Madam Zhou’s face immediately darkened.

Gu Lian stood up, unable to hold back: “Second Sister, what are you saying! Now that you’re Madam Chen San, now that you have status, you don’t need to care about the Gu family anymore, is that it? We didn’t treat you poorly back then…” Gu Lian took a deep breath. A shop that had originally been part of her dowry had been given to Gu Jin Chao by Madam Feng, and now Gu Jin Chao was being so ungrateful?

“Some people fear poor relatives coming to beg for handouts. I think Second Sister is afraid we’ll ruin your luxurious life, aren’t you?”

Though Gu Lian wasn’t eloquent, her skill at arguing was quite good. She could harp on someone’s weak points for ages.

Gu Jin Chao smiled slightly: “Lian’er, I’m not treating you poorly now either. If I were afraid you’d ruin me, you certainly wouldn’t have even been allowed through the door. Sit down and let’s talk properly. Let me ask you, you want me to save Second Uncle, but what about yourself? You’re the daughter-in-law of Minister Yao, don’t you have any means?”

Hearing this, Gu Lian’s face reddened, and she grew even more furious with embarrassment: “Gu Jin Chao, what do you mean? How could I not have tried… you, you shouldn’t talk nonsense! Do you think I don’t care about my own father’s career? If you don’t want to help, fine, but there’s no need to criticize me!”

Gu Lian had a proud temperament and would never easily back down in an argument. She would certainly give up after one rebuff, and would never go so far as to beg Yao Ping. Gu Jin Chao guessed that Yao Ping didn’t want to help either; she didn’t believe that Yao Ping, being such a high official, truly had no means.

Remembering that Chen Xi and Chen Xuan Qing were still practicing the zither in the back courtyard, Gu Jin Chao didn’t want to argue with Gu Lian, to avoid becoming a laughingstock.

She said coldly: “It’s better if you’re not guilty. I was just asking.”

Madam Zhou pulled Gu Lian down to sit. “If Madam Chen San won’t agree, so be it. I’ll go back and tell Mother. She’ll come to speak with you herself.”

Gu Jin Chao smiled again. She had never seen any evidence of Madam Feng’s supposed kindness toward her. All the ways these people had schemed against her in the past—she had already let bygones be bygones. For them to now criticize her was too much. Not wanting to provoke further conflict, she didn’t use harsh words: “Whatever Second Aunt says. Rather than begging me, you’d be better off having Lian’er speak with Minister Yao. But regarding Second Uncle’s matter, I still advise you to be cautious…”

Gu Lian snorted coldly. She knew in her heart that they were in the Chen household, and Gu Jin Chao certainly wouldn’t want news of discord between sisters to become common knowledge, which gave her some leverage. “Second Sister, I should also advise you to be cautious. Seeing your Second Uncle in prison, yet remaining unmoved—aren’t you afraid others will call you cold-blooded? Everyone else is unified in purpose, but you’re turning your back on your family. Aren’t you just holding a grudge? Aren’t you just worried about implicating yourself?”

She walked up to Gu Jin Chao, and this time Madam Zhou didn’t stop her.

Facing this person who had once been beneath her feet but now stood above her, Gu Lian had been restraining herself for a long time. She had tried to ingratiate herself with Gu Jin Chao, yet Gu Jin Chao still wouldn’t give her face. She was very displeased.

“Second Sister, let me tell you, if my father gets demoted, you won’t have an easy time either! The Gu family is still your maternal family…”

Seeing Gu Lian’s approach and hearing her unrestrained voice, which might be overheard by others, Gu Jin Chao frowned. Just as she was about to remind her to lower her voice, she suddenly felt a pain in her abdomen. At first, it was just a twinge, but the pain quickly intensified.

Gu Lian saw her fall silent, her face turning pale, and thought she had gained the upper hand. “What’s wrong? Lost for words?”

Cai Fu, who was attending nearby, initially didn’t want to speak up, but noticing Gu Jin Chao’s abnormal appearance, she hurriedly walked over and pushed Gu Lian aside: “Madam, what’s wrong? Why do you look so ill?”

