Chapter 1

When I left through the back gate of the Yongning estate, my purse was heavy and my heart was light.

The old servant who had come looking for us said the marchioness had gone into labor early.

She was only seven months along and had taken a fall.

We were to keep our eyes peeled and watch her carefully.

There could be no mistakes.

But when I stepped into the birthing room and took a look—

The marchioness had rosy cheeks and a great round belly. Early? She looked like a woman at the end of a full pregnancy, ready to give birth.

We midwives gathered around her, one in front, another behind.

We pressed and kneaded her belly, working downward.

The other two stood by, encouraging her and telling her when to push.

Before a stick of incense could burn down, the baby slipped out without a hitch.

A sturdy little boy, too.

The marquis grinned from ear to ear. On the spot, he ordered generous rewards for the entire household, doubled the monthly pay of the servants in his wife’s courtyard, and gave each of us an extra twenty taels of silver.

The other midwives were so delighted they could barely remember their own names. Blessings poured from their mouths.

On the way out, they even found time to flatter the little maid showing us the way.

Don’t forget us the next time you need someone.

She held her head high, smiling right to the corners of her eyes.

“His Lordship treats my lady so well. Whatever is finest or most precious, he buys it for her without a second thought.”

“Her bed has a whole enclosed platform, with mother-of-pearl inlaid over brocade patterns—work enough to keep craftsmen busy for ages. Even her flower vases are the finest creamy white jade, the kind money alone can’t buy.”

“People like you couldn’t begin to imagine it. While she was pregnant, my lady ate nothing but red bird’s nest!”

Our involuntary gasps made her prouder still.

She began boasting about how much the marquis adored his wife.

“You have no idea how good His Lordship is to her. He was afraid she’d be lonely, so he even invited her cousin to come and look after her…”

She stopped dead.

The little maid went white, as though the swallows dancing between her brows had fallen out of the sky. Realizing she had said something wrong, she glanced hurriedly around. Only after making sure no one else was nearby did she breathe easier.

She did not say another word for the rest of the walk. At the back gate, she shooed us out crossly.

Outside, a few of the older midwives grumbled about the girl’s changeable temper. Then they felt the weight of the silver tucked against their chests, and the smiles came back.

I paid them no mind. Feeling my own silver, I quickly made myself as unremarkable as possible and slipped into the crowd.

That girl must have let some secret of her betters slip.

And she was annoyed because she had told it to outsiders like us.

Instead of puzzling over that, I could spend today’s reward on a couple of red hair ties for Xiaohua and a cut of pork to braise at home.

I splurged on a hair tie twisted into the shape of a plum blossom. I could almost see Xiaohua dancing with delight.

Then, wincing at the expense, I counted out ten copper coins and climbed onto an ox cart heading out of town.

The hunters’ trail through the Western Hills was quicker than the main road by the time it took two sticks of incense to burn.

I had promised Xiaohua I would come home early.

So I headed up the hill with my purchases on my back. Halfway up, I came upon a woman.

She leaned against a tree, her seven-month belly sticking out, her head bowed so I could not see her face.

A long emerald-green jacket patterned with pomegranates hung untidily about her. Rough branches had scored tears through the silk, and mud stained her pearl-trimmed embroidered brocade shoes.

I stopped, hesitating.

She had already heard someone pass and jerked her head up.

Seeing my hair dressed in a married woman’s bun, she slowly brightened. Tears spilled before she could speak.

“Please save me. I am the Marquis of Yongning’s lawful wife—the marchioness appointed by His Majesty himself! If you help me, once I return to the estate, I will repay you a hundredfold.”

“May I die a dreadful death if I fail you!”