The following morning began differently from all the rest.
Lin Wan woke well before dawn, while the cold sky outside was still a pale, bruised dark blue.
Her very first thought was the mysterious black cat that had guarded her bed.
She turned her head toward the wooden chair beside the bed frame.
It was completely empty, the cushion smooth and cold.
She frowned, pulling herself up slightly against the pillows.
"You left without even saying goodbye again."
Sister Yun entered the chamber a moment later, carrying a heavy stack of fresh, light cotton clothes and a porcelain bowl of steaming hot water.
"Who are you talking to so early in the morning, My Lady?"
Lin Wan quickly looked around the empty, shadowy room.
"No one."
Sister Yun gave her a sharp, suspicious look as she set the warm water on the washstand with a clatter.
Lin Wan offered her a completely innocent, bright smile.
"Really. Just talking to myself to wake my brain up."
The older woman shook her head with a soft, affectionate sigh.
"Come on now."
"Breakfast first. Chef made fresh rice porridge with sweet potatoes."
Lin Wan slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed to sit up, taking her time with her heavy weight.
As she placed her bare feet onto the cool floorboards, she suddenly froze completely in place.
A dull, heavy, aching pressure moved straight through her lower stomach, making her breath catch painfully in her throat.
She gripped the rough edge of the wooden bed frame tight, her knuckles turning white.
Sister Yun’s sharp eyes immediately caught the sudden rigidity in her posture.
"My Lady?"
Lin Wan paused, taking a slow, controlled breath through her nose until the sudden tightness gradually eased away.
"I’m fine. Just a sudden, sharp cramp."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
The heavy pressure faded away completely, leaving behind only a dull, manageable ache.
Lin Wan straightened her back, letting go of the wooden frame.
"See? It passed already. Nothing to panic about."
Sister Yun didn’t look convinced in the slightest. Her brows were pulled low with sharp worry.
"I’ll go call Physician Alaric right away."
"No, don’t trouble him."
"Why not?"
"Because he’ll just tell me to lie down flat for the rest of the day again."
"That’s because you should be resting!"
Lin Wan let out a dramatic sigh, shaking her head.
"You’ve become completely impossible to argue with lately, Yun."
"I learned from the very best," Sister Yun replied without missing a beat, a rare smirk touching her lips.
Lin Wan laughed, shaking her head.
Before they could continue their debate, the wooden door swung open and Mira entered carrying a wide wooden tray of fresh towels.
"My Lady!"
She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Lin Wan standing fully upright beside the bed.
"Should you really be standing up right now?!"
Lin Wan stared at her in utter disbelief.
"Not you too!"
Mira offered an apologetic smile, quickly lowering her head.
"Sorry, My Lady. But the physician said..."
Sister Yun nodded toward the younger maid.
"Go get Alaric. Quickly."
Mira set the heavy towels down instantly and hurried back out the door before Lin Wan could protest.
Lin Wan sighed deeply, dropping her hands to her sides.
"I am completely surrounded by strict wardens."
Physician Alaric arrived in less than ten minutes, his heavy leather bag slung over his thin shoulder.
He checked her pulse, measured her skin temperature, and carefully pressed his long fingers against her lower stomach through her robes.
Then he looked up and smiled gently, his eyes crinkling.
"The pressure is simply from the babies getting heavier as they sink lower into position. Everything is moving exactly as it should."
Lin Wan narrowed her eyes at him cautiously, looking for any hidden concern.
"That’s really all it is?"
"That’s all."
"So I can still walk around today?"
"Yes."
"But not too much."
Lin Wan groaned, dropping her head back against her high pillow.
Alaric laughed softly, shaking his head at her dramatic response.
"You’ll soon understand why everyone is watching your every move so carefully."
"I already understand. I am practically a prisoner in my own room."
"Good. Prisoners stay resting."
He closed his wooden medicine box with a soft snap of its metal latch.
"However..."
Lin Wan immediately became suspicious, leaning forward slightly.
"What now?"
"You should really begin preparing yourself mentally."
"For the childbirth?"
"Yes. It could be a matter of days now, not weeks."
He turned his head to look at Sister Yun, his tone turning crisp and businesslike.
"I want the eastern birthing chamber completely prepared and fully stocked within two days."
Sister Yun gave a firm, resolute nod.
