A bolt from the blue.

This is all the money he had.

Now, he is penniless.

He initially intended to buy a hairpin to apologize to Miss Zhao, but he hurried out last night and didn’t bring any money, nor did he dare to put it on account, so he didn’t buy it.

The inn he stayed at last night was paid for with a jade pendant as collateral, which he was waiting to redeem with money.

Looking at the empty brocade box, Dong Chenglang’s head throbbed painfully.

They were brothers, after all. Couldn’t he at least leave him a hundred taels?

Dong Chenglang took the empty brocade box to find Zhao Xu, "If I return the telescope, can I get my silver note back?"

Zhao Xu stared at him, "What do you think?"

Dong Chenglang, "...".

If he really did that, he might end up losing the telescope too.

Dong Chenglang gave up.

The foolish actions he committed, he must swallow the bitter result himself.

With the telescope, he could make a distinction in battle soon and earn back the silver note.

As for now—

A brother-in-law without money or security turned to his brother-in-law for help, "Lend me some money to spend."

Zhao Xu, "...".

Prince NanAn and his entourage hurried back to the Capital and did not return to catch Dong Chenglang in the act.

Twenty-three thousand two hundred taels, plus the five thousand taels voluntarily given by Dong Chenglang, nearly thirty thousand taels of silver handed over to Su Jin were more than enough for one telescope, let alone two.

Prince NanAn wasn’t angry; he was in such a good mood he wanted to hum a tune.

Meanwhile, the Princess Consort and her entourage on their way to the border were filled with heavy emotions.

The Princess Consort sat in the carriage holding the Little Princess; the carriage was racing to save time, causing a rough ride.

Xique and the young maids couldn’t handle the hardship due to their youth.

As soon as the carriage stopped, they leaned against the roadside trees, vomiting endlessly.

The Princess Consort was even worse; she almost couldn’t stand when getting off the carriage, completely exhausted.

Manager Li feared that if they continued rushing to the border like this, both the Princess Consort and the maids might not survive.

Manager Li looked at the Princess Consort and suggested, "If Princess Consort is worried, let us send the Little Princess to the border first. For one, horseback is faster, and secondly, Princess Consort and the maids can feel more comfortable."

After all, no matter how fast the carriage goes, it can’t outpace horseback.

The Princess Consort was reluctant to part with her daughter, especially in her daughter’s poisoned condition.

But the Princess Consort understood that keeping the Little Princess with her would delay the timing.

Even the Hidden Guard advised the Princess Consort, as long as the Little Princess turns out fine, there would be plenty of time for her to accompany her daughter in the future.

The Princess Consort then painfully nodded in agreement.

She stayed behind with the maids, while the guards escorted them to the border.

To ensure safety, Manager Li handed over the Prince’s token and dispatched a dozen soldiers to escort the Princess Consort.

He and the Hidden Guard then spurred their horses to rush the Little Princess to the border.

The wet nurse accompanied them all the way.

But the wet nurse’s stamina was lacking, to ensure the Little Princess was not hungry, they dispatched someone ahead to find wet nurse replacements.

Each wet nurse would accompany them for two days, compensated with one hundred taels of silver.

Though it was demanding work, earning a hundred taels of silver wasn’t something possible in a lifetime, so they had to seize the opportunity.

Except for when the Little Princess was breastfeeding, which disrupted their travel, other times they kept on the move, traveling day and night.

Daqi, the military camp.

In a couple of days, Su Jin was due to deliver, and to make childbirth easier, she needed to walk more.

That midday, after lunch, Xingxing helped Su Jin take a walk around the camp.

It was only a walk, not for digestion.

To ensure the large belly didn’t obstruct childbirth, Su Jin had been controlling her meals, eating only until seven or eight-tenths full these past days.

The Prince Zhenbei Mansion’s servant rushed to the border, bringing news of the wet nurse’s death by poison and the Little Princess also being poisoned.

The Prince’s reaction upon hearing this news was as unpleasant as can be imagined.

