Chapter 24

Gu Zhizhuo held Aman in his arms, lost in thought.

Judging from her pulse, Aman's heart meridian is severely blocked. It would be best to use silver needles to unclog the heart and pericardium meridians, but the problem is that Aman is afraid of needles.

Gu Zhizhuo was in a dilemma for a moment.

She thought about it all night, and the next morning at daybreak, she asked Qiongfang to take out the booklets from her small storeroom.

She remembered that when she was seven or eight years old, she would have nightmares every night and even have seizures, making it difficult for her to sleep. Her grandmother found about ten pieces of white jade with excellent quality and had them brought to the capital.

Gu Zhizhu flipped through the booklet, but found nothing.

She went to the small storeroom again, but still found nothing. Finally, she found a palm-sized piece of rough jade in a box on the dressing table. She then went outside to have a craftsman make it into a jade pendant, but only managed to get two pieces.

White jade is believed to have the effect of calming the mind and spirit, and is commonly known as a calming agent.

Gu Zhizhuo personally carved talismans on the jade plaque.

It has to be said that she has become quite rusty. The carving knife is not obedient to her at all. It took her three whole days to carve the two jade plaques, and she even carved one crookedly.

It's so ugly!

Gu Zhizhuo was too embarrassed to look, so he threw it into the jewelry box, picked up the beautifully crafted piece, and gave it to Aman.

The little girl was vain and happy all day long. One moment she was showing off to the old lady, and the next she was happily going to show off to her cousins. When she came back, there was a newly made tassel on the jade pendant, with several jade beads on it.

Gu Zhizhuo went in and out, busy for several days.

The calming incense was always burning. She made it herself!

The jade pendant hangs there every day. She carved it herself!

Gu Zhizhuo even used the extra spices to make two sachets, one for Aman to hang up and the other to put under her pillow.

Whatever she says goes, and Gu Liaoliao never interferes.

Seeing that she had changed the incense formula again, Gu Liaoliao said in a very good mood, "Aman is sleeping much more comfortably. Before, she would toss and turn in the middle of the night and sweat all over. These past few days, I've seen her sleep through the night."

Gu Zhizhuo seized the opportunity to sow discord: "Of course, our Aman has returned to her own home and no longer has to worry about what others think, so of course she sleeps better."

Gu Liaoliao wholeheartedly agreed.

Lady Jing'an looked at Aman as if she were some kind of jinx. Gu Liaoliao herself was still bothered by that feng shui formation, so she not only dismissed the wet nurse and nanny who had served Aman, but also kept Aman confined to playing in the courtyard. Unlike now, she can go wherever she wants in the entire Duke's mansion, and everyone likes her.

In the morning, he runs all over the garden. At noon, when the sun is strong, Aman comes back and sits on the windowsill to watch the birds. There is a colorful bird that comes every day, hopping around on the windowsill and preening its feathers.

The bird has long, silky feathers on its tail.

After preening its feathers, it pecked at its little toes, grooming itself beautifully.

Ah Man watched intently.

Just then, a young maid in green entered through the hanging flower gate. The bird was startled and flapped its wings, flying into the tree canopy, where the dense branches and leaves concealed its small body.

Disappointed, Aman pointed in the direction the bird had flown away. She craned her neck to look left and right, then turned back, her little face wrinkled.

Her mouth moved, and a muffled sound suddenly escaped her throat: "Ah, ah!"

"ah!"

Gu Liaoliao parted her red lips slightly, incredulous.

Wait, Ah Man can make a sound now!?

For the past year, Aman has not only lost her voice, but she also has no laughter or tears. Whether she is sad or happy, she only shows expressions. It's as if something is blocked in her throat, and she makes no sound. Every time Gu Liaoliao sees her, it feels like her heart is being torn apart.

And now, she truly heard her daughter's voice again.

A long-lost sound.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Gu Liaoliao covered her mouth with her hand, afraid of frightening her daughter, and then looked at Gu Zhizhuo.

Gu Zhizhuo smiled and said, "Take your time."

If silver needles are used, along with a calming talisman, Gu Zhizhuo is confident that he can clear Aman's heart meridian in just seven days.

Now, it will take at least half a month.

Gu Liaoliao nodded hurriedly. Yes, take it slow. As long as there is even a glimmer of hope, what does it matter how long it takes? At least there is light ahead, not an unfathomable abyss.

Gu Liaoliao's heart was pounding, and she choked out, "Aman likes birds, shall we go to the bird market and pick out a parrot?"

Ah Man tilted her head, seemingly considering it seriously.

The maid in green also stood under the eaves and announced, "Madam, the eldest son-in-law has arrived."

Ever since the last time, Gu Liaoliao had specifically instructed that no one from the Qin family, including Qin Su, should be welcomed in if they came to visit again. So, this time she was stopped.

"not see."

Gu Liaoliao only replied with one sentence, then spoke softly to her daughter, "The parrot is so beautiful, Mother will take Aman to choose one herself..."

The maidservant curtsied and went to deliver the message.

The message was relayed to the gatekeeper, and Qin Su was turned away.

“…Son-in-law, please go back.”

After the gatekeeper finished speaking politely, he closed the side gate, leaving Qin Su alone outside.

Qin Su stood silently, leading his horse.

He met A-Liao in the southern borderlands. A-Liao, clad in red armor and wielding a long sword, charged through enemy lines like a man, her heroic figure striking. From that moment on, she was etched into his heart.

