Qin Junyao followed Grandma Qin back to her room and closed the door. "Grandma, are you short of money again?" she asked.
"What are you talking about? What do you mean 'again'?" Grandma Qin shot Qin Junyao a sideways glance and sat on the kang. "I've always been short of money."
Qin Junyao was speechless and changed the subject. "Grandma, you wanted to see me about something, right?"
Grandma Qin scrutinized Qin Junyao from head to toe, her gaze finally settling on her granddaughter's face. "How long has it been since your last period?" she asked.
"Huh?" Qin Junyao hadn't expected Grandma Qin to ask her that.
"Mmm~~."
"Don't 'mmm'. I'm asking you," Grandma Qin's triangular eyes narrowed, her expression stern.
"Grandma, I'm calculating... it seems to be over forty days now."
"Let's go," Grandma Qin stood up and called Qin Junyao out of the room.
Qin Junyao looked bewildered. "Where are we going, Grandma?"
"Where? To see a doctor. You're showing signs of pregnancy and you're still running around. Isn't that maid of yours, Liu Yu, skilled in medicine? Didn't she notice?"
"That Liu Rong, I thought she was disciplined. If your period is late, shouldn't she have reminded you?"
Qin Junyao was somewhat stunned by Grandma Qin's words. Could it be true?
If one person said it, it might be false. But if two people said it...
"Grandma, there's no need to find a doctor. Liu Yu can do it. It was me who didn't ask her to check my pulse."
Grandma Qin glared at Qin Junyao and pushed the door open to leave.
As they approached the Zhao residence, the grandmother and granddaughter saw Liu Yu pacing near the main entrance.
"Madam, why are you only returning now?" Liu Yu then noticed Grandma Qin and curtsied. "Greetings, Old Madam Qin."
"Hmm, go inside and check your mistress's pulse."
"Yes," Liu Yu responded as if receiving a royal decree, then turned to prepare, completely forgetting to let her mistress go in first.
When Qin Junyao brought Grandma Qin back to her own room, Liu Yu had already placed the pulse-taking tools on the table.
"Madam, Old Madam Qin, please sit," Liu Yu appeared very excited.
Grandma Qin sat down first, then motioned for Qin Junyao to hurry.
Qin Junyao sat down with a heavy heart and placed her hand on the pulse-taking mat.
Liu Yu sat down and placed her hand on Qin Junyao's wrist.
The pulse was smooth and flowing, like rolling pearls – a gliding pulse, without a doubt.
Liu Yu withdrew her hand and immediately knelt on the ground. "Congratulations, Madam. You are with child."
Liu Rong came in with tea and happened to overhear. She knelt down with the tea tray and echoed the congratulations.
"Get up, both of you. Liu Yu, are you sure you didn't make a mistake with the diagnosis?" Qin Junyao couldn't believe she was carrying a new life.
Liu Yu stood up. "Madam, about forty days. There's no mistake."
Forty days?
Could it be that she conceived the night before Zhao Liangcai left?
That was the night Zhao Liangcai hid her zither, and managed to succeed.
Grandma Qin was momentarily stunned, then suddenly slapped the table. "Liu Yu, Liu Rong, right? Go and prepare a room for me, and two servants' rooms. I'll move in tomorrow."
Qin Junyao looked at Grandma Qin, her mind in a daze. "Grandma?"
"What? Didn't you keep asking me to move in? It's just that Xiao Yu sleeps in my room and I'm not used to it. You have plenty of rooms here, so spare one for me," Grandma Qin said as she walked out.
She reminded them at the door not to forget the servants' rooms.
Liu Yu and Liu Rong didn't speculate on why Grandma Qin needed servants' rooms. They eagerly removed the tea and helped Qin Junyao sit on the kang.
Liu Rong stayed to await Qin Junyao's orders, while Liu Yu went out to have the rooms prepared and then informed the Qin family members that Madam was with child.
The mistress of the household being pregnant was a great joy. Granny Wang, after seeking Qin Junyao's consent, distributed rewards to the servants.