“Young lady, you’re pregnant, how can you be without someone to take care of you?” Aunt Liu said. “Young ladies Peony and Peony can just bring the medicine every day, I can brew it myself!” As Aunt Liu spoke, she helped the old woman up. When the old woman heard that she could recover and had the chance to walk again, a more relaxed smile appeared on her face. She said, “Nono, Feng’er is right. You’re so heavy now, how can you be without someone to take care of you?”

She had suffered greatly during her previous pregnancies, but now that her granddaughter was pregnant, the old woman didn't want Bai Nuo to go through the same hardships she had endured.

When there are people to take care of her, Grandma still hopes that Bai Nuo will be comfortable.

"Feng'er has been serving me for a long time, and she knows my habits very well. No one else is as considerate as her. You just need to take good care of yourself. You don't need to give me any of the people around you!"

Before Bai Nuo could say anything more, the old woman said, "It's settled then. You should go out now. You don't need to stay with this old woman anymore. Your sisters, brothers, and sisters are all waiting for news from me. Go out and tell them!"

"Alright!" Bai Nuo said, then added with a hint of concern, "Tell them that when Aunt Liu goes to the kitchen to brew the medicine, no one should disturb her, understand?"

Peony and Peony gracefully bowed, and Bai Nuo finally left with peace of mind. Only Grandma and Aunt Liu remained in the room. As soon as they left, Grandma started to sob. When Aunt Liu saw Grandma crying, she also started to cry.

Outside, Bai Nuo couldn't wait to tell Hu Mingmei and the others the news, and Jiang San Niang and the others immediately cheered.

"Second Master. Someone from the palace has arrived and wants you to come quickly!" Just as everyone was celebrating, a servant suddenly rushed in. "They're already in the main hall and are waiting for you."

"Someone from the palace has come?" Everyone was taken aback. Bai Nuo asked, "Is he here to read the imperial edict?" As a member of a merchant family, Bai Nuo couldn't find any reason why the palace would need someone to come, other than an imperial edict.

"No, it was Eunuch Qian who came alone. He said he was just here to deliver a few words," the servant said.

Did you come alone?

Lu Ying said, "I'll go and greet them first!" He also wanted to find out why Eunuch Qian had come.

Just now, when Dr. Sun was examining Grandma, Lu Ying formally requested to return to the rear from the front lines because Jiang San Niang's health was deteriorating day by day. Lu Ying wanted to spend more time with Jiang San Niang, and Hu Mingmei agreed, allowing Lu Ying to assist Bai Nuo in managing the household affairs—that is, to become a housekeeper and not have to go out with her anymore. The person who went out with her became Xia Donglai.

"Go ahead!" Hu Mingmei nodded and returned to the courtyard with Bai Nuo. They changed their clothes before going to the hall.

Since it wasn't an imperial edict being read aloud, and Jiang San Niang wasn't considered a member of the Hu family, she didn't come along. Instead, she stayed in her grandmother's room to keep her company.

"Eunuch Qian!" Hu Mingmei hurriedly led Bai Nuo to the hall. Just as they reached the door, before even entering, Hu Mingmei said with a faint smile, "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting, Eunuch Qian!"

"I just arrived, I haven't been here long!" Eunuch Qian said with a smile. "I'm only here to deliver a few words on behalf of the Empress Dowager, so there's no need for Master Hu to be nervous."

Judging from Eunuch Qian's words, it seems that the palace is also aware of Hu Mingmei's actions.

It's no wonder people know about it, given the considerable commotion Hu Mingmei has caused.

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!" Hu Mingmei immediately pulled Bai Nuo to kneel down, but Eunuch Qian quickly stopped them. "Your Majesty said that she only has a few words to say to the young man of the Hu family. Hu's wife is pregnant, so there is no need for them to kneel."

There was no need to kneel down. Hu Mingmei and Bai Nuo really wouldn't refuse anymore, since neither of them were people who liked kneeling.

Eunuch Qian said, "The Empress Dowager said, 'The Hu family's business was established by the Eldest Princess and has been passed down through generations. It was brought to its full glory by Princess Yu Ru. It is only right that you take it back. However, you must not go too far and leave room for gossip and criticism from the people.' Young Master Hu, what the Empress Dowager means is that those people are, after all, your blood relatives, especially that old geezer, who is your grandfather. The Empress Dowager is happy that you imprisoned him, but this matter has already spread. Everyone is saying that you are inhuman and that the royal family is abusing their power. What does the Empress Dowager mean? It is better to release them and not give them any chance to cause trouble, so that they can't do anything wrong and it will save them from being gossiped about."

Bai Nuo listened in silence. Was the Empress Dowager too concerned about Hu Mingmei? Was she being too worried? Once this person was released, it wasn't a matter of whether she was optimistic or not; he was bound to cause trouble.

What was the Empress Dowager thinking?

It's a pity. The Empress Dowager has already said so, and it's for Hu Mingmei's own good. With this as an excuse, Hu Mingmei has no choice but to listen. If she doesn't listen, to put it mildly, she'll be considered ungrateful. She's doing this for your own good and you don't listen. To put it more seriously, she'll be considered disobeying an imperial edict.

Therefore, the only option was to release him.

"Yes, Mingmei will keep the Empress Dowager's teachings in mind and will act with caution," Hu Mingmei said in a deep voice.

After saying this, Hu Mingmei saw that Eunuch Qian had nothing to say, so she sat up and said, "Eunuch Qian, do you have anything important to do later? If not, why don't you stay and have a simple meal with us?"

Bai Nuo couldn't help but glance at Hu Mingmei. The other person will be fine later, but you are someone who is about to be troubled by others, and you still invited them to dinner!

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!