After the banquet, Fang Er proposed new suggestions.
"If Brother Wu doesn't mind, why not stay at the manor for the New Year?"
Wu Shiyue repeatedly waved his hands, "This is not appropriate, it will be too much of a disturbance."
Chai Shao echoed with a laugh, "Hahaha, what disturbance is this? There are so many empty courtyards in the manor, and your arrival will make it more lively."
"It just so happens that your wife and Xiuning haven't seen each other in years. Stay and catch up properly. You'll be in-laws from now on, so where you stay doesn't matter!"
"Father-in-law is right. Brother Wu, please don't refuse. I'll have someone tidy up a courtyard right away." Fang Er finished speaking and, without waiting for Wu Shiyue's agreement, got up and walked out of the banquet hall.
Thus, the Duke of Ying's family was firmly kept behind by Fang Er.
The small courtyard in the west, where Li Ji and the others had stayed before, was tidied up, new quilts were put on, and they moved in immediately.
That night, Fang Er stayed in Xiao Qing's room, not daring to leave for a moment.
"It's March, and the child isn't here yet. It's almost New Year's Eve, only a few days left. We absolutely cannot be careless."
Xiao Qing leaned against the bed, looking at Fang Er beside her, her eyes full of happiness.
"Who would have thought that I, who was once just a little maid sold to the master's household, would ever have a day like this?"
"Master~"
"Hmm?"
Fang Er looked at her quizzically, then asked nervously, "Is there a reaction?"
"Pfft~ How could there be."
"I just wanted to ask, if our child turns out to be a daughter this time, will Master dislike her?" Xiao Qing looked at Fang Er expectantly.
Fang Er chuckled, "Haha, Master wishes you'd have a daughter! I'll tell you, a daughter is a father's lover from his past life, they are close!"
"Ah! Master, who told you that?" Xiao Qing was very surprised by this saying.
"Lover," at this time, was not a good term.
Fang Er stroked her bulging belly and smiled, "Heh heh, you don't need to worry about that. If you do have a daughter, Master will spoil her to the sky!"
"Hiss~~ Ah~~"
"Pain!"
Just as they were chatting, Xiao Qing suddenly frowned and groaned.
Fang Er jumped out of bed with a whoosh and shouted to Xing'er, who was guarding outside, "Quick, invite Sun Zhenren!"
"Have Bingxue, Yulu, and the others bring the stretcher!"
Xiao Qing's situation was expected in these few days, so the maids in the manor had to be prepared at all times.
Xing'er returned not long after, and the four maids rushed in with the stretcher.
"Quick, to the delivery room!"
They carefully placed Xiao Qing on the stretcher and steadily hurried towards the delivery room.
Soon, Sun Simiao arrived with a group of female doctors.
"Husband, how is she?" Chai Yue, who had also rushed over, asked worriedly.
"I don't know. She was fine just now, and then she suddenly started hurting." Fang Er stood at the door of the delivery room, constantly peering inside.
After Sun Simiao brought the female doctors in, he took her pulse and came out.
Seeing Fang Er's anxious look, he stroked his beard and smiled, "Don't worry, there's nothing major. It's just labor pains. It should be tonight."
"I've left Pei Wen and Meng Jia, those two maids, inside. When it comes to childbirth, their skills are arguably the best you can find in the Great Tang."
"This is not bragging, as they are the ones delivering babies every day."
"No matter how skilled the midwives in the common folk are, they won't have such good practice opportunities."
Hearing Xiao Qing's pained cries from inside, Fang Er's heart clenched.
"Giving birth is like passing through the gates of hell, especially the first child."
Inside, the female doctors were busy. Hua Niang, who had been called by the maids, was also not idle, boiling water, making porridge, cooking eggs, and simmering ginseng soup.
This was originally Li Baoju's job, but in this situation, she had directly kicked Li Baoju out of the backyard.
"Qing Niangzi is giving birth, you big man, get away!"
"As fiery as ever~"
Li Xiuning, and Lady Rong, Yang Shi, also rushed over, holding Chai Yue's hands on either side.
Hearing Xiao Qing's voice from inside becoming weaker and weaker, Hua Niang immediately sent in the warm ginseng soup.
After waiting for two to three hours, when the moon was high in the sky, a clear baby's cry came from the delivery room.
"Waa~~~"
"Waa~~~"
"She's born, she's born, she's out!"
Yang Shi exclaimed excitedly, as if the baby born was her own.
"Adding to the family, it's always a big event, a joyous occasion."
Even as an observer, it was equally happy to see a new life arrive in this world, even if the baby had nothing to do with them.
The delivery room door was pulled open from the inside, and Yuan Mengjia walked out, bowing slightly to Fang Er. "Congratulations, Duke Anguo, on the birth of your precious daughter!"
"Hahahaha, good, good, good!"
Fang Er was overjoyed. He hadn't expected that what he had just said casually had actually come true.
After a burst of laughter, he turned and ran towards the delivery room, but was stopped by Yuan Mengjia.
"Your Grace, you cannot enter now. Qing Niangzi has just given birth and is weak. It would be bad if you brought in germs and cold air."
"Then, then, then can you bring the child out for me to see?" Fang Er looked at her expectantly.
"That won't work either. The night is too cold. If the child catches a cold after being brought out, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see them both."
Yuan Mengjia's words were rather blunt, which made Fang Er feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Can't see Xiao Qing, and can't even see the baby!"
"This is outrageous!"
"Giggle giggle~ Look at how nervous Duke Anguo is. Alright, I'll let you have a glimpse." Yuan Mengjia smiled and called out to the inside, "Wen Jie, bring the little lady out so His Grace can see her through the window."
Soon, Yuan Wen, the female medical officer that Sun Simiao had mentioned, appeared at the delivery room window holding the newborn daughter of the Fang family.
The curtains were pulled open, and the lights in the delivery room were bright. Fang Er looked at the little girl in her arms, and his heart melted.
Unlike Fang Xin when she was just born, who looked frighteningly wrinkled, the little girl's face was chubby, just a little red, which would fade in a few days.
"Thank you, little ladies!"
After seeing his daughter, Fang Er bowed deeply to Yuan Mengjia and the others.
"Duke Anguo, you mustn't do this. Please get up quickly." Yuan Mengjia quickly dodged, supporting Fang Er's arm from the side.
"Hahaha, I deserve it, I deserve it~" Fang Er's mood was ecstatic. After insisting on completing the bow, he continued, "By the way, I'll trouble you to take care of Qing'er tonight. I still have some dolls. I'll have Su Feng send them to your courtyard tomorrow."
"Then thank you, Your Grace." Yuan Mengjia said with a smile.
"Fluffy dolls are very comfortable to hold while sleeping at night~~"