Chapter 149: A very awkward family dinner 4 (1/2)
Madam Lu's main room, The Duke's mansion.
Lu Yaozhu followed Su Liya's every move until she was out of sight. She seemed to be completely out of place, he had no idea what went down between Madam Jiang and Su Liya but based on the stunt she tried to pull in his presence. It wouldn't be anything good, the Jiang family had only been in the capital for a total of six weeks and they were already proving to be a handful.
He has received a couple of reports from his spy network leaders of Madam Jiang and her sons using the Lu family's me to keep tabs in clothing shops, jewellery shops and brothels. He had gone pit hours earlier to address a few of the reports he had received before they got out of hand. He was planning to inform his mother and brother during the family dinner today.
Lu Yaozhu didn't wait for the refreshments from the kitchen to arrive, he ran after Su Liya minutes after she left. Madam Lu Shook her head as she watched him run out of the room, ”silly boy,” she muttered. She glanced at Zhu Fengyin and said, ”am I the only one that feels that Xiao Zhu has been ageing backwards since he got married”.
Zhu Fengyin didn't say anything, she giggled, covering her lips with her palm. Madam Lu's eyes narrowed on her daughter-in-law's pale face, ”You look a bit pale are you eating well?”
Zhu Fengyin touched her cheek's self cautiously, ”I haven't had much of an appetite of late, it may have something to do with the change in weather_”
”You should not make guesses about your health. After the days we spent at the ice prison, it may be a side effect of that stay”, she glanced at the maid standing at her left, ”sent for the physician!”
”Yes Mistress,” the maid said and rushed out to call the Family's physician. Although the Lu Family had access to the services of the imperial medicine bureau that attended to members of the royal family. They kept a physician from the Royal Academy of medicine as their private family doctor named Physician Gu. Physician Gu was a top graduating student in the academy and has been working for the Lu family for close to two decades.
Zhu Fengyin tried to stop madam Lu from making a big deal out of her since her period may turn out to be the reason behind it all.
”I don't think there is a need to call the physician_” she was cut stop when she received a heated stare from Madam Lu. Her mouth opened and closed twice, no other words came out apart from ”Mother_”
However, she was glared down by Madam Lu before she could say any more. She shut her mouth and looked ahead, pressing her mother-in-law any further was useless. One way or the other, She was getting examined.it was better to stay still and let everything go as planned.
The maid came back with the physician close on her tail, she bowed at Madam Lu and Zhu Fengyin before returning to her previous position at Madam Lu's Left. Physician Gu stretched out both hands in front and holding his right hand in his left, bowed at madam Lu then Zhu Fengyin.
”This servant greets, Madam Lu and Her grace,” he said and stood straight.
”My daughter-in-law hasn't had much of an appetite of late. Go check her pulse”, she gestured at Zhu Fengyin.
”Yes”, Physician Gu stood beside Zhu Fengyin, brought out a slim white handkerchief and placed it on her wrist before placing his two fingers on the nerve on her wrist. He stood quietly moving his hands up and down while taking a reading. He took his fingers away and removed the handkerchief from her wrist.
Zhu Fengyin who heartbeat increased when he didn't say anything and just fold the piece of white cloth and put it back into his medicine bag. She searched his face for a tell, even if a little that would point towards his thought but she didn't get anything out of that.
Physician Gu shut his box, placed it on the ground and bowed once more to Madam Lu. ”Congratulations madam, the Eldest madam is three months pregnant!”
”Ah!”
”Praise the gods!”
Zhu Fengyin and Madam Lu exclaimed respectively. It was a surprise, Zhu Fengyin placed her hands on her lower stomach. All the servants present in the room fell on their knees and chorused, ”Congratulations Madam Lu, congratulations eldest madam Lu”
Madam Lu was excited, this was her first grandchild. She laughed softly with a bright gleam in her eyes. She had never expected such a piece of good news, with the stress-filled weeks she had. First with the arrest and now with the selection of the new Prime Minister. She had somehow put all thoughts of grandchildren in the back of her mind.
Maybe because all her thoughts were centred on survival, that this news filled her with joy and hope for a better future. She clapped her hands and called her maid forward, ”quick give the physician a reward, instruct the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous banquet for not just us but the servants too. This is great news!”.