WBSGVS Chapter 148 V1

The first day of summer marked exactly twenty days since Qingli had arrived in this world. On this day, Doctor Zhang came for his final check-up.

He had already declared her body healthy the day before. After prescribing her last dose of medicine, he would return to the Mu family.

“Miss, your body has fully recovered.” Doctor Zhang withdrew his hand with a smile. “You don’t need to take any more medicine. If anything feels off, just send someone to call me.”

Qiyue suddenly asked, “When will Madam be able to conceive again?”

Doctor Zhang was just about to answer when Qingli cut in with a laugh, “Qiyue, I just had a miscarriage. Even if I seem fine on the outside, my body still needs time to recover. Pregnancy isn’t something to rush, right?”

Doctor Zhang’s eyes flickered as he followed her lead. “That’s right. You should rest—ideally for at least half a year.”

“Understood. Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Zhang.” Qingli nodded.

Qiyue gave her a strange look, trying to discern any hidden intentions. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she assumed Qingli was just being cautious with her health and sent Doctor Zhang off.

That afternoon, after hearing that Doctor Zhang had left, Xie Rongyun came by.

Since Qingli’s arrival, she had treated him with indifference. And after what had happened with Xie Yuning, he now had to write her a love poem every day. At first, it wasn’t too difficult, but as the days dragged on, it became exhausting. He even started using “being busy” as an excuse to skip visiting her.

For him to show up now, he must have had a reason.

Sure enough, before Qingli could speak, Xie Rongyun smiled and said, “Now that Doctor Zhang has left, you must be feeling much better, A’Li.”

Qingli glanced at Qiyue.

Qiyue promptly responded, “Doctor Zhang said Madam’s miscarriage took a toll on her body. She shouldn’t conceive for at least half a year. She needs ample time to recover.”

Xie Rongyun’s smile faded slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes. “It’s alright. Your health is what matters most, A’Li.”

Qiyue lowered her head, pursing her lips. She still couldn’t understand why Qingli was doing this, but since she was loyal, she chose to remain silent.

Qingli, however, seemed pleased. She grinned and said, “Husband, you’re so kind. By the way, where’s today’s poem?”

Xie Rongyun’s expression stiffened for a moment before he forced a smile. “It’s been over ten days now. Can you grant me a few days of mercy?”

“Absolutely not!” Qingli tilted her head, suppressing the disgust that rose in her stomach. Acting willful, she insisted, “I want it!”

This man, since he loves putting on a show, should let the whole world see it. That way, when he eventually messes around with my younger cousin, everyone will know just how much of a hypocrite he truly is.

A cold sweat broke out on Xie Rongyun’s back. With a forced smile, he quickly changed the subject. “By the way, Mu Lan’er has been staying at our home for quite a while now, looking for you. Why haven’t you gone to see her?”

“Huh? I forgot!” Qingli gasped dramatically, feigning regret. “I’ve been feeling unwell these past few days, always drowsy. No one reminded me, so it completely slipped my mind. Lan’er’s still here? She’s been staying this long?”

“She’s afraid that if she returns home, Second Uncle will send her to be a concubine for one of his superiors.” Xie Rongyun explained.

Qingli squinted at him. “And how do you know this so well?”

“I ran into her on the way here and asked.” Xie Rongyun remained composed. “Since you’re alone at home, wouldn’t it be nice to have her keep you company?”

“That makes sense.” Qingli nodded without hesitation.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Xie Rongyun immediately excused himself. Before long, Mu Lan’er arrived, carrying a few embroidered handkerchiefs. She offered them to Qingli with a sweet smile. “Third Sister, I made these for you. Do you like them?”

Qingli picked them up and examined them. She nodded approvingly. “The embroidery is quite nice. I like them.”

Mu Lan’er’s smile deepened. Despite her delicate beauty, she looked pure and innocent. “I’m glad you like them. I’ll make more for you.”

“No need for more handkerchiefs. I’ve been meaning to make a new set of clothes. Lately, my dresses have been feeling a little tight. Why don’t you embroider something on the fabric for me?” Qingli suggested casually.

Mu Lan’er’s expression stiffened slightly before she quickly smiled again. “Of course! What pattern would you like?”

Qingli thought for a moment before picking up a brush and paper. She sketched out a complicated floral design and handed it over. “This one. Can you do it?”

Mu Lan’er clenched her teeth before forcing another smile. “Of course!”

“Thank you for your hard work.” Qingli patted her shoulder.

Mu Lan’er curled her lips into a soft smile and, as if by chance, said, “It’s no trouble at all. Third Sister has been so kind to me. This is just a small favor. When you have a child, I’ll even embroider something for my little nephew. By the way, when do you plan to have a baby?”

“No rush.” Qingli waved a hand dismissively, nibbling on the fruit Qiyue handed her. “My body is still recovering. It’ll take a year.”

Qiyue’s hand twitched mid-motion. Wait… now it’s a year?

Mu Lan’er frowned in concern. “But Third Brother-in-law is already twenty-one. Won’t he be unhappy about waiting so long? Maybe you should consult another doctor to see if you can recover sooner?”

“What if he decides to take a concubine?”

Qingli sighed as if troubled. “Ah, my body truly isn’t ready. But… if he insists, I…”

She trailed off, her expression unreadable—not exactly angry, but not indifferent either.

Mu Lan’er’s heart pounded wildly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Third Sister wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of Xie Rongyun taking a concubine.

Afraid of saying too much and revealing her thoughts, Mu Lan’er swiftly changed the subject, steering the conversation toward embroidery patterns, as if her earlier words had just been casual remarks.

A Sleepless Summer Night

Summer had arrived, bringing stifling heat. Even with a maid fanning her, sweat trickled down Mu Lan’er’s back.

Since she was merely a guest in the household, she dared not ask for ice, especially given her guilty conscience. Once the ice she’d been given ran out, she simply had to endure the heat.

Unable to sleep, she threw on a light robe and wandered outside, replaying the day’s conversation in her mind. Did I say too much? Did Third Sister suspect anything?