget the scene of her mother crying heartbroken to the core, and a tremor of fear ran through her.
Father Su stopped her. "Even I was sent out, let alone a young girl like you who hasn't yet come of age. Let's wait here for now and see."
Su Li lowered her head and thought for a moment. He was right.
No sounds of her mother's pain had emerged from inside, indicating that Mother was doing well.
In this life, with Miaoyan and Miaoyu's meticulous care, Mother's body had been nourished exceptionally well; there shouldn't be any complications.
Father and daughter stood in the courtyard, pacing back and forth.
The housekeeper had chairs and a low table brought out, setting down tea and pastries.
"Master, Miss, please sit and wait," the housekeeper said, watching the pacing father and daughter.
Father Su walked over in a few swift steps, picked up a cup of tea, and drained it in one gulp before resuming his anxious pacing.
Su Li walked over and sat down. Pacing around only made her feel more anxious.
Su Li silently recited scriptures, praying quietly for the safety of her mother and her little brother.
After an unknown period, the pacing and chanting of the father and daughter were interrupted by Mother Su's cries of pain emanating from the room.
Both of them instantly rushed towards the door.
They were stopped just before the threshold by the midwives' stern voices.
"Out, out! The Madam is close now; you just wait outside."
These two midwives were brought in by Duke Wei's Estate; both were seasoned veterans at deliveries and spoke with a certain authority.
The father and daughter retreated again, one resuming his pacing, the other continuing her murmured prayers.
Suddenly, a weight settled on Su Li's shoulder, and warmth enveloped her.
"Miss, the night wind is chilly," Si Qin said as she tied a cloak around Su Li.
Su Li nodded, only then realizing her hands and feet were cold, though she hadn't noticed it at all before.
Listening to the wails coming from inside the room, the sounds grew louder and louder.
Father Su clutched his hair. Never again would he have another child!
"Ah Shu! Ah Shu! Hold on! I'm right outside the door, guarding you!" Father Su was truly anxious, shouting loudly through the door.
The scene from his first daughter's birth reappeared before his eyes; he was genuinely terrified.
He would rather have no son than see Ah Shu suffer this pain.
Su Li got up and walked to her father's side.
"Father, Mother will be fine, don't worry."
She wasn't sure if she was comforting her father or herself.
Father and daughter stared intently at that door.
The pale dawn light gradually appeared on the horizon, the deep blue sky still embedded with a few twinkling, lingering stars.
Father Su and Su Li's expressions were stretched to their limit.
Half the night had passed, and this little one still hadn't emerged.
Mother Su's voice was also intermittent, each cry sending a fresh pang of worry through them.
"Wa... wa..."
Suddenly, a baby's cry resounded through the entire Main Courtyard.
At the same instant, a large, fiery red sun leapt above the horizon—day had broken!
"Born! Born! I'm a father again!"
"Born! I'm an older sister!"
"Congratulations, Master!"
Soon, the door opened, and the wet nurse emerged, holding the baby.
Her face beamed with joy. "Congratulations, Minister Su! Mother and child are safe and sound! It's a young master!"
Father Su took his son, looked down at him, and burst into laughter. "Rewards! Everyone gets a reward!"
"Wah~ wah~"
The baby, who hadn't been crying before, suddenly wailed uncontrollably.
His cries were so loud they could be heard outside the residence.
Father Su was momentarily at a loss.
Su Li looked at her brother, his tiny face red from crying, and said with a pang of tenderness, "Father, give him to me."
"Alright, you coax this little thing. I'll go in and see your mother." With that, Father Su handed the baby to his daughter and rushed back into the room.
Su Li carefully cradled the soft, tiny baby. Her heart melted with an incredible tenderness.
Strangely enough, the child who had been crying so vehemently earlier quieted down as soon as he was in Su Li's arms.
He curiously stared at his older sister with his dark, bright eyes.
Several maids came forward, looking at the little young master with curiosity.
"Wow, so a baby is this small when they're just born. Look, his hand isn't even as long as my finger. So cute!"
"Miss, the little young master is so fond of you. He stops crying the moment you hold him."
No sooner had she said this than the baby actually pulled up the corners of his mouth and smiled.
Though she knew newborns couldn't see clearly, Su Li just felt that this child must have seen her to smile like that.
"Look, look! He's smiling!"
"So adorable!"
Su Li smiled too.
She glanced at the room. It was good that Mother was safe. Mother needed Father by her side most right now, so she would go in a little later.
Holding the tiny bundle in her arms, Su Li had never felt such profound contentment.
It was wonderful; the huge weight in her heart since her rebirth had finally lifted.
Everything was moving in a good direction; things would definitely get better and better in the future.
Su Li gently and softly said, "Little one, I'm your older sister. Grow up quickly, okay? When you're a little bigger, your sister will take you out to play in the streets. Your sister will also teach you to read and write, and find someone to teach you archery and martial arts. We'll be both learned and skilled in the future, how about that?"
As she spoke, Su Li almost saw a spirited young man, riding a horse, shouting "Sister!" and rushing towards her.
The child in her arms seemed to understand, responding with soft "mm-mm" sounds.
Su Li's eyes widened in surprise. Did he understand?
Before she could rejoice, a foul smell wafted up.
The wet nurse stepped forward, chuckling. "The young master must have dirtied himself. Give him to me."
Su Li's smile froze as she looked at the little thing happily smiling in her arms.
The three maids around her burst into laughter, and the courtyard filled with cheerful sounds.
It took a full day for Father Su to name the child.
Because he was born at daybreak, Father Su named him Su Xiao.
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