Chen Mianmian scolded, "Xiang Ning, don't talk nonsense. The doctor hasn't arrived yet. If it's just a false alarm, Madam will be embarrassed."

Then, in response to Guan Shui, he said, "It's like this. This morning, we went to the main courtyard to pay our respects to Madam, but we heard that she was feeling unwell. So we suspect that... cough, Madam is pregnant."

Guan Shui was also taken aback, "Pregnant...?"

Liu Xiangning rolled her eyes. "Why are you so surprised? The Marquis and his wife aren't that old. Some people can still have children even when they're over fifty."

"No, Miss Xiangning, please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean that the Marquis's wife is old, but..." Guan Shui didn't know how to describe it either—he used to be in the assassin camp, where there were female assassins, but they didn't train together.

In addition to martial arts, female assassins also need to learn other skills. When necessary, they must disguise themselves as prostitutes or be sent directly to the target as playthings to complete their missions.

In other words, none of the women who were close to him before had ever become pregnant.

It's amazing to think that you can suddenly become two people when you're clearly one!

As he thought about it, his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Xiang Ning's waist.

Liu Xiangning, quick-witted and sharp-eyed, immediately noticed Guan Shui staring at her lower abdomen. Both angry and embarrassed, she hurriedly covered herself, saying, "Don't think such things! We've been together for almost two months, I've had my period, I'm not pregnant!"

"..." Guan Shui—that's not what he meant.

But Xiang Ning's words jolted him back into thought—so, having sex could very well lead to pregnancy? Just like last time, when it happened between the two of them…

Recalling that passionate and exciting night, Guan Shui felt her face burning.

Seeing that someone was blushing and thinking nonsense in front of their master, Liu Xiangning was so ashamed that she wanted to slap him twice.

"Master, let's go out. We're not going to stay with this lecherous fellow. He's bad luck!" With that, she forcefully pulled her master up from the chair and dragged him outside.

Chen Mianmian said, "No, I haven't had enough of the show yet. Besides, you're the one who forced her. You're the lecher, she's innocent."

Liu Xiangning felt that something was wrong with her today. She usually didn't care about these jokes at all, but today she felt extremely embarrassed! She wanted to disappear into the ground and became angrier the more she thought about it.

And so, Liu Xiangning used all her strength to pull Chen Mianmian out.

Seeing Liu Xiangning's blushing face, Shen Mianmian didn't point it out, saving her face, and said, "Let's go to the main courtyard."

Afterwards, the two went to the main courtyard.

Main courtyard, inside a room.

Granny Li continued to persuade, "Madam, shall we find a doctor to take a look? We can also hire a female physician. Do you remember nineteen years ago? You were newly married then, and you were worried about fooling the old lady, so you secretly hired a female physician."

Upon hearing this, Ding, who was in a state of anxiety, paused for a moment, and then her thoughts rushed into her mind like a tide.

then……

How happy she is!

At that time, her mother-in-law was still alive, her parents were still alive, everyone was there, and the Marquis was still that dashing young marquis, unharmed and untouched by gossip...

Granny Li exclaimed in surprise, "Madam, why are you crying? Alright, alright, we won't call the female physician!"

Ding hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "No...no, I didn't want to cry. I don't know why, but my emotions have been fluctuating these past two days, and I keep thinking about things from the past."

Li Mama thought to herself, "She must be pregnant. Women usually can't help but have these kinds of wild thoughts when they are pregnant."

Just then, a voice came from outside the door announcing that Aunt Shen had returned.

Granny Li breathed a sigh of relief—it's good that the concubine is back. Now, the only one who can persuade the madam is the concubine.

As she went out to greet her aunt, she thought to herself: With the young mistress away from the Marquis's residence recently, she actually felt much more relaxed.

She didn't know about others, but she herself felt uneasy when the young mistress was in the Marquis's mansion. She always seemed to be on guard against something, especially when the young mistress came to the main courtyard. Although the young mistress was gentle and generous, she felt inexplicably afraid.

She guessed that the lady felt the same way.

Every time the young mistress left, the madam would let out a long sigh of relief.

On the contrary, when Consort Shen came, the Madam felt no pressure and chatted with Consort Shen about everything under the sun. Sometimes she would think, how wonderful it would have been if the young master had married Consort Shen instead.

Concubine Shen's background is a real problem, and the more Granny Li thinks about it, the more troubled she gets.

When Chen Mianmian saw Granny Li, she smiled and asked, "Granny, what's wrong? Why are your brows furrowed and you look so sad?"

Li Mama was both amused and exasperated. "Is Concubine Shen teasing this old servant again?"

Chen Mianmian pouted, "What old servant? I'm not old at all!"

To avoid being teased, Granny Li quickly changed the subject, lowering her voice, "Madam, do you think we should hire a female physician? I tried to persuade Madam for a long time, but she refused."

Shen Mianmian could understand some of her wife's concerns.

She asked Liu Xiangning in a low voice, "Xiangning, you've studied acupuncture before, but have you learned pulse diagnosis? Can you diagnose pregnancy by feeling the pulse?"

Liu Xiangning replied with difficulty, "I haven't studied it, but I understand the principle. The pregnancy pulse is also called the slippery pulse, like a slippery bead on a plate. The pulse is very special. But... Madam is just pregnant now, and the pulse is not obvious. I'm afraid I can't do it."

Chen Mianmian whispered, "I'll try it later, anyway, pulse diagnosis is free."

“…Master is right.”

Afterwards, the three of them entered the room.

Under Shen Mianmian's persuasion, Xiang Ning was allowed to take the lady's pulse.

The room was quiet.

Xiang Ning pressed her fingertips on the lady's wrist, then lifted them after a moment. She thought for a moment, then pressed them down again, then lifted them up once more, before finally pressing them on her own pulse, as if for comparison.

Everyone was on tenterhooks.

Shen Mianmian was also secretly nervous, but she tried to remain calm. "Xiang Ning, how are you...?"

Liu Xiangning's voice trembled slightly, "Madam's pulse... seems a little different from mine..."

Chen Mianmian also imitated Xiang Ning, feeling the lady's pulse and then comparing it with her own.

After comparing them two or three times, a difference was indeed found—her pulse rhythm was clearer, while the lady's pulse rhythm was not clear.

The room fell silent once again.

Shen Mianmian coughed twice, "Cough... Madam, perhaps... we should go and fetch a female physician?"

Ding's face was filled with disbelief, but her eyes were filled with joy. "Really... really can it?"

It's unclear whether she meant "can" to consult a female doctor or to get pregnant.

One hour later.

When the female physician arrived, she examined the lady's pulse and confirmed that she was pregnant. Lady Ding then told her the news that the Marquis was gradually recovering. After all, the Marquis's condition was known throughout the capital. If she didn't say so, the female physician might think that the lady was having an affair.

The female doctor was overjoyed upon hearing this and offered various congratulations. It goes without saying that Granny Li gave her a monetary gift.

After the servants saw the female doctor off, Madam Ding was at a loss. "Mianmian, what do you think... we should do about this?"