Shedding
As if noticing Lin Xu's face suddenly turn pale, Bai chuckled softly, her prayer beads slipping from her fingers. Her expression remained as kind and gentle as ever, but her tone was filled with an undeniable chill.
Bai gave Lin Xu another deep look, her gaze following her face down to her protruding belly.
"Now that you are six months pregnant, I advise you from my own experience that it is best to be safe and secure. These matters in the inner quarters can be big or small. If you focus all your attention on them, you will naturally have no time to take care of your pregnancy."
Upon hearing this, even the maids standing in the hall lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound. Although Madam Bai was strict, she usually presented a kind and benevolent face. This was the first time she had reprimanded Lin Xu in front of the servants and Aunt Guo.
Even though she is now a noble lady of the court, the Lady of Zhao'en personally appointed by the emperor, and even the adopted daughter of the powerful princess.
Lin Xu smiled bitterly to himself, realizing that Bai Shi's composure meant she not only knew that Mu Wenjun had approached her, but also likely had the secret ledger in Mu Wenjun's possession. She was certain that Lin Xu had no chance of turning the tables.
But how could she be willing to let all her past plans and hopes be destroyed in an instant?
However, Mu Wenjun's poisoning came on too suddenly, disrupting all her plans. According to her plan, she should already be facing off against Dou Huaisheng right now…
Moreover, given Bai's scheming, if she hadn't meticulously arranged everything and woven an unbreakable cage, how could she so easily abandon An Chan as a pawn?
In her haste, Lin Xu's mind raced. No matter how much hatred she harbored, Mu Wenjun was in imminent danger, and she was suffering from severe abdominal pain. At this moment, without knowing how many cards the Bai family still held, it was clearly not the time for her to step forward.
Thinking of this, Lin Xu slowly nodded, his brow furrowed with worry.
"...Mother's teachings are correct. I, your daughter-in-law, dare not make arbitrary decisions in family affairs. I should always put Mother first. I have always kept this in mind."
Aunt Guo, dressed in a plain purple long jacket, had been sitting demurely beside Madam Bai. Seeing this, she calmly took a sip of her tea before raising her eyebrows to look at Lin Xu, smiling sweetly:
"Lady Zhao'en has always been a reasonable and considerate person, and it's hard to find fault with her. That's why she was able to be granted an imperial title. I heard that you and Aunt Mu are very close. You must be very worried about Aunt Mu right now. It's a case of being too concerned to think straight. In any case, you shouldn't worry or get angry too much."
Lin Xu gritted her teeth and looked coldly at Aunt Guo, who was trying to smooth things over.
Now that things have come to this, how could she not understand that today's events were a deadly trap set by Madam Bai and Aunt Guo! Now that the two are working together, Mu Wenjun is probably in even greater danger. With such crucial evidence in her possession, once Madam Bai discovers it, she will not be allowed to live!
And for himself, a bloody storm is likely about to befall him as well...
But before she could think it through any longer, a sudden, intense pain shot through her lower abdomen! Her child!
Lin Xu panicked instantly, large beads of sweat sliding down her cheeks and into her collar. Even though she leaned against the corner of the table with all her might, she still swayed and could no longer hold on.
The next moment, she couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
"My child..."
Upon seeing this, Zhu Ling, who was standing beside her, immediately panicked and, disregarding all etiquette, hurriedly stepped forward and said:
"Madam! What's wrong?"
Aunt Guo was also surprised that Lin Xu would fall ill at such a critical moment. Judging from the situation, it seemed like she had miscarried. She was a little flustered and looked at Madam Bai for questioning.
Bai glanced at the fine beads of sweat on Lin Xu's forehead and immediately raised her hand to stop Aunt Guo, who wanted to step forward to check on him, while coldly ordering:
"Be patient, don't touch her. Go and summon the physician from the Qi family!"
...
Lin Xu was taken to a side hall next to the main hall.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw a wisp of incense rising from a four-legged incense burner beside the bed, and the gauze curtains swaying gently. Beside her were Zhu Ling's exceptionally red and swollen eyes.