Gu Jin Chao clutched her lower abdomen, suddenly filled with a sense of foreboding. Just as she was about to say her stomach hurt, her hand accidentally knocked over the chrysanthemum pot beside her, shattering the porcelain. She took a breath, and while the pain was still not too intense, said in a low voice: “Go find the doctor…”

The commotion was too great, and several maids and older servants came in from outside.

Chen Xuan Qing had been teaching Chen Xi to play “Wild Geese Descending on the Sandy Shore” when he heard the noise and was startled.

Chen Xi looked toward the main room: “It seems to be coming from Mother’s quarters. I thought I heard arguing earlier. Has something happened?”

Chen Xuan Qing’s brow furrowed tightly, causing him to pluck the wrong string. Was something truly wrong with Gu Jin Chao?

Before Chen Xi could react, she saw her seventh brother already walking out of the study, striding rapidly toward the main room. She quickly followed.

The main room was already in chaos, with maids rushing to notify Master Chen San or to find a doctor. Cai Fu had prepared a basin of hot water to help Gu Jin Chao wipe the cold sweat from her forehead. Gu Lian and Madam Zhou were stunned—wasn’t she fine just moments ago? How could she suddenly have stomach pains in the middle of their conversation?

Chen Xuan Qing had already entered the side chamber, momentarily forgetting everything else. He rushed straight to Gu Jin Chao, seeing her lying on the luohan bed, curled up in pain with her hands clutching her stomach. His heart immediately ached with a sour pain. He nearly reached out to take her hand, but fortunately noticed the people around them and instead asked: “Mother… does it hurt badly? What kind of pain is it?”

How could Gu Jin Chao distinguish what kind of pain it was? Her lower abdomen throbbed, like menstrual cramps but ten times more intense. She feared for her child… that something unexpected was happening to her child! She was so anxious she was about to cry: “Wait… for the doctor…”

Chen Xuan Qing had never seen her so weak, on the verge of tears, as if she had suffered some great grievance. He truly wanted to hold and comfort her.

…He knew this was impossible. Gu Jin Chao was not his wife! She was his stepmother, and this was none of his business; he shouldn’t be involved.

Chen Xuan Qing took a deep breath and gently comforted her: “Don’t be afraid, the doctor will be here soon.” All thoughts of staying away from her had vanished; Chen Xuan Qing was now both anxious and angry. How had she suddenly become like this?

He straightened up and asked Xiu Qu with a gloomy expression: “What exactly happened?”

Xiu Qu replied: “This servant was attending outside and didn’t hear clearly, only that Madam Yao Three and Madam were arguing…”

Chen Xuan Qing’s gaze fell on Madam Zhou and Gu Lian.

Gu Lian was startled: “No… it’s not my fault, I didn’t do anything! She, she suddenly… suddenly had stomach pains!” She had only lost her temper and spoken harshly. How could she dare to do anything to Gu Jin Chao? Gu Jin Chao was now Madam Chen San, and if anything happened to the child in her womb… Master Chen San would certainly not let them off!

Chen Xuan Qing coldly asked: “Did you know she was pregnant?”

Madam Zhou’s face turned bright red. There was no way to explain how—they had created a major disaster this time!

Calling Gu Jin Chao “Mother” and appearing youthful, this must be Master Chen San’s eldest son, the newly selected Tanhua scholar Chen Xuan Qing. She managed to say: “Seventh Young Master, it truly has nothing to do with us. We were talking with Chao’er, no argument would cause stomach pains out of nowhere. We should wait for the doctor to examine her before saying more. I am Chao’er’s Second Aunt; I would never harm her.”

Chen Xuan Qing didn’t believe it at all: “Only you two were in the room with her. Could Mother have somehow hit her stomach?” He called two maids over, “Watch them carefully. We’ll get to the bottom of this later.”

He noticed the three plates of pastries on the table and added: “Take those three plates of pastries and keep them safe as well.”

