Chapter 114: The Army Returns to the Capital

In Shi Shaohua’s eyes flashed a sharp gleam. “I’ve been with countless women; under normal circumstances, I don't make mistakes. Besides, she might not even realize it yet—Madam Jiang’s period has been delayed for half a month now, and her tastes have turned somewhat sour and spicy.”

Shen Sisi pursed her lips. She wasn’t very familiar with the details of a woman’s pregnancy, but after a long moment, she asked hesitantly, “Didn’t you drink any contraceptive soup or something afterward?”

“At first, yes,” Shi Shaohua replied with a careless smile, showing no embarrassment. “But brewing such a medicinal soup carries too much risk of exposure and isn’t good for the body. I advised a few times, then stopped.”

Madam Jiang likely clung to a lucky hope, thinking at her age she wouldn’t be so unlucky as to get pregnant.

After indulging for so long, the matter was completely forgotten.

“What do you plan to do?” Shen Sisi’s mind went blank, overwhelmed by this sudden child. “This baby can’t be kept.”

Not only could it not be kept, but it had to be aborted quickly. Otherwise, if her belly swelled, it would be a tremendous scandal. The widowed Madam Jiang, unwilling to remain chaste, carrying an illegitimate child—such a disgrace would ruin the entire Jiang Marquis household’s reputation.

“Aren’t you afraid this will escalate and they’ll trace it back to you? Jiang Lin will surely kill you with a single sword!” Shen Sisi frowned deeply, her gaze serious and threatening. “You must make Madam Jiang have her pulse checked immediately. If it’s true, terminate it quietly and quickly before anyone knows!”

Shi Shaohua felt a flicker of panic at Shen Sisi’s words, but his expression remained indifferent, completely unlike the charming gentleman he once seemed. “I’m just a worthless life anyway. It’d be a pity if Miss Shen got dragged down because of me.”

“What do you mean by that?” Shen Sisi’s eyes were sharp with suspicion.

Shi Shaohua waved a hand and smiled, “I’m leaving sooner or later. I just want to get some money for myself before that happens.”

Shen Sisi gritted her teeth and stared him down, suppressing her anger with a cold smile. “Even if I don’t give you money, you still have to do this. Stop threatening me—I don’t believe you’re not afraid. I’m broke now, but when I become the heir’s wife and establish myself at the Jiang Marquis mansion, you’ll naturally benefit!”

After a tense standoff, Shi Shaohua relented first. He had heard of Shen Sisi’s situation and probably couldn’t come up with money right away, so he gave up.

Once they left, Shen Sisi’s body slackened, and she exhaled deeply, her eyes flashing with killing intent. That damned scoundrel even wanted to turn the tables on her—just wait until she became the heir’s wife, and he’d regret it.

Shi Shaohua went straight back to the Jiang Marquis mansion. When Madam Jiang came secretly to meet him at midnight, he brought up the matter.

Madam Jiang froze, a look of terror washing over her face as she anxiously pressed her hand to her lower abdomen.

There was a child in there?

Recalling her recent symptoms, she realized they were indeed similar to when she first conceived Jiang Lin, along with the delayed menstruation.

Her whole body trembled, tears streaming uncontrollably as she threw herself at Shi Shaohua. “Shaohua, what are we going to do?”

“For now, we must endure the pain and terminate it,” Shi Shaohua said slowly, soothing Madam Jiang’s back.

Reluctantly, Madam Jiang placed her hand again on her belly. “Shaohua, I can’t bear it. This is our child.”

Shi Shaohua hadn’t expected her to be so unreasonable, but at the same time, he felt pride in his own charm. Patiently, he coaxed her, “I don’t want to either, but there’s no other way for your sake.”

Sobbing sounds came from her embrace, and after a long while, Madam Jiang gradually calmed down.

They held each other in silence for a long time, feeling the warmth between them.

The next day, Madam Jiang quietly left the mansion to see a doctor. Indeed, she was pregnant—just about a month along, still very early.

Since that was the case, the doctor prescribed abortion medicine. Madam Jiang returned to the mansion in a daze, locked herself in her room, and lay on the bed weeping.

She was terrified and anxious.

The medication couldn’t be taken in the mansion; she had to find an excuse to go out to the estate, hire a doctor in case of complications, and take a few days to recuperate before returning.

Thinking this over, a fleeting fantasy arose—could she secretly live at the estate for a year and quietly give birth to this child?

But on reflection, it was impossible. A whole year was too long and easy to be discovered. Moreover, Shen Sisi and Jiang Lin’s wedding was soon, and she would have to appear publicly.

Even if she gave birth, what good would it do?

Madam Jiang’s heart ached bitterly as she unknowingly fell asleep on the bed.

At dinner time, a maid knocked and entered. “Madam, Miss Miaodan is here to see you. It’s time to eat.”

Hearing Miaodan’s name, Madam Jiang slowly woke, tidied her disheveled hair, and went out.

During the meal, Miaodan seemed cheerful. “Mother, did you know? The army is coming into the city tomorrow, and Miss has invited me to go watch. Can I go? Do you want to come too?”

Madam Jiang shook her head. “You go.”

“Mother, you look awful. What’s wrong?” Miaodan noticed her mother’s weak demeanor and grew worried.

Madam Jiang forced a smile. “Nothing, I just accidentally fell asleep earlier and feel a bit weak now.”

She had resolved to terminate the pregnancy, though it pained her deeply.

“Okay, Mother. So, what do you think Old General Han will say when he returns and finds out Madam Han has divorced?” Miaodan teased.

Madam Jiang said nothing, lost in thought, mechanically eating. Miaodan soon lost interest in talking.

The next morning, Miaodan dressed early and went with familiar ladies to wait along the road for the returning army.

The main street that day was crowded; shops along the route had windows filled with people, and the roadsides were packed with citizens eager to witness the army’s victorious return.

“It’s only been a few months, and General Han has already crushed the enemy and come back triumphant!”

“Yeah, I heard Prince Li also went. Truly the war god of this dynasty!”

“Hey, can you move to the side? I can’t see anything.”

The crowd chattered excitedly, blocking the street entrance completely.

Shen Qingyun and Madam Han did not go; they busied themselves at the general’s mansion, having servants clean thoroughly in preparation for the old general’s homecoming.