She woke up... her child...
Lin Xu suddenly jolted awake, and immediately reached out to touch her lower abdomen—
She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally touched her still prominently protruding belly. Thank goodness, her baby was still there.
Zhu Ling rushed forward, her face full of worry:
"Madam...you frightened me so much today! Thankfully, the baby in your womb is alright...otherwise, what would I have done..."
She then realized that she was reclining on a soft couch, not in the familiar courtyard, but in a side hall of a courtyard used for entertaining guests within the mansion. The hall was completely silent, clearly indicating that only she and Zhuling were inside.
"...Where is the physician from the Qi family? Has he taken my pulse?"
Zhu Ling nodded hurriedly.
"When you fainted, everyone was frightened and in a panic. Physician Qi rushed over to take your pulse. Fortunately, he said it was because you caught a cold in winter and your qi and blood were weak. Now you were suddenly frightened, which caused the baby to move. He gave you a slice of ginger to suck on and a bowl of herbal soup. You gradually regained your color."
Zhu Ling helped Lin Xu sit up and placed two large cushions behind her back to make her more comfortable.
"Thanks to the timely arrival of Physician Qi, he said that if you hadn't received timely treatment, you would have suffered from premature labor! At that time, things would probably have gotten much more out of control."
Lin Xu clutched her stomach, feeling as if she had escaped a calamity. If it weren't for the excruciating pain in her abdomen, given the demeanor of Madam Bai and Aunt Guo, who knows what they might have done to her! In a way, it was the fetus in her womb that had saved her life in a moment of panic!
She lowered her eyes. "Where is Bai Shi?"
"The old lady and Concubine Guo were both startled when they saw you suddenly faint. The old lady, however, remained calm and immediately summoned Physician Qi. Two major incidents have occurred in the manor today, and Physician Qi rushed over without even unloading his medicine chest..."
Lin Xu suddenly recalled the scene she had witnessed. Yesterday, Mu Wenjun had been bright-eyed and full of intelligence, but now she lay on the bed, looking pale and bloodless. Her heart couldn't help but leap into her throat again.
"Where is Aunt Mu...?"
Zhu Ling shook her head with regret in her eyes.
"After several bowls of detoxifying and blood-stasis-removing medicine, Aunt Mu still hasn't woken up. Judging from what the Qi family physician said, it seems unlikely that she will recover..."
Lin Xu clutched the corner of the blanket, feeling a deep sense of loss. She couldn't bear to have missed the best opportunity, nor could she forgive herself for letting a vibrant life hang in the balance due to her hesitation and negligence... She was even filled with regret for having spent the whole night thinking about it.
If she hadn't delayed that night, would Mu Wenjun have been spared the harm?
She sighed deeply, ignoring the throbbing pain in her heart caused by a mix of emotions, and with a somber expression, instructed Zhu Ling:
"Have Rongwei invite the two imperial physicians from Princess Kunrou's residence. Although the Qi family's doctors are skilled, they are not immune to the Bai family's favors, so we cannot be careless."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Help me go to the palace to see someone else. The sooner the better, set off immediately."
Zhu Ling nodded in agreement. Just as she was about to turn around, she looked at Lin Xu with some doubt, "Where is Second Master? You've had such a big incident, should I go and invite Second Master back?"
Dou Yanxun… Just hearing his name now made Lin Xu feel a sudden sinking feeling in her heart. She had made all the preparations, yet now she was caught in an even more difficult situation. However, there was no time to explain to him now…
Thinking this, Lin Xu's voice was cold and clear, like ice floes floating on a winter stream. "It's too late. Go now. Remember, you and Rong Wei shouldn't attract attention, and try to choose secluded routes."
Zhu Ling didn't dare to delay, so she hurriedly nodded and left.
After the hall returned to calm, Lin Xu looked at the almost completely burned incense ash in the incense burner, now covered with ashes. Following the light, he could barely make out the shadowy figures outside the carved window. They were most likely sent by the Bai family to monitor his every move.
