The House Physician hesitated for a moment. “It appears to be pregnancy.”
Ji Yan’s voice turned cold. “What do you mean, ‘appears’?”
Lady Ji also said, “Either she is or she isn’t. How can it be ‘appears’?”
Su Tanghuan said tearfully, “It’s all right. You’re the physician; just speak the truth.”
The House Physician had no choice but to explain, “Madam, Master, please allow me to explain. The pulse flows smoothly, like beads rolling on a plate—it is indeed a slippery pulse. It’s just not very distinct, which is common in early pregnancy. However, there are other possibilities as well.”
Su Tanghuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Her father ran a medicine shop at home. Although he never formally studied medicine, he taught himself for her mother’s illness.
Since childhood, she had loved following her father around, especially enjoying tending to medicinal herbs. She had also interacted with many physicians and naturally picked up some knowledge.
While bathing, she had guessed that Ji Yan would definitely have someone take her pulse to confirm the pregnancy.
She deliberately used very hot water for her bath, warming her body to create the appearance of abundant blood flow.
Earlier, she had intentionally cried bitterly, tensing and trembling her body to tighten the muscles in her wrist.
Coupled with the intimidation from her interaction with Lady Ji, it made it difficult for the House Physician to calm down and discern the details of her pulse. By disrupting his focus with emotion, she increased the likelihood of a misjudgment.
Ji Yan’s handsome sword-like eyebrows furrowed into a deep frown.
How dare this female swindler come to the Ji Residence flaunting a pregnancy, and even try to make his brother claim another man’s child?
How despicable!
Lady Ji was heartbroken. “House Physician, please prescribe some calming and pregnancy-stabilizing medicine for Huan’er. Let her rest properly for now.”
She couldn’t bear to see Ji Yan’s dark expression, which frightened the girl in her arms so much she didn’t dare lift her head. Angrily, she waved her hand to shoo him away.
“Go to the front hall to receive the mourning guests. Don’t just stand here scaring people.”
Lady Ji instructed the maids to take Su Tanghuan to the Eldest Young Master’s courtyard while she personally went to the kitchen to order some light porridge and simple dishes for Su Tanghuan.
Ji Yan had no choice but to watch helplessly as the female swindler succeeded.
His sword-like eyebrows furrowed so tightly they could crush a mosquito.
“Are you sure you didn’t misread it?”
The House Physician wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Of course, he couldn’t say he had misread it.
“At present, it appears to be a pregnancy pulse. However, a woman’s menstrual cycle can also cause deviations in the pulse, especially in the first two months. We can observe for another month or two, and then it will become clear.”
One or two months!
Was he supposed to let this female swindler continue her deception in the Ji Residence for one or two months?
His kind-hearted and soft mother would surely be fooled by this swindler!
Ji Yan glared coldly at him, wishing he could crack the House Physician’s skull open.
He suspected there was nothing but straw inside that head.
“Hah.”
He sneered coldly, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked out of the West Hall toward the front hall.
His trusted attendant, waiting at the door, followed him and heard his order: “Investigate this woman’s background immediately.”
“Yes.”
A servant hurried over. “Master, someone from Zheng Fu is here. They say they’ve lost a Cousin Miss and saw her enter our residence. They want to come in and search.”
Zheng Fu?
Cousin Miss?
A cold glint flashed in Ji Yan’s eyes.
The Zheng Fu next door had sent invitations several times, wanting to pay him a visit, but he had always found excuses to decline.
For his ‘elder brother’s’ funeral rites, he had not sent an invitation to Zheng Fu, so they naturally had no right to come and offer condolences.
Could it be that the Zheng Clan was looking for the female swindler?
The Xingyang Zheng Clan branch in Chang’an had always wanted to win him over. Could it be…
They deliberately staged a rescue incident to send this female swindler in as a spy?
Were they here to check if the female swindler had succeeded?
“Who is the visitor?”
“It’s the Steward of the Zheng Clan.”
A mere servant didn’t require his attention, but he could go and test the female swindler to see how she would react.
“Have him wait in the outer courtyard.”
He himself headed toward the inner courtyard.
Lady Ji felt her heart ache at the sight of the pitiful young girl: “Have something to eat first. After drinking the medicine, get a good night’s sleep.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Su Tanghuan finished all the porridge and side dishes that were brought to her, then picked up the medicine bowl and drank it all in one go, offering Lady Ji a shy smile.
See, how obedient the little girl is, truly endearing.
