Chapter 22: The Dead General Returns 4
Indeed, Yuan Jingchen kicked him, but it was clear he held back his strength. Qian Fu feigned pain and rolled, "Oh my, my Lord, who has angered you? Your servant will go get revenge for you right away."
"Hmph, that woman inside angered me. Why don't you get revenge for me and see!"
Qian Fu: Oh dear, these two masters have fallen out. His days will be difficult from now on.
A month quickly passed. One day, Old Madam called Ning Yan to eat with her. During the meal, she brought up Ning Yan's shops, "My daughter-in-law, your health hasn't been very good lately. Just leave the shops to the butler to manage, so your condition doesn't worsen. You just need to rest well in the residence."
Ning Yan understood that the old hag had belatedly reacted. Since she hadn't come to Rongshou Hall to pay her respects, the Old Madam had found an excuse to take over her shops.
She really knew how to dream big. "Ugh~"
Old Madam had just picked up a piece of braised pork, and that "ugh" made her lose her appetite immediately.
She wanted to scold her, but Ning Yan was still retching.
Xiangluan and the other maids anxiously scurried around, "Madam, what's wrong with you? Quick, go fetch the Dr.!"
General Cheng's Residence didn't have a Dr., being from the countryside, they usually didn't think of that.
A maid quickly ran out. Old Madam's eyes suddenly lit up. Her daughter-in-law's condition, how could it be that she was pregnant?
"Xiangluan, when was your Madam's last period?"
Xiangluan quickly replied, "Madam's monthly change of clothes is already more than ten days late this month."
Old Madam clapped her hands. Her son had just left a month and a half ago. "Good, good! Yan'er is pregnant!"
Her son was truly amazing, hitting the mark on the first try!
Now, their Cheng family finally had an heir, and she could face the ancestors of the Cheng family with pride.
The Dr. quickly entered with his medicine box. After taking her pulse, he immediately congratulated Old Madam: "Congratulations, Old Madam, General Cheng's Madam is already over a month pregnant.
Madam's health is also excellent; she doesn't even need to take anti-miscarriage medicine. As long as she maintains a good mood at all times and is happy every day, you, ah, just wait to hold a big, chubby grandson."
He had never seen a child's pulse so strong at just over a month old. It was definitely a big, chubby boy.
"Good, good, good! Quick, Hong'er, give out rewards. My daughter-in-law, if there's anything you want to eat, be sure to tell mother. We can't let anyone suffer, especially my little grandson."
Ning Yan's face immediately lit up with joy, "Really, Mother? Your daughter-in-law wants to drink ginseng chicken soup and also bird's nest. I used to drink these every day at home, but I haven't had them since my dowry was lost.
Your daughter-in-law also wants to see beautiful things. All the old clothes are no longer pretty. Your daughter-in-law wants to replace them all with new ones.
I heard that during pregnancy, if the pregnant woman is in a good mood and sees beautiful things, the baby will be more beautiful and healthier.
Mother also wants me to give birth to a beautiful and healthy child, right?"
Old Madam: ...
In the end, Old Madam gritted her teeth and prepared everything for Ning Yan. Bird's nest and ginseng chicken soup were served daily, all clothes and jewelry were remade, and her room's furnishings were also replaced with a new batch, many of which were from Old Madam's own room. To make Ning Yan happy, they were all moved over.
As for the shops, she dared not mention them again. What if it made her daughter-in-law unhappy?
The spy remaining in the Cheng Residence immediately sent the news of Ning Yan's pregnancy to the palace.
That night, a certain person came again.
"Why are you here again?"
Yuan Jingchen gritted his teeth: "Tell me the truth, is this child my seed?"
Ning Yan spread her hands, "Whether it is or not, you don't lack children, do you?"
It is yours! But you can't snatch it back from me, can you?
Although their interactions were few, Yuan Jingchen understood her character too well. If she said that, then the child in her belly was his!
"You must immediately divorce him. My child cannot recognize another as his father."
Ning Yan rolled her eyes, "Then I'll abort the child."
If he couldn't recognize another as his father, why would she even give birth?
Yuan Jingchen: ...
Listen, listen, listen, is what this woman saying even human language?
She was being arrogant because she was pampered!
So, a certain person was angered away again.
But the next evening, he had many good things brought over: jewels, accessories, fabrics, servants, and a large box of silver notes.
The servants were arranged to enter in the name of an old servant from Zhen Guo Duke's Mansion. Ning Yan didn't mind him placing people around her, so she accepted them all. Who would want to suffer when they could live comfortably?
She didn't have experienced old wet nurses by her side, so the few he sent were just what she needed.
She would certainly not refuse jewelry and accessories; she liked all beautiful (valuable) things.
Seeing that she didn't refuse, the person in the palace was now satisfied and didn't lose his temper for several days.
Time passed quickly. Ning Yan's child was already over six months old. She called Su Yang in advance and gave her instructions.
"Will the General really appear in that village?"
Ning Yan nodded: "You wait there in advance, break both of his legs, and then give him some medicine. This one child in my belly is enough for General Cheng's Residence."
Su Yang looked a bit conflicted upon hearing this: "Madam, why don't we just..." As she spoke, she made a gesture of cutting down with a knife.
Ning Yan chuckled: "That would be too easy for him! Don't worry, he'll have his time to die."
Oh my, the General even had to wait for his master to arrange the time of his death. How pitiful!
Su Yang wanted to laugh but managed to hold it in, then accepted the order and left.
Five more days passed. Ning Yan specifically took her maids out to inspect her shops and farms. In her previous life, when the news of Cheng Shaowu's death arrived, the Original Host cried herself unconscious and, upon waking, was met with a torrent of abuse from the old hag.
This time, it was her turn. She wouldn't shed a single tear for that scoundrel.
She had just finished inspecting the farm when a servant from the residence came to report: General Cheng had died on the battlefield. Old Madam had fainted upon hearing the news. Young Madam, please return to the residence quickly to take charge of the situation!
Ning Yan immediately closed her eyes and slumped down. Xiangluan and the others, who were already prepared, quickly supported her, "Quick, go call the Dr., Madam might have moved her fetal qi."
The messenger boy wished he could slap himself a few times. He had been so anxious that he forgot Madam was six months pregnant.
If anything happened to the child in Madam's belly, when Old Madam woke up, she would surely flay him alive!
Ning Yan rested at the farm for three days before returning to General Cheng's Residence, and she had to be carried in; she couldn't even get up.
After returning to the residence, she also had to face a paralyzed mother-in-law.
Then, the six-month pregnant General Cheng's Madam, after three days of rest, as soon as she could get up, she dragged her sickly body to attend to her mother-in-law every day, taking care of her meticulously. In less than half a month, Ning Yan's reputation for virtue spread throughout the capital.
But in reality, she merely personally fed her mother-in-law a bowl of medicine each day during the Dr.'s rounds; all other work was done by the maids in Old Madam's courtyard. Of course, these maids did it willingly.