Chapter 13: Unable to Bear Children

As the carriage gradually moved away, the sounds outside also faded.

Beside her, Jin Li sighed deeply and said to Liu Fuying with admiration, “So this is the real purpose of Madam having me spread the news that day. I really couldn’t figure it out for a long time back then. Madam truly plans things meticulously.”

Liu Fuying turned and smiled at her, and Jin Li playfully stuck out her tongue.

“Madam, please don’t think I’m foolish.”

“How could you be foolish? You’re just too concerned about me, and concern can cloud judgment.”

“Ah, anyway, with this excuse now, no one will suspect Madam when she goes to the mountains again. It will only further confirm the rumors that the second branch of the family is bullying you.”

Liu Fuying smiled gently and softly stroked Jin Li’s hair.

Upon returning to the estate, Liu Fuying rested in her room for a while before going to the kitchen to arrange for the evening meal.

Recently, rumors about the second branch of the family in Shangjing City had intensified, causing them to avoid this area for fear of being caught with any substantial evidence. It was also due to their own guilt, as they holed up in their rooms as if the rumors were indeed true.

With less need to deal with them, Liu Fuying was naturally relieved.

What she had discussed with the abbot when leaving Changmingguan, Liu Fuying arranged for someone to handle within a few days.

This time, to make it appear sincere, she planned to bathe, fast, and stay properly at the Taoist Temple for several days.

When the day arrived, Liu Fuying, accompanied by Jin Li, left early as usual.

She was filled with anticipation, thinking that this time she would have several days to interact with Pei Zhouwu, and there would surely be good progress. Jin Li also looked forward to it, hoping that Liu Fuying could conceive a child soon and end these sneaky days.

Unexpectedly, they encountered an incident just as they were about to leave the city.

Someone hurriedly caught up and stopped Liu Fuying’s carriage.

“Sister, you left so quickly. I almost couldn’t catch up.”

The woman calling her sister lifted the carriage curtain high, wearing a cheerful smile on her face, but it made Liu Fuying’s expression turn cold.

It was someone from the Liu Family.

The third daughter of the main wife, named Liu Shiyuan, was three years younger than Liu Fuying and at the age for marriage discussions.

Without waiting for Liu Fuying’s response, the woman stepped down from her own carriage and boarded Liu Fuying’s carriage without permission, sitting beside her with a smile and pushing Jin Li far aside.

“Sister, a few days ago, Mother went out of the city to offer incense and heard that you were planning to stay at the Taoist Temple for three days to pray sincerely. Only then did we believe that the rumors in the city were actually true. Sister, are your husband’s second uncle and his family really bullying you like this?”

Now she was calling her “sister” so affectionately.

Liu Fuying looked straight ahead without glancing at her. In the past, she had followed her mother’s lead and only called her “that wretched woman.”

“What is your purpose in coming today?” Liu Fuying’s tone was quite cold.

Liu Shiyuan, thick-skinned, pretended not to notice her impatience and replied, “Sister, Mother was afraid you’d be too heartbroken, so she specifically sent me to accompany and comfort you.”

Jin Li beside her could hardly resist spitting in disgust.

Liu Fuying raised an eyebrow and said calmly, “Mother is very thoughtful.”

With people coming and going on the street, if she were to drive Liu Shiyuan away right then, she would surely suffer the consequences.

If her natal family, concerned about her hardships of being bullied, specifically came to accompany her through difficult times, and she ungratefully drove them away on the street, she would inevitably earn a reputation for being cold-hearted and ungrateful—forgetting her roots after marrying into a prestigious family and distancing herself from her natal family, which held only a minor fifth-rank official position.

Once out of the city, Liu Shiyuan began chattering again.

“By the way, sister, how is General Shen, my brother-in-law, doing health-wise?”

Liu Fuying gave Jin Li a look, signaling her to reply on her behalf, as she truly had no desire to engage with Liu Shiyuan.

“Miss Shiyuan, our General is recovering quite well.”

