Hearing her words, Concubine Mei was stunned, staring blankly at her aunt, unable to react for a moment. She needed this pill more than her daughter?!

Her head felt as if someone had struck it with a wooden stick, making her dizzy and disoriented.

She had sought the medicine for her daughter. She herself had already given up hope. She was already at the age to be a grandmother—could she still give birth?

Gao Shi’s tone was certain: “Of course you can! You’re not even forty yet. There are plenty of people who give birth to young sons and daughters at forty or fifty. Of course you can too! Think about it—if you give birth to a son, wouldn’t that add weight to Ying Yu’s position? In the future she’ll have a younger brother to support her. Moreover, Ying Yu is ultimately young—she’s not even twenty yet. Right now it’s just that the fate of children has come late for her. If after a few more years there’s still no good news, who can say for certain whether we can obtain more medicine?” Those two people had delivered themselves to her door. Right now their purpose hadn’t been exposed yet. There would certainly be times when they needed her. At that time, would it be difficult to ask for a few more pills?

Concubine Mei looked into her aunt’s eyes, her heart stirring. Her mouth opened and closed. After a long while, she finally spoke: “Can… can I really still give birth?”

Gao Shi smiled: “Of course you can.”

Concubine Mei very much wanted to nod and agree, but ultimately she was still concerned about her daughter’s side: “Ying Yu is currently under pressure at the Silin Gioro household.”

Although she herself was just a concubine, her daughter was now the legitimate wife, so of course she would consider problems from her daughter’s perspective.

It had been almost three years since marrying in, and afterward there was still no good news. The Silin Gioro family would most likely have the son-in-law’s maids and concubines bear children. At that time, the Lin family wouldn’t be able to say much either.

Right now there were other women by the son-in-law’s side, but they were all drinking contraceptive tea. Once that was lifted, if any of those people gave birth to a concubine-born eldest son, her daughter’s future days would be troublesome. Even if she could give birth to a legitimate son afterward, she would still have to endure plenty of frustration because of this concubine-born son.

If this pill was given to her daughter and she gave birth to a son, then the problems she currently faced would be resolved easily.

Gao Shi saw her daughter’s wavering and continued persuading her: “Are you certain you want to do this? In a few more years, even if you want to give birth, you won’t be able to. Ying Yu still has plenty of time. It’s not that Aunt isn’t thinking of her, but Aunt gave birth to and raised you—I feel more heartache for you. You’re still fine now because Lord Lin is still here. In the future when Lord Lin is gone, it will be the current Young Master Lin who manages the household. At that time, have you thought about what will happen to you?”

Gao Shi sighed, her eyes full of worry: “Aunt is truly worried about you. Every time I think about this problem, I can’t sleep for entire nights. That Concubine Yun is someone with schemes—you can’t compete with her.”

Moved to tears by her words, Concubine Mei embraced her tightly: “Aunt, I understand.”

Concubine Mei made up her mind: “Give this medicine to me then.”

Seeing her agree, Gao Shi smiled with relief: “That’s good. Aunt awaits your good news.” However, she then thought of a problem: “Does Lord Lin… still come to you often?”

Looking left and right, her daughter was still very well-maintained.

Concubine Mei pressed down her brows, somewhat unwilling: “…He doesn’t come much, but he will come.”

Gao Shi had a sense of things then. This would work. Even if he came rarely, as long as it succeeded, that was enough.

After finishing the matter, it was getting late. Gao Shi and the others returned and didn’t come to disturb again afterward. Concubine Mei’s younger brother indeed went to study at the Imperial Academy not long after. Without the Lin family’s involvement, he handled the relevant procedures himself.

It truly looked like he had come to study.

During this period there was a small episode. Concubine Mei, after a long while, dressed herself up and kept sending people to invite Lin Ruhai over to discuss matters concerning their daughter.

Yun Shuyao: “?”

No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like competing for favor. Why this routine now for no good reason?!

Amid her puzzlement, before long, she learned the answer.

Concubine Mei was taking a walk in the garden when she suddenly fainted. The maid beside her was startled but fortunately caught her: “Someone come! The concubine has fainted!”

Physician Zhou came quickly. When taking her pulse, his heart jumped. This was definitely a slippery pulse—she was pregnant. But this pulse… didn’t seem very good.

He concentrated his mind.

Concubine Mei had woken up by then, lying on the bed looking at him expectantly: “Physician Zhou, what’s wrong with me?”

Physician Zhou clasped his hands in congratulation: “Congratulations, Concubine Mei, you are with child.”

At these words, Concubine Mei contentedly touched her belly and smiled, radiant with joy: “Quickly, quickly go tell the Old Madam this good news!”

This medicine was real—she was truly pregnant!

After so long, she had finally become pregnant! Her efforts during this period wracking her brains hadn’t been in vain.

Yun Shuyao arrived first. Seeing her radiant expression, she couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows. She hadn’t seen this expression on her face in a very long time.

Connecting it to her previous abnormal behavior, Yun Shuyao had a guess: “Congratulations, Elder Sister Mei. This good news should also be quickly conveyed to the Mei family.”

Concubine Mei smiled with triumphant satisfaction: “That’s natural.” To tell her aunt and let her feel at ease.

The Old Madam also arrived shortly after. She was still in surprise, looking at Physician Zhou: “Is it true?”

Physician Zhou: “True!”

The Old Madam smiled so widely her mouth wouldn’t close. Many children, many blessings. The Lin family only worried about not having enough children, never about having too many.

