Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 40
40
The spring breeze was lively, and the willows by the roadside swayed with the wind.
Today, Xu Fusheng had been invited by the Fifth Prince to watch a play at Yiran Pavilion, the most famous theater in Nanliang, where a new play was being performed. Everyone who had seen it couldn’t stop praising it.
Xu Fusheng had no objections and accepted the invitation. Now, the two of them were leaving Yiran Pavilion, the mournful voice of the performer still lingering in their ears.
“That Su Yang’s life is truly tragic, betrayed time and again by family and friends,” Liang Anmu, still immersed in the play’s story, couldn’t help but sigh to Xu Fusheng.
“If he weren’t so trusting and refused to learn from his mistakes, he wouldn’t have ended up like this,” Xu Fusheng replied casually, a trace of melancholy in her expression. Today, she wore a fitted cream-white long dress with a matching knitted cardigan draped loosely over her shoulders. Her stunning, aloof features softened slightly with a gentle charm, her silver hair fluttering lightly in the breeze.
“Su Yang is inherently kind…” the Fifth Prince began to argue, but his words were cut off by the sudden sound of rapid hoofbeats. His smile froze, and he frowned, turning to look in the direction of the noise.
“Hyah!”
Four or five riders galloped into the long street, their whips cracking repeatedly as they urged their horses to go faster.
“Ciqing?” The Fifth Prince’s gaze landed on the leader, his voice tinged with surprise and disbelief as he looked again to confirm.
After all, this person was usually gentle and courteous, even mild-mannered to the point of being slow. During the last autumn hunt, he had only seen Jiang Ciqing riding leisurely, never in a hurry.
So why was he suddenly galloping through the city streets today?!
Could something have happened?
The Fifth Prince already considered Jiang Ciqing one of his own, and an important one at that, so he couldn’t help but feel worried. He turned to the person beside him, about to say he’d take his leave…
But Xu Fusheng spoke first: “Prince Huai’an seems to be in a rush. Something must have happened. Shall we go see?”
Her words aligned perfectly with Liang Anmu’s thoughts, and he immediately agreed.
The rapid hoofbeats echoed through the quiet alley. Jiang Ciqing pulled hard on the reins, and before the horse could fully stop, she swung her leg over and dismounted, her long boots hitting the ground as she strode swiftly toward the open courtyard gate.
The small courtyard was elegant and simple, unlike the opulent residences of Wuyi Lane. This alley housed lower-ranking officials or moderately wealthy merchants, so it took only a few steps to reach the back courtyard.
As she crossed the threshold, she heard pained cries, as if someone were enduring immense suffering. A male Alpha pacing in circles looked up at Jiang Ciqing, his eyes red as he called out, “Prince Huai’an.”
Jiang Ciqing waved off his attempt to bow and hurriedly asked, “How long has Brother Xun been like this? Has the midwife been called?”
Zha Xiwen replied, “The pain started last night at midnight. The midwife has been staying here since two days ago and was by his side as soon as the pain began.”
“Last night?” Jiang Ciqing’s expression grew grave, her tone carrying a hint of reproach. “Why didn’t you send someone to tell me sooner…”
Her words trailed off as she suddenly remembered she lived outside the city. Zha Xiwen had wanted to inform her earlier, but the city gates were locked at night, barring anyone from entering or leaving. He had been anxious all night, catching only a brief nap by the willow tree at dawn before arranging food to be sent inside and finally sending someone to inform Jiang Ciqing.
She gave an awkward look and said, “I brought some century-old ginseng slices. Have someone take them inside.”
Zha Xiwen didn’t take it to heart. He tugged at his pale, purplish lips and forced a smile. “The ginseng slices you sent last time have already been taken inside for Xun’er to hold in his mouth.”
Jiang Ciqing opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say, so she stood with Zha Xiwen at the door, waiting.
The person inside was Li Zhile’s half-brother from a different mother. In noble families of the Imperial Star, many Alphas had concubines. As long as they didn’t mark an Omega, they could spend their ruts with multiple Omegas, like the current emperor or Li Zhile’s father, who had many children with various concubines.
For them, not marking an Omega was more convenient. Not only did it leave room for countless Omegas to throw themselves at them, but they could also use suppressants if needed. Marking meant being tied to one person for life and dealing with potential complications—far too troublesome and painful. Thus, few Alphas in noble circles chose to mark an Omega nowadays.
But there were exceptions, like those deeply in love or those forming strategic alliances through marriage, such as the eldest prince and his wife.
Jiang Ciqing and Li Zhile had grown up together and were naturally familiar with each other’s families, but they weren’t particularly close. Even Li Zhile wasn’t very close to his brother. As children, both were mischievous kids obsessed with martial hero stories, while Li Zhixun, destined to be an Omega, stayed in his courtyard learning painting, embroidery, and other feminine arts. Naturally, the two rowdy kids didn’t want to play with him.
Later, Li Zhile’s father arranged a marriage for him—not overly grand but enough to ensure a comfortable life, hoping to free him from the seemingly prestigious yet treacherous quagmire of the Li family. Understanding his father’s intentions, Li Zhile deliberately distanced himself from his brother.
This time, if Li Zhixun hadn’t been pregnant, he wouldn’t have asked Jiang Ciqing to look after him.
