Chapter 181: Scolded by My Wife

Isn't that a lot? A small half-bowl of heart's blood!

To maximize the medicine's efficacy, I simmered it for about half a month; what's in the bowl is all the essence, so it's naturally rich.

Mu Yu thought so, but showed an embarrassed face: "It's not that much; I just forgot to add licorice—I'll definitely remember next time!"

"So that's how it is." Shen Shuangning said, "No problem, thank you for your hard work."

Having said that, she grabbed a piece of preserved fruit, put it in her mouth, lowered her head to flip through the ledger, her expression serious. She didn't ask even half a sentence about that bowl of medicine.

Mu Yu held the medicine bowl, eyes fixed on Shen Shuangning.

For some reason, I suddenly recalled Xiao Jingyuan's expression that night—he looked exactly like an abandoned dog that had fallen into the water.

Looking again at Shen Shuangning's calm face, Mu Yu inexplicably felt a sense of indignation on behalf of the heir, hesitated a moment, as if making some kind of decision, and spoke:

"Actually, this is the heir's......"

Before the words were finished, Aheng's anxious voice suddenly came from outside.

"Heir's Consort! Something's wrong!"

Shen Shuangning's brow twitched.

Aheng rushed in, bringing bad news.

Shen Miaoyun is having a difficult labor.

All the experienced midwives in the capital had gone to the Wang family; Shen Miaoyun's situation was now critical, and Aheng, who had been out buying supplies, only learned of it by chance upon meeting one of Shen Miaoyun's servants, and hurried back without stopping.

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuangning jumped to her feet, spotted a ready-made female doctor nearby, and immediately grabbed Mu Yu's wrist, urging urgently: "Little Yu, can you deliver a baby?"

Mu Yu blinked: "I can, but......"

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Shuangning hastily dragged her out the door.

Mu Yu's latter half of that sentence was that she had only ever assisted in delivering livestock......

The fast horse arrived at the Zhao family residence of the Loyal and Brave Marquis; the gatekeeper, seeing the visitor, hurriedly led them all the way to Shen Miaoyun's courtyard.

Shen Shuangning's steps didn't cease; thinking of her older sister's difficult labor, she felt terrible. Could it be that in this life, just like in her past one, she would ultimately fail to protect her little nephew?

Mu Yu followed closely behind, silent, already resolved to grit her teeth and go through with it.

The two hurried into the courtyard, but the sight before them made their hearts sink.

They saw several matriarchs and maidservants standing under the eaves, each with red-rimmed eyes wiping tears; the vast lady's courtyard was eerily quiet, not even a whisper of a baby's cry could be heard.

How could childbirth be completely silent? Could it already be......

Shen Shuangning's eyes instantly reddened; she hurriedly pushed aside the maid blocking the way, staggered into the house, having already braced herself for the worst.

"Older sister......"

Unexpectedly, just as she rounded the screen and turned her head, she saw Shen Miaoyun leaning against the headboard, her face as pale as paper, yet the corner of her mouth bore a faint, weak smile.

She held a swaddled bundle in her arms, gently lowering her head to pat it, her expression exceedingly tender.

Shen Shuangning stood frozen on the spot.

Shen Miaoyun sensed someone's arrival, turned her head, saw it was her, and also froze.

She then broke into a smile: "Ningning, why did you come? Hurry over and look at your little nephew."

Shen Shuangning stepped forward, and only then could she clearly see the infant in the swaddling cloth: a tiny, wrinkled face like a newborn kitten, eyes tightly shut, breathing even and prolonged.

He was sleeping soundly.

At that moment, the midwife who had just washed her hands in the outer room entered, her face beaming with joy: "Heir's Consort, rest assured—although the marchioness had a difficult labor, she ultimately pulled through; mother and child are safe! It's just that the lady expended too much energy and needs proper recuperation."

Zhao Li'an was ennobled two months ago and is now the Loyal and Brave Marquis; Shen Miaoyun is thus the marchioness.

"Sorry to have worried you." Shen Miaoyun hadn't expected the first person to come visit her to be Shen Shuangning; her heart warmed.

After the false alarm, Shen Shuangning's anxious heart finally settled, and she finally laughed: "All's well, all's well."

Mu Yu also breathed a sigh of relief.

However, her coming here wasn't entirely useless; Mu Yu is skilled in conditioning, and right now she could be of use, saving the trouble of calling another doctor.

Shen Miaoyun gave birth to a boy, whom they named Zhao You.

The little nephew woke up after a short sleep; the newborn's eyes were still covered with a film of watery mist, unable to see people clearly, yet he seemed especially fond of Aunt Shen Shuangning.

When Shen Shuangning held him, he would even crack a little smile, making her heart melt.

Shen Miaoyun chuckled: "Ah You likes the aunt."

Ah You grabbed the aunt's hair, playing to his heart's content, uttering "ee-ee ya-ya" sounds, his rosy cheek resting against Shen Shuangning's chest—utterly adorable.

Shen Shuangning couldn't help but laugh.

Mu Yu stood aside watching, and could see that the heir's consort truly loved the child.

If she knew the heir's situation, wouldn't she be heartbroken? Heaven is truly cruel......

