Qi Qingyu knew it was impolite to pry into her younger brother's private marital affairs.
But her mother's intentions were good, so she had no choice but to steel herself and ask Ye Chutang.
Ye Chutang looked at Qi Qingyu's flushed profile and answered the question with one of her own.
"Why does Elder Sister suddenly ask about this?"
Qi Qingyu stopped beating around the bush and said, "From the exile until now, nearly two months have passed. Sister-in-law hasn't had her monthly cycle, has she?"
Old Madam Qi hadn't originally paid attention to whether Ye Chutang had her period.
It was only because Ye Siyin's bleeding after her miscarriage wouldn't stop that she remembered.
She worried that Ye Chutang might be pregnant without knowing it, so she had her daughter come to probe.
After hearing Qi Qingyu's words, Ye Chutang immediately guessed what Old Madam Qi wanted to ask.
"No, when I was a child I was tormented by the servants, and my health wasn't very good, which caused my cycle to be irregular. It often skips for months at a time."
The reason she didn't simply tell the truth was that if the Qi family knew she was pregnant, they would surely treat her with extreme caution, and the secret of the pregnancy would be hard to keep.
And every extra day she kept it hidden was one more day of safety for the child.
Seeing that her mother had overthought things, Qi Qingyu quickly apologized.
"Sister-in-law, don't overthink it. We're just worried about your health."
She was somewhat disappointed, but more than that, relieved.
Because the road into exile had been grueling, it would have been hard for a child to survive.
Ye Chutang handed Qi Qingyu some lotus seeds and said with a smile, "I understand. Thank you."
Qi Qingyu's anxious heart settled, and she accepted the lotus seeds.
After eating a couple, she asked about Qi Yanzhou's fire poison.
"Sister-in-law, the poison in Azhou's body can be cured, right? Nothing unexpected will happen, will it?"
"The fire poison can be cured, but whether something unexpected occurs isn't up to me."
What would happen in the future, no one could say for sure.
Qi Qingyu's eyelids drooped, her long lashes shading the worry in her eyes.
"A good man is blessed by heaven. Azhou will surely be fine!"
That was said for Ye Chutang's sake, but even more for her own.
Ye Chutang tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear and nodded firmly.
"Of course."
With that, she withdrew her gaze from the center of the lake and turned around.
"Elder Sister, let's head back. We'll rest early tonight and set out early tomorrow."
"Alright, let's go."
The two were just about to leave when they heard a man cry out in alarm.
"Mother! Mother, what's wrong with you?"
His voice was frantic, on the verge of tears, laced with deep worry.
"Is there a doctor? Someone, save my mother!"
Ye Chutang didn't want to get involved in other people's affairs in Dingzhou; she suspected it might be a trap.
She pretended not to hear and didn't stop walking.
Qi Qingyu, although kind-hearted, also knew that given their current situation, it was better to avoid trouble than to invite it.
She followed behind Ye Chutang, continuing toward the entrance of Luoxia Lake.
The man's helpless voice kept going.
"I am Pei Zirong, commander of the Dingzhou garrison. Whoever saves my mother, I'll give him wealth and glory!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Chutang stopped in her tracks.
Qi Qingyu was close behind her and, unable to stop in time, bumped into her slender back.
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong?"
Ye Chutang turned and walked toward Pei Zirong.
"Let's take a look."
Qi Qingyu grabbed Ye Chutang's arm and cautioned, "He's the Emperor's man. This could easily be a setup."
"Even if Pei Zirong were a fool, he wouldn't scheme against us in a place crowded with people."
With the Qi family's current reputation, even the Emperor himself would have to step carefully, let alone a garrison commander.
Seeing that Ye Chutang had made up her mind, Qi Qingyu stopped trying to dissuade her.
The two quickly arrived at the pavilion where Old Lady Pei had collapsed.
Inside the pavilion were only the fallen old lady and the tearful, frantic Pei Zirong.
The people of Dingzhou all knew how filial Pei Zirong was. Fearing they might be dragged into trouble, once Old Lady Pei collapsed, everyone backed far away.
The burly man looked utterly isolated and helpless, pitiful indeed.
When threats of reward failed, Pei Zirong resorted to intimidation.
"What are you all running for? You stood by and watched her die—I'll make you pay with your lives!"
Just as he finished speaking, he saw two beautiful women approach him.
Ye Chutang glanced at the old woman lying on the ground, her face blue and ashen, and introduced herself.
"I am Ye Chutang."
Pei Zirong had never met Ye Chutang, but he knew who she was.
His eyes, red from anxiety, sharpened with wariness.
Because she was a member of the Qi family.
Then, a glint of hope flashed through his eyes.
Because her medical skill was renowned.
Ye Chutang took in the change in Pei Zirong's expression and said, "I can save your mother. Can you give me wealth and glory?"
If Ye Chutang hadn't been part of the Qi family, Pei Zirong naturally could.
But she was...
"Choose the Emperor, or choose your mother. The decision is yours."
The words struck Pei Zirong's heart like a hammer.
He pressed his thick lips together and threatened, "If you don't save my mother, you won't leave Dingzhou alive!"
Ye Chutang gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes and arched an eyebrow.
"Then let's see."
With that, she took Qi Qingyu's hand and left.
Panicking, Pei Zirong lunged forward to grab Ye Chutang.
Just as he was about to catch her clothes, someone appeared and blocked him.
It was the Imperial Guard.
Both of them were far better fighters than Pei Zirong and subdued him in the blink of an eye.
"Madam Qi is not someone you can threaten to kill."
Pei Zirong roared, "I am a third-rank military officer! Release me this instant!"
Hearing this, Ye Chutang let out a light chuckle.
"General Pei is throwing his weight around with the wrong people."
Then her gaze fell on Old Lady Pei, who was breathing out more than she was breathing in.
"Your mother is dying. Save her or not?"
Pei Zirong, still pinned, asked coldly, "What do you want?"
Ye Chutang gestured to the Imperial Guard.
Once they released Pei Zirong, she raised three fingers.
"Three conditions."
"Name them."
"First, kneel and beg me."
Pei Zirong didn't hesitate. He immediately knelt facing Ye Chutang and kowtowed heavily.
"I beg you, Madam Qi, to save my mother. She is kind-hearted, a good person."
Ye Chutang remained unmoved and continued, "Second, one hundred thousand winter coats for the soldiers."
Pei Zirong stood up, stumbling slightly because his legs hurt.
After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "By when?"
"Tomorrow."
In other words, he was to hand over the winter clothing of the Dingzhou garrison!
"Fine."
"Third, swear on your mother's life that you owe me a favor. Even if I ask you to commit murder or commit treason, you will not refuse."
Pei Zirong's body swayed, and his face turned ugly beyond words.
"My sons are held hostage in the capital."
He was a filial son, but also a loving father.
If the favor Ye Chutang demanded was for him to turn against the Emperor, he couldn't agree.
Ye Chutang stepped forward and lowered her voice. "General Pei, I'll give you a benefit, and in exchange, you owe me that favor."
"What do you mean?"
"If the day ever comes that I need you, I will first help you rescue your sons held hostage in the capital. With that as the precondition, in exchange for two favors from you—you won't lose out, will you?"
