The Fox King Worthless Bride

“It’s a girl!” The midwife’s voice cut through the room. For one brief moment, everyone seemed to forget the woman lying on the bed. “A girl?” Bai Caldrin repeated. The midwife laughed breathlessly. “A healthy little girl.” Caldrin stepped forward at once. His face broke into a smile so wide that even the servants nearby couldn't help but smile with him. “My daughter.” He looked at the tiny, red-faced infant in the midwife’s arms as if someone had handed him the moon itself. “Meijen, you hear that?” he called. “It’s a girl!” Bai Meijen didn't answer. She was gripping the sheets with both hands, her face pale and wet with sweat. “I want to poo.” The room went silent. The midwife blinked. Caldrin's smile disappeared. “Meijen?” “I said I want to poo!” Meijen snapped, breathing hard. “Why are you all standing there?” The midwife hurried back to the bed. “Madam, don't move yet.” “Don't move?” Meijen glared at her. “I've been lying here for hours!” “You just gave birth.” “And I'm telling you I need to poo.” The older woman beside the bed covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Caldrin looked helplessly between his wife and the newborn daughter he had barely managed to see. “Should I—” “Get out.” Caldrin stopped. Meijen pointed weakly toward the door. “Everyone get out.” “But—” “I don't care if you're the father. Get out!” He looked genuinely offended. Then the baby in the midwife's arms made a tiny noise. Caldrin immediately softened. “She's beautiful.” Meijen's expression changed. For a second, all the irritation disappeared. Her eyes moved toward the baby. She smiled. It was small, tired, and full of love. “My Ruolan.” Caldrin reached out and gently touched the baby's cheek. “Our first child.” Outside, the night remained strangely quiet. No wind. No insects. Not even the usual distant cries from the mountain. Then Meijen screamed. Everyone froze. Her back arched against the bed. The midwife's face changed. “Madam?” “I—” Meijen sucked in a sharp breath. Another pain hit. She screamed again. Caldrin's hand tightened around the bedpost. “What is happening?” The midwife stared at Meijen's stomach. Then she looked at the other midwife. “There's another one.” Caldrin's face went blank. “Another?” Meijen turned her head slowly. “What do you mean, another?” The midwife swallowed. “You're carrying twins.” For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Caldrin laughed. “Twins?” He looked at the tiny girl in the midwife's arms. Then at his wife. “Meijen, we're having two daughters.” Meijen didn't answer. Her fingers had already tightened around the sheets again. The room erupted into movement. “Boil more water!” “Get fresh cloth!” “Someone call the physician!” “Don't let her push yet!” Meijen cried out again. Outside the window, the sky changed. There was no moon. No silver light resting over the mountain. Only a strange, empty darkness. Even the stars seemed to have disappeared. The sky had no color at all. It was as though someone had taken a brush and wiped everything from it. Then thunder rolled. Not far away. The windows rattled. Caldrin looked toward them. “What was that?” Nobody answered. Another flash split the sky. White light flooded the room. Meijen screamed. And then— A child's cry. Loud. Sharp. The storm broke. Rain slammed against the roof so hard that it nearly drowned out the voices inside. Caldrin turned. The second midwife was holding a tiny infant. A girl. He stared. For some reason, he didn't move. The baby was smaller than her sister. Her face was scrunched tightly, her tiny fists trembling as she screamed. “Another daughter,” the midwife whispered. Caldrin's lips parted. Then he smiled. He took one step toward them. “Meijen…” There was no answer. He stopped. The midwife looked down. “Madam?” Nothing. She touched Meijen's shoulder. “Madam?” Still nothing. Caldrin's smile slowly disappeared. “Meijen?” The midwife pressed two fingers beneath her nose. Then her wrist. Her expression changed. “No…” Caldrin moved toward the bed. “What?” The midwife didn't answer. “What's wrong?” She checked again. Her hands began to shake. “Madam…” Caldrin grabbed her shoulder. “What's wrong with my wife?” The woman looked at him. Her face had gone completely pale. “She’s dead.”