Su Qingwan was stunned. She gently touched her flat abdomen, her delicate brows tightly furrowed.
“How could I be pregnant…”
Remembering that the mastermind behind this absurd marriage swap was actually Gu Yunrui, Su Qingwan felt waves of nausea.
“Urgh!”
After vomiting until she was utterly exhausted and finally feeling slightly better, Su Qingwan leaned against the soft pillow, her gaze gradually turning cold. “Who else knows about my pregnancy?”
Qiyi shook her head. “When this servant saw you about to faint at the doorway, I rushed over with Qinxin to support you. The Marquise wanted to call the estate physician, but the Second Young Master said… said you must be feigning illness deliberately, pretending to be pitiful, and that there was no need for a doctor… Later, we quickly helped you back. Only the two of us know; no one else is aware yet.”
Su Qingwan sneered. “Now that he’s masquerading as Gu Yunci, he’s become even more unrestrained. His eyes are only for Su Xiyue. No matter what I do, it’s wrong. But perhaps it’s for the best. Thanks to him, if Feng Shi had learned of my pregnancy, there would have been no way to terminate this child.”
Qiyi’s eyes widened in shock. “Miss, you… you want to terminate the child?”
Su Qingwan nodded. “This child cannot stay. If it remains, it will be nearly impossible for me to leave the Zhongyong Hou Estate. The more they try to stop me, the more determined I am to leave. The day after tomorrow is Gu Yunrui’s funeral. The Su family will surely send representatives then.”
They might delay me temporarily, but they cannot stop me forever.
If absolutely necessary, I could seek help from my aunt, the Guifei, in the palace.
However, thinking that this child in her womb was Gu Yunci’s posthumous child, Su Qingwan could only silently apologize to him in her heart.
As for whether Gu Yunci had known about entering the wrong room on their wedding night, it no longer mattered—he was already dead.
But Qiyi wore a complicated expression. “Miss, your menstrual cycles have been irregular these past two years. If you truly take an abortifacient, it will surely harm your health and might even affect your future fertility.”
Su Qingwan was stunned once more.
Before marriage, she had indeed cherished beautiful aspirations for her future life: mutual devotion with her husband, harmonious companionship, and several healthy, lively children. She would do her utmost to manage the household affairs well, be her husband’s virtuous helpmate, and serve as a safe harbor for their children.
But now, everything was in disarray…
“We’ll deal with the future when it comes. Let’s get through this immediate challenge first.” Su Qingwan took a deep breath. “Go summon Qinxin.”
“Yes.”
Shortly after, Qinxin entered. Her slapped cheek was somewhat red and swollen, but fortunately, she hadn’t sustained serious injuries.
As soon as she entered, she knelt before Su Qingwan. “This servant failed in her duty. Please punish me, Miss!”
Su Qingwan replied, “They’ve always been watching me closely. However, you must learn from this experience. From now on, in this Hou Manor, do not easily trust others. At the same time, remain discreet and try to win over some people.”
Qinxin quickly assented.
In the blink of an eye, the day of Gu Yunrui’s funeral arrived.
Su Qingwan had claimed illness these past two days, so all funeral arrangements fell back upon Feng Shi, with Gu Yunci assisting on the side. Because the Zhongyong Hou had limited mobility and was grieving the loss of his son, Gu Yunci had to attend to all the male guests.
Su Qingwan finally saw her mother, Baishi.
She had intended to speak of her experiences in the Hou Manor, but suddenly noticed her mother’s tightly knit brows and the deep worry in her eyes.
Su Qingwan: “Mother, what’s wrong with you?”
Baishi was a woman of gentle disposition. Clutching her handkerchief, her face was full of worry. “Ever since your husband fell in battle, I’ve been constantly concerned about you. And now recently, someone has impeached your father, accusing him of involvement in the Jiangnan tax silver case.”
Su Qingwan’s heart immediately sank. She had heard some rumors – this Jiangnan tax silver case involved many people.
No wonder Feng Shi and Gu Yunrui hadn’t come to trouble her recently. Could they have done something to her father behind the scenes?