The more Lady Ji looked at the fair, delicate, and soft young girl, the more she liked her.
She particularly adored little girls, but unfortunately, she couldn’t bear any herself, and her two sons were unwilling to marry. Her old mother’s heart always felt like something was missing.
Now, at last, she had her little cotton-padded jacket.
Thinking of her ill-fated eldest son, who had no fortune to have more children with this delicate young bride, she felt a pang of sorrow.
Seeing Lady Ji’s eyes redden, Su Tanghuan quickly took hold of her wrist.
One hand quietly rested on her pulse as she said softly, “Mother, I’m not tired. I want to go to the front hall to kneel in mourning for Eldest Young Master, or at least keep you company.”
Lady Ji hurriedly shook her head: “That won’t do. You’re still pregnant and have been caught in the rain. Be good and listen to me. Rest well tonight, and you can visit the mourning hall tomorrow.”
Su Tanghuan had already finished checking Lady Ji’s pulse and withdrew her hand at the right moment.
She nodded obediently: “Your daughter-in-law will listen to you, Mother.”
“That’s right.”
Lady Ji was pleased: “Yuzhi is my personal senior maid. She’s sensible and attentive, and from now on, she’ll serve you. Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master have been in Nanjiang all along, so Hemingxuan doesn’t have many people—only a few rough maids for cleaning. I’ll have Yuzhi pick a few with good dispositions for you to choose from.”
Su Tanghuan was delighted.
Yuzhi was a maid who was easy to get along with.
“Thank you, Mother. Yuzhi is very good.”
Lady Ji chided: “We’re family now. Why say thank you?”
Turning her head, she instructed: “Yuzhi, I’ll have Yugui come over too. You pick two second-class maids to serve the eldest young mistress. As for the rough maids, go and take a look. Replace any who aren’t good, and be sure to select the best ones for the eldest young mistress to choose from.”
Yuzhi replied with a smile: “Yes, Madam.”
Outside the door, a servant’s voice announced Second Young Master.
It was Ji Yan.
Su Tanghuan instinctively tensed up.
Seeing her little face turn pale, Lady Ji quickly stood up: “You go to sleep. I’ll deal with this brat.”
Su Tanghuan also didn’t want to face Ji Yan, so she hurriedly stood up: “Mother, take care.”
Unexpectedly, Ji Yan had already lifted the door curtain and walked straight in. At a glance, he saw the female swindler’s trembling eyelashes and her flustered avoidance of his gaze.
Acting again?
His brows immediately furrowed.
Lady Ji waved her hand in front of his eyes, blocking his view: “No manners. This is your sister-in-law’s room.”
Ji Yan felt his anger flare up at the sight of the female swindler.
Suppressing his emotions, he supported his mother’s arm, but his eyes remained fixed on Su Tanghuan.
“Mother, I have something important to tell you and… sister-in-law.”
Su Tanghuan had intended to avoid him.
Her foot had just lifted when she froze awkwardly mid-step. Hearing his words, she had no choice but to lower her foot, turn around, and face Ji Yan properly, keeping her head down and not daring to meet his gaze.
Lady Ji looked at him strangely: “What important matter can’t wait until tomorrow?”
“It’s the chief steward from the neighboring Zheng Fu who has come.”
Su Tanghuan trembled uncontrollably at the mention of Zheng Fu.
They’ve caught up so quickly!
Her lashes fluttered, fingers tightly clasped inside her sleeves, her mind racing for a response as she strained to listen.
Ji Yan took in every one of her subtle movements.
Indeed, she was a spy from Zheng Fu!
Lady Ji was displeased: “Don’t scare her. Look at me when you speak. Why has Zheng Fu come?”
Ji Yan withdrew his gaze: “The Zheng Family claims they’ve lost a Cousin Miss, and the description of her clothing and appearance closely matches that of the deceiver… my sister-in-law, so they came to inquire.”
Lady Ji wore an incredulous expression: “How could that be? How could my daughter-in-law be the Cousin Miss lost from Zheng Fu? What is the name of their Cousin Miss?”
Ji Yan faltered.
He had been too lazy to meet with the people from Zheng Fu and too eager to test Su Tanghuan’s reaction, so naturally, he didn’t know.
Lady Ji’s face turned cold: “You don’t know anything, yet you come to suspect your sister-in-law. You’re not usually like this.”
Ji Yan cast a deep look at Su Tanghuan: “Sister-in-law, go out and meet them, and the truth will be revealed.”