Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 45: My Lady is Pregnant with Twins

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: My Lady is Pregnant with Twins

Cui Yun went to see Old Master Cui again, staying for a full 15 minutes. Upon returning to the study, he didn’t rush to sift through the towering piles of case documents.

He closed his eyes, weariness on his face, and pressed the aching spot between his eyebrows.

Ji Xin brought a bowl of ginseng tea from the kitchen and handed it to Ji Qing. Seeing no one around, she covered her mouth and whispered.

"Word has spread of master’s return, and there’s excitement in the estate again. Today, three cousins came by, probing subtly and blatantly for information. The most cunning one even tried to fit her bracelet onto my hand."

Ji Qing frowned and inevitably gave her a detailed reminder.

"If you develop a second heart, not to mention master’s punishment, I will be the first to not tolerate you."

"I know, of course I wouldn’t accept it."

If master liked her, she would willingly offer herself to him, but if he didn’t, then not to mention a bracelet, even if all her possessions were dumped on her, she would be considered a loser if she wavered and blinked even slightly.

Ji Qing felt relieved at this and then carried the ginseng tea inside.

Cui Yun was in the study; he never needed anyone to serve him. Just as Ji Qing was about to leave, she heard the man issue an order indifferently.

"Summon Ni Kang."

Ji Qing hastily responded.

Ni Kang had anticipated that Cui Yun would summon him and arrived quickly. Before Cui Yun could ask, as soon as he entered, he volunteered the information.

"Presumably, you have also taken Miss Shen’s pulse, Marquis; you should have some idea about her condition. Indeed, in my years of practicing medicine, I have never seen such a bizarre pulse."

According to her weak pulse, Shen Hua should be like an oil lamp running out, bedridden with illness.

But since coming from Fengzhou, Shen Hua only vomited blood a few times.

On the way here, Cui Yun also observed Shen Hua.

She suffered from severe lethargy, but once she had rested well, it was like a parched and barren field showing signs of new life. Even though she remained weak and seemed pitiable, her spirit and vitality had considerably improved.

Perhaps even Shen Hua herself had not noticed this.

Ni Kang: "I initially thought she was poisoned, but her blood showed no anomalies."

Cui Yun leaned back in his chair and lowered his gaze in contemplation.

Ni Kang, seeing Cui Yun silent, assumed he was heartbroken

"Her condition also absolutely does not resemble being poisoned with Gu."

At this point, considering that the patient was the delicate Miss nurtured by Cui Yun himself, Ni Kang restrained the urge to suggest preparing for her eventual passing.

"Souping her with high-quality medicinal materials should extend her life for another five years without any accidents. Of course, during this time, I will keep thinking of solutions, and it’s not impossible to find some clues."

Five years.

Cui Yun’s expression relaxed significantly.

As long as Xie Xun returns, it’s fine if Shen Hua is still alive. As for how long Shen Hua can live, to speak harshly, what does it have to do with him?

————

The pear garden was situated deep in a small alley, but even though it was secluded, it wasn’t outside in a rural estate, and several households lived nearby.

The house was usually locked, but some people took notice that servants had come to clean it a few days ago.

When talking about this, the woman sewing shoes in the alley couldn’t help but relay the events of the morning.

"Upon seeing that my household was making dumplings, I kindly brought them over, just as a neighborly gesture. But who would have thought, I didn’t even enter the gate when I was blocked by two attendants."

She actually had her own motives; in this small alley, the pear garden was by far the most lavish. All their few households combined weren’t half as large as the pear garden.

The people who would move in, would their status be simple?

Even if one couldn’t gain any benefit, it’s still better than making an enemy.

But to her dismay, she was turned away at the door.

She huffed: "If you don’t want it then don’t take it, why humiliate people? Those attendants even dared to ask what filling was in the dumplings."

Those nearby overheard and frowned along.

"Who doesn’t know about your excellent cooking skills, Sister-in-law Cao? What’s wrong, could it be they were poisoned, or is that lady’s stomach so precious?"

