My dear Zhang

Jian Zhang: "..."

He was, after all, a Principal Third Rank official of the court. A little storm like this was nothing to him. He could compose himself in an instant... like hell he could.

Go on, then!

What kind of hero only told half the story and left the rest hanging?!

Every maid and serving woman in the room was waiting for him to question them, and another woman was lying on the Arhat Bed. Jian Zhang drew a deep breath and pointed at someone at random. "You tell me. What happened?"

The maid he had pointed at answered loudly, "The fourth young lady heard that Concubine Wei had killed Snowball. She was furious and argued with Concubine Wei. During the pushing and shoving, Concubine Wei accidentally lost her footing and fell to the ground."

Jian Chuxue was the fourth child in the household and was addressed as the fourth young lady. "Daddy, I didn't mean to push her. Her maid said Snowball was just an animal, that his death didn't matter, and that an animal couldn't compare to a person. I lost my temper and only gave her one little push. How was I supposed to know she'd fall over so easily..."

Jian Chuxue was Min's youngest daughter and dearly loved by her. When Min had first married into the household, she had needed to learn to manage its affairs and arrange daily life for the whole family. Her first two children had mostly been cared for by wet nurses.

By the time her youngest daughter was born, Min had much more time on her hands and raised the girl herself. Jian Zhang had received a promotion around then, so he considered his youngest daughter a lucky koi and doted on her a little more, too.

With older siblings above her and loving parents to shelter her, Jian Chuxue had practically grown up steeped in indulgence. Inevitably, she was somewhat spoiled and willful, speaking her mind without much restraint.

Besides, Wei was only a concubine. Her status had never been as exalted as that of a legitimate daughter.

"Daddy, Concubine Wei must have killed Snowball on purpose. Snowball was such a picky eater and never ate random things. Why would he have eaten those pastries?!" Jian Chuxue tugged at Jian Zhang's sleeve, wheedling, "Daddy, you have to investigate properly. You must find whoever poisoned Snowball and punish them severely!"

Still tugging at Jian Zhang's sleeve, Jian Chuxue shot Wei a defiant glare.

Wei paid Jian Chuxue no heed at all. Her tender, adoring gaze remained fixed on Jian Zhang.

The more Jian Zhang looked at Jian Chuxue, the more she resembled Madam Zhou. Growing impatient, he shook her off. "Enough. Have a physician examine her. Where did Wei hurt herself?"

"Wei, where does it hurt?"

Seeing that Jian Zhang was finally looking at her, Wei sobbed, "My stomach hurts. It keeps cramping."

Jian Chuxue protested indignantly, "Daddy, she must be pretending!"

The serving woman beside Wei said, "Concubine Wei hasn't had her monthly courses for nearly three months. We invited a physician to examine her, and he said she was with child."

Jian Zhang was delighted. Wei had borne no children all these years. Now that she was pregnant, this was wonderful news.

The woman continued, "But the physician said the pregnancy was unstable and prescribed medicine to strengthen it. Concubine Wei intended to tell Master and Madam once the pregnancy was secure. After that fall just now, I'm afraid..."

The woman did not dare finish her sentence. The air in the room suddenly froze.

The servants lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Even the spoiled Jian Chuxue shut her mouth and stopped arguing.

This concerned an heir to the Marquis's Estate. It was a serious matter.

Jian Zhang's heart softened for a moment, and he roared toward the door, "Where's the physician? Why isn't he here yet?!"

He walked over and rested his hand on Wei's belly. "Don't worry. It should be all right."

Tears brimming in her eyes, Wei clasped Jian Zhang's hand and sobbed softly. "My dear Zhang, I've failed you. I'm so useless."

[Pfft-]

[What did Wei just call him? Cockroach??!!!]

[Hahahaha, I'm dying!!!]

[My dad is such a handsome, jade-tree-in-the-breeze sort of middle-aged man, and she called him a cockroach?!!]

Min: "..."

