Chapter 49: The Unexpected Turn of Events - Hong Yun's Pregnancy and Qing Dou's Situation

  When she heard this, Shen Han was shocked.

  Shen Han was shocked, Zhao Xi Qiao's heart ached.

  "What are you talking about, little uncle? I just think that with mother's temperament, knowing you didn't go to old master's place today and instead helped in the kitchen, she would be unhappy."

  "Answer me, are you concerned about the rumors outside?"

  Shen Huan's words were directly ignored by Zhao Xi'ao, who was still concerned about what Shen Huan thought in her heart. How did she view this rumor? Was it really because of this matter that she was avoiding him? If not for him, she would have gone out immediately and not let herself be troubled. But if she was avoiding him...

  Zhao Xiuxiao sighed silently in her heart: What else can I do?

  "No, I said I'm just walking upright, others can spread whatever they want, it's their business, not mine. Do I have to live an abnormal life just because of the nonsense in their mouths?"

  Shen Han had no choice but to repeat what she said to Li that night, and someone was delighted, letting out a sigh of relief, with a hint of a smile on her face: "Then I won't bother you, elder sister."

  The person has already left the kitchen door and turned away.

  Shen Huan looked at his back, feeling a bit strange in her heart, but couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. She could only push it to the back of her mind for now. At this moment, Shen Huan was thinking more about how to make things clear with Li Shi regarding that childbirth matter.

  Life in ancient times wasn't really that easy, modern is a high-tech era, many things that were easily done by the previous generation can't be implemented here at all. However, with the ability on hand, it seems like it can be used, the family situation is not good now, if the younger uncle passes the exam and goes to the capital, even more money will be spent. The maternal family isn't wealthy either, and there's a brother too, it's really hard to ask for help again.

  "Son, I received the rent today, so I'll steam some meat for you to eat. By the way, let's also make some pickled vegetables."

  Mr. Li hadn't even entered yet, and the sound had already been transmitted. Shen Huan put away his thoughts and walked to the kitchen door, took over the things in Mr. Li's hand, smiled and nodded: "Actually, I don't like eating meat, let the younger uncles eat it, studying every day is quite tiring."

  "Look at your skinny body, you don't even eat meat, if you go out like this people will think I'm mistreating you"

  "What are you talking about, mom?"

  For Shen Huan's considerate behavior, although Li's mouth complained, her heart was also delighted: "Although our family is poor, I would rather suffer myself than make you young ones suffer."

  Without continuing to dwell on the topic, Shen Han simply turned around and washed her hands clean, cutting them up while tentatively opening her mouth: "Mother... I want to discuss something with you."

  Li prepared pickled vegetables on the side and heard Shen Han's words, couldn't help but glance at her, then continued to lower her head and busy herself with her work.

  "What's up, speak."

  "Uh...I don't know what to say."

  "Have you thought about what you want to do?"

  These days, Shen Huan occasionally sat at the door in a daze. Although Li didn't ask anything, she was clear that her daughter-in-law was worried about the family. The other day, she mentioned wanting to find something to do, but never spoke again about it. Now, seeing her hesitant expression, Li immediately thought of this.

  "How did you know, mom?"

  "Go ahead, as long as it's feasible, I'll absolutely support you."

  "I was afraid you would get angry."

  "You're not doing anything terribly wrong, why am I getting angry?"

  Seeing Li seemed to be unbothered, Shen Huan's heart felt a bit more at ease, and she put down the kitchen knife and slipped beside her, whispering: "I want to learn how to deliver babies from you, Mother..."

  "Hmm... wha... what?"

  Li was shocked for a moment, she never thought Shen Han would say something like that. But when she turned back to see her determined expression, it seemed like she understood a bit more. She... had successfully helped the child be born twice, did she really have a talent for this?

  And every time there was something strange, without seeing her do anything, she could grasp all the movements. Li Shi sank for a moment and finally asked: "Hanyu, when we were at the Yuan family, why did you know that the child in the pregnant woman's belly was still alive? And when we were at Old Wu's house, why did you know that the second daughter-in-law hadn't arrived yet?"

  These questions Shen Huan had expected her to ask, but she could only pretend that she didn't know either, looking seriously and solemnly into Li's eyes: "I really don't know, it was just a feeling, the situation was already like that, I thought of treating a dead horse as if it were alive, when I was at Wu's house, thinking of Yuan's house that time, the feeling was so accurate, so I followed."

  Li knew she wasn't telling the truth, but how could you tell by feeling? However, if she didn't want to say anything, she couldn't force her. She just thought that since Li's family was in the medical profession, they might have studied these things, but still dared not to agree with her: "But childbirth is always done by old midwives, and you're a young girl... If your family does this kind of thing, it won't sound good if word gets out."

  "Mom, do you think I'm the kind of person who would care about this? If I really cared, I wouldn't have even mentioned it to you. As for embroidery, I really don't have any talent, but you also know that when it comes to having children, I'm actually capable, it's just that I lack experience like yours."

  "But..."

  "Mother, listen to me..."

