Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

A cool night breeze made the lanterns under the corridor sway gently.

Chu Jinglan briefly dealt with military affairs in the study, but his mind had already flown to the backyard.

Although he felt guilty for bringing Liu Xueru back, he swore that he had no romantic feelings for that woman and was only doing it to repay a debt of gratitude.

Jiang Yining is his only wife.

Thinking of this, Chu Jinglan put down the wolf-hair brush and got up to walk towards the main courtyard.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the main courtyard was so tense that it felt as if cannons were about to be set up on the roof.

Jiang Yining sat on the soft couch in the bedroom.

"He's coming."

Bai Ze, crouching by the window crack like a vigilant hunting dog, turned back and whispered, "The footsteps are hurried."

Jiang Yining felt a headache coming on.

"What should we do?" she asked Ji Lingxiao.

Ji Lingxiao sat at the round table, his fingers unconsciously stroking the string of blood-red Buddhist beads, his eyes filled with malice.

We absolutely must not let Chu Jinglan into this room.

Jiang Yining is currently pregnant, though it's still early in the pregnancy and not yet obvious. However, if they have intercourse, it will definitely give her away.

Moreover, just thinking about that scene made Ji Lingxiao want to kill someone.

"Let him sleep in the study."

Ji Lingxiao said coldly.

"On what grounds?"

Jiang Yining was speechless: "This is his home, and I am his lawfully wedded wife. Absence makes the heart grow fonder; how can you send your husband to the study the moment he returns?"

"Then break his leg." Bai Ze drew the dagger from his waist, its cold light flashing.

"If his leg is broken, he can't..."

"Shut up!"

Jiang Yining picked up a soft pillow and threw it at them.

"That's the current Grand General. If you break his legs, the Censorate will impeach you to death tomorrow."

Just then, steady footsteps sounded outside the door, accompanied by Chu Jinglan's slightly excited voice: "Yining, are you asleep?"

The air inside the room froze instantly.

Bai Ze gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, and Ji Lingxiao stood up.

"Everyone stay here, and no one is allowed to make a sound!"

Jiang Yining lowered her voice to warn the three lunatics, then took a deep breath and adjusted her tone.

"My husband, I'm going to rest now..."

"I have something to say to you."

The latch was gently pushed.

It's unlocked!

Jiang Yining's heart skipped a beat. Neither of the two men remembered locking the door when they came in!

Good heavens! It's all because they're used to knowing the way around so well.

Just as Chu Jinglan's fingers were about to touch the door frame...

"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened!"

Old butler Zhao Bo's acting skills were simply superb; he tumbled and crawled into the yard, losing a shoe in the process.

He knelt down before Chu Jinglan with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "General! Second Young Master... Second Young Master's old illness has relapsed! He's vomiting blood! He's on the verge of death!"

Chu Jinglan's expression changed drastically, and he instantly withdrew his hand from the door: "What? Wasn't everything fine just now?"

"Young Master, this is...this is because you were too excited to see the General, and your heart meridian has been damaged!"

Uncle Zhao cried with snot and tears streaming down his face, "Now the second young master won't let anyone get close to him, he only calls for his sister-in-law... saying that he will only drink the medicine brewed by the first madam."

With a creak.

The door opened from the inside.

Jiang Yining rushed out wearing only a coat, looking "anxious," without even putting on her shoes properly.

"What's wrong with Sikong? I'll go check on him!"

Chu Jinglan disregarded his personal feelings and turned to run towards his younger brother's room.

The room of Chu Sikong was filled with a strong, pungent smell of medicine.

Chu Sikong leaned against the soft pillows, his face deathly pale. There was indeed a shocking pool of blood on the ground.

Although it was chicken blood that had been prepared beforehand, it looked exceptionally realistic under the dim light.

"Cough cough... Sister-in-law..."

Chu Sikong's thin, bony hand clenched in mid-air, so fragile it looked as if it would break at the slightest touch.

Jiang Yining rushed into the room, grabbed his hand, and skillfully patted his back: "It's okay, I'm here, don't be afraid."

Chu Jinglan stood at the door, watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

I was moved because my wife truly treated my younger brother like family.

The bitterness stemmed from the fact that her husband, at that moment, seemed like an unwanted outsider.

