Since it was heard that it might be an internal matter of the Pei family, Xie Zhenning didn't feel it appropriate to say more.
Noticing the gunshot wound on Pei Yu's hand, he expressed concern. After receiving an answer that it wasn't serious, he was helped out of the living room by the Second Concubine.
Bai Liuyue noticed that as he passed by Gu Qinghuai, he gave a slight nod.
How strange?
A Northwest Marshal actively nodding in greeting to a family doctor.
But soon her attention was diverted.
Because Bai Baozhu walked up to Xie Chengxiao with a concerned look, her tone soft and gentle. Bai Liuyue realized she was actually imitating her own way of speaking and pausing.
"Chengxiao, I'm so relieved to see you safe and sound. I've been praying for you at home the whole time. I couldn't bear to imagine how heartbroken I would be if anything really happened to you."
Xie Chengxiao didn't even spare her an extra glance.
He lifted his foot, about to leave.
But then he heard Bai Baocheng speak up, "Dr. Gu, are you here to check my sister's pulse? Is it convenient now?"
Gu Qinghuai nodded.
"Naturally."
Bai Baocheng added,
"Sorry to trouble you, Young Marshal Xie. I'm not entirely clear on my sister's condition. Could I accompany you to have a look? It would put both my mind and our grandfather's back in Jinzhong at ease."
Xie Chengxiao didn't make a sound, but his steps halted; he didn't leave.
Bai Baozhu felt grateful inwardly; thank goodness her brother had come.
Gu Qinghuai wound a white silk thread around her wrist, his expression complicated as he finished taking her pulse and withdrew the thread.
"What is it, Dr. Gu? Is my sister's health alright?" Bai Baocheng asked anxiously.
Gu Qinghuai looked hesitant.
"What's wrong, doctor?" Bai Baozhu herself panicked.
Gu Qinghuai glanced at Xie Chengxiao, then said softly, "Young Marshal Xie, the Young Marshal's wife's pulse seems to be..."
Pei Yu added fuel to the fire from the side:
"Ah, could it be that my cousin's wife is pregnant?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Bai Baozhu's face instantly turned deathly pale.
Nothing had ever happened between her and Xie Chengxiao. Could it be that...
Bai Baocheng, unaware of the truth, thought his sister had conceived Xie Chengxiao's child, and a hint of joy appeared on his face.
Xie Manyu was instantly stunned!!!
What? She was going to be an aunt.
Wait, that's not right. It seems like her brother hasn't even shared a room with his wife.
Just because of Pei Yu's joking remark, the expressions on the faces of the several people in the living room varied greatly. This scene was truly spectacular.
Gu Qinghuai had thoroughly whetted their appetites. After appreciating everyone's expressions, he finally noticed that Bai Liuyue's face remained calm, even devoid of any extra emotion.
Somewhat disappointed, he withdrew his gaze.
And spoke the remaining words.
"The pulse is weak. The Young Marshal's wife must have been a premature baby."
Bai Baocheng nodded repeatedly, feeling this Dr. Gu was a miraculous physician.
He chimed in, "That's right! My mother had a difficult labor when giving birth to Baozhu. She barely survived and has been frail since childhood."
Gu Qinghuai nodded and said, "Then it's no wonder. Physically weak, kidney fatigue, plus currently depressed in mood, I'm afraid her lifespan may not be long."
Bai Baozhu was the one who could least accept this result!
What?!
In this second life she was given, not only had she failed to win back the heart of her Marshal husband, but her lifespan was also short?
Recalling her previous life before rebirth, she seemed to have passed away fragrantly and prematurely in her twenties.
Could this really be her fate?
No, she refused to accept it!
Bai Baocheng took a deep breath, involuntarily sinking back into deep thought.
If it was truly as Dr. Gu said, then his sister's utility value probably wasn't much. A body destined for early death couldn't sustain a significant marital alliance.
Perhaps she could give birth to a child with Xie family blood before passing away.
Then they could arrange for Bai Liuyue to become the stepmother and raise Baozhu's child.
Bai Baocheng silently planned this in his heart.
It seemed they still had to spare Bai Liuyue's little life.
An ordinary pulse reading unexpectedly provoked such varied reactions from different parties.
Xie Manyu's gaze towards Bai Baozhu held a trace of pity, but beyond that, nothing else.
Having experienced the scare of nearly losing her brother, she had already decided that from now on, everything would prioritize Xie Chengxiao.
...
Dinner.
Gu Qinghuai was invited to stay for the meal.
Marshal Xie had also heard about the pulse reading in the living room that afternoon. Knowing Bai Baozhu's lifespan might not be long, his attitude towards her became much gentler.
Not as sharp as before.
Noticing this, Bai Baocheng was pleasantly surprised to discover that perhaps his sister's fatal flaw could be turned into a point of vulnerability for others.
As long as she played pitiful.
If Baozhu cried, saying she only had a few years left to live, that she didn't want to leave the Xie family, that she couldn't bear to part with Young Marshal Xie, it might work.
At the dining table, Bai Liuyue was silent as usual.
Eating her meal by herself.
Sitting diagonally across from her, Pei Yu was as noisy as a chattering little duck, asking her one moment if this dish was tasty, the next if she was unaccustomed to Northwest cuisine.
He also mentioned opening a restaurant in Jinzhong with excellent food, and that he would take her to try it sometime if given the chance.
His desire to take her back to Jinzhong was written plainly on his face.
Xie Manyu's feelings were complicated, but she couldn't stand the sight of her cousin trying to steal from her brother. She couldn't help saying to Bai Liuyue:
"There are plenty of delicious dishes in our Northwest. Although Jinzhong cuisine is good, our Northwest cuisine isn't inferior either."
"Here, try this cured mutton. It's very fragrant."
As she spoke, Xie Manyu picked up a portion with her chopsticks and put it into Bai Liuyue's bowl.
This action drew the attention of others.
Xie Zhenning smiled with great satisfaction, saying to the Second Concubine, "Look, our Manyu has grown up. She even knows how to take care of guests."
"Yes, it must be that our Manyu and Second Miss Bai are kindred spirits," Lan Yingniang echoed with a smile.
Bai Baozhu couldn't help but feel flustered when she happened to catch sight of the scene of someone serving food.
In the past, all this was her treatment.
Why did Xie Manyu seem like a different person? Not only did she not openly speak up for her anymore, she even took the initiative to show favor to her little cousin.
Bai Baozhu pursed her lips.
She never considered herself a sentimental person.
But at this moment, she felt that if she didn't act soon, Xie Manyu would be snatched away by Bai Liuyue.
So she bent down of her own accord and picked up a helping of cold-marinated sand onions with her chopsticks.
Placing it into Xie Manyu's bowl, she said with a light smile:
"Manyu, your favorite sand onions. I was afraid you couldn't reach them."
In the past, whenever she served food with her chopsticks, Xie Manyu would not only happily say 'Thank you, sister-in-law,' but would also eat it immediately to show her appreciation.
But now, Xie Manyu just said 'Thank you' with a calm expression.
And let that portion of sand onions lie quietly at the bottom of her bowl, untouched.
Bai Liuyue tilted her head, curiously staring at that plate of cold mixed sand onions, full of curiosity as she said, "Huh? So this is sand onions. I don't think I've ever had them before."
As soon as the words left her mouth, four pairs of chopsticks simultaneously and neatly picked up the sand onions and aimed them toward her bowl.
