Wang Mei’s entire focus was on her belly, and she didn't notice the fleeting surprise on Zhong Li's face. She gave a bitter smile and said, "I don't know what it's like for others to give birth here, but for me, I truly don't want this child."
"Why?" Zhong Li asked.
Wang Mei shook her head, her face etched with helplessness and shame. She said with difficulty, "Because, even now, I don't know who the father of this child is."
Zhong Li froze, looking at the woman before her.
Before, she had been busy with her tasks and hadn't noticed. Now, looking closely, she found that Wang Mei was quite beautiful, with bright eyes, white teeth, and skin like the lotus flower of September. It was truly a pity for such a woman to experience something like this.
"You don't know who the father of your child is, could it be..."
"Ugh..." Another wave of pain struck. Wang Mei gritted her teeth and endured, the malt candy in her mouth crushed with a crisp sound.
After the contraction passed, she panted and said, "Mother didn't let me speak... but... I always feel that if I don't speak now, I might never have the chance again. Meeting you, a young nun, today is also fate. I also want my own innocence.
But... can you promise me, little nun, not to tell anyone about this?"
Zhong Li nodded, signifying her agreement. However, she knew in her heart that if Wang Mei's situation was related to the entire case, she might have to break her promise.
"My father is Steward Wang, holding a sixth-rank official position. Although the rank isn't high, but... hiss..." Wang Mei let out a low groan and continued after enduring for a while, "Rather than saying he's adept at dealing with everyone, it's better to say he's very good at managing things.
From Lord Fu of the imperial court to the lowliest shrimp soldiers and crab generals, he has dealings with them all. My father's greatest skill is flattery and gift-giving. Don't underestimate it; it's also a form of art."
Zhong Li found Wang Mei's words very relatable. Although she hadn't interacted with Steward Wang, she knew of him. As Wang Mei described, Steward Wang indeed possessed some skillful means of being all things to all people.
"My father's gifts are not just in terms of money, but also include... people."
"People?" Zhong Li's eyebrows furrowed.
Wang Mei nodded, perhaps having hit upon the crucial point, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Zhong Li, seeing her like this, could roughly guess what was happening. Her expression became serious as she said, "Could it be..."
Wang Mei bit her lip and said, "My father has four concubines. I am from the third concubine. Besides the legitimate elder sister, there are two other half-sisters. One of them married into the Shen family and became the sixth concubine of Master Shen. The other is an outside mistress for Lord Fu."
Old Master Shen?
Zhong Li was somewhat surprised by Wang Mei's words. Shen Nong's father was at least sixty years old, while Wang Mei's half-sisters were at most in their early twenties. It was truly lamentable.
"And you?" she asked, glancing at Wang Mei's belly.
Wang Mei gave a mournful smile and said, "Little nun, you haven't been raised in a secluded chamber, perhaps you don't understand the affairs of us daughters born to concubines... hiss... Father has always been trying to curry favor with the Shen family... He always says that the future of the world belongs to the Shen family.
Therefore, my sisters and I have always been groomed as playthings for the Shen family. At first, I didn't know. I followed the etiquette and precepts taught by the governess hired by my father. Until... last year, my father asked me to attend a poetry gathering."
"What was that?" Zhong Li, though working in Jincheng, had spent almost half the year away. The time she spent in Jincheng was dedicated to investigating cases. Poetry gatherings were something she truly didn't know about.
Wang Mei seemed to recall the past indignity, her body trembling uncontrollably. She bit her lip, enduring the pain, and said, "A poetry gathering, to put it nicely, is a meeting for talented scholars and literati to discuss classical learning, poetry, and prose. But in my eyes, it was just a gathering of degenerate young masters... seeking pleasure, indulging in debauchery, and hunting for women.
At first, I thought my father wanted me to find a good husband. I never imagined... When I went to that poetry gathering, after just three cups of wine, I lost consciousness. The next day, when I woke up, my clothes were disheveled, and my body... my body... wuwuwu..."
As she spoke passionately, tears of humiliation flowed uncontrollably.
Seeing her like this, Zhong Li quickly fetched a cup of hot water and offered it to her, saying, "Don't get agitated, it's not good for you and the baby."
Wang Mei let out a cold laugh and shook her head, remaining silent.
Zhong Li carefully considered her words and said, "Since you said that your father used you and your sisters to curry favor with Master Shen, why did he send you to that poetry gathering? Could it be..."
"At that banquet, there was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, as well as several young masters from prominent families."
Hearing this, Zhong Li's heart skipped a beat. Her gaze, which had been on Wang Mei's belly, shifted.
She knew a little about how Steward Wang conducted his affairs. Although Wang Mei couldn't remember who she had relations with, in Zhong Li's view, the father of the child was already determined.
The Crown Prince had not yet taken a consort, so Steward Wang's plan for Wang Mei to have the child seemed well-thought-out.
But would he truly get his wish? Neither Shen Nong nor Fu Chong were fools.
As they talked, time flew by.
Wang Mei was tired from the pain, panting heavily, and lay limply on the bed like a piece of mud.
Zhong Li sat by the table, gazing absently at the Zisha teapot on the table.
Suddenly, Wang Mei's eyes widened, her hands clutched the quilt tightly, and she let out a piercing scream, "It hurts so much... ah!"
Seeing her like this, Zhong Li rushed out of the room to find the old nun who had been assisting with the birth.
A moment later, the old nun rushed in, washed her hands, pulled back the quilt, and without regard for Wang Mei's willingness, reached down.
"Quick, she's already five fingers dilated. Looking at her condition, ten fingers will be reached in an instant. Prepare to give birth."
As she spoke, Wang Mei let out another roar of pain.
"Hold her down!" the old nun shouted at Zhong Li, seeing Wang Mei thrash about in pain.
Hearing this, Zhong Li grabbed a towel for Wang Mei to bite on, took Wang Mei's hand, and said, "Hold onto me, and then breathe according to the midwife's instructions."
Wang Mei was both scared and nervous. She nodded and began to regulate her breathing.
"It's open, it's open!" the old nun watched and instructed, "Listen to me, push when it hurts, and rest when there are no contractions, understand?"
Wang Mei nodded.
"Good, push!" the old nun said.
Wang Mei bit the towel tightly and, holding Zhong Li's hand, began to push.
Before long, Wang Mei suddenly shook her head, her entire body weak and breathless, and said, "I can't do it anymore, I can't."
Hearing this, the old nun frowned and said, "She can't, the baby's head is too big. Get the scissors."
Zhong Li's pupils contracted slightly at the word "scissors." She seemed to understand what she was doing.
Wang Mei also heard it. Seeing the old nun holding scissors and aiming them below her, whether from pain or fear, beads of sweat streamed down her forehead.
Zhong Li, seeing her like this, felt even more pity, but she also knew that if the child didn't come out now, it would be a case of two lives lost.
"Close your eyes, pretend nothing happened."
"I... mmm..." Before Wang Mei could finish speaking, the sound of scissors cutting flesh echoed in the hut, and at the same time, the cry of a newborn child filled the room.
"It's out, it's a boy!" the old nun said, forcefully tapping the baby's feet, making its cries even louder.
Wang Mei let out a long sigh, rolled her eyes, and fainted.