Gu Yunrui frowned, “Why?”
Su Xiyue bit her pearly white teeth, speaking with grievance, “If she loses this child, you’ll have to give her another one later. Will your heart then lean toward her and her child?”
Seeing her jealousy, Gu Yunrui felt sweet inside instead. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
“Xiyue, you’re overthinking. I’ve done so much for you—of course you’re the one I care about most. As for Qingwan, she still needs to have a child, otherwise we can’t keep her tied to Hou Manor. This involves some court matters I can’t fully explain yet, but just remember everything I do is for our future. Moreover, your status might not just stop at being Hou manor’s head wife.”
Su Xiyue’s eyes lit up at this.
Beyond a marquis’ household—could it be a duke’s residence, or even a princely title?
Thinking this, Su Xiyue beamed with joy, pressing her face against Gu Yunrui’s chest as she said softly, “Yes, I’ll follow your lead in everything.”
But inwardly she thought: if Gu Yunrui keeps rising higher, Su Qingwan absolutely must not have any more children!
What if Su Qingwan’s child competes for favor with hers someday?
However, remembering Su Qingwan was already pregnant made Su Xiyue anxious. She immediately took Gu Yunrui’s hand and led him toward the bed…
During their intimacy, both husband and wife were thinking the same thing: how to target the child in Su Qingwan’s womb!
**
News of what happened in the main courtyard reached Su Qingwan’s ears.
Qinxin recounted everything with animated expressions.
“Miss, you should’ve seen it—when Second Young Master heard he couldn’t inherit the peerage, his face turned dark. He nearly confronted Lord Marquis but got scolded instead. Third Young Lady was also reprimanded by Marquis’ Wife and cried pitifully, but they deserved it!”
Su Qingwan lowered her gaze, quietly drinking the bitter fetus-protecting medicine. “We can stop administering the medicine to Su Xiyue now.”
Qinxin: “Yes. But Miss, after Third Young Lady gets pregnant, won’t she grow even more jealous of the child in your womb? After all, your child is the eldest grandson of the primary wife in this Hou Manor.”
Su Qingwan chuckled lightly, “It’s not just in the future—they already fear this child and are plotting against it now.”
Qinxin looked worried, “Ah, then aren’t you in great danger?”
Su Qingwan: “The danger for me and the Su family began the moment they schemed against me on our wedding night. Don’t be afraid—we’ll cross each bridge as we come to it. For now, let everyone know I’m carrying a posthumous child.”
Let all know the child in her womb blocks the Second Branch of the Marquis House’s path. If any “accident” occurs later, the second branch won’t be able to avoid suspicion.
This was an open plot Gu Yunrui and the others couldn’t evade!
Su Qingwan: “Invite Mother here tomorrow. With my pregnancy causing discomfort, visiting my mother is perfectly justified.”
Sure enough, upon learning her daughter was pregnant, Baishi immediately rushed over.
Holding her daughter’s hands with tearful eyes, she said with mixed emotions, “I’ve been constantly worried about you suffering in Hou Manor. Your Father told me to be patient, saying we’d bring you home after investigating the situation. But now that you’re with child… will you still be able to leave?”
Su Qingwan lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes resting on her still-flat abdomen.
“For now, we’ll take one step at a time. Any news from Father?”
Baishi: “Your father has discovered that there are no more than three people who could serve as the Hou Manor’s backer with such great capability. One is the Crown Prince born of the late Empress, another is your maternal cousin the Seventh Prince from your Guifei aunt’s family, and the last is the current Emperor’s younger brother, Prince Duan. But as for exactly who it is, your father and the others haven’t been able to determine yet—Gu Yunrui is extremely cautious.”
Su Qingwan’s fingers paused slightly, “He has always been like this, acting with utmost caution. But regardless of who it is, this proves he has already joined the struggle for the throne!”
Baishi’s expression was complicated, “The Su Family has a strict rule against participating in imperial succession disputes or taking sides. Although the Seventh Prince is my own nephew, I made this clear to Guifei long ago. The reason we arranged your engagement with the Zhongyong Hou Estate’s Shizi was precisely because we valued the Zhongyong Hou’s reputation as a pure minister. But who would have thought…”
It now appeared that Gu Yunrui had no intention of remaining just a pure minister—his ambitions were vast.
Su Qingwan sneered, “Gu Yunrui’s ambitions are indeed grand, because he wants everything.”
In household matters, he desired the charming Su Xiyue, yet couldn’t bear to give up the advantages brought by her, the Eldest Daughter of the Su Family. In court affairs, he was unwilling to remain merely an appointed official as before.
Su Qingwan: “By the way, Mother, have Second Uncle and Second Aunt been behaving themselves lately?”
