Chapter 822: and translation of chapter title

At this moment, in the Yin Dang Hang far away in Jiangcheng, Xiao Jiu sat alone at the table in her room, playing with the silver box in her hand.

This silver box had already been delivered to Xiao Jiu's hands before Bái Jīngmò came to Yin Dang Hang.

Xiao Jiu recognized the box; it was the one used to hold the gu insects.

Obviously, the mechanism had been broken by Bái Sōnglán, and the gu insects that should have been inside were gone.

Inside the box remained only a slip of paper: 'Xiao Jiu, I will take care of this matter; do not worry.'

Underneath the slip of paper was pressed a prescription for nurturing a pregnancy, and on the back of the prescription was written a name.

Xiao Jiu recognized the owner of that name; it was a steward of Bái Jiā Yīguǎn.

It appears that Bái Sōnglán left with Guyun Que, not without informing anyone.

And that steward, before Bái Sōnglán returns, will help her guard Bái Jiā Yīguǎn and also help herself get through the entire pregnancy safely.

Xiao Jiu put the silver box away into a hidden compartment in the room, propping her chin with one hand, lost in thought.

Actually, Xiao Jiu has always been concerned about Bái Sōnglán's marital prospects.

After all, Bái Sōnglán's inner demon had tormented her for many years, nearly taking her life.

Later, Bái Sōnglán let go, and the Copper Coin Person also settled long-term in Zàng Qū, so there was basically no further contact between them.

Xiao Jiu had secretly looked at Bái Sōnglán's physiognomy.

Before Guyun Que appeared, Bái Sōnglán's marital prospects were like being veiled in a layer of gauze, impossible to see clearly.

But that night, Xiao Jiu indeed saw the red luan star moving between Bái Sōnglán's brows.

However, whether Guyun Que is Bái Sōnglán's true affinity, a karmic tie, or even her emotional tribulation remains unknown.

How could one not worry?

But after experiencing so much, Xiao Jiu understands better than anyone that this is Bái Sōnglán's own Karma; whether it is affinity or tribulation, she ought not to interfere.

Let's wait a bit longer.

Although Xiao Jiu has never been to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, she is not entirely unfamiliar with the general situation there, as Wuling once described it to her in detail.

Even in the Xiangxi and Qiandongnan regions, she knows about the main gu masters and sects that Wuling originally cultivated.

At critical moments, she also holds a token that can remotely mobilize the most reliable troops left behind by Wuling.

Of course, Xiao Jiu hopes she will never need to use the token left by Wuling.

Xiao Jiu is very busy.

Yin Dang Hang is under her command, and she often has to go to Jiǔyàn qū as well; fortunately, Li Qingying and Hui Moqiong have been helping her, otherwise, with the progress of this pregnancy, she would truly be unable to cope.

Little Old Three is an egg, and Xiao Jiu quickly accepted this fact.

It grows slowly, and Xiao Jiu also accepts that.

But when Xiao Jiu saw stretch marks appearing in patches on her previously flat belly, she could hardly bear it.

Which woman doesn't love beauty?

Xiao Jiu already has two children, yet she has never gotten stretch marks before.

Yet this pregnancy, instead of her belly growing, she first got stretch marks, making her feel as if the sky had fallen.

After looking up a series of guides online, Xiao Jiu began applying creams to her belly, hoping to fade them before the stretch marks grew more numerous.

But the more she applied, the heavier the stretch marks became.

She tried several highly rated ointments online with no effect, and Xiao Jiu began to give up.

Let them grow; whatever.

Until one night, when Xiao Jiu turned over, a sharp dull pain like being cut by something hard suddenly came from her belly skin; she immediately sat up and, by the lamp light, looked at her belly.

Upon seeing this, she was greatly startled.

Xiao Jiu discovered that, below her navel, at some point those 'stretch marks' had merged into a sheet, hardened, and formed a piece about the size of a copper coin… a shell?

Xiao Jiu touched it, felt it carefully, and found that the skin around that 'shell' was undergoing a continuing hardening process.

In other words, these increasing 'stretch marks' on her belly are not ordinary, or rather, not true stretch marks.

They will harden simultaneously as they increase in number.

Will the entire belly eventually become a single hard 'shell'?

Such a scene, Xiao Jiu dare not even imagine.

That night, Xiao Jiu tossed and turned, cursing Liu Junyan in her heart an unknown number of times.

What the hell did she marry!

Every pregnancy makes her anxious and fearful.

The next morning, Xiao Jiu hurried to Bái Jiā Yīguǎn, specifically asking to see Bai Qiong for a pulse check.

Bai Qiong is Bái Sōnglán's confidante; even things Bái Jīngmò is unaware of, Bai Qiong knows.

Of course, Bai Qiong's medical skills also received the true transmission from Bái Sōnglán.

Bai Qiong first took Xiao Jiu's pulse, confirmed her physical condition was good, then asked, 'Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, are you here for a routine checkup, or is something uncomfortable?'

Being both women, Xiao Jiu felt no embarrassment, lifted her clothes, and exposed her belly.

Although Bai Qiong is well-informed, seeing Xiao Jiu's belly still startled her, and she instinctively asked, 'Xiao Jiu Zhanggui, how long has this condition been present?'

'About a month or so,' Xiao Jiu said, 'At first it was just very faint lines; I thought they were stretch marks, but now they don't seem to be.'

Bai Qiong shook her head: 'This certainly isn't stretch marks, but I can't tell what it is right now, yet it oddly feels familiar.'

Xiao Jiu wondered: 'Familiar?'

Bai Qiong moved a dressing mirror over, placed it in front of Xiao Jiu, and Xiao Jiu saw clearly the condition of her belly in the mirror.

At first glance, that hardened 'shell' indeed looked very familiar.

It resembled… a turtle shell!

Yes, very much like the scales on a turtle's back.

How could this be?

Bai Qiong said, this situation is certainly related to the pregnancy she's carrying; since her body has no major problems, we can't casually prescribe medicine. Let Xiao Jiu return to continue observation; if she feels unwell, we'll think of a way to prescribe the appropriate medicine.

On the way back, Xiao Jiu was preoccupied.

This made her recall the past between Liu Junyan and that old turtle.

The old turtle eventually merged its inner elixir into Liu Junyan's body, and for a period a tortoise‑shell pattern appeared on her back, which later disappeared.

Could this little old three… be related to that tortoise‑shell pattern?

Or perhaps it's related to the old turtle's inner elixir?

Could the little old three be the old turtle's reincarnation?

No, the old turtle has long been annihilated; there's no chance of reincarnation.

So the little old three is just the little old three, not the old turtle.

But the little old three is surely influenced by the tortoise‑shell pattern or the old turtle's inner elixir.

Does Liu Junyan know about this?

Xiao Jiu now suspects that during that period Liu Junyan would sneak back to do mischief with a purpose.

Once the purpose was achieved, he disappeared.

Is this man scheming against me?

You damn man, do you still want to go home!

Xiao Jiu was pondering whether to make another trip to Suedi.

That damn man might also be in Suedi right now...