Yun Shuyao’s people had gone to Xingtai Prefecture to investigate, but the information wouldn’t come back so quickly. Seeing Concubine Mei’s condition, she first felt relieved—fortunately, Concubine Mei had proposed having the Old Madam oversee her care. Otherwise, if she were managing the household herself, she’d attract trouble even when there was none.

She only needed to manage her own daughter-in-law.

Concubine Mei’s current state… really wasn’t very good.

She hadn’t been a plump person to begin with, but now she was thin as a skeleton. At first, she still had the energy to make a fuss, but later she became docile.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to make a fuss—she simply had no energy left to do so.

Gao Shi was confident in front of her daughter, but privately she was deeply worried.

Her daughter’s reaction this time was even more severe than the last.

She privately sought out Doctor Zhou to talk: “Can Concubine Mei’s pregnancy be preserved?”

Doctor Zhou had also been tormented quite badly. He had to go to Concubine Mei’s courtyard several times each day, and the medicines he prescribed were becoming increasingly numerous.

This child’s pulse had been weak from the start. He’d been concerned but hadn’t thought it too serious—after all, she’d only just become pregnant. But as the days passed and the pulse remained this weak, Doctor Zhou developed a headache.

“I will do my best to preserve it.” Guaranteeing one hundred percent preservation was impossible—he was human, not a god. Even facing the Old Madam, he would say the same thing.

Hearing these words, Gao Yiniang’s heart sank. His words revealed much.

She also began to have bad suspicions in her heart. “If this child has affinity but no destiny, what harm would it cause to her body?”

Hearing Gao Yiniang ask this question, Doctor Zhou’s opinion of her improved somewhat. These words were rather taboo, but she wouldn’t ask unless she cared about her daughter. Doctor Zhou pondered for a while: “Mother and child are one body—there will definitely be an impact.”

The specifics were hard to say.

He had already been forthright with the Old Madam—if things continued this way without improvement, it would be very difficult to preserve the pregnancy.

If the fetus couldn’t be preserved, the mother’s body would also be damaged.

She wasn’t even three months along yet, but fetal-protection medicines had already been applied, and the effects were only mediocre. From the current outlook, things didn’t look optimistic.

The Old Madam had also accepted this. This child’s importance to the Lin family was far less than before. If the young madam’s pregnancy produced a son, the Lin family’s great-grandson generation would have been born. If Concubine Mei’s pregnancy produced a son, it would be icing on the cake. If it was lost, it wouldn’t shake the Lin family’s overall situation.

The yiniang heard his words, her complexion changing slightly. Her brows immediately furrowed, and she couldn’t help but sigh, then forced out a smile: “Concubine Mei and her child are entrusted to Doctor Zhou.”

She performed a courtesy to him with a solemn attitude, without giving any gifts.

Once gifts were given, the meaning would change.

This pregnancy was very important—whether for her daughter or herself, it was a child that couldn’t easily be given up.

Doctor Zhou nodded. “This humble one will do his utmost.”

Watching Doctor Zhou’s departing back, Gao Yiniang was filled with worry. A suspicion formed in her heart—why was it like this?

She had given one of the two pills to someone else. That person’s pregnancy seemed normal—though she had some morning sickness, it wasn’t this severe. Why would it be so terrifyingly dangerous when it came to her daughter?

Could there be something different about this pill compared to the previous one?

Or had this pill been tampered with?

That monk and Taoist definitely had a purpose regarding them, but they hadn’t said anything. Was it precisely because of this that they’d tampered with it, so that she’d have no choice but to seek them out to achieve their goal?

Thinking this far, Gao Yiniang’s face had already darkened. If this was truly the case, then she’d fallen into a pit.

They were waiting for her to come begging! And what’s more, she had no choice but to do so!

At this moment, Gao Shi also felt some lingering fear. At first, she’d even considered taking this pill to present to the Eighth Fujin. The Eighth Fujin had no sons—if she could become pregnant, the Mei family would certainly earn great merit in the Eighth Fujin’s eyes, and it would be a great contribution to the Eighth Prince as well!

