Shi Qingxue pouted, as she didn’t think that she was teasing Shi Baoning.
She felt happy for Shi Baoning.
However, since Dong Hui looked serious, Shi Qingxue had to conceal her smile and turn to her obediently, asking, “Mother, what do you want to tell me?”
Dong Hui grabbed Shi Qingxue’s hand and replied in a low and deep voice, “Baoning has been pregnant for more than two months as the doctor diagnosed, but Doctor Qin has said that she is weak and that the fetus is unstable. There will be something wrong probably if we don’t look after her carefully.”
Shi Qingxue got nervous after hearing Dong Hui’s words. “Let Baoning stay in the mansion and nourish the fetus. Don’t tire her.”
Seeing that Shi Qingxue didn’t understand, Dong Hui raised her voice. “Doctor Qin’s medical skills are just so-so. We found it this morning because Baoning bled. He just said that she should rest quietly to nourish the fetus, and there is no other solution. How can we rest assured?
“Do you think so, Qingxue?”
Shi Qingxue hadn’t understood it earlier, yet her mother’s last meaningful question was enough to make her understand.
There seemed to be some emotion flashing in Shi Qingxue’s eyes, but she lowered her head and concealed it.
After a while, she raised her head again and showed a faint smile. “I don’t know what you want me to do as you said that, Mother.”
Dong Hui was awkward to hear Shi Qingxue’s straightforward question, and her smile went stiff. She felt too embarrassed to speak it out.
She grabbed Shi Junhe’s sleeve in secret and gestured for him to say it.
Shi Junhe also looked awkward, but after all, he had accomplished great things, so he soon calmed down and stated, “Your sister’s fetus may be in danger, so your mother wants you to ask somebody to specially look after Baoning.”
“Gee?” Shi Qingxue had thought that it was a big deal, while it was not.
She tilted her head and took it for granted, responding, “Of course. Mother, you can employ anybody. Why do you need to discuss with me?”
Dong Hui glanced at Shi Junhe with complaint and blamed him for not making it clear, so she expressed, “The best choice is naturally Doctor Shen everybody praises, but…”
Shi Qingxue’s smile faded a little.
She finally realized why all the family members were hesitant.
Because of what happened to Shi Qingmin, Shen Luo’s impression of Dong Hui went to the worst, and in the end, he even refused to come to the mansion to check Tianyou’s pulse. Dong Hui had a guilty conscience and didn’t have the face to send for Shen Luo in King Rui’s mansion.
However, now only Shen Luo could ensure the safety of Shi Baoning’s baby. Dong Hui didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of him. Moreover, she was afraid that he would refuse her even after she embarrassed herself, so she had to ask Shi Qingxue for help.
“Mother, do you want me to ask Doctor Shen to come?” Shi Qingxue asked but with certainty.
Dong Hui bit the bullet and nodded. “Right. You and Doctor Shen know each other, and if you ask him, he may not turn a deaf ear for your sake.”
Madam Shi had a perfect plan. Even if Shen Luo refused Shi Qingxue, as long as she begged Mo Junyang and shed tears, after he gave an order, Shen Luo had to do it although he was unwilling to.
Looking at Dong Hui’s secretive expression, Shi Qingxue didn’t bother to ask why her mother didn’t ask Shen Luo in person but told her to ask him, which was an evident question.
However she didn’t agree without hesitation. She just pursed her lips and said impassively, “I will talk about this matter with Doctor Shen.”
She didn’t say if she could make it.
Dong Hui understood that the girl’s words were uncertain, but she didn’t have the face to order Shi Qingxue. She merely grabbed her daughter’s hands and stressed anxiously, “Qingxue, Baoning is your biological sister. You even show every concern for Shi Baojing, so you can’t ignore your sister.”
As she said, it seemed that if Shi Qingxue couldn’t persuade Shen Luo to come, she would be heartless and ignore her sister.
Shi Qingxue had no reaction, while Shi Junhe frowned with displeasure and rebuked in a low voice, “Hui, what are you talking about?
“Doctor Shen is always carefree and unrestrained. Even when His Majesty asked him to be an imperial doctor, he didn’t want to. It is obvious that he can’t be forced. How can you demand Qingxue like this?”
Dong Hui looked embarrassed after being rebuked and explained in a soft voice, “I just hope that Qingxue can try her best. If she can’t make it, I won’t blame her.”
It appeared that she had the right to blame Qingxue.
Xia Mang and Dong Shuang rolled their eyes behind them after hearing that and realized that Dong Hui was harsh on the young lady, but the girl was good-tempered and didn’t mind.
Shi Qingxue looked indifferent and seemed not to notice Dong Hui’s hidden meaning. Then she turned to Wenren Chi to congratulate him before saying, “It’s late now. I should go back.”
Dong Hui got up and looked as if she wanted to say something yet stopped herself.
Shi Qingxue stopped her mother. “Mother, don’t worry. I will talk about it with Doctor Shen after going back.”
“After going back?” Shi Baoning noticed something wrong in Qingxue’s words.
Wouldn’t Shi Qingxue go back to the Lanxun Villa? How could she talk with Shen Luo?
