Praying for a Child

"The Madam is still praying, young lady, please wait a moment."

Lin Yunwan offered the Eternal Light Lamp and returned to her original spot, while Zheng Shi was still burning incense in another Main Buddha Hall, where there was a Bodhisattva praying for a child.

Xiruo whispered, "Madam is also praying for a child."

The Matron was with them, after receiving the money, came over and said, "Eldest Miss, Madam had a miscarriage once and has not been able to conceive since."

"Did you miscarry?"

Lin Yunwan was very surprised. Lin Huabin doted on Zheng Shi so much, why would he let her miscarry?

The Matron said, "Madam slipped and fell, and the baby is gone. It was already four months along..."

That's quite a lot!

Lin Yunwan could imagine how dangerous it must have been.

Zheng Shi actually pulled through; she must have had a really good constitution.

Xiruo said, "I really can't tell that my wife Madam had a miscarriage." She looks very healthy and doesn't seem to have suffered any serious injury.

The Matron said, "It's been almost ten years; Madam has long since recovered."

That's not necessarily true!

Miscarriage is harmful to the body. Lin Yunwan remembered hearing that a Concubine had miscarried and was never able to have children again.

No wonder Madam has no Legitimate Son.

Lin Huabin only had two Concubine-born Son out of wedlock, both very young; the older one had just learned to walk.

Zheng Shi herself didn't want to raise the child, nor would she let her Concubine raise it; the wet nurses always took care of it. She would only occasionally take some time to ask the wet nurses how the child was doing and whether he was sick.

They were completely ignored.

Lin Yunwan has never met her two nominal younger brothers.

"Madam is here."

The Matron was a little scared, so she lowered her head and took a step back.

When Zheng Shi came out of the Main Buddha Hall, she was in a very good mood.

Before Lin Yunwan could even begin to guess, Nanny Fan had already revealed the reason. "I've heard that the Bodhisattva of Fertility at Ci'en Temple is the most effective. Madam, you've drawn the best fortune stick this time, it seems you're going to be pregnant with the Young Master!"

When Zheng Shi smiled, her face was rosy.

She was already very beautiful, and stood out even among a group of servants.

Zheng Shi touched her lower abdomen and said with a smile, "If we succeed this time, you will all deserve credit."

She came out and saw Lin Yunwan; her expression was neither good nor bad.

As they boarded the carriage, Zheng Shi and Nanny Fan murmured to each other, "Could it be that girl who brought me this blessing of having children...?"

"Pah! Her?"

Zheng Shi felt that it was better not to trust those things too much, and that one's own efforts were more reliable.

She told Nanny Fan, "Quickly take the master's visiting card and send out invitations to that Physician who specializes in preventing miscarriages, so he can come and prescribe a good remedy for me."

Nanny Fan hesitated before saying, "Didn't you used to complain that the medicine was too bitter?"

Zheng Shi frowned and said, "No matter how bitter it is, we have to eat it."

She was unwilling to give up. "The two little ones are almost grown up. When they can remember things, we can't just leave them to the wet nurse." She would definitely take care of them, but how could she take care of someone else's child?

It's still better to give birth myself.

Nanny Fan had no choice but to say, "Madam, once we return to the manor, I will take the invitation to fetch the Physician."

The group returned to the Lin Residence.

Lin Huabin had already said that Zheng Shi should take Lin Yunwan to meet the relatives on both the east and west sides.

Although Zheng Shi didn't like dealing with her two sisters-in-law, she still sent someone to inform them in advance.

The people from the Eldest Branch and Third Branch who replied were both polite and consistent, "Our Madam said that Madam should just bring the girls over; the Madam, Young Madam, and sisters all like the girls."

Zheng Shi replied to them with a smile, but inwardly she sneered!

"These past few years, we've kept to ourselves, not wanting to offend anyone! They treat my Jiao'er like the plague, but they treat that brat Yun Wan so differently!"

Nanny Fan came over to comfort her, saying, "Even if they're different, they're still just relatives. It's just polite talk, Madam, Madam n't take it to heart."

Zheng Shi also knew that since the family had been divided, neither branch of the family could interfere.

She was just saying something sarcastic to vent her frustration.

"Go and tell the eldest daughter to get up early tomorrow morning, change her clothes, and go see the relatives of the Eldest Branch and Third Branch."

"Yes."

The next day, Lin Yunwan got up early to wash and went to see her relatives with Zheng Shi.

Although I only planned to visit the Eldest Branch and Third Branch wives' families, I still had to go through the motions of visiting the Old Madam and inquire about her well-being.

First, they took a sedan chair to the Eldest Branch, in the Old Madam's Courtyard.

Nanny Fan Old Madam Lin, came out to open the door, Zheng Shi was startled!

"Nanny Fan, it's you!"

This old immortal is just as powerful as the Old Madam, but she is very sensible. Although she lives a life of luxury in the Lin Residence, she never interferes in the affairs of the Lin Residence. She only keeps the Old Madam company and relieves her boredom.

Nanny Fan smiled; she was a very kind person, and her smile revealed two dimples.

It's clear she was a beauty when she was young.

She asked, "Did you bring Madam daughter to pay your respects to the Old Madam?"

Zheng Shi said, "That's right."

Looking back at Lin Yunwan stepped forward to greet Nanny Fan first.

Nanny Fan glanced at Lin Yunwan. She saw that Lin Yunwan had her head down, her forehead was very white, and she could not see her eyes. However, her manners were quite good. Although she was casual and not as organized as the young ladies who had been trained in the manor, she was still easy to manage.

She had already made up her mind.

"Old Madam has some free time now, Madam bring your daughter to meet us, Madam?"

"Ah..."

Zheng Shi clenched her handkerchief tightly; she had no intention of seeing the Old Madam!

Nanny Fan smiled and said, "What's wrong, Madam? It's rare for the Old Madam to have time, and you've come to pay your respects out of filial piety. Why don't you go inside?"

Zheng Shi forced a smile and said, "Yes."

He took Lin Yunwan inside with him.

The maid placed two prayer cushions where the two women were kneeling. Old Madam Lin sat on a couch, attended to by two maids, one massaging her shoulders and the other rubbing her legs.

"Old Madam."

Lin Yunwan followed Zheng Shi and called out, "Greetings to the Old Madam."

Old Madam Lin's voice was very calm, but very authoritative.

"Everyone, stand up and speak."

The maid helped the two women up. Before Zheng Shi could even sit down, Old Madam Lin asked, "Why is only Yun Wan here? Where is Yun Jiao?"

Zheng Shi's legs went weak.

That Old Madam is shrewd; she must have already inquired about Yun Jiao's punishment!

Zheng Shi dared not lie, nor dared she tell the truth, so she said, "I found her too restless, so I made her copy books at home." But she was unwilling to say that her daughter was being punished.

Old Madam Lin did not expose Zheng Shi.

Having lived for so many years, she was a very decisive person and didn't like to waste words, so she said, "You go back now, let Yun Wan stay with me for a while."

"This..."

Zheng Shi was a little uneasy. What was the Old Madam planning to do?

Lin Yunwan was also curious: why did Old Madam Lin want to keep her?

Nanny Fan smiled and said, "Madam, let me see you out."

Zheng Shi dared not refuse, but as she left, she gave Lin Yunwan a warning look, forbidding her from speaking carelessly in front of the Old Madam!

"Old Madam."

Nanny Fan returned with the person, Lin Yunwan curtsied again.

"Raise your head," said Old Madam Lin calmly.

Lin Yunwan's heart sank. What had the Old Madam noticed?

She still raised her head.