The abduction of Chu Qingge and her son could not be concealed indefinitely. Although Xiao Man had lost contact with the outside world, it did not mean Nangong Yu had.
When Nangong Yu received the news, his expression turned grim. The abduction of Chu Qingge and her son, and Yin Zhu being a spy, this was a double blow to Xiao Man. He had met Yin Zhu before; she was a shrewd and capable girl. His guards found it incredibly difficult to extract any information about Xiao Man from her, and she might even use the opportunity to glean information about him from his guards.
For such a person to be a spy, she had hidden herself too well, hadn't she?
Xiao Man sat under the eaves, sewing clothes for her child. Her gaze fell upon Nangong Yu's suddenly changed expression, and she immediately understood that something had happened outside.
"Did something happen?" Xiao Man asked in a calm voice, as if she had anticipated it.
Nangong Yu crumpled the note into a ball and smiled, saying, "Nothing, don't worry."
"It seems to be something related to me." Xiao Man was stitching the last few stitches, and once they were done, the garment would be complete.
Nangong Yu's expression remained unchanged, his smile fixed, trying his best to maintain composure so that Xiao Man wouldn't notice anything amiss. "Every time you smile like this, it means you're hiding something from me."
Nangong Yu's smile faltered. It was true; how could he hide anything from Xiao Man? Fortunately, she only suspected something had happened outside and didn't know what it was. There was still room for maneuver.
"It's my sister-in-law and nephew who are in trouble." Xiao Man's tone carried no hint of abnormality, but Nangong Yu knew he couldn't keep it from her any longer.
"Chu Qingge and her son have been abducted, and Yin Zhu is a spy."
The needle pricked her finger, but Xiao Man didn't feel the pain. She pulled it out, and blood immediately welled up. Nangong Yu couldn't help but frown. "Don't worry too much. Feng Moran abducted them to force you to appear. As long as you don't show up, they will be safe."
Xiao Man didn't speak. She finished the last stitch, picked up the scissors, and snipped the thread before putting away her needle and thread. She was as calm as if the abduction of Chu Qingge and her son had nothing to do with her.
Nangong Yu felt uneasy. Xiao Man was too calm, frighteningly so. He would have preferred her to cry or make a scene rather than see her this composed.
"Are you alright?"
Xiao Man furrowed her brow, her face almost wrinkled like a tangerine peel. "I... I... am not well..."
"What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"I think I'm going into labor." Xiao Man's hands gripped the arms of the chair, turning pale from the force, veins bulging, and sweat trickling down her forehead. Her small face contorted in pain.
Nangong Yu panicked entirely and quickly carried Xiao Man into the house. "Someone, quickly call a doctor and a midwife!"
"Idiot, there are only two of us here, where would we find a doctor and a midwife?" Xiao Man scolded. "Hurry and go outside the valley to get Xiang Xue and the others!"
"Oh, okay, okay, I'll go right away!" Nangong Yu rushed out in a flurry. After all, it was his first time experiencing something like this, and even he felt very flustered.
"Someone, Xiang Xue."
"Your Majesty, is my mistress going into labor?" Xiang Xue emerged from her hiding place, a medical kit in hand, and asked excitedly.
"Quick, quick, quick, call a doctor, call a midwife, Man'er is going into labor..."
Before Nangong Yu could finish speaking, several figures had already rushed into the valley. Nangong Yu paused, then quickly followed, only to be blocked at the door.
"Let me in."
"Your Majesty, my mistress is giving birth. You cannot enter," the guards blocked Nangong Yu, speaking in a professional tone.
Inside the house, Xiao Man's screams could be heard continuously. Nangong Yu's heart ached. He tried to enter several times but was blocked.
"I can't go in?"
"Your Majesty, can you help deliver the baby?"
"No."
"Do you know how to deliver a baby?"
"No."
"Then, are you skilled in medicine?"
"No."
"Then what purpose would you serve by going in other than causing trouble?"
Nangong Yu was speechless. As a man, he could command thousands of troops without issue, but now he couldn't help at all. "Is there nothing I can do?"
"Stay here and don't cause trouble. That's the best help you can give."
Nangong Yu had never felt so useless. He couldn't be of any use and was even considered a nuisance!
Although he was helpless, Nangong Yu was not someone who lacked judgment. They say childbirth is a journey through the gates of hell for women, and a slight mistake can be life-threatening. He dared not act rashly.
"Shouldn't it be due in March? Why is it early?" Qin Xue asked, puzzled.
Nangong Yu's expression shifted slightly. It must have been the incident with Chu Qingge and her son that stimulated Xiao Man. Although she appeared calm, she was worried inside, which caused her to miscarry and go into labor early.
Qin Xue looked at Nangong Yu. They would not relay any outside news, but they could not stop Nangong Yu, as they didn't know what he knew. "Your Majesty, what did you tell my mistress?"
"I didn't say anything," Nangong Yu said stubbornly.
"Here, only you could have possibly revealed news to my mistress," Qin Xue said softly. "My mistress is now stimulated and going into labor early. Are you happy?"
"I..." Nangong Yu was speechless. "I didn't mean to. I never expected her to guess what happened..."
Qin Xue sighed helplessly. "I knew it. You underestimate my mistress too much. For her, there are only a few important people. A little thought and she'll figure it out."
Nangong Yu felt guilty and dared not speak. He lowered his head. He had hoped Xiao Man could rest here until the baby was born safely, but this incident had occurred.
"What news did you receive? My mistress was so anxious that her pregnancy was affected."
"Chu Qingge and her son have been abducted, and Yin Zhu is a spy."
"Impossible!" Qin Xue exclaimed.
"Is it impossible that Chu Qingge and her son were abducted, or is it impossible that Yin Zhu is a spy?"
"Yin Zhu cannot be a spy!" Qin Xue said excitedly.
"One can know a person's face but not their heart. How do you know she isn't a spy?" Nangong Yu inquired. After all, the only ones present besides Yin Zhu were the wet nurse, and the wet nurse was someone they knew well. The only suspect was Yin Zhu; no one else could have done it.
"No matter what, I cannot believe Yin Zhu is a spy."
"So, your mistress feels the same way. She isn't stimulated by the abduction of Chu Qingge and her son, but because Yin Zhu is a spy?"
"My mistress would never suspect Yin Zhu of being a spy. She is stimulated because the young madam and young master were abducted. As for Yin Zhu, there is likely another explanation for this."