After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Everyone sat down, divided the money, and went back to their rooms to rest.

The next day, Su Chuan specifically asked Shen Yi about empty houses in the new district, intending to buy one. The reason was more or less related to the Zhu family.

The county government needed revenue, and Shen Yi was eager to have someone buy his house.

They immediately decided to take Su Chuan to see it.

Su Sheng and his friends joined in the fun.

After looking around, a small courtyard like the kind where ordinary people live costs about fifty taels, a larger one costs eighty taels, and a large mansion like the Shen or Zhu mansion costs about five or six hundred taels.

Su Chuan has three sons, so he immediately asked Shen Yi for three houses. When he learned that there were vacant shops for sale in a remote area, he bought three more.

With him taking the lead, Su Sheng and the others also took out their money, each buying the same amount as their sons.

Shen Yi received so much money that his hands were sore from collecting it all that morning that he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Zhu Yixuan had been keeping an eye on the county government's activities. He was shocked to learn that the county government had sold more than a dozen houses and shops early in the morning. Upon further inquiry, he found out that Shen Dagou and his gang had bought them.

My heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Those people were just peasants he didn't take seriously back then, but in such a short time, they've all turned their lives around. What he envies most is that they all have children, while he, as the former number one young master of Zhaohua County, now has no children of his own, only superficial glory, all that's left is empty prestige.

"Outrageous!" Zhu Yixuan swept the cups and saucers off the table and clenched his fists in anger.

Just then, Xiao Shuang, who was serving Cen Mingzhu, rushed in anxiously, "Young Master, the eldest young mistress is about to give birth."

Zhu Yixuan clenched her fist with a cold laugh. "What does it matter to me if she gives birth? Do you think I'd help her?"

Xiao Shuang knelt down with a thud, her face as white as paper. "Uncle, the eldest young mistress is having a difficult childbirth. The midwife and the female doctor say they can only save one of them!"

Zhu Yixuan was taken aback, his eyes flickering. "Let's go! I'll go take a look!"

Xiao Shuang quickly caught up with Zhu Yixuan.

The two had barely entered the courtyard when they heard Cen Mingzhu's heart-wrenching cries and curses, "Aren't you midwives and female doctors? Didn't you promise me you could deliver the baby safely? Hurry up! If I can't give birth safely, I'll chop you all up! Ah, it hurts so much!"

Xiao Shuang was terrified, tears streaming down her face. "Young Master, the midwife and the female doctor say they can only save one of us. Please, make a decision!"

"Let me make the decision?" Zhu Yixuan pointed to himself and laughed!
"Xiaoshuang, you should know whose child your mistress is carrying! It's not appropriate for you to ask me for advice at a time like this!"

Zhu Yixuan was about to burst with anger. These people just didn't want to take responsibility afterward and wanted him to take the blame. Dream on!
Xiao Shuang kowtowed desperately, "Young Master, this servant has no choice. Now that lives are at stake, please make the decision, Young Master!"

"Hmph!" Zhu Yixuan sat down calmly and said indifferently, "Both adults and children must be protected. If you can't, you'll have to atone with your deaths! You'll all be buried with them!"

"Young Master?" Xiao Shuang's body went limp, and she was so frightened that she couldn't stand up.

Zhu Yixuan summoned the steward and instructed him to have two old women drag Xiaoshuang into the delivery room to give her a report.

He wanted to see how these confidants of the Cen family would choose.

The waiting time always seemed long, but Zhu Yixuan was unusually calm. He would drink tea, eat snacks, and even doze off with his eyes half-closed.

There was silence in the delivery room at some point. The housekeeper, seeing the door open, quickly woke Zhu Yixuan.

The midwife emerged trembling, tripped over the threshold, and fell to the ground. Gritting her teeth, she crawled to Zhu Yixuan's feet and, with all her remaining strength, replied, "The eldest young mistress has given birth to a daughter. She suffered a difficult labor and postpartum hemorrhage!"

They all assumed that Cen Mingzhu was carrying a son, and for that reason, they ultimately chose to save the baby. Little did they expect that it would be a girl!
The midwife already knew her fate and was now only thinking about how to die with dignity.

Zhu Yixuan chuckled, "A daughter? It's actually a daughter! Didn't you all insist it was a son?"

If it were a daughter, she would be of much less use to him. Once Cen Mingzhu is dead, the Cen family will definitely not give him a second glance, and Cen Yingfan will not help him like he does now!
In a flash, Zhu Yixuan made a decision: "Someone! Go and fetch the best doctor in the county. You must save the young mistress's life!"

No one in the courtyard dared to utter a sound at this moment; they all listened to Zhu Yixuan's instructions.

The most skilled doctor in the county town for treating women was Dr. Zhou, who also had two apprentices, a man and a woman.

The three of them were summoned by the housekeeper in the middle of the night, and they were still a little confused about the situation.

As the butler entered, he pointed to the courtyard on the left and said, “That’s our Zhu family’s residence. This courtyard is used by the Zhu family to entertain guests. A female relative of the Zhu family lives here. She is having a difficult childbirth tonight. My young master didn’t know that this would happen. I’m afraid we won’t be able to explain it to our relative, so I can only trouble the doctor to make a trip.”

Dr. Zhou strode forward. "It's alright. I went next door to see your master a few days ago. How is his recovery?"

"Thank you for your concern, Dr. Zhou. My master is fine." The butler remembered that he had indeed asked Dr. Zhou to examine his master's health before. Fortunately, he hadn't said anything at the time, so his explanation now seemed reasonable.

My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, felt much calmer now.

When Doctor Zhou arrived, all the servants of the Cen family were moved to another room, leaving only Xiao Shuang to serve them.

Doctor Zhou calmly took Cen Mingzhu's pulse, had his female apprentice examine her body, and carefully explained the situation.

He then quickly applied acupuncture to stop Cen Mingzhu's bleeding and instructed his female apprentice, "Find out the thread we brought, boil it in boiling water, and then sew it up."

The female apprentice's face was a little pale, but she calmly nodded and did as Doctor Zhou said.

Xiao Shuang watched in terror, trembling as she asked, "Doctor, can my master be saved?"

Doctor Zhou glanced at the unconscious Cen Mingzhu and sighed, "To tell you the truth, childbirth is a life-or-death experience for women. I can only do my best now. Whether she survives or not depends on her fate."

Even if she survives this time, the woman's health will be far worse than before, and she will probably have to stay in bed for the rest of her life.

Xiao Shuang shuddered and almost lost her balance.

If their master were to wake up and find out what happened, none of them would likely escape unscathed.

Dr. Zhou was busy directing his female apprentice to save the person and didn't notice Xiao Shuang's fear and anxiety at all.

The treatment continued until it was quite dark. During this time, basins of bloody fluid were drawn out of the delivery room, and even Zhu Yixuan, who had been relatively calm, could no longer sit still.

Just then, Doctor Zhou's male apprentice brought in a bowl of steaming hot herbal soup.

Zhu Yixuan hurriedly asked, "What is this?" (End of this chapter)