Chapter 119: A Measure of Goodwill
There had still been no news from the Capital, and Mu Yunyao could not help feeling somewhat uneasy. Taking the newly prepared Niyun Beauty Album with her, she went to the Cao family’s Residence to visit Madam Jin.
The child in Madam Jin’s womb was already close to three months along. Logically speaking, the pregnancy should be stabilizing, and she should not need to be as cautious as before. Yet her appetite had not improved. Instead, her morning sickness had grown even more severe.
When Mu Yunyao arrived, Madam Jin was leaning against a soft couch with her eyes half closed, taking a short rest.
“Greetings, Madam.”
Mu Yunyao rose after performing her curtsy. Seeing Madam Jin’s appearance, her heart could not help giving a start.
“Why does Madam’s complexion look so poor?”
“Yunyao, you have come.”
Madam Jin opened her eyes, but her brows were slightly knitted, her expression carrying a trace of suffering. Even the motion of her hand as she stroked her belly had become especially cautious, as though she feared that the slightest force might harm the child within.
Compared with before, she had grown much thinner. Clothes that had once fit her well now hung loosely on her body.
Mu Yunyao temporarily set her own matters aside and stepped forward to take Madam Jin’s pulse.
“You have been unwell. You should have told me earlier. If I had not come today, how long were you planning to keep enduring this?”
“Your Buxian Tower has only just opened. I know you have been so busy these past few days that your feet scarcely touched the ground. So I had Lord Cao invite several physicians over to examine me. They all said it was morning sickness and that the condition was very normal. Even the midwife said it would be fine once I endured through this period. It is only that it has truly been too difficult to bear.”
Mu Yunyao frowned, and her expression grew somewhat unsightly.
“Madam has already invited a midwife now?”
“Yes. Lord Cao is also especially concerned about the child in my womb. The Cao family had someone invite a midwife over ahead of time and send her here. I kept her in the residence, so that she could take care of me a little more on ordinary days.”
“Madam should send that midwife away.”
Mu Yunyao withdrew her fingers and helped straighten the sleeve around Madam Jin’s wrist.
Madam Jin abruptly sat upright. Her gaze fixed upon Mu Yunyao with alarm and uncertainty.
“Yunyao, could it be…”
Because of the matter involving her maiden family, her thoughts were already sensitive. Now, hearing Mu Yunyao say such words, a chill suddenly rose in her heart.
“It is indeed very normal for women to have morning sickness during pregnancy. But in Madam’s condition, the child is nearly three months along, yet you have already grown so thin that your shape has changed. No matter what, you should be paying more attention and properly nourishing yourself. How could you possibly keep enduring like this?”
Back then, after Mu Yunyao had lost her own child, she devoted herself to studying medical principles. Because the pain in her heart had been too deep, she had subconsciously learned many things women should pay attention to during pregnancy. Looking at Madam Jin’s condition now, no matter how she examined it, something about it felt unusual.
Madam Jin completely lost her composure. She grabbed Mu Yunyao’s hand, gripping so tightly that Mu Yunyao’s hand immediately reddened.
“Yunyao, you must help me. I must protect the child in my womb!”
Seeing how agitated she had become, Mu Yunyao quickly spoke to soothe her.
“Madam, you need not worry too much. Fortunately, it was discovered in time. With proper care and nourishment, there is still time. Right now, you and the child are one body. If you are sorrowful and anxious, he will also be restless and unsettled. So you must not become agitated. At present, there is nothing serious.”
Madam Jin hurriedly took a deep breath and gradually steadied her emotions.
“All right. I will listen to you.”
Mu Yunyao looked around the room. At that one glance, her heart secretly trembled.
The last time she had come to Madam Jin’s room, she had not noticed anything unusual. Now, however, many unsettling things had appeared. But in order not to further alarm Madam Jin, she did not show it too plainly.
“Madam, the three pots of poinsettias in your room are blooming beautifully. I like them very much. Would Madam be willing to part with them and give them to me?”
Yin Hong quickly spoke. “Miss Mu, those three pots of poinsettias were bought by Master and given to Madam. He hoped Madam would feel happy looking at them.”
“What nonsense are you saying?”
Madam Jin rebuked Yin Hong in a low voice.
