Chapter 655: Heartache

Editor: Atlas Studios

The courtyard instantly fell silent. When everyone saw Mu Yangling, they knelt down one after another. Mu Yangling stared at them for a long time until cold sweat appeared on their foreheads. Then, she asked, “Where’s the stewardess?”

Someone replied fearfully, “Her Highness, Nanny Xia is serving Madam by her side.”

“Is there only one stewardess in the residence? Are there other stewardesses?”

Immediately, three maidservants stepped forward and knelt down again.

Mu Yangling said, “Take care of your own people and pack up the things you’re in charge of. The rest of you, stop packing and do whatever you need to do normally. Your madam is sick and needs to recuperate. If I hear you making such a din again, I’ll chase you out.”

Everyone’s hearts trembled as they agreed respectfully.

Little Madam Xia was lying on the bed with a pale face, the strong smell of medicine wafting in the room. Nanny Xia was holding a medicine bowl and persuading her in a low voice. When she saw Mu Yangling enter, she quickly stood up and bowed. She reported to Little Madam Xia in a low voice, “Madam, Her Highness is here.”

Little Madam Xia turned around and was about to get up when Mu Yangling took two steps forward and held her down. “Lie down. Why are you being so polite with me?”

Mu Yangling turned to look at the medicine bowl that Nanny Xia had placed at the side and said, “This medicine is about to turn cold. Drink it while it’s hot.” As she spoke, she personally picked it up and handed it to her.

Little Madam Xia smiled bitterly and did not refuse again. She raised her neck and drank it, then pressed her lips with a handkerchief and said with a bitter smile, “This medicine is not very useful. It’s just a placebo.”

Hearing her say this, Mu Yangling was shocked. Could it be a terminal illness? “What illness? What did the doctor say?”

Little Madam Xia’s eyes turned red. With her head lowered, she sobbed softly, but she did not say a word. She was a gentle and weak person to begin with, and that complaint just now was already her limit.

After interacting with her for so long, Mu Yangling knew her personality. She turned around and looked at Nanny Xia. Nanny Xia knelt down and said, “Your Highness, please persuade our Madam.”

Mu Yangling looked at Little Madam Xia and said to Nanny Xia with a dark expression, “Speak.”

Nanny Xia’s eyes were slightly red as she said, “Old Madam sent a letter from the capital rebuking our Madam for failing to get pregnant even after marrying into the family for so long. She wondered if there was any problem with Madam. Since the Duke is not getting any younger, she reminded Madam that he shouldn’t delay the matter of having children anymore. Therefore, the Old Master and Old Madam took the decision to give the Duke a concubine. The concubine is already on her way here.” Nanny Xia said in distress, “Our Madam has been nursing her health for the past six months, but it’s not like she can conceive at will…”

Nanny Xia was also anxious. Previously, when they were in the capital, they could say that Madam couldn’t get pregnant because the Duke was too busy and didn’t sleep with her. However, in the past three to four months, ever since they arrived in Qiannan, although she did not dare to say that the Duke would enter Madam’s room every night, they would do it every few days. From this, it could be seen that the couple was loving. However, up till now, Madam still couldn’t conceive.

Not to mention the old master and old madam far away in the capital, even she and Madam were extremely anxious.

Mu Yangling waved her hand and let the servants go down, leaving only her and Little Madam Xia in the room. Mu Yangling held her hand and asked, “But what’s wrong with your body? What did the doctor say?”

Little Madam Xia blushed slightly, but she still said truthfully, “The doctor said that my qi and blood are a little irregular, but it’s not a big problem. I also know that everyone is looking forward to Second Master’s eldest son, so I’ve been taking medicine to nourish my body for the past six months. Didn’t I borrow an imperial physician from you to check on me? He said that my foundation is not bad, and my qi and blood are only irregular because I’ve been anxious recently and not eating on a regular schedule. There are no major issues.” Little Madam Xia frowned and sighed. “But I just can’t get pregnant. In the past, in the capital, it could be said that Second Master was busy with government affairs and couldn’t go home. However, ever since we came to Qiannan, Second Master has returned to the residence almost every night…”

Mu Yangling was troubled. Could it be Fan Zijin’s problem?