Chu Jinglan walked over and took his younger brother's cold hand.

Chu Sikong's eyes were unfocused: "B-Big Brother... I'm fine... it's just that my chest hurts... it's probably because I was too happy to see you..."

"It's all my fault, it's all my fault..." Chu Jinglan blamed himself.

"Big brother."

Chu Sikong struggled to get up.

"My body is so weak, I've disturbed you and your sister-in-law... cough cough..."

"Don't speak." Chu Jinglan pressed down on his shoulder, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Where's the doctor? Go get a doctor quickly!"

"Big brother will be watching over you tonight."

"No."

Chu Sikong grabbed Jiang Yining's wrist with his other hand, his fingertips gently hooking her palm with a hint of subtle teasing, while his face showed an expression of dependence.

"When my illness flares up, it hurts so much that I'll die if no one presses the acupoints. Only my sister-in-law... knows how to press them."

"Brother, you've just returned and must be tired from your journey. You should get some rest."

"But..." Chu Jinglan still felt it was inappropriate to have his wife guarding his brother-in-law; what if word got out...?

Jiang Yining felt an itch in her palm from that finger tickling her. She cursed the guy inwardly for being so audacious, but on the surface, she could only go along with his words.

"Yes, my husband, you should go and rest. Sikong can't be left alone here."

Jiang Yining made a quick decision: "Uncle Zhao, take the general to the guest room to rest. Also, make sure Miss Liu is properly settled. Don't neglect our distinguished guest."

When Liu Xueru was mentioned, Chu Jinglan's momentum weakened slightly.

He glanced at his pitiful younger brother lying on the bed, then at his persistent wife, and finally gave in.

"Well... thank you for your hard work, Ningning." Chu Jinglan sighed and walked away, turning back to look at her every few steps.

"Call me if you need anything."

Chu Jinglan left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

The instant the door closed.

Chu Sikong, who was originally "on the verge of death," suddenly opened his eyes. There was no trace of weakness in his eyes anymore; they were filled with triumphant cunning and a gloomy possessiveness.

He pulled Jiang Yining into his arms, buried his face in her lower abdomen, and took a deep breath.

"Sister, you called him 'husband' so smoothly just now."

"How else can I call it?"

Jiang Yining pushed his head, but he wouldn't budge.

"Your older brother is still next door, so behave yourself!"

"I won't."

Chu Sikong opened his mouth and took a bite.

"You're mine. If he dares to mess with me, I'll kiss you to death right in front of him."

Meanwhile, in the main courtyard...

Liu Xueru stood gracefully at the door of the master bedroom, holding a bowl of freshly brewed ginseng soup.

She could not allow the general to stay overnight.

But no one answered the door after knocking for a long time.

Haven't they arrived yet?

Liu Xueru was determined to stay here.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the octagonal table, but this breakfast felt more somber than going to a grave.

According to the Chu family's custom, the whole family must have breakfast together.

Jiang Yining sat on the left, her eyes covered in dark circles.

Last night, that pervert Chu Sikong kept pressing my "acupoints" all night, although... but he never behaved himself.

Chu Jinglan got up very early.

He developed the habit of getting up at the crack of dawn to practice martial arts on the frontier. After practicing a set of boxing moves, he arrived at the main hall feeling refreshed.

He had expected to see his wife cooking and preparing meals for him, but upon entering the door, he was greeted with a scene that made him wonder if he had entered the wrong house.

The large round table was already full of people.

Ji Lingxiao was still dressed in a spotless white robe, holding a memorial in his hand, and a bowl of congee in front of him, which he was slowly drinking.

His posture was extremely elegant, as if he were sitting not at the Chu family's dining table, but on the dragon throne of the Golden Palace.

Bai Ze, on the other hand, was much more unrestrained. He had a dozen or so meat buns piled up in front of him, and he ate them one by one, his mouth dripping with oil.

His wife, Jiang Yining, was sitting next to Chu Sikong, holding a small silver spoon and scooping something into Chu Sikong's bowl.

"Eat more of this; it's good for replenishing your qi and blood," Jiang Yining said gently.

"Thank you, sister-in-law."

Chu Jinglan: ?