After the female doctor examined Xue Yuxin, she offered repeated congratulations, saying that the young miss was nearly two months pregnant.
Xue Yuxin herself was rather incredulous. "I'm pregnant? But I didn't feel a thing. I thought it was just because I was too exhausted from sorting out the case files in the Court of Judicial Review the other day."
The female doctor added, "That's because the young miss has always taken good care of herself and kept a proper balance in her daily life. You've been working hard these days, which is why you've felt a bit unwell."
Sun quickly asked, "Can she still go to work? Why don't you talk to your brother and let her take a break for now?"
But Xue Yuxin refused. "That's not possible. I've only been working in the Court of Judicial Review for a few months. If I quit now, wouldn't it dampen the spirit of women entering officialdom? No, no way."
Sun said again, "There's a legitimate grandson of the Zhu family in your belly. You can't just do as you please."
Xue Yuxin pouted. "No. I've already discussed with Zhu Bin that we won't have children for the time being. It's all his fault! If you don't let me go to work, I'll get rid of this baby."
Sun was shocked and quickly stepped forward to cover her mouth. "Oh, my dear young miss. You can't just say such things casually."
Xue Yuxin had just said it in passing. How could she really not like the baby in her belly? Immediately, she closed her mouth and gently stroked her belly as if she could already touch the baby inside.
The female doctor then smiled. "Don't worry, madam. In my opinion, the young miss's pregnancy is very stable. If she stays at home to recuperate, she may have nothing to do and end up feeling depressed. In the first three months, she just needs to be more careful and avoid doing overly tiring work."
Sun looked at her doubtfully. "Are you sure? Otherwise, should we invite a doctor to take a look?"
There was a hint of embarrassment in the female doctor's eyes, but then she said, "Madam, I'm a disciple of Master Shaoyang. I'm quite confident in this regard."
Master Shaoyang was formerly the deputy director of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Later, he thought the officialdom was too restrictive, so he resigned and went traveling. It was said that on his travels, he took in many talented boys and girls as his students, and all of them became capable people after they completed their studies.
However, while boys could practice medicine and advance in their careers, girls couldn't. They could only be assistants to doctors and help with examining women's diseases. For a girl like the one in front of them, who could work as a female doctor in the marquis's mansion, it was already quite rare.
Even so, the female doctor still said, "But I still think it would be better for the madam to invite a doctor to examine the young miss carefully."
When the doctor came, he said exactly the same thing as the female doctor. He only said that Xue Yuxin's pregnancy was very stable and didn't require any special care. She just needed to avoid being overly tired.
Only then did Sun heave a sigh of relief. After seeing the doctor off, she looked carefully at the female doctor and nodded. "You're quite good. How about serving beside Yuxin from now on?"
Xue Yuxin quickly shook her head. "The Zhu family already has female doctors. Now that grandmother is ill and sister-in-law is also pregnant, it's better to keep such a good female doctor at home."
Shen Yuning looked at the female doctor with a smile and said, "Now that women can enter officialdom, I think there should be no gender distinction in the medical field either."
Hearing this, the female doctor looked up happily. "Is what the second young miss said true?"
Shen Yuning nodded. "Of course it's true. But this matter can't be rushed. Don't worry. As long as you're down-to-earth and hardworking, regardless of your gender, you'll be a talent that won't be buried."
The female doctor nodded repeatedly, saying that she would definitely work hard. If the princess could help her enter the Imperial Medical Bureau in the future, she would surely live up to the expectations.
On the other side, Shao returned quickly, beaming with joy. "Your former aunt is really an interesting person. Before I even finished my words, she kept saying that her mother-in-law was very reluctant at that time. Later, it was her younger sister who cried and swore that if they took in a good concubine to bear children for her husband, she would treat her well. Only then did her mother-in-law go to find someone."
Shen Yuning knew Lady Xiao's character well, so she wasn't surprised.
Shao laughed again. "She also said that Lady Xiao originally selected several innocent girls who were willing to enter the marquis's mansion, but Lady Xiao was afraid that they would take away her favor, so she didn't want any of them. She insisted on finding a girl who was reluctant to enter the marquis's mansion. Tut-tut."
This was just empty talk. At that time, Xue Yuxuan was always out and about, indulging in pleasure. Lady Xiao just thought that if there was a son in the family, it would be better to keep him by her side as the legitimate son. She never thought that a concubine would dare to compete with her for favor.
Later, Concubine Bai was obedient and well-behaved. Lady Xiao took care of Xue Yuxi for a while, but then she thought the child was too noisy, so she sent him back to Concubine Bai and told her to raise him herself.
At this moment, Xue Yuxin was no longer feeling headache or dizziness. She got up excitedly. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to Uncle's house quickly."
Shao gave her a disdainful look. "You're so impatient. Of course we have to wait for Yuhan to come back. Otherwise, if we go there rashly, won't we give them a handle?"
This was true.
Xue Yuhan only wanted her mother to get out of trouble as soon as possible. After going back and giving some instructions, she quickly tried to find a way to go out. It took her quite a bit of effort, but finally she managed to get out of the house and came to her uncle's house for help.
However, Shen Yuning frowned. "If grandmother could come forward, it would be better. It's a pity that grandmother is in poor health... Forget it. It'll just take a bit more words."
