After Gao Shi was discovered to have contact with that monk and Taoist, she knelt before the Old Madam to explain: “Old Madam, I thought those two were masters with true abilities. You also know her condition. I was worried the child couldn’t be preserved, so in my desperation I sought medical help recklessly. If I intended to harm her, to harm this child, then let me be struck by five thunderbolts from heaven! May I die a terrible death!” She made a solemn oath.
People of this era regarded oaths very seriously. Ordinary people wouldn’t easily make such vows. The Old Madam believed these words, but perhaps her original intention wasn’t to harm Concubine Mei—what if she’d been deceived by those two demon-people? And did she truly have no other thoughts?
Now that monk and Taoist’s whereabouts were unknown. It was better to be cautious.
So people still watched Gao Shi’s side.
Concubine Mei’s pregnancy was lost. She was very sad, but she’d only cried for a short while before fainting. Even medicine had to be forcibly poured down her throat, frightening Gao Shi so much she didn’t dare cry before her or mention this pregnancy again. This child had affinity but no destiny—if it was lost, it was lost. Her daughter still needed to be preserved.
After all… having a daughter in the Lin family versus not having one there was different.
Gao Shi looked at her sleeping on the sickbed, so weak one could barely see her chest rising and falling. She was so grief-stricken she could barely stand.
She would never admit her daughter’s pregnancy this time was from medicine she’d given. According to her guess, her daughter’s current state was also because of this pill. It had also damaged her daughter’s body. Doctor Zhou said this time she’d greatly damaged her vital energy and needed careful nurturing.
Doctor Zhou hadn’t said it, but Gao Shi had guessed—this should also affect her daughter’s lifespan.
Ying Yu also came to see her yiniang. Seeing her sorrowful appearance, she sighed lightly, supporting her while turning her head to wipe the corners of her eyes.
Compared to Gao Shi and Concubine Mei’s difficulty accepting it, the Lin family people accepted it relatively faster.
Everyone had seen Concubine Mei’s condition before—the pregnancy was too difficult. Not long after learning of her pregnancy’s joy, it was filled with worry.
The Old Madam and Lin Ruhai inevitably thought of Ying Yu. How much effort had been expended for her to be safely raised? This pregnancy was precarious.
When Ying Yu went to her grandmother’s place, the Old Madam held her hand sentimentally: “This child still has affinity but no destiny with my Lin family.” She’d recited many sutras before Buddha for this child, hoping he could be well, but ultimately it still couldn’t be forced.
Ying Yu was silent for a while before asking: “Grandmother, regarding Gao Yiniang…”
She’d seen those two tall and sturdy nannies beside her.
The Old Madam squeezed her hand: “Don’t concern yourself with this matter. Grandmother won’t wrong her.”
She said it was desperately seeking medical help, but she and her son didn’t believe it. They’d already sent people to Xingtai Prefecture to investigate the situation. This time, on that monk and Taoist’s journey to the capital, they were discovered from time to time. Both their departure point and destination were very clear. Not long after arriving in the capital, Gao Shi left the manor to meet with them.
Before reaching a conclusion, Gao Shi would stay in the manor caring for her daughter.
Ying Yu nodded.
The Old Madam: “When you went to see your yiniang, was she awake?”
Ying Yu shook her head.
The Old Madam: “When she wakes, go see her again.”
This time she’d suffered a great calamity—she didn’t have many good years left. For now, she was just suppressing this news.
When someone came to report that Concubine Mei had awakened, Ying Yu went over. Concubine Mei raised her eyes to glance at her daughter, then lowered her eyelids, not daring to look directly at her.
She felt somewhat guilty. Originally, this medicine was sought for her daughter’s sake. In the end, her daughter hadn’t used it—she’d used it herself. If she’d used it, so be it—if there’d been a good result, that would have been fine. But now… the chicken flew and the eggs were broken.
Ying Yu also hadn’t thought in other directions. After chatting a few sentences and seeing her eyes half-closed, she thought she was tired. “Yiniang, are you tired? Rest well. I’ll come see you another day.”
Concubine Mei softly responded, immediately closing her eyes as if to sleep. As a result, upon closing her eyes, she truly fell asleep.
Her state was more appropriately called unconsciousness.
Ying Yu left her yiniang’s courtyard. Looking at the sky, she went to her younger brother’s wife’s courtyard.
When she arrived, Tang Wanxin was sitting on a stool with a chessboard before her, a book of chess strategies beside her hand. Seeing Ying Yu, she stood up to greet her: “Elder sister has come.”
Ying Yu supported her: “No need for courtesy—quickly sit down.”
Ying Yu sat down on the other side. “Playing chess?” She wasn’t skilled at chess. Before her, these black and white pieces intertwined—she couldn’t tell who was winning or losing.
Tang Wanxin smiled: “Yes, pondering it.” This was a game she and her husband had played halfway through during leisure time a few days ago. Later, interrupted by matters, they hadn’t continued, so it remained.
She was at a disadvantage. These past two days with nothing to do, she’d been pondering if she could think of some good move to turn defeat into victory.
Ying Yu couldn’t tell and didn’t force herself to understand. After chatting a couple sentences, she asked about her current physical condition: “Has my nephew been troubling you?”