Baishi frowned, “Your second uncle has been promoted, and your second aunt has started wanting a share of the household management authority, but for now, your grandfather has suppressed it. Oh, they also mentioned that Xiyue would bring Gu Yunci back to the Su family in a couple of days to make up for the missed bridal return?”
Su Qingwan: “After learning about my pregnancy, Su Xiyue probably has no mood to return to the Su family to show off for now. If I later give birth to a son, the Lord Marquis intends to bestow the title of Shizi upon this child. So Su Xiyue and the others are likely discussing how to reclaim this Shizi position right now.”
Baishi immediately understood, her face full of worry, “Qingwan, would they dare to harm the child in your womb?”
Su Qingwan: “They will certainly try. I’ll pay extra attention to daily meals and drinks, and I’ll have people keep closer watch on those in Linglong Yuan. Mother, after you return, make sure everyone knows conspicuously that I’m carrying Gu Yunrui’s posthumous child. And make sure everyone understands that the child in my womb is blocking the Second Branch of the Gu Family’s path to inheriting the peerage. This way, they’ll hesitate to act rashly, fearing collateral damage.”
Baishi nodded, pulling her daughter into an embrace as she said sorrowfully, “My Qingwan is so wonderful, why couldn’t she have met a good man?”
Su Qingwan lowered her eyes, “Don’t worry, Mother. No matter when or where, your daughter won’t suffer losses, nor will I allow the Su Family to be implicated. Since the one I encountered isn’t a good man, then it’s better to let him go!”
Want to scheme against her and the Su Family? Not a chance.
After Baishi left the Zhongyong Hou Estate, she gradually began attending various banquets hosted by noblewomen in the capital. Before long, the entire capital knew that Su Qingwan was carrying the posthumous child of the deceased Shizi.
People discussed it everywhere.
“Speaking of the Eldest Daughter of the Su Family, the top among all young ladies in the capital—she suddenly became a widow, but Heaven hasn’t treated her poorly, giving her the deceased Shizi’s posthumous child.”
“Exactly, exactly. I heard the Lord Marquis originally intended to bestow the Shizi title upon his second son, but after learning about this, he stopped the petition for the Second Branch.”
“Oh heavens, won’t the second branch hate Su Qingwan to death? Don’t they want her to give birth to this child?”
“Shh, keep your voice down. Have you no regard for your life? But who can say for sure about matters in the Hou Manor? It’s truly pitiful for that Eldest Daughter of the Su Family.”
In the corner of the tavern’s second floor, Gu Yunci, wearing a bamboo hat and a black short jacket, nearly crushed the wine cup in his hand. Yet he held it for a long time without setting it down, as still as a stone statue.
Yun Qi, similarly dressed and sitting beside him, waved a hand in front of his eyes nervously. “Master, what’s wrong with you? You haven’t spoken for half an hour. I’m scared!”
Gu Yunci downed the strong liquor in his porcelain white cup in one gulp. A trace of tenderness flashed through his usually cold and indifferent eyes.
He had a child.
Moreover, it was a child carried by that perfect woman who resembled the bright moon in the sky.
But then, remembering that she might still not know he was the man from that night and that she deeply missed his ‘deceased’ elder brother in her heart, Gu Yunci felt a sharp pang of distress.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t return to the estate yet, nor could he tell her the truth, lest it ruin His Highness’s important plans.
Though he couldn’t personally reveal the truth to her, he would absolutely not allow anyone to harm her or their child!
With a clink, he set the cup down on the table. Gu Yunci stood up and strode outside. Yun Qi hastily tossed a few copper coins onto the table and hurried after him.
“Master, what are you going to do? Are you returning to the Hou Manor? His Highness said you can’t be alive right now!”
Gu Yunci’s mouth twitched. “Keep babbling and I’ll make you die first!”
Yun Qi: “…”
When they arrived at the entrance of the Zhongyong Hou Estate, they happened to see two carriages parked at the main gate. First, Gu Yunrui helped Su Xiyue into the second carriage. After a while, Su Qingwan, dressed in a lake-blue silk dress and a rabbit fur cloak, was assisted by her maid into the carriage.
She had grown noticeably thinner. Her already small, palm-sized face, combined with the oversized cloak, made her appear even more delicate and pitiable. Yet she carried herself with strength and composure, evoking both heartache and admiration.
Just as Su Qingwan lifted the curtain, she suddenly paused mid-step and turned to look across the street.
Qinxin asked curiously, “Mistress, what is it?”
Su Qingwan: “It’s nothing.”
She entered the carriage, let the curtain fall, and settled in, casually picking up the hand warmer beside her.
