Outsiders thought that Bai Qingzhou, as the heir of the Marquis of Anning's mansion, was a very happy person, living a life of luxury with many servants.

But only Shen Mianmian knew that because of all the misfortunes and shadows of the past, Fengchu had no interest in the position of heir apparent at all. In fact, he even dreamed that he was not the heir apparent and could be a free man, living the life he wanted.

However, Fengchu was an only child and had no choice.

If the Lady really has a second son, Fengchu will definitely try his best to make the Marquis of Anning establish his younger brother as the heir.

Bai Qingzhou turned pale with shock and lowered her voice, "Mother is pregnant? Whose child is it?"

Chen Mianmian burst out laughing, "Who else could it be? Of course it's the Marquis's!"

"???" Bai Qingzhou's eyes widened. "Father? Father isn't..."

Shen Mianmian nodded. "Don't rush, I'll tell you slowly when we get back. It seems that we've had a lot of stories in these four months."

Bai Qingzhou, still uneasy, asked in an even softer voice, "Are you sure... it's Father's?"

Shen Mianmian's lips twitched—how could this child speak like that? Your mother has been so loyal, with so many beautiful women in the princess's mansion, she never changed her heart, how could she possibly cheat on your father?

"It's confirmed. The Marquis is gradually recovering. The diagnosis made by the imperial physician has probably spread throughout the capital by now. It's just that you're in seclusion at Qingfeng Residence studying, and to avoid distracting you, Madam instructed us not to tell you."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Bai Qingzhou stretched out his long arm and pulled the woman into his arms again, this time holding her even tighter than before.

The crowd watching the free love story—they hugged again! They hugged again!

Liu Xiangning secretly kicked Guan Shui, "Aren't you going to hurry up and chase those onlookers away? Don't you have any sense?"

Guan Shui was reminded and then ran over to disperse the crowd.

Afterwards, Bai Qingzhou and Shen Mianmian went to the main courtyard to see the madam.

Everyone in the main courtyard was surprised to see the young master's drastic change.

Ding stepped forward, reached out and touched her son's shoulder, then his face, her voice trembling as she asked, "Child, you... how have you changed so much? How have you grown so tall?"

A blush crept across Bai Qingzhou's jade-like face as he said, "Mother, don't worry, I'll tell you slowly."

I had originally planned to tell Chen Mianmian what I had told her when I returned to Mingyue Courtyard, but I had to take it out in advance and tell it to my mother first.

Bai Qingzhou helped his mother to a seat before beginning to speak. "Actually, I started to change during the county examination. At that time, my legs would inexplicably ache at night. I didn't think much of it at the time, just that I had been sitting too much during the day. So I ran around in the yard in the morning and evening to relieve the pain."

After Guan Shui left, the situation worsened, and he could hardly sleep every day due to leg pain. Mr. Ouyang asked one of his doctor friends to treat him. The doctor said that his condition was bone pain caused by a sudden growth spurt. The faster he grew, the more painful his bones became, and there was no way to relieve it.

Normally, boys experience a growth spurt between the ages of eleven and sixteen, but mine occurred at nineteen, which is relatively rare, though not uncommon.

At the time, Mr. Ouyang was conflicted. On the one hand, he hoped that I would achieve the goal of passing the three-in-one exam and fulfill his dream in his teaching career; on the other hand, seeing my pain, he couldn't bear to see me studying while enduring the pain.

I then told Mr. Ouyang, "The pain is the same whether I stay at Qingfeng Residence or return to the Marquis's Mansion. Going home might worry my mother, so I might as well stay at Qingfeng Residence. Besides, the pain only occurs at night, not during the day, so it won't interfere with my studies." Only then did Mr. Ouyang agree. This is also one of the reasons why I deliberately didn't return after the prefectural examination."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Ding couldn't stop her tears from flowing; she felt so sorry for her son.

Shen Mianmian was also amazed: Fengchu is really very responsible!

Just as everyone was rejoicing, a maid suddenly came in and announced, "Madam, the young mistress is back!"