However, now that a concubine was with child, the Eighth Prince probably wasn’t so anxious anymore. Moreover, because of their previous unauthorized contact with the Ninth Prince that got them sent back home by the Lin family, they didn’t dare easily get involved with these princes. That’s why they’d thought to first give it to their own daughter to bear a son, then later make plans for the Eighth Fujin. If the Eighth Fujin were in this state now… Gao Shi couldn’t help but shudder.

Once the Eighth Fujin had problems, the Mei family would be finished.

Gao Yiniang held her breath and sent people at the fastest speed to Xingtai Prefecture. This time she had two purposes: one was to check on her friend’s pregnancy situation, and the other was to find that monk and Taoist. They had no Taoist temple or Buddhist temple—she had sought them out herself. But if her people visited that original place several times, they should know she’d come looking.

As long as they were still in Xingtai Prefecture, finding these two people should be relatively easy for the Mei family.

Almost as soon as Concubine Mei’s people left the capital, Yun Shuyao’s people followed right on their heels to Xingtai Prefecture.

The monk and Taoist had now split into two groups.

The lame-footed Taoist was in Jinling, while the mangy-headed monk was in Xingtai Prefecture.

As soon as Gao Shi’s people arrived at that place, the mangy-headed monk knew. After that person made several rounds, he revealed himself. Learning of Concubine Mei’s situation, he was astonished.

They had given Gao Yiniang two pills. These two pills were useless to them, but to childless mortals, they were treasures worth more than a thousand gold pieces. Having exhausted their resources, they’d spent considerable effort acquiring them.

Why would Concubine Mei have such a severe reaction after taking it?!

This shouldn’t be! The other person’s reaction was normal.

The mangy-headed monk was puzzled, but not seeing the person now, however strange it was, there was no way to know the reason.

As for why the pregnant one was Concubine Mei… before giving the medicine to Gao Shi, they had already anticipated this.

Now… the mangy-headed monk was somewhat undecided. He left behind one sentence: “Understood,” then departed.

The remaining person watched the empty space before them, their face even more reverent, their waist inexplicably bending lower by half.

This was definitely an expert!

Yun Shuyao’s people saw the mangy-headed monk from afar. The appearance of the monk and Taoist was too distinctive—people who’d seen them would find them hard to forget.

They truthfully wrote down what they’d heard and seen in a letter, had some people rush it back on fast horses, while another portion continued staying there to observe the subsequent situation.

After Yun Shuyao read the letter: “!!!”

There really was something going on—it actually involved that monk and Taoist’s handiwork. Back then, not long after the Kangxi Emperor’s heaven sacrifice, they were struck by lightning around Jia Manor. Before众目睽睽—everyone’s eyes—they vomited blood and disappeared.

They hadn’t appeared for so long that she’d almost thought they’d been struck dead by lightning. Now it seemed they’d been severely injured.

Now that their injuries had mostly healed, they’d appeared again, and like restless spirits, had gotten involved with the Lin family again.

Yun Shuyao stood up, looking at a thriving tea tree outside the window.

Her supernatural ability was now at level six. From the spirit mirror, she’d obtained crude cultivation methods. She was still in the Qi Refining stage—Foundation Establishment was still very far away. She didn’t know if she could successfully establish her foundation before her death.

Based on her current state, she would definitely live longer than ordinary people, but whether she could exceed the ordinary person’s hundred-year limit—since she was only in her thirties now—couldn’t yet be determined.

Cultivation naturally had benefits.

Great strength, keen hearing and sharp vision—it was precisely because the Lin family environment was peaceful and safe that these abilities had no place to be used. Basically, she just used her supernatural ability to nurture plants and crops, and also to draw talismans.

The rest of her effort went into nurturing the spirit mirror.

After swallowing that Romantic Treasure Mirror, the spirit mirror had recovered over thirty percent—now it was already at forty percent.

Gradual work—Yun Shuyao was still confident she could restore it completely.

This was still under the condition of having no other external aid.

If there was external aid, it would be faster.

Only this external aid was hard to come by.

It had been so long since that amber that helped her rise to level six, and she hadn’t encountered a second instance.

If there was an opportunity, she would also use various methods. Now that this monk and Taoist were entangled with the Jia family and Lin family, was it also for resources that could help them cultivate?

Most likely so.

For this type of people, ordinary worldly gold and silver were easily obtained, requiring little effort.

But what did the current Jia Manor and Lin Manor have that they could use?