But Gu Yunrui didn’t have such capability. There must be someone else behind him…
Seeing her daughter silent, Baishi quickly comforted her instead. “Wanwan, don’t worry about your father. If he didn’t do it, we have nothing to fear, just as an upright person fears no shadow. Besides, your grandfather is still here. But look at you – you’ve lost so much weight, it breaks my mother’s heart. And the Shizi, such a good man, gone just like that.”
Holding her mother’s warm hand, Su Qingwan’s heart felt icy cold.
In the end, she didn’t mention wanting a Heli (divorce), instead offering some comforting words in return.
After the mother and daughter talked for a while, Su Qingwan saw her mother to the main gate. Turning around, she saw Gu Yunci in his moon-white brocade robe.
No, or rather, it was her ‘wonderful’ husband Gu Yunrui!
A faint chill appeared in Su Qingwan’s eyes as she walked toward him. “Just now, my mother mentioned my father being impeached in connection with the Jiangnan tax silver case. Given that Second Brother has good sources in the Ministry of War, might you know which official is leading the impeachment?”
Su Qingwan asked as if inquiring about ordinary court matters, but her calm tone carried a barely detectable probe.
The smile on Gu Yunrui’s face froze for a moment before returning to normal. Seeing she had grown even thinner, dressed entirely in white with white pearl flowers in her hair bun, she appeared lonely and pitiable. Even with the white begonia embroidered cloak draped over her shoulders, it hung loose and empty.
A flicker of pity showed in his eyes. “Court affairs are complex. I don’t know who impeached Su Shangshu. But Qingwan, rest assured – Su Shangshu is upright and will surely prove his innocence.”
“Is that so? Second Brother, it’s improper for you to address me by my personal name. You should call me sister-in-law.”
Su Qingwan slightly nodded, saying no more as she stepped aside to make way. “Second Brother, please attend to your official duties. I’ll return to my courtyard now.”
How could Su Qingwan not understand everything now?
This matter was definitely Gu Yunrui’s doing. His previous pretense and current schemes were all meant to tie her, the Su family, and the Zhongyong Hou Estate together on the same boat.
Su Qingwan knew that obtaining a Heli would likely be difficult now. After all, she didn’t know what the people behind Gu Yunrui intended to do to the Su family, or whether they would fight to the death. Neither she nor the Su family could take that risk.
Waves of dizziness washed over her, and she felt like vomiting what she had eaten in the morning. Her body staggered slightly.
Gu Yunrui instinctively reached out to support her, but Su Qingwan quickly stepped half a pace back. She didn’t want even the edge of his clothing to touch her now.
Noticing the disgust in her eyes, Gu Yunrui frowned slightly with displeasure. “What are you doing?”
Su Qingwan: “Second Brother, you know I’ve always disagreed with inheriting two family lines. There should be propriety between sister-in-law and brother-in-law, so it’s better to maintain some distance.”
Gu Yunrui frowned: “Why exactly do you disagree?”
Su Qingwan watched as the other person became utterly addicted to impersonating her younger brother, her eyes filled with scorn. If it weren’t for the fact that it wasn’t yet time to tear off all pretenses, she would have really wanted to ask him if he had any idea what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame even meant. How could she have ever become engaged to such a heartless and ungrateful scoundrel?
She took a deep breath. “Second Brother, I’ve only been married to your elder brother for less than two months. He has just passed away, and I cannot bring myself to accept another man so soon.”
A flicker of guilt passed through Gu Yunrui’s eyes, and his tone softened slightly. “I understand that inheriting two family lines at once is difficult for you to accept. Rest assured, I will not force you. After all, Xi Yue must conceive first, no matter what.”
Su Qingwan felt nothing but disgust. Now he was using “preserving chastity for Su Xiyue” as a fig leaf to cover his shame. His greedy yet feigned affectionate facade was so repulsive that she couldn’t stand to look at him for another second.
