Old Cui was carried back on horseback by Old Jiang. He had originally planned to find some medicinal herbs in the forest to brew a few pots of heat-clearing herbal soup for the caravan members to relieve the summer heat. When dusk approached, he emerged from the woods and saw Old Jiang urgently riding towards him on horseback. Thinking he had some matter to attend to, Old Cui wanted to greet him as a courtesy. Who knew that when Old Jiang got close, without even saying a word, he grabbed Old Cui and draped him over the horse’s neck before bringing him back.

Old Cui was the doctor of Yun Family Manor and had always been respected. After studying under Divine Physician Sun, he considered himself even more of a famous doctor. When the tenant farmers saw Old Cui, they would bow and address him as Master Cui. Old Cui was also conscientious about treating the tenant farmers of Yun Family Manor. Although Divine Physician Sun and Marquis Yun were both great masters of medicine, it wouldn’t be appropriate to trouble them for minor ailments like headaches or fever. Therefore, Master Cui treated the tenant farmers most often.

The people of Yun Family Manor were quite snobbish, only trusting people from their own manor. No matter how skilled doctors from other manors were, they looked down on them. With Divine Physician Sun and Marquis Yun present, how could doctors from other families get a chance to chatter away?

Upon hearing that the young madam was unwell, Old Cui, who had been about to lose his temper, immediately calmed down. He quickly called for someone to fetch his medicine bag from his tent, washed his hands himself, and was about to enter the tent to see what was wrong with the young madam.

Before entering the tent, Steward Old Qian grabbed Old Cui and repeatedly instructed him to examine carefully, saying it was fine to check twice—the main thing was to determine the cause clearly. If anything went wrong, everyone in the entire manor would not forgive him.

“Don’t listen to them, Master Cui. Don’t feel pressured. Just examine as you normally would. The young madam doesn’t have any serious illness, just some physical discomfort. You know the rule about doctors not treating their own family members, so just examine with confidence.” Yun Ye, waiting at the tent entrance, saw that Old Cui was so frightened by Old Qian that he was sweating, so he spoke to comfort him.

Yun Ye didn’t enter the tent but paced back and forth outside. Cheng Chumo and Niu Jianhu accompanied him in this wandering, all silent. They understood what Xinyue’s pregnancy meant for the Yun Family.

The servants of the Yun Family, who had been bustling about everywhere, all put down their work and stared eagerly at the young madam’s tent. The master having a child was very significant for the entire Yun Family Manor. It meant that not only could they themselves enjoy the Yun Family’s blessings, but their descendants would benefit as well. Each person had already recited countless prayers to Buddha in their hearts, hoping that the young madam’s pregnancy was real and not just false joy.

Suddenly, Madam Little Niu’s cheers came from inside the tent, and Jiu Yi also cried out. Shishi lifted the curtain and ran out to tell Yun Ye: “Master, Master, the mistress is truly with child! That doctor who examined her checked several times and said there’s no mistake.”

Yun Ye beamed with joy. Cheng Chumo hugged Shishi and spun her around in circles. Niu Jianhu loudly congratulated Yun Ye. The servants and maids below immediately went wild, and with a roar, the entire camp was filled with sounds of laughter.

Yun Ye suddenly asked, “Why didn’t Master Cui come out to announce the good news?”

Shishi immediately said: “Master Cui, who was examining patients, is now checking on Aunt Niu. Aunt Niu said she’s also feeling unwell.”

Now it was Niu Jianhu’s turn to be dumbfounded. Last time his wife had conceived, but who knew that when she returned to her parents’ home, she accidentally took a fall and lost the child. Old Madam Niu cried for three days, and Madam Little Niu didn’t smile for a full six months. All the servants who accompanied Madam Little Niu back to her parents’ home were driven out of the manor. If Little Niu hadn’t intervened, Aunt Niu would have certainly killed someone. When Yun Ye went to visit, Aunt grabbed him and tearfully complained for several hours. If she conceived again this time, the Niu Family would go mad with joy.

All three families knew each other’s affairs. Hearing Shishi say this, Old Qian immediately gestured for everyone to quiet down. The servants couldn’t hide the excitement in their eyes. As long as the three families flourished with descendants, it would be the greatest blessing for this small group.

Old Cui walked out with trembling lips. He truly couldn’t believe he had such good fortune—the eldest sons or daughters of two great families were both diagnosed by him. He couldn’t even speak properly and kept bowing to Yun Ye and Niu Jianhu in congratulation.

“Damn it, just speak already! Is my Brother Niu also going to have an heir?” Cheng Chumo impatiently shook Old Cui’s shoulders and asked.

“Congratulations, Marquis! Congratulations, Young Marquis Niu! Both madams are with child. Although the pulse is faint, that’s only because they just conceived. But I, Old Cui, am certain without doubt that both madams are expecting.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Ye and Niu Jianhu each gave Old Cui a jade pendant, making the servants and stewards watching from the side jealous. Those two jade pendants alone were enough for Old Cui to take two more concubines.

Madam Little Niu, blushing, was helped out of the tent by Jiu Yi. One could see she was immersed in tremendous happiness. Little Niu stood there with his mouth open, smiling so hard that his eyes and brows scrunched together. He went over to support his wife and returned to their own tent.

Cheng Chumo was very unhappy. He felt Heaven was working against him in this matter. Both brothers’ wives were pregnant, so his wife should also be pregnant—why was he the only one left out? He was there losing his temper at Jiu Yi.

