Ji Man pursed her lips, rubbed the spot between her eyebrows, and mockingly smiled. “My lord, this servant of yours has an attitude that’s more overbearing than me, your main wife.” 

  Ning Yuxuan also felt that Wen Wan’s behavior was slightly inappropriate. However, he didn’t remark on it. Looking at Nie Sangyu’s slightly pale face, “You really do look a bit unwell today. It’s not a big deal if someone comes over to check your medicine.” 

  But, what if the doctor noticed that this medicine was for pregnant women? How could she explain it away then? Say that another doctor had given her the wrong prescription? Ji Man felt extremely panicky. She hadn’t found the opportune time to announce her pregnancy yet. What would happen if Marquis Moyu found out about it now? 

  Tightly clutching the bed sheet, Ji Man took a deep breath, did her best to calm herself down, and quickly tried to think of a countermeasure for dealing with this situation. 

  Wen Wan’s speed was certainly quick enough. It had only taken her a short period of time to bring back Doctor Liu. She pointed at the bowl of medicine and told him to examine it. 

  Ji Man had already prepared herself for admitting that she was pregnant. At worst, she would just have to be more guarded against Marquis Moyu in the future. Anyways, once the truth was revealed, she would still have Old Madame to protect her. There was no reason for her to be so scared. 

  However, after Doctor Liu looked at the medicine for a while as well as tasted it, he surprisingly said, “This is indeed the medicine for making menstruation cycles more regular. One of the ingredients in here, saffron, is especially good for treating this type of problem. 

  Wen Wan and Ji Man frowned at the same time. 

  Wen Wan frowned because she had thought there was something strange about Nie Sangyu’s behavior today, which was why she had rushed to bring a doctor over here to look. Thus, she was very surprised to hear that it really was medicine for menstruation. 

  As for Ji Man, she was looking at Dengxin. Dengxin didn’t show any reaction when she heard the doctor’s words. She hadn’t known what this medicine was for to begin with. She even felt somewhat enlightened. So, Madam had asked Doctor Li to give her a prescription for menstruation medicine. No wonder, Madam hadn’t let her stay to listen to their conversation. This really was a private matter. 

  While checking Dengxin’s expression, Ji Man felt shocked and scared. She had asked for medicine that would help stabilizing her pregnancy. How could this medicine contain saffron?! Fortunately, she hadn’t drunk the medicine earlier. Otherwise, would the baby in this body still be alive? 

  However, Dengxin’s confused expression made Ji Man feel bad about suspecting her. Doctor Li had definitely given the medicine to her. So, did Doctor Li want to harm her, or had the packet of medicine between replaced by someone at some point? 

  Ji Man’s expression became worse. 

  Marquis Moyu actually didn’t think too much about her peculiar behavior. He waved his hand and said, “Since you’re not feeling well, then drink more medicine to nourish your body. I’ll have Steward Qian send over some nourishing herbs to you later. Look at this medicine, it doesn’t even have any remnants of ginseng.” 

  Ji Man just blankly nodded. 

  Marquis Moyu continued to stay in the room for a bit. He cast a glance at the peony painting on the wall, and his mood seemed to have improved slightly. After saying that he needed people to take care of him since he was sick, he took Wen Wan and Tanxiang with him as he left. 

  Looking at the new servants in Feiwan Courtyard as she walked out, Wen Wan finally noticed that the servant girls that she was familiar with had all disappeared. 

  To her surprise, Ning Yuxuan didn’t react to this change at all. He only uninterestedly said, “I’ll arrange for new servant girls to attend to you tomorrow. Just like that, he considered the matter ended. 

  Wen Wen felt incredulous. It seemed that Ning Yuxuan had also changed quite a bit without her noticing. 

  — 

  That night, Ning Mingjie finally brought Gancao back. Ji Man and Denginx were both overjoyed at the unexpected good news. They tugged Gancao this way and that way to check that she was okay. 

  Although Gancao had lingering fears after the trauma she experienced, she still very gratefully kowtowed to Ning Mingjie. “Many thanks, Young Master.” 

  Ji Man couldn’t resist pulling Gancao over to ask, “Where did they bring you after you were kidnapped?” 

  With reddened eyes, Gancao said, “An underground warehouse. It wasn’t far from that intersection. When this servant was brought there, this servant thought all hope was lost. This servant didn’t expect that Young Master would suddenly appear……” 

  When she thought of that memory of him as he kicked open the doors like a god descending from the Heavens and rescuing the group of women and children, Gancao couldn’t stop herself from blushing. “It’s all thanks to Young Master.” 

