"An'an! Slow down!" Shen Yuewei stood under the veranda, watching her daughter run around the yard like a happy little butterfly. An'an was wearing a light yellow summer shirt, with two little pigtails, her cheeks were rosy, and she was holding a newly woven little basket in her hand, which contained a few freshly picked flowers.

"Mommy! It's for Second Aunt!" An'an skipped and hopped towards the east wing. "Second Aunt smells so sweet, my little brother and sister won't make a fuss anymore!"

Shen Yuewei couldn't help but smile. Ever since her second brother, Shen Wenbai, brought his second sister-in-law, Lin Qingwan, to Jiangnan to accompany her, the small courtyard had become lively. Especially after her second sister-in-law became pregnant, An'an would hover around her second aunt every day, calling her "little brother and sister" repeatedly, which made the whole family laugh.

"Miss, the second young mistress's medicinal soup is ready." Chun Tao came out of the kitchen carrying a red lacquered tray with a celadon stew pot on it, steaming hot. This girl has grown into a beautiful young woman and is becoming more and more mature in her work. She is Shen Yuewei's most capable assistant.

"Give it to me." Shen Yuewei took the tray. "Go and watch over An'an, make sure she doesn't cause trouble for your second sister-in-law."

In the east wing, Lin Qingwan was leaning against the chaise lounge by the window, her belly quite prominent. She wore a loose, light purple gauze dress, her hair loosely tied up. Although her pregnancy made her slightly plump, it added to her gentle and graceful demeanor. Shen Wenbai sat beside her, carefully massaging her swollen feet.

"Second sister-in-law, it's time to eat." Shen Yuewei walked in quietly and placed the stew pot on the small table.

"Oh dear, Yuewei, I already told you there's no need for all that trouble," Lin Qingwan said with a smile, playfully scolding. "I'm already seven months pregnant, why do I need to take supplements every day? If I keep taking them, the baby might grow too big and make delivery difficult."

"Nonsense!" Shen Wenbai immediately tensed up. "The doctor said you're weak and need to be properly nourished. Besides, this is a prescription I specially brought from the capital; it's especially good for the pregnancy."

Shen Yuewei couldn't help but smile at her second brother's nervous expression. Who would have thought that the once famously charming and talented young master Shen would become so cautious?

"Second Aunt!" An'an rushed in like a little whirlwind, holding up a basket of gardenias. "They smell so good! Let my little brother and sister smell them!"

"Oh my, our An'an is so good." Lin Qingwan gently took the flower basket and touched An'an's little face. "But your second aunt might only be having one baby in her belly, not a younger brother or sister."

An'an stubbornly shook her head: "It's my younger brother and sister! An'an sees them! Two!" She held up two little fingers and gestured seriously.

The adults all laughed, taking it as innocent childish talk. Shen Yuewei picked up her daughter: "Alright, stop bothering your second aunt, let's go to the kitchen and see how dinner is going."

No one expected that An An's words would come true.

It was a cool afternoon. Shen Yuewei was checking the accounts at the tea shop when Chun Tao suddenly rushed in, flustered: "Miss! Something terrible has happened! The second young mistress has gone into labor! Almost two months earlier than the doctor said!"

The ledger in Shen Yuewei's hand fell to the ground with a thud. Premature birth! She immediately thought of her second sister-in-law's frail body, and her heart tightened.

"Quickly! Prepare the carriage! Go and fetch the best midwife in the city! Also, send the midwives from our household, and have someone go to the pharmacy to invite Doctor Li!" She gave the orders as she hurried out, her steps unsteady.

When they returned to the courtyard, the east wing was in complete chaos. Mr. and Mrs. Shen paced anxiously in the yard. Shen Wenbai, his face ashen, stood like a wooden stake outside the door, trembling as he listened to his wife's painful groans inside.

"Second brother, don't worry, second sister-in-law is a lucky person..." Shen Yuewei was interrupted by a heart-wrenching scream before she could finish speaking.

"ah--!"

Shen Wenbai's legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground. Shen Yuewei quickly supported him, her own hands trembling uncontrollably.

Inside the room, the midwife's voice came: "Young mistress, give it your all! We can see the head!"

Another heart-wrenching scream followed by a loud baby's cry.

"It's a boy! It's a baby boy!" came the midwife's joyful voice.

Just as everyone in the courtyard was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Lin Qingwan cried out in pain again, "Ah! There's... there's one more!"

"My God! Twins!" the midwife exclaimed. "Young mistress, don't give up, try again!"

Shen Wenbai was completely stunned, staring blankly at Shen Yuewei: "Twins?"

Shen Yuewei was also speechless with shock. An'an's words were actually true!

After another flurry of activity, the second cry finally rang out, weaker than the first, but unmistakably the sound of another new life.

"Congratulations, sir and madam! Congratulations, young master! It's twins, a boy and a girl! The young master came out first, and the young lady came out later. They're both safe and sound!" The midwife came out with a beaming smile to announce the good news.

Overjoyed, Shen's mother wept and chanted Buddhist prayers repeatedly. Shen's father stroked his beard, grinning from ear to ear. Shen Wenbo, however, disregarded everything else and rushed into the delivery room.

Shen Yuewei stood in the courtyard, suddenly feeling her legs go weak, and she had to hold onto a pillar to keep from sitting down. Only then did she realize that her back was soaked with cold sweat.

"Mommy!" An'an ran over unnoticed, tugging at her mother's clothes with her little hand. "An'an said it's a younger brother or sister!"

Shen Yuewei scooped up her daughter and kissed her rosy cheeks repeatedly: "Yes, yes, our An'an is the best!"

Chun Tao hurried over carrying a basin of hot water, her face beaming with joy: "Miss, I'll go help the young mistress tidy up. Would you like some red eggs prepared? This is such a joyous occasion!"

"Prepare? Of course we need to prepare!" Shen Yuewei said with a smile. "Prepare plenty, and give a portion to each of the neighbors. Oh, and also, have someone go to the tea shop and fetch some of the finest black tea for Second Sister-in-law to replenish her energy."

The courtyard suddenly became lively. Servants went in and out, busy boiling water, cooking porridge, and preparing red eggs. Father Shen couldn't wait to start flipping through the dictionary to name his two grandsons. Mother Shen directed people to bring out the little clothes and quilts that had been prepared beforehand to air them out.

Standing under the pomegranate tree, Shen Yuewei watched the busy and festive scene, her heart filled with warmth. She quietly touched the letter she kept close to her body—Xiao Chengjing said that the affairs of the court had been basically settled, and now they were choosing the date for the new emperor's enthronement; soon they would be able to reunite.

Thinking of this, she looked up to the north, as if she could see the person who had been traveling day and night to Jiangnan. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the pomegranate blossoms, casting a bright glow of anticipation on her face.