Just as they were about to go out, they saw grandmother being supported by a maid and coming out as well.
When Xue Yuhan saw grandmother's haggard appearance, tears welled up in her eyes first.
The old lady pressed her head and glared at Shao. "Such a big thing and you didn't even tell me? Do you think I'm sick, so you're all getting bolder?"
Shao quickly apologized and supported her carefully, consoling her. "It's not a big deal. We can handle it. Mother, your health is not good. Don't go through the trouble."
The old lady shook her head. "The second son's family is really worrying, but after all, they're still my own flesh and blood. You're all restricted by your status. If they start to act unreasonably, you'll probably suffer. I'm an old bones and I'm not good for much. Yuhan and Yuxi are also my grandchildren and granddaughters. I can't just sit back and watch them suffer, can I?"
Xue Yuhan was even more tearful. "Granddaughter is unfilial and always makes grandmother worry."
The old lady stroked her thin face and gave a bitter smile. "My child, it's only been a short time since I last saw you, and you've become like this. If I hadn't been so heartless and separated your family back then, you wouldn't have had to work so hard. It's all grandmother's fault."
Xue Yuhan shook her head desperately. "Grandmother has done everything she could to protect us. Yuhan knows all this in her heart. It's Yuhan's fault. I'm not as capable as elder sister and second sister. I can't protect the people I want to protect."
The grandmother and granddaughter were about to cry in each other's arms.
Shao quickly comforted them. "Alright, alright. We haven't even started yet, and you're already crying yourself sick. What should we do?"
The grandmother and granddaughter managed to hold back their tears and walked out of the house.
Shen Yuning instructed, "We'll go there first. Yuhan, you go directly to the Court of Judicial Review to report the case. Elder sister..."
She hesitated for a while. Her elder sister worked in the Court of Judicial Review, so it would be more appropriate for her to accompany Yuhan. But now that her elder sister was pregnant, she was reluctant to let her go through such a hassle.
But Xue Yuxin replied crisply, "Alright, I'll go with third sister. Don't worry about me. I'm very strong."
So the strong Xue Yuxin strode forward with determination, dragging Xue Yuhan, who was carefully trying to support her but was waved away by her, onto the carriage and headed for the Court of Judicial Review.
Shao was worried about both her mother-in-law and her daughter. Seeing her daughter looking so energetic, she could only sigh and help her mother-in-law onto the carriage.
Shen Yuning sat beside her grandmother. Afraid that her grandmother would be uncomfortable, she specially lit some sandalwood. But perhaps the sandalwood they bought this time was different from before. The smell was a bit pungent, and Shen Yuning didn't feel very comfortable smelling it.
She looked at her grandmother with concern and saw that her grandmother showed no signs of discomfort. She thought that perhaps her grandmother was used to all kinds of sandalwood, unlike her, who felt a bit bored and nauseous when smelling it.
In the carriage, Shao told her mother-in-law about the things in the second branch of the family. The old lady was in tears, feeling both heartache for Yuxi's suffering and for Yuhan's stubbornness.
"Yuhan is just as stubborn as Yuning. I've told her many times that if there's anything, she should tell me in time. I'm her grandmother! But she just keeps everything to herself. Now, look what a big deal it's become?"
Shen Yuning shook her head. "I'm not like that. I'm not a patient person. If someone makes me angry, I'll bite."
This light-hearted remark finally eased the old lady's anxious heart. She hugged Shen Yuning in her arms and scolded with a smile, "You're the most stubborn one. Back then, I said I wouldn't let you go and that I would find a way to settle you down, but you just..."
The old lady rambled on and on, talking about the time when the second branch of the family wanted to drive Yuning away.
Normally, Shen Yuning, who was buried in the old lady's arms, should have looked up and acted coquettishly to brush this matter aside. But for some reason, she found the smell on the old lady's body so pungent and uncomfortable.
She was startled. What was going on? Had she become so pampered living in the Yuming Hall that she was now嫌弃ing the smell on her grandmother's body?
Her thoughts wandered far, but her body couldn't take it anymore. Shen Yuning quickly dodged the old lady, turned her head to the side, and vomited.
Since the urge to vomit came so suddenly, she couldn't hold it back in time. She didn't manage to catch it with the spittoon in the carriage, and instead, the whole carriage was filled with filth.
Shen Yuning looked up embarrassedly, covering her chest and looking at Shao. "Mother, I..."
But Shao showed no sign of impatience. Instead, she beamed with joy. "Stop the carriage, quickly stop the carriage."
When the carriage stopped, Shao helped the old lady out and instructed the servants to quickly drive the carriage back for cleaning. She also told someone to go to the nearby carriage rental place to rent a carriage.
The servants were very efficient. When the carriage came, Shao didn't tell the driver to go to the second branch of the family's house. Instead, they went to the medical clinic.
By this time, Shen Yuning had recovered. She asked blankly, "Mother, why are we going to the medical clinic?"
The old lady also happily held Shen Yuning's hand. "We have to go and have your body checked."
Shen Yuning quickly said, "I ate too much this morning, and then I had some snacks with elder sister. After vomiting, I feel much better. It's not a big deal. Let's go there first."