“Grandmother, I brought some Purple Bamboo Shoot tea for you to try.”

“Purple Bamboo Shoot tea?” Old Madam Deng found this rather curious. “Where did this Purple Bamboo Shoot tea come from? I once heard Old Madam from the East Residence mention that this Purple Bamboo Shoot tea is tribute tea offered before the spring society ceremony – it’s very precious.”

Old Madam Deng had struggled greatly in her early years, raising two sons, living on simple food and drink for most of her life. She didn’t have the particular demands about food, clothing, and daily necessities that old ladies from wealthy families had.

Even so, because Old Madam from the East Residence had consumed this Purple Bamboo Shoot tribute tea and boasted about it countless times in front of her, the old lady’s ears had heard it so much they developed calluses, and she had long remembered it.

“It was sent from Marquis Guanjun’s residence.” Qiao Zhao said openly.

Old Madam Deng found this even stranger: “Didn’t the Marquis go on campaign?”

Qiao Zhao’s attitude was frank: “Yes, his guard delivered it.”

Old Madam Deng couldn’t help but be delighted, pulling Qiao Zhao’s hand and patting it: “This shows how much the Marquis cares about you – even his guards know to send you good things.”

He Shi was still in confinement, so only Lady Liu remained among the daughters-in-law coming to pay respects. Hearing Old Madam Deng say this, she smiled with pursed lips: “No wonder they say our Third Miss is blessed – she found such a good son-in-law. Of course, Old Madam is even more blessed, having such a filial granddaughter as Third Miss.”

Old Madam Deng looked at Lady Liu suspiciously.

Why had she frequently had this strange feeling over the past year: that Third Girl was Second Daughter-in-law’s biological daughter!

“Yes, our Third Girl is thoughtful. Now this old woman just hopes the Marquis can return safely, the sooner the better.”

“Old Madam, you can be completely at ease. Third Son-in-law treats our Third Miss so well, he’s sure to return safe and sound.”

Hmph, those who weren’t good to Third Miss either died or were maimed. Even when the Emperor bullied Third Son-in-law, the Tartars came attacking right to the capital’s outskirts, which showed her observations were accurate.

And because she had changed her attitude toward Third Miss, she had benefited quite a bit from Third Miss’s favor. Setting aside other matters, that harmful little vixen Bingniang was resolved by Third Miss’s help.

Now she just hoped Third Miss’s words about her being able to bear a son would come true soon.

Lady Liu spoke with certainty. Old Madam Deng was in good spirits and didn’t pay attention, but Qiao Zhao’s expression was somewhat strange.

Being able to return safely just because he treated her well – this logic seemed somehow off.

Old Madam Deng was delighted to receive good tea from her granddaughter’s filial offering and spoke more than usual, simply keeping Qiao Zhao to have breakfast together with Lady Liu and the three of them.

“At my age, rich meat and fish feel too greasy. Pumpkin and sweet potato porridge is essential for me at every meal. You young people probably aren’t used to it, but fortunately, the kitchen also prepared three fresh porridges, which should suit your taste.”

“Look what Old Madam is saying – we’ll eat anything.” Though Lady Liu said this, she still took the three-fresh porridge and ate a spoonful.

Though she wasn’t someone who required rich meat and fish, she truly wasn’t accustomed to sweet potato porridge.

Who would have thought that the three-fresh porridge that usually tasted delicious would cause immediate nausea upon entering her mouth? Lady Liu quickly turned her head and began dry heaving.

Old Madam Deng and Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but look at each other.

Lady Liu bent over and finished vomiting, took the cup handed to her by a maid to rinse her mouth, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth, and said bashfully: “I probably ate too much last night—”

Halfway through her words, she suddenly stopped. Lady Liu abruptly looked at Qiao Zhao.

She had just vomited! Could it be—

Thinking of a certain possibility, Lady Liu’s heart raced wildly, her heart seeming ready to fly out of her throat the next moment.

Calm down, calm down. Maybe she had just eaten too much.

