The weather was fine.
The autumn breeze was cool.
Leaves were falling in colorful profusion.
Time painted colors on the leaves.
From fresh green to orange-yellow, another season had passed.
Madam Meng had been joyful every day since learning of her daughter-in-law's pregnancy. If not for her husband stopping her, she would have gone to Jingzhou to take care of her daughter-in-law.
By her calculations, the belly should be quite big now. She spent each day sewing small clothes and shoes, sending batches to Jingzhou as she finished them.
After the funeral of the former Crown Prince in the Capital City, there was another funeral.
The rebel leader Zi Lu, who had been pardoned and was living in the Capital City, had also fallen ill and died.
Not many people attended this funeral, but the Meng family paid attention to the news since their in-laws were also of rebel origin.
After the funeral, the Capital City seemed to slowly become more populous.
The Emperor was getting old and his health was failing. With the former Crown Prince gone, voices calling for the establishment of a new Crown Prince began to rise in the court.
It was said that several Imperial Princes had been summoned back to the Capital City by the Emperor.
As a result, there were many banquets, large and small, in the Capital City.
The Capital City had become quite lively recently.
A female immortal had appeared, said to be a good friend of Princess He'an. Her surname was Liu, given name Qingqing, and she had become an honored guest in many families.
It was said that everything she said came true, and everyone wanted to speak with her.
She herself didn't acknowledge this, saying she just spoke off the cuff.
But she had already spoken about several matters, and everything had turned out exactly as she said.
Today's banquet, it was said, would also be attended by this female immortal.
Madam Meng very much wanted to know if her daughter-in-law would give birth to a boy or a girl. Hearing how mystical everyone said it was, she couldn't resist wanting to go and ask.
General Meng grumbled internally, seeing his wife had even prepared gifts. He couldn't help but say, "Let it be. She's already pregnant, that's heaven's blessing. What does it matter if it's a boy or a girl?"
"I just think that if we knew, we could prepare different clothes and jewelry. If it's a girl, we should prepare more dresses, and we'll need to make lots of jewelry for the future, the more the better. For a boy, dresses don't look good, and he can't wear much jewelry either, so it would be a waste."
Madam Meng carefully prepared gifts and went to attend the banquet.
When she saw Miss Liu, she indeed had a radiant appearance, looking just like an immortal.
She was also extremely good at conversation, smiling and chatting pleasantly with everyone, making all feel as if bathed in spring sunshine.
Madam Meng carefully presented her gifts.
Unexpectedly, they were directly refused by Miss Liu.
Miss Liu didn't even ask who she was, but just said with a stern face, "I observe that Madam has very heavy killing energy, which may harm future generations. Your family may be in danger of having no descendants. I dare not accept your gifts."
The assembled ladies were in an uproar.
This Immortal Liu was too daring in her speech.
What she said seemed entirely possible, as everyone knew the Meng family had only single heirs for several generations.
So it was because of too much killing energy?
Madam Meng was furious.
Her daughter-in-law was already pregnant, she just wanted to ask about the gender. It would have been fine not to say, but to curse her with no descendants here, wasn't that saying her daughter-in-law would have a misfortune?
This made her think of the news she had heard earlier about an earthquake in Jingzhou. Although Shao Xia had written to report they were safe and nothing had happened.
But with this woman playing at being mystical and talking nonsense, Madam Meng really began to worry.
Madam Meng, who had been strong and healthy all her life, fell ill upon returning home.
The illness came on fiercely, and by the next day she couldn't get out of bed.
This frightened Meng Qingshe.
How could Madam become like this?
On her sickbed, Madam Meng kept calling out "Shao Xia, Shao Xia" and "Yu'er, Yu'er".
Her body convulsed, her eyes tightly shut, tears streaming down.
She didn't respond when called.
Meng Qingshe was also scared.
Meng Qingshe could only write a letter and send someone to deliver it to Jingzhou overnight.
He hoped his son and daughter-in-law could rush back.
Old Madam Meng heard the news and came, scolding her son harshly.
"Your wife is ill and talking nonsense, and you hurriedly send a letter to Jingzhou? What if it frightens Shao Xia and our granddaughter-in-law? They were doing well in Jingzhou, about to give birth to the child. By early next year you'd be a grandfather. Now you've really sent this letter over, scaring them. If something happens to our granddaughter-in-law carrying the child because she can't handle the shock, or if they rush back in a hurry - a pregnant woman shouldn't travel long distances, that could easily cause problems too. So-called 'golden words come true' is just cursing. You panicked and lost your head, so you're fulfilling the curse. If something really happens in the end, it will make her seem even more effective."