"Forget it, forget it. In the future, better to avoid such people."

As everyone was talking, they heard the pear garden’s main gate being opened from the inside.

The young lady was wrapped in a round and plump mink fur, a hood covering half her face; she watched the ground as she walked, slow and cautious. Behind her followed an old woman and a maid, along with two followers sent by Cui Yun.

"It’s cold outside, young lady, why bother going outdoors? You could simply make a list, and let the servant and Cheng Gui do the shopping for you."

Without a sedan chair or a carriage, walking was the only option, wasn’t it?

Yicui couldn’t bear to see Shen Hua endure hardship.

On the contrary, Nanny Cheng smiled: "It’s good for the young lady to walk around, much better than being cooped up inside all day."

Last night, behind everyone’s back, Shen Hua secretly wept. She also concealed the conversation between Ni Kang and Ji Ge.

It’s okay, she can adjust her mood by herself.

To live another day is a grace of rebirth; she shouldn’t be too greedy.

Having thought it through, Shen Hua ate a lot this morning, and now she felt uncomfortably full; she placed her hand over her lower abdomen, walking very carefully for fear of slipping.

The little girl had a sharp chin but her skin was so pale and clear it was almost translucent. Yet it didn’t show much color; she woke up early in the morning and, facing the copper mirror, put a lot of effort into applying a thin layer of rouge.

As they got closer, their view became clearer.

Crimson lips, black hair, skin fair as snow - she was like a jade emitting fragrance. In a few more years, what then?

Shen Hua smiled at this group of women busy making shoes. As long as she wasn’t scolding anyone, the cold aura around her seemed to fade.

"I’m new here, could you tell me where to find the best ready-to-wear clothing store in Shengjing?"

She needed to buy clothes not only for herself but also for Yicui and the others.

Just a second ago they were gossiping, upon seeing her they suddenly felt embarrassed.

One of the women, perhaps feeling guilty for offering dumplings, hurriedly said: "The young lady could visit Yunxiang Pavilion on Gongchen Street."

Shen Hua noted it down, and perhaps feeling spirited, she sweetly thanked: "Thank you, Sister-in-law."

The woman: ...

What’s wrong with a young lady being cautious with food she takes from others? What if she doesn’t fancy those dumplings?

Her gaze dropped to the mink fur. She couldn’t see Shen Hua’s slender figure clearly, but that motion of her holding her lower abdomen...

The woman: "How many months are you, young lady?"

Shen Hua was taken aback.

"With the snowy roads being slippery, the young lady should be careful, especially with you being with child."

The woman’s concern couldn’t be more sincere, with no hint of mockery; Shen Hua, a reasonable girl, wouldn’t be annoyed.

Since coming here, Shen Hua had to meet Xie Xun. She would inevitably stay in this place for some time.

She assigned herself an identity according to the storybooks.

"Our family business has fallen on hard times, it’s been difficult to make ends meet. We even had to sell the old family house in a hurry, and that’s why we quickly moved here. From now on, I can’t help but inconvenience all of you Sister-in-laws."

The people in the alley smiled sympathetically upon hearing this: "Where is your husband then?"

Shen Hua followed with a smile: "He’s dead."

Yicui: ...

Nanny Cheng: ...

The people’s looks toward Shen Hua were filled with inexplicable pity.

The open-hearted smile of Shen Hua turned into a forced smile in their eyes.

The dumpling-selling woman, thinking of the young and lonely girl, took out her experience in prenatal care and taught her.

"Just call me Sister-in-law Wang, young lady. You can’t be careless with nurturing the fetus, especially the first one."

"Have you looked for a midwife yet? You must choose one early; for a good midwife, people book a half year in advance."

Shen Hua cooperated very well.

She nodded seriously as part of the act.

To maintain her new identity as someone whose family had fallen upon hard times, the girl who wouldn’t bother to glance at gold pieces at her feet was inquiring diligently.

"Is it expensive?"