Chapter 23: Pregnancy

At this moment, Cui Mingzhu’s eyes were already bloodshot, and two trails of tears streamed down her face instantly.

She looked at Cui Jin and sobbed, "Aunt, if my hand is scarred, will it look very ugly?"

The manor physician remained silent, which was taken as an admission.

Cui Mingzhu’s eyes grew even redder, and she looked as if she were about to burst into loud wails.

Cui Jin hurriedly comforted her, "Zhu’er, don’t worry. Aunt will surely find the best ointment; I won’t let your hand be scarred!"

"Really? Aunt..."

Cui Jin hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Really."

Following this, the manor physician began to treat Cui Mingzhu’s wounds.

The pain made Cui Mingzhu shriek, her face covered in tears and mucus.

Cui Jin stood to the side, feeling deeply distressed, and turned her back to wipe away her own tears.

However, to Cui Mingzhu, this display of concern was nothing more than hypocrisy.

If Cui Jin truly cared about her, she should be punishing Shen Ningyuan instead of putting on an act here!

Thinking of this, Cui Mingzhu silently added another grudge against Cui Jin in her heart.

By the time the manor physician finished treating the wounds, Cui Mingzhu felt as though she had lost half her life.

Her four fingers were tightly wrapped in white cloth, making them look like four rice dumplings.

After the physician finished, he gave a few instructions about keeping the wounds dry and then rose to leave the courtyard.

Noticing that the physician seemed to have something left unsaid as he departed, Cui Jin felt a sense of unease.

After pondering for a moment, she gave Cui Mingzhu a few final instructions and followed the physician out of the courtyard.

Crossing the corridor of the front hall, Cui Jin finally called out to the physician.

"Madam?" The physician stopped and looked back at her.

"Sir, I noticed you seemed hesitant to speak earlier. Is there some hidden trouble regarding my niece’s injuries?" Cui Jin asked nervously as she approached him.

Hearing this, the physician shook his head and said, "There is nothing wrong with the young lady's hand, but her stomach..."

"What is wrong with her stomach?" Cui Jin interrupted, her voice tight with anxiety.

The physician gave Cui Jin an odd look. "Madam, don't you think the young lady's stomach is unusually large?"

"What?" Cui Jin’s face changed instantly.

Even though the physician had spoken vaguely, she understood his meaning immediately.

She denied it without a second thought, "Impossible!"

Seeing her reaction, the physician found it difficult to say more.

However, as he left, he added a warning, "Madam, I have not checked her pulse, so I cannot confirm my suspicions. But the young lady's stomach is indeed unusually large. Just in case, you should find an opportunity for me to take her pulse."

Cui Jin hesitated before nodding, "Very well. When it is time to change the dressings, you take the opportunity to check her pulse and determine if there is truly a problem."

With that, Cui Jin looked at the physician sternly, "Our conversation today must not be revealed to a single soul, do you understand?"

The physician nodded quickly, "Rest assured, Madam, my lips are sealed!"

After the physician left the General's Mansion, Cui Jin’s expression grew increasingly grave.

For some reason, after today’s events, she felt a lingering sense of unease.

But for now, the most important thing was the pain of losing a husband that Shen Ningyuan was enduring.

She knew how much Shen Ningyuan loved Ji Yunchuan and worried deeply that she might lose the will to live and follow him in death.

*Yuan’er, you must be strong. Do not throw your life away for a man!*

***

On the other side, Shen Ningyuan had just seen off Song Yan’er.

As she was about to return to her room, she suddenly let out a loud sneeze.

The sneeze left her head spinning, and her previous drowsiness vanished completely.

"Miss, are you alright?"

The round-faced young maid, hearing Shen Ningyuan sneeze, immediately hurried over.

"Miss, did you catch a chill while bathing earlier?"

Without waiting for a response, the maid reached out to touch Shen Ningyuan’s forehead.

"Hmm? No fever... Miss, is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?"

The barrage of questions left Shen Ningyuan unsure which one to answer first.

Looking at the young maid, she suddenly realized that she lacked a capable maid by her side.

Had she cultivated a few loyal maids in her previous life, the Ji family would never have been able to harm her so severely.

Shen Ningyuan then commanded, "Follow me into the room."

She turned and walked toward the house without looking back.

The round-faced maid stood frozen in place, her eyes filled with panic.

Trembling, she followed behind Shen Ningyuan, and as soon as she entered the room, she dropped to her knees with a thud.

"Miss, this servant knows she was wrong... please punish me!" the maid said, her head bowed.

This sudden kneeling startled Shen Ningyuan, who had just sat down and jumped back up in surprise.

"Why are you suddenly kneeling?"

Shen Ningyuan walked over and helped the maid up.

"You haven't done anything wrong, why would I punish you?" Shen Ningyuan asked.

The maid realized then that Shen Ningyuan hadn't called her in for punishment.

"Then why did you call me in, Miss?"

"Tell me, what is your name?" Shen Ningyuan asked.

"Replying to Miss, this servant is called Lu Wu."

"How long have you been in the General’s Mansion, and why were you sold here?" Shen Ningyuan continued.

"Replying to Miss, my parents passed away early, and my brother and sister-in-law considered me a burden, so they sold me to the General’s Mansion."

"Oh, is that so?"

Lu Wu nodded, "This servant would not dare to lie."

Having said that, Lu Wu lowered her head and waited silently for Shen Ningyuan to speak.

Shen Ningyuan remained quiet, studying Lu Wu intently.

After a moment, she said softly, "Earlier, when I was arguing with the young lady, you handled it very well. I think you are quite capable, and I would like to keep you by my side as my personal maid. What do you think?"

Lu Wu looked up, staring at Shen Ningyuan in astonishment, "Miss, you... you want to keep me by your side?"

"Yes," Shen Ningyuan nodded.

"But Miss, you are of noble status, and I know nothing. I am afraid I will not serve you well." Lu Wu’s voice grew weaker. It was clear she wanted to stay, but feared making mistakes and displeasing her mistress.

Shen Ningyuan smiled, "You don't need to know how to do anything. I only ask you one thing: will you ever betray me?"

Hearing this, Lu Wu looked up in panic, "Miss, how could I ever betray you?"

Shen Ningyuan remained silent.

Thinking that she wasn't believed, Lu Wu immediately raised four fingers and swore.

"Miss, I swear to the heavens, if I ever betray you in the future, may I suffer a miserable death!"