king at her mother in disbelief: "Mother, you...you hit me"The maidservant beside her was also startled. The mistress had always doted on the eldest daughter, treating her like a precious jewel, afrai...It's sunny, afternoon.

Meng Jin Yao glanced outside. It was cold, but it wasn't snowing. She said, "The weather is quite nice today, let's go for a walk."

Qing Qiu looked at her in surprise and reminded, "Madam, there's a north wind outside."

Meng Jin Yao said seriously: "Then dress warmly, staying inside all the time isn't good for your health either. Take a walk every afternoon."

Upon hearing this, Qingqiu felt that there was some truth to her words and asked, "Madam, where would you like to go for a walk"

Meng Jin Yao replied, "Let's go to the back garden. The flowers there are blooming beautifully. It's pleasing to the eye just to look at them. Taking a walk among the flowers is quite pleasant."

Qing Qiu: "……”

The back garden is now rather desolate, with few flowers in bloom. However, the plum blossom tree is doing quite well.

However, since the master is interested in going for a walk, it's a good thing. Moving around is good for the body. It's not good to just sit or lie down all day, so she put on a warm fox fur cloak and accompanied her for a stroll.

The master and servant stepped out of the house, a biting cold wind swept over them, making their cheeks ache.

Meng Jin Yao wore a thick coat and put on the hood of her cloak, holding a hot water bottle in her hand. She didn't feel that cold.

At this time of year, there were few flowers blooming in the back garden. Plus, with the cold weather, hardly anyone came to the back garden to admire the flowers. Only maids would come to sweep away the snow.

Qingqiu pointed to a master and servant not far ahead, puzzled. "Madam, isn't that Li shi She was clearly coming in this direction just now, why did she quietly turn her head when she saw you"

Meng Jinyao glanced at her, unconcerned, and said: "Probably doesn't want to see me. Don't mind her, let's go shopping.

In the crisp autumn air, I accompanied her for a few walks in the back garden before returning.

Qing Qiu originally thought that her master had just suddenly felt like taking a walk. She didn't expect that her master would insist on walking in the garden every afternoon, as long as it wasn't snowing, he really seemed determined to exercise.

It was a day of rest, and Gu Jingxi came out of his small study in Weiruixuan. He found that his young wife was gone. He asked Chunliu, "Where is Madam"

Chun Liu replied truthfully, "Madam went for a walk in the back garden."

Gu Jingxi was surprised: "She went for a walk"

Chunliu didn't understand why he was so surprised, so she explained: "My mistress said that her body wasn't very well and needed some exercise. She has been going for walks every day these past few days, only yesterday did she stay home because of the snow."

Gu Jingxi was very surprised. His young wife was afraid of the cold and would rather stay inside all day. When it was especially cold, she would simply lie in bed and refuse to get up. Now she was actually going for a walk in the cold

Chunliu hesitated and asked, "Master Hou, shall I go fetch Madam back"

Gu Jingxi waved his hand: "No need, when she comes back, you tell him that I'm going to visit Lord Qi, the Minister of the Criminal Justice Temple. If I don't come back by dinner time, don't wait for me to eat."

Chun Liu replied, "Yes, Master Hou."

-

The back garden.

Meng Jinyao and Qingqiu, the master and servant, strolled leisurely in the courtyard.

Today, there is sunshine, and the warm sun shines down, bringing warmth. Standing in the sunlight feels very comfortable.

Meng Jinyao wasn't wearing her cloak today. A gust of north wind blew past, causing her to shiver. She turned to Qingqiu beside her and said, "Although there is sunshine today, it still feels a bit cold. Qingqiu, please go back and get me a cloak."

Hearing this, Qingqiu nervously said, "Madam, if it's cold, then perhaps we shouldn't take a walk for now to avoid catching a chill."

Meng Jin Yao replied softly, "It's nothing, just a little cold when the wind blows. Go back and get me a cloak, I'll wait for you here. After we finish our walk, I still have to go to Shou'an Hall."

