Chapter 15: The Duke of Zheng Defeats Duan at Yan

“How do your stepmother and elder brother usually treat you?” Zhao Han asked softly.

Gu Tingye, knowing Zhao Han was someone worthy of close trust, answered without concealment, “My elder brother is distant and cold toward me, sometimes even looks at me as if I were an enemy. But recently, he suffered a relapse of an old illness. Were it not for the imperial physician arriving in time, he might have died. So, I doubt he had the chance to harm me.”

“My stepmother…” Gu Tingye hesitated, then after a brief silence, spoke, “She treats me very well, sometimes to the point where I feel uneasy.”

“Even when I squander money at brothels for days without returning home, she never utters a word of reproach.”

“Whenever my father beats me, she fiercely protects me, even to the point of quarreling heatedly with him. The entire capital praises my stepmother’s virtue and kindness, and her love for her stepson.”

“If she harbored ill intentions toward me, I simply cannot believe it.”

Zhao Han’s slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, neither hurried nor slow.

“Your words remind me of the story of Duke Zheng and his brother Duan in Yan.”

“Duke Zheng indulged his younger brother Gong Shudan’s misdeeds and showed biased tolerance toward their mother Wu Jiang. The world admired his magnanimity and benevolence, but little did they know he had already laid an intricate trap, waiting for Gong Shudan to cross the line so that he could justifiably eliminate him.”

Gu Tingye’s brows twitched sharply, a nameless dread rising in his heart.

He couldn’t help but recall how his first visit to the gambling house was instigated by the servants from Lady Qin’s quarters.

And his first overnight stay at the Yiyun Pavilion was also concealed by Lady Qin’s help.

Even when he committed grave offenses, Lady Qin excused him with the claim that he was too young and inexperienced to understand.

Every detail bore a striking resemblance to Duke Zheng’s tactics.

“My stepmother…” Gu Tingye found himself at a loss for words, unable to think of any rebuttal.

Zhao Han smiled gently and said warmly, “In my view, a true mother should be like Yan Shi teaching her child by drawing reeds, not indulging out of misplaced affection.”

“You speak reasonably, Zhao brother, but why would my stepmother want to harm me? I have never offended her, and I treat my third brother very well.”

Zhao Han likely understood the reason behind Lady Qin’s hatred for Gu Tingye but refrained from saying too much, fearing it might arouse suspicion.

He shrugged and refilled Gu Tingye’s cup.

“That, I cannot say. If you truly want to find out, perhaps you should investigate discreetly when you return to Bianjing.”

“Very well, I will follow your advice, Zhao brother!”

Gu Tingye raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

At that moment, a rapid knocking sounded at the door.

Zhao Han glanced toward the sound, and soon Chang Qing arrived, running alongside Ming Lan into the main hall.

“Brother-in-law, my young lady is having a difficult labor, and there’s no midwife in the house!”

“I went to fetch the doctor, but he refused to come with me because of my young age!”

“Father and the mistress are not home either; I could only come to you for help!”

Ming Lan’s voice trembled, her hair disheveled, soft strands clinging to her sweat-dampened forehead. Her lips were tinged blue from the cold, and her hands were red and raw from frantic knocking.

“To think such a thing could happen in the grand Sheng household, yet they send a mere girl to fetch a doctor?” Gu Tingye shook his head and sighed softly.

Usually, noble households employ several midwives.

Ordinary official families hire midwives when a woman is pregnant, paying a monthly fee of two taels of silver and a red envelope of ten taels at childbirth.

Yet in Sheng Manor, not a single midwife was present during the young lady’s labor, and a child was sent out to summon the doctor.

If word got out, the Sheng family would lose all face.

“Brother-in-law, my young lady is losing strength. Please, help her!” Tears as large as beans streamed down Ming Lan’s cheeks. Her small frame trembled from fear and panic.

Zhao Han turned to Gu Tingye. “Zhonghuai, I’m afraid I can’t continue drinking with you today.”

Gu Tingye hastily waved his hand. “Life is paramount; you must go.”

By now, Chang Qing had ordered servants to prepare a carriage outside.

Zhao Han quickly went out, took Ming Lan by the hand, and lifted her into the carriage. Hu Mama followed, urgently advising, “Young master, head to Yishou Hall in Pipa Lane. They’re famed gynecologists in the city.”

“Understood!” Zhao Han responded, and the driver set off toward Pipa Lane.

Ming Lan folded her arms, curling into a small ball, teeth chattering uncontrollably.

“You came out dressed so lightly,” Zhao Han said, quickly removing his cloak and wrapping it around her.

Feeling the sudden warmth, Ming Lan lifted her head, tears welling in her eyes. “Brother-in-law, will my young lady be all right?”

Zhao Han’s gaze darkened. He had already warned Xiao Die, and Lady Wei should have seen through Lin Qingshuang’s scheme.

If Lady Wei died in childbirth today, it would be fate beyond their control.

Still, he comforted her gently, “Don’t worry. The kind-hearted Lady Wei will be protected by heaven. Once we get the doctor, she will surely deliver safely.”

“Mm.” Ming Lan nodded, wiping away tears about to fall.

In the back quarters of Sheng Manor, within Lady Wei’s chamber, Xiao Die stood anxiously by her side, repeatedly wiping her sweat with a cloth.

“Hold on, young lady. The doctor has been sent for and will be here soon.”

“Lv Luo, bring some hot water. The young lady said she wants to drink.”

Lv Luo, a servant loyal to Wang Ruofu, bore no ill will toward Lady Wei.

She clutched the water pot nervously. “There’s no hot water left. I’ll boil some right away.”

“Why is the kitchen so slow with the hot water today? Don’t they know the young lady needs it?”

Just then, Lin Qingshuang had arrived hastily with Zhou Xueniang upon learning Lady Wei had broken water.

Standing outside, she occasionally tiptoed to peek inside, eyes glinting with malice and schadenfreude.

“Where’s the sixth young lady?” Lin Qingshuang whispered.

“She took that little Tao girl with her somewhere. I think she was scared off by the bloody scene inside.”

Lin Qingshuang held a folded fan, curling her lips into a smirk.

“True, the sixth young lady may be clever, but she’s just eight years old.”

“Send someone to find her. Once found, bring her to Mo’er’s place to keep her company.”

Zhou Xueniang nodded repeatedly.

Outside the side gate, Zhao Han arrived with Yishou Hall’s doctor, only to find the dark wooden door tightly shut. No matter how hard Ming Lan knocked, no one answered.

“Stop knocking. Let me try.” Zhao Han stepped forward and pushed the door. He was just looking for an outlet to release his strength, and fate seemed to provide one.

Clenching his fist, his knuckles cracked sharply. The old doctor wisely took a few steps back, holding his medicine box.

Zhao Han took a deep breath and kicked forcefully—

A loud bang echoed.

The door latch snapped instantly, and the wooden door burst open. The commotion naturally attracted a crowd of men and women curious about the spectacle.

“What’s going on at the magistrate Sheng’s residence?”

“Who knows, but that young man sure is strong—one kick broke the latch.”

“Hey, isn’t that the Zhao family young master who recently got engaged to the eldest lady of the Sheng family?”

“…”