As she spoke, she occasionally cast envious glances at Tang Wanxin’s protruding abdomen.
The pressure on her truly wasn’t small. The great-grandmother-in-law who’d been kind to her before had already admonished her twice.
Now her husband still stood on her side, wanting her to first bear a legitimate son. She was very moved, but didn’t know how long this persistence could last. She also didn’t know how long she herself could persist. If time dragged on, she could only first let a concubine bear children.
Tang Wanxin naturally knew her elder sister-in-law’s heartache, but she was also powerless. Ying Yu didn’t keep herself trapped in self-pitying emotions. After a few sentences, she proactively changed the topic: “Why don’t I see Madam Yun?”
Tang Wanxin smiled: “Madam found some ancient texts and has some ideas. Recently she’s been in her own courtyard, rarely coming out.”
Ying Yu suddenly understood: “Is it some method for cultivating flower seeds?” Ying Yu was somewhat envious. She didn’t manage the household, but she managed her own courtyard, and also had her own dowry shops. These all required her management. It was precisely after managing them that she had a rough understanding of how much Concubine Yun earned from nurturing these flowers and plants.
Having this skill, she fundamentally didn’t lack silver to use.
As they chatted about Yun Shuyao, she was happily playing with a bag that looked utterly ordinary on the outside.
Among the spoils obtained from the monk and Taoist were some bottles and jars. She’d looked at them—they weren’t the pills she’d imagined, just ordinary wound-healing medicines. However, these bottles themselves were good things. Pluck a leaf and put it inside—three days later, take it out and it would still be verdant.
Besides this, the greatest gain was this hidden pouch discovered in the Taoist robe on that Taoist’s body.
This hidden pouch was the legendary storage bag. Looking unremarkable, a palm-sized cloth bag, yet it contained hidden wonders within.
Although not as formidable as legend told, with interior space only about one cubic meter, it was still a remarkable treasure.
The things placed inside were somewhat miscellaneous—many empty bottles, empty jade boxes, additionally spare clothes, a small box of gold and silver, and two books.
This was these two people’s entire family wealth. Honestly speaking, somewhat poor.
However, considering their injured state, it made sense. The contents of those empty jade bottles and jade boxes should have all been used by them.
Yun Shuyao carefully examined those two books and discovered one was an illustrated catalog introducing minerals and spiritual herbs, titled “Illustrated Catalog of a Hundred Things.” The other book was in characters Yun Shuyao couldn’t understand.
There were no cultivation methods she needed, no magical instruments the spirit mirror needed, but that “Illustrated Catalog of a Hundred Things” could also help greatly.
Because this booklet would also have places where some spiritual herbs and minerals could be found, some even with artificial annotations.
It was also coincidental—one of the places was in Baili County where her parents held office. Yun Shuyao decided that after her daughter-in-law gave birth, she would make a trip there.
When she withdrew her mind from the storage bag and “Illustrated Catalog of a Hundred Things,” Lin Ruhai’s people had already returned from Xingtai Prefecture.
Gao Shi, her son, and other Mei family people were sent back to their hometown again. Supposedly there were other matters too. In any case, while Lin Ruhai was still alive, the Mei family people probably wouldn’t have another chance to create chaos.
Yun Shuyao went to see Concubine Mei. After leaving her courtyard, she sighed.
She’d tormented herself back and forth, tormenting herself to this state. Even with meticulous care, having damaged her foundation, she wouldn’t live long.
Soon, good news arrived one after another.
First, from the much-anticipated Eighth Prince’s manor came the crying sounds of an infant. Zhang Shi had given birth to the Eighth Prince’s eldest son.
Then in Jia Manor, Wang Xifeng, after a struggle, gave birth to the eldest legitimate grandson of the first branch through difficult labor. Although this difficult birth made it hard for her to conceive for several years, holding her son, Wang Xifeng was still very satisfied. As for Jia Lian, looking at his own son, he was beside himself with joy, sending happy announcements everywhere to relatives and friends.
Not long after Wang Xifeng’s child’s full moon celebration, Tang Wanxin also went into labor.
When the melon ripened, it fell—she gave birth to a son.
When Yun Shuyao gave birth to Chen Yu, the Old Madam could still restrain herself from bringing him to her side. Now looking at this great-grandson, she almost couldn’t hold back.
The ancestors’ spirits in heaven—now the Lin family’s next generation male heir was born. The Lin family’s bloodline wouldn’t be severed. She’d pulled the Lin family back from the dead end of ending without descendants!
The Lin family masters were all joyful, but the child’s full moon celebration was handled very low-key.
Because this year was an autumn of many troubles. Starting with the Eighteenth Prince’s death, matters escalated step by step. Before long, the Kangxi Emperor issued an edict angrily rebuking the Crown Prince, abolishing his position as Crown Prince, and confining him. The court was shaken. The atmosphere of the entire capital changed.
Especially some people standing behind the Crown Prince—for example, the Jia family. Now they didn’t even dare leave their gates.
The Old Madam held her great-grandson, staring blankly toward the direction of the imperial palace. The Crown Prince was abolished—that position was equally close to all of them. With their status, having thoughts of stepping forward was natural.
Including the Fourth Prince too… what was he doing at this time?