She is now like a trapped beast, under house arrest by the Bai family in this remote palace.
Lin Xu lowered her head and gently stroked her belly. As if sensing her call, her belly moved slightly, as if the fetus inside was greeting her. Lin Xu tried to hide the tears in her eyes and whispered, "...Wait a little longer. My child."
...
"Squeak—"
The two maids guarding the entrance to the side hall looked up at the sound.
But then the side hall door was slowly pushed open, and standing in front of it was the second wife, Lin Xu, whose face was pale and whose body was swaying.
The two maids were young and usually worked for Fuzhen. They had just received Fuzhen's instructions not to let Lin Xu step out of the bedroom under any circumstances. Seeing this scene, they couldn't help but panic.
"Second Madam, why are you up? Is there anything you need?"
Lin Xu opened his mouth weakly, and he had to lean against the door frame to barely stand.
"I'm starving and have no strength left. Why hasn't Zhuling returned yet?"
The youngest maid, with her hair in two buns and a sallow complexion, stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Sister Zhuling just went out. If you have any instructions, Second Madam, please just tell me." Another maid said at this moment, "That's right, if you are hungry, I will go to the kitchen to serve you a meal."
The detached courtyard has always had its own small kitchen, and for many years Lin Xu and the others have not interfered with the main courtyard's meals. However, now that she is in the east wing, she has to go to the main kitchen to have her meals served.
"...Nothing else is needed. As is customary today, we should use snow lotus seed and fish maw soup. Just this dish will suffice."
The two maids looked at each other in bewilderment. Everyone knew that snow lotus seeds were extremely rare and precious, and that they had the effect of promoting blood circulation and nourishing the fetus. However, even someone as noble as Madam Bai in the mansion rarely used snow lotus seeds to make soup. The mansion was filled with tonics, but even if they searched the entire storeroom, they probably wouldn't be able to find more than a few of these rare snow lotus seeds. Lin Xu wasn't hungry at all; he was clearly trying to make things difficult for them from the very first word!
A young girl with slanted eyes, her gaze wary, still tried her best to speak softly to Lin Xu:
"Since the Second Madam is pregnant, she should take good care of herself. It would be perfectly acceptable to prepare anything, but since you just took some medicine today, Ru Bi thinks that you should eat a light diet, which would be better for your health."
Lin Xu shook his head weakly, but his eyes still held a hint of authority.
"...Throughout this pregnancy, the imperial physicians have prescribed the remedies, and the kitchen in the villa has prepared the food. I'm not used to many other things. Princess Kunrou specifically instructed that the diet must not be changed for the sake of the pregnancy. Just now, the physician from the Qi family said that my blood and qi are currently stagnant. Are we going to make an exception today?"
The two girls looked at each other, both at a loss for what to do.
Lin Xu, supporting her belly with one hand, could barely stand.
At her waist, besides a sapphire blue sachet, hung a gold-plated token made of sandalwood, with the words "Duan He" clearly engraved on it.
Naturally, it was a token that allowed free entry and exit from the Princess's residence.
The young maid with her hair in two buns couldn't bear to see this, especially since Fuzhen hadn't explained why Lin Xu was trapped there, leaving them to rely on their instincts. Lin Xu was now of high status, and if anything happened to her, their lives would likely be in danger.
The little maid with slanted eyes was about to stop her, but she gently shook her head and then curtsied to Lin Xu, saying, "I understand, I will go and prepare it for you."
After saying that, he turned and left in a hurry.
Only the girl with slanted eyes remained at the door. She clearly disagreed with her companion's actions and turned around to look at Lin Xu warily from head to toe.
Lin Xu lowered her eyes and gently turned the ruby ring on her finger.
This is a gift from Kunrou to the most clever and intelligent woman in the world.
At the same time, her wide sleeves flew swiftly to the side, catching the little girl standing still completely off guard.
Before she could see clearly or dodge, everything went black, and her body went limp, causing her to fall to the ground.
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