Chapter 91 – Rebirth: The Poisonous Concubine (32)
After the Empress Dowager went to bed, The old maid—who had hurt her back earlier—
Lazily skipped out on night duty and went to nap on a couch outside. Because of this, she missed the Empress Dowager’s mumbling in her sleep. Thus, the terrified palace maids narrowly escaped disaster.
Silently, they made a tacit agreement—
Say nothing. Cover for each other. Taking a few scoldings was far better than losing their lives.
…
Maybe the Empress Dowager was too shaken. Because the very next day, Bai Mo was released from the palace and sent home. She wasn’t even required to bow and pay respects before leaving—
Just kicked out on the spot.
The moment Madam Bai heard the news, she rushed to the Yu residence. As soon as Bai Mo stepped out of the carriage, she pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank the heavens! Thank the heavens—You’re back! You’re safe!”
She had already pulled strings to gather inside information. It was said that Bai Mo was summoned by the Empress Dowager because she had angered her. And historically—
Whenever a ruler wanted to make trouble, The people involved rarely walked away unscathed. Madam Bai had almost stormed into the palace herself.
If Madam Yu hadn’t held her back, She would have. Later, Yu Chenyi had sent word out, assuring them Bai Mo was fine and telling them to wait patiently.
Had he not stayed in the palace alongside Bai Mo, Madam Bai might not have believed him. After all, he had a ‘record.’ But now, seeing her daughter safe and sound—
Madam Bai finally relaxed.
“Mother, is there any food? I’m starving.”
Bai Mo’s bright, smiling face and casual words instantly dispersed the dark clouds of worry in her mother’s heart.
“Yes, yes, yes! I had everything prepared for you!”
Madam Bai completely forgot they were at the Yu residence—
She took charge, ordering the servants to bring food. Madam Yu didn’t mind at all. She simply had the servants bring dishes, fetch hot water—
After all, the two children had been out all day. They must be exhausted.
…
After finishing their meal, Bai Mo recounted what had happened in Cining Palace, but she left out the part where she and Yu Chenyi had pretended to be ghosts. She simply said that the Empress Dowager had seen a ghost while she and Yu Chenyi had hidden in the Buddhist hall, behaving themselves.
Hearing this, Madam Bai immediately clasped Bai Mo’s hands and muttered a string of prayers for Buddha’s protection. Bai Mo and Yu Chenyi exchanged a knowing smile. Some things were better left unsaid, lest they frighten their mothers.
Not everyone could handle the truth as well as Yu Chenyi, especially Madam Bai. Imagine telling her, “Your youngest son isn’t human—he’s actually a snow ferret demon.” That was too much for the average person to accept. Being honest wouldn’t be loving Madam Bai—it would be hurting her.
That evening, Censor Yu returned home from court with big news—the Emperor had issued a decree: Yu Chenyi was to become an Imperial Inspector and set off immediately to travel the land and investigate local officials. For most men, this would be a great honor, a step toward establishing both a family and a career. Yet, Censor Yu could only sigh.
Such investigations were typically conducted in secret to prevent corrupt officials from putting on a show or certain political factions from sending assassins. But instead, the Emperor had publicly announced the mission to the world.
Even though the only people who had met Yu Chenyi were mostly those within the capital, it was still unclear—did the Emperor truly favor Yu Chenyi and wish to promote him, or was he just setting him up as a sacrificial pawn?
The heart of an emperor is difficult to fathom. However, Yu Chenyi could make an educated guess. The Emperor’s motive was simple—balance of power. It was true that both the Bai and Yu families were fiercely loyal to the Emperor, but only so long as they had no personal ties. Previously, their only connection was that they served the same ruler.
Yet, in reality, both families had deep foundations and considerable influence. Now, with their marriage alliance, they would inevitably become one united force. To the Emperor, that was a problem.
By sending Yu Chenyi away, the Emperor was making a clear statement. Yu Chenyi’s life and death were now in his hands. If he wanted him alive, he would live. If he wanted him dead, he would die. For both the Bai and Yu families, the only way to ensure their son’s safety was to keep pleasing the Emperor.
At the same time, this move also weakened the Prime Minister’s faction, redirecting all attention onto Yu Chenyi. With the court’s focus shifted, the Emperor could seize the opportunity to eliminate his real targets.