"I’ll see to it personally."
Lin Wan felt her heart suddenly give a hard, fast thump against her ribs.
Two days.
She wasn’t ready.
But as she looked at the serious, dedicated faces in the room, she realized something else.
Perhaps... no mother ever truly was ready for what was coming.
Later that morning, Lin Wan walked slowly through the cold stone archways of the eastern corridor with Wei Xiang.
Cassian had granted him special, limited permission to enter the inner palace grounds, though only under very strict, watchful conditions.
Two tall Shadow Guards dressed in dark robes walked several steps behind them, their dark eyes constantly scanning the surrounding stone hallways and high windows.
Wei Xiang noticed Lin Wan’s unusual quietness as they walked side by side along the stone garden path.
"You haven’t said a single word for five whole minutes."
She looked up at him sideways, her lips twitching slightly.
"Are you actually counting?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I like hearing you talk. It’s far too quiet around here otherwise."
She let out a soft laugh that echoed off the stone walls.
"You’re strange, Wei Xiang."
"I’ve been called much worse by much better people."
They continued walking down the wide corridor, the faint mountain breeze carrying the sharp scent of pine from the lower courtyard below.
Lin Wan glanced up at his sharp side profile, watching his dark eyes.
"Are you worried?"
"About what?"
"The birth. Everyone else in the palace is practically panicking."
Wei Xiang’s playful expression vanished, replaced by a genuine, deeply serious look.
"Yes."
She offered a small, appreciative smile.
"You’re not doing a very good job hiding it."
"I don’t want to hide it from you."
"Why?"
"Because you don’t need another person standing around pretending everything is fine when you know it’s not."
Lin Wan slowed her steps, stopping near a heavy stone pillar.
He stopped with her immediately, turning his tall frame to face her fully.
"I know you’re afraid," he said softly, his voice cutting through the wind.
She looked down at her finely embroidered shoes on the cold stone floor.
"I am."
"I know."
He took a careful step closer, his dark eyes fixed on her face.
"But I’ll be there."
She looked up, surprised.
"You?"
"I’ll stay as close as the guards and physicians will allow."
"Even if Cassian orders you to leave the palace grounds?"
Wei Xiang smiled faintly, a familiar flicker of playful mischief returning to his dark eyes.
"I’ll behave myself."
Lin Wan laughed, the clear sound bright and sweet in the quiet corridor.
"That’s not what I asked you."
"I’ll stay," his voice was firm, completely steady without a trace of hesitation. "I won’t interfere. I won’t cause trouble or frighten you."
"I’ll simply be there so you know you’re not alone."
Lin Wan’s eyes softened, a deep wave of warmth washing over her anxious heart.
"Thank you, Wei Xiang."
He reached his hand out toward her, but paused halfway, remembering the sharp Shadow Guards standing nearby watching his every move.
Lin Wan noticed his hesitant gesture.
After a short moment, she reached out herself and took his hand, her small, warm fingers curling gently around his calloused palm.
Wei Xiang’s eyes softened completely as he held her hand with tender care.
"You’re getting brave lately."
Lin Wan smiled, looking out toward the snow-capped mountain peaks in the far distance.
"Maybe I’m just tired of being afraid of everything."
By the time afternoon arrived, the eastern wing of the Citadel was a busy hive of relentless activity.
Servants moved quickly in and out of the stone hallways, carrying stacks of fresh, clean linen sheets, steaming pots of heated water, sweet-smelling medicinal herbs, and thick wool blankets.
Physician Alaric stood in the center of the main hallway, supervising every single detail personally with a sharp, unforgiving eye.
His assistant, a capable young woman named Nessa, was checking every medicine jar, bandage, and herb bundle twice to ensure nothing was missing or damaged.
Sister Yun stepped inside the main room, inspecting the layout with a strict, critical gaze.
"Are you completely certain everything is ready?"
Nessa gave a firm nod, pointing around the wide room.
"Yes, Sister Yun."
"The protective heat array beneath the floorboards has been activated."
"The warming stones are already placed near the foot of the bed."
"And all emergency herbal tonics have been brewed fresh and set on the table."
Sister Yun turned her head toward Alaric.
"And the attending physicians?"
"Four of us will be inside at all times during the labor," Alaric answered calmly, adjusting his dark sleeves.
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