Chapter 17 The Truth About Infertility: Even Tigers Eat Their Cubs

Ji Qingwu remained deep in thought with a furrowed brow.

Seeing her expression, Ji Qingrong thought of how even her fifth sister, who specialized in treating female infertility, couldn't do anything about it, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Perhaps I'm just not destined to have children."

A somber atmosphere lingered in Ninghua Hall for a long time.

At lunchtime, despite the table being laden with exquisite porcelain dishes and delicacies, the two sisters ate without tasting a thing.

A maid in a blue dress came in, quietly carrying a bowl of soup, and placed it beside Ji Qingrong, saying, "Madam, this is black chicken and lily soup that the Grand Madam asked me to bring you. Please drink it while it's hot."

Ji Qingrong looked listless, but still managed to cheer herself up and replied, "Zizhu, you've arrived. You're a bit late today."

Zizhu was her mother-in-law's head maid. She bowed her head respectfully and replied, "It's all my fault for being delayed on the way. Please forgive me, Madam."

Seeing Ji Qingwu staring intently at her soup bowl, Ji Qingrong explained.

"My mother-in-law has gone to great lengths to help me get pregnant as soon as possible. She has been making this soup and broth every day since I moved into the household. I feel uneasy if I don't drink this soup for a day."

Zizhu said, "The Grand Madam is very concerned about Madam's health. Please drink this soup while it's hot."

Ji Qingwu's eyes darkened as he looked at the soup in the bowl.

You feel uneasy if you don't drink it for a day?

It's hard not to suspect that something was added to the soup.

Ji Qingwu blinked and asked curiously, "Big sister, can I have some of this soup? Let me try it too."

Upon hearing this, Zizhu's expression changed, and she nervously raised her head: "Madam, this soup..."

Ji Qingrong ignored her and pushed the porcelain bowl over directly.

"Since Mother says this soup can nourish the body and replenish qi and blood, it's fine to give it to Fifth Sister."

The soup in the bowl had a golden-white hue, with a thin layer of oil floating on the surface. It was clearly the essence left after simmering for a long time, and it smelled wonderful.

Ji Qingwu picked up the spoon and took a bite. The tip of his tongue was full of the savory flavor of chicken soup, but after swallowing it, a trace of bitterness remained in his mouth.

How does it taste?

She squinted her eyes and praised with a smile, "This soup tastes excellent, and it's cooked to perfection."

Ji Qingrong also thought the soup tasted good, and since her mother-in-law cooked it and brought it over every day, the soup was full of care and concern.

Then, Ji Qingwu picked up the bowl to take another sip, but unexpectedly, she flicked her wrist and "accidentally" spilled the soup on the maid next to her.

Zizhu hurriedly took a step back, but still couldn't dodge it, and her clothes were stained. She scolded in a panic, "What are you doing!"

Zizhu was a capable maidservant of the Dowager Madam. All the maids and servants fawned over her, and even the Second Madam, Feng Shuang, treated her with great courtesy.

Although the woman in front of her was the fifth young lady of the Ji family, she still looked down on her.

She was lost as a child, never received the upbringing of a noble family, and her knowledge might not even be as extensive as hers. Moreover, she was a widow. All the disrespect in her heart was brought out by this bowl of soup.

Zizhu glared at him, wanting to say a few more words.

But then he caught a glimpse of Ji Qingrong's sharp gaze.

With just one look, she knew what respect and humility meant.

Zizhu could only reluctantly lower her head: "This servant misspoke."

After spilling the soup, Ji Qingwu didn't look at her, only saying indifferently, "I'm sorry."

After Zizhu left, Ji Qingrong asked with a puzzled look, "Fifth Sister, why are you picking on a little maid?" Although they hadn't spent much time together, she knew in her heart that this younger sister wasn't the type to cause trouble for no reason.

Ji Qingwu sat up straight and said seriously, "Big sister, you absolutely cannot drink this soup anymore."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingrong paused for a moment, then exclaimed in shock, "There's something wrong with this soup, isn't there?"

Ji Qingwu nodded and stated his judgment.

"This soup also contains Sanguisorba officinalis, a medicinal herb that can cool the blood and reduce fever, but long-term use will lead to a cold constitution, which is a strong medicine that dissipates yang energy for women."

It turned out there was medicine in the soup; the soup she had been drinking since entering the mansion was problematic.

Ji Qingrong clenched her fists on the table, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, her jade-like face deathly pale.

It turned out that her mother-in-law didn't want her to give birth to the child!

For so long, she had been blaming herself for not being able to conceive. What was even more ridiculous was that her mother-in-law, Cui, had constantly berated her for not being able to get pregnant.

She never imagined it would end like this!

Ji Qingrong laughed angrily, gritting her teeth as she said, "The Grand Madam has a truly ingenious plan, but I just can't understand it. She only has one legitimate son, the Heir Apparent, so how could she bear to use such methods? Does she really want the Marquis's family line to end?!"

Ji Qingwu couldn't understand this either, as the saying goes, even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs.

However, the Dowager Lady secretly added poison to her daughter-in-law's medicine in order to prevent her from getting pregnant, a behavior that she found utterly incomprehensible.

Seeing that Ji Qingrong was so angry that her body was trembling, Ji Qingwu placed her hand on her elder sister's hand, which was resting on the table, and squeezed it tightly.

She gently advised, "Big sister, don't worry. Now that we've found the cause, we can treat it accordingly."

Ji Qingrong, her face ashen, asked, "Is there any cure?"

“Of course.” Ji Qingwu’s expression was firm.

This was good news. Looking at her fifth sister's serene and gentle face, and feeling the strength and warmth in her hands, Ji Qingrong's heart calmed down.

Now that the matter has been investigated and it's clear that it wasn't her fault, she shouldn't suffer in silence.

Ji Qingrong was thinking of a solution.

Her mother-in-law, Cui, had a special status. She was not only the wife of a marquis but also a close relative of the emperor. In the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion, Cui was extremely powerful in front of the marquis and the old lady.

Even if she brought this up with the old lady, it wouldn't make much difference.

With her authority, Cui could easily find a scapegoat in the kitchen and get away with it.

What should I do...?

At this moment, Ji Qingwu asked seemingly casually, "Big sister, I haven't met your husband yet. What kind of person is he?"

Ji Qingrong was stunned.

She thought of many people who could be used in the mansion, but she never thought of her husband, Lu Juan.

Ji Qingrong and Lu Juan were childhood sweethearts, and even after they got married, they had their share of bickering and disagreements. However, neither of them were impulsive, and they would make up as soon as they got out of bed.

In Lu Juan's heart, who is more important, her or Cui Shi?

She can give an answer immediately.

Because Lu Juan is extremely protective of his own. He had only argued with his sister-in-law Lu Yun a few times, and he had been sullen for several days. Let alone his own mother.

Ji Qingwu then asked, "Will your brother-in-law handle this matter impartially?"

Seeing Ji Qingrong's shoulders slumping more and more, Ji Qingwu knew her elder sister's situation in the Marquis's mansion.

Not only was she secretly harmed by her mother-in-law, but her husband was also unreliable.

Before they could even come up with a solution, Xin'er called out loudly from outside the door, "Greetings, Madam!"

My mother-in-law, Cui, came to visit.

A fierce hatred instantly flashed in Ji Qingrong's eyes.