The Cao Family residence.
After rushing back without pause, they found Chu Jing already awake, her face pale as she clutched her chest, clearly in great discomfort.
Old Madam Cao sat beside her, anxiously asking at the sound of movement, "Is that Ling'er returning?"
Xue Ling hurried inside. "Grandmother, I've brought Old Divine Doctor Qin!"
No sooner had she spoken than the old physician barged in, demanding, "Where is she? Is she still breathing?"
Old Madam Cao froze, but Chu Ruoyan, who had followed them in, quickly explained, "Don’t misunderstand, Old Madam. The divine doctor has a habit of speaking bluntly, but his medical skills are unparalleled!"
Trusting her, Old Madam Cao stepped aside as the old man darted to Chu Jing’s side and took her pulse.
The moment his fingers touched her wrist, his expression shifted dramatically, casting a tense silence over the room.
"D-Divine Doctor, my mother… she isn’t…?" Xue Ling’s voice trembled, dreading news of some incurable illness.
Old Madam Cao watched him nervously, but the old doctor suddenly whirled on Chu Ruoyan, scowling. "This is what you called a life-or-death emergency? She’s not dying—she’s carrying a child!"
Chu Ruoyan’s temple twitched, while Old Madam Cao and Xue Ling exclaimed in unison, "What?!"
Old Divine Doctor Qin released Chu Jing’s wrist, his beard bristling with indignation. "A pulse like rolling beads—what else could it be but a pregnancy? Was this really worth dragging an old man like me out here?"
"Pregnant?!" The room erupted in shock. Xue Ling stammered, "B-But the physician from Hui Chun Hall said my mother’s pulse was erratic, a sign of depleted vitality and imbalanced energies. He claimed he needed to consult his medical texts to diagnose her properly…"
The old doctor sneered. "That quack from Hui Chun Hall dares call himself a physician? What nonsense about depleted vitality! He simply couldn’t detect her deep-hidden pulse and spun you a tale!"
As the group recovered from their astonishment, Old Madam Cao pressed, "Divine Doctor, are you certain? But Jing’er is already at this age…"
"What does age matter? I’ve been tending to her health for years. Didn’t I say she could still conceive without issue? Are you doubting my skills now?" He turned sharply to Chu Jing. "Tell me—have you been exhausted, drowsy, with chest pains and nausea that won’t ease?"
When she nodded, he huffed. "Morning sickness! Such obvious signs, and you all missed them just because of her age. Hmph! She’s over a month along, and judging by the stronger left pulse, it’s likely a boy. You’ve all wasted my time!"
As he fumed, the Cao household burst into celebration.
Chu Jing stared blankly at her belly, hardly believing it, while Old Madam Cao rushed over, torn between embracing her and fearing to hurt her. "Wonderful! Whether it’s a boy or girl, my eldest will have his own flesh and blood at last!"
Xue Ling beamed. "This is wonderful, Mother! I’ll finally have a little sibling!"
No one knew the suffering Chu Jing had endured in the Xue Family over her lack of heirs.
Old Madam Xue had ruined her health, yet blamed her for failing to bear a son.
Now, no matter what, she would have another child—one belonging to the Cao Family.
Chu Ruoyan quickly steered Old Divine Doctor Qin aside, soothing him with promises of future critical cases to test his skills, barely placating his temper.
Xue Ling suddenly said, "Grandmother, shouldn’t we send for Father and share the good news?"
Old Madam Cao clapped her hands. "Right! My old mind is slipping. Fetch my eldest from the palace at once! Tell him his wife is with child and to come home immediately!"
Chu Ruoyan interjected, "Wait!"
At their puzzled looks, she explained, "Old Madam, Cousin, while Aunt’s pregnancy is joyous, have you forgotten about Princess Qingping?"
The mention darkened their expressions. Old Madam Cao scowled. "You fear she’d harm Jing’er?"
Chu Ruoyan didn’t voice her greater concern—Princess Ansheng’s meddling—and only said, "Better safe than sorry. Aunt is barely a month along; the pregnancy is still fragile. We shouldn’t announce it widely yet, don’t you agree?"
Old Madam Cao conceded, ordering, "Then tell the master there’s tremendous news and he must return at once!"
Chu Ruoyan exhaled in relief, then consulted Old Divine Doctor Qin on precautions before he prescribed a tonic. As they stepped into the courtyard, the old man fixed her with a stern gaze.
"Girl, you’re always running about for others. Have you ever asked about your own health?"
Chu Ruoyan paused, realizing she hadn’t suffered any episodes under his care—no chills, no coughing blood. Tentatively, she asked, "Divine Doctor, does this mean I’m recovering?"
"Recovering? Dream on!" He suddenly pressed a spot on her shoulder, sending a sharp pain through her. She paled instantly.
"Feel that? Your chill ailment is congenital. That Young Wen’s treatments were poison masking poison. I’ve mitigated the damage, but you must rest and recuperate. Keep exhausting yourself, and all my efforts will be for nothing—understand?"
Chu Ruoyan nodded hastily. "Thank you for the warning… But with so much unresolved, I can’t rest yet. Is there any way you can help?"
Her pleading smile, eyes curved like crescents, inexplicably reminded him of someone. "You wheedle just like Lang’s mother…"
Grumbling, he produced a small vial. "Heart-protecting pills. Take these with the calming pills I gave you. They’ll sustain you temporarily—but no exerting yourself!"
His tone turned icy. "Especially those techniques Young Wen taught you. Never use them again. Understood?"
Chu Ruoyan’s pupils shrank. "How did you know?"
"Ha! Nothing escapes me. His ‘calming pills’ were poison, and you’ve been poisoning yourself daily. I’ll wager he also taught you internal exercises to delay collapse. But now that I’m purging the toxins, if you keep using his methods, the backlash will kill you. No one could save you then. Clear?"
His final words were a blade.
Chu Ruoyan bowed solemnly.
Suddenly, a Cao Family servant sprinted in, face ashen. "Old Madam! Madam! Disaster—the master was struck by a carriage on his way to Lantai!"