Autumn's chill answered his steps as he quickly turned back along the path to retrieve her cloak.

On the left, the red plum blossoms have already bloomed, vibrant yet not vulgar. They carry a refreshing and elegant fragrance that wafts in and invigorates the soul.

Meng Jinyao stood still, quietly admiring the plum blossoms, when suddenly she heard footsteps. She turned to look and saw Li Wan'er walking towards her. She then abandoned her contemplation of the flowers and gazed faintly at the approaching figure.

Li Wan'er bowed respectfully: "Greetings, madam."

Meng Jin Yao nodded and glanced at Li Wan'er, who was alone. "Madam Li, you don't have to be so polite. You are carrying twins, how come you didn't let your maid follow"

"I just dropped something, so I had the maid search for it," Li Wan'er said, then looked at the blossoming plum tree beside her. "Are you here to admire the plums, Madam"

Meng Jinyáo said softly, "Yes, is Li shi also"

Li Wan'er replied, “No, it's because I felt stuffy inside the house, so I came out for a walk. Since I became pregnant, Xiu Ming has been making me stay in the courtyard to rest and recuperate. It was only when he went to discuss academics with the eldest son that I could sneak out and have some fresh air.” As she spoke, she gently caressed her abdomen, a smile playing on her lips, as if showing off or something else entirely.

Meng Jinyao said neither salty nor bland: "I hear that pregnant women need to be especially careful in the first three months, otherwise, they might miscarry with just a little carelessness. Xiu Ming is doing this for both you and the child. Madam Li, next time please don't be so willful, lest the child suffers any mishap."

Li Wan'er smiled sweetly at her, her eyes filled with provocation. She asked in a sweet voice, "I'm pregnant, Madam is about to be a grandmother. Do you feel particularly happy This is Brother Xiu Ming's first child. If Madam had married Brother Xiu Ming, his first child should have come from Madam's womb. Madam shouldn't be angry with me, right"

Upon hearing this, Meng Jin Yao looked at her with a strange expression before breaking into a smile: “Li shi, you're overthinking things. I was already overjoyed to have a son after just ten months of pregnancy. Now that I'm going to be a grandmother at seventeen, I'm even happier. This is all thanks to Li shi for making me a grandmother so early.”

Li Wan'er's face paled, then she stepped forward and looked into her eyes, saying meaningfully: "Since madam is not angry, then this concubine can rest assured. It's just that madam has little fortune, and this year she cannot become a grandmother."

She finished speaking, and a malicious smile crept onto her face as she looked at Meng Jin Yao. Seeing Meng Jin Yao’s confusion, she forcefully threw herself against the trunk of the plum tree and immediately let out a scream of “Ah!”.

That was quite a hard fall, it even shook some of the plum blossoms off the plum tree.

Meng Jin Yao looked at the plum blossoms shaken by Li Wan Er, she was slightly stunned, then subtly twitched the corner of her mouth.

To wait for a rabbit by the tree is to wait for luck.

She lowered her eyes to look at Li Wan'er, seeing her hands clasped around her stomach, her face contorted in pain. She thought inwardly that this woman was truly ruthless towards her, yet she cooperated with her performance, asking nervously, "Aunt Li, are you alright"

At this moment, Li Wan'er's personal maidservant Hongling appeared beside her from a distance. She was so frightened that she seemed to have lost her soul and ran over as fast as she could, asking in a trembling voice, "Madam, what's wrong with you"

And at that moment, the maidservants nearby heard the scream and hurried over as fast as they could.

Before I could reach them, I saw Lady Li lying under the plum tree in the distance, clutching her stomach and groaning in pain. Hongling was beside herself with worry, while Madam stood by her side, her face tight and her eyes fixed on Lady Li with an anger that seemed oddly strange. are you doing The situation is already settled. What can we do about it now Even if Xuan Yi can't handle it, she has to. Let her learn a lesson, doesn't that make sense"There's no common ground betwe...