The Fall of Wei and Shu

Chapter 7

Ai Rong sighed and looked down, wondering if her feet would be visible if she could see. She had received Lu Xun's letter a month ago, and guessed that the troops would be returning soon. In the meantime, she had to deal with the preparations for the birth of her first child. Shang Xiang fretted more and more as her time drew closer, wondering out loud if Ai Rong's narrow hips would impede the baby's birth.

"If you ask me to sit down and rest again Shang Xiang, I swear that I will shove this brush up your pretty little nose!"

The younger woman fell silent, twisting her fingers nervously. When Ai Rong raised her voice, it hurt the younger sister. After all, she wasn't trying to irritate her beloved sister…

Sighing, Ai Rong turned away from her horse and put the brush in her hand down on a low shelf. She could feel her sister's discomfort, and while it made her angry, it also made her stomach turn from guilt. She hated herself for being so short with everybody, but between being pregnant and the stress of the upcoming birth, she had family breathing down her neck to make sure she didn't overdo anything. This included walking, brushing Laughing Moon, and bathing. And to top it all off, she was having cramps.

"I'm sorry, little sister. I'm just so stressed and Father Lu is always after me about one thing or another, and the maids and you are forever telling me to sit down and rest! I haven't ever been so idle in my life! My mind is bored and my soul grows darker by the day!"

Shang Xiang smiled and looked around the stables, trying to think of a way to entertain her older sister. The games they usually played were too rough now for a woman in Ai Rong's state, and they had played so much chess that they were both sure that they would never willingly play again.

"So, what do you want to do, Ai?"

The blind women threw up her arms and sighed, muttering under her breath about how nothing made a difference anyway.

"I know! We could sneak out and… no, no we can't…"

Her voice trailed off as Father Lu came into the barn, smiling happily and holding up a brightly painted puppet. When he got close, he held out the toy for the women to inspect, cackling happily.

"I found it while I was out on my walk. I think the child will like it. It's a man with a sword at his hip. What do you think?"

Ai Rong turned it over in her hands, running her fingers over the painted surface and tapping it with a fingernail. She smiled and nodded, earning a happy laugh from her father-in-law. Shang Xiang admired how well made it was, remarking on how brightly and attractively colored it was.

"It's wonderful Father. Why don't you put it in the child's bed?"

The old man nodded and took the toy, smiling and humming to himself, and walked back into the house.

When he was safely out of hearing distance, Ai Rong turned back to her younger sister with a wicked smile dancing over her face.

"So, what were you thinking?"

…………………………………………..

Ai Rong walked as quickly as she could into the woods after her younger sister, giggling quietly. She felt the child squirming around inside her as if sharing in its mother's amusement. When she felt a familiar pushing, she called out to her sister in a hushed voice.

"The baby's kicking!"

Shang Xiang came crashing through the brush and smiled when Ai Rong took her hands and pressed them to her belly, right over the ripple in her belly.

"That's amazing. I've felt the baby move before, but it's always amazing…"

Ai Rong smiled, then winced as the baby pushed harder than she thought it needed to. Looking down, she put a hand to her swollen belly, chuckled and spoke in a low soothing voice.

"Settle down, you'll be able to come out soon enough. Go back to sleep."

Once the baby settled, Ai Rong took Shang Xiang's hand and the two took off again, heading for the secluded pond that was fed by a stream. The two had found the pond during a walk that eventually got Ai Rong scolded because, in Father Lu's opinion, it was far too long for her to be walking.

Once there, both women stripped and eased into the cool water, giggling. They had managed to slip past not only Ai Rong's governess/maid, but also Shang Xiang's people and Father Lu's room… And had not been caught.

"Now all we have to do is hope that nobody pulls the trick that Pang Tong did!"

The women laughed, but suddenly Ai Rong cried out and grabbed her belly.

"ENOUGH! It is too early, I keep telling it! But the child does not listen to me!"

Shang Xiang's eyebrows shot up and she swam over to her sister.

"Are you having the baby?"

"I don't think I have a choice!"

"But it's too early!"

"The child doesn't think so!"

Shang Xiang hauled her sister out of the water and helped her dress, then threw on her own clothes. After a few feet, Ai Rong hit her knees, rocking with her hands on her belly.

"I can't! It hurts!"

Her younger sister looked around, then nodded.

"I'm going for help. I'll be right back."

"Hurry."