Mu Yangling didn’t dare to ask. She only said, “Are you too anxious? I heard of a woman who kept failing to get pregnant because she was too anxious to conceive. However, once she relaxed and just let things be, she got pregnant. Ultimately, the root of the problem was that she was too nervous.”

Little Madam Xia’s eyes lit up and she said, “The imperial physician said the same thing, but how can we simply decide not to be anxious?”

Mu Yangling patted her hand and said, “Don’t be anxious. When we move to the new residence, we’ll go out and climb mountains together. When you’re in a good mood, you won’t be anxious anymore. Pregnancy can’t be rushed.”

Seeing that her frown had not subsided, Mu Yangling said in a low voice, “Don’t worry. Although Aunt and Uncle sent a concubine to serve him, it’s precisely because they sent her that Cousin will definitely not touch her. Moreover, Cousin is determined to have a legitimate eldest son. You’ve only been in Qiannan for three months, not three years.”

Hearing Mu Yangling’s words, Little Madam Xia slowly heaved a sigh of relief. She held Mu Yangling’s hand and sobbed. “Ah Ling, thank you for enlightening me.”

Mu Yangling patted her hand and said, “Rest first. Don’t busy yourself for the next few days. I’ll help you pack up things in your residence. When we move over, we’ll go out and play. If the brothers have the time, our families can go out together, too. Perhaps then you’ll conceive.”

Little Madam Xia blushed slightly.

When Nanny Xia entered the house again, she heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Little Madam Xia did not look as glum as before. Knowing that Mu Yangling had talked sense into her, she quickly touched the booklet and reported, “Madam, we’re almost done packing the things in the east and west rooms. When would you like us to pack the things in the storeroom?”

Little Madam Xia pointed at Mu Yangling and said with a smile, “Ask Her Highness. Her Highness said that she wanted to help me just now.”

Mu Yangling said with a smile, “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll empty your storeroom?”

Little Madam Xia covered her mouth and laughed. “You actually fancy those things of mine?”

Seeing her smile brightly, Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief and made arrangements for the Fan Residence, only returning home when the sun set in the evening. Little Bear made a fuss and wanted to go to the courtyard to play, so Mu Yangling handed him to Rain and asked Mama Wang to call Imperial Physician Wang over to ask about Little Madam Xia’s health.

Imperial Physician Wang’s answer was the same as Little Madam Xia’s. He also repeatedly guaranteed that Little Madam Xia was fine and had a good foundation because she had been drinking medicine to strengthen her foundation.

Mu Yangling thought for a moment and asked in a low voice, “Could it be Young Master Zijin’s problem?”

Imperial Physician Wang had the same suspicion, but he did not dare to say it. He could only say vaguely, “I’ll only know after taking his pulse.”

“Then go and rest first. I’ll call you if I have other questions.” Mu Yangling felt that it was possible for the issue to lie with either party. Only after Fan Zijin had his health checked could it be confirmed that the problem didn’t lie with him.

Hence, when Qi Haoran returned at night, Mu Yangling placed the dishes on the table and said, “Do you want to invite Cousin over?”

While Qi Haoran was running around the house with his son, he took the time to reply, “Why invite him over? There’s Cousin-in-law taking care of him.”

Mu Yangling waved her hand and asked the people in the room to leave. Then, she softly told him about what had happened today, emphasizing that there was nothing wrong with Little Madam Xia’s health. She said, “…Why don’t you call him over and let the imperial physician take a look at him?”

Qi Haoran’s expression darkened. After a moment of silence, he said, “Got it. Don’t interfere in this matter.”

Little Bear was having fun when he saw his father suddenly stop moving. He patted his father’s head and said, “Go, go—” As he shouted, he tightened his grip on his father’s neck.

“Sigh—” Qi Haoran put away the gloom on his face and scurried around the room again. Little Bear giggled. Mu Yangling felt her ears itch and hurriedly waved. “Alright, alright. The food is ready. Come and eat quickly.”

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