“Enough, what are you raging about? If Jiu Yi had a child, it would be difficult for you. Qinghe is about to marry over soon. It’s best for Jiu Yi to have a daughter at her side right now. If she had a son, that would be your misfortune. Then the eldest son wouldn’t be the legitimate heir—how would you arrange family affairs?”

Li Er’s purpose in marrying off his daughter was to strengthen blood ties with these meritorious officials, forming a tight community of shared interests, preparing for the Li Family’s long-term stability in the future.

Cheng Chumo was stunned for a moment, then pulled Jiu Yi back to their own tent.

Old Qian was very perceptive and took Shishi away, saying there was a tent with flowers that needed Miss Shishi to confirm whether to use it. Besides, they needed to assign two maids and a carriage to the young miss—from now on, she would be a proper young lady of a great family, and these things would all be needed.

Inside the tent, Xinyue was rummaging everywhere like a groundhog. All the chests had been opened, clothes and jewelry were scattered all over the floor, and she was still digging through the bottoms of the chests, not knowing what she was looking for.

“Settle down for a while. Which pregnant woman is constantly moving around like you? Be careful not to fall.” Looking at the mess everywhere, Yun Ye was very worried. This was just the beginning. The various peonies that were treasured just days ago were now trampled into a pulp. How could this continue?

“Do you remember where I put that safety pendant? I clearly remember it was in a chest, but somehow I can’t find it no matter how I look. Please help me find it quickly.” Xinyue stuck her head in the chest and spoke to Yun Ye in muffled tones.

Being pregnant was indeed different. Before, even if the house was on fire, Xinyue wouldn’t call Yun Ye to put it out. Today, just to find a broken pendant, she dared to freely order the head of the household around.

Yun Ye picked her up and gently placed her on the bed, saying to her: “If you want to find something, have the maids help you. Don’t assign me work. This grown man has more important things to do.” After speaking, he pretended to get up and leave.

Xinyue grabbed Yun Ye with one hand and put her face close to his, saying: “That won’t do. A woman can only lose her temper in front of her husband for these few days. At this time, you can’t scold or hit me. Won’t you let me be carefree for a few days?” As she spoke, she proudly touched her belly and challenged Yun Ye.

“Cao Cao held the Emperor to command the feudal lords, and you’ve learned it perfectly—holding the son to command the Marquis of Lantian. Very well, I’ll let you succeed for a while. Tell me, what do you want to do? I’m at your service anytime.”

Pregnant women have unpredictable emotional changes. Considering the hardship they endure for ten months of pregnancy, Yun Ye believed that anyone who fought with their wife at this time was a fool. He placed his hand on Xinyue’s belly and gently caressed it. Although it was still flat and no different from before, Yun Ye felt the difference in his heart. Just beneath this layer of skin, a new life was vigorously growing. Although this wasn’t his first time experiencing this feeling, Yun Ye was still grateful for the Creator’s gift.

Xinyue waited for a while and found that Yun Ye wasn’t speaking, just stroking her belly with a thoughtful expression. She immediately blushed and shrank toward the inside of the bed, thinking Yun Ye had other thoughts. She wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, leaving only her head exposed, and said while biting her lip: “This will be a whole year. You can’t touch my body, husband. Don’t you have lovers outside? Go find them. But how pitiful—one is on the grasslands, one is in Lingnan, leaving you all alone and miserable. And you don’t fancy Xiao Qiu.”

Such duplicitous nonsense! If Yun Ye really dared to run off to the grasslands or Lingnan, she would burn the Yun Family to ashes—that would be the strange thing if she didn’t. He covered her face with a cloth and patted her head, asking: “Whatever you want to eat, just say it. I’ll personally cook. While I still have the energy, hurry up and say it. After this village, there won’t be this shop.”

Hearing Yun Ye say this, Xinyue immediately pulled off the cloth, sat up and said: “How long has it been since I’ve eaten food you cooked? Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. That braised pork ribs is very good, I also want sweet and sour meatballs. The lotus seed soup you prepare tastes better than what others make. Forget about fish—too many bones, troublesome to eat. The wild vegetables you season are also fragrant, and those boiled white chicken pieces are delicious too. That’s all for now. You go busy yourself. I need to rest for a while. When the food is ready, send a maid to call me.” Xinyue covered her mouth and yawned, twisted her body like a grub a few times, and burrowed back into the blanket.

Yun Ye smiled helplessly. Before Xinyue was pregnant, she didn’t have the nerve to arrange for him to do this and that. Now the child gave her sufficient reason. The one who caused all this was actually himself. Wearing the skin of a great scholar, whether at court or at home, he always had that insufferably superior appearance, which brought tremendous psychological pressure to Xinyue. This wasn’t the way for husband and wife to get along—it needed improvement.

After instructing the maids to tidy up the tent, Yun Ye returned to the kitchen and found Shishi holding a bowl eating some blackened, burnt rice. This immediately infuriated Yun Ye. “Who did this?” Yun Ye loudly demanded.

Hearing the commotion, Old Qian rushed over and quickly snatched the rice bowl from Shishi’s hands, saying to Yun Ye: “Marquis, the cooks were all busy listening to the news about the two young madams’ pregnancies and forgot to tend the fire. As a result, the rice got burnt. This old slave has already had them prepare new rice. I’m also not clear on how the young miss came to be eating burnt rice.”

“Master, they didn’t give it to me. I dug it out myself. I saw them all eating it, so I ate it too. Grain cannot be wasted.”

Since this matter wasn’t someone making things difficult for Shishi, Yun Ye didn’t think much of it. Seeing that Old Qian was also eating burnt rice, he nodded, took Shishi with him into the cooking tent, and prepared to personally cook a few dishes.