Chapter 19
Mrs. Liu had not been favored for many years. After giving birth to Gu Jia and Gu Min, she never got pregnant again. The few children in the Gu manor were all born by concubines.
As an unsettled lady, she was inevitably lonely and depressed -
"Could it be that she got a lover?" Yanzhi widened her big eyes.
Gu Ying frowned slightly, "It's not clear yet. I know A Ning can't continue taking medicine from Dr. Liu anymore."
In her previous life, Dr. Liu was just a fleeting glance in her life. After she got married, her brother also died, and Dr. Liu's whereabouts were unknown. She didn't ask about him either.
However, since she was reborn, she should investigate properly.
"Yanzhi, let's go back first. Don't let Dr. Liu and others become wary. Otherwise, we might startle the snake in the grass. It will be difficult to investigate what we want," said Gu Ying.
"Yes, young lady."
...
After returning to Murmuring Snow Lodge, Gu Ying solemnly hung the Bow of Li King on the wall.
After tidying up, Yanzhi leaned on the table, watching the seven pearls gleaming with great interest.
"What does the young master mean by gifting the young lady seven Night Luster Pearls? I understand very well. But gifting a bow, what does it mean?"
Gu Ying stood in front of the Bow of Li King with her head slightly raised and a clear gaze, "Oh? What do you understand?"
Yanzhi smiled teasingly with her cheeks in her hands, "Seven, pearls, means, I, will, be, your, wife."
Gu Ying chuckled, "Far-fetched."
Yanzhi pouted her lips, "I still have some talent in guessing the meaning."
Gu Ying smiled faintly and looked over, "Then guess now, what is your young lady thinking?"
Yanzhi rolled her eyeballs around and said, "The young lady is thinking about what valuable gifts we should give in return for the young master's generous presents." Gu Ying raised her slender eyebrows in surprise, "You little maid actually guessed right."
Yanzhi smiled proudly, "Hehe, how about it? Let me boldly guess again what gift the young lady wants to give back."
Gu Ying's eyebrows rose even higher as she waited for Yanzhi's answer.
Yanzhi stroked her non-existent beard mysteriously and said in a low voice, "In five days, the Royal Winter Hunt will take place. The young lady wants to give the young master a deer. How about it, did I guess correctly?"
Gu Ying was speechless, she had been completely seen through.
Deer were sacred beasts. They would become Cyan Deer after a thousand years and Mysterious Deer after two thousand years. Every year, twelve deer would be released into the royal hunting grounds.
If someone hunted down a sacred deer in the hunting grounds, they would receive a reward from the Emperor.
If they didn't want the reward, they could give the hunted sacred deer to someone they wanted to gift it to, meaning they owed that person a wish.
As long as that person made any request, as long as it did not violate the ethics of Jianghu, the person who gifted the sacred deer must fulfill it.
She had thought about it. This was the only way to repay the young master for his great help.
"Is the second young lady in the yard?"
While the mistress and maid were talking, a woman's voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard.
Yanzhi was instantly nervous, "Young lady, not many people come to our small courtyard on ordinary days. It's already late at night, who would come looking for the young lady?"
"It's fine, go take a look," Gu Ying poured herself a cup of hot tea and took a slow sip, "Even if the sky falls down, your young lady will hold it up."
Yanzhi was relieved and went out to open the door. She saw Qing Bi holding a lantern and leading a woman in a black cloak standing at the door. She exclaimed in surprise, "Sister Qing Bi, why did you come so late at night? And this is—"
Aunt Zhao lowered her hat, revealing a pretty white face, "It's me."
Yanzhi was even more confused. She quickly led the two in and closed the courtyard door.
Aunt Zhao turned around and let Qing Bi stay with Yanzhi to guard Murmuring Snow Lodge. She went into the main house alone.
"The second young lady hasn't slept yet?"
"Not yet, Auntie have a seat."
Gu Ying sat under the lamp. The warm yellow candlelight enveloped her exquisitely beautiful face, making her look like a fairy, almost dazzling Aunt Zhao's eyes.
She didn't realize Gu Ying was so good looking before! It had only been two days, how did she become like a different person, as if she had really been possessed by a fairy? Aunt Zhao suddenly felt a sense of admiration. She sat down in front of Gu Ying with a smile, "Second young lady, let's not beat around the bush. I listened to you today and found a doctor to take a look. The doctor said I'm healthy and it's just that I'm pregnant with the master's child."
Seeing Aunt Zhao look rather smug, Gu Ying smiled slightly, "Since Auntie is pregnant with elder brother's child, it's best not to spread the word."
Aunt Zhao pursed her lips. She originally wanted to tell the master this good news to make him happy.
But on second thought, that cheap woman Liu wouldn't even have her own kids, how could she allow others to give birth? She mustn't let this leak out.
She turned to look at Gu Ying, her eyes bright as she eagerly grabbed Gu Ying's little hand, "A Ying, you're Auntie's mentor now. Tell Auntie, will I be able to safely deliver this child in my belly?"
Gu Ying blinked. Was this still the same Aunt Zhao who would snap at her whenever possible in her previous life?
Staring at her pitifully like a little puppy.
"Cough cough, it depends on whether Auntie wants this child or not."
Aunt Zhao quickly said, "Of course I do!"
"As long as Auntie listens to me, it'll be fine."
Aunt Zhao's eyes lit up, "Then immortal mentor, is my child a son or daughter?"
Gu Ying felt helpless. Aunt Zhao really took her for a fortune teller?
"Let me calculate it," she happily played along with Aunt Zhao. In the future, Aunt Zhao would certainly take her words as sacred decrees. "Auntie's child will certainly be a son."
"Really!" Aunt Zhao was overjoyed, tightly grabbing Gu Ying's hand with burning eyes.
Gu Ying nodded sagely, "Absolutely true. If it's not a son, Auntie can come kill me."
After all, when Aunt Zhao miscarried in her previous life, the fetus was already formed as a boy, unfortunately he was killed by Liu's schemes.
Ever since then, Aunt Zhao had become a little crazy. Elder brother no longer favored Aunt Zhao either.
Aunt Zhao bluntly said, "Second young lady, you're my benefactor. As long as you can help me keep this child, I'll be utterly devoted to you in the Gu household!"
Gu Ying didn't know how her image had suddenly become so tall in Aunt Zhao's eyes. She quickly smiled, "Auntie is too polite. A Ying will have to trouble Auntie a lot in the future."
"Of course, of course!"
Gu Ying thought for a moment, then gently said, "Since that's the case, starting tomorrow, Auntie can pretend that your period is dragging on abnormally, and that your health is deteriorating daily. Persuade elder brother to invite a highly respected physician to come."
Aunt Zhao paused slightly, a flash of light in her eyes, "I understand! A Ying, you really are an immortal reborn! Auntie understands everything now!"
With endless periods, elder brother wouldn't come to her yard. When Liu knows she can't serve him, her gaze will shift to other yards.
Then by heavily rewarding a trusted doctor, she can nurture the child in her belly secretly.