Qingliu smiled and bowed before withdrawing.

The wet nurse begged pardon and carried the large bowl of pig’s trotters and peanut soup to the side to eat.

Although the wet nurse didn’t eat in front of her master, since they were still in the same room, the fragrant aroma still wafted over faintly.

Ren Yaoqi tilted her head slightly, looking up from her book and glancing toward the wet nurse.

“Are there medicinal herbs added to the soup?” After the wet nurse finished eating and the bowls and dishes were cleared away, Ren Yaoqi asked.

The wet nurse was startled, then replied: “Yes, some herbs for promoting milk production were added, but the kitchen maids in the manor are skilled, so you can barely taste the medicinal flavor. Miss Cousin has such a keen nose.”

Ren Yaoyin also looked at Ren Yaoqi in surprise: “I didn’t smell any medicinal scent either.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “I was ill for a long time previously and had to take medicine three times daily with meals, so I have a deep memory of medicinal herb flavors.”

This explanation was reasonable, so no one expressed any surprise.

Ren Yaoqi continued reading with her head lowered, but in her heart, she always felt something was strange.

This afternoon passed peacefully and quietly, yet Ren Yaoqi felt that beneath this calm surface lurked invisible, turbulent undercurrents.

Ren Shijia returned before the You hour(17.00 – 18.00), and as soon as she entered the room, she hurriedly ran to check on her son. Seeing her son sleeping peacefully in the cradle, her heart immediately settled.

When she came back after changing clothes and washing her hands and face, she stared at the child in the cradle for a very long time in a daze.

“Aunt, what’s wrong with you?” Ren Yaoyin also noticed that Ren Shijia seemed somewhat off.

Ren Shijia smiled bitterly, shook her head, and also sat on the kang: “Today I went to the Lei family and saw that child from the Lei family. I felt she was truly pitiful.”

Ren Yaoqi remembered the mischievous little girl Lei Pan’er she had seen at the Lin family.

“Her mother died not long after she was born, and she’s been with her great-grandmother all along. Now, even her great-grandmother is gone, and no one knows what will happen to her in the future. Today at the Lei family, she ran over and asked me where her great-grandmother had gone. My eyes immediately turned red.” As a mother, Ren Shijia had a compassionate maternal heart toward other people’s children as well.

A maid consoled her from the side: “Madam shouldn’t be too sad. Master Lei will surely remarry, and then there will be someone to care for her.”

Ren Shijia shook her head: “The Lei family head must observe mourning. Marriage will have to wait. And even if a new wife enters the household, since she didn’t come from her belly, there will ultimately be a layer of separation. If she encounters someone harsh, then it would be even more…”

Ren Shijia paused, then looked toward her son in the cradle: “So even for the child’s sake, I must stay healthy. Children without mothers don’t have it easy.”

Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin exchanged glances, not knowing how to comfort their aunt, who had become sentimental.

Fortunately, at this moment Lin Cen woke up. It was time for feeding again. Ren Shijia hurriedly went to hold her son, instantly forgetting her previous worries.

The wet nurse took the child and unfastened her clothes to feed him.

After talking for a while longer, Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaoyin rose to take their leave. Since Ren Shijia had returned, they could retire successfully.

Before leaving, Ren Yaoqi casually glanced back and happened to see the wet nurse had finished feeding the child. While adjusting her clothes, she covered her mouth with her hand and yawned wearily from lack of energy.

Walking out the door, they could still hear Ren Shijia’s happy voice coaxing the child from inside the room when Ren Yaoqi’s footsteps involuntarily paused again.

Ren Yaoyin, who had been walking alongside her, turned back to look at her: “Fifth Younger Sister?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “The day after tomorrow, I need to go to my maternal grandmother’s house. I just remembered some matters I need to discuss with Aunt. Fourth Elder Sister, please go back first.”

Ren Yaoyin nodded and walked away by herself.

Ren Yaoqi turned around and went back into the room.

Seeing Ren Yaoqi return after leaving, Ren Shijia was somewhat surprised: “Qi’er? Is there something else?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then nodded: “Yes, I want to discuss some matters with Aunt.”

Ren Shijia looked at her son who was full and content and currently yawning, smiled and patted the kang for Ren Yaoqi to come sit: “Alright, you all may withdraw.”

Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s expression, Ren Shijia thought she had some matter she wanted help with or had encountered some problem, so she dismissed all the maids and servants as well as the child’s wet nurse, leaving only one trusted maid to hold the child.

“Is there anything you need my help with?” Ren Shijia’s smile was sincere as she looked at Ren Yaoqi with warm eyes.

Ren Yaoqi first casually discussed with Ren Shijia the personnel arrangements for going out in the next day or two, and asked her to help consider whether the gifts prepared for her maternal grandmother’s house were appropriate.

Ren Shijia answered each question one by one.

Until finally Ren Yaoqi said, “Aunt, there’s one more matter.”

Ren Shijia nodded and waited patiently for her to speak.

But Ren Yaoqi hesitated somewhat. She only felt something was wrong and thus harbored some suspicion. She couldn’t be certain and had no concrete evidence to present. However, for a child who couldn’t protect himself, even a small oversight could be fatal.

Ren Yaoqi had observed Ren Shijia’s devotion to her son. Moreover, Ren Shijia was different from other Ren family members – she was a person with simple thoughts and a kind heart. Even though Ren Yaoqi disliked most of the Ren family and despised her grandfather and grandmother, she wouldn’t blame innocent people.

