I Help Out With The Second Madam's Delivery

When Xiao Yue arrived at her manor, First Madam was busy sorting out herbs and roots at a counter to turn into a medicinal soup to nourish Second Madam's body. She looked haggard and extremely tired. Xiao Yue could tell that she had not slept well for quite some nights already.

"First Madam," Xiao Yue greeted, bending her knees slightly.

"Ah, you are here."

First Madam put down the herbs and washed her hands in a basin before wiping them dry with some clothes.

"Let's talk in the dining room. Have you had your lunch?"

Eh. To think that she was invited to have some lunch together with the First Madam? Xiao Yue shook her head.

"Good."

First Madam clapped and a maid quickly went back to the kitchen. They did not wait for long before a group of maids entered the dining room carrying steaming hot dishes on wooden trays.

First Madam used to eat vegetarian dishes, but this time they were having roasted beef with a crispy surface, two braised pork legs with fragrant red sauce, and grilled fish with chili and onion topping. The side vegetarian dishes and two bowls of white rice completely paled in comparison. The dining table seemed to creak under the heavy load of food.

"..."

Xiao Yue swallowed her saliva. She was tempted to grab a pork leg with her bare hand and just ripped through the flesh with her teeth. It was unbecoming of a high-born lady, but that was the way to eat it! Was First Madam expecting her to dig using a pair of chopsticks???

While Xiao Yue did her best not to look at the enticing pork legs and picked at a humble piece of sauteed eggplant instead, First Madam already rolled up her sleeves, reached for a pork leg, lifted it with her hand, and bit into it craftily. Oil quickly smeared the bottom part of her face but she did not seem to care at all.

"What's wrong? Is the food not to your liking?"

"..."

Xiao Yue did not answer. She rolled her own sleeves and grabbed the other piece of pork leg. Together, they munched on the legs while spitting out bones on the plates.

Eating together united people of all races. This was the first time Xiao Yue had such a satisfying meal, and it was with the strict First Madam too! After they were done, First Madam told her that she originated from a tribe west of Hong Kingdom.

She was sent over as a tribute to the Hong Kingdom, and His Majesty gave her away to his most loyal and strongest general, Long Zhao Xue. She was lucky enough to be the first wife. Most tributes were at most second wives.

"I heard you share the same taste, so I invited you for a lunch together. It is much more delicious to eat meat together."

Xiao Yue wiped the sauce and oil from her face and nodded in agreement.

"First Madam has excellent cooks. I have asked the same cuisines to be prepared in my manor kitchen but the result was not half as good as these dishes."

"That's because I prepared them myself."

"Oh."

"Did Third Sister not learn how to cook these delicacies?"

"I only know how to eat, hahaha."

A hint of smile laced First Madam's lips.

"Then, come by when you have time. I will teach you how to cook."

"Un!"

"Of course, I also have a request to ask of you."

After she was well fed, Xiao Yue was all ears.

"Yes, First Madam?"

First Madam seemed to find it difficult to express her request. She opened her mouth a few times only to close it again. At last, she steeled herself and looked into Xiao Yue's eyes.

"This baby is very important."

>>Baby? Oh, the Second Madam's baby!<<

Xiao Yue nodded.

"I had hoped... that things would change, but at this point... I have given up all hope. This baby is our only hope.

Third Sister, I know the real reason behind your suicide attempt. Our husband told me. If you truly love him, you will forgo all the rivalries and support me to make sure that this baby will be safely delivered. Can you do that?"

First Madam had been married to Long Zhao Xue for so long but she had not even conceived once. Could it be that she was barren? Long Zhao Xue did not seem to plan to visit her, so naturally First Madam did not expect her to get pregnant anytime soon. Was Second Madam's condition life-threatening?

"Big Sister, I will help." Xiao Yue said. "Just tell me what I have to do."

Her grudge was with Long Zhao Xue and the Hong King only. Babies, although carrying Long Zhao Xue's blood in the veins, were innocent. Xiao Yue could never bring herself to harm the innocent ones.

After hearing Xiao Yue's answer, First Madam looked elated. She grabbed Xiao Yue's hands and spoke.

"I heard that Third Sister is quite versed in the matter of medicinal roots and herbs. Please help me prepare daily medicinal soup for Second Sister. I have some red ginseng from the palace too. We shall make chicken soup to nourish her body, prepare for the upcoming birth."

"Alright, Big Sister, I will help. But... why don't you leave the work to the maids? Sister, you need to take care of your own health. You look extremely tired."

First Madam shook her head.

"Maids are often careless. This kind of important thing, I can only leave in your hands. Third Sister, I also need you to release some of your maids to help out in the Second Sister's manor.

"..."

From that day on, Xiao Yue and her whole manor also got busy every day to help out at the Second Madam's manor. The day of the delivery inched closer, but there still was no news of Long Zhao Xue coming home anytime soon.