Xiangli Mingzhu didn't even notice that Yuan Qi had stood up on his own, and was very focused on discussing with the steward whether the servants' clothes for the summer should be changed.

Yuan Qi stood there observing Xiang Limingzhu and discovered that, judging from her face, she carried the burden of karmic debts and the loss of lives, and that retribution was imminent. Although her face was covered with thick makeup, Yuan Qi could still see clearly that the contours and lines of her face could all indicate the course of a person's fate.

However, she didn't want to meddle in other people's business. She didn't like Xiangli Mingzhu. Although she was shrewd and managed the Jiang family well, she was mean-spirited, treated her illegitimate children badly, and treated her even worse. She even planted spies around her.

This woman is controlling and assertive, but because of this, she has a bad relationship with her husband, and their relationship is almost on the verge of conflict.

Looking at the furnishings inside the house, it is magnificent and the objects inside are very exquisite. Not to mention anything else, just take the incense burner in the shape of a small animal. The workmanship is extremely exquisite. It is made of pure copper and the shape is ingenious. It is rarely seen in ordinary wealthy families.

Furthermore, the teacups beside her were all made of jade, crystal clear and quite beautiful.

Such extravagance must have plundered countless amounts of the people's wealth.

Yuan Qi found a place to sit down, leisurely swung his toes, and even took some fruit from the small table to eat.

Xiangli Mingzhu agreed to the servant service samples presented by the steward and asked the sewing room to make two sets for her to see. After the steward left, she went to find Yuan Qi, who was bowing halfway. However, there was no one in the middle of the room. She then discovered that Yuan Qi was leisurely eating the fruit plate on the table. He had eaten every last bit of honeydew melon and jujube.

She angrily rebuked, "Who told you to get up?"

Yuan Qi returned to the center of the room: "Why won't Mother let me get up? Is she trying to make things difficult for me?"

Why are you speaking such obvious truths!

Xiangli Mingzhu deeply felt that Yuan Qi's lack of adult upbringing was unacceptable. Even if he knew she was deliberately making things difficult for him, how could he say it out loud?

"I haven't even seen if your bowing posture is correct, and you've already stood up. Haven't you learned it yet?" Xiangli Mingzhu has plenty of ways to deal with this kind of ignorant child.

Yuan Qi was very obedient and bowed again in the most standard posture: "Mother, watch carefully, I will only demonstrate once."

Xiangli Mingzhu has never had such an arrogant child before. This child needs to be disciplined properly.

They actually let her watch closely and only demonstrated once, as if she were teaching a disciple?

She was furious. This child was completely out of control. No, she had to tell Jiang Zhengqing about this so he could see what kind of creature the only woman he had ever loved had given birth to.

To Xiangli Mingzhu's astonishment, Yuan Qi indeed gave a demonstration.

He even shamelessly asked, "Did Mother see clearly? Wasn't what I did perfectly? There wasn't a single mistake?"

Xiangli Mingzhu snorted coldly: "Are you arrogant or stupid? I didn't see it clearly, let's do it again."

Yuan Qi pouted and began to lecture earnestly, her attitude extremely respectful and gentle: "I think Mother has seen things clearly. My master said that the most important thing when bowing to someone is sincerity. If you bow without sincerity, it's useless even if you bow ten thousand times. On the contrary, you will be resented and cursed, and it will not bring you any merit. I think Mother is going to have bad luck recently. In my opinion, you should be kind to others and accumulate good karma for yourself. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

Xiangli Mingzhu had never been lectured like this by a child before, and she immediately flew into a rage: "How did your master teach you to talk to adults? How did Granny Wang teach you?"

Following the principle of infuriating someone without consequence, Yuan Qi replied according to the rules taught by Granny Wang: "Replying to Mother, my master didn't teach me much about interpersonal relationships, only the Five Arts of the Mystic School. The rules for speaking to elders were taught by Granny Wang. Granny Wang said that when speaking to elders, one must not lie, one's attitude must be respectful, and one must answer their questions seriously. I was just telling the truth, so I don't know what's wrong with that?"

Using the most cowardly tone to say the most arrogant words, Yuan Qi felt he had perfectly demonstrated how to infuriate people to the point of death.

Xiangli Mingzhu chuckled darkly, "Such a sharp tongue at such a young age. Since your master didn't teach you how to conduct yourself in society, starting tomorrow, you will..."

"Madam, something terrible has happened, Madam..." A maidservant ran in, looking extremely anxious.

Xiangli Mingzhu frowned slightly: "What's the rush? Speak slowly."

The young maid, slightly out of breath, pointed in the direction of Chun Guang Courtyard and said, "Manager Song from Chun Guang Courtyard has come to report that they just discovered that Consort Du is eight months pregnant..."

Xiangli Mingzhu immediately raised her voice: "Eight months pregnant, and you only found out now? Such a big belly, didn't you notice it before?"

The maidservant, who worked under Steward Song, explained with a wronged expression: "Consort Du usually wraps her stomach with cloth. Today, she had a stomachache and wanted to call a doctor. Steward Song went to check on her and found that Consort Du's legs were leaking a lot of...amniotic fluid. Upon closer examination, he found out that she was more than eight months pregnant."

Xiangli Mingzhu was so angry her nose was crooked: "She was eight months pregnant just now, and now she's more than eight months pregnant! Tell me, how many months pregnant is she exactly!"

The maidservant knelt on the ground with a thud and told the truth in a trembling voice: "It's full term, Madam is full term, Consort Du's water has broken and she's about to give birth."

Yuan Qi was a little confused as to why the woman in the backyard was pregnant and had to keep it a secret.

Xiangli Mingzhu, no longer concerned with dealing with Yuan Qi, hurriedly led the people in the house to Chunguang Courtyard.

Chun Guang Courtyard was the residence of Jiang Zhengqing's concubines. There were many women there, most of whom were given to Jiang Zhengqing by others. Each one was more beautiful and alluring than the last. Xiangli Mingzhu disliked them very much and did not allow them to have children for Jiang Zhengqing.

Yuan Qi didn't know much about these things. He only knew that Jiang Zhengqing's children were either born to Xiangli Mingzhu or to his concubine Li. The only child born to someone else was Jiang Songlu. However, Jiang Songlu's birth mother was not an outsider; she was Xiangli Mingzhu's personal maid.

Jiang Zhengqing had no other women and no children.

Oh, by the way, Yuan Qi himself was an accident.

Yuan Qi felt that Jiang Zhengqing still valued lineage, and women of unknown origin or of low status were not worthy of bearing his children.

The women of Shunko-in all knew this.

That's why Du Haitang hid her pregnancy.

Yuan Qi, who enjoys watching excitement, also went to the Begonia Pavilion in Chun Guang Courtyard.

The Begonia Pavilion was very quiet. The servants were all standing in the courtyard. Even when the physician arrived, he didn't go inside but waited here for Xiangli Mingzhu.

"How did you serve them!" Xiangli Mingzhu scolded the servants in the courtyard.

Several maids and servants knelt on the ground, none of them uttering a word.

"Didn't anyone notice she was so pregnant?"

In just a short while, a large number of people gathered in the Begonia Pavilion, including the concubine, Madam Li, but Jiang Zhengqing was nowhere to be seen.

Lady Li quietly instructed the maid beside her, "Go and inform the Marquis."