“Oh, that’s good to hear. I’ve heard the General rarely goes out, likely because he doesn’t wish to see people. That’s why we haven’t dared to visit, fearing we might disturb him and cause annoyance.”

Liu Fuying’s patience with her was nearing its limit.

How could she not know what Liu Shiyuan was scheming? Claiming to offer comfort was just a pretense; her real aim was to get close to Shen Xiunian.

“By the way, sister, may I ask a private question, just between us? I hope you won’t get angry—we’re only concerned about you.”

Before she could even ask, Liu Fuying preemptively voiced the question for her.

“You want to ask whether the issue of not being able to conceive is mine or the General’s?”

Liu Shiyuan’s eyes lit up, her face beaming with a smile as she praised, “Sister, you’re truly amazing! How did you know I was going to ask that?”

“The General is in the prime of his life; how could there be any issue with him?”

Hearing Liu Fuying say this, Liu Shiyuan’s eyes grew even brighter. She thought to herself that since Shen Xiunian had no problem, the issue must lie with Liu Fuying. Liu Fuying was nothing but a hopeless case, thinking she had climbed to great heights by marrying into the General’s Mansion, but whether she could ever become a phoenix was another matter entirely.

If Liu Fuying couldn’t bear children, she could.

Shen Xiunian was young, accomplished, and exceptionally handsome—Liu Fuying, that wretched woman, was truly unworthy of him.

Sooner or later, she would be driven out of the Shen Family.

“Sister, you…”

“I woke up early this morning and am feeling a bit tired. I need to rest for a while to regain my energy.”

“Oh… then you should rest, sister.”

Seeing Liu Fuying close her eyes and lean back, Liu Shiyuan no longer hid the disdain in her eyes, cursing her inwardly for putting on such airs. If they were still in the Liu Family, she doubted Liu Fuying would dare act so arrogantly.

Finally, they arrived at Changmingguan. The abbot, knowing she was coming, came out from afar to greet her.

Money can make the devil turn the millstone—this saying truly applies everywhere.

“Benefactor Shen has arrived. You must be tired from the journey. Please come in and rest, have some tea. The room reserved for your private worship has been prepared.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Abbot.”

That room was in the same courtyard as the one where Liu Fuying enshrined her mother’s memorial tablet. There was one room each on the east, west, and north sides, with the north room reserved for Liu Fuying to rest in at night.

“May I ask, Abbot, are these Bodhisattvas and deities all for praying for children?” Liu Shiyuan asked, gazing at the shrine on the wall.

The abbot smiled at her and simply said, “Praying to the gods lies in sincerity of heart.”

Liu Shiyuan smiled awkwardly, turning away, lost in her thoughts—most likely praying that Liu Fuying would not get her wish and would never conceive a child.

The abbot added a few more instructions, saying he would ensure no outsiders approached to disturb Liu Fuying’s peace and sincerity.

Originally, Liu Fuying planned to go find Pei Zhouwu after seeing the abbot off.

But now, Liu Shiyuan was standing right there, getting in the way.

Even after the midday vegetarian meal, she refused to leave.

A while later, as the sun began to set in the west, Liu Shiyuan still showed no sign of leaving.

Liu Fuying knew exactly what she was scheming.

Putting on this considerate act was all about waiting for the people of Shangjing City, even Shen Xiunian, to praise her—for being so concerned about the Shen Family’s descendants, she had gone to great lengths. Leaving a good impression would make it easier for her to enter the Shen Family in the future.

Using the excuse of needing to use the restroom, Liu Fuying took Jin Li outside.

“Madam, what should we do if she insists on staying here?”

Liu Fuying’s eyes turned cold—how could she not be frustrated?

She had wasted an entire afternoon, missing countless opportunities to interact with Pei Zhouwu.

“Go to my room and fetch the Insect-attracting Powder.”

“The Insect-attracting Powder? But Madam, didn’t you say it was meant to be used on Marquis Pei?”