Yun Shuyao didn’t dare guarantee for the Jia Manor side, but here at Lin Manor, she’d looked everywhere up and down—there was nothing special.

Could it be intangible things?

Such as merit? Fortune?

Yun Shuyao deeply regretted this—these were her knowledge blind spots, completely unfamiliar.

However, now knowing those two people were still around and hadn’t given up, being prepared, she could prevent trouble before it happened. After being struck by lightning, they were certainly injured—she just didn’t know how severe their injuries were. If she encountered them, who would win and who would lose?

If only she could determine their condition.

And their whereabouts.

Right—the previous wanted notice hadn’t been withdrawn yet! She should have someone remind certain well-informed people. Those two had a very high bounty—even if they couldn’t catch them, tracking their movements would be a great help.

Moreover… the Jia family was in the capital, the Lin family was also in the capital—they should come sooner or later.

As for Concubine Mei’s pregnancy this time, the other side had clearly intervened.

However, judging by Gao Yiniang’s appearance, Concubine Mei’s current state should also be outside her expectations. That’s why she so urgently sent people back to find those two. Once they knew, they should also have a reaction.

In fact, this was indeed the case.

The mangy-headed monk waited until the lame-footed Taoist returned and told him about Concubine Mei’s condition after taking the medicine. The lame-footed Taoist also frowned. “Truly?”

The mangy-headed monk: “Judging by the Mei family’s reaction, it shouldn’t be false.”

The lame-footed Taoist began calculating with his fingers, then spat out a mouthful of blood. The mangy-headed monk quickly went to support him: “You can’t divine anymore!”

The Lin family was tainted with dragon energy—divining came at no small price, and it might not even be accurate. Now they could no longer afford this price. The mangy-headed monk distressedly pulled out a small jade bottle from his bosom and poured out a pill.

The lame-footed Taoist swallowed the medicine, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and stamped his foot in regret: “One misstep causes eternal regret!”

If they hadn’t been caught in Police Fantasy’s trap, how would they have been dragged into this?

Now Police Fantasy had met with trouble and was done with everything, but they couldn’t extricate themselves. They could only continue in this muddy water—otherwise, even without incident, they wouldn’t have many days left.

He quickly made up his mind: “Let’s go—we’re going to the capital!”

The mangy-headed monk hesitated: “Really going to the capital?”

In their current state, going to the capital would suppress them—they’d be no different from ordinary people.

On the contrary, they’d be more suppressed than those who hadn’t yet established foundations.

Once targeted by someone…

The lame-footed Taoist was silent for a while, looking at him: “We’ll change our attire!”

They needed to see Concubine Mei’s condition, and moreover, the Jia family and Lin family were in the capital—they had to go there.

The mangy-headed monk understood this principle, but delaying some time would let their injuries heal more, giving them more confidence when going to the capital.

The mangy-headed monk shook his head and sighed: “Fine, fine, fine! Let’s go—we’ll make this quick.”

These two people changed their attire. Still dressed as a monk and Taoist, but more ordinary, not so conspicuous. However, some characteristics were still quite obvious.

For example, one’s head, one’s lame foot—when the two were together, these characteristics became even more obvious.

Wealth moves people’s hearts. As soon as they entered the capital’s vicinity, people discovered them. Some even found constables to cooperate, wanting to capture them for the reward. But these two people’s footwork couldn’t be compared to ordinary people. After expending considerable effort, they came up empty-handed. However, on Yun Shuyao’s side, she received the news.

“They really came!” Yun Shuyao murmured, her heart rising halfway. After pondering for a long time, she ultimately lacked understanding of these people and didn’t know how strong they were in open combat. However, Concubine Mei was right in the Lin family—if her guess wasn’t wrong, they would definitely come calling.

This made things easier.

She didn’t consider herself a gentleman who had to lay out everything clearly before fighting.

If it was a misunderstanding, then her arrangements wouldn’t come into play. If the other party truly forced their way in, or secretly infiltrated, then there was nothing more to say.

Yun Shuyao took out a jade bottle and shook it.

Magical combat had grown rusty, but when it came to using medicines, she’d accumulated quite a few good things over this long time. Previously, they had no place to be used and could only be shelved. Now they could finally be put to use.