Chapter 135: Protecting the Child
"So what if it leaves a scar?"
Bai Qingyi said calmly, "It's just a shell. What's important is to live, to live better than those who want you dead."
Xiaotao's hand paused, and a chill ran from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
Xiao Tao's voice was filled with tears: "Auntie, do we really have to do that? It's a life after all. What if we are discovered..."
Bai Qingyi suddenly opened her eyes and turned to look at Xiaotao, which frightened Xiaotao so much that she fell silent instantly and knelt on the ground with a pale face.
"A life? When Jiang Ruyi tortured me and wanted to kill me, did she ever think about whether I was a life?"
"Xiao Tao, remember, in this deep courtyard, it's either you or me. If we are too soft-hearted, we will be the ones to die!"
She looked at Xiao Tao trembling with fear and slowed down her tone slightly:
"I rescued you from the clutches of a human trafficker. Your parents and your brother are still living in the countryside, relying on the money I send them every month."
"Xiao Tao, we are all on the same boat. If the boat capsizes, no one will survive. Only by doing what I say can we survive and find a way out."
"When I become the mistress of this mansion in the future, you will be my most capable maidservant. I will also take good care of your family. Otherwise..."
Xiaotao shuddered suddenly.
She nodded vigorously, her voice trembling with determination: "I understand. I will listen to you, Auntie. I will be careful and will not let anyone find out."
Bai Qingyi then closed her eyes again with satisfaction, her voice returning to its previous calmness: "Well, continue applying the medicine."
Xiaotao continued to apply the ointment with trembling hands.
Songhe Hall.
The old lady of Anping was leaning against the thickly cushioned kang, twisting a string of Buddhist beads in her hand and closing her eyes to rest.
In just a few months, she now has a plump face and looks well-maintained, but there is a lingering trace of sadness and calculation between her brows.
Madam Zhou, the trusted nanny, tiptoed in and whispered, "Old Madam, the mistress over at Ningxiang Garden got angry again today. She made Concubine Bai kneel for two hours and even whipped her."
The old lady paused slightly while twisting her Buddhist beads, her brows furrowed, and her tone was filled with dissatisfaction:
"How could Ruyi be so impatient? Pregnant women should avoid getting angry. That Bai is just a lowly concubine who is not worthy of being on the stage. Is she worthy of getting so angry? What if she gets pregnant?"
Mother Zhou said quickly, "Madam is also angry at the Bai family's seductive tricks. However, I see that Madam looks good after taking the pregnancy-maintaining medicine, so she should be fine. It's just that the wound on Madam Bai's back..."
"snort!"
The old lady snorted coldly, a trace of sarcasm flashed in her eyes, "What's the big deal about a few beatings on a lowly servant girl who has thick skin and flesh?"
As long as it doesn't hurt her face and doesn't hinder her from serving me in the future, let Ruru do whatever she wants. Out of sight, out of mind."
In her eyes, Bai Qingyi was just a toy, a tool to tie her son down.
As long as the grandson in Jiang Ruyi's belly is fine, she doesn't really care whether Bai Qingyi is dead or alive.
"What the old lady said is true. You love Madam the most. When Madam said she didn't like Qingyi Courtyard, you renovated Ningxiang Courtyard so that Madam and her unborn child could live comfortably."
Mother Zhou quickly agreed, then lowered her voice.
"It's just that the Madam's pregnancy is not going well. The Imperial Physician says the fetus seems to be a little larger than usual, and the Madam herself has been complaining of back pain and difficulty breathing."
The old lady was not worried at all when she heard this. Instead, her cloudy old eyes lit up and a hint of joy appeared on her face:
"It's good that he's a little bigger. It means my grandson is growing strong and healthy. He's a blessed one. What's the big deal about a little pain? Giving birth is always painful for women."
"Tell the imperial physician to use the best medicine and make sure my grandson is raised to be plump and healthy. If anything happens during Ruyi's birth, remember to tell the midwife to protect the child. No matter what, the legitimate grandson of the Anping Marquis's mansion must not be lost."
"Yes, I've made note of it."
Mother Zhou's heart trembled, and she quickly responded.
She knew that in the old lady's heart, the importance of her daughter-in-law Jiang Ruyi was far less than that of the unborn grandson in her belly.
Meanwhile, in the front yard study.
There was an account book spread out in front of Xun Chenyin, but he couldn't read a single word.
The rumors outside made him shudder with fear.
The big tree he depended on fell down, and the sky in the capital also changed.
Behind all these changes, there always seems to be a familiar figure looming.
He closed the account book irritably, stood up, walked to the window and opened it, letting the cold wind flow in and blow away the depression in his heart.
The next day.
A bitter smell filled the narrow corner of the kitchen.
Xiao Tao quickly glanced around and confirmed that there was no one around before she reached her hand tremblingly into the depths of her sleeve pocket and took out a small oil-paper bag.
When the paper package was unfolded, there was some almost odorless gray-white powder inside.
She held her breath, but her wrists were shaking violently, and the powder fell down, most of it scattered on the edge of the stove, and only a small part fell into the swirling brown medicine juice.
Xiao Tao's heart was beating like a drum. She hurriedly stirred it with her fingers a few times. The scalding hot medicine made her pull her hand back, and her fingertips instantly turned red.
She ignored the pain and hurriedly turned down the fire, then wiped off the marks on the stove with a rag.
Only when she could see nothing unusual did Xiao Tao lean against the wall exhausted, gasping for breath.
"Is the medicine ready?"
A servant girl poked her head in and looked at Xiaotao's pale face and the cold sweat on her forehead suspiciously.
"Why are you so horrible? Be careful, Madam's pregnancy-preserving medicine cannot be taken lightly!"
"Alright, alright, Mammy, that's all!"
Xiao Tao stood up straight suddenly, hurriedly found a sky-blue porcelain bowl, scooped a full bowl of medicine, held it in both hands, and walked towards the main room with unsteady steps.
Jiang Ruyi was leaning on the chaise longue, and two maids were kneeling in front of the couch, carefully kneading her swollen calves.
"Madam, the pregnancy-maintaining medicine is here."
Xiao Tao's voice was as thin as a mosquito. She raised the medicine bowl above her head and knelt down.
Jiang Ruyi lazily raised her eyelids, glanced at the bowl of medicine, and then wrinkled her nose in disgust:
"It's that bitter water again! It makes me sick just by smelling it. Just pour it away!"
She waved irritably.
The maidservant standing beside her hurried forward and said with a flattering smile:
"Madam, the imperial physician has repeatedly warned us that this medicine must be taken on time every day so that the young master can grow stronger and healthier.
The old lady is also thinking about it every day, saying that the young master is so successful in your belly, all thanks to her, so you must not stop taking this medicine."
Jiang Ruyi stared at the bowl of medicine for a long while before reluctantly reaching out her hand. "Give it to me. Are you deliberately trying to piss me off by dilly-dallying? You bunch of useless people."
She grabbed the medicine bowl, almost pinched her nose, and drank it in one breath, then wiped it fiercely with a handkerchief in disgust.
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