RWNEFE -Chapter 119 Zhang Zifen Is Pregnant!

Liu Yanhui remarked gravely, “The mistake he made this time is a rather serious one.”

When Wei Dongzhu heard him say that, his expression miraculously improved. He even picked up the teapot and refilled Liu Yanhui’s cup.

If you can talk, then talk more!

Shen Lanxi looked at Liu Yanhui with amusement, her mood quite pleasant. “Mr. Liu’s analysis is very thorough.”

Liu Yanhui smiled, took a sip of tea, and modestly replied that it was nothing worth praising. Zhou Ruyuan had not only made a big mistake—his losses were even greater.

Wei Dongzhu said thoughtfully, “I used to think Zhou Ruyuan was a god of war, a model for our generation. Now I’m starting to doubt how exactly those victories of his were won.”

Leaving aside someone as formidable as Shen Lanxi, he actually committed such a scandalous, disgraceful act on his wedding night. It was clear just how blind Zhou Ruyuan really was.

With eyesight that bad, his judgment of people surely couldn’t be much better either. And winning wars doesn’t just depend on the commander’s martial prowess!

Although Liu Yanhui had only joined the Ministry of Revenue recently and wasn’t familiar with people from the Ministry of War, he had read the files and knew a bit about the Southwest Army.

Before Zhou Ruyuan took over, the Southwest Army was already strong and well-equipped, known as the Ever-Victorious Army. Was it possible that the title “God of War” was actually undeserved?

Thinking of this, Liu Yanhui’s eyes widened, as if he had discovered a shocking secret.

What Shen Lanxi didn’t say was that along with the battle reports, there had been another piece of news.

Of the four officials escorting the grain and military pay for the Wei Family Army, two were dead, one had gone mad, and the last one had died without a complete body!

The true mastermind behind the theft of the grain and pay intended to silence witnesses—to completely cut off any possibility of the Shen family overturning their case.

As long as she was here, that would never happen!

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed, and ships sailing on the sea became more frequent.

After encountering passing vessels and asking their owners, they learned that in two more days they would reach Xiguan.

Xiguan had not suffered any disaster. Whether it was roaming bandits or rampant thieves, at least they no longer had to worry about water supplies.

When they heard this news, everyone on the ship was in high spirits for the entire day.

That night, Chunxue entered the room with a dark expression.

“Young master…” Her dejected tone made it obvious she had been wronged.

“Who dared bully you? Tell me—I’ll go deal with them!” Shen Lanxi was combing her hair. Her freshly washed hair was smooth like silk, easily combed through from top to bottom.

Chunxue hesitated. “It was Miss Yuanhe. She came to see me just now.”

Shen Lanxi’s face cooled. “Did she make things difficult for you?”

Chunxue replied, “Not really. She just asked me to pass along a message to you.”

“What message?”

Just thinking about it made Chunxue feel a tightness in her chest.

“She said that Concubine Zhang hasn’t been feeling well these past two days and seems to be pregnant. She wants Physician Zhang to take a look.”

Shen Lanxi said nothing, her face calm and unreadable.

Chunxue and Qiushuang didn’t dare make a sound. Just as they were about to withdraw, they heard her say, “Ask Physician Zhang to go examine her. Tell him to charge the consultation fee however it should be charged.”

Chunxue’s eyes lit up, and the discomfort in her chest disappeared.

“Yes, I’ll go tell him right away!”

At a time like this, Concubine Zhang producing a child—wasn’t she just trying to make everyone cater to her?

Why should they?

Their young lady certainly wouldn’t indulge her!

“Qiushuang, go see whether Mother knows about this.”

Qiushuang left as well.

After passing the message to Chunxue, Shen Yuanhe kept her door slightly ajar, secretly peeking outside.

When she saw Zhang Niu carrying his medicine chest over, she immediately ran happily to the bedside.

“Auntie, Physician Zhang is here.”

Zhang Zifen’s eyes brightened. She quickly had her daughter help her lie down and pretended to look weak as she waited for Zhang Niu to enter.

“Who’s seeing the doctor?” Zhang Niu asked in a rough voice as soon as he entered, never bothering to read anyone’s expression.

A flash of disdain crossed Shen Yuanhe’s eyes. What kind of physician was this—just a crude country bumpkin. Who knew if his pulse-reading was even accurate?

“Physician Zhang, it’s my aunt who needs to be examined. She’s had no appetite these past few days and often feels nauseous,” Shen Yuanhe said, suppressing her impatience as she led him over.

After sitting down, Zhang Niu didn’t even lift his eyelids. Once he finished checking the pulse, he delivered the diagnosis bluntly.

“No illness. She’s pregnant—over a month along.”

Though Zhang Zifen disliked Zhang Niu’s attitude, he was the only doctor on the ship. She still needed him to spread the news of her pregnancy to others.

“Really? To think this poor child would come at such a time!”

Zhang Niu replied irritably, “If the child’s unfortunate, blame the parents, not anyone else. This is exile, not a pleasure trip. Couldn’t you tighten your belts and hold back a bit?”

Zhang Zifen stiffened, barely holding back from cursing him.

Who did he think he was, daring to speak to her like that?

“Why are you talking so harshly? My aunt isn’t well. If you upset her and something happens to my younger brother or sister, can you take responsibility?” Shen Yuanhe snapped.

Zhang Niu’s face immediately darkened.

“If she were that easy to upset, she’d have been frightened to death the moment she untied her belt. You brainless fools—hurry up and pay the consultation fee. I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”

The mother and daughter’s faces turned alternately pale and livid.

They had never suffered such humiliation before. Did he even know who they were?

“Yuanhe, quickly go call your father and the others!” Zhang Zifen said.

Zhang Niu snorted with contempt. “Even if you call the Heavenly King himself, I’ll say the same!”

“There’s no one in this world who dares to default on my consultation fee!”

Zhang Zifen stopped pretending to be weak, jumped up, and cursed furiously, “What are you? Just a lowly commoner from a despicable trade, daring to speak to me like this. Do you know what relationship Young Master Lan has with our family? Do you know what will happen if you anger me?”

Zhang Niu grinned and asked mockingly, “What will happen? Throw me into the sea so I die without a body? I never knew a banished criminal guilty of heinous crimes could be so bold in shouting threats.”

“Didn’t you say Young Master Lan has ties with your family? I’ll go find him right now and see whether he admits it!”

With that, Zhang Niu turned to leave.

Zhang Zifen panicked and hurriedly got up to block him.

“You’re not allowed to leave! Kneel down, kowtow, and admit your mistake. Then I’ll pretend this never happened!”

Zhang Niu’s face fell.

Shen Congwen was called over.

“Zifen, Yuanhe said you’re pregnant. Is it true?” Shen Congwen carefully helped Zhang Zifen up, stepping past Zhang Niu.

Zhang Zifen shot Zhang Niu a smug glance, then shyly nodded at Shen Congwen.

“It’s been over a month.”

“That’s wonderful!” Shen Congwen was beaming with joy.

Zhang Niu snorted coldly. “Who’s paying the consultation fee? If you don’t pay up, I’ll go report you to Liu Laohu and have him severely discipline you exiled criminals!”

Sensing the disdain in Zhang Niu’s tone, Shen Congwen’s expression darkened.

“Zifen, go sit down. I’ll go get the money.”

Zhang Zifen grabbed him. “Master, he’s been spewing insults at us. You must stand up for Yuanhe and me!”

Just as Zhang Niu was about to retort, Liu Laohu appeared at the doorway with several constables.

“Who the hell is causing trouble for me?”