  Sitting at the side, Ning Mingjie said, “Madam, I need to express my thanks to you. If you hadn’t remembered the course of events so clearly, Mingjie wouldn’t have had the idea of having someone pretend to be a woman to lure those criminals into a trap.” 

  Ji Man repeatedly shook her head. “I only provided a few clues. It was Young Master that solved the case. You’re the one that deserves the credit. You saved Gancao and brought her back. Sangyu really doesn’t know how to return this favor……” As she said this, she turned around, took out a piece of jade that the emperor had bestowed to her during the Southern Trip, wrapped a handkerchief around it, and gave it to him. “This is merely a token of my gratitude. Young Master, please accept it.” 

  Ning Mingjie shook his head. “This was just part of my job. You don’t need to give me such a grand gift.” 

  “No matter what, Gancao is more valuable than a piece of a jade,” Ji Man said, “Just accept my gift.” 

  Ning Mingjie looked at the gift, then he stretched his hand out and took the handkerchief she had used to wrap the jade. “This is enough. Madam, keep the jade. It’ll be the same if you give the jade to Miss Gancao in the future as her dowry.”


  Chapter 182 – My lord, I’m pregnant with your child (1) 

  Gancao’s face became even redder. Ji Man didn’t decline his offer and put back the piece of jade. She had personally embroidered that handkerchief with snow-capped mountains. She normally used this type of handkerchief to wrap various types of gifts. Still, the embroidery on the handkerchief was good enough to be given as a present by itself. 

  Since it wasn’t early in the day anymore and Gancao had been found and returned, there was no reason to publicize what had happened. She decided that she would report the other matter to Old Madame tomorrow. 

  As the lamps were extinguished, Ji Man called out to Dengxin, “When you went out to get my medicine today, did anything happen before you came back?” 

  Dengxin blinked. “Not really, ah.” 

  After a pause, she slapped her thigh and remembered something. “This servant bumped into older sister Dangzhu and spoke with her for a bit. Master, what’s wrong?” 

  Dangzhu, Xuesong Courtyard. Ji Man closed her eyes. Other than Muxu, Qian Lianxue was the only other concubine that knew about her pregnancy. No one else could be blamed. 

  “It’s nothing. The two of you can leave. Go rest.” 

  “Ai.” Dengxin didn’t notice anything strange at all. She happily tugged Gancao along with her as she withdrew from the room to go to sleep. 

  Gancao still felt a bit scared. That night, she stayed closed to Dengxin and kept dawdling around instead of going straight to sleep. 

  Seeing that Gancao seemed to have a load on her mind, Dengxin asked, “What’s wrong?” 

  “It’s nothing.” Gancao lowered her eyes and turned her body to face the other side to hide her thoughts and feelings. She was only a lowly servant girl. How could she dare to have a crush on Young Master? Young Master had only saved her as part of solving a case. He hadn’t come there just to save her. 

  However, she still couldn’t resist picturing his tall, slender body. Just a side view of his face was enough to leave a person breathless. When she had been at her most despairing point, he had taken her onto his horse and even quietly comforted her by saying, “Don’t be scared.” They were just three words that were as light as feathers, but she actually stopped feeling scared once he said them. 

  Perhaps, it really was that simple for a person to enter your heart. 

  — 

  Ji Man wasn’t able to sleep very peacefully that night, and she woke up early next morning to go Old Madame’s courtyard. She secretly told Old Madame about the matter with the saffron. 

  “You suspect that it was Lianxue?” Old Madame shook her head and said, “It can’t be her. It must be a misunderstand.” 

  Ji Man was surprised by Old Madame’s response. She tentatively asked, “Why isn’t it possible for Lianxue to want to harm me?” 

  “Lianxue is the most kind-hearted person in the marquis’s harem. Didn’t you see that she was the only one willing to take Wen Wan in when there was that fake haunting before?” Moving the rosary necklace in her hand bead by bead, Old Madame said, “She has a merciful heart. Perhaps, the people around her have vicious inclinations, but this matter shouldn’t have anything to do with her.” 

  Could she be suspecting the wrong person? Old Madame was twenty years older than her, so she should naturally be better at judging other people’s character than her. Or, perhaps, Muxu was lying to her and using Qian Lianxue as her scapegoat? 

  It was true that she hadn’t any conflicts with Qian Lianxue up to now. Ji Man felt confused after her conversation with Old Madame. 

  Later in the morning, the people that came over to pay respects to Old Madame increased. Ning Mingjie and Ning Yuxuan had both come. And so, Ji Man brought up the topic of Ning Mingjie saving Gancao yesterday. 

