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Jiang Ning limped out of her quarters one day and entered the Jiang family's second courtyard, just as the Emperor was selecting a concubine for Prince Yu. Noble ladies from high-ranking families put in their best efforts to participate in the selection, but the flower fell on Jiang Ning, who was merely there to watch the spectacle. Jiang Ning was confused. She dared not let Prince Yu be a scapegoat, so she tried every possible way to tell everyone she was pregnant. However, no one believed her. When she vomited after eating, they laughed at her for feigning illness. When she felt tired, they laughed at her for pretending to be delicate. When her belly grew larger, they laughed at her for overeating. When Jiang Ning wanted a doctor's confirmation, all eighteen doctors she consulted had the same opinion: "You're just eating too much!" The fifth prince, Prince Yu, was a dashing and handsome young man. He exuded an air of sophistication and regal beauty. This was how the common people of Chang'an City typically described him. But the real Prince Yu was cold and ruthless, using women without any emotional attachment. He knew that the second madam of the Jiang family was the Emperor's secret love, and he also knew that the daughter recently brought back by the Jiang family looked exactly like the second madam in her youth. So, even though the girl had a limp, he still tossed the embroidered flower in his hand into her lap. After their marriage, he knew she was just a pawn. But for the sake of the throne, he had to pretend to cherish her even though he detested her, until...
Rumor has it that the Jiang Family's little daughter who was stolen twelve years ago has been found!
...
Chang'an City.
Inside a three-room thatched cottage.
Jiang Ning, rubbing her belly, suspects she is pregnant.
Because she noticed recently—
Food has lost its taste!
She can't wake up from sleep!
She always feels nauseous!
Her chest aches and itches, and she has the urge to pee frequently!
These are typical pregnancy symptoms!
When did this happen?
She's still an unmarried girl!
In ancient times like these, wouldn't she be drowned in shame?
Jiang Ning rubs her chin, wondering how to abort the fetus.
Hospital?
None.
The present is ancient times where all medical clinics are run by men, and there's no such thing as an abortion procedure.
The only choice is to take medicine.
Going to the clinic for medicine would cost quite a bit, right?
Jiang Ning feels her empty money pouch, not even half a copper coin could be scraped from it.
Looking around her home, the three dilapidated thatched huts, even the rooftops are covered with grass.
The location isn't bad though, located in the bustling market of Chang'an, with a small storefront at the front, displaying a tattered banner bearing the word "eat".
The original owner was an orphan, with parents who passed away early, leaving only the three huts and a small restaurant upfront. By making a little food, she earns a few copper coins to support herself, often at the edge of starvation.
No money, how to abort?
Not aborting, having a child, how to support him?
She doesn't even want to raise the child.
Bad luck to be reborn as a lame orphan girl, struggling to survive...
As Jiang Ning thinks about this, she sees the courtyard door being pushed open, a fifty-something-year-old fat old man walks in, followed by a four or five-year-old boy.
The boy struggles carrying a large basket, clearly exerting a great deal of effort.
"Little girl, why the long face?" The fat old man asks, with a hint of flattery.
Jiang Ning waves her hand: "I'm not in the mood to cook today, and there's no rice left. Old Man Li, you better find someone else's place for a meal."
Old Man Li was picked up by her at the door two months ago.
This old man was even poorer than her and fainted from hunger.
Anyone who came to her doorstep, man or animal, she couldn't just leave them unattended. Jiang Ning simply gave him half a bowl of leftover porridge from the pot.
As a result, the old man became addicted to mooching off her, coming back every few days.
Feeling pity for him, Jiang Ning didn't have the heart to chase him away, since it was just a matter of adding another bowl of water to the pot.
Life was hard for everyone.
But today, she's really out of food!
The fat old man rubs his hands, laughing: "I've been eating here for a while, and I feel a bit bad about it. So today, I brought some rice, flour, fish, and meat. Grandson, come here."
The boy hurriedly steps forward with the basket.
Jiang Ning is curious: "Old Man Li, you have a grandson?"
"Why can't I have a grandson?"
"You're this poor and still have the nerve to have a wife and grandson?" Jiang Ning reaches out and pinches the boy's face, which is quite cute, "What's your name?"
"My name is... Xiaoqian." As the boy speaks, he puts down the basket, which contains rice, flour, vegetables, a piece of meat, and two fish.
Seeing the fish and meat, Jiang Ning swallows her saliva.
Looking at the boy's eager eyes, Jiang Ning picks up the basket: "You two, wait, I'll have the meal ready soon."
Watching Jiang Ning pushing her wheelchair away, Li Tingqian looks at the old man.
The old man's face is full of love.
Tsk tsk.
Why does the prince value this pretty little girl so much?
Palace gossip has it that back in the day, the prince had an extremely beloved woman, but she was married, and soon after giving birth to a girl, she slipped away from this world. The girl has been raised outside the palace ever since.
Could she be the one?
