Chapter Forty-Five: The Sole Heiress of the Reclusive Family

"Where is this? Why is it so dark? What the hell, you little rascal, did you send me to the wrong place again?!"

Mao Tuanzi's whole face scrunched up in confusion. [No! This is a backdoor opened by the Lord God; it shouldn't be wrong! Maybe we’re not doing it right? Want to try again?]

Lian, refusing to believe it, closed her eyes and opened them again. Damn! Still nothing but pitch-black darkness!

This is so infuriating! Let me give you a good kick!

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

"Madam! Madam is about to give birth! Quickly, fetch the midwife!"

"Hurry! Madam is in labor! Go find the Master!"

"Move! The whole clan on alert! Not even a bug is allowed near Madam’s chambers!"

Lian was dumbfounded. What was going on here? Who’s giving birth? Who?

"Madam, breathe in, breathe out! Push! Madam, you can do it!"

She saw the glimmer of light ahead and realized, oh, I’m the one being born...

This was the Red Moon Dynasty, among a reclusive, ancient family clan. Their wealth and resources were unmatched, their industries scattered across the imperial cities, and their cultivation resources were second to none.

At this moment, Lian was in the belly of the clan leader’s wife. That kick she’d just given, perhaps a tad strong, broke the water. From this moment on, she would be the only girl of her generation in the clan—the future heir, the first young mistress!

Staring at the light ahead, Lian sighed. Well, sooner or later I’d have to go through this. Rather than struggle internally, I might as well spare my future mother some pain.

Ah, my illustrious reputation is ruined...

"Madam, just a bit more! The baby's head is out!"

"Ah! Ah! Gu! I swear I’ll never have another child again!"

"Madam, the body is coming! Keep going! Deep breaths, madam!"

"Ah! Gu! It hurts! Ah!"

Outside, Gu Jun, frantic with worry, heard his wife Gu Ming’s curses. Instead of being angry, he shouted into the room, "Madam, keep going! Curse all you want! Midwife, can I go in? This child is giving her mother such a hard time, not coming out after all this! I’ll make sure to toughen her up in the future!"

The midwife quickly replied, "No, Master! You mustn’t come in! It’s unlucky!"

"Madam, one last push, just the legs left!"

Things were not going smoothly for Lian. Unfortunately, her bottom was stuck, making things rather difficult.

"Little rascal, do something! Get me out!"

[Master, leave it to me!]

A surge of spiritual energy slowly entered through Gu Ming, and finally—Lian made her way out!

"Ah!"

"Madam! She’s out! Master, the child is out!"

The midwife cleaned Lian carefully.

With a crash, the door burst open. Gu Jun tumbled to the bed, gently brushing the sweat-soaked hair from Gu Ming’s forehead. "Madam, you’ve suffered!"

Gu Ming shook her head. It had been tough, but suddenly, a light energy had flowed through her, filling her with strength. Perhaps the child didn’t want her mother to suffer.

Meanwhile, Lian, cradled in the midwife’s arms, opened her eyes and surveyed the room. Hm, not a bad family setting.

It was only then that Gu Jun remembered the child he’d left aside.

"Master, why isn’t the baby crying? She’s staring wide-eyed at everything. I’ve never seen this before!"

Gu Jun took Lian with a frown so deep it could crush two flies. "Ugh, so ugly."

"Master, all babies look like this when they're born! Besides, she’s the only girl of this generation in our family. She’ll grow up beautiful!"

Gu Jun paid no heed.

Suddenly, a sharp pain in Lian’s backside brought tears to her eyes. Maybe it was the influence of infant emotions, but she let out a wail.

Is this my father? More like the King of Hell! That look just now—wasn’t he about to throw me away?

Isn’t that disgust? Damn, my temper!

Never in all my years have I been treated like this. Hmph, just you wait. When I grow up, I’ll inherit everything you own...

Her inner complaints were cut short as she was placed back in the midwife’s arms.

Soon after, her stomach grumbled with hunger. Well, she was an infant now—no room for dignity.

A wail shot straight into Gu Jun’s skull.

Gu Jun suddenly wondered why he’d ever wanted a child with his wife.

"Midwife, take the child to the wet nurse for feeding. Don’t disturb Madam’s rest."

"Yes, Master!"

The midwife hurried out with Lian, shutting the door. Only then did she remember—the Master hadn’t given the young mistress a name yet!

Never mind, feeding came first. The little one must be starving.

The midwife carried Lian straight to the side room, where the wet nurse was already waiting.

The wet nurse began to unbutton her clothing.

Lying in the midwife’s arms, Lian was shocked. No! Absolutely not!

I can drink goat’s milk! I’d rather starve than drink that! I’m a two-hundred-year-old soul in a baby’s body—taking advantage of a wet nurse? That’s just wrong!

No, absolutely not!

The midwife handed Lian to the wet nurse, but no matter how she tried, Lian refused to drink. The wet nurse coaxed, "Come on, young mistress, be good, drink some milk, then you can sleep."

After several attempts, with no success, the wet nurse gave up and laid Lian in a cradle.

The midwife pulled the wet nurse aside. Lian could tell they were whispering about her.

Little Rascal, in the spiritual space, was already doubled over with laughter. Her master couldn’t read minds, but Little Rascal could!

A small cup appeared, filled with milky-white liquid. The wet nurse cradled Lian and said, "Young mistress, try this?"

Lian’s eyes sparkled as she eyed the "goat’s milk." Her stomach growled. Fine, she’d take a sip—just this once, then sleep.

A sip went down, warming her belly. It felt comforting.

Hmm, not bad at all.

"She’s drinking!"

The wet nurse looked at the midwife in delight.

The midwife smiled back. "I guessed from her reaction earlier. Let’s feed her this way from now on!"

Lian felt that, in this moment, the goat’s milk tasted nothing like the one her master gave her when she was seven or eight. Could it be...

She glanced at the wet nurse’s still-open blouse and wondered—how could warm goat’s milk appear so quickly?

Lian was speechless.

That sip hadn’t satisfied her hunger at all. Looking at the cup’s contents, she sighed. Well, time will pass quickly...

She closed her eyes and took a big gulp. She had to admit, it was pretty tasty...

An entire day passed, and her so-called father never once came to see her.

Not until dawn the next day, after Lian had finished her breakfast, did her father arrive.

Outside the door:

"Where’s the young mistress?"

"Master, she’s just had her milk and is sleeping."

Gu Jun pushed the door open softly. Last night, while sitting with Gu Ming, she’d mentioned the child’s name, and it was only now he remembered he hadn’t given one. He’d come to fix that.

Lian lay quietly in bed, fast asleep, the picture of a little princess.

Gu Jun rubbed his eyes. How could this peaceful baby be the same wrinkled thing from yesterday?

Wait—did the midwife say boy or girl? She said... girl?

A girl?! The Gu family’s new generation actually produced a daughter!

With two large strides, Gu Jun reached Lian’s side and gently pinched her soft, chubby cheeks.

Like cotton!

Hmm... let’s call her Gu Hua.

"From now on, you are the heir of the Gu family. Surname Gu, courtesy name Ya, given name Hua!"

Having announced this, Gu Jun tried to lift Lian again, but, worried about her fragility, set her back down.

Who says rough men can’t be gentle? When we try, we even scare ourselves!

Lian felt her so-called father was quite the character.

And so, year after year, Lian grew. Her face became more and more like her mother, Gu Ming, and her father’s attitude toward her did a complete one-eighty.