When Da Bao returned to the house, Yun Qi was sitting inside. Seeing him come back, she tried to sound casual. "Why are you back so early today? Did Mother send someone to call you back?" "Nothing much today, so I came back early.

Aren't Father and Mother visiting? Why are you staying inside alone? Why don't you go out and do some embroidery with He'er and the others?" Da Bao said as he sat down beside Yun Qi. Yun Qi looked at Da Bao, shook her head, and after a long pause, finally spoke, "Father and Mother must have told you about inviting the physician back today.

If you have any plans, you should tell me early. I have no objections." Yun Qi had been sitting alone in the room for a long time, contemplating the matter deeply. A woman without an heir at this juncture had only two possible outcomes: either being divorced by her husband's family or having her husband permitted to take a concubine. Naturally, no woman wished to endure either consequence, but these were not things within her control.

Da Bao looked at Yun Qi, recalling what Lin He had said to him earlier. In the time since he married Yun Qi, she rarely spoke in front of him and never complained that he treated her poorly, or complained that his mother gave her a hard time. Even regarding the incident with her mother's visit last time, he knew Yun Qi was uncomfortable that day, but when he returned, Yun Qi hadn't said a word, acting just as usual, showing no sign of anything being amiss. Over time, he had come to believe his wife was just that kind of person—someone who seemed indifferent to these matters, never taking them to heart.

In a way, it was better this way; if she didn't speak, he could pretend not to know, avoiding a lot of trouble. But after what He'er told him today, he realized that even though Yun Qi didn't voice it, she was acutely aware of everything. She did have expectations of him. Da Bao reflected on the past; he truly had never paid much attention to his wife—what she did around the house, what she bought when she went to the market.

What she liked, why his mother scolded her, whether she was in good spirits—he knew none of these things. He only learned she did embroidery with He'er because they mentioned it. Thinking this way, he realized he, as a husband, had indeed been too neglectful of his wife. With these thoughts, Da Bao’s heart softened somewhat.

He reached out and took Yun Qi’s hand resting on the table. “Yes, Father and Mother told me. You don't need to pay attention to what Mother says. Just focus on getting better.

If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, you must tell me. After you finish this course of medicine, I’ll accompany you back to the doctor. Don’t overthink things.” Hearing Da Bao’s words, Yun Qi’s eyes instantly grew warm. She had always felt that Da Bao did not favor her, and that he married her perhaps only because he was growing older and was pressured by his family, otherwise he wouldn't treat her this way.

Today, with her health failing and the way the Old Madam spoke, she had assumed that when Da Bao returned, he would be eager to divorce her, or at the very least, he wouldn't greet her with a good disposition. She never expected Da Bao to speak to her like this, and his tone was gentler than ever before. Perhaps He'er was right; Da Bao was just poor at expressing his feelings, but he was still decent to her. Yun Qi looked at Da Bao, nodded, and then continued to ask, "What if my health never fully recovers?" "Don't talk nonsense.

You will certainly get better. Even if you don't, we’ll just continue living as we are now. Hasn't this been good enough all along?" Da Bao sighed, pulling Yun Qi into his embrace. Yun Qi nodded within Da Bao's arms.

She knew he was trying to comfort her. If she truly couldn't recover, even if Da Bao was willing to continue like this, the Old Madam would never agree. However, the fact that Da Bao was willing to soothe her like this made her very happy already. In the following days, Yun Qi didn't show any outward changes.

She still joined Lin He and the others in the pavilion to do embroidery. With Chen'er and Zi Yu also present—Zi Qing had returned and was now managing the paste-making workshop—Zi Yu was back to serving Lin He. These women spent their days stitching in the pavilion, occasionally sharing jokes. Life seemed unchanged from before.

Lin He also observed Yun Qi closely. Other than occasionally drifting into a daze, Yun Qi showed no other significant changes. However, shortly after Yun Qi took her medicine, Old Madam Huang would invariably ask, "How is it? Do you feel any better after taking the medicine?

Do you think this medicine is effective?" Yun Qi found it difficult to say much and usually replied vaguely, "It should be helpful, perhaps. I feel a little warmer." Lin He had told Old Madam Huang several times not to keep asking; the medicine had only been taken for a few days. How could it show results so quickly? It wasn't an immortal elixir, and for this kind of ailment, one wouldn't feel much difference even if it was working.

Although Old Madam Huang seemed to agree when told, she would resume asking later. Lin He couldn't do anything about her, so she just comforted Yun Qi. Yun Qi, for her part, said it was fine; if Mother wanted to ask, she could ask. Days with tasks always pass quickly.

Lin He busied herself with embroidery, and before she knew it, it was nearly New Year again—already the twelfth lunar month. This year's twelfth month was colder than usual, with several heavy snowfalls. The weather was so frigid that since the start of the month, Lin He and the others rarely went out, visiting the courtyard even less, spending their days huddled by the stove for warmth. Er Niu had returned home alone some time ago, saying there was much to do at the end of the year.

Old Madam Huang, however, had not left. She stayed here all day, ensuring Yun Qi took her medicine on time, and every so often, she would arrange for the doctor to check Yun Qi's pulse. The doctor had visited several times during this period, each time stating that further conditioning was necessary, without specifying for how long. Old Madam Huang had started fretting again these past few days.

On this day, it was already mid-December, and heavy snow was falling outside again. Old Madam Huang sat in Lin He's room, watching her two daughters embroider. After watching for a while, she sighed and said, "He'er, look at your sister-in-law's health. She’s taken so much medicine, and the doctor has seen her several times, but there's been no change.

Waiting like this indefinitely isn't a solution. If she never gets better, are we supposed to continue treating her forever?" Lin He turned over the piece of embroidery in her hands, glanced at it, then looked at Old Madam Huang and said, "Then Mother, do you have another idea?" "He'er, I actually have an idea. See if you think it works. Look at all the maids we have in the household; several of them are quite capable.

Why don't we have Da Bao take a concubine? What do you think?" Old Madam Huang said quietly. Lin He was startled by Old Madam Huang’s suggestion, then replied, "A concubine? Mother, when did you come up with this idea?

This idea doesn't seem right. Sister-in-law hasn't even been married for a year, and taking a concubine would be terribly unfair to her. Besides, it hasn't been confirmed yet that she absolutely cannot conceive."