The Virtuous Concubine

Malu naturally agreed to all of them. Rong Ji also knew that he couldn't stay here for long, so after repeating his instructions several times, he left at a brisk pace.

He had to go back quickly to research recipes for preserving and nourishing the fetus, and also to offer sacrifices to his ancestors to tell his deceased father and mother that he was pregnant!

In the quiet and solemn Rong Family Ancestral Hall, tablets of the Rong family's ancestors from generation to generation are enshrined.

Rong Ji lit the incense, knelt devoutly in front of the ancestral tablet, and whispered solemnly: "Father, mother, if you are in heaven, you must bless the child to be born safely, and bless the child's mother to be safe..."

After saying this, he kowtowed nine times.

After saying this, he waited quietly for the incense to burn out, packed up everything by himself, and then went out to Tanzhe Temple.

Tanzhe Temple was first built in the first year of Yongjia in the Western Jin Dynasty and was originally named "Jiafu Temple". Later, Emperor Kangxi named it "Xiuyun Temple", but it has always been called "Tanzhe Temple" by the people.

When he arrived at Tanzhe Temple, Rong Ji met the abbot in charge of incense and added a sum of silver to the daily offerings of the sea lanterns.

The abbot was a monk who always looked cheerful. Seeing that he had renewed so many lanterns, he couldn't help but feel curious: "Donor Rong, are you going on a long journey? You usually renew your lanterns once a year. Why is it that now..."

There was no extra expression on Rong Ji's face. He just nodded slightly and said, "I guess I won't come again in the future."

The abbot was slightly startled, then he put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist name, saying: "Congratulations, Mr. Rong, you have finally let it go. The rise and fall of karma are all in this endless cycle of cause and effect. Mr. Rong, please be at ease and move forward."

Rong Ji also clasped his hands together and said in return: "Thank you for your blessing, Master. We are parting today and I don't know when we will meet again. I hope you take care of yourself."

Having said that, he left Tanzhe Temple.

The sea lantern enshrined in the temple is the tablet of Rong Ji's ex-fiancee.

After the girl's death, Rong Ji was grieving for a long time. Rong Ji's mother was also very unhappy about it and blamed her child for not living up to his expectations.

The other family felt that the girl had already been engaged to another family and could not stay in the funeral hall. Besides, she died of illness, which was quite unlucky, and they were afraid that it would affect other girls' marriages.

Rong Ji's mother disagreed even more. In her opinion, the marriage had not yet taken place. Although three matchmakers and six betrothals had been arranged, it still hadn't taken place after all!

How can I propose marriage to my good son who has been remarried for no apparent reason? If I bring him into the Rong family ancestral hall, will the girl who comes after me have to perform the concubine ceremony in front of this tablet?

The two families had a big fight over this, and finally Rong Ji's father stepped in to mediate. He sent the girl's tablet to Tanzhe Temple and promised that as long as Rong Ji still had the ability, he would ensure that the girl would be able to enjoy incense and offerings, hoping that she would be born into a good family in the next life. Only then was the matter settled.

Later, Rong Ji's father passed away, and his mother followed him two years later. Rong Ji was left to inherit his father's business. Under the care of the judge, he entered the Imperial Hospital at a young age and met Ma Lu. . .

Rong Ji didn't know when he let go. He had never thought about whether he could let go or what it would look like to let go.

But now, he could tell the abbot very calmly that he had let go of the past.

Malu was like a beam of light that illuminated his life. Although the child could not call him father, he could not care about the child, and the child's marriage, education, etc. had nothing to do with him.

But this is his and Malu's blood, so he will always grow up beside Malu, and he can always protect him/her, without illness or disaster...

Thinking of this, Rong Ji plunged into the study again, took out all the books on pediatrics that he could find, and prepared to go to the countryside for medical rounds on his days off.

If a child or pregnant woman is sick, they may not be brought to the place where he provides free medical services. He needs to accumulate more experience. . .

In the palace, Malu was being held and spun around by the ecstatic Nalan: "Really? Is it really mine?"

Malu hit Nalan hard and said coquettishly, "Oh, stop! Don't turn around, I'm dizzy."

Nalan quickly and carefully put the person on the bed, looked him up and down several times, and was relieved when he saw that only his hair and jewelry were loose.

Malu smiled and held his hand: "The imperial physician diagnosed it and said it's been a month."

Nalan, who kept an eye on the outside of Yonghe Palace every day and counted the days to come and see Malu as soon as he had the chance, naturally knew that Kangxi did not come to Yonghe Palace at the beginning and middle of that month.

Although the day is near, it is impossible for it to be the Emperor's.

Nalan was so happy that he wanted to jump onto the roof of Yonghe Palace and shout: "That's really mine!"

He reacted immediately: "Is that imperial physician reliable? I'll change you to someone from the Nalan family! This is a big event... We still need someone reliable to keep it secret."

Nalan was worried that Malu would misunderstand that he wanted to add a royal physician because he didn't trust her, so he quickly explained: "Don't get me wrong, I just want to make sure everything is foolproof so that you can have peace of mind while you prepare for the birth."

Ma Lu smiled and nodded: "Dr. Rong has been taking care of me for a long time, there is no need to change. But you can add a doctor from the Nalan family to check my pulse alternately with Dr. Rong. This way you can always know the news of the child, and you don't have to take the risk to come to see me often."

Seeing her so frank and thoughtful, Nalan felt even softer in his heart, and the last bit of worry and doubt disappeared: "You are always so considerate and always think of me. Just for one thing, I still want to come."

Malu nodded slightly and said, "Okay, okay, I miss you too, but I'll let the imperial physician take care of us. My child and I will be safe and healthy. I just want you to not worry. It's not that I don't want to see you."

Nalan finally relaxed. But when he came to his senses, he felt a little jealous: "Do you really trust this imperial physician Rong? I've seen this imperial physician before, he's quite handsome."

Malu saw Nalan's jealousy and couldn't help laughing: "What are you talking about? I trust Doctor Rong because he is an excellent doctor and has been devoted to me, Wenxian and Yinzuo. Besides, aren't those concubines in your family..."

"Nothing?" Nalan raised his eyebrows slightly and asked in a pretended displeasure.

Malu smiled softly and pinched his chin: "Aren't they all beautiful? I'm not jealous of you."

Nalan shook his head helplessly and gently embraced Malu in his arms: "If you want to check me, don't check the almanac. I have already sent them all away. When I return, I guarantee that there will not be a single female bird in the yard!"

Malu listened to Nalan's words. Although he didn't believe it in his heart, he still said unforgivingly: "Why don't you hand over all the grain, so that I can rest assured."

As he said this, he ripped open Nalan's collar. It was just a joke, but Nalan jumped away nervously: "What are you doing?"

Malu was confused: "What can we do? What are you doing?"

Nalan quickly wrapped himself up tightly: "Don't do this, it's not good."

Seeing Malu's eyebrows raised, he quickly explained: "I know you are jealous of me, but there is a child here. It would be bad if it hurts the child."