Holding back her laughter was painfully difficult.

She turned away, covered her mouth with her handkerchief, and clenched her teeth several times before she regained control.

Jian Xilu finally lost the battle, turning away to hide her mouth behind her handkerchief as she quietly snickered.

Jian Ruonan turned her back and covered her face with both hands, her entire body shaking as she suppressed her laughter.

[Hahaha, cockroach!!! How could she even bring herself to call him that?!]

[My dad is clearly such a handsome middle-aged man, but calling him a cockroach instantly strips away all his class.]

[Cockroach. I can't even look at him anymore!!]

Jian Zhang: "..."

He and Wei had known each other since their youth. In the throes of sweet passion, Wei had always loved calling him that in her coy, honeyed voice.

He had once found her considerate and charming, and enjoyed it immensely. Now, after hearing that mockery, he found the endearment utterly revolting.

Jian Zhang shook off Wei's hand and returned to his seat. "Don't call me that again."

Wei: ??

Hadn't he always liked that pet name?

He'd even asked her to use it!

Now that she was old and her pearls had lost their luster, she wasn't allowed to call him that anymore?

Not a single man was any good!!

Before long, the physician arrived. After examining her, he said, "I'm afraid Concubine Wei's pregnancy cannot be saved."

"Boohoo..." Clutching her chest, Wei looked at Jian Zhang through tear-filled eyes. "My dear... Eldest Master, I... boohoo..."

Jian Chuxue panicked too. She threw herself into Min's arms and pleaded, "Daddy, Mother, I didn't mean to! If I'd known she was pregnant, I never would have pushed her!!"

In Great Xia, many children meant good fortune, while losing a pregnancy was considered inauspicious. Jian Zhang felt irritated, and his gaze toward Jian Chuxue held displeasure.

Wei sobbed, "I don't blame the fourth young lady, nor do I blame Madam. I can only blame my own wretched fate for failing to bear the Eldest Master a fine son..."

Wei had lost the child in her womb, yet despite being the victim, she blamed no one and even spoke up for the others. She truly was his dear Lian.

Jian Zhang looked at Wei with tender pity. "Rest and recover. There will be other chances."

Then he turned to Jian Chuxue. "From today onward, the fourth young lady will be confined to her quarters for one month."

Wei gazed at him affectionately. "I really don't blame the fourth young lady. Eldest Master, I don't blame Madam either..."

With that reminder from Wei, Jian Zhang finally remembered that the concubine had been pregnant for nearly three months, yet Min had known nothing about it. Min had also been negligent.

Had Min known of Wei's pregnancy earlier and paid a little attention, things would never have come to this.

Jian Zhang looked at Min. "This concerns an heir to the Marquis's Estate. Min, copy the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's Fundamental Vows Sutra one hundred times, to deliver my unborn child's soul and pray for its blessings."

[What? What the hell does this have to do with my mother? Why should she be punished too? Wei was clearly the one who deliberately concealed her pregnancy!]

[This pregnancy was unstable to begin with, and the baby wasn't even Dad's!!]

[I thought my dad was wise and mighty at judging cases just now. Turns out he's nothing special. No wonder someone screwed him over after he'd been Minister of Justice for just a week.]

[System, you're about as useless as my dad.]

System: [I'm much better than your dad!!]

Jian Zhang: !!

Min: "..." Well said!

[The dregs of the abortion medicine Wei drank before leaving her rooms are buried beneath the peach tree in her courtyard. I'll find a way to get my mother to investigate later.]

[Thank goodness she lost the baby. Otherwise, my idiot dad would've ended up raising some other man's child!]

Jian Ruonan glanced sidelong at Jian Zhang. [The cuckold's green hat on his head is practically glowing.]

Jian Zhang: "..."

Jian Ruonan sighed, lifted her Lu'an Guapian tea, and took a sip. When she looked up-

[Huh? Where's my dad?]

Where did that whole, full-sized dad of mine go?