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Chapter 58 Clues Revealed

Gong Chang'an returned to Lingyue Pavilion just before lunchtime.

Wen Mingqian asked him, "Where did you go? Aunt Zhang can't find you."

“Aunt Song tricked me into going to her courtyard,” Gong Chang’an said with a smile. “She gave me food and drink in an attempt to get information out of me.”

"She's still worried?" Zhang Ma said, pursing her lips. "Isn't she afraid she'll lose the pregnancy?"

Wen Mingqian didn't ask any more questions; she knew that Gong Chang'an wouldn't let Song Shi get any information out of her.

"Alright, wash your hands and eat. I've made stewed pork hock and ham hock, but don't eat too much," said Zhang Ma.

Gong Chang'an washed his hands, sat down at the table, and suddenly frowned and said, "When Bao'an and I were playing, I took the opportunity to peek into Song's room. It seems that she is hiding something under her pillow."

"What is it?" Zhang Ma asked as she served the dishes.

“I didn’t see it very clearly either,” Gong Chang’an said, his expression slightly tense. “But it looked a bit creepy. It looked like a blood-stained doll, very small, probably not even as big as my palm.”

Wen Mingqian frowned upon hearing this: "Isn't this a nightmare spell? She's pregnant, why would she need something like this?"

"Would she use this to frame us?" Zhang Ma immediately became alert. "That woman surnamed Song is so desperate to become the mistress of the house that she's capable of anything shameless."

Wen Mingqian thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "No, if she were framing us, she wouldn't put it under her own pillow. It would be too easy to be discovered, I mean too easy for the person sleeping on it to find out."

“Yes, it’s easy for others to miss, but wouldn’t the person lying on it notice? Besides, who doesn’t move their pillow while sleeping?” Zhang Ma said. “So it must have been Song herself who put it there? But why would she put something so disgusting under her own pillow? There must be something wrong here!”

“I’ll try to probe a little more,” Gong Chang’an said. “Anyway, I’m just a kid, so she’s not on guard.”

"Then you must be careful, because she always harbors the intention to harm you." Wen Mingqian warned, "I do not agree to you going there alone. Song's pregnancy is unstable, and it would be terrible if she blamed it on you."

“Then I’ll try to get some information out of Gong Bao’an. I think he’ll hear something.” Gong Chang’an shrank his head and said, “I’d better stay away from Song Shi! Otherwise, one day she’ll say I pushed her and that muddle-headed woman will kick us out of the house again.”

"Eat, eat, it'll get cold soon," Zhang Ma urged. "Now that Gong Er is back, he can't kick us out anymore, at least the old lady and the master won't agree."

When Song's sister-in-law came, she naturally inquired whether Gong Chang'an had been sent away as a substitute.

Madam Song was also helpless and told her that the old lady said Gong Xu would be back in two days.

"How could that be? She's surnamed Wen, she's not the King of Heaven." Madam Ge was a hundred percent skeptical. "I think it's mostly an excuse. She's using this as a pretext to delay things. If your husband is really alright, she'll be the one who benefits."

"That's true, but the old lady has spoken, so I can't go against her." Song Shi was just a concubine, and no matter how much Gong Xu promoted her, she was still not important enough in the old lady's eyes.

"There's nothing we can do about it. I'll head back now and see in a couple of days!" Madam Ge sighed, not wanting to say anything more, and took her leave.

"Young Madam, why did your aunt leave? Lunch has already been prepared," Granny Yang asked as she caught up.

“My sister-in-law has no appetite either, let her go back.” Madam Song said listlessly, “What a pity to waste such a good plan.”

"It's not necessarily useless," Granny Yang whispered. "As long as the master hasn't returned, we still have hope."

"I've been sitting for too long, my back is really sore," said Madam Song, her face not looking well. "Help me back to lie down."

"You must be tired again, young mistress," Granny Yang said worriedly. "Lie down, I'll go and brew the medicine." "Tell Liuyun to go, you stay by my side," Madam Song said. "I want to sleep for a while, but I'm afraid I won't sleep soundly."

“Don’t be afraid, young lady, I’m right here!” Granny Yang said hurriedly.

"I was thinking, if all else fails, I'll go to the temple and burn some incense!" Mrs. Song said, exhausted but worried. "I keep dreaming about him as soon as I fall asleep, and it's really scary."

“Dreams are what the mind thinks. You’ve been having a lot of worries lately, so it’s no wonder your mind is unsettled,” Granny Yang comforted her. “Besides, pregnant women often have many dreams. And haven’t we already followed Granny Xue’s instructions?”

She said that as long as she uses the pillow for seven days, it will be fine. Let's wait and see.

Besides, you're so weak right now; going to the temple might be too tiring. You should rest and recuperate first.

Song sighed helplessly and closed her eyes on the pillow.

Gong Baoan hadn't had enough fun with Gong Chang'an yet, but he knew he couldn't be willful.

So when Gong Chang'an left, he didn't try to stop him.

But he was just a child, and naturally he felt bored when no one played with him.

After playing in the yard for a while, he got bored and went inside to find Song.

At this time, Madam Song had already fallen asleep, and Granny Yang, who was sitting next to her, had also dozed off.

Gong Baoan walked to Song Shi's side as usual and called out, "Mother, I'm hungry."

Song was already in a daze and couldn't sleep well. In her half-awake state, she heard someone calling her mother, which startled her awake.

Gong Baoan was startled and stared blankly at Madam Song. He felt that his mother was unusually unfamiliar, someone he had never seen before. After a long while, he asked in a trembling voice, "Mother... what's wrong?"

Before Song could recover, her face contorted with rage, she was in a terrible mood, and her tone was far from gentle: "What are you doing? You startled me!"

Gong Baoan felt wronged and explained in a low voice, "I...I feel hungry..."

"Where are your men? Are they all dead?!" Madam Song vented her anger on her servants. "All they do is slack off and cheat! Did you buy me to be worshipped?!"

At this moment, Granny Yang also woke up and hurriedly said, "Oh dear, Fifth Young Master, you're hungry! I'll take you to eat right away."

He then turned to Madam Song and said, "Young Madam, take your medicine first, and then eat your meal!"

The two servants accompanying Gong Bao'an also hurriedly entered, standing by the door with flushed faces, not daring to raise their heads.

Madam Song realized she had overreacted, so she softened her tone and said, "Everyone, please leave! Let me have some peace and quiet."

Granny Yang then led Gong Bao'an and two servants away. Gong Bao'an secretly wiped away his tears. He didn't know why his mother had become like this. She had never scolded him so harshly before.

Besides, I haven't done anything wrong.

Is it really as Brother Chang'an said, that Mother no longer loves me as much as before after having another child?
(End of this chapter)