"Sir, I brought you a little pastry to taste."

Zhong Xiuxiu was heading to Chunshan Women’s Medical College for work, and she specially brought a box of pastries to Chun Nuan’s study.

"Ah, it’s from Xiangle Pastry Shop."

Chun Nuan happily accepted it: "This pastry shop’s pastries are nice, but not easy to buy. You were thoughtful."

"If you like them, I’ll bring them for you from now on."

"How did you get them?"

"It’s Aunt Gu’s shop, and two of the pastries are made from your recipes."

"No wonder, I felt they were familiar. I didn’t expect it was your aunt’s shop. Not bad, not bad at all."

Chun Nuan looked at Zhong Xiuxiu and nodded in satisfaction.

Studying medicine as a woman is not only about treating others but more about saving oneself.

Now, look at Zhong Xiuxiu, she’s exuding an intellectual beauty and excellence.

This even brought about a huge change in her birth mother Mrs. Gu’s status.

From an unknowing concubine in the back house, she stepped forward and even opened a pastry shop to earn Silver.

This is a sign of self-growth.

"Aunt Gu now spends most of her time researching pastries besides taking care of my younger brother. She says pastries need constant innovation to satisfy customers."

"Your aunt is quite a business-minded person."

She was truly a talent buried in the back house.

At the Zhong Mansion, Madam Zhong sent the pastries brought by Mrs. Gu to Mr. Zhong.

"My lord, please have a taste."

"Have we changed chefs?" Mr. Zhong tasted the pastries and nodded in satisfaction: "Not too sweet, not greasy, richly aromatic, this chef is good."

"What chef?" Madam Zhong laughed: "These were personally made and sent by Aunt Gu."

"Mrs. Gu?"

"Yes," Madam Zhong said, "My lord probably doesn’t know, but Aunt Gu has opened a pastry shop with great business."

"Oh, really?"

Mr. Zhong put down the pastry in his hand and nodded: "Mrs. Gu has always been honest and sincere. I didn’t expect her to have this talent."

"Indeed, we all misjudged her."

Madam Zhong said, "The Fifth Girl is very much like Aunt Gu, usually unassuming but truly impressive when it counts. I hope Aunt Gu can mentor Ke’er well so she can become a pillar for the Zhong family in the future."

"Support her more," Mr. Zhong said. "Mrs. Gu is fortunate to have a mistress like you."

"As long as my lord doesn’t mind me being meddlesome."

"That’s not the case," Mr. Zhong said. "You’ve worked hard managing the household all these years. To marry such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?"

Madam Zhong smiled without responding.

You don’t need to take every word a man says to heart.

Not every word comes from the heart.

If he really thought marrying her was a blessing, what would the other concubines in the back house be?

So it’s best to let go of such thoughts.

Power in her hand, being the master of the mansion.

Those concubines, no matter how favored, can’t surpass her. This is already a success.

Besides, her own children are doing well, and the concubine’s sons can’t surpass her sons, so there’s no concern.

As for the daughters born of concubines, they’re easy to handle. Once they’re of age, just marry them off.

They are of some use, like the Third Girl.

Speaking of which, how’s the Third Girl doing?

When she thought of the fact that she had to serve an old man over fifty, Madam Zhong felt uneasy.

Sympathetically, as a woman, it’s truly an injustice.

At the Lin Mansion, leaning lazily on the couch, Zhong Xiuyao squinted and basked in the sunlight streaming in through the window.

Life, it’s neither good nor bad.

Most importantly, her aunt passed on some experience.

As long as she firmly grasps this man, life wouldn’t be too bad.

"Aunt, didn’t you say you wanted something sour? I brought it for you."

The girl whispered, "Aunt, aren’t you going to see a doctor? What if...?"

"No need for now."

The lady of the Lin Mansion was not easy to deal with, not even having a concubine’s son around.

When she first entered the mansion to serve Mr. Lin, a bowl of broth was delivered the next day.

If it was ordinary broth, it would be fine, but this one ensured she couldn’t bear children again.

Zhong Xiuyao knew about it but couldn’t refuse to drink.

Fortunately, she had pills given by her Fifth Sister.

After drinking the broth under the maid’s watch, she would vomit it out and take the pills made specifically for her by Fifth Sister.

Indeed, every day there was broth, but it was different from the first bowl.

Mrs. Lin was always vigilant, but she didn’t expect Zhong Xiuyao to become pregnant.

"Aunt, why don’t you tell Mr. Lin, it’s already three months."

"I can’t say," Zhong Xiuyao got news after entering the Lin Mansion: these messages were bought with Silver.

The two sons born of Mrs. Lin were not well-behaved, idling away their days.

After weighing the pros and cons, Zhong Xiuyao decided to have her own child.

If it’s a daughter, there’s no problem. She can be raised in the Lin Mansion.

But if it’s a son, Mrs. Lin would never accept him.

Hence, Zhong Xiuyao didn’t plan to inform Mr. Lin.

If Mr. Lin had the ability to protect concubines, there would be plenty of concubine’s sons and daughters.

Having none proved how jealous Mrs. Lin was.

Mr. Lin didn’t require concubines to have children; he was only interested in his hobbies.

If he knew she was pregnant, it wouldn’t end well for her.

"But aunt, your belly will grow with time, it can’t be hidden."

"Hide it as long as possible."

Zhong Xiuyao had thought about it: "It’s early autumn now. By the time spring comes next year, there’s over five months, I should be able to give birth."

"Are you planning to keep it a secret all along?"

"Yes, keep it a secret, not a word."

"But, Mr. Lin often visits the courtyard..."

This reminded Zhong Xiuyao of something. Her Fifth Sister had warned her to take care of her health if pregnant and avoid intimacy.

The old man was fond of her, often coming over in the name of favor.

Anyone who wants this kind of favor can have it, Zhong Xiuyao wasn’t interested at all.

Of course, she kept these thoughts to herself.

"I will find a way to make Mr. Lin dislike me, hopefully avoiding contact for half a year."

"Aunt..."

This was tough on her.

"No problem. For myself and my child, what suffering can’t I endure?"

However, she was still worried about hurting the child.

She urgently wanted to return to her family to have her pulse checked by Fifth Sister.

Suddenly, an idea struck her mind: Got it, do it this way!

Zhong Xiuyao pretended to go out of the mansion for shopping but secretly returned to the Zhong family, which infuriated Mrs. Lin, leading to a three-month house arrest.

Zhong Xiuyao recalled Fifth Sister’s words, thinking that three months of house arrest was too short and that she must find a way to extend it further!