“The wet nurse said Brother Cen is also very well-behaved at night and never wakes up startled in the middle of the night.”

Ren Shijia was startled, seemingly not expecting Ren Yaoqi to discuss her son’s issues with her. However, what she most enjoyed now was talking about her child with others. Hearing this, she nodded, looking at the child with eyes full of loving affection: “When he was just born, he was fussy, but recently he’s become increasingly well-behaved. He can always sleep through till dawn.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown: “Do children this age all love sleeping so much?”

Ren Shijia thought for a moment and became somewhat uncertain: “Speaking of it, it seems other people’s children don’t sleep as much as he does. But I heard that children sleep because they need to grow.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and pondered: “I once heard my family’s nanny say that the food consumed by the nursing person affects the breast milk, which in turn affects the child. Could it be that there’s something in the wet nurse’s food that makes people drowsy?”

Ren Shijia was stunned, then instinctively denied: “That’s impossible, isn’t it? The wet nurse’s daily diet is prescribed by me. Those items are all prepared according to a recipe, and that recipe was copied for me by Mother…”

Speaking to this point, Ren Shijia suddenly thought of another possibility and couldn’t help but stop speaking. The recipe Old Madam Ren gave her had no problems, but that didn’t mean the food the wet nurse consumed was without problems. What if someone had tampered with the wet nurse’s food?

Thinking of this, Ren Shijia’s face turned somewhat pale. She immediately got up and went to look at the child being held by the maid. Lin Cen had just finished nursing and fallen asleep again, breathing steadily with a very well-behaved sleeping appearance.

“How long has he been sleeping today?” Ren Shijia asked somewhat urgently.

The maid was Chunlan, the senior maid left to watch the child today. Hearing this, she replied: “He’s been sleeping the whole time, except for waking up once because he wet the bed.” The maid was also somewhat frightened now, her voice trembling.

Ren Shijia hurriedly picked up the child and called to him softly: “Brother Cen? Brother Cen?” Her voice gradually grew louder, but the child continued sleeping obliviously.

Ren Yaoqi quickly walked over: “Aunt, don’t panic. This is just speculation. Don’t let yourself become flustered.”

But Ren Shijia was so frightened that her eyes turned red. Just then, the curtain lifted and someone walked in.

When Ren Shijia looked up and saw who it was, she immediately carried her son over as if finding her pillar of support: “Husband, look at our son. Why does he always sleep? Is there something wrong with him?”

Lin Kun took the child, then glanced toward Ren Yaoqi and comforted his distraught wife: “Don’t worry, I’ll investigate this thoroughly. The child… will be fine.”

Ren Yaoqi frowned because of the glance Lin Kun had given her. She was wary of this uncle-in-law. Lin Kun concealed too much and sometimes used unscrupulous means to achieve his goals.

Moreover, judging by his reaction, perhaps he had already heard her conversation with Ren Shijia.

Under Lin Kun’s continuous comfort, Ren Shijia finally calmed down. Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly, seeing her in this state.

“Qi’er, why do you think there’s a problem with the wet nurse’s diet?” Lin Kun didn’t hide that he had heard their conversation, addressing her according to how Ren Shijia called her.

Ren Yaoqi lowered her head: “I saw Brother Cen always sleeping before, so I asked a question. The wet nurse said children are naturally drowsy. Later, I noticed medicinal herbs were added to the wet nurse’s food, and the wet nurse’s spirits also didn’t seem very good, so I found it somewhat strange.”

The maid standing nearby also said: “Now that Miss Cousin mentions it, I also recall that the wet nurse has seemed somewhat sleepy these past few days. I previously suspected she was sneaking out at night to gamble with the gatekeepers’ wives, and watched her for several days. Later, I discovered she slept very early each day and shouldn’t be drowsy.”

Ren Shijia didn’t care that the younger generation, Ren Yaoqi, was present. Holding her child and leaning against Lin Kun’s embrace, she said with trembling lips: “Quickly send for a physician. Have a physician come to the manor to examine him. If… if someone did drug him… It’s all my fault. I guarded against people harming the child directly, but forgot to guard against them going through the wet nurse.”

Although Lin Kun’s expression was also very unpleasant – Ren Yaoqi even saw his hand at his side clenched into a fist with bulging veins – his face remained calm.

“Alright, trust me. Nothing will happen. Leave everything to me. I will give you and the child an explanation.” Lin Kun’s voice was somewhat hoarse, but the steady confidence within it made Ren Shijia feel secure again.

Ren Yaoqi knew she had done what she should do. There was no need to remain here any longer. The rest could be left to Lin Kun, the father.

“Aunt, Uncle, I’ll return to my room now,” Ren Yaoqi said.

Lin Kun looked over and softened his expression: “Good, thank you, Qi’er.”

Ren Shijia said with red eyes: “Good child, go back first.”

Ren Yaoqi pursed her lips: “These are all just speculations. If I guessed wrong, I hope Uncle and Aunt won’t blame me.” Ren Yaoqi bowed and withdrew.

Outside, the rain had completely stopped. Although Ren Shijia’s courtyard was large, the square patch of sky above was still constrained in a cramped and oppressive manner, no different from all the other inner courtyard compounds.