The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

The old lady, holding onto the edge of the table, suddenly stopped the prayer beads in her hand.

Xue Lingyi continued to mutter in a low voice, "Although I take care of you every day, there are some things that need to be prepared in advance."

"First of all, the midwives must be the best. At least three experienced midwives should be on standby at the mansion."

"Ginseng slices and life-saving hemostatic herbs are both indispensable."

"By the way, Master Longchuan must be in the manor to oversee things! In a critical moment, he might be able to save Guo'er's life."

The old lady nodded slowly.

"It's kind of you to think of everything so thoroughly. I'll instruct Steward Zhao and Granny Qin to take care of these matters tomorrow."

"You will be in charge of Guo'er's meals. You will prepare a list of what to eat for each meal and then deliver it to the cook. Before Guo'er touches her chopsticks, you must personally check for any poison."

"Anyone in the manor who dares to outwardly comply but inwardly defy will be sold off on the spot!"

The room remained silent for a long time before the old lady asked in a low voice.

"Three children...can you tell if they're boys or girls?"

Xue Lingyi shook her head.

"Pulse diagnosis can only detect fetal breathing; it cannot accurately determine whether the fetus is male or female."

"However, as long as Guo'er has a stable pregnancy and is not frightened or tired, the child should be fine."

The old lady let out a long breath.

"As long as the baby is born safely, that's all that matters."

She looked at Xue Lingyi, her expression suddenly becoming somewhat complicated, her gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Lingyi, there's something I shouldn't have told you before the time was right."

Xue Lingyi's heart skipped a beat.

"Grandmother, please speak."

The old lady turned her head and gestured for Granny Qin to stand guard by the door, then took Lingyi's hand.

"The main branch of the Pei family has always had a tradition of twin bloodlines."

Xue Lingyi froze instantly, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"My husband... has a twin brother?"

"Yes."

The old lady moved a sandalwood prayer bead, speaking very slowly.

"When Yan'er was born, he did indeed have a brother."

"However, no one outside knows about this, and not many people in the manor know either."

A chill ran down Xue Lingyi's back.

She had been married into the Pei family for so long, and had never seen Pei Yan mention his brothers.

The old lady never mentioned it.

How could a living, breathing blood relative be wiped clean like this?

"Where is that young master now?"

The old lady glanced at her indifferently. "Dead."

Xue Lingyi's breathing stopped abruptly, and her chest felt as if it were being constricted by a rope, causing her extreme pain.

How did the twin brother of the Grand Secretary die? When and where?

The old lady's expressionless eyes made it seem as if what had died was merely an insignificant consumable.

She dared not ask any more questions, but her palms were already sweating.

The old lady didn't explain further, but instead took her hand.

"You are Yan Ge'er's lawfully wedded wife. This secret must be kept to yourself from now on, and you can't even mention it to Guo'er."

"At the same time, you also need to understand that if there are two boys among these three children, one of them needs to be hidden away and raised separately."

Xue Lingyi was stunned for a long time, her fingertips gradually turning cold.

Why is this? Why does the Pei family have such strange rules?

"After all, Guo'er is carrying the Pei family's child; she is their biological mother..."

"She was just an orphan, a concubine."

The old lady interrupted her without any politeness.

"She is blessed to be pregnant with three children. If she can give birth to the children successfully, she will be well-off for the rest of her life. The Pei family will never mistreat her."

"The boys must all be registered in your name and raised by you. They will be the legitimate sons of the Pei family in the next generation."

Xue Lingyi didn't even dare to breathe.

But the old lady's voice was still echoing in my ears.

"If she gives birth to a daughter, she can keep her by her side... and allow her to raise her herself."

"Lingyi, you have a soft heart, so I have to pave the way for you in advance. The Pei family is a large family, and you must not let a concubine use her offspring to bully you."

Xue Lingyi's throat tightened.

Looking at the old man in front of her, who had always been kind and loving to Jiang Guo'er, she felt a chill run down her spine and felt extremely unfamiliar with him.

The only thing the old matriarch cared about from beginning to end was the Pei family's offspring.

But they are not entirely offspring.

Whether Jiang Guo'er could survive this perilous ordeal or hold her child in her arms was of no concern to her.

She doesn't seem to care whether her three children will be safe and happy in the future.

Xue Lingyi barely managed to suppress her emotions and bowed her head in agreement.

"Granddaughter-in-law, you've remembered."

The old lady patted the back of her hand with satisfaction.

"You're a sensible person, go and keep Guo'er company, don't let her overthink. In her current condition, it's most dangerous for her to have wild thoughts."

Xue Lingyi came out of the side room, her feet so unsteady that she almost fell.

Luyi was guarding outside the inner room. When she saw her come out with a pale face, she quickly supported her and didn't dare to say anything. She just looked at her with worry.

Is she asleep?

"Not yet."

Xue Lingyi took a deep breath, pushed open the door and went in. Jiang Guo'er was indeed not asleep.

She leaned against the pillow, holding a silk doll in her hand, and was casually massaging the doll's little feet.

"What did the old lady ask you to do?"

Xue Lingyi forced a smile and sat down on the edge of the bed: "Grandmother is happy and instructed me to take good care of your diet and daily life, and to invite the best midwife to stay in the mansion."

Jiang Guo'er raised an eyebrow and poked the doll's cheek with her fingertip.

"I'm only four months pregnant, isn't that a bit too early?"

"You can still laugh." Xue Lingyi grabbed her hand, her palm was ice cold.

"Guo'er, this third pregnancy is unusual. You must be extra careful from now on, and you can no longer waste your energy scheming or guarding against this or that."

Jiang Guo'er immediately sensed that her tone was off.

"Lingyi, you're hiding something from me."

Xue Lingyi's heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Guo'er always smiled in front of her, as if she didn't care about anything.

But once she gets serious, no one can fool her.

"I...I was just too worried about you."

"I'm worried too."

Jiang Guo'er sighed and bent down to pinch the doll's nose.

"I originally thought that having one child would be enough."

"Who would have thought that these three little debt collectors would line up and come looking for me?"

"Pei Rangzhi is such a troublemaker. It's all his fault. How could he be so... capable?"

Green Ripple, who was standing next to her, felt uncomfortable and quickly lowered her head, her eyes slightly red.

Xue Lingyi knew that Shunshun was trying to put on a lighthearted act to reassure her, but she couldn't smile at all.

She remembered the medical principles her master had once taught her.

After a woman becomes pregnant, her body produces a hormone called progesterone, which makes her heart soften and her mind completely focused on the child in her womb.

When labor is imminent, oxytocin will be secreted.

Even knowing the extreme danger, many women will follow their maternal instincts and risk their lives to save their children.

This is every mother's instinct.

Xue Lingyi felt a tightness in her chest. She knew that what she was about to say would be too cruel, but she had no choice but to test the waters.

"Guo'er, if in the future... I mean, in case something goes wrong during childbirth."

"Either save the child, or save yourself. What will you choose?"

Jiang Guo'er's smile froze.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.

This is her and Pei Yan's flesh and blood.

Without any hesitation, she said, "Save the child."

Xue Lingyi's face turned pale instantly. "Can't you think about yourself more?"

Jiang Guo'er raised the corners of her lips, her face showing no sign of distress.

"They are my children. I chose their birth, and even if I die, I have a duty to protect them."

Xue Lingyi grabbed her wrist with great force.

"I won't allow you to talk nonsense. The Prime Minister cares about you so much. If you die, who knows what he will do..."

Jiang Guo'er was still smiling, and patted Xue Lingyi's arm in return.

"Lingyi, I'm not lying. If it really comes to that, you must help me stop the Prime Minister."