  Finally, after nearly half an hour of persuasion in the kitchen, Shen Huan managed to convince Li Shi, which delayed today's lunch by a small margin. Fortunately, Li Shi was somewhat accommodating and only allowed her to make contact first, with other matters to be discussed later.

  Thus, Shen Huan occasionally followed Li to attend births and gradually gained some reputation, but that's a later story. The trip to the yamen three days later had not been resolved yet.

  At the dinner table, Li asked Shen Huan about her visit to the Yuan family. She didn't mind talking about the yamen and believed that her youngest son would make a name for himself. After all, someone from their household would eventually become an official, so there was no need to be overly cautious about this matter.

  She was worried that the Yuans would bribe Lord Qin and turn right and wrong upside down in front of the whole town.

  "Don't worry, Mother. Shadow said that Master Qin is not that kind of person. Even if he was, we still have Shadow to testify for us. There are some things that when necessary, I will speak the truth to protect myself."

  As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Han couldn't help but glance at Hu Youxuan, who happened to be looking at her too. The two of them tacitly nodded in understanding, he knew what Shen Han was getting at, and Shen Han could only feel at ease when saying this in front of someone who knew the inside story like Hu Youxuan.

  It was just their secret communication, but it made Zhao Xiuzhu unhappy. In his opinion, that was a kind of flirting. He coldly snorted and said: "Let's eat first, the food has gone cold."

  After two days of anxiety, the yamen's officer finally arrived at the entrance of the courtyard on the second day just before nightfall. When Shen Huan opened the door, he was momentarily stunned, and then immediately thought of what it was about. After inviting the person in to drink tea and confirming the time for the trial the next day, Shen Huan finally let out a sigh of relief.

  Although things have not been completely settled, at least tomorrow can usher in a day of resolution. She firmly believes that the truth will stand on her side, and as long as she goes to court tomorrow, even if it is made public, it doesn't matter, it's better than letting the townspeople wildly speculate.

  As for the rumors with Xiao Shu, it's actually just a small number of gossipmongers spreading them. Generally, people still believe in Zhao Xiuzhuo's character and understand her mother-in-law's strict style, so there's no need for them to come forward as a family. There are already many voices of justice speaking out on their behalf.

  "A Xue? How did you come?"

  "I'm here to remind you, I saw Zuo Xing go find Qin Gongzi tonight, and when he left, his face was very smug. Not long after that, Qin Gongzi sent someone to inform you. I'm worried that Qin Gongzi still can't resist temptation, and tomorrow this matter might be a bit difficult to handle."

  Everyone looked at Yingyue Xue's somewhat apologetic expression, and after exchanging glances with each other, they couldn't help but show a hint of worry. The Yuan family had no way to collude with the government office, and even if they did, it would be easy for them to deal with an ordinary citizen who had no background whatsoever - it would be simpler than crushing an ant.

  "But I really can't think of any reason why Lord Qin would help the Yuan family."

  "The Yuan family is going not to Qin's side but to his wife."

  Zhao Xi's words instantly struck everyone's heart, instantly shifting the attention on Ying Yue Xue to him. Zhao Xi's face still didn't show any extra expression, he just calmly said: "Madam Qin has received quite a few benefits from the Yuan family these past two days."

  “……”

  "How did you know?"

  "These two days when I went to Lao Fuzi's place, I happened to notice the movements of the Yuan and Ying families."

  Upon hearing this, Shen Huan couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. She had thought too simply about ancient times. In fact, the kind of backroom maneuvering and sudden changes that occurred in the imperial court were not unique to modern times.

  "What's to be done?"

  "What else can be done? I didn't think of getting back those twenty taels of silver either. The fact that I accidentally broke her "Duizi Duifu" was true, although it had nothing to do with the death of the original wife, but it's just a way to ease my conscience. Anyway, going to the yamen tomorrow is just a formality in my opinion, the people in town have already spread the news about this matter, going to the yamen is just to give a result, as for what the result will be, I believe they themselves will have an idea."

  Li was indeed flustered when she first heard Yue Xue's words, but after thinking about it, she thought that she had lived for half her life and there was nothing to worry about. As for her son, he had used money to suppress the matter in the first place, and at the same time, to remove the obstacles from his own heart. Since they were willing to spend the money back then, why would they be reluctant now?

  "Aunt is indeed a wise person, actually... we don't have much to worry about. Take the recent rumors outside about Second Sister and Xiao Qiao's brother, aren't there also wise people speaking up for them? Aunt has already gained recognition in this field, even if they distort the facts, I believe they wouldn't dare go too far. The government office is ultimately a place that values reason. I just don't believe the Yuan family isn't afraid?"

  "What will they be afraid of?"

  Yingyue Xue couldn't help but interrupt, but she didn't notice that some things had been slowly changing between her and Hu Youxuan, with some inexplicable entanglement.

  But at this moment, no one noticed this detail, and Shen Han laughed first: "What's there to be afraid of? Afraid of Little Uncle?"

  “……”

  At that moment, Zhao Xiuzhu was speechless. Who in this house wouldn't understand the meaning behind Shen Huan's words? Every word and action of hers was tied to his heart, but none of these could be expressed, and he couldn't help but feel suffocated in his heart: Am I being treated as a lucky charm to ward off evil spirits?