Less than three months? Yuan Xiqing was somewhat bewildered.
She clearly remembered that she hadn't had her period for three months. Could she have remembered it wrong?
Watching Doctor Du pack his medicine box, Yuan Xiqing really wanted to ask if he had made a mistake in his diagnosis.
"Xiao Liu, please invite Doctor Du to the kitchen for a meal before you leave. Also, please take fifty taels of silver from the accounting office as a token of our gratitude."
Ji Meiniang made the final decision, and Xiao Liu glanced at Cao Xinqian before accepting the order and leaving.
With the birth of an heir, the matriarch of the Cao family was overjoyed and naturally wanted everyone to know. As a result, all the servants in the mansion received a reward.
Even Cao Xinqian glanced at Ji Meiniang several times, wondering what she was really up to with such a big change in attitude.
Ji Meiniang didn't keep him waiting too long. She smiled and said, "Master, why didn't you let us know earlier about such a joyous occasion? Xiqing will give birth to a boy, and I, as her stepmother, will have a son. How could I not be happy? From now on, you can't keep it a secret like this, or you'll only cause Xiqing to suffer."
Cao Xinqian felt as if he had swallowed a fly. He had done so much to act first and report later, leaving Ji Meiniang no chance to back out. Now, things had gone so smoothly, making him appear petty and allowing Ji Meiniang to scold him.
Logically, Yuan Xiqing should be the happiest person in this situation. However, she seemed somewhat panicked and at a loss.
"Father, Mother, now that Aunt is pregnant, let's not waste any more time. Mother, please drink Aunt's tea quickly, so that the baby in Aunt's belly doesn't go hungry."
And you absolutely must not let it fall.
The tea ceremony and the exchange of gifts went smoothly. Ji Meiniang even gave Cao Ruwan a jade bracelet. As her older sister, Xiang Wan naturally wanted to prepare a gift for her as well.
At this moment, Cao Ruwan still retained the naivety of a young girl, the restraint of meeting strangers for the first time. Her oval face was unadorned, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, moist and expectant, filled with joy and a subtle glimmer. Compared to her later self, the current Cao Ruwan was not yet so calculating.
Xiang Wan had her maid Zijuan bring over a jade headdress and opened it in front of Cao Ruwan. "Sister, this is a headdress custom-made by Shunbaozhai. The style is relatively novel. I don't wear it often, so I don't know if you like it."
What girl doesn't love jewelry? Cao Ruwan touched it for a while before reluctantly saying, "This, this is too precious, I can't accept it."
"Don't you like it? I have several other sets over there, how about I bring them over for you to choose from?"
"I……"
"Ruwan, this is her heartfelt gift, please accept it."
Seeing Cao Ruwan clearly delighted but trying to suppress her feelings of reluctance, Cao Xinqian felt a pang of sympathy.
After his persuasion, Cao Ruwan finally accepted it.
These matters caused a delay, so lunch was eaten rather late. Xiang Wan was already ill, so it wasn't inappropriate for her to leave early.
Before Doctor Du left, he was invited to the west courtyard to take Xiang Wan's pulse.
"Miss has caught a chill and needs to be warmed up. Please continue taking the prescription I gave you."
After Du Langzhong finished speaking, he got up, picked up his medicine box, and was about to leave when Xiang Wan stopped him.
"Doctor, aren't you going to ask me why I had Zijuan come to you?"
"It did not violate medical ethics, nor did it commit any heinous crimes, so I will not ask any further questions."
"Then please, Dr. Du, do everything you can to save that child."
Du Wei, who was nearing middle age, looked at Xiang Wan, who had a youthful face, pondered for a moment, and slowly nodded.
He had seen plenty of the shady dealings of wealthy and powerful families. Because they refused to do anything immoral, those who sought his medical help were usually ordinary people. This morning, it was only because of the urgency that the Cao family had sought him out, as he was the nearest doctor.
It was just a fall into the water, nothing serious. But as soon as he returned to the clinic, the maid who had invited him earlier arrived, saying only one sentence, "A life is at stake, the closer the better," before he was taken back to the Cao residence.
It concerned a young life; he couldn't stand idly by. Especially Madam Cao's subsequent actions further confirmed his suspicions. He didn't want to get involved in right and wrong; he only wanted to save the life.
Xiang Wan smiled; it seemed she hadn't chosen the wrong person.
After instructing Zijuan to escort him out of the manor, Xiang Wan returned to her room and began to regulate her breathing, using the Frost Technique to mobilize the cold energy within her body and transform it into cultivation power.
In this life, she has no intention of revealing her various skills unless it is a matter of life and death.
The original owner's wish was to live a peaceful life with Ji Meiniang, far away from all the trouble and turmoil. On her deathbed, she realized that ambition and hypocritical love were less important than providing for her mother's peaceful life. But she forgot that to live a peaceful and smooth life, all these demons and monsters had to be sent to where they belonged. When caught in the middle of a situation, one is often powerless; only by truly becoming strong can one face any storm without fear.
Ji Meiniang is a mother who wholeheartedly cares for her daughter, so how could Xiang Wan not care for her as well? By using the rules of this world and standing at the highest point, one can avoid worrying about any suspicious glances.
Yuan Xiqing was assigned to the Bamboo Garden in the east, while Cao Ruwan lived in the Orchid Pavilion next door, just like in her previous life. Xiang Wan's Plum Garden was personally arranged by Ji Meiniang, with plum blossom sculptures everywhere, even on the screens.
The next day, Xiang Wan asked Ji Meiniang to accompany her to the peach grove for a stroll. Seeing that Ji Meiniang looked somewhat haggard, Xiang Wan jokingly asked her, "Since you love plum blossoms so much, why don't you plant a whole yard full of plum trees?" Ji Meiniang's expression faltered for a moment, then she replied, "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold—how poetic! But who knows how much effort it takes to bloom for that fleeting moment? The fragrance amidst the cold is most intoxicating, but also most solitary. Planting peach trees would be much better; you can enjoy the blossoms in spring and the fruit in autumn—a win-win situation."
In ancient times, after marriage, a woman's joys and sorrows were all tied to one man. Truly devoted husbands who were willing to stay by their wives' side were few and far between. They spent their entire lives in the confines of their mansions, enduring their heartache and bitterness alone—how tragic!
If Ji Meiniang were alive today, it would be quite common for her to be unmarried.
“Mother, Father has made up his mind about Aunt Yuan’s marriage. If you still have any hope for Father, I can help you win him back. If not, why not…”
"Why are you saying such things, young lady? What kind of behavior would it be if someone heard you?"
Ji Meiniang looked around and then covered Xiang Wan's mouth.
Xiang Wan looked at her, but ultimately said nothing more.
Cao Xinqian was not her good man. He abandoned his wife and daughter in his previous life. Although Xiang Wan interrupted her scheming in this life, Ji Meiniang still did not have the courage to leave the Cao family.
It's time to let Ji Meiniang see Cao Xinqian's true colors for what they are.
Her delicate face smiled freely amidst the peach blossoms. Looking at Xiang Wan like this, all the pent-up frustration in Ji Meiniang seemed to vanish in an instant.
Life is so beautiful, we shouldn't let irrelevant people ruin our mood.
So Ji Meiniang and Xiang Wan strolled through the peach grove together. When they saw peaches with petals covering the branches, they picked them and took them back to put in vases.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
