Location: A Bustling Marketplace in Constantinople
The air in the Ottoman marketplace was a vibrant tapestry of scent and sound. It wove together the rich aroma of spices piled high in colorful mounds, the smoky scent of roasting meats from street vendors, and the sweet, floral perfume of olive oil soaps. The calls of merchants in rapid-fire Turkish, the laughter of children weaving through the crowd, and the distant melody of a stringed saz created a symphony of life that Lusi adored.
She was in her element. Her practical braid, now a familiar and constant companion, was slung over one shoulder as she expertly haggled with a vendor over a roll of finely woven silk. Her fingers, calloused from rope and sun, gently felt the quality of the fabric while her mind calculated a fair price in a foreign currency.
Feng stood a few steps away, a fond smile on his face as he watched her. He held a sleepy Luo Yin in his arms, the three-year-old's head nestled against his shoulder, lulled by the market's hum. In the five years since they'd left the capital, this had become their rhythm: finding a new port, exploring its markets, building their life one barter and one shared discovery at a time. Lusi's merchant mind was their compass, and Feng was her proud first mate.
"Evet, evet!" Lusi said finally, striking a deal with the beaming vendor. She turned to Feng, her face alight with triumph, holding up the silk. "For a new tunic for you. The blue will match the—"
Her sentence cut off abruptly. Her smile faltered. The light in her eyes seemed to flicker and die like a guttered candle. The roll of silk slipped from her fingers, scattering on the dusty ground.
"Sisi?" Feng's smile vanished.
She swayed, her hand flying to her temple. A wave of dizziness washed over her, turning the vibrant market into a nauseating swirl of color and noise. The confident merchant was gone, replaced by a disoriented, pale woman.
"Feng'er…" she whispered, her voice thin and weak.
Then, her knees buckled. She crumpled towards the ground.
Feng's heart stopped. He lunged forward, but with Yin in his arms, he was too slow. He cried out her name, his voice raw with a panic he hadn't felt since the night she'd rescued him from kidnappers. "Lusi! Lusi!"
He dropped to his knees beside her, carefully shifting Yin to one arm as he frantically felt for a pulse at Lusi's neck. It was there, fluttering like a trapped bird, but she was unconscious, her skin clammy. The world narrowed to this patch of dusty ground. The joyful market sounds became a distant, mocking roar.
A shadow fell over them. A woman, elegant and composed in rich Ottoman silks, knelt beside him. Her eyes, dark and intelligent, quickly assessed the situation.
"Do not fear," she said in carefully practiced but clear Mandarin. "I am Eda. You must come with us. We have physicians at my home. They will see to her."
Feng, his mind blank with terror, could only nod mutely. He was a prince, a merchant, a traveler—but in this moment, he was just a terrified husband. He gathered Lusi into his arms, holding both his wife and his daughter, and followed Eda through the concerned crowd.
Location: A Lavish Tent in Eda's Compound
Time lost all meaning. Feng paced outside a partitioned section of a large, opulent tent, the air thick with the scent of incense and anxiety. Yin, now awake and sensing her father's fear, clutched his leg, her small face pressed into his robes. Every murmur from behind the silk screen sent a jolt through him.
Eda emerged, her expression calm. She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Do not worry. Everything will be alright."
She disappeared behind the screen again. Feng's pacing resumed, each second an eternity. He replayed the last hour in his mind. Had she eaten something bad? Was it a sickness from the sea? Had he missed some sign of her being unwell?
Finally, Eda reappeared. This time, a brilliant, knowing smile graced her lips. She walked up to Feng and gave his shoulder a firm, congratulatory dap.
"You must be ready to take on more responsibility," she said, her eyes twinkling.
Feng stared at her, utterly bewildered. Responsibility? His wife was unconscious. "What?" he breathed, confusion cutting through his fear.
He didn't wait for an answer. He pushed past the silk screen.
Lusi was sitting up on the low divan, propped up by cushions. The color had returned to her cheeks, replaced by a soft, rosy glow. And on her face was not an expression of pain or fear, but a shy, bewildered, and utterly radiant smile.
Feng rushed to her side, dropping to his knees, his hands frantically searching her face. "Is everything alright? Why are you smiling?"
Eda followed him in, her smile widening. "Because she is two months pregnant already."
The words hung in the air. The world, which had been spinning out of control, slammed to a sudden, perfect, breathtaking halt.
Feng's head whipped around to look at Eda, then back at Lusi. All the worry, the panic, the terror—it evaporated, replaced by a wave of pure, unadulterated joy so powerful it left him dizzy.
"Really?" The word was a choked whisper, his eyes searching Lusi's for confirmation.
Lusi, her shy smile breaking into a beam of happiness, just nodded, her own eyes glistening with tears.
A sound escaped Feng's throat—half laugh, half sob. He surged forward, wrapping his arms around her carefully, burying his face in her neck. He held her as if she were the most precious cargo he had ever carried, which she was. She was his home, his journey, and now, the mother of his second child.
Eda watched them, her smile soft and maternal, before quietly slipping out of the tent to give them their moment, the secret of their new beginning safe with her.
Months passed , it was now the day when she was giving birth
Everyone was waiting outside the tent
The doctor comes out announced that it's a girl, feng goes to her and asks " how is she ? ( With all concern) "
Doctor said , your daughter is very healthy , feng , I am asking about my wife , eda and her husband smiled
Doctor," you can go in ", feng goes in and softly sat beside her , she is holding the baby
Feng " are you okay?" " Yes I am " she said , feng said " she is beautiful like you " " but she has your nose , see ! Both softly laughed
A girl beside them asked what they gonna name her , feng let lusi decide
Lusi said " if we haven't come to this journey, maybe we would have never have her , why don't we name her Luo Yin " he agreed
Later that girl came out of the tent and told everyone the new baby's name
After some months, when both the baby and the mother was in a stable situation, both feng and lusi bid farewell to the people and left on their ship
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