**The Imperial Study in the Capital**

The young Emperor Xiao Chengyu was engrossed in reviewing a mountain of memorials, a hint of weariness barely perceptible in his eyes. His personal eunuch strode in silently, bowing as he presented a sealed, urgent letter, his voice brimming with barely suppressed joy: "Your Majesty, a messenger from the Prince of Jing's residence in Jiangnan, arriving by express courier!"

Xiao Chengyu paused, his pen poised, and looked up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He put down the vermilion brush, took the letter, and quickly opened it. When he saw the words, "Princess Consort Shen gave birth to a legitimate son at such and such a time; both mother and child are safe and sound," a genuine smile slowly curved his tightly clenched lips. He put down the letter, leaned back on the dragon throne, let out a long sigh, and murmured to the empty imperial study, "Good, good. My brother has an heir." His tone carried a hint of barely perceptible envy and relief.

---

**A stunning hot spring resort in Jiangnan**

The retired emperor was squinting, comfortably soaking in the steaming hot spring, a cup of warm wine in his hand. The empress leaned against a soft couch beside her, flipping through a newly acquired picture album.

A guard walked briskly through the corridor and knelt respectfully by the pond, his voice booming: "Reporting to the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Dowager! Good news from the Prince Jing's residence in Jiangnan! The Princess Consort has safely given birth to a baby boy! Both mother and child are safe and sound!"

"Oh?" The Emperor Emeritus suddenly opened his eyes, a bright light flashing in his cloudy old eyes. He even forgot to put down the wine cup in his hand. "A boy? He's born?"

The Empress sat up straight with delight, her face beaming with joy: "She's given birth! Mother and child are safe! That's wonderful! Amitabha!" She clasped her hands together, her face full of relief.

The Emperor Emeritus paused for a moment, then suddenly tilted his head back and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, slamming the empty cup down on the small table beside him with a thud. He stroked his wet beard and snorted, "You brat, quick as a flash! Better than his old man back then... well, only slightly better!" He tried to maintain his composure, but the smile lines at the corners of his eyes were impossible to hide. He stood up, splashing water everywhere, and waved his hand at the serving eunuchs: "Go! Find my pair of jade paperweights with unicorn designs! And that small gold lock inlaid with pearls from the storeroom! Send them to my eldest grandson!"

Seeing his stubbornness despite his obvious joy, the Empress couldn't help but shake her head with a smile. She instructed the guards, "Go and prepare. Pick out some more of the finest tonics and send them to Jiangnan by fast horse. Tell Prince Jing and his wife to rest well. When the baby is one month old, the Emperor Emeritus and I will definitely be there!"

---

**Northern Frontier, Lu Mansion**

The fire in the stove burned brightly, firmly keeping out the harsh cold of the border region. Luo Qingrou leaned against the warm kang (heated brick bed) covered with thick silver fox fur, her belly high and round, covered with a brocade quilt. Madam Lu was holding a bowl of steaming, fragrant bird's nest soup, carefully feeding her spoonful by spoonful.

"Come, Rou'er, have another sip. This bird's nest is the most nourishing. I simmered it over a low flame for most of the day, added rock sugar and milk, so it's not fishy at all." Madam Lu's voice was gentler than ever before.

Madam Luo sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding a warm jade comb in her hand. She gently combed her daughter's somewhat disheveled long hair, nagging as she said, "You need to comb your hair smoothly so that your blood and qi can flow smoothly. You are now quite heavy, so you need to be even more careful in everything you do. When you go to bed at night, have the nanny massage your legs and feet more often to prevent cramps."

Luo Qingrou felt a warm glow in her heart, enveloped in the meticulous care of her two mothers. She obediently drank the bird's nest soup, enjoying the gentle touch of her mother combing her hair. Lu Zheng sat a little further away, holding a military book in his hand, but his gaze remained fixed on his wife. Watching her being pampered like a porcelain doll by her two mothers, his eyes were filled with tenderness and peace.

Just then, the old military doctor walked in with a letter on his face, a smile on his face: "Young Madam, a letter has arrived from the Prince of Jiangnan's residence!"

Luo Qingrou's eyes lit up: "Quick, give it to me!" She took the letter and quickly opened it. As she read, a bright smile bloomed on her face: "Great news! Yuewei gave birth! It's a boy! Mother and child are safe!"

"Oh my! What a joyous occasion!" Madam Lu immediately beamed. "That girl Yuewei is truly blessed! Quickly, find that box of longevity gold lockets I brought! We'll present it as a gift to the young master of the Jing Prince's residence!"

Madam Luo said happily, "It's good that she's safe and sound! Yuewei has had a tough time too." Looking at her daughter's smile, she suddenly remembered something and teased, "Rou'er, look at Yuewei, and then look at the one in your belly. We need to step up our efforts and give our mother-in-law and little sister Yuewei a big gift in return!"

Luo Qingrou stroked her swollen belly, two rosy clouds rising to her cheeks, and said coquettishly, "Mother!" She looked at Lu Zheng, her eyes filled with anticipation and sweetness. Lu Zheng put down his military book, walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), covered her hand on her belly with his large hand, held it tightly, and said in a deep voice with a smile and a firm promise, "It will. Our child will definitely arrive safely."

Inside, the crackling charcoal fire and the fragrant aroma of herbs mingled with the sweet scent of bird's nest and the laughter of loved ones, warming the cold northern night. Outside the window, the boundless Gobi Desert night sky, with its low-hanging stars, seemed to be quietly listening to the joyous news of this new life and the warm anticipation. That resounding cry amidst the misty rain of Jiangnan was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, sending ripples of happiness far and wide.