When the two arrived at the main courtyard, Imperial Physician Li was taking Feng Shi’s pulse. She said gently, “Marquis’ Wife, there’s nothing seriously wrong with your health. It’s just that your qi and blood are stagnant due to excessive worry. Take more Ejiao Snow Swallow to nourish your qi and blood, try to be less angry, and get plenty of rest. No matter what, your health is the most important.”
Feng Shi nodded weakly, “That may be true, but there have been far too many things happening recently.”
Imperial Physician Li sighed, “The Shizi’s sudden passing is indeed lamentable. Such a good man, gone just like that. But life must go on. Fortunately, you now have something to rely on and look forward to.”
Something to rely on and look forward to—was it the ‘posthumous child’ in Su Qingwan’s womb?
The mere thought of this made Feng Shi feel so stifled she could hardly breathe, but with Imperial Physician Li, an outsider, present, she couldn’t say anything.
Moreover, the Zhongyong Hou was sitting right beside her. She was suffering in silence, her expression growing increasingly grim and suffocated.
It was at this moment that Gu Yunrui arrived with Su Xiyue.
He immediately asked with concern, “Mother, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Seeing Gu Yunrui, Feng Shi’s emotions grew even more complicated. She waved her hand weakly and said, “I’m fine, Mother. It’s just a routine Peace Pulse check. By the way, since Xiyue is here too, why not trouble Imperial Physician Li to check her pulse as well? It’s been so long since they married, how come there’s still no movement in her belly!”
By the end of her sentence, Feng Shi’s tone was filled with increasing resentment.
She clings to A Rui all day long, yet there’s no sign of pregnancy. Look at Su Qingwan—just one night and she…
Su Xiyue could feel her mother-in-law’s growing disdain and felt equally frustrated. However, she had always remained composed and would not openly confront Feng Shi. Instead, she turned to Gu Yunrui with a pitiful look, silently reminding him of their original purpose for coming—which was not to have her pulse checked.
But Gu Yunrui valued filial piety above all else and gently urged, “Xiyue, Mother is only concerned about your health. Let the physician check your pulse.”
Su Xiyue had no choice but to nod obediently and allow Imperial Physician Li to take her pulse.
Imperial Physician Li placed his fingers on her wrist and said, “The Second Young Madam’s health is fine. It may be due to excessive consumption of cold foods in her youth, which has caused her body to become cold, leading to the delay in conception. But it’s not a serious issue. With some conditioning over time, she will be able to conceive normally.”
Su Xiyue had indeed enjoyed cold fruits and vegetables as a child and wasn’t too concerned upon hearing this. She was confident she would eventually conceive.
Pretending to be concerned, she asked, “By the way, Imperial Physician Li, have you checked on Eldest Sister-in-law? She hasn’t looked well lately—I hope it’s not some serious illness.”
If it was just a cold constitution, she could nourish her body and recover. But if Su Qingwan had contracted some serious disease, that would be even better!
Su Xiyue was inwardly gloating with schadenfreude when she noticed the complex expressions on everyone’s faces in the room.
Her beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and she suppressed her joy, feigning concern as she asked nervously, “No way… Did I guess right? Has Eldest Sister-in-law really contracted some incurable disease?”
Gu Yunrui also looked over, a flicker of concern in his eyes.
Although he did not like Su Qingwan, she was, after all, nominally his wife. Moreover, she was highly capable in managing the household and had the backing of the Bai Family and the Guifei. Gu Yunrui did not wish for her to fall seriously ill—he hoped she would live a long and healthy life.
After a moment of slight astonishment, Imperial Physician Li shook his head gently and said, “No, the Heir’s Wife is not ill. Her pallor is due to severe morning sickness and lack of proper rest during this period. With adequate recuperation, she will be fine.”
Su Xiyue stared in disbelief, wondering if she had misheard. “What? Su Qingwan is pregnant?”
She turned her head in shock to look at Gu Yunrui, who was also caught off guard by the news. His first reaction was that it was utterly impossible!
“How could Su Qingwan be pregnant?”
It was Zhongyong Hou who spoke coldly, “What expressions are those? Qingwan is blessed to have left an heir for your elder brother. You should be grateful to her! Our entire Hou Manor should be grateful to her!”
Gu Yunrui and Su Xiyue: “…”
Imperial Physician Li, standing nearby, was utterly bewildered by the reactions of the Hou Manor family.
The Heir’s Wife was pregnant, carrying the posthumous child of the late Shizi—what wonderful news! Why was it that, aside from the Heir’s Wife herself, who was overjoyed and had rewarded him, everyone else seemed so strange?
After completing the diagnosis, he left a prescription, packed his medical kit, and departed. The waters of noble households ran deep; it was best not to get involved.
Once Imperial Physician Li had left, Gu Yunrui could no longer contain himself. Frowning, he said, “Mother, is Qingwan truly pregnant? But I have never shared a bed with her. How could she possibly be pregnant?”
Gu Yunrui glanced at Su Xiyue and pursed his lips. “I had intended for Xiyue to conceive first, so that the second branch would have a legitimate eldest son before anything else…”
Feng Shi sighed in exasperation and said with double meaning, “The child in Qingwan’s womb is already over three months old—conceived on the wedding night. So, this is fate!”
Upon hearing this, Gu Yunrui felt an immediate surge of bitterness and rage!
On the wedding night, he had deliberately gotten A-Ci drunk and had him sent to the bridal chamber at Linglong Yuan. How dare A-Ci wake up and touch Qingwan? And even get her pregnant!
How could he have dared?
Even though his twin brother was already dead, Gu Yunrui couldn’t help but resent him. After all, Qingwan was his sister-in-law!
By this time, Su Xiyue had regained her composure. Su Qingwan’s pregnancy had nothing to do with them.
