“The eldest son-in-law passed! The eldest son-in-law passed!”

A maid joyfully came to report the news. Upon hearing this good news, Concubine Mei somehow found a surge of strength that allowed her to sit up by herself. “Is it true?!”

“It’s true! Everyone in the household is being rewarded with a month’s wages!” The maid answered cheerfully, and then came the sound of firecrackers. Hearing this lively noise, the smile on Concubine Mei’s face grew increasingly radiant. Her son-in-law was Manchu, genuinely Manchu. Starting as a provincial graduate was already quite respectable. In the official world, Manchus always had an easier path than Han Chinese.

Excellent! Once her son-in-law became an official and her daughter accompanied him to his posting, life would become somewhat easier. Concubine Mei was extremely happy. She smiled, and as she smiled, a bloody taste filled her mouth. Her vision went dark, she suddenly lost all strength, collapsed backward, and lay on the bed gasping for breath in great gulps.

It took Concubine Mei quite a while to regain her sight. She felt a wave of lingering fear—if she had died at this moment, such wonderful joyous news would have been cast under a shadow of gloom. Her voice was very soft. Seeing that she wanted to speak, the maid also breathed a sigh of relief. Just moments ago, Concubine Mei’s condition had been quite frightening. She leaned closer: “What does Concubine wish to say?”

“…Phy…sician.”

The maid understood and immediately sent someone to fetch Physician Zhou.

Physician Zhou rushed over and quickly wrote out a prescription for someone to fill. The medicine would be decocted and sent over immediately. He advised Concubine Mei: “Your body cannot withstand excessive emotional excitement.” Thinking about what good news had come today, Physician Zhou sighed inwardly.

Concubine Mei blinked. “…How much…time do I have left?”

Physician Zhou didn’t answer. “Concubine Mei shouldn’t think too much. With proper care, everything will be fine.”

If a death date were specified, a person’s vital energy and spirit would quickly decline, and even if not dying, death would come soon enough. As a physician, he would never speak so directly to a patient.

Looking at the person lying on the sickbed, Physician Zhou felt somewhat emotional. Before entering the Lin household, he had treated many nobles. Even among wealthy merchant families who didn’t lack silver, few were as generous as the Lin family. Concubine Mei’s condition had consumed many precious medicinal ingredients, yet not once had anyone spoken about stopping or switching medications. As long as something was available on the market and could be purchased, it could be used.

Perhaps the Lin family’s vast wealth meant they didn’t lack these medical expenses, but in his experience, the wealthier people were, the more miserly they became.

If not for such unstinting expenditure, Concubine Mei would very likely not have survived that miscarriage crisis.

Concubine Mei didn’t press him for a definite answer either. She…was also somewhat afraid: “I…will take my medicine properly.”

She absolutely could not die at this time.

Physician Zhou left. Concubine Mei glanced at his departing figure and closed her eyes.

If he wouldn’t tell her, he would probably go tell the Old Madam instead.

The Old Madam… Concubine Mei sighed.

She had said that Yun Shuyao was lofty and aloof, but the term “lofty and aloof” was more appropriately applied to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam had never regarded concubines with any importance. When she first entered the household, because it was the Old Madam who had arranged for her elevation into the household, she had thought the Old Madam would elevate them to compete with Jia Min. But in reality?

The Old Madam still protected Jia Min. No, or rather, she protected the legitimate wife.

They had to be respectful toward the legitimate wife and could not seize power. Even if they bore children, even though Yun Shi had given birth to the only son, in the Old Madam’s eyes, they were still merely concubines.

Yun Shi… if not for receiving the imperial mandate, the Old Madam wouldn’t have released control and let her manage the household. And Yun Shi had never actually competed, living in her own courtyard all these years. These two people… were both incredibly rigid and old-fashioned.

She couldn’t understand it at first, but later, when her daughter grew up and was about to marry, she understood.

The Old Madam herself was a legitimate wife, so in her eyes, only the Master’s legitimate wife could earn her regard.

But what good did protecting the legitimate wife’s interests do? In the end, the Lin family would still be inherited by a son born of a concubine.

She looked down on concubines, yet didn’t she treasure Yun Shi’s illegitimate son as her precious darling? Over all these years, how many good things had she stuffed into Chen Yu’s hands? Too many to count! Hahaha!

Concubine Mei found it somewhat amusing and even laughed aloud. The attending maid didn’t know what she was thinking and was startled by her behavior: “…Concubine, what’s wrong?”

Concubine Mei closed her eyes as wave after wave of drowsiness overtook her. “I’m…tired…” Almost in the next second, she lost consciousness.

The next day, Concubine Mei again heard lively sounds from outside. The household was distributing celebration money again.

“What has happened?”

The maid answered with lowered head: “The Second Young Mistress has given birth.”

Concubine Mei suddenly understood—she had reached the time for childbirth: “What did she have?”

The maid restrained her joyful expression before Concubine Mei: “The Second Young Mistress gave birth to a little prince!”

Concubine Mei asked nothing more. A boy—no wonder they were so happy. Luo Yu’s luck was truly good. Now she had two sons. If only one were Ying Yu’s, how wonderful that would be.

Why couldn’t her daughter conceive! Why was her daughter so ill-fated?

She herself had lost to Yun Shi, and her daughter had lost to Luo Yu in both marriage and offspring!

Concubine Mei couldn’t help doubting herself—had she harmed her daughter?

Was there a problem with the medicine?

If that were the case…

She regretted it, truly regretted it.

Concubine Mei’s emotions fluctuated, and again there was a sweet metallic taste in her throat. This time she couldn’t hold it back—a mouthful of blood spurted out. The maid was greatly alarmed: “Concubine! Concubine vomited blood! Quickly, quickly fetch Physician Zhou!”

She couldn’t be too emotionally agitated. Yesterday’s emotional excitement had been bad enough, and today it happened again. After watching her drink her medicine and fall asleep, Physician Zhou went to the Old Madam: “Old Madam, Concubine Mei doesn’t have many days left.”

Hearing this, the Old Madam’s brow furrowed. A funeral at such a time? Moreover, Concubine Mei had vomited blood upon hearing the news that Luo Yu had given birth to a little prince. The Old Madam couldn’t help feeling dissatisfied—Mei Shi’s narrow-mindedness was as consistent as ever, even envying a junior.

Never mind. It wasn’t the first day she’d known what kind of temperament she had. Even if displeased, she had borne a daughter for the Lin family. The Old Madam sighed. She only felt sorry for her eldest granddaughter—if