Lady Liu was, after all, a woman who had given birth to two children. Her first thought was that she was pregnant, but having hoped for years and long since despaired, rationally, she could only desperately deny it, fearing the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

Old Madam Deng, however, couldn’t be bothered with Lady Liu’s internal turmoil and directly suggested: “Third Girl, take your second aunt’s pulse.”

Qiao Zhao nodded, placing her fingers on Lady Liu’s wrist to carefully check her pulse.

Lady Liu didn’t dare breathe heavily, only hearing her own increasingly rapid heartbeat. Finally, she suddenly withdrew her hand and pressed it to her chest: “No, no, let me calm down first.”

Seeing Old Madam Deng look at her in surprise, Lady Liu smiled awkwardly and extended her wrist again.

Qiao Zhao smiled: “No need.”

Lady Liu looked at Qiao Zhao expectantly, nervously gripping her handkerchief tightly.

“Congratulations, Second Aunt.”

Lady Liu suddenly grabbed Qiao Zhao’s hand: “Third Miss, you mean—”

“Second Aunt is pregnant, though the time is still short and the pulse isn’t very obvious.”

“Being pregnant is good, being pregnant is good. Whether it’s obvious or not doesn’t matter.” Lady Liu spoke incoherently.

Old Madam Deng was equally overjoyed: “Zhaozhao, are you certain?”

Qiao Zhao nodded.

“Amitabha, heaven be praised—”

Lady Liu shook her head: “What Amitabha? I’ve prayed to Buddha and begged the gods hundreds of times, but none of the countless celestial beings were effective. My pregnancy is all thanks to Third Miss!”

At this point, Lady Liu was already sobbing uncontrollably.

A woman, a woman living in this world – how many could understand the pain and bitterness of being childless for so many years?

She had originally accepted her fate, using sharp words and a cutting tongue to mask her inner vulnerability. Who would have thought that one change of attitude toward Third Miss would bring her such fortune?

If she could have a son…

The more Lady Liu thought about it, the harder she cried.

“Enough, stop crying. The pregnancy is still in early stages – you mustn’t experience extreme joy or sorrow.” Old Madam Deng advised.

Lady Liu immediately stopped crying and looked at Qiao Zhao expectantly.

Qiao Zhao smiled warmly: “Second Aunt needn’t worry too much. You have a good constitution. As long as you’re careful, there won’t be any problems. I’ll write up a list of dietary precautions and send it to Jinrong Courtyard for you.”

The news of Lady Liu’s pregnancy quickly spread throughout the entire Li Residence.

When Li Guangshu returned to the residence, he happened to hear the servants discussing it. He couldn’t help but be stunned and stopped a servant woman to ask: “What good news does Second Madam have?”

The servant woman couldn’t help but smile: “What is Second Master saying? Second Madam is going to give birth to a little young master! This servant congratulates Second Master—”

Before the servant woman finished speaking, Li Guangshu strode forward.

After he walked away, the servant woman pursed her lips and muttered: “Such great news, and Second Master doesn’t even give out celebratory money. He’s far inferior to Second Madam. They’re both masters, but how can the difference in character be so great?”

Li Guangshu went directly to Jinrong Courtyard and asked Lady Liu, upon seeing her, “What’s this about the residence saying you have good news?”

“What do you mean ‘what’s this about’?” Lady Liu looked baffled. “I am pregnant! I’m going to be a mother again.”

“How is this possible?”

Lady Liu became displeased upon hearing this: “Why wouldn’t it be possible? Third Miss has already taken my pulse – it’s a pregnancy pulse!”

Li Guangshu had always harbored doubts about Qiao Zhao’s medical skills being taught by Physician Li, and even less did he believe a girl not yet of age understood obstetrics. Hearing Lady Liu’s words, he only felt it was absurd: “Foolish! You must be going crazy from wanting to have children. Listening to a little girl’s nonsense and making it known to everyone – aren’t you ashamed!”