Death was supposedly the end of everything.
Although her departure from the mortal realm was far from pleasant, Song Zhenxi neither wanted nor needed justice.
All she wanted was to hold her three precious daughters in her arms again and tell them how deeply sorry she was. And what a failure of a mother she had been.
A-Xue was going to say that it was alright.
Her eldest daughter had always been sensible with both speech and actions, never wanting to hurt anyone with her own views and thoughts.
A-Yu was going to nod in agreement.
At five years old, A-Yu''s world was defined by A-Xue; she agreed with everything her sister said.
But A-Li...
Oh, A-Li was probably going to throw tantrums again.
But it was alright.
Song Zhenxi was willing to coax her as many times as needed.
Together, they would embark on the long journey to the Underworld. Song Zhenxi''s life flickered out with that final thought.
Yet, in the very next second, she found herself inhaling deeply, a sudden, shocking return to breath. This revival, however, was immediately met with a violent counterpoint – a sharp, excruciating pain that threatened to split her in two.
"Arrrghhhhhhhh…!!!"
A piercing scream tore from her lips as she thrashed around to break free from her tormentors.
Several people began to talk to her at once, filling her ears with pleas.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Consort Xi, please be brave."
"Consort Xi, just one more push. Just one more!"
Song Zhenxi ripped her eyes open in fright.
She was sprawled on the bed with her legs spread wide and her arms pinned down by maids.
Her bulging belly obstructed her view.
Between her legs, the midwife and her helpers were doing their best to assist her.
She was not being tormented by anyone.
She was in labor at this very moment!
Song Zhenxi was utterly confused, but she had neither the time nor the chance to think about her current circumstances.
She just had to give birth!
"Push, Consort Xi, push!" The midwife practically yelled at her.
Another painful scream ripped from Song Zhenxi''s throat as she followed the midwife''s order and pushed with all her might.
Although she had given birth three times in her short life, the ordeal never eased, the pain never relented.
After what felt like an eternity, Song Zhenxi successfully gave birth to the baby.
"A beautiful princess!" the midwife declared with a bright smile soon after.
The baby, swaddled in peach, was held up before her, the blood staining the cloth. Song Zhenxi''s ears rang with the infant''s piercing shrieks, the only sound keeping her tethered to consciousness.
"My baby…"
Song Zhenxi extended a trembling hand after the child, but the midwife kept the baby out of her reach.
"We need to clean the little princess first. Please be patient, Consort Xi."
"Oh."
Right.
Congratulatory remarks rained upon Song Zhenxi, but she knew that they were tinged with pity.
A daughter, and not a son.
Daughters were worthless.
Only sons mattered.
Song Zhenxi lay weak on the bed, her eyes drawn to the window. Outside, a gentle snow fell, its delicate flakes softening the garden into a hazy dream.
Snow.
"A-Xue," Song Zhenxi softly whispered, thinking of her first-born. She had yet to recover from the shock of giving birth when someone called out to her.
"Miss, have you already decided on a name for the princess?"
Song Zhenxi slowly turned her head to look at the person who had just spoken up.
She was a young woman in her twenties, with round eyes and a button nose, her full cheeks standing in contrast with her lean frame.
Tens of years might pass in the blink of an eye, but Song Zhenxi would recognize her on the spot.
It was Lingxin, her most trusted maid. She was cradling Song Zhenxi''s newborn daughter in her arms.
"Ling…xin?"
Something was terribly wrong here. Lingxin passed away more than a year ago from tuberculosis. So how could she be here, alive and well?
Song Zhenxi''s chest constricted, a cold fear gripping her heart like a vice.
But what about her?
She was supposed to be dead!