After her joy, the Old Madam was somewhat worried: “She fainted perfectly fine—is there any harm?”

Physician Zhou was serious: “She needs to rest in bed. Concubine Mei’s pregnancy is not very stable.”

After hearing this, the Old Madam waved her hand grandly: “Then nurture the pregnancy well. Whatever is needed, just ask!”

At this time, Lin Ruhai and Chen Yu still hadn’t returned from their offices. Tang Wanxin and Lin Daiyu arrived afterward.

Seeing it was happy news, Tang Wanxin offered congratulations with a peaceful mindset. Never mind that this was a concubine-born younger brother—even if it were a legitimate younger brother, with her husband having achieved third place and now serving as an official at court, she didn’t need to worry about anything. So she sincerely congratulated Concubine Mei.

She even had people send some things that might be useful. However, looking at these items, Concubine Mei almost had Physician Zhou carefully examine whether they had been tampered with.

Tang Wanxin: “…”

She was about to laugh from anger. These items weren’t even consumables—the probability of tampering was very low. Moreover, even if you’re guarding against me in your heart, you don’t need to be so openly hostile, do you?

This wasn’t all. Because Yun Shuyao was currently managing the household, Concubine Mei directly said to the Old Madam: “Old Madam, my condition is special. Might I trouble you to keep a closer watch?”

Yun Shuyao: “Hehe.” This person had made progress—she hadn’t put her distrust of her out in the open.

You think I want to manage you? Moreover, seeing you like this, I have a premonition the household is about to get lively.

“Elder Sister Mei is right. This will still require the Old Madam to keep a closer watch.”

The Old Madam was also unhappy—unhappy with what Concubine Mei said. She did trust Yun Shuyao.

This Concubine Mei had been quiet for several years, but now pregnant, she was making trouble again. However, for the sake of the child in her belly, the Old Madam rubbed her brow and agreed.

If she didn’t trust Concubine Yun, she couldn’t nurture the pregnancy well. Better for herself to work harder.

When Lin Ruhai and Chen Yu returned home, they learned of this good news.

Lin Ruhai was naturally happy.

As always, the Lin family only worried about insufficient heirs, never about having too many children. Regardless of whether this child was male or female, they could raise them well.

After Chen Yu learned what Concubine Mei had said, he smiled: “Don’t go over there without reason. She’s a confused person.”

Her status in the Lin family was just that. Regardless of whether she gave birth to a boy or girl, it wouldn’t change.

He touched Tang Wanxin’s belly: “You’re also someone with a precious body. Taking good care of yourself is most important.”

If something happened, it would be too late for regrets.

Lin Daiyu was also happy, but also had some thoughts she couldn’t express to others. She was the youngest child in the family. Now there would be an even younger brother or sister. Grandmother and Father would certainly pay great attention to this brother or sister who didn’t understand anything yet. Would they stop caring about her?

Sometimes she felt she was overthinking, but this thought truly and forcefully made its presence known in her mind.

The Old Madam, discovering her little thoughts, couldn’t stop laughing.

Such adorable little thoughts were what children would have. Sometimes in a trance she felt the child had grown up, yet often felt the child was ultimately still a child, with a long road still to walk before growing up.

Among several children, the one the Old Madam valued most was of course her grandson. Apart from him, the one the Old Madam undoubtedly favored most was Daiyu.

Because she knew of her experiences in the dream world, she felt heartache for her.

“Grandmother still dotes on you the most.”

Lin Daiyu realized she had been laughed at and also felt her thoughts were somewhat childish. She was already half an adult now, yet would still be jealous of an unborn brother or sister. How mortifying. She lowered her head with a red face: “Grandmother, I didn’t say anything just now!”

The Old Madam laughed heartily: “Right, Daiyu didn’t say anything just now.”

Concubine Mei quickly started making trouble, saying the people in the main kitchen didn’t take her seriously. The food sent up wasn’t fit for human consumption—she couldn’t eat it.

It must be that the people in the main kitchen were perfunctory. With so much food, she couldn’t eat even one thing.

Relying on her pregnancy, she made Yun Shuyao feel as if she were seeing a scene from over ten years ago.

Physician Zhou secretly groaned. Concubine Mei was making trouble, but more than half of it was genuine. After confirming her pregnancy, adverse reactions appeared all at once.

She could only walk a few steps in her own room after getting out of bed, and couldn’t stand too long. After a while she would feel dizzy and weak in her limbs. As for food, apart from a little rice soup, she couldn’t eat anything.

Continuing like this was dangerous, so Physician Zhou also told the Old Madam that as long as it wasn’t excessive, try to satisfy her.

When Concubine Mei proposed hoping her aunt could come take care of her, the Old Madam agreed without a second word and had people go fetch her.

Fetching just one person—what did that count as? As long as she could be well, never mind just bringing her birth mother over. Even if her entire natal family came over, for the sake of the child in her belly, she could agree.

Thus, Gao Shi came calling.

At the same time, the people Yun Shuyao had sent to Xingtai Prefecture were also on the road.

With such goings-on now, something must have happened in between.

Comparing Concubine Mei’s two pregnancies, Yun Shuyao became suspicious.

Using unconventional methods to get pregnant wasn’t strange. Which of those great noble households didn’t have pregnancy-assisting prescriptions? It was just that their efficacy was questionable. But if some unconventional method was truly used, why hadn’t they used it again all these years, and only used it now when she had become an advanced maternal age?