Shen Shuangning had no idea what Mu Yu was thinking; as she played with the child, the little nephew suddenly stretched out his hand, grabbed her collar, and for some reason pulled it downward.

The collar gaped slightly, revealing a small, faint red mark on her snow-white chest; though not obvious, it stood out starkly against her fair skin.

Shen Miaoyun happened to catch sight of it and laughed: "Earlier I worried that being with someone as aloof as the heir would make you both restrained, but now it seems I was overthinking it. Before long, your belly will likely show some movement."

Shen Shuangning's cheeks flushed; she hurriedly adjusted her collar, her ears tinged red.

Xiao Jingyuan is indeed diligent in that regard, but in his previous life they never had any children.

Shen Shuangning blamed herself for the cause.

After all, back then she had internal cold poison, which the doctor had made clear, so she hadn't suspected Xiao Jingyuan. And in this life, she's unfortunately been poisoned again......

Shen Shuangning held the little nephew, changing the subject: "Where's the brother-in-law?"

For the lady to undergo such a major event as childbirth, yet not see her husband—this is hardly reliable.

Shen Shuangning frowned, her tone full of dissatisfaction.

Shen Miaoyun's smile faded a bit, and she said: "He's ill, been bedridden."

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuangning blinked. He said he was sick last time too, and yet he's still not better after all this time?

Shen Miaoyun sighed: "At first it was just a headache; I saw several doctors, all said it was wind-cold, who knew it would get worse with treatment... All because of quack doctors misdiagnosing, that's how it got dragged to this state."

"Muyu's medical skills are good; let her go have a look at her brother-in-law."

Shen Miaoyun's eyes darted a little, and fearing she might overthink, she did not refuse.

Her elder sister had just given birth and was weak; Shen Shuangning did not dare stay long, holding Ayou she soothed him for a moment, then planned to take her leave when Muyu returned.

Muyu's diagnosis was the same as the other doctors': Zhao Lian'an was bedridden from a stroke.

Muyu prescribed two doses of medicine and especially cautioned her to avoid certain foods—nothing raw, cold, or triggering could be touched. Shen Miaoyun thanked her repeatedly, saying she would certainly follow the instructions.

After the two left, Shen Miaoyun had the servant burn that prescription, her face cold.

Stepping out of the marquis's mansion, Muyu glanced back at the vermilion gate, muttering that the doctors in Jingcheng were utterly useless—just a stroke and they'd reduced him to this...

After leaving the marquis's mansion, Shen Shuangning inexplicably felt uneasy.

She suddenly recalled that in the morning Muyu seemed to have something to say to her, so she asked, "What did you want to say then?"

Muyu came to, hesitated a moment, then confessed: "Actually, the blood mixed into that bowl of medicine wasn't ordinary blood—it was the heir apparent's heart's blood."

"What is heart's blood?" Shen Shuangning did not understand.

Muyu raised her hand, gesturing as she explained: "It's just making a cut here, taking blood close to the heart; each time it consumes a huge amount of vital energy, and a slight mistake can damage the heart's vessels."

Shen Shuangning felt a chill: "Wouldn't ordinary blood do? Why must we use heart's blood?"

"Only by using heart's blood can I guarantee you won't suffer an outbreak of poison within three months," Muyu said. "The poison you have—since the heir apparent isn't in Jingcheng, he's very worried."

Shen Shuangning seemed not to hear her latter words, leaning against the carriage wall, she exclaimed angrily and anxiously: "What on earth is he thinking! The journey to Quanzhou is so perilous; taking heart's blood will surely harm him, with Prince Rui eyeing him like a tiger watches its prey—how will he respond, how will he protect himself?"

The hand she had resting on her knee clenched into a fist, knuckles whitening from the force; she looked at Muyu and said in a cold voice: "What else are you hiding from me?"

Muyu shrank her neck: "Actually... since you were poisoned, the heir apparent has been personally testing medicines to concoct an antidote as quickly as possible, enduring quite a bit of hardship along the way. But don't worry, his constitution is as strong as iron—he'll be fine."

Shen Shuangning closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling violently.

Seeing this, Muyu dared not say more.

After returning, Shen Shuangning immediately sent a letter to Xiao Jingyuan; no one knew what was written inside.

The distance from Quanzhou to Jingcheng is a full four days' journey.

By the time Xiao Jingyuan received the letter, it was already late on the fifth day.

The clamor of battle outside the camp had just ceased, yet the air still reeked of gunpowder and blood.

When the covert guard who delivered the letter lifted the curtain and entered, his face bore a hint of mischievous amusement as he handed over the envelope: "Report to the heir apparent, this is a letter from Jingcheng, specially sent by the heir apparent's consort." He couldn't help but wink and make faces.

Xiao Jingyuan snatched the letter away with one hand, gave the covert guard a cool glance, his tone carrying his usual aloofness: "Go collect your reward."

Yet as he lowered his gaze to look at the envelope, his phoenix eyes clearly hid a faint, hardly noticeable smile, and even his brows softened a bit.

He had not expected Shen Shuangning to reply to him.

