Chapter 143: Pregnant Again

Chapter 143: Another Pregnancy

Aunt Hui understood her perspective. For A Yuan, staying single was the freest choice given her circumstances.

She’d once thought of convincing A Yuan to marry Zhou Yan, but since Zhou Yan had taken a concubine in Junzhou, he wasn’t good enough for A Yuan anymore. Even if Yue Niang were sent away, who could say A Yuan wouldn’t mind?

Aunt Hui knew when to drop a subject. Once she understood A Yuan’s stance, she never brought up remarriage again.

Her hands had been treated with medicine over the years, and she could handle a needle just fine now.

The Su Embroidery Workshop’s stitchers had skill, but they hadn’t gotten much better.

Aunt Hui personally went to the workshop to guide them. Her decades of embroidery experience helped many of them improve.

With Aunt Hui assisting at Su Embroidery Workshop and A Man practicing martial arts with Zhou Chen, A Yuan finally had some free time.

It might have been the warmer weather, but she felt more and more lethargic. Sometimes, lounging on the daybed by the window, she would doze off without realizing it.

The window was slightly ajar, letting in warm breezes. A Yuan rested her chin on her hand and drifted off again.

Chun Tao tiptoed in, placing a blanket over her shoulders.

A Yuan had only been half-asleep—she stirred the moment the maid stepped in.

“What time is it?”

“It’s 5:30 in the evening. Shall I serve dinner, my lady?”

Chun Tao lit the lamp as A Yuan rubbed her aching temples. She had no appetite.

“Just some light dishes, please.”

“Yes.”

Chun Tao turned to instruct the kitchen maids, and soon dinner was served.

Cold noodles with julienned cucumber and carrot, tossed with chili oil, looked quite appetizing.

A Yuan’s stomach roused, and she managed to eat half a bowl.

Before she finished, a servant announced from outside,

“The mistress of Fanglan Courtyard has arrived.”

“Yue Niang?”

A Yuan arched a brow, surprised by her visit.

“Show Concubine Yue in.”

A Yuan had the dinner cleared and rinsed her mouth with tea.

Yue Niang came in barefaced, wearing a simple grass-green dress.

Seeing A Yuan, she curtsied. “This one pays respects to the madam.”

“What did you call me?” A Yuan was startled by the address.

Afraid she’d offended her, Yue Niang grew uneasy. “M-Madam...”

Isn't she the master's official wife?

Yue Niang lived in Fanglan Garden, with only a few serving maids to attend to her and no one else to talk to. She only knew that Zhou Yan had taken a wife, but had no idea who she was.

Given how close Lady Hui and Zhou Yan were to A Yuan, Yue Niang instinctively assumed A Yuan was Zhou Yan's wife.

A Yuan smiled and gestured for her to sit, quickly explaining, "Yan-ge and I are like brother and sister. Don’t go pairing us together, Yue Niang."

Even if the two of them had gone through a wedding ceremony five years ago, it was just for show—she hadn’t expected Yue Niang to misunderstand.

"You're the only one by his side but you. If you have any doubts, Yue Niang, you can ask him directly."

"But, Madam..."

"Yan-ge has never taken a wife, so there is no 'Madam.'"

Hearing A Yuan’s words, Yue Niang’s heart leaped and sank.

She had always assumed Zhou Yan had a lawful wife and that she was merely a disposable concubine, but now she knew there were no other women by his side except her.

Yue Niang’s mind was reeling. Her handkerchief was nearly torn to shreds in her hands.

"Thank you, my lady, for telling me this. I made some fish stew for you to try. I hope it suits your taste."

With that, she motioned to her maid to bring it over.

She had come just to please A Yuan, and the fish stew had been prepared with great care—every bone carefully picked out.

But as the stew drew near, A Yuan’s face turned pale.

"Ugh! Get that away!"

The woman’s nausea came suddenly, and before Yue Niang could react, the door burst open as a figure rushed in urgently.

"What did you do to A Yuan?"

Zhou Yan's voice was cold with anger as he snapped at Yue Niang.

Yue Niang’s eyes reddened, about to cry from fear.

"I—I didn’t do anything..."

She had only wanted to offer Lady Xie the fish stew she had made—how was she to know it would make Lady Xie sick?

"If you did nothing, then why is A Yuan unwell? Why aren’t you staying in your own courtyard? If anything happens to A Yuan, you'll pay for it!"

Zhou Yan was both furious and frantic, while Yue Niang’s heart dropped like a rock.

"Yan-ge, don’t blame Yue Niang. It’s not her fault."

It took A Yuan a long while to recover, cutting Zhou Yan off before he could berate Yue Niang further.

She knew her body best—it wasn’t the fish stew.

Her recent fatigue and lack of appetite felt more like... she might be pregnant.

A Yuan dug her nails into her hand, managing a smile as she spoke up for Yue Niang.

"She meant well bringing me some food, but I can't handle fishy smells these days—I haven’t had much of an appetite. Don’t be hard on her."

"Really?" Zhou Yan’s expression stayed dark.

Though he’d never married, he knew some concubines had shady motives. Yue Niang had always seemed obedient, but what if she was faking it?

A Yuan caught on to his thoughts with just a glance. Beside him, Yue Niang had gone pale, her eyes dull.

A Yuan let out a quiet sigh. Yue Niang looked just like she once had.

Back when Shen Qiuyu accused her, Wei Xun had questioned her the same way—refusing to believe her.

She knew how painful it felt to be misunderstood and didn’t want Yue Niang to suffer the same injustice.

"It's true. She’s sweet-natured and we click. You know how stir-crazy I get stuck in this house—let her come around more often to keep me company."

"Lady Xie?"

Yue Niang hadn’t expected A Yuan to speak up for her. Her pale face lit up with thanks, the red mole between her brows bright and pretty. A Yuan kept stealing glances at it.

If she wasn’t mistaken, the Marquis Xiao’s daughter also had a red mole on her forehead.

She wondered if that girl had ever turned up after all these years.

Hearing A Yuan’s words, Zhou Yan’s face slowly softened.

"If you don’t mind her company, then let her stay. But if she bothers you, don’t put up with it."

Zhou Yan admitted seeing Yue Niang hurt got to him, but A Yuan’s health mattered more than one little concubine.

A Yuan felt torn—this kind of protection brought no comfort.

How was Zhou Yan any different from Wei Xun back then? Yue Niang was a person too, and she could feel pain. His arrogance now would only lead to regret later.

Yue Niang’s eyes were swollen and red. She didn’t linger in A Yuan’s courtyard. Watching the young woman’s broken-hearted departure, A Yuan’s heart ached.

If she’d known, she wouldn’t have asked Zhou Yan and Yue Niang to stay. She could tell he did care deep down.

But he needed time to figure out his feelings—who knew when he’d finally realize it?

After they both left, only she and Chun Tao remained.

The fish broth had cooled, the stink even worse now.

Covering her nose, A Yuan told Chun Tao to take it away.

"Go quietly and find a doctor—don’t let Auntie or Master Yan find out. Go yourself."

She needed to know if she was pregnant. Thinking back to that reckless night a month ago, her stomach dropped.

She still hadn’t figured out how to face Wei Xun. If she really was expecting, they’d be thrown back together whether they liked it or not.