When the eldest princess left, she was filled with worry. Ling Yunzhou, who remained in the manor, also looked worried. The eldest princess said she would keep it a secret and go to find a famous doctor, which made Ling Yunzhou feel like he had shot himself in the foot.
"General, are we still going over there?" Zhao Guangliang stepped forward and asked.
"Which way?" Ling Yunzhou didn't react for a moment.
"It's the Second Young Master's side," Zhao Guangliang reminded him.
"Go, go right now!" Ling Yunzhou also wanted something else to distract him; if he said he couldn't do it, he'd almost believe it himself.
Zhou Xiaoyun and Ling Dapeng temporarily ceased their fighting. Looking at the baby's face in swaddling clothes, the two of them both smiled, a rare occurrence.
"Master, Madam, a guest has arrived, it's...it's General Ling," Aunt Liu whispered as she came to inform them.
"Dad's here?" Ling Dapeng was startled. "Xiaoyun, I'll go see him."
"I want to go too!" Zhou Xiaoyun said. "Aunt Liu, you keep an eye on the young master. Dapeng, I want to tell Dad about what Shishi did!"
Ling Dapeng's face was somewhat bitter. Wasn't this still unresolved? But he hadn't argued with Zhou Xiaoyun for a rare time, and he didn't want to start another argument at this moment.
When Ling Yunzhou saw his son and daughter-in-law, he didn't show much emotion. He simply said calmly and politely, "This is for your youngest son. It's like I've gained another grandson." After he finished speaking, Zhao Guangliang had someone bring in a load of things, including rice, eggs, cloth, and some silver.
Ling Dapeng's eyes widened at the sight of this load of goods; with these, his family wouldn't have to spend any money for a long time.
"Father, you must stand up for me!" Zhou Xiaoyun glanced at him, certain that Ling Yunzhou cared about his youngest son, and immediately said with a wronged expression.
"Xiaoyun, don't do this," Ling Dapeng said in a low voice.
"What is it?" Ling Yunzhou asked.
"Dad, the baby was born prematurely because I was drugged. The drug made me greedy and I kept taking it. If the doctor hadn't found out the problem later, I would have gained even more weight, and the baby would have been too big to be born. In that case, it would have been a tragedy for both of us!"
Ling Yunzhou frowned. What was going on?
"Zhou Xiaoyun, are you telling the truth or just what you think?"
“I have doctors who can testify that I was overweight before because someone drugged me,” Zhou Xiaoyun said confidently. “And it wasn’t just one doctor.”
“Father, we can’t be sure that Shishi did it to Xiaoyun. Mother said that I should stay with Xiaoyun this month. After we go to the estate, she will help me find out the truth,” Ling Dapeng said. “Father, I know Xiaoyun is suffering, but… at least let’s wait a month!”
Tao Wanniang knew about this too? Since Tao Wanniang said she would take care of it, why should he interfere?
"You two should focus on living your lives properly. What's your grandson's name?" Ling Yunzhou asked casually.
"It doesn't have a name yet, Dad, can you give it to us?"
Ling Yunzhou is really not good at naming things; his eldest son is named Ling Dahu, which was his own choice.
"Um... go find your mother. I'm just a rough man, I can't come up with a good name," Ling Yunzhou said awkwardly. "If there's nothing else, I'll go back now. Your father is also recovering from serious injuries."
"Father, wait a minute." Zhou Xiaoyun called out to Ling Yunzhou, who was about to leave. "Father, can Zhi'er come back and see my little brother?"
“Okay, I’ll have someone accompany you later.” Ling Yunzhou thought for a moment and replied, “But now you have another son, and it will be difficult for you to raise him. It’s better to keep him at the General’s Mansion.”
Zhou Xiaoyun recalled the scene when she last saw the child, and her nose tingled with emotion. The child was dressed neatly, with a rosy complexion and bright eyes. He looked like a young master from a wealthy family, and was indeed better raised than he had been with her.
"I'll do whatever Father decides!" Zhou Xiaoyun said sadly.
Ling Dapeng didn't not want his son, but he was a rough and uncultured man who felt that raising children wasn't a man's job and that it was better if someone else took care of them. Anyway, his son was still his.
"Father, take care!" Ling Dapeng saw the person out, and when he came back, he saw that Zhou Xiaoyun had put away all the silver.
"Xiaoyun, how much is it?" Ling Dapeng couldn't help but step forward and ask.
"One hundred taels, but don't even think about it. Keep all the money with me, Ling Dapeng. Once this money is in your hands, it will most likely end up in that little bitch's pocket," Zhou Xiaoyun said angrily.
Ling Dapeng scratched his head and muttered, "Isn't all the money in the house with you? When did I take it?" Shishi was good in this respect. Shishi said that a man should always have some money in his hands. Ling Dapeng thought of Shishi again.
Zhou Xiaoyun glared at Ling Dapeng, and then called Cao'er to put the rest into the storeroom. She had gained quite a lot from giving birth to the child.
Tao Wanniang was indeed quiet for quite some time, and the desserts at Zhaixinglou became increasingly popular, keeping Liu Yueniang very busy.
"Lu Neng, Manager Tao, please find me an apprentice. I already mentioned this before, but I'm really too busy right now." Liu Yueniang didn't know that the taro balls would be so popular as soon as they were introduced. And the mung bean milk shaved ice is simply a customer favorite.
"Isn't it true that your Liu family's skills are not passed on to outsiders? Is this apprentice going to join your Liu family?" Lu Neng said, as he knew a lot about the Liu family's affairs.
"No, these dessert recipes were all given by Manager Tao. If Manager Tao doesn't mind, why should I?" Liu Yueniang said with a smile. "You can just hire a quick and efficient young lady. Girls tend to prefer these pastries and desserts."
"Manager Lu, are you sure you can handle this?" Tao Wanniang looked at Lu Neng; she had no objections.
"Okay, I'll show you later." Lu Neng agreed when Tao Wanniang relented.
The day before Ling Dapeng was supposed to return to the manor, Tao Wanniang took advantage of the midday break to take Ling Dahu and Wang Hongyu to visit him.
"Mother, I'm going to the estate tomorrow. Have someone take me there," Ling Dapeng said. "What exactly is this method you're talking about?"
"Just say that Xiaoyun didn't give birth because the baby was too big, resulting in the death of both mother and child," Tao Wanniang said. "Also, tell Shishi that the doctor felt Xiaoyun's pulse was off before delivery, and her appetite seemed to be forced open by something." Tao Wanniang spoke to Ling Dapeng in detail, and seeing Ling Dapeng's blank expression, she couldn't help but slap her head.
"Do you understand?" Tao Wanniang asked doubtfully.
“Mother, of course I understand, but Shishi isn’t stupid. She has connections in the capital. She can just ask around and find out,” Ling Dapeng said.
"Xiaoyun, bring the child and stay with me for a month. Also, bring Cao'er and Aunt Liu along. As for the chickens and ducks here, just have someone come back and feed them every day. Just don't let it slip," Tao Wanniang instructed.
Zhou Xiaoyun was overjoyed. Tao Wanniang was willing to help her, which was her greatest support!
"Mother, thank you, Ling Dapeng. You must find out what's wrong with that little slut. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I will!" Zhou Xiaoyun said viciously.
"Also, make it more convincing. Say that Xiaoyun and the child are gone, and that your parents are disappointed in you and want you to stay in the village forever and never come back. Ling Dapeng, if you can't even handle this little thing, you really shouldn't come back!" Tao Wanniang said very seriously.
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