He wanted to marry her.

He fought bravely against the enemy, accumulating military merits, and was promoted to the rank of centurion in just one year. When he led his troops to ambush bandits and brought back the bandit leader's head, she finally noticed him.

Later, he married her.

He devoted his whole heart to her...

Qin Su closed his eyes.

He just wants a son, one is enough, that's not unreasonable! Why is Ah Liao so fixated on this?!

She should also think about him. Without a son, what will happen to the title of Earl's family? Who can he give all that he has worked so hard to earn in his life?

Frustrated, he rode on the horse without even pulling the reins, letting the horse carry him back to the mansion.

As soon as he entered, a nanny came up to him, wiping away tears and choking back sobs, and told him, "Young Master, Consort Sun has had a miscarriage and is not feeling well!"

Qin Su was startled and quickly ran to the main courtyard. Without waiting for an announcement, he lifted the curtain and rushed in. Lady Jing'an was sitting in a grand chair, wiping away tears, crying uncontrollably. Her heartbroken appearance almost made Qin Su think that the child had been lost.

"Mother," he asked anxiously, "how is Yao Niang?"

"At least you still care about your cousin," said Lady Jing'an, putting down her handkerchief, her eyes red. "You rush out as soon as you have a day off, thinking only of your wife, not spending any time with your cousin. With such a big thing happening in our family, we haven't seen Gu Shi at all these days. It's all thanks to Yao Niang who's been busy taking care of everything, but she even had a miscarriage. The doctor is still inside!"

"If anything happens to my precious grandson, I don't want to live anymore." Lady Jing'an cried more and more sadly. "I'm already this old, and I finally got a grandson. Tell me, what sins has our Qin family committed?"

"It's bad enough that she can't give birth to a son, but she's also insanely jealous. Let me tell you, if Madam Gu doesn't bring out the old ginseng and doesn't take good care of Yao Niang during childbirth, I won't agree to let her raise my little grandson!"

"That won't do! Only children raised from a young age develop a bond; this child will see Ah Liao as their own mother later." Qin Su comforted, "The Gu family's matriarch isn't feeling well..."

"Feeling unwell?! When Madam Gu was scolding people, she didn't seem to be feeling unwell at all!" Madam Jing'an grew angrier as she spoke. "In my opinion, Madam Gu is just jealous that Yao Niang can give birth to a son!"

"She's already married into our Qin family, and she still throws tantrums all the time! The Gu family is full of shrewish women! The eldest is one, and the youngest is another!"

For a young woman to be so unruly, if it weren't for Su'er saying that the Commander of the Imperial Guard was about to be transferred and that he wanted to compete for the official position and needed the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion's connections in the army, she would never have swallowed this insult.

Qin Su picked up the teacup from the table and handed it over. Experience told him that it was best not to say anything at this time.

If he were to defend Ah Liao even once, his mother would nag him for half an hour.

Lady Jing'an took a few sips of tea, then sobbed and cried again, "Why is my life so bitter?"

Halfway through her crying, the doctor came out. Lady Jing'an, not even having time to put down her teacup, hurriedly asked, "Doctor, my daughter-in-law..."

"Mother!" Qin Su's face hardened, and he stopped her.

No matter what, Yao Niang is just a concubine! How can a concubine be called a daughter-in-law?

Lady Jing'an took a sip of tea to ease the embarrassment of her slip of the tongue.

Doctor Wang pretended he was hard of hearing and said with his head down, "Madam, your aunt is fine. A dose of medicine to stabilize the pregnancy will suffice. However..." He paused, then said seriously, "Your aunt's baby is in a slightly breech position, and I'm afraid she may have a difficult delivery."

At the mention of difficult childbirth, Lady Jing'an turned pale with fright and tightly gripped the hand of Granny Ping beside her.

Granny Ping hurriedly asked on her behalf, "Didn't you say the pregnancy was going well a few days ago? How come..."

"She's about to give birth, so it's normal for the baby's position to change. However, Auntie's health is too weak, and she's been worrying too much. This pregnancy hasn't been taking good care of her..." Doctor Wang said a lot, but what he really meant was that the baby might not survive.

Qin Su's breath hitched.

Ah Liao had difficulty conceiving; he had hoped, pleaded, and been disappointed.

Now that Heaven has finally blessed him with a son, how could he bear to lose him?

Lady Jing'an looked up and suddenly asked, "That little mute... Aman, didn't you have some stomach problems a few days ago?"

Granny Ping paused for a moment, then silently counted the days in her mind.

The Crown Prince's wife left seven days ago. It seems that a doctor was called that day. She nodded and flattered him, saying, "Madam, you have a good memory. It is true."

"That's it! Master Qingping said back then that our Qin family's descendant, the Palace Master, was harmed by an ominous star, and that it would be difficult for him to have children." Lady Jing'an immediately understood the key point and slammed her hand on the table repeatedly. "Seven days ago, Yao Niang's pregnancy was fine, but then this little mute girl got sick. As soon as she recovered, Yao Niang's baby was in an abnormal position and she was going to have a difficult birth. My precious grandson must have been used by the little mute girl to shield him from the illness."

"I knew this little mute girl was unlucky; she's definitely a jinx!"

Her voice became shrill with excitement.

Yao Niang has been unwell ever since she became pregnant, all because of this little mute!

Lady Jing'an's heart was churning. She sat in the armchair, swaying back and forth, her vision blurring.

A note from the author: