A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Deep in Haitang Alley, the Jiang family's courtyard is warmly lit.

Jiang Lingyang, Wei Susu, Jiang Muxin, and Jiang Zheng'an sat around a table for a meal.

They did not accompany Nie Qianqian and the others to pick up Gu Xiao outside the examination hall today.

Jiang Lingyang knew the hardships of the imperial examinations and understood that what the candidates needed most at this moment was complete relaxation and rest. If he were present, the young people would inevitably become reserved and uncomfortable.

After the meal, Jiang Muxin personally brewed tea.

She washed her hands, warmed the pot, poured water, and poured out the soup—her movements were fluid and graceful, as elegant as a slowly unfolding scroll painting.

Jiang Zheng'an clapped his hands repeatedly and praised, "Mu Xin's skills are getting better and better."

Jiang Muxin smiled, presented the teacup to Jiang Lingyang and Wei Susu, and said softly, "Father, Mother, Brother, please have some tea."

Wei Susu took the tea; her fingertips were slightly warm, but she felt a pang of guilt.

She looked at Jiang Muxin and said, "Muxin, I've only recently reunited with Qianqian, so I'm bound to spend more time with her. Please... don't take it to heart."

Jiang Muxin lowered her eyes and smiled gently: "Mother, what are you saying? My sister has suffered so much over the years, so I should spend more time with her. I understand."

Wei Susu's heart softened, and she gently covered her hand with her own: "You are a sensible and good child. Don't worry, your mother has always been concerned about you. Your father and I have already discussed your marriage with that boy from the Chu family... The Spring Banquet will be a suitable opportunity. At that time, Chu's parents should also be returning to the capital, and we will finalize the matter then."

Jiang Muxin's cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "Daughter... wants to stay by her parents' side longer to fulfill her filial duties."

Wei Susu smiled: "Silly child, no matter how reluctant your parents are, they can't keep you forever. The Chu family's child is of excellent character, talent, and family background. We've watched him grow up, so we feel at ease entrusting you to him."

Jiang Muxin lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "I leave it to Mother to decide."

The group then started talking about Jiang Zheng'an's unborn child.

Wei Susu's eyes were full of anticipation: "Now that I've met Tuantuan, I understand what it means to love grandparents more than grandchildren. If Zheng'an's children could be as smart and adorable as Tuantuan, that would be wonderful."

Jiang Zheng'an couldn't help but smile when he thought of Tuantuan.

Nie Qianqian is arrogant and impulsive, but Tuantuan is an extremely well-behaved and adorable child.

Despite being rejected by Nie Qianqian several times, Tuantuan would still affectionately call him "Uncle" and even gave him her favorite milk candy—the candy tasted wonderful, sweet but not cloying, and he still remembers it to this day.

Jiang Zheng'an said, "I will be returning to the capital in a couple of days. She is due to give birth in three months, and I need to stay with her."

Wei Susu nodded: "It's time to go back. The last few months will be the hardest, with swollen hands and feet, and aching back and legs. You should be more understanding of her."

Jiang Zheng'an replied, "Don't worry, Mother." But then he frowned slightly.

Wei Susu noticed and quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Zheng'an sighed: "She had little morning sickness in the first three months and had a very good appetite. Now her belly is bigger than others in the same month. I'm worried that she will suffer during childbirth."

Wei Susu also became worried: "This matter cannot be taken lightly. After you return to the capital, you must hire the best midwife in the city and make an appointment in advance. You also need to control your diet. The fetus is already big, and if you indulge in food, you may suffer a great loss."

Jiang Zheng'an said, "I will persuade her. The doctor also said that the pregnancy is stable and the baby is in the correct position, so there should be no major problems."

Wei Susu calmed down a little, but then looked ashamed: "I'm not feeling well and I'm too busy taking care of myself to do a good job of looking after her."

Jiang Zheng'an quickly said, "Mother, there's no need to blame yourself. You were suffering from a heart ailment before, how could you take care of others? She's doing well in the manor, I'm here for her."

Wei Susu nodded and said, "Gu Xiao's imperial examination is over. Once Qianqian's shop opens, I will discuss returning to the capital with her."

Speaking of Gu Xiao, a hint of anticipation flashed in Jiang Lingyang's eyes: "I wonder how he performed in the last round. I would like to chat with him about his exam experience and also hear what these students think. But I was afraid they would be too reserved, so I didn't go over."

Jiang Zheng'an: "Gu Xiao was the top scorer in both the county and prefectural examinations. With his talent, passing the county-level examination should be a piece of cake for him."

Jiang Muxin then slowly said, "My brother-in-law's talent is now known to everyone in the provincial capital. Everyone outside is betting on whether he can get the top score in the provincial examination and become the first person in Jining Prefecture to achieve the 'Triple Crown' in a hundred years. I heard that betting shops have even opened betting odds."

She paused here, as if she had something difficult to say.

Seeing that she looked upset, Jiang Zheng'an asked, "What's wrong? Just say what's on your mind."

Jiang Muxin hesitated for a long time before slowly saying, "A few days ago, Huan'er and I went to the street and happened to see... Sister Qianqian coming out of Wanguan Tower."

Wei Susu was taken aback: "Wan Guan Lou? What is she going there for?"

Jiang Muxin said in a low voice, "I also found it strange, so I asked Huan'er to inquire about it. I heard that... my sister placed a bet there, wagering... tens of thousands of taels of silver, betting that my brother-in-law could win the 'Small Three Jades' in a row."

Jiang Zheng'an, Jiang Lingyang, and Wei Susu were all stunned at the same time.

Jiang Zheng'an slammed his teacup down, spilling a few drops of tea onto the table. His face was ashen, and his anger was almost bursting out of his chest: "Nonsense! This Nie Qianqian is utterly ridiculous!"

His voice rose several decibels: "The Junior Three Scholars? Is it that easy? Even my father, with his exceptional talent, couldn't achieve the Junior Three Scholars! Nie Qianqian doesn't understand the ways of the imperial examinations, yet she squanders the 30,000 taels of silver her parents gave her so recklessly. It's utterly absurd!"

Jiang Muxin lowered her eyes, a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm on her lips, but her face was full of worry: "Yes... I was also afraid that my sister was too confident in my brother-in-law. It's all my fault for finding out too late and not being able to stop it in time."

"Mu Xin, don't take everything on yourself," Jiang Zheng'an said immediately. "Who can stop her from acting so recklessly?"

As he spoke, he looked at Jiang Lingyang and Wei Susu, his tone tinged with urgency: "Father, Mother, you must not be angry, especially Mother, take care of yourself, don't let this girl upset you."

However, he was stunned when he saw the expressions on their faces.

Jiang Lingyang raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but no anger.

Wei Susu's face did not show the fury he had expected, only a hint of bewilderment, as if she was pondering something.

Jiang Zheng'an's heart sank—had his father and mother's favoritism towards Nie Qianqian reached this point?

Thirty thousand taels of silver is no small sum for any family, even a top-tier one in the capital. And Nie Qianqian just gambled it all away, and her parents... remained completely indifferent?

At this moment, Wei Susu finally spoke slowly, her tone unusually calm: "This... gambling den, can we still place bets now?"

Jiang Zheng'an was taken aback, never expecting his mother to ask such a question.

Jiang Muxin was also a little surprised, but she still answered truthfully, "Yes...yes. You can still place bets before the results of the imperial examinations are announced. Today...you can still do it today too."

Wei Susu nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

She looked up and met Jiang Lingyang's gaze.

Their eyes met, as if exchanging some unspoken message.

After a moment, Wei Susu slowly said, "If that's the case... I'll have Qiu Niang go and take a look later."

"Mother!" Jiang Zheng'an and Jiang Muxin exclaimed at the same time.

Jiang Zheng'an said anxiously, "Mother, have you been so angered by Nie Qianqian that you've lost your mind? Are you trying to bet money on the other side to recoup some of your losses? But the odds of Gu Xiao not winning are already low. Even if you bet, you won't recover much!"

Jiang Muxin echoed, "Yes, Mother, and..."

Wei Susu blinked, interrupting them, "Who said I couldn't bet on Gu Xiao winning?"

She paused, then said, word by word:

"On the contrary—I want to bet on Gu Xiaoneng to win."