“Qingmin is unwell and has a fever these days, so Doctor Shen has been staying in the Lanxun Villa for several days in order to take better care of him.” Although Shi Qingxue objected to some behavior of her mother and sister, she would never hide anything from them.
It was fine if her family didn’t ask her. Once they asked, she would tell them.
Dong Hui showed a smile instantly after hearing that, saying excitedly, “It’s great that Doctor Shen stays in the Lanxun Villa. Go back quickly and tell him that if it’s convenient for him, we ask him to live in the mansion for a period, and all people in our family will entertain him well.”
Shi Qingxue nodded slightly and got up, preparing to go out.
At the moment, Shi Jie walked in and told her, “My Lady, somebody at the gate wants to see you.”
Shi Qingxue was stunned as she didn’t know who would come to see her at this hour.
“Who?” Shi Junhe asked in a low voice.
Shi Jie answered, “It’s Doctor Shen.”
Dong Hui was overjoyed and thought that somebody gave her a pillow when she was sleepy.
When she thought about Shen Luo, he came soon.
God helped her.
“Why are you standing blankly here? A respected guest has come. Why don’t you hurry up and invite him in?” Anyway, she would convince Shen Luo to stay this time.
Dong Hui was afraid that they couldn’t show enough respect for Shen Luo if they entertained him in the East House, so she told all the family members to go to the parlor.
Dong Shuang followed them and couldn’t help whispering to Xia Mang, “Madam is more skilled in playing the hypocrite. She was lukewarm to Lady Qingxue and Doctor Shen and even blamed them for saving the first young master, but when Lady Baoning wants to ask Doctor Shen for help, she has a tremendous change in her attitude. I can’t bear to see it.”
When Dong Shuang started to speak, Xia Mang gave some attention to look around. She heaved a sigh of relief since nobody was in the mood to pay attention to the two maids.
Then she rolled her eyes at Dong Shuang and reproached crossly in a low voice, “Can the servants like us comment on the masters? Girl, I have told you several times, yet you can’t watch your tongue. You will cause trouble sooner or later.”
Dong Shuang stuck out her tongue and showed that she didn’t care.
Xia Mang could do nothing to her but grab Dong Shuang’s sleeve again, pulling her to the parlor.
Dong Hui had a smile all the way while walking and expected the upcoming meeting, thinking about the offer to make Shen Luo stay.
However, when she saw Shen Luo, her smile faded.
More exactly, when she saw the baby in Shen Luo’s arms, she didn’t want to smile.
Shi Qingxue looked at Shen Luo in surprise and doubt. “Why did you bring Qingmin here?”
Shen Luo seemed not to see that Dong Hui’s face fell all of a sudden. He sighed helplessly and answered Shi Qingxue, “What can I do? His Excellency told me to bring him.”
It was difficult for a man to hold a little baby who was only three months old.
Shen Luo was afraid that he would make this baby fall on the floor by accident.
As soon as he saw Shi Qingxue, he seemed to see a savior and put Shi Qingmin back in her arms without delay.
He wiped the sweat on his forehead and sighed with relief. “I have finally given him back to you. I tell you. You can ask me to treat a patient, but don’t tell me to babysit in the future. I can’t do it.”
Shen Luo just complained casually, while it made Dong Hui hold back her words “Why did you bring him?”
Dong Hui finally realized that she had to beg Shen Luo to treat Shi Baoning, so she couldn’t offend him at this hour.
As for Shi Qingmin, Dong Hui pinched her nose and pretended that she didn’t see him.
She restrained herself as she felt uncomfortable at the sight of Shi Qingmin and forced a smile at Shen Luo, asking gently, “Doctor Shen, we are greatly honored by your gracious presence. Please have a seat.”
Then she shouted at the servants, “Why don’t you serve tea to Doctor Shen?”
Shen Luo was speechless.
Perhaps it was his first time to be entertained by Dong Hui with such hospitality after he had been to this mansion for so many times, which was so abnormal that he had goosebumps all over.
Shen Luo trembled and looked astonished. He couldn’t help but look at Shi Qingxue, asking silently, “Is there something wrong with Madam Shi today?”
Shi Qingxue was scared by Dong Hui’s hospitality, too, yet soon she realized why her mother did so. She had to smile at Shen Luo bitterly, indicating, “Just accept it. You are a respected guest of my family today.”
Shen Luo had to restrain his urge to turn around to run away and took a seat.
“Madam Shi, what can I do for you? Please tell me directly.” Shen Luo wasn’t used to beating around the bush, so he asked Dong Hui.
His voice was blunt and serious but told Dong Hui silently, “I don’t have time to play the hypocrite with you. If you have something to tell me, just say it. Otherwise, stay away from me.”
Dong Hui’s smile stiffened, and she held back the flattering words she was going to say. She had to say that she wanted to ask him to improve Shi Baoning’s health.
In the end, she didn’t forget to promise, “Doctor Shen, if you agree, my family won’t forget your great favor. If you need our help in the future, please feel free to tell us.”
After speaking, Dong Hui looked up at Shen Luo, to see that he looked calm in silence, so she felt restless again.