Hearing the continuous pained cries from inside, Jiang Ciqing paced anxiously. Still young and experiencing this for the first time, she felt uncertain, especially knowing Li Zhixun had been in pain all night, which only heightened her panic.
The Li family was a quagmire, and the Jiang family was even worse. That’s why she hadn’t personally visited in recent months, only sending medicines and money while instructing Zha Xiwen to contact her immediately if anything happened.
Now, with a difficult delivery, she couldn’t sit idly by, no matter how much she wanted to avoid involvement.
The Zha family servants brought chairs, but no one sat.
Zha Xiwen clenched his fists tightly. It was well-known that male Omegas had difficulty giving birth. He had been extremely cautious during his wife’s pregnancy, yet they were stuck at the final hurdle.
As the group grew increasingly anxious, a voice called from outside, “Ciqing?”
Jiang Ciqing turned and saw the Fifth Prince, who had followed her. His gaze briefly swept over the silver-haired woman beside him before deliberately looking away. His tense jaw relaxed slightly as he stepped forward, raising his hand in greeting. “Your Highness.”
Then he turned to Xu Fusheng, his tone flat. “Princess.”
The difference in familiarity was clear without words.
A cold glint flashed in Xu Fusheng’s eyes.
The Fifth Prince’s smile deepened, his face showing genuine concern. “I saw Ciqing galloping through earlier and worried something urgent had happened, so I hurried to check.”
Jiang Ciqing briefly explained the situation.
“I see,” Liang Anmu nodded, then instructed his servant to fetch a physician and tonics from the mansion.
Zha Xiwen quickly stepped forward to thank him.
The three began to chat, while Xu Fusheng stood silently to the side, as if she didn’t exist, her gaze inadvertently drifting elsewhere.
Jiang Ciqing, in her rush to leave, hadn’t even put on an outer robe, wearing only a black qilin-patterned riding outfit with sleeves tied up with black cords, giving her a sharp, capable look. Perhaps because her hair had grown longer, she had tied it high behind her head, revealing clean, sharp features.
Noticing Xu Fusheng’s gaze, Jiang Ciqing subtly shifted to avoid it, as if even being looked at was forbidden.
Xu Fusheng’s lips twitched into a half-smile, half-smirk.
The pained cries from the room grew more urgent, and Zha Xiwen’s face grew paler, the earlier joy of seeing the Fifth Prince completely gone.
Suddenly, the cries stopped, plunging the room into silence. Jiang Ciqing and Zha Xiwen turned to look at the same time.
The silence was more terrifying than the cries. Zha Xiwen’s legs gave out, and he stumbled toward the wooden door. Though their marriage had been arranged by their parents, their bond was deep, and they were a marked Alpha-Omega pair.
Clenching his fists, Zha Xiwen pounded on the door, his voice trembling with tears and panic. “Xun’er?! Xun’er! What’s wrong?”
“Midwife, I beg you, if the child can’t be saved, it doesn’t matter—just save him!”
Jiang Ciqing’s face paled, but she managed to stay upright.
There was no response from inside, and Zha Xiwen, frantic, was about to kick the door down when a baby’s cry suddenly rang out. He collapsed to the ground, drained of strength.
—Wah!
The door creaked open, and Jiang Ciqing stared as a stout midwife emerged, holding a small bundle wrapped in cloth. She said, “Father and child are safe. Master Zha, why are you so anxious at the critical moment…”
But Zha Xiwen didn’t hear her. He scrambled to his feet and rushed inside.
The midwife, stunned, had never seen a father so uninterested in his child, not even glancing at it. She turned to the others outside, her gaze settling on Jiang Ciqing, the closest.
“Give her the reward,” Jiang Ciqing said to Afu behind her. Afu immediately handed over a red pouch containing a few small silver ingots—a token of celebration. Under the midwife’s guidance, Jiang Ciqing took the baby into her arms, her movements stiff and awkward, like newly attached limbs. It took the midwife’s patient instruction before she dared to hold the child properly.
This was more exhausting than forging iron.
Jiang Ciqing sighed, then looked down and frowned.
Why is it so wrinkled and… ugly?
As if reading her thoughts, the midwife chuckled. “Newborns all look like this. Give it a few days, and they’ll be adorable.”
Jiang Ciqing was skeptical but figured that, given the looks of Brother Xun and his husband, the child probably wouldn’t turn out too bad.
She pulled out a golden longevity lock she had prepared and tucked it beside the baby, letting out a relieved breath. At least they were safe, even if the child was a bit… unattractive.
Prince Huai’an seems to like children…
Xu Fusheng’s gaze darkened. She recalled that night’s laughter, watching Jiang Ciqing, who, despite her feigned distaste, looked at the child with soft, smiling eyes. Mimicking how she’d seen others soothe children, she gently rocked the bundle.
“Peace and safety, health and strength,” she said with a smile, blessing the child twice before reluctantly handing it back to the midwife. Her eyes followed as the midwife carried the baby back inside, and she thoughtfully closed the door.
Turning back, she instructed the servants to prepare bl00d-nourishing meals. Suddenly remembering something, she listed a few dishes to the person beside her, even asking for paper and a brush to write them down herself for the kitchen.
How did someone just twenty years old know so much about these things, and seem so skilled at it?
Lost in thought, Xu Fusheng inexplicably pictured Jiang Ciqing as a mother.
Skilled at forging blades and playing music, gentle in character and good with children—she’d surely be loved by them…