Gu Jin Chao, with half-open eyes, could only see Chen Xuan Qing’s vague silhouette and heard him speaking with Madam Zhou. She was in too much pain to even muster the strength to stop him… She also didn’t understand why her stomach had suddenly started hurting. Although Gu Lian had argued with her, she hadn’t become angry—so why the sudden pain? The last time the doctor checked her pulse, he said the pregnancy didn’t look good and she needed to be especially careful. And the first child was always the most difficult…

Fortunately, there was no bleeding yet; otherwise, the child would truly be lost.

Chen Xuan Qing quickly returned to the luohan bed to see if she had improved. Cai Fu suddenly realized the impropriety and hurriedly said: “Seventh Young Master, it’s better if you wait outside. You can’t be of much help here.”

Chen Xuan Qing looked at Gu Jin Chao for a moment. His presence was indeed inappropriate. He retreated to the main room and saw Chen Xi also waiting outside, not having gone in. Seeing him emerge, she quickly grabbed him and asked: “Seventh Brother, what’s wrong with Mother?”

Chen Xuan Qing wanted to comfort her but found he couldn’t form comforting words. He could only say softly: “…She’ll be fine.”

Within a quarter of an hour, Master Chen San received the message from his guard. He quickly rushed to Muxi Hall.

Chen Xuan Qing saw his father approach with an expressionless face, followed by guards in official attire. His father’s expression… that meant he was angry to the extreme! Chen Xuan Qing wanted to tell him about Gu Jin Chao’s condition.

Chen Yan Yun saw Chen Xuan Qing step forward, seemingly wanting to say something, but he waved his hand, indicating for him to stop.

He first entered the main room, and the group of guards behind him immediately spread out, guarding the surroundings tightly.

Chen Yan Yun walked into the side chamber, first listening to a maid’s brief account, then ordered Jiang Yan to take Madam Zhou and Gu Lian to a side room for detention, to be questioned later. Madam Zhou, caught by Chen Yan Yun’s icy glance, was so frightened her lips trembled, unable to utter a word. Gu Lian was even more dumbfounded.

Gu Jin Chao was in a daze from the pain when she felt someone embracing her, patting her back, saying: “Jin Chao, it’s alright, don’t cry… I’m here.”

Had she been crying? Gu Jin Chao didn’t even know herself.

She was just afraid, that’s all.

Gu Jin Chao managed to say: “Master Chen…” Her voice, as soon as it emerged, indeed carried the tone of tears. “Has the doctor arrived?”

“Yes, he’ll be here soon.” Chen Yan Yun, afraid that holding her too tightly would cause more pain, only embraced her lightly, comforting her by stroking her back.

Gu Jin Chao closed her eyes. After seeing Master Chen San, she inexplicably calmed down. She had truly begun to depend on him. She tried to regulate her breathing, not knowing if it would help, but her child would surely be fine. In her previous life, despite all the suffering, the child had still been born safely.

Everything would be fine.

Soon, Doctor Ji arrived.

Master Chen San carried Gu Jin Chao to the large kang bed in the east side chamber, which had already been cleaned by the old women servants.

Doctor Ji checked her pulse and listened, closing his eyes for a moment. Without saying anything, he immediately went to the side and wrote a prescription, handing it to Nanny Sun nearby: “Brew this medicine immediately, make it strong, and have the lady drink it.”

Doctor Ji was a highly respected doctor in the capital. He had previously served in the Imperial Medical Institute before resigning to open his medical practice. His family had been doctors for generations and had a good relationship with the Chen family. After handing the prescription to Nanny Sun, Doctor Ji followed Chen Yan Yun outside, then respectfully said: “Master Chen, rest assured, the child is not in danger for now. After taking the medicine, the pain should subside. Fortunately, the madam has a strong constitution, otherwise, it could have been quite dangerous…”

Only then did Master Chen San breathe a sigh of relief, the tension in his nerves finally relaxing.

He asked Doctor Ji in a low voice: “In your opinion, what caused this?”