Unable to bear the sight of him any longer and afraid she couldn’t conceal the fury in her eyes, Su Qingwan covered her mouth and coughed lightly. “I’m not feeling well. I’ll take my leave now.”
When she returned to Linglong Yuan, Qiyi presented her with the neatly organized dowry list. “Miss, the dowry list has been sorted out. It can be taken away at any time.”
Su Qingwan gently stroked her abdomen and shook her head.
“Right now, someone is impeaching my father. It’s likely Gu Yunrui’s doing, and there may be further schemes. I cannot act rashly for the time being. The matter of Heli must be planned slowly.”
At the same time, she needed to find a way for her father to investigate exactly whom Gu Yunrui had allied with and what their intentions were.
Qiyi looked at her with concern. “Miss, that means you’ll have to endure this injustice.”
It was her own husband, yet he was now using the pretext of being a younger brother to inherit two family lines. On top of that, her mistress was being accused by Third Miss of stealing her husband. The more she thought about it, the more nauseating it became!
Qinxin, standing nearby, chimed in, “Miss, why not just tell them that you’re pregnant? Then there would be no need to inherit two family lines.”
At the very least, this would spare her from the disgust and the accusations from Su Xiyue’s side.
Su Qingwan shook her head. “The fetus is still unstable during the first three months. Let’s not inform anyone else. As for how to avoid the matter of inheriting two family lines, Su Xiyue will ‘help’ me with that.”
**
The funeral for the Zhongyong Hou Shizi was held for a full seven days, during which many people came to pay their respects.
Even the Emperor posthumously honored Gu Yunrui as General Weiwu and bestowed an honorary title upon his widow, Su Qingwan, as a gesture of consolation.
Su Qingwan had lost a significant amount of weight due to severe morning sickness during this period. To outsiders, it appeared as though she was overwhelmed with grief.
She came out to kneel and receive the imperial decree, her frail frame trembling as if she might collapse at any moment. Because she no longer mentioned Heli, Feng Shi now treated her with gentle affection and concern.
After seeing off the eunuch who had delivered the decree, Feng Shi hurriedly helped Su Qingwan to her feet. “Qingwan, you’ve grown so thin. I’ll have someone fetch the century-old ginseng from the storeroom to make soup and nourish you.”
Having witnessed her mother-in-law’s two-faced nature, Su Qingwan could no longer trust her, no matter how kindly or lovingly she was treated.
Nevertheless, she nodded slightly. “Thank you for your concern, Mother. Lately, I’ve been distraught and unsettled by the Shizi’s passing. My emotions have been unstable, and I’ve spoken out of turn to you. It was my fault as your daughter-in-law.”
Seeing her so obedient, Feng Shi breathed a sigh of relief, her tone growing even more gentle. “What are you talking about? You were betrothed to A-Rui since childhood, the two of you grew up together. Now that he’s suddenly gone, of course you must be grieving and distressed. Even I needed a long time to recover. But no matter what, the departed are gone, and we must all look forward.”
At this point, Feng Shi looked up and instructed her son beside her, “A-Ci, tonight you shall go to Linglong Yuan and keep Qingwan company properly.”
Su Qingwan abruptly tightened her grip on her handkerchief.
Gu Yunrui glanced at her but before he could speak, Su Xiyue beside them stamped her foot. Her eyes reddened, and she turned and ran off in a huff.
Gu Yunrui had no choice but to say, “Mother, I’ll go check on Xiyue first and return later.”
Watching him hastily chase after Su Xiyue, Feng Shi’s eyes filled with disdain. “Utterly lacking in grace!”
Su Qingwan lowered her gaze slightly, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes. While Feng Shi certainly favored her son, in her eyes, the interests of Hou Manor mattered more.
After taking leave of Feng Shi, Su Qingwan had Qinxin support her as she slowly made her way back with the imperial decree. Passing by a rockery, she overheard Su Xiyue’s sobbing.
“As the legitimate eldest daughter of the Su family, she’s always had more advantages than me. Now she’s even received an imperial title, and my husband has to go attend to her child!”
“I might as well die and just let you have your way!”