Yao Zhu (2)

The meeting of Yao Zhu and Young Master Bai seemed to be a lucky coincidence for both. It was as though they were the main characters of a romance story. Unfortunately, despite all the hardships the couple went through, they were merely side-characters.

After marrying into the Bai family, Yao Zhu faced the hardships that she had not expected. She was used to the crude ways of the Red Light District, but she wasn't used to the scheming and trickeries in noble households. The first few months she resided within the Bai family, she had experienced hardships, not from the women, but the men.

The females and the males in the family were like water and fire. The men were hotheaded and barbaric while the women were kind and forgiving, that act with sereneness.

Yao Zhu hoped that even if she had to face troubles within the family, it would at least not happen during her first month of their marriage. However, contrary to her belief, the patriarch of the family, Master Bai, completely shattered her hopes. To her, he was the scariest person in the world.

One time, Master Bai had walked into the marital chamber when the groom was still drinking with the guests. On that night, he had threatened her. As both a father and a person who sought honor.

"I want the first child to be a boy, do you understand?" Master Bai threateningly commanded. "If you cannot give birth to a male, you will be thrown out of this family."

Right after giving her the ultimatum, he left. The guests soon followed as to not continue the awkward silence. Her chamber regained the silence it once had before the marriage. It was as though no one had visited her room.

He said a short sentence but this forewarning was enough to wake her up and open her eyes at her situation. Her lovesickness no longer blinding her rational thoughts, she understood her predicament. She was not a noble nor from royalty. Even if Young Master Bai loved her, his father is still the head of the family, he still has to listen to his words and divorce her. Once thrown out, where would she go? Back in the Red Light District? There's no way she will go back after tasting the rich people's lifestyle.

Yao Zhu knew that her future would be dim if she didn't listen to Master Bai. She has a half-chance of getting a boy. She was lucky enough to fall in love with someone from royalty which is one in a million, her luck would not betray her this time right?

Yao Zhu did not know why Master Bai was anxious for a boy, but if this child could provide her with peace in the household, she'll follow his order without a second thought. She didn't want to lose what she gained after the adventure she had experienced with Young Master Bai.

Three months following her marriage, she was facing heavy pressure from Master Bai. At first, he would only ask her once in a while. However, now he would ask her three times a week.

Yao Zhu was already stressed and was trying to find ways to get pregnant fast, but the questions were not what caused her to change into a whole different person.

One night when her husband was out, Master Bai came into her room. On that visit, he almost caused her to go crazy in depression.

"Hurry up and produce a boy," Master Bai said with an annoyed face. "I'm going to have a doctor visit you tomorrow. I want to hear good news, or else…" he trailed off his sentence while looking at her with a threatening glare.

Scared and frightened, Yao Zhu said while stuttering over her words, "F-father-in-law, it's been o-only three months. H-how can there be a child in my stomach already?"

"Are you implying that my son isn't strong?" Master Bai's glare intensified.

"N-no! That's not what I'm saying," Yao Zhu anxiously stammered out. "The pulse for a pregnant woman is usually not distinguishable until the woman is already two months."

"I've already given you three months," he stated. "If you're not pregnant, the doctor will know."

Hearing his statement, Yao Zhu's face grew pale. It was as though Master Bai already had everything calculated. Since she lived with the Bai family, he must have kept his eyes on her.

Before leaving Yao Zhu's room, Master Bai said, "Miss Ye from the Ye family has a crush on my son and is anxious to marry him. If you disappoint me, you already know what will happen."

On that night, Yao Zhu was unable to get a wink of sleep. It was as though her life's hope crumbled.

On the next day, the doctor came as Master Bai said. Yao Zhu did not know how Master Bai did it, but her husband was not by her side when the doctor visited. It was known throughout the whole realm that if a male doctor came to examine one's wife, the husband's presence is required to accompany to not spread any rumor.

In her room, alone, Yao Zhu stared blankly at the garden as the doctor read her pulse.

Yao Zhu saw herself once again wearing torn and dirty clothes, begging with the other homeless people of the capital.

Lost in her own thoughts, she was brought back by the doctor who said to her, "Young Madam, your pulse is chaotic due to stress and your emotions are running wild. I hope you will take a rest during these times as it will be dangerous for the child you're carrying."

When Yao Zhu heard the word child, she froze up. She wondered if she heard it correctly.

"Doctor… D-did you say, child?" Yao Zhu asked anxiously while her eyes were growing bigger as each second passed.

"Yes. Young Madam, you are around three months pregnant," the doctor informed her.

"I… I… I have a baby? A child is in my stomach?" Yao Zhu asked again frantically, losing her composure and unable to calm herself down.

Once again, the doctor replied with a positive. She had been stressing for days, but now she was happy again. Yao Zhu thought, 'I won't have to leave. I won't have to leave! Hahahaha!'

After carrying the child for six more months, she finally gave birth. Unfortunately, the day that was supposed to finally free her never came. The child she had been anticipating for so long, was not the one she wanted.

Her child… Was not a boy.