"Does Concubine Niang find her current life satisfactory?" Qi Zhenzhen asked calmly.
Ru Yan stared at Qi Zhenzhen, trying to discern any dissatisfaction from her expression, but found none. Instead, she saw disdain. Yes, this second young lady clearly did not care how she lived.
Unwilling to accept this, Ru Yan's eyes darted about, and she put on a look of helplessness. "Our Marquis's estate hasn't had the joy of a new heir for many years. This time, the Marquis is overjoyed, and he's been paying more attention to Ru Yan. He fears I might be wronged in terms of food, clothing, or service. Because of the Marquis's attitude, even the Madam, who is with child, has been more lenient towards Yanbo Pavilion. The Madam hasn't sent anything to Yanbo Pavilion herself, but she has instructed the main kitchen to send me many tonics every day. The people the Marquis found to examine me say there are no problems."
Previously, Ru Yan had chosen to be on good terms with Madam Yun and her children. Now that she had a protective charm, things were different. With the Marquis protecting her, whom else did she need to fear? Even the Madam had to show respect to the Marquis and treat her well. The worries she had before about Madam Qin making trouble had not materialized. Therefore, Ru Yan was now very pleased, feeling a sense of vindication. What if Madam Yun had children by her side? She had still lost the Marquis's favor.
As for the second young lady, no matter how much the Old Madam doted on her, she would eventually be married off.
A married daughter is like spilled water; could she possibly extend her influence back to her maternal home?
What a fool, Qi Zhenzhen thought to herself. She had initially believed Ru Yan to be intelligent, but it turned out she was nothing special.
"Mother, Concubine Niang's belly is truly large," Qi Zhenzhen said faintly.
Madam Yun hadn't paid much attention before, but now that Qi Zhenzhen mentioned it, she also felt the belly was abnormally large.
Ru Yan said proudly, "The estate physician said the child in my womb is very healthy. It's highly likely to be a boy."
Qi Zhenzhen smiled meaningfully, which gave Ru Yan a chilling feeling.
"Second Young Lady, what do you mean? Do you dislike hearing that my child is healthy?" Ru Yan asked, frowning, displeased.
Qi Zhenzhen ignored her. "Mother, when we were at the estate, didn't we hear stories about mothers who couldn't give birth because their babies were too large, resulting in the death of both mother and child? That woman also claimed to be carrying a male fetus and was so proud that she ate whatever delicious food she could, causing her child to grow too large. Another case was where the child survived, but the mother died. I heard that the family chose to save the child. The doctor cut open the woman's abdomen and took out the baby."
Indeed, such things had happened, Madam Yun nodded.
Ru Yan's face turned pale, and her hands trembled involuntarily. Whether it was the death of both mother and child or only one surviving, the thought was terrifying.
"You, what do you mean?" Ru Yan asked, her voice trembling.
Qi Zhenzhen said with a half-smile, "What else could I mean? I'm merely telling you what I've heard. After all, your belly looks exceptionally large, Concubine Niang. It doesn't show much, yet it's larger than what one would expect at six or seven months."
Ru Yan's face turned ashen. She snapped at the servants attending her, "Why are you still standing around? Go outside and wait. I have something to say to Concubine Yun and the Second Young Lady. Is this something you people can listen to? And I'm telling you, if anyone here lets slip anything said in Tinglan Garden today, don't expect me to be merciful about our master-servant relationship!"
As soon as Ru Yan spoke, the attending servants filed out. Their concubine was currently favored, and they dared not disobey her.
After everyone had left, Ru Yan adjusted her expression, trying hard to appear amiable.
She tugged at the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile. "Second Young Lady, are you implying that my unborn child is abnormally large? That someone has deliberately done this?"
"From which ear did Concubine hear me say that someone deliberately did this? I merely recounted two stories I heard. Why is Concubine so nervous? Furthermore, your mouth is on your own body. What you eat and what you don't eat, how much you eat or don't eat, aren't these things Concubine can control? Can you blame others? If such words were to spread, who would believe them?" Qi Zhenzhen said slowly, her gaze towards Ru Yan filled with mockery. "Therefore, Concubine, don't rashly complain to my father. Even if Father favors Concubine, such unreasonable behavior would likely earn her a reprimand. After all, ensuring Concubine eats well and lives well is for the well-being of Concubine and the child. If you were to implicate others, they would surely cry injustice, claiming they served diligently only to make a mistake."
Ru Yan suddenly felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles. At first, she had only been wary of whether they would tamper with her food, without thinking much further. After observing for a period and seeing no anomalies, she had relaxed. After all, she rarely had access to such valuable items as bird's nest and snow frog; now that she had the opportunity, why wouldn't she indulge?
It turned out this was also a tactic.
Later, if the fetus was too large, it would result in the death of both mother and child, or she would die. Or, if she were lucky enough to give birth, her body would be ruined, posing no further threat to the other party.
No, this was not what she wanted.
Ru Yan supported her belly and knelt before both Qi Zhenzhen and Madam Yun.
Madam Yun was startled and quickly stood up, reaching out to help her.
Qi Zhenzhen, however, did not move at all. She picked up her teacup and took a gentle sip.
"What are you doing? Zhenzhen is young, and you are considered half an elder. This is bad luck for her!" Madam Yun tried to help her up, but Ru Yan remained motionless, which annoyed Madam Yun.
Ru Yan quickly shook her head. "No, Sister Yun, that's not what I meant. I sincerely apologize to you and the Second Young Lady. I was presumptuous before and used you as a shield! You have always treated me very well, yet I plotted against you; I am truly ungrateful. Now that I realize my mistake, please forgive me, Sister Yun!"
Madam Yun looked awkward, glancing at Qi Zhenzhen and then at Ru Yan, unsure of what to do.
"Mother, if Concubine Niang wants to kneel, let her kneel. It's not like you're forcing her. I heard the Old Madam say that pregnant women have strange tempers, so perhaps Concubine Niang simply likes kneeling," Qi Zhenzhen said with a faint expression.
Ru Yan understood that Qi Zhenzhen was angry about her past actions and wanted to vent her frustration.
How long she would kneel, and until when, depended on when Qi Zhenzhen's anger subsided.
"Yes, it's fine for me to kneel," Ru Yan said in a low, submissive voice.
After only a quarter of an hour, Madam Yun couldn't bear it any longer. "Zhenzhen, Concubine Niang Ru Yan is pregnant now. It's not good to..."
...keep kneeling.
Madam Yun wasn't concerned about Ru Yan's comfort, but rather feared that any complications would implicate Qi Zhenzhen.
"Concubine Niang, quickly get up. You are precious now. If anything goes wrong, I cannot bear the responsibility," Qi Zhenzhen said indifferently. "After all, the child in your womb is an heir highly valued by Father."