He couldn't bear to open it right away.

He rubbed the familiar wax seal on the envelope, and unconsciously drifted off—what would she look like when she wrote him a letter?

Would it be like when she once wrote to Xie Lin, full of tender affection, carrying worry and longing?

Now that I think about it, when I secretly peeked at Shen Shuangning's letter to Xie Lin back then, it was clearly tinged with jealousy.

Xiao Jingyuan sat alone in the tent, his armor still stained with fresh blood.

He tore open the envelope, only to see a wild cursive script utterly unlike Shen Shuangning's usual delicate hand—sharp strokes, carrying a hint of suppressed urgency.

【Xiao Jingyuan, you self-conceited fool!】

Xiao Jingyuan: "......" How different this is from what I imagined.

He had expected to see some gentle, soft words, yet instead he was scolded right away.

His gaze moved downward, and it was still the wild cursive script berating him.

It was as if I could see Shen Shuangning puffing her cheeks, standing before him fierce yet adorable, vivid and lovable.

Xiao Jingyuan looked at each word on the paper, from initial shock to finally his lips involuntarily curling upward—he was actually quite pleased.

Over the next few days, Shen Shuangning received no more letters from Quanzhou, while Muyu secretly got a warning and thereafter dared not speak further.

That day, news came that Zhao Lian'an had died of illness.

Muyu was shocked beyond belief, unable to help jumping up and shouting in front of Shen Shuangning: "He's dead? How could that be?!"

"Following my prescription, how could I have killed him? Heir apparent's consort, this definitely has nothing to do with me!"

Shen Shuangning also felt something was off; after soothing Muyu a few words, she personally went to the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor's mansion.

In her memory, her elder sister deeply loved her brother-in-law; with Zhao Lian'an gone, she must be devastated. No matter what, as her younger sister she ought to go pay her respects.

Shen Miaoyun was still observing the postpartum confinement; when Shen Shuangning entered, she saw her dressed in plain white, rattling a rattle to amuse her son—there was not a trace of grief for her deceased husband on her face.

"Elder sister." Shen Shuangning stood at the doorway and called softly.

Shen Miaoyun lifted her head, speaking gently: "Ningning, you've come. Please sit! I just had the kitchen stew some bird's nest, perfect for serving you a bowl."

Shen Shuangning sat beside her, silently gazing at her, and still said: "People cannot be brought back from death; observe mourning."

Shen Miaoyun gave an affirmative hum, lowered her eyes to look at the child in the cradle, her gaze full of tenderness, not at all like she was forcing herself to stay calm.

Shen Shuangning's sense of unease grew stronger, as if Zhao Lian'an's death had been within Shen Miaoyun's expectations, or perhaps... this was precisely the outcome she had hoped for.

A preposterous and terrifying thought surfaced—could Zhao Lian'an possibly have been killed by her elder sister?

Shen Shuangning was nearly frightened by her own thought, and without thinking she glanced at her elder sister, whom she had grown up with since childhood—though she knew her well, at that moment she found her somewhat inscrutable.

She ate the bird's nest absentmindedly.

Shen Miaoyun thought she was worried about the battle in Quanzhou, so she comforted her: "Young Master Xiao is brave and skilled in battle, and with Prince Rui holding the fort there, mere sea bandits are nothing to fear—nothing will happen."

Shen Shuangning nodded, but ultimately did not voice the doubts in her heart.

Her elder sister had given birth to the Zhao family's sole legitimate eldest son, securing her position; without Zhao Lian'an causing trouble, henceforth she would be the sole mistress of the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor's household, firmly holding the reins of domestic authority, needing to look at no one's face.

How could this not be a joyous occasion?

Thinking thus, Shen Shuangning no longer probed deeper; as long as her elder sister was well, nothing else mattered.

The news of Spring Prefecture's victory in its first battle reached Jingcheng ten days later via swift horse.

His Majesty was delighted, and a steady stream of rewards was sent to Prince Yan's mansion.

Everyone in the prince's mansion received enfeoffment rewards; even the second branch of the Xiao family shared in the glory, receiving some rewards.

Prince Yan had already been ordered half a month earlier to go to the Northern Border to garrison and resist Northern Qi harassment, so he was unable to witness this scene.

Everyone in the prince's mansion was immersed in joy, only the princess consort worried about Heir Apparent Xiao Jingyuan's safety, hoping he would return home soon.

Second Madam Xiao saw the worry in the princess consort's eyes and said, "Don't worry, the Heir Apparent is more than capable; those sea pirates in Spring Prefecture are merely a rabble, not even a tenth of the Northern Qi cavalry; the Heir Apparent will surely root them out and return safely."

Xiao Jingyuan had already earned the title of War God in the Northern Border when he was young; in everyone's eyes he was invincible—how could mere sea pirates possibly defeat him?

Upon hearing of this victory, Shen Shuangning also breathed a sigh of relief.

But that night, she had a nightmare.

In her dream, she saw Xiao Jingyuan forced by Prince Rui's men onto a cliff, covered in wounds, and in the end he actually fell off!

Shen Shuangning jerked awake, sat up from bed, and only then realized she was drenched in cold sweat.