  “Mingjie accomplished a great meritorious service again.” Marquis Moyu smiled. “The emperor had given him the capital’s most troublesome case and he had actually solved it in a couple of days.” 

  Wen Wan was standing at the side. She looked at Ning Mingjie with a very appreciative gaze, as well as an inexplicable amount of pride. It was if her subconscious mind believed that this person belonged to her. 

  Ning Mingjie quietly said, “It was just coincidence that led Mingjie to solving this case. It’s all thanks to Sangyu actually. If she was less courageous and had forgotten the direction that those criminals had run to, then Mingjie definitely wouldn’t have been able to solve this case.” 

  Ji Man looked at him and faintly smiled. 

  Ning Mingjie raised his head and returned her smile with his own. 

  Looking at these two people that were making sheep eyes at each other, Marquis Moyu’s expression sunk. “How does this have anything to do with Sangyu? Didn’t you just say that it was a coincidence that Sangyu was outside yesterday? Of course she would see if Gancao was kidnapped right in front of her.” 

  Old Madame interrupted, “You were being inattentive and didn’t clearly understand the whole story.” 

  Naturally, Ning Yuxuan wasn’t upset over the case. He pursed his lips and didn’t know what to say. If he wanted to say that she was acting improperly as a married woman, he couldn’t. She hadn’t done anything obviously wrong. From top to bottom, she managed everything perfectly in this residence for him and had even received praise from the emperor. However, she clearly didn’t care about him, her husband. Instead, she showed other men a pleasant countenance and exchanged flirtatious glances with Ning Mingjie. 

  — 

  Unable to move past feeling angry, Ning Yuxuan went to Feiwan Courtyard in the afternoon. He didn’t bring Wen Wan with him. 

  Ji Man was currently giving herself a manicure. She felt somewhat surprised to see him. “My lord, have you recovered from your cold?” 

  Ning Yuxuan lightly coughed twice and sat down at the table. “Not yet.” 

  Then, why had he come here? Putting on a show of being weak? Ji Man wanted to roll her eyes, but she cheerfully smiled and asked, “Do you want this servant to prepare a bowl of medicine that’s the same as yesterday’s?” 

  This time, she had Doctor Li come over to directly give her two packets of medicine. After confirming that it was safe, she sent Gancao and Dengxin to cook the herbal medicine. 

  Thinking of how Marquis Moyu had drunk the pregnancy medicine last time, Ji Man still felt a bit of glee. 

  Ning Yuxuan actually didn’t refuse. “If your servant girl is already cooking a bowl for you, then prepare a bowl for me as well. 

  Ji Man almost couldn’t stop herself from laughing. She tightly pursed her lips to hold in her laughter and finally said, “Alright, this servant will go and order Dengxin to make a bowl for you too.”


  Chapter 183 – My lord, I’m pregnant with your child (2) 

  Looking at her back figure, Marquis Moyu felt somewhat doubtful. After she returned, he said, “You seem to have gain weight recently.” 

  Ji Man paused, then she said with a smile, “The kitchen servants cook such delicious food. Even if this servant doesn’t want to become fat, it’s difficult, ah.” 

  Ning Yuxuan pretended he was asking without any hidden intentions, “Did you period come last month?” 

  “It came.” Ji Man blinked. “My lord, why are you asking this question?” 

  Marquis Moyu shook his head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking it would be really nice if you could become pregnant.” 

  Ji Man silently spat out two words, hypocritical liar. But, she outwardly continued to smile. “This servant is looking forward to that too. If this servant ever becomes pregnant, this servant will definitely use her life to protect the safety of that child and won’t let anyone touch even a stand of its hair.” 

  Ning Yuxuan froze in surprise for a moment. Then, he chuckled and said, “How could my heir’s life be more important than yours? Why would you need to use your life to protect it?” 

  If these words were said between a normal couple, they would be words of love. Look, isn’t he a wonderful husband? He would pick his wife over his child if he could only save one. 

  However, Ji Man knew that Ning Yuxuan wanted more than anything else for Nie Sangyu to never become pregnant while remaining his main wife. This way, he could manipulate her as he wished. 

  She instinctively rubbed her abdomen. It would be time soon. Once she heard that news from the palace, she would tell Marquis Moyu about her pregnancy. 

  By that time, she would have been pregnant for four months. Unless Ning Yuxuan was willing to sacrifice Nie Sangyu’s life, he wouldn’t dare to anything against this fetus. 

  “Master, the medicine is ready.” Dengxin and Gancao brought inside two bowls of medicine and placed them on the table. 