Upon receiving the news, Su Jin was also startled.

Had it been any other time, being startled was all there was to it.

But with Su Jin about to deliver, she could go into labor at any moment.

In her startled state, her belly contracted.

The midwife and the nurse both being in the camp, as soon as Su Jin went into labor, the midwife rushed over, ushering Su Jin into the delivery room to assist with the childbirth.

Even though Su Jin possessed exceptional medical skills, the Imperial Physician stood by outside the camp.

Xie Jingchen paced back and forth outside.

Su Jin had mentioned she would deliver in these next few days, Xie Jingchen eagerly hoped the child would be born soon.

Yet as the moment of birth arrived, so did the news of the Little Princess’s poisoning.

Listening to Su Jin’s screams, Marquis Dongxiang wanted nothing more than to knock Xie Jingchen senseless.

With the news of the Little Princess’s accident, the Prince wasn’t present, he rushed towards the border; coincidentally, the camp was quiet, so he took personnel to provide aid.

The Prince left the camp before Su Jin was aware of the Little Princess’s situation.

With Su Jin in labor, numerous soldiers surrounded, eager to hear the news, but Uncle Lin quickly scolded them back to training.

Crowd dispersed, soldiers dared not approach, kept their distance, yet Su Jin’s screams were loud enough to be heard from afar.

Childbirth for women was akin to passing through hell’s gates, and though Su Jin’s medical skills were strong enough to not fear, many soldiers’ wives had died during labor...

Uncontrollably, they prayed for Su Jin, hoping heaven would ensure a safe passage for mother and child.

The birth stretched from afternoon into evening, then into nightfall.

Outside the camp, the blazing fires burned vigorously, yet when wind billowed, the flames subsided.

"How come the baby hasn’t been born yet?" Marquis Dongxiang said anxiously.

Mrs. Jiang comforted him, "The young lady’s first birth requires time."

"Did Princess Fu Yun take this long to deliver too?" Marquis Dongxiang inquired.

"Even longer than this, Princess Fu Yun labored for a full eight hours," said Mrs. Jiang.

Su Jin was still under four hours in total.

Yet their patience was nearly exhausted.

Mrs. Jiang noticed their increasing anxiety and encouraged, "With the lady possessing advanced medical skills, Marquis needn’t worry."

Though they understood, they couldn’t help but be concerned.

A daughter they doted on since childhood, no pain could be worse than the cries she was uttering now.

The thought that she might suffer for another four hours or even longer made Marquis Dongxiang’s gaze towards Xie Jingchen sharpen to knife-like intensity.

Another hour passed, after a particularly anguished cry, all eyes turned irresistibly towards the camp.

Heartbeats collectively raced.

Suddenly—

A loud, clear infant’s cry resonated.

Tears welled up in Marquis Dongxiang’s eyes.

It was born.

Finally, the child was born.

The midwife emerged with joyous news, smiling broadly, "The Heir’s wife has birthed a Young Prince."

Marquis Dongxiang grew even more elated, "Is my daughter okay?"

"The Heir’s wife is fine, mother and child are safe," the midwife guaranteed.

For others, the midwife wouldn’t dare speak so optimistically.

For the Heir’s wife’s first childbirth to go so swiftly, and with the baby not being light, weighing six jin six liang.

Such auspicious numbers!

Fortunate babies like this were rare.

The midwife’s sweet words coaxed Marquis Dongxiang’s delight, prompting him to reward her generously.

After the delivery, the midwife gave Su Jin a brief look at the baby, making her smile before fatigue claimed her into slumber.

Upon wakening, Xie Jingchen was right by her bedside.

"My lady, you endured a lot," Xie Jingchen spoke with tender eyes.

It was taxing.

Yet looking at the child, every trial was worth it.

Su Jin wished to see the baby, but Xie Jingchen suggested, "The baby is with the wet nurse now, you must be hungry; let me have a maid bring you some food."

Su Jin was more eager to see the child.

Xie Jingchen gently disallowed, "Without food, how will you find the strength to hold the baby?"