Forty-four soft ribs

  When she woke up again, the moon outside was already hanging high on the treetops. Occasionally, there were faint sounds coming from afar, and Gu Man knew that it was Pei Yin and Zhi Hua doing needlework in the outer room.

  It wouldn't be bad if life could go on like this forever, Gu Man rubbed her forehead, but immediately laughed at herself.

  Living in a place like this, even if you want to be calm and peaceful, there may still be people who stir up trouble.

  She still feels that all the goosebumps on her body are emerging when she thinks of that green snake at dusk.

  If it were really possible for people in ancient times to kill others in this way, then that would be too frightening and too terrifying.

  Before her death, she asked Gu Yan if Wang's death had anything to do with them. Gu Yan replied: "Ninth sister, did you think mother would allow your mother-in-law to give birth to a son?"

  She had always thought that her mother was Ma Yiniang, but now it seems very likely to be Liu Liuniang who has already become the Ping Furen.

  Thinking of this, she felt that all her pores were open, and the wind was blowing in, if it was Liu Liu's mother, wouldn't she be inviting a wolf into her home?

  She could no longer sit calmly on the bed, thought for a moment and called Peiyin: "Peiyin, execute the painting!"

  Pei Yin and Zhi Hua rushed in, pushing the door open. Seeing that she had already sat up by herself, they both let out a sigh of relief. Zhi Hua then complained: "I told you so, why did we have to go see her? We ended up getting a good scare for nothing!"

  Gu Man couldn't help but listen to these words, she leaned forward and grabbed Pei Yin's hand, asking her: "I asked you and Pei Qin to bring Liu Liu Niang here, and the person who separated us from her, have you investigated them? And what about that wet nurse who seems very close to her?"

  Pei Yin was taken aback by her sudden excitement, and it took him a moment to calm down. After listening carefully, he thought for a while before shaking his head: "We've thoroughly investigated everyone, and the others were all arranged by Second Master after she came to Beijing. There's nothing special about them. As for that wet nurse, she seems to have been with her from the beginning, but I couldn't find out anything else. All I know is that people in the embroidery pavilion usually call her Liu Mama."

  Liu Mama, there are at least ten people in the Hou Mansion who address her as such, what's so special about it?

  She felt a bit discouraged, but immediately realized that she didn't just have to rely on her family to gather information. Thinking of this, she asked Peiyin: "I remember you saying that you had an older male cousin who serves beside the Twelfth Young Master of Waiyuan?"

  Pei Yin nodded, as if she knew what Gu Man was thinking, and asked her: "Miss, what do you want my brother to do?"

  "Let him go to the Taifu Mansion and find my uncle!" Gu Man quickly got out of bed, and while a chill ran down his spine, he became somewhat clearer-headed: "Is your brother reliable?"

  Recently, Gu Man's suspicious heart seems to have worsened a lot. A small person, yet always looking gloomy, without any of the mischievousness and playfulness of a child. Pei Yin thought it was normal to nod slightly, and in order to add weight to her words, she specially said: "My brother has been honest since childhood."

  Gu Man nodded after looking at her for a moment: "I believe you. Let him go to the Taifu Mansion on my behalf and have my uncle investigate this Liu Liuniang."

  Pei Yin found it strange, but soon let it go. After all, Liu Liuniang had a big fight with Wang Shi and Gu Boqi, so it wasn't unusual for Gu Man to want to investigate her background.

  She obediently responded and was about to go out when she heard the sound of the curtain rustling, and Qingyin had entered.

  Jian Gu Man had already woken up, and with a slightly tired face, she smiled and hurriedly held her hand to ask: "Miss, you're awake, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

  Gu Man shook her head and hurriedly reminded her not to mention it to Wang Shi.

  Qingyin patted her head and sighed softly, "We wanted to keep it a secret, but how could we? The mistress already knew, she just sent someone to search the garden carefully, but didn't find any snakes. It's strange, at this time of year, why would there be snakes?"

  Gu Man listened and became even more convinced that the snake's appearance was not a coincidence. She shook her head, then pulled on his hand: "Since you're here, I'll go with you too."

  When Gu Man arrived at the Qingjiang Hospital, Wang Shi had already put on a big red dress and was swaying back and forth as she was about to leave, with a large group of frightened maidservants following behind her.

  She was startled and rushed over to support Wang, scolding her: "Mother, where are you going so late? If there's something urgent, can't it be done tomorrow?"

  Wang held her hand tightly, squatted down to help her fix her windbreaker, and softly asked: "Mother is not going anywhere, Mother is just waiting for my Ah Man. Ah Man is a good child, in order not to worry me, she will definitely come to see me."

  Gu Man suddenly thought of the eleven-year-old cotton-padded jacket left to her by Wang Shi, whom she had never met in her previous life, and felt something stuck in her throat.

  She knew she couldn't lose Wang Shi, even if Wang Shi was weak again.

  She has nothing in this world, the so-called relatives are actually just strangers with blood ties, only Wang Shi, a heart that is truly and purely for her, without any impurities.

  With such sincerity, even if it's a burden, she is willing to bear it with pleasure, and is willing to have such a weakness.

  She suppressed the turmoil in her heart, helped Wang into the house, and deliberately put on a stern face to scold her: "Even if you have to wait, can't you wait inside? You're still pregnant with your little brother now."

  The little girl's face had a forced smile, her eyes were full of mist, as if she was about to cry at any moment. Wang saw that and hastily comforted her: "Alright alright, mother knows, from now on I won't go out so late again."

  Qingyin and Mengyu brought tea up early, and upon seeing the situation, Qingyin laughed and said: "Our Ninth Miss seems just like a grown-up, thinking things through even more thoroughly than we do."

  Not yet finished joking, Yu Tong immediately followed up and replied to Wang Shi: "The dishes for the New Year's Eve have already been decided. On the first day of the new year, we will pay respects at the ancestral temple, on the second day, we will go to each house to visit the ladies, and on the third day, Zhao Wang Fu will host a banquet and invite several ladies from our mansion to attend."

  As the year-end approaches, things in the government are getting increasingly complicated. Wang Shi is extremely anxious and has to worry about these matters every day. Fortunately, she seems to have changed recently and now avoids trouble whenever possible, covering up when necessary, and appears more spirited than before.

  After listening to Yue Tong's report, Wang Shi nodded and thought for a moment before instructing Yue Tong: "Then let's set up a Lantern Festival banquet on the 15th and invite the families of Zhao Wang, Zhou Wang, and Wu Wang. On the 16th, let Second Master set up a few tables outside to specially invite some dignitaries and friends!"

  King Zhao, who personally tied up his own son in the great temple and accused him of treason, was it not he who upheld justice and annihilated his kin?

  Gu Man thought of the previous life when this King Zhao personally killed his own son, and he was a bit dazed. When he came back to himself, he heard Wang Shi say in his ear: "Since we've invited the inner house ladies, why not let Ah Man go too? She's been cooped up at home every day, she'll be stifled to death."

  The previous ones were just some appetizers, now it's time for the real show to slowly unfold~~~

  Waaahhh...