The Martial Doctor

If we want to target Xue Family Manor, naturally someone needs to be in charge of the situation.

"Be careful of Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion," Lin Miao said, "We’re just helping quietly, make sure not to stand out."

"Understood."

"Yuyao and Lianxin, stay behind. Miaoxue and I are going out tonight and will return early tomorrow," Lin Miao instructed Sun Youwei, "If anyone asks, just say I had an emergency call."

"Got it, leave early and come back early," Sun Youwei nodded. She knew Lin Miao’s current endeavors were dangerous, but he was helping others, so she had no reason to stop him.

"Don’t worry, Lady Youwei, with us around, we won’t let the gentleman take risks," Si Miaoxue said.

"Qiu Ze, make preparations. We’ll sneak out of the city without anyone noticing," Lin Miao summoned Qiu Ze and instructed him.

"Yes, master, I’ll arrange it," Qiu Ze replied and went to carry out the task.

...

Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion.

"Madam, Patriarch Ye requests an audience," the steward reported outside the curtain where Mrs. He was nursing a child.

"Let him in."

"Yes."

Ye Shengyuan entered, lifting the curtain without hesitation of Mrs. He nursing.

She held a small baby in her arms, wearing a tiger-head cap and shoes, clearly a little boy.

The child’s eyebrows bore a slight resemblance to Ye Shengyuan, which was not surprising since it was his child.

Marquis Lingyang Xue Chunlai was far away in Li Jing and hadn’t returned in three years. It’s impossible for Mrs. He’s child to be the marquis’s.

It could only be Ye Shengyuan, her lover’s.

This was Mrs. He’s own child, and the people in her inner court all came from her family and were trusted by her, so there was no fear of news leaking.

To the outside, the child was Xue Wulang’s!

The Ye Family couldn’t acknowledge this child, and Ye Shengyuan couldn’t explain bringing the child back to the family, while Xue Wulang needed a child to secure his position.

Being a eunuch, he needed a reason for the Xue Family’s support, and having a grandson was one such reason.

The child must bear the Xue surname.

Ye Shengyuan had found three pregnant women, all giving birth around the same time. One died, two bore daughters, and only Mrs. He had a boy.

How coincidental—it almost seemed destined.

"What are you doing here? Didn’t we agree not to meet for a while?" Mrs. He said as she pulled the child away and naturally handed him to a maid, pulling down her neckline to cover herself.

Ye Shengyuan slightly averted his gaze. Even at her age, the woman’s allure was undeniable, and he was captivated by her.

However, the fact she bore him a child indicated she still had feelings for him.

Xue Chunlai couldn’t conceive with her. Was something wrong with him?

"Urgent matters—today, the Blade Catching Alliance’s East Mountain Prefecture head issued a blade summon, which is unusual," Ye Shengyuan said.

"What do you mean? The Blade Catching Alliance has nothing to do with Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion, right?"

"When the Blade Catching Alliance acts on this scale, something big must be happening. Yun’Er, the marquis will return soon, so we can’t afford any slip-ups," Ye Shengyuan said.

"What are you worried about? It has nothing to do with that dead Xue Chunlai returning," Mrs. He said, rolling her enchanting eyes, "Come and help me walk."

Ye Shengyuan quickly stepped forward and helped her up, feeling her voluptuousness. After having a child and living comfortably, Mrs. He gained some weight, but she was more enticing.

Now, Ye Shengyuan felt overstrained. Each visit left him exhausted for days, and he still had wives and concubines at home to satisfy.

Having multiple wives might seem enviable, but it required skill.

"Yun’Er, tell me, is Xue Family Manor hiding someone outside the city?"

"Ye Shengyuan, you’re investigating me?" Mrs. He glared at him, clearly displeased.

"Before the end of the year, you sent supplies quietly. I found it strange; we were already prepared for the New Year there. Why suddenly send such a large amount of goods—meat, rice, and flour—and not let me ask? Do I need to investigate further?" Ye Shengyuan said, "If Xue Family Manor is truly hiding someone wanted by the court, they must leave immediately."

"No, old Ye, you’re overthinking. I just prepared for the marquis’s return. Who knew he’d return suddenly? The estate is huge; if he brings many people, the mansion may not house them all, but it can accommodate those numbers. Without reserves, it’d be too late for last-minute purchases," Mrs. He said, aware of secrets but intending to keep them from Ye Shengyuan.

Though she had no feelings for Xue Chunlai, his importance far outweighed Ye Shengyuan’s. Without Xue Chunlai, she was nothing.

She knew which side held more weight.

"Alright, I understand," Mrs. He turned, tidying Ye Shengyuan’s collar, saying sweetly, "Sheng Yuan, I know you’re concerned for me. How about staying for dinner? It’s been long since we ate together. I’ll have snow ginseng soup prepared for you."

"Dinner?" Ye Shengyuan, catching Mrs. He’s captivating eyes, couldn’t help but agree. Tonight, he’d again tirelessly attend to her.

After childbirth, her cravings only increased.

...

Miaoxue Residence.

Lin Miao checked Dingxian’s pulse and was relieved: "Continue the medication, and with some rest, you’ll recover."

"Young hero, may I speak with you privately?" Dingxian asked.

Lin Miao nodded. Even if Dingxian hadn’t asked, he wanted to discuss Jing Hui with her.

"Master, I’ll leave you alone," Jingxin, caring for Dingxian, understood and exited the scene.

"Lin, young hero, Xiaohui ..."

"Hui is fine; she and the child are safe in the mansion. She worried for your safety, wanting to send the child to me for fostering. I refused," Lin Miao quickly explained.

"The poor child, she’s gone through so much."

"Master, I’m already involved deeply, so please don’t hide from me. Who exactly is Hui, and what’s the child’s origin?" Lin Miao asked frankly. He was already entangled and knew stepping back wasn’t an option. Learning the truth was reasonable.

"At this point, some things must be revealed. Mr. Lin, we didn’t want to burden you," Dingxian sighed.

"Master, please, there’s no talk of burden at this stage," Lin Miao replied calmly with a smile.

"Jing Hui’s real name is Le Hui, born in a family in Li Jing. Her father worked at a security bureau, and her mother was from a small family. At twelve, her family faced troubles; her father was injured and dismissed, they had a new-born brother, making life hard. Eventually, the couple sent Le Hui to the palace. She was lucky, assigned to serve Prince Zhao Yuanwu, and the two, being of similar age, naturally developed feelings. As a prince, Zhao Yuanwu couldn’t marry her, so they met privately. Since Le Hui had no status and was just a maid, she escaped when the prince was confined, avoiding being imprisoned like the princess..."

"So the prince foresaw danger, sending the pregnant Le Hui away from the palace?"

"Not quite. The prince, aware of her pregnancy, planned to send her out for safety, uncertain of the palace’s security, making an early send-off safer," Dingxian explained. "Thanks to these steps, Le Hui and her unborn child were saved."

"How did she reach Heaven-Reaching Temple?"

"It was the abbess of Jingyue Nunnery in Li Jing, my senior, who named her Jing Hui. After the prince’s confinement, noting unusual movements at Jingyue, she sent Jing Hui to Dongshan. Soon after Jing Hui’s move, I heard Jingyue Nunnery was burned down—likely intentional," Dingxian recalled.