  Ji Man smiled again. She waited until the medicine had cooled down for a bit, then she picked up one bowl and raised it towards Marquis Moyu and said, “My lord, here.” 

  Cheers, let’s drink this bowl of pregnancy medicine together! 

  Marquis Moyu seemed somewhat lost in his thoughts and actually picked up his bowl and clinked it against hers. Then, he slowly drank the bowl of medicine. 

  Ji Man was quite gleeful for the rest of the day because of this little trick. 

  However, Ning Yuxuan had no idea about the source of her happiness. Seeing that Nie Sangyu was in such a good mood today, his mood actually worsened. He knew that every time that she was happy, it had nothing to do with himself. 

  — 

  During the last crucial month before it would be too late for Marquis Moyu to do anything, Ji Man was very careful about what she ate and seemingly asked Doctor Li to come over every day to check up on her. 

  The previous attempt with saffron hadn’t been successful, and she didn’t have any evidence to say that Honored Concubine Xue was behind that attempt. On the surface, the two of them continued to have an amicable relationship. 

  At the end of the month, Ji Man finally received the news that she had been waiting for. Noble Consort Nie was prematurely giving birth. 

  Naturally, a premature birth wasn’t a good thing. Someone must have done something bad to cause this. However, Noble Consort Nie was tough. Although the baby shouldn’t have been born for another month, Noble Consort Nie and the baby survived this ordeal. 

  The fortunate premature baby was a boy. 

  Noble Consort Nie had almost lost her life and had barely been able to keep the life of her second son. While crying and holding the baby, she pleaded with the emperor to right the wrong that had been done to her. Someone had something to her food. Fortunately, it hadn’t been a serious poison, and it only result in a premature birth. All the evidence pointed that the empress had been behind this. 

  In this midst of his great joy, the emperor was furious when he heard about this. Although the empress’s position couldn’t be lightly taken away from her, the emperor took away her phoenix seal. Moreover, he promoted Noble Consort Nie to the position of imperial noble consort. The power had shifted from the empress to Imperial Noble Consort Nie. Thus, Nie Clan became second to no one according to public opinion. In addition, the third prince had become quite favored by the emperor recently and started participating in politics. This made the crown prince’s faction very worried. 

  If this trend continued, it wasn’t impossible the current crown prince would lose his position. However, this wasn’t something for Ji Man to worry about. There were only benefits and no disadvantages to Nie Sangyu’s aunt being promoted to the position of imperial noble consort. She finally had her chance to give Ning Yuxuan a vicious shock. 

  Ji Man went to the western courtyard. In front of Wen Wan, she bashfully sat down on Ning Yuxuan’s lap and gently called out, “Yuxuan……” 

  Marquis Moyu thought there had to be something wrong with Nie Sangyu today. However, he didn’t push her away. He only straightened his posture and asked, “What’s wrong?” 

  “I……”Ji Man looked at Wen Wan’s twisted expression from her peripheral vision. Then, she copied Wen Wan’s favorite act of looking delicate and weak as she said in an unbearably clingy voice, “This servant had something to say.” 

  “En, what do you want to say?” Ning Yuxuan actually found her behavior somewhat humorous. He supported his chin and looked at her as he waited for her answer. 

  Ji Man stretched her hand out and placed it on her already slightly protruding belly. There were two spots of red on her face as she said shyly said, “This servant is pregnant with my lord’s child ~” 

  Ning Yuxuan’s smile stiffened. Standing nearby, Wen Wan looked at Nie Sangyu with utter shock. 

  “.…… How many months is it?” Ning Yuxuan lowered his head and looked at her belly. 

  Ji Man wanted to gloatingly smile, but she covered half of her face and pretended to blame herself. “This servant was too careless and didn’t discover this until now. This servant has already been pregnant for four months.” 

  Marquis Moyu almost couldn’t stop himself from exposing her lie. Who was she trying to fool? How could she have not known until now? Didn’t she say that her period had come when he asked recently? 

  Wen Wan’s lips were trembling. She immediately turned around and ran out. 

  How could Ning Yuxuan possibly have the energy to care about her little tantrums right now? He only stared at Nie Sangyu. 

  Hiding her smile, Ji Man looked at Ning Yuxuan’s expression. In a very wronged tone, she asked, “My lord, didn’t you say that you hoped that this servant would become pregnant soon. Why are you showing this type of expression then? Could it be that my lord doesn’t want this child?” 

  “No.” Ning Yuxuan stood up. Looking at her with a complicated expression, he said, “Go to Old Madame’s place for now. I’m going to the palace to bring back an imperial physician to check up on you.”