Reflections

•A Servant's Jealousy•

When Lu-momo returned, her arms were full of a little person swaddled in a white blanket embroidered with gold dragons. Li Bai didn't even know she was staring nor did she know when her arms opened to receive the child.

When Lu-momo put the child in her arms, Li Bai felt it's warmth even through the blanket and could smell something sweet and soft wafting off the child once she held it to her chest. Lu-momo watched as the Qinwangfei retained an expressionless face, but the trace of awe in the younger woman's eyes didn't escape her.

No matter how evil a woman is, their heart will always be softened towards their child it seems. Smiling, Lu-momo bowed. "Congratulations Luan Qinwangfei, you have given birth to a healthy and beautiful boy."

"Congratulations Luan Qinwangfei!" The servant girls chorused.

"T-T-Thank...you..." When the servants heard that high pitched and warbling voice, they immediately looked up. What they saw was the cruel and wicked Qinwangfei crying.

"W-What's wrong...w-with me?" Li Bai asked, her voice trembling in a way that had everyone's hearts stirring with pity.

She didn't know why, but the tears simply started flowing and would not stop. The longer she held the child, the longer she looked at him, the more her heart ached with a strangely welcomed pain.

The child was so fat and warm. He smelt like milk, sugar, and warmth though that wasn't plausible. But to Li Bai, this description seemed so perfect. He's okay...my little prince... That strange voice said from the depths of Li Bai's mind. But this time, it sounded so familiar Li Bai almost mistook it as her own voice.

When she remembered that this child was in a room filled with poisoned incense, she became overwhelmed by anger and relief. On one hand she just held the child closer and rejoiced in the warmth of his skin and beating of his heart. On the other hand, she wanted to find the perpetrator and rip their head off. "This is so strange." She hiccuped and continued to hold her baby close.

None of the servants said or did anything, much to shocked by the Qinwangfei's never before seen weakness. But then they remembered that this woman, though seemingly indomitable as a mountain, almost lost her child tonight.

Lu-momo sighed. She could relate to Qinwangfei's pain. She as well had almost lost her first child to a sickness. She remembered those days of worry and madness when she thought her daughter wouldn't open her eyes again, and how she wept like a baby when the girl lived.

Taking the lead, Lu-momo gently comforted Li Bai, and soon all the servant girls joined.

"Do not worry Qinwangfei. Look, the little Prince is well and alive."

"That's right. Doctor Feng immediately administered medicine once the poison was found."

Li Bai then remembered the servant girls that were in the labor room too. "What about the servant girls that helped me deliver. Were they given medicine?" The servants were stunned by Qinwangfei's concern and nodded dumbly. "That's good. Did Doctor Feng say anything else?"

"Doctor Feng said the little Prince was not poisoned but Qinwangfei was poisoned and—!"

"Enough you chattering birds! Go get Qinwangfei something to eat if you have nothing else to do. Can't you see she needs nutrients after giving birth?" Lu-momo scolded, but from everyone's reaction Li Bai could see the servant girl was about to say something Lu-momo thought was better left unsaid.

Once the girls were gone, Lu-momo was about to apologize for interrupting especially since Li Bai was the one who requested this information. Before she could do anything, Li Bai spoke. "Bengong can see Doctor Feng said something that might worry Bengong and affect my health. Momo your worry is appreciated but you must not keep things from Bengong."