What a brilliant strategy. If Yu Chenyi died, it wasn’t like he was the Emperor’s own son. At most, the Emperor would posthumously grant him a title—a mere lip-service gesture. And in doing so, he would win the hearts of his officials while bolstering his reputation as a benevolent ruler. No matter how you looked at it, he wouldn’t lose.
Censor Yu, overwhelmed with concern, was further unsettled by the news that his son and daughter-in-law had spent the night in the palace without returning. His mind was in turmoil, unable to grasp the full picture of the situation.
However, when Minister Bai arrived, he quickly came to the same conclusion as Yu Chenyi. Their unwavering loyalty to the Emperor now felt bitterly cold.
When his eldest son joined the army, Censor Yu had already steeled himself for his family to devote themselves entirely to the Emperor and the nation.
If the Emperor had been upfront about his intentions, perhaps he wouldn’t have minded. But instead, he had secretly maneuvered events to push his youngest son into the spotlight as a target, drawing fire away from others. No matter how loyal Minister Bai was, he couldn’t help but feel resentment.
Doubt crept in within moments. Minister Bai recalled the Third Prince, whom the Emperor favored, and the incident in the beggars’ den.
He also remembered the disturbing rumor that the prince had schemed to marry Prime Minister Wei’s daughter, Wei Yuyan, only to humiliate her later. It was terrifying.
This was the man who would become the next ruler of Jin?
Someone who, for his own selfish reasons, crushed others at will—how could Jin have any future under such a ruler?
What was even more alarming was Lan Gaoyi’s intentions toward Bai Mo. The man coveted Bai Mo and had nearly resorted to brute force to ruin his innocence. If the Emperor truly passed the throne to the Third Prince, what would become of Bai Mo?
Having witnessed the Third Prince’s cruelty firsthand, Minister Bai had no desire to see Lan Gaoyi rise to power. But he had no control over the Emperor’s choices. Direct defiance was not an option. The only alternative was to evade.
“Leaving the capital might be for the best. The Prime Minister’s faction is preparing to make a move, and no one knows when things might take a turn. It would be wise to lie low for a while,” Minister Bai said. Unlike the older generation, who had already lived their lives, the younger ones were the future of their families.
At that moment, Madam Yu seemed about to speak, but before she could say anything, a sudden wave of nausea overtook her. Covering her mouth, she turned to the side and retched. Startled, the wet nurse immediately called for a physician.
“Madam, are you all right?” Censor Yu, who cherished his wife above all else, was terrified that something might be wrong. Pushing past the wet nurse, he quickly supported her into the inner chamber.
Minister Bai, Bai Mo, and the other men remained outside, as it would be inappropriate for them to follow. However, Madam Bai went in with her.
Before the physician could arrive, Madam Bai observed Madam Yu’s condition, asked about her daily routines, and quickly formed a suspicion. Stepping forward, she offered, “My Mo’er has been frail since childhood, so I’ve had to care for him closely. I’ve learned to read pulses fairly well. If you don’t mind, let me take a look first.”
Since they were in-laws, and Madam Yu had always treated Bai Mo well, Madam Bai was more than willing to return the kindness. If her suspicions were correct, confirming them now would help calm everyone’s nerves before the doctor arrived.
“Thank you for your trouble,” Censor Yu said after a brief hesitation, stepping aside to give her space. After all, it was just taking a pulse, not prescribing medicine.
Madam Bai sat at the bedside, carefully taking Madam Yu’s pulse. Censor Yu, anxious beyond words, dared not make a sound, while Bai Mo and the others waited outside in equal tension.
Young and restless, Bai Mo paced back and forth in the hall. Since neither the physician had arrived nor anyone had come out from inside, his mind couldn’t help but wander. Madam Yu had always treated him well, and he didn’t want anything bad to happen to her.
“Xiao Bobao, Xiao Bobao, are you free right now?”
In a bamboo grove, a little panda was happily gnawing on bamboo when it heard Bai Mo calling. It poked its head out from the thicket. “I’m here! What’s up?”
Earlier, when Bai Mo had planned to impersonate a ghost, Xiao Bobao—terrified of such things—had shut off its external senses, only activating them if Bai Mo encountered danger.
