Pregnant

"No, you can't take her away." Old Madam Gu hurriedly ordered someone to stop them and refused to give an inch. "Not unless Qing Shi agrees to bring Lian'er into the household with the rites due to an equal wife."

"Mother needn't trouble herself over this. I have my own plans."

"Hmph! Don't think you can fool me. Do you think I don't know you don't want Lian'er to marry into the family? I'm determined to see this matter through."

When Gu Qingshi entered, he heard exactly what Old Madam Gu had said. He first glanced at the frail An Yingying, then greeted Madam Gu and Old Madam Gu.

Old Madam Gu's eyes lit up at the sight of him. "Qing Shi, last time I asked you to take Lian'er as a concubine, you refused. Since that's the case, bring her into the household with the rites due to an equal wife."

Gu Qingshi frowned. Ignoring Old Madam Gu's gaze, he went over to An Yingying and pulled her into his arms, his eyes full of distress for her. Seeing it was him, An Yingying leaned against him, her face showing no emotion.

"Grandmother, I'll say this one last time. I won't take anyone as a concubine, and I won't marry an equal wife either. You should find someone else for Bai Lian," Gu Qingshi said coldly.

"Gu Qingshi!" Old Madam Gu's anger burned on when she saw he would not do as she wished. "Lian'er's father saved your father. If it weren't for him, your father would have died long ago.

"We Gu family members must repay kindness. All I'm asking is for you to bring Lian'er into the household." Old Madam Gu pointed at An Yingying in his arms. "If she hadn't stuck her foot in, Lian'er would be your rightful wife by now."

"Ha! You're wrong, Mother. If you truly wanted to repay that kindness, why not arrange a match with a family of equal standing so she can marry in as their proper mistress someday?"

Madam Gu's face was full of disdain as she continued, "Equal wife sounds nice, with 'wife' in the title, but in truth she's no different from a lowly concubine. The mistress can beat or scold her as she pleases, and if she makes a mistake, she can be beaten to death with clubs."

"Are you truly repaying kindness, Mother, or are you repaying kindness with enmity?"

Old Madam Gu was left speechless. Listening to Madam Gu, she too thought her words made sense; she must not ruin Lian'er's life.

Seeing that things were going badly, Bai Lian grew frantic. She gritted her teeth and dropped to her knees before Gu Qingshi, but spoke to An Yingying. "Young Madam, I beg you. I've loved Brother Qing Shi since I was a child, and all I've ever wanted is to marry him. Please agree to this."

"Don't worry. I won't want anything that doesn't belong to me. I'll surely know my place and serve you and Brother Qing Shi well."

"I..."

"Someone, Miss Bai Lian is unwell. Hurry and escort her out," Madam Gu interrupted her and ordered the servants coldly.

Ha! A woman who won't know her place.

She would not let any woman damage the bond between her son and daughter-in-law, no matter who she was.

It was true that the Gu family owed the Bai family a debt of gratitude, but that was the Gu family's own affair. There was no reason for their young lady to suffer because of them.

It seemed she needed to start preparing for Bai Lian's marriage. After all, a girl had to marry once she was grown.

"A-Auntie... I..."

Two older women wore respectful expressions, but they forcibly hauled Bai Lian out with a firm grip.

Suddenly, An Yingying fainted in Gu Qingshi's arms. Panic swept over his face. "Yingying, what's wrong?"

"Blood..." Xue'er pointed at the hem of An Yingying's skirt in terror. "Young Madam is bleeding."

Madam Gu panicked at the sight. "Quick, fetch the Palace Physician."

The room fell into chaos. Gu Qingshi carried An Yingying to the bed with trembling hands, while a tall guard carried the Palace Physician in.

"Physician, hurry and examine her," Madam Gu said.

The Palace Physician saw that something was wrong with the patient and immediately went over to feel her pulse. He then took out silver needles and inserted them into An Yingying's major acupoints.

Half a quarter-hour later, the physician removed the needles, wiped away his sweat, and let out a sigh of relief. "Young Madam is a little over a month pregnant. Fortunately, she was treated in time, and the fetus was saved."

Gu Qingshi was stunned. "R-Really?" he asked in disbelief.

"I have practiced medicine for many years. This is absolutely certain." The physician took a prescription from his medicine chest. "Quickly have someone prepare this medicine and give it to Young Madam."

Xue'er anxiously took the prescription and rushed out. Madam Gu was torn between joy and worry, her brows tightly knitted. "Physician, is anything wrong with my daughter-in-law?"

The physician sighed. "Madam's qi and blood are depleted, and she harbors melancholy in her heart. I'm afraid this is not conducive to the pregnancy. You should find a way to make her happier and give her more tonics to replenish her qi and blood. Only then will it be better for the health of Madam and the child in her womb."

"She must take the medicine to stabilize the pregnancy on time, morning, noon and night."

Only after repeatedly explaining the precautions to take during pregnancy did the physician leave the Gu Residence. Madam Gu glanced at her daughter-in-law with sympathy, then looked at her foolish son with disdain. She tossed a cloth soaked in hot water into his hands. "Stop standing there in a daze."

Gu Qingshi seemed to come to his senses. Taking the cloth in his hands, he carefully wiped the fine sweat from An Yingying's forehead.

As he looked at the unconscious woman on the bed, his heart was full of distress and lingering fear, as well as guilt. If not for him, she would not have suffered all this.

Gu Qingshi looked at Old Madam Gu, his eyes full of resolve. "I hope you won't make things difficult for Yingying anymore, Grandmother. She didn't steal anyone's place; it was hers to begin with. Besides, Old Master An and Grandfather were the closest of friends, yet you treat his friend's daughter this way. I'm afraid Grandfather cannot rest easy in his grave."

"I was also at fault in this matter. I allowed Grandmother to misunderstand certain things." Gu Qingshi took a deep breath. "If Grandmother won't agree, I'll take Yingying away tomorrow and establish a separate household."

Old Madam Gu's heart lurched at his words. When she looked at An Yingying, she too was filled with lingering fear. She had nearly caused the death of Qing Shi's child.