It was the end of January. Although the daytime sun was bright and warm, it was still quite cold, especially since Su Qingwan was now being very careful with her health.
Qinxin whispered, “Mistress, everything has been arranged. But this matter is dangerous after all. Are you really not going to change your mind?”
Su Qingwan lowered her eyes slightly. “They’ve been delaying their move, like a sword hanging over my head. So I have to give them an ‘opportunity’.”
Gu Yunrui wanted to reclaim the Shizi position. He surely wouldn’t be able to resist making a move against her.
As long as he acted, this matter would be considered a success for Su Qingwan.
If she was fortunate enough to protect the child, so be it. If she failed to protect the child, she could take the opportunity to propose a Heli. As long as Gu Yunrui didn’t want this matter to blow up, he wouldn’t dare use his previous threatening methods again.
Su Qingwan gently stroked her abdomen, a flicker of apology passing through her eyes.
Though she felt deeply sorry for the child, she had been forced into this situation with no other choice. If Gu Yunrui truly succeeded in seizing the inheritance and later failed, the Su family would be left with no place to bury their dead.
Despite her calm and rational planning, Su Qingwan’s eyes dimmed when she faintly heard laughter coming from the carriage behind hers.
The man who should have been her husband was now embracing another woman with affection, and together they were plotting against her…
Qinxin reached out to cover her ears, saying with heartache, “Mistress, let’s not listen to such vile things. They’ve committed heinous acts and will surely face retribution sooner or later!”
Su Qingwan nodded, her expression already restored to normal. “You’re right. They will face retribution sooner or later.”
What she needed to do was to extricate herself and the Su family from this situation before Gu Yunrui’s retribution arrived.
In the carriage behind, Su Xiyue excitedly threw her arms around Gu Yunrui’s neck. “Husband, do you think this will work? She’s almost four months along—a fall might not necessarily cause a miscarriage.”
Gu Yunrui: “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged for a physician as well. This will definitely succeed. After all, this is our only opportunity.”
Originally, he had planned to administer an abortifacient in Su Qingwan’s food.
But who could have expected that it would be impossible to carry out? In just a few months, Su Qingwan had managed Linglong Yuan so tightly it was like an iron barrel. All of Gu Yunrui’s former trusted servants had been transferred elsewhere by her.
While anxious, Gu Yunrui couldn’t help but admire that Su Qingwan was truly skilled at managing a household.
With no opportunity to act and rumors spreading throughout the city, Gu Yunrui knew he couldn’t let her miscarry within Hou Manor.
This trip back to the Su family together, meant to make up for the previously missed “bridal return,” might be his only chance to take action.
Qingwan, I’m sorry. Though I will destroy one of your children, I will give you another child that belongs to both of us in the future…
The Hou Manor carriage slowly made its way toward the Su residence.
When it turned a corner, it entered a particularly bustling street market.
Children were running and playing everywhere when one suddenly dashed in front of the lead Hou Manor carriage. The coachman hurriedly pulled on the reins.
“Whoa!”
The horse reared up from the sudden pull, causing the carriage to lose balance and crash to the ground with a loud rumble!
Hearing the loud noise from the following carriage, Gu Yunrui and Su Xiyue exchanged glances.
Had it worked?
Both were eager to find out and immediately disembarked to investigate. But when they arrived, they found only an empty overturned carriage—Su Qingwan and her maid had vanished without a trace. However, there were speckled bloodstains on the overturned cushions.
Seeing this, Su Xiyue’s lips curled into a triumphant smile. With bleeding already occurring, Su Qingwan’s unborn child was likely beyond saving!
But Gu Yunrui noticed that the people he had arranged were just arriving.
His heart sank as he turned and grabbed the bewildered coachman by the collar. “Where is the Heir’s Wife?”
The coachman shook his head. “She… she was taken away.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know.”
Gu Yunrui had previously arranged for people to take the fallen Su Qingwan to a nearby medical clinic, where they could ensure the child would be lost.
But now, she had disappeared into thin air?
At this moment, Su Qingwan was being carried horizontally in the arms of a masked man in black, who leaped across rooftops and walls. The howling wind in her ears disrupted the rhythm of her heartbeat.
Qinxin followed closely behind with guards in pursuit, maintaining a steady distance.
Everything had been proceeding according to Su Qingwan’s plan, and Gu Yunrui had taken action as she intended. But just as she was about to have Qinxin swiftly escort her to a familiar clinic, an unexpected obstacle emerged midway and abducted her.
Though her face was pale, Su Qingwan remained remarkably composed. She drew a golden hairpin and pressed it against the man’s neck.
“Release me!”