“Madam Yu suddenly started vomiting. Ancient medicine isn’t as advanced as modern medicine. Can you check what’s wrong with her?”
“No problem!” Xiao Bobao patted its chest confidently. As an all-purpose system, diagnosing an illness was no challenge at all.
Activating its diagnostic function, Xiao Bobao extended its mental energy into the inner chamber to examine Madam Yu.
At the very moment Xiao Bobao sent out its spiritual probe, Yu Chenyi seemed to sense something and glanced toward the chamber door. Bai Mo felt a pang of guilt but quickly straightened up.
Why should he feel guilty? He had done nothing wrong. Besides, he had already confessed to Brother Chenyi that he was a spirit beast.
With that thought, Bai Mo smiled at Yu Chenyi and hugged his arm. “Brother Chenyi, don’t worry. Mother will be fine.” Even if there were any issues, he could exchange medicinal potions with Xiao Bobao to treat Madam Yu.
Yu Chenyi chuckled, pressing Bai Mo down into a chair to wait patiently. He wasn’t particularly worried. His family was meticulous about their health, with a physician checking their pulses every two weeks. The last check-up had been only seven days ago, and aside from a mild loss of appetite, Madam Yu had been perfectly fine.
Soon, Xiao Bobao’s diagnosis came in. “Madam Yu is pregnant.”
“What? My wife is pregnant?!”
At that exact moment, inside the chamber, Censor Yu stood frozen in shock upon hearing Madam Bai’s words.
“Based on the pulse, it is indeed the case,” Madam Bai confirmed with a gentle smile. She then questioned the maidservants who had been attending to Madam Yu about her recent daily routine.
“Drowsiness, loss of appetite, and a missed menstrual cycle—these are all signs of pregnancy,” Madam Bai explained, patting Madam Yu’s hand affectionately. “You’ve been through this before. How did you not consider the possibility?”
Madam Yu was just as stunned. Ever since Yu Chenyi had promised to take no concubines and only marry one wife, she and her husband had resigned themselves to the idea of having no further children. Yet, unexpectedly, fate had sent them another child.
“A child…” Madam Yu gently touched her still-flat abdomen, her eyes shimmering with maternal affection.
Censor Yu was absolutely overjoyed—he was going to be a father again!
“My dear, you must rest well. You haven’t been eating much lately. Someone, hurry to the kitchen and prepare some nourishing food!” He held Madam Yu’s hand tenderly, his voice filled with warmth. Sensing the moment, Madam Bai tactfully excused herself, leaving the couple alone.
As soon as she stepped into the front hall, the physician arrived. Just as Madam Bai had predicted, Madam Yu was indeed pregnant. Since it was still early in the pregnancy, the previous examinations had not detected it.
Overjoyed, Censor Yu generously rewarded the physician with silver and requested a prescription for prenatal medicine. He took the matter as seriously as he would an official investigation, determined to ensure that Madam Yu remained in perfect health.
Seeing his exaggerated concern, everyone burst into laughter, even Madam Yu herself. “It’s not like this is my first pregnancy. Do you really have to be this serious?”
Censor Yu only chuckled sheepishly, acting entirely unlike his usual composed self.
The physician, however, cautioned, “Since Madam is of advanced maternal age, extra care should be taken.”
“Exactly! Madam, please sit down at once!” Censor Yu now followed the physician’s advice to the letter. He had heard of the risks associated with late pregnancies and was determined to ensure his wife’s well-being.
It was precisely because of her age that Madam Yu hadn’t even considered the possibility of pregnancy. Reflecting on this, Bai Mo decided to ask Xiao Bobao for a prenatal stabilizing potion.
“Can I use my points to exchange for it?” Bai Mo knew that medicinal potions couldn’t be used casually, so he didn’t dare to redeem them himself in the marketplace. Instead, he always consulted Xiao Bobao and obtained the potions through her.
“That’s no problem at all.” Seeing how well Madam Yu treated Mo Mo, Xiao Bobao was also fond of her. Besides, Bai Mo had already been handling the storyline so well that she barely needed to intervene. In fact, she sometimes felt useless, so being able to help Mo Mo made her quite happy.