After all, that child was not Gu Yunrui’s.
She discreetly squeezed Gu Yunrui’s hand and glanced in the direction of her father-in-law, Zhongyong Hou, reminding him of their purpose for being there—the Shizi peerage.
Understanding her hint, Gu Yunrui suppressed his displeasure and softened his tone as he addressed Zhongyong Hou, “Father, today when you entered the palace for an audience with His Majesty to request the bestowal of the peerage upon me, what did His Majesty say? When will the Imperial Edict be issued?”
Zhongyong Hou replied, “I merely accompanied His Majesty for a couple of games of chess. I did not request the bestowal for you. I believe the matter of bestowing the title of Shizi requires further deliberation.”
Gu Yunrui asked, “Why?”
Zhongyong Hou looked at him with displeasure. “What, are you dissatisfied with my decision?”
Gu Yunrui quickly responded, “Father, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that we had previously agreed on this. Why the sudden change?”
Zhongyong Hou said, “Previously, there was no other choice. Tell me yourself, how far do you fall short compared to your elder brother? Have you been coveting his position as Shizi all along? If you hadn’t been operating separately from him at the time, I would even suspect that your elder brother’s death might be related to you!”
Those words were grave indeed.
Feng Shi quickly interjected, “Lord Marquis, although A-Ci is usually not good with words, he is absolutely not the kind of scheming child. The two brothers have always been extremely close since childhood—how could he harm the other? He was just momentarily surprised, nothing more.”
As she spoke, she shot Gu Yunrui a meaningful glance.
Gu Yunrui was well-acquainted with his father’s temperament—unyielding and decisive. Pressing the matter of bestowing the title of Shizi now would only risk angering him further.
He had no choice but to take the opportunity his mother provided and promptly said, “Father, I was wrong. I panicked in the heat of the moment. How could I possibly harm my elder brother? I’ve always wished it were me in his place. You’re right—I fall far short compared to him, and I must learn more from him in the future!”
Zhongyong Hou (Loyal and Brave Marquis) was somewhat appeased but still added, “Regardless, Qing Wan is a great benefactor to our Hou Manor. In the future, she and her child will have to uphold the main branch of the family—it won’t be easy. You must show her more respect.”
The implication was clear: the alternative for inheriting the peerage and bestowing the title of Shizi was the child in Su Qingwan’s womb!
The three in the room felt as if they had swallowed a fly, yet none dared defy Zhongyong Hou, so they all nodded in agreement.
After advising Feng Shi to rest well, Zhongyong Hou turned and left.
Once alone, Gu Yunrui said gravely, “Mother, is Father planning to let the child in Su Qingwan’s belly inherit the peerage?”
Feng Shi looked equally weary. “We don’t yet know if she’ll bear a son or a daughter. If it’s a boy, chances are your father will bestow the title on that child. How fortunate Qing Wan is to be pregnant at such a time!”
Gu Yunrui clenched his fist. “How can Father think that way? Even if it’s a boy, he’s just an infant—who knows what he’ll grow up to be?”
Feng Shi gave him a helpless look. “Your father has always valued you most, believing you excel over A-Ci in every way. So, in his eyes, your descendants naturally surpass A-Ci’s. If you hadn’t insisted on taking A-Ci’s place, this wouldn’t have happened.”
At this thought, she shot a furious glare at Su Xiyue.
“If you hadn’t deliberately seduced A Rui and led him to make such a grave mistake, how would things have come to this?”
Su Xiyue bit her lip in grievance and hid behind Gu Yunrui, who immediately shielded her, saying, “Mother, this isn’t Xi Yue’s fault—it was my decision.”
Seeing her son still defending that little wretch Su Xiyue at a time like this only fueled Feng Shi’s anger.
But Su Xiyue paid Feng Shi no mind. She tugged at Gu Yunrui’s sleeve and asked, “Husband, what do we do now? What if—what if Su Qingwan really gives birth to a son?”
If Su Qingwan’s son were to inherit the Hou Manor’s peerage, what use was it for her to have the real Gu Yunrui now?
All their efforts would have been in vain!
Gu Yunrui lifted his head, his expression dark. “That child of hers must not be born!”
Feng Shi frowned slightly upon hearing this. “But that child is your brother’s posthumous child after all. Perhaps… perhaps the child in Qingwan’s womb is a girl?”
Gu Yunrui: “But who can really predict whether it’s a boy or a girl? In any case, everyone including Qing Wan herself believes it’s my child. Even if the child is lost, it won’t matter much. At worst, after Xi Yue gives birth to the legitimate eldest son, I can always give Qing Wan another child later. As for A-Ci, if he were still alive, he would surely understand my predicament.”
Upon hearing Gu Yunrui insist on giving Su Qingwan a child in the future, Su Xiyue was extremely displeased. However, her immediate priority was to eliminate the child currently in Su Qingwan’s womb—she had to secure the position of Heir’s Wife first!
Su Xiyue joined in persuading Feng Shi, “Mother, this is the safest approach. We can’t possibly wait until sister-in-law gives birth to make a decision, can we? By then, it would be too late for everything.”
Feng Shi still felt somewhat uneasy, but being inherently indecisive and doting on her eldest son, she ultimately nodded in agreement.
“But we’ve agreed—only make Qing Wan lose this child. We must absolutely not harm her! She’s already had a difficult time. If anything serious were to happen, that noble person in the palace wouldn’t stand by idly. We mustn’t bring any trouble upon Hou Manor.”
Gu Yunrui’s expression softened. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll definitely handle this matter properly.”
After much persuasion, they finally managed to reassure Feng Shi. When Gu Yunrui and Su Xiyue returned to Haitang Courtyard, Su Xiyue suddenly declared:
“Husband, we should make sure Su Qingwan can never bear children again!”