Chapter 16: Are You Expecting?

“Madam! I beg you, the young mistress has been unconscious for hours. Please let me send for a doctor to examine her!”

Meng Lishi’s face hardened as she snapped, “Your young mistress is in poor health now. You’re not attending to her, yet you’re thinking of running off?”

“I will certainly send someone to fetch a doctor, but you must hurry back and take care of the young mistress. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!”

“But, Madam...”

The old matriarch interrupted sharply, “Why are you still kneeling? Hurry back and serve your young mistress!”

Beizhi glanced back at the stern-faced matriarch and dared not plead further. Gritting her teeth, she retreated quietly.

Only after Beizhi left the courtyard did the old matriarch stride toward Meng Lishi, her voice urgent. “If we send for a doctor now, won’t it raise suspicion? Delay it!”

Meng Lishi nodded solemnly. “Yes, that girl often faints unexpectedly. I fear Boji’s suspicion is correct—she truly is with child.”

“Precisely because of that, if she realizes she’s pregnant and holds the upper hand, wouldn’t that make Qingfei’s situation even more difficult?”

“Where are Boji and Qingfei?”

“They’re inside. Mother, be cautious.”

Meng Lishi stepped forward to take over from Nurse Liu, supporting the matriarch as they entered the room.

Inside, Meng Boji and Xia Qingfei bowed respectfully. The matriarch dismissed the formalities and spoke bluntly.

“Now that it has come to this, what’s your plan?”

Meng Boji remained calm.

“The Nan family father and son have been convicted. The Duke’s estate is left with only an old duke with no real power. What can she do to us?”

The matriarch’s disbelief showed as she asked again, “The Nan father and son… really committed treason?”

“This is no lie!” Xia Qingfei stepped forward. “Boji attended court today. The Emperor was furious about this matter!”

The matriarch and Meng Lishi looked to Meng Boji for confirmation, which he gave with a decisive nod.

“Nan Yang has been executed on the spot. Nan Yanxun fled with remnants of the Nan army. The Emperor has ordered a pursuit.”

“The old man, Nan Chuan, will inevitably be implicated and blamed by the Emperor. The entire Nan family cannot escape!”

Hearing this, the matriarch panicked. “But our Meng family is related to the Nan family by marriage. Could we be implicated?”

“That need not trouble us.” Meng Boji’s eyes gleamed coldly. “If necessary… we will sever all ties with the Nan family!”

Meng Lishi worried, “After all, they are relatives by marriage. Our family’s mistress, your current wife, is the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s household!”

“If we cut ties now, Boji, you’ll be scorned for being ruthless and ungrateful, damaging your career!”

“Not at all!” Xia Qingfei quickly reassured Meng Lishi, “Madam, don’t worry. Meng Lang already has a plan.”

Their gazes turned once again to Meng Boji, who remained silent, seemingly burdened.

The matriarch saw through his thoughts.

“You’re considering… using Qingfei’s situation to divorce her?”

Meng Lishi gasped at the suggestion.

Meng Boji pondered. “If she consents to let Qingfei enter the household properly, I wouldn’t have to be so cruel.”

“What exactly do you plan to do?” Meng Lishi asked anxiously.

He paused, then spoke slowly. “Make Qingfei a secondary wife. That way, the relationship between the Meng and Nan families won’t be so conspicuous.”

Meng Lishi was shocked. “You… want to make Qingfei a secondary wife?!”

But Meng Boji’s plan didn’t end there.

“Once Qingfei is accepted into the household, I will entrust her with managing the household affairs. The true mistress won’t be a Nan family member anymore.”

That way, even if someone tried to implicate the Meng family, having an unfavored first wife wouldn’t provide enough grounds.

The matriarch nodded repeatedly. “That’s excellent. It allows Qingfei to enter smoothly and frees us from worrying about the Nan family’s troubles.”

Xia Qingfei lowered her head shyly. The matriarch’s satisfaction grew. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, “What about the child she’s carrying…”

Considering Xia Qingfei’s presence, the matriarch left the question incomplete, but Meng Lishi and Meng Boji understood perfectly.

“We’ll see how she reacts before making any decisions,” said Meng Boji grimly.

Suddenly, Xia Qingfei interrupted, “Madam, Mistress, don’t worry. She’s pregnant, and so am I…”

She shyly covered her face, casting a coquettish glance at Meng Boji.

The three were stunned, looking at her belly. After a long moment, they finally registered the meaning.

The matriarch was the first to express joy. “You’re pregnant?!”

Xia Qingfei nodded, half hiding behind a silk handkerchief, prompting the matriarch to laugh with relief. “Truly a blessing from our ancestors. The Meng family finally has an heir!”

Meng Lishi, however, showed little joy, glancing at Meng Boji with concern.

Even Meng Boji was surprised. “Qingfei, you… are really pregnant?”

“Lately, I’ve felt unwell, often nauseous. I saw a doctor at noon, who confirmed the pregnancy.”

Meng Boji was dumbfounded, unable to respond immediately.

Xia Qingfei teased, “What’s wrong? You’re not happy?”

Meng Boji was taken aback but forced a smile. “How could I not be… of course I’m happy.”

Yet Meng Lishi’s gaze held more worry than joy.

Meng Boji subtly signaled her, and only then did she lower her head.

He took advantage of the moment. “This is good. It gives us a legitimate reason to make Qingfei a secondary wife.”

Exactly what Xia Qingfei wanted to hear—beneath her half-hidden smile lay a hint of cunning.

As dusk fell, dark clouds gathered in the distance, thunder rumbling faintly.

Beizhi, at a loss, hurried to fetch Jiang Li from the guest quarters.

Meanwhile, Nan Yan slipped into a nightmare, restless and drenched in sweat, unable to awaken.

Jiang Li took her pulse, his expression grave. He asked Beizhi, “Why has she fainted again?”

“She fainted after hearing that the general and his son were convicted of treason. The shock overwhelmed her.”

Jiang Li furrowed his brows deeply.

After a moment’s thought, he reached out to Dan Zhu. “Silver needles!”

Dan Zhu quickly opened the acupuncture kit and handed him the needles.

In moments, Nan Yan’s body was covered in needles, the thunder outside adding a dramatic backdrop.

Yet Nan Yan seemed more stable in her sleep; the cold sweat ceased.

Jiang Li told Beizhi, “Bring some hot towels. Don’t let her catch a chill.”

Beizhi rushed to fetch hot water. Jiang Li withdrew the needles and stepped back, leaving Nurse Su to tend Nan Yan.

Nan Yan’s dream was filled with the chaos of war. Blood flowed like rivers.

Her father led a small contingent of the Nan army, fighting desperately while carrying someone drenched in blood on his back.

As her vision cleared, she saw it was Nan Yang!

“Father! Brother!”

Nan Yan cried out, weaving through the battlefield, but no one could hear or see her.

Enemy pursuers surged forward, forcing the Nan army into a fierce struggle, wounded and battered.

Nan Yanxun was gravely injured but refused to abandon the man on his back.

“My son! I will never abandon you—never—”