Volume One, Chapter One: One Is a Lucky Star, the Other a Jinx

“Madam, both your concubine and I are about to give birth, but one is a bringer of fortune, and the other is a harbinger of disaster…” Shen Qi’er caressed her belly, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes.

Lady Xia’s face twisted with ferocity. “Hmph! Whichever child is born with a lotus birthmark on their face will be the Xiahou Estate’s lucky star. Otherwise, the child will be drowned at birth!”

Three years ago, a renowned monk from the capital visited and pronounced a prophecy: “The Xiahou Estate will welcome a child of fortune. If raised with care, this child will bring prosperity and protection, ensuring smooth affairs and advancement in rank.”

Lady Xia was radiant with joy. “This is the blessing earned by the Xiahou Estate over eight generations!”

But the monk’s tone shifted. “Yet, a child of disaster will be born as well, seeking to steal the lucky star’s brilliance. You must guard the bringer of fortune and never let the disaster child near. Otherwise, the disaster star will flourish as the lucky star wanes, inciting the wrath of the gods and bringing ruin upon the Xiahou Estate…”

A year ago, both the legitimate wife and the concubine of Xiahou’s eldest branch became pregnant at the same time, confirming the monk’s prophecy.

Ever since the eldest branch was granted a marquisate eighteen years ago, the Xiahou Estate had seen no further advancement. The second branch were merchants suffering losses each month, while the third were wastrels living off idle land. All depended on the eldest branch’s official salary for survival.

Thus, though the estate held a title, their standing was far beneath that of other marquises, and the eldest branch was always suppressed in court.

If only the lucky star were born, they could finally rise above and bask in glory!

Now, they waited only for a child with a lotus birthmark.

Shen Qi’er’s gaze flickered. “To tell you the truth, Madam, last night I again dreamt of the goddess who grants children. She instructed me to raise the child with utmost care.”

Lady Xia’s eyes sparkled as she grasped Shen Qi’er’s hand. “Is it true?!”

“It is true,” Shen Qi’er replied shyly, nodding.

Lady Xia hurried to sit beside her, lovingly stroking her belly. “Oh, the goddess has come again and again to remind you. You must be my little lucky treasure. Hurry and come out, for the Xiahou Estate awaits your revival~”

She turned to Shen Qi’er: “When the lucky treasure is born, I’ll have my son elevate you to equal standing with the wife!”

Shen Qi’er felt a surge of joy within, but showed a worried expression. “Madam, how could I, a mere concubine, be equal to my elder sister?”

Lady Xia spat, “Bah! If she gives birth to a disaster star, and I haven’t had my son divorce her, that’s mercy enough. How dare she have an opinion?”

Suddenly, a woman also heavy with child entered quietly. Her face was pale, but her beauty shone through. “Mother, you called for me—why?”

A flash of jealousy crossed Shen Qi’er’s gaze, but it quickly vanished.

Lady Xia’s face darkened. “Jiang, you’ve grown ever more disrespectful! Did you brew my medicine for the dogs again?”

“How did my son end up marrying such an unfilial, incompetent woman!”

In ancient times, incompetence and lack of filial piety were crimes.

Jiang’s face paled further. “Mother, my belly aches. I think I may…”

Be about to give birth…

Her words were cut short.

Lady Xia was unconcerned. “Qi’er’s constitution is so frail, yet nothing happens to her. You’re just being fussy!”

“Forget my medicine for now. Go brew Qi’er’s medicine for stabilizing her pregnancy first.”

Jiang clenched her sleeves tightly.

Since marrying into the Xia family, Lady Xia had made her life difficult at every turn.

Each day, before dawn, she was forced to pay her respects, told it was family custom, and any delay brought Lady Xia’s fury.

But Shen Qi’er was spared, sleeping until noon before presenting herself, never incurring Lady Xia’s wrath.

Pregnant, Jiang was made to wash clothes in winter to “wash away bad luck”—yet when Shen Qi’er was pregnant, she was pampered with fine food and drink, lest she be exhausted.

None of these things mattered, for Lady Xia was her husband’s mother, whom she had to honor.

To win Lady Xia’s favor, upon learning of her poor health, Jiang personally brewed her medicine daily for eighteen years, yet never received a kind word.

The only instance of kindness was when her husband married her and received the marquisate.

Now, Lady Xia demanded she brew medicine for her husband’s concubine as a matter of course.

Jiang’s chest felt tight. “Mother, my belly aches too much. I cannot brew it.”

Shen Qi’er tugged at Lady Xia’s sleeve. “Madam, let it be. I am only a concubine. How could I trouble my elder sister to make medicine for me?”

She clutched her belly. “My stomach…”

Lady Xia asked anxiously, “What’s wrong?”

Shen Qi’er looked pained but stubbornly shook her head. “It’s nothing. I am simply too weak.”

Lady Xia frowned. “Don’t let your condition affect the birth of my little lucky treasure!”

She turned to Jiang, her tone matter-of-fact. “What’s all this pain? Endure it. If the disaster star in your belly dies, so much the better—it saves me trouble! Go brew the medicine!”

Jiang did not move, addressing Shen Qi’er, “You must have dreamt of the goddess again, right? Lately, I often dream of the Jade Emperor asking me to care for my child. My child is no disaster star.”

Lady Xia snorted coldly. “You, the Jade Emperor, giving you dreams? Did you forget you brought ruin to the whole Jiang family? Could a disaster star possibly birth a lucky star?”

“It was only my son who didn’t despise you and married you, yet you bear a disaster star—are you trying to destroy my Xiahou Estate?”

Jiang bit her lip, her face full of sorrow.

“Madam, the master and eldest son of the Jiang family died bravely in battle. How can you say it was the lady who brought about their deaths?” The head maid was furious.

Back then, the Jiang lady and master, as well as the eldest son, died on the battlefield. The emperor, to protect the lady, declared that anyone marrying her would inherit the Jiang family’s noble title! The Xia family’s marquisate was bought with the lives of her kin, yet they still slandered her!

Lady Xia snorted. “Then why was she the only one left alive?”

“In the end, you’re just lazy. How did the Xiahou Estate end up with such a sloth? Not even half as good as Qi’er!”

“Now go brew the medicine! If anything happens to my lucky treasure, don’t blame me for being harsh!”

Jiang’s clasped hands turned white at the knuckles.

Lazy…

She had given eighteen years, rising early and working late to serve Lady Xia, only to be considered a sloth?

Meanwhile, Shen Qi’er did nothing and received Lady Xia’s praise.

No matter how she tried to please, it was never enough.

Lady Xia, seeing her unmoving, grew furious. “Well, well! Now you dare defy me! Unfilial and incompetent—my son’s not here, so I’ll set the house in order myself!”

“Slap her!”

At her command, Li Mama, face twisted with malice, advanced.

Jiang cradled her belly, her face ashen. “I am the lady of Xiahou Estate—who dares touch me!”

No sooner had she spoken than her pain intensified, sweat beading on her forehead.

Lady Xia pointed at her nose. “I am Huaian’s mother—am I not allowed to discipline you? Hit her!”

The head maid supporting Jiang dropped to her knees. “Madam, the lady seems to have stirred her pregnancy. She mustn’t be struck!”

Li Mama kicked her in the chest. “When the mistress speaks, how dare a maid interrupt? Have you forgotten the rules of the Xiahou Estate!”

“Forgive me, madam, but you first defied Lady Xia.” Though Li Mama spoke respectfully, her face was twisted with eagerness.

Jiang looked at Lady Xia, unmoved. She prayed her husband would return soon.

But he did not come, and the slap landed heavily across her face.

Unable to rest and nurture her pregnancy, and weakened by years of Lady Xia’s torment, her body was all but depleted.

That slap nearly knocked her off her feet.

Ignoring the pain, suddenly her belly throbbed violently.

The pain darkened her vision, and her legs grew unable to hold her.

“Lady! Lady, what’s wrong?” The head maid shoved aside Li Mama and rushed to steady Jiang.

“My belly… it hurts so much…” Cold sweat poured from Jiang’s brow.

Li Mama panicked, retreating to Lady Xia’s side. “I only slapped her once—how could she be so fragile?”

The head maid glimpsed a pool of water at Jiang’s feet and cried out, “She’s in labor! Quick, fetch the midwife!”

At that moment, Shen Qi’er lying on the bed also began to feel discomfort, though not yet labor pains.

Still, she showed a pained expression. “Madam, my belly hurts too! I think I’m about to give birth…”

Lady Xia, previously unmoved, now looked delighted. “Oh! My little lucky treasure is coming. Hurry, hurry, fetch the midwife!”

The room descended into chaos, and no one spared a glance for Jiang lying on the floor.