“Yunyao, if you like them, then I will give them to you. Move those three pots of poinsettias to the corridor first. Later, when Yunyao leaves, place them on her carriage.”
Yin Hong had only been offering a kind reminder just now. But seeing Madam Jin’s attitude toward the poinsettias now, as though she wished to avoid them at once, she immediately understood something. She quickly stepped forward to move the flowers out.
Mu Yunyao opened the windows. The slightly sweet and cloying incense in the room immediately dispersed a great deal, and even breathing felt smoother.
Madam Jin inhaled, and much of the tightness in her chest eased.
Mu Yunyao spoke in a gentle voice. “My mother once said that children are born knowing how to be considerate of their mothers. Even while they are still in the womb and have not yet been born, they know how to show filial piety in secret. That is why Madam will be less afraid of the cold than before. Even in winter, it is all right to open the windows now and then for fresh air.”
Hearing this, Madam Jin placed her hand over her lower abdomen, her expression becoming even more tender and loving than before.
“So the child has begun to understand things this early?”
“Yes. Moreover, since the child has already come into Madam’s womb, that means he shares a mother-child bond with you. This is something decreed by Heaven, and it cannot be severed easily. So you must also broaden your heart and not worry too much.”
Madam Jin’s morning sickness was so severe, mostly because her thoughts were too heavy. Having had no children for so many years had already become a knot in her heart. Now, even after becoming pregnant, she was constantly afraid and worried. How could she possibly nourish the child well like that?
“Right now, the child in Madam’s womb can already sense your emotions. If you worry all the time and cause him to misunderstand, he may secretly feel sad. Only when Madam is happy every day can the child live happily as well. When he is born, he will be a blessed little child who loves to smile all day long.”
Hearing Mu Yunyao say this, Madam Jin seemed to see the scene of her child being born and smiling at her. She could not help lifting the corners of her lips.
“I understand. From now on, I will certainly pay special attention.”
“If Madam still feels especially nauseated, you may rub a little fresh ginger on your tongue. Ginger is excellent for stopping vomiting, though Madam will have to endure some bitterness.”
“I am not afraid of bitterness. For this child, no matter how great the hardship, I can endure it.”
Madam Jin spoke with a firm expression.
Looking at her, Mu Yunyao thought of Su Qing. Back then, in order to protect her, Mother had forcibly changed her own nature and had dared to fight Li Shi with her life. Presumably, it had also come from this same earnest maternal love.
Originally, Mu Yunyao had not wished to invite trouble upon herself. But now, her thoughts had changed.
“Madam has been eating the food in the residence for a long time. I imagine you must be tired of it. If you have time, why not come often to Jinxiu Garden? My mother’s cooking is excellent. If you change your taste for a while, perhaps Madam will like it.”
Madam Jin quickly lifted her head and reached out to gesture for Mu Yunyao to come closer. She held Mu Yunyao’s hand, tightening her grip again and again.
“Yunyao, I do not know how I should thank you.”
“Madam is being far too courteous. Why speak of thanks? When Madam’s child is born, I will be asking for a large reward.”
“Good, good. When the time comes, I will open my storeroom and let you choose whatever you like.”
Madam Jin had come from a great family. She knew that a person’s sincerity was the hardest thing to obtain. Mu Yunyao was so intelligent. She naturally knew how great a risk such an action might bring her. Yet she still spoke, which meant it came from true sincerity. How could that not move Madam Jin’s heart?
“When the time comes, I certainly will not stand on ceremony. On the road to Jinxiu Garden, Madam must pay special attention. Add more soft cushions to the carriage. Hot water and such things must be fixed securely, so they do not spill while the carriage is moving. Also, if Madam likes incense, you may use some with a lighter fragrance. Smelling it will also make the heart feel clear and refreshed.”
Madam Jin nodded repeatedly.
“All right. I will certainly pay more attention.”
Madam Jin held Mu Yunyao and spoke with her for another full quarter of an hour before finally feeling steadier in her heart.
“Yunyao, I have also had people constantly watch for news from the Capital. I imagine it will not be long before news comes down. You should tidy things up properly and prepare yourself.”
Joy rose in Mu Yunyao’s heart.
“Good. I have troubled Madam.”
Thank you :D
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