Qin Yining originally hadn’t wanted to make a big announcement, because when she was four months pregnant her body was weak, and the pregnancy wasn’t stable either. The Emperor was a jealous person, and the Empress had just discovered she was one month pregnant at the time, so if news came out from Pang Xiao’s side that the Princess Consort was carrying twins, it would really be inappropriate and might provoke the Emperor or Empress to torment her.
But now her pregnancy was stable, and under Bingtang’s care, she felt her body had grown much stronger during this period. The two children were very lively, and the fetal movements were also stable and strong. Moreover, given the current situation at court, the Emperor definitely wouldn’t dare easily create internal strife. Even if he was wary of Pang Xiao, now wasn’t the best time to tear off the mask of civility, so presumably he wouldn’t openly do anything to her children.
Besides, four months later when her children were born, this news couldn’t be hidden anyway.
Therefore, even if it spread now, it didn’t matter.
Meng Shi didn’t know what Qin Yining was thinking, and only assumed she too felt uncomfortable in her belly and wanted to find an imperial physician to confirm the diagnosis. Her heart grew anxious, and she hurriedly gave orders to take Pang Xiao’s calling card to the Imperial Medical Academy to request an imperial physician.
Sun Shi also felt worried, taking a handkerchief to wipe sweat from Qin Yining’s brow. “Your body is heavy, and in such hot weather you still can’t use ice – it’s truly hard on you. Why don’t we go back to the room? Later Mother will find you a courtyard with more shade, and we can move there to live where you’ll be cooler.”
“Mother, Siqing Garden is very good. The shade covers even the roof tiles, so it’s not that hot.” Qin Yining laughingly took Sun Shi’s hand. “Don’t be nervous – am I not doing well?”
“You do look much better than when you first returned. But just as your in-law’s grandmother said, your belly is indeed somewhat large.”
Sun Shi had once seen a woman who contracted an unknown ailment – clearly not pregnant, yet her belly swelled up, and she later died in agony. It was said that after the woman died there was quite a legal case, and only after the coroner’s examination did they discover the woman had grown a tumor in her belly.
Of course, Sun Shi couldn’t say such things to Qin Yining. Now that the girl was heavy with child, she treasured her and couldn’t bear to frighten her.
But a mother’s worries could only be hidden in her heart.
Meng Shi and Sun Shi supported Qin Yining on either side as she sat down on the beauty’s couch under the green shade. Bingtang, Ji Yun, Qianyun, and Lian Xiaozhou brought over tea, snacks, and fruit.
Bingtang saw that both Sun Shi and Meng Shi had furrowed brows and worried expressions, and couldn’t help smiling as she said, “You two needn’t worry. The Princess Consort’s body is very well, and the children are also healthy. When the imperial physician comes and examines her, you’ll know.”
Sun Shi and Meng Shi knew that Bingtang was favored by Qin Yining and indeed had superior medical skills, so they didn’t mind her suddenly speaking up and smiled as they nodded.
But the news of Siqing Garden requesting an imperial physician still reached the outer courtyard study.
Pang Xiao, Qin Huaiyuan, Second Master Qin, Third Master, as well as Qin Han and Qin Yu all hurriedly rushed over.
Before they even entered the courtyard gate, Qin Yining heard Qin Han’s anxious voice from outside: “Why suddenly request an imperial physician? Brother-in-law, wasn’t Fourth Sister’s health usually quite good?”
His tone actually carried a hint of interrogation.
Pang Xiao didn’t mind Qin Han’s tone at all and said gently, “Perhaps she’s having an imperial physician check her pulse. Sister Yining’s health is very good – don’t worry, brother-in-law.”
As his words fell, several people could be seen entering from outside.
Qin Huaiyuan walked at the front. Seeing that Qin Yining, Sun Shi, and Meng Shi were all enjoying the cool air under the corridor, the men’s footsteps all paused.
Second Master Qin felt somewhat awkward and smiled, saying, “Grand-niece, we were just in the study when we heard you had requested an imperial physician. We got a bit anxious and all rushed over together.”
By propriety, outside men shouldn’t enter another’s inner courtyard.
However, now the manor’s inner and outer courtyards were all divided up for families to live in separately, and previously the whole family had also lived crowded together in one courtyard, so Qin Yining didn’t mind these matters.
“I’m doing well, just wanted to have an imperial physician check my pulse for peace of mind.” Qin Yining supported her belly as she stood up.
Qin Huaiyuan smiled as he looked at Qin Yining. Now that his daughter was married and lived in the inner courtyard, father and daughter couldn’t play chess together or fish together like they used to at home, and she wouldn’t go pester him in the study to tell her stories either.
But Qin Huaiyuan had only this one precious treasure, and Qin Yining’s supreme position in his heart would never change.
“Sit down quickly. Among family, there’s no need to observe such formalities.”
“Yes, father-in-law is right.” Pang Xiao also nodded with a smile.
The family walked toward the main room chatting and laughing.
Ji Yun and Bingtang led the young maids to serve fresh tea and fruit.
Qin Huaiyuan exchanged pleasantries with Meng Shi for a while, sincerely thanking her for taking care of Qin Yining.
Meng Shi’s kindness toward Qin Yining was seen by all the Qin family members. Apart from Qin Huaiyuan knowing about Yao Chenggu and Yao Shi’s actions, Second Master, Third Master, Qin Han, Qin Yu and others didn’t know the inside story. They only thought that since Yao Chenggu, being a man, found it inconvenient to come forward to care for her, he had sent Meng Shi while keeping Yao Shi by his own side.
As in-laws, to have someone stay by Qin Yining’s side every day caring for her attentively, asking after her well-being, and moreover this person being the elder of highest seniority – this was already extremely precious and rare.
At least Qin Yining’s own paternal grandmother paid no attention to her whatsoever.
Therefore, Qin Han, Qin Yu, as well as Second Master and Third Master were all very grateful to Meng Shi and spoke highly of Yao Chenggu and Yao Shi.
Receiving such praise, Meng Shi felt quite hollow inside.
Only now did she confirm that Qin Huaiyuan and Qin Yining simply hadn’t told these matters to anyone else, preserving their Yao family’s dignity to the greatest extent. Meng Shi’s heart grew even fonder of Qin Yining, and even more guilty.
Just then, Director Sun from the Imperial Medical Academy, who had been attending the Empress’s pulse diagnosis, was invited over.
Qin Yining was invited into the inner room and lay down properly on the canopy bed. Ji Yun and Qianyun lowered the inner layer of light gauze curtains on either side, only letting Qin Yining expose a section of her pale wrist.
Director Sun sat properly on the embroidered stool, collected himself for a moment, then began carefully examining Qin Yining through a layer of silk handkerchief.
Qin Huaiyuan and the other men now stood in the outer room separated by a floor-to-ceiling carved screen.
Meng Shi and Sun Shi stayed in the inner room with the maidservants.
Everyone held their breath, even lightening their breathing, afraid to disturb Director Sun’s pulse-taking.
After a moment, Director Sun stood up, bowed with a smile and said, “Congratulations, congratulations! The Princess Consort is six months pregnant with twins without doubt.”
Upon hearing this, Bingtang couldn’t help but start laughing.
She had promised Qin Yining not to spread the word and had been holding it in for a long time. Finally she could laugh out loud.
Meanwhile, Meng Shi, Sun Shi, and everyone in the outer room except Pang Xiao were stunned for a moment, then burst into great joy.
Meng Shi grabbed Sun Shi’s hand in surprise and asked Director Sun with both surprise and delight, “Is this truly so?”
“Truly, truly. The Princess Consort is deeply blessed with a stable pregnancy. Congratulations to the Prince, congratulations to everyone.”
“Thank you, thank you.” Meng Shi smiled so widely her mouth wouldn’t close, repeatedly expressing politeness as she stuffed purses into the hands of Director Sun’s accompanying attendants.
“Please invite Director Sun to have tea in the side room.”
Pang Xiao and Qin Huaiyuan also came forward to receive him and exchange pleasantries.
Second Master and the others found it inconvenient to linger long. Happy in their hearts, they smiled as they took this good news back to Xuemei Courtyard.
Only the womenfolk remained in the room. Sun Shi was now moved to joyful tears.
“So it wasn’t a serious condition, but twins? This is truly wonderful.”
Meng Shi also smiled and said, “So that’s how it was.”
Looking again at Qin Yining and Bingtang’s expressions, Meng Shi suddenly understood and said, “You two girls, you’ve kept me in such suspense! Did you know about this long ago?”
Qin Yining smiled as she took Meng Shi’s hand with one hand and Sun Shi’s with the other, having them both sit close to her as she said softly, “At the time when Bingtang felt my pulse and detected this matter, we originally wanted to tell the family too, but the Empress had just become pregnant then, and the Emperor’s health had just recovered. Moreover, my health wasn’t good at the time and the pregnancy wasn’t stable. I was afraid that if some jealousy-induced disaster occurred I wouldn’t be able to bear it, so I suppressed this matter. Now my health is good, so I’m not afraid anymore. In any case, in a few more months this news won’t be a secret.”
“So that’s how it was.” Meng Shi nodded. “You and Dafu considered things thoroughly. Sigh, we’re always in the inner quarters, only thinking about the immediate three-acre plot before us, unable to think so comprehensively. But you’re different from us – you take after your father-in-law, clever and understanding of assessing situations. With you here, Dafu won’t be so lonely. From now on, let you and Dafu make decisions about these matters. This time you kept it secret very well.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile and say, “As long as Grandmother isn’t angry with us.”
The news that Qin Yining was carrying twins quickly spread throughout the entire manor.
Not to mention that when the Old Madam heard this news, she merely curled her lips.
Yao Chenggu and Yao Shi were also very surprised to learn of the news.
“With her belly so big, I thought she had falsely reported how far along she was. So it turns out to be twins? Looking at it this way, I’m starting to believe those children might actually be Dafu’s.” Yao Shi widened her eyes and said hesitantly.
Yao Chenggu asked, “How so?”
“I heard that only if ancestors had twins can descendants give birth to twins. Father, you don’t know – Dafu’s father was a twin. He had a twin sister, but she died young.”
“Really?” Yao Chenggu immediately sat up straight, not even smoking anymore.
Yao Shi nodded, “Really. I was a maidservant in the Pang household for so long – though this matter isn’t mentioned throughout the manor, it’s not exactly a secret either.”
Yao Chenggu blinked and murmured, “Could it be that we really got it wrong?”
Yao Shi also slowly nodded.
Perhaps in this matter, they had really been subjective from the start, ignoring Pang Xiao’s words and unilaterally deciding that Qin Yining had been unfaithful.
If they had really gotten it wrong, wouldn’t that mean they had made a fuss for nothing? They had clearly been trying to help Pang Xiao, but in the end it became attempting to harm Pang Xiao’s own biological children.
Thinking this way, both Yao Chenggu and Yao Shi felt immense headaches.
Yao Shi said, “Father, what should we do? Should I go see Dafu?”
“If you go now, when your mother sees you she’ll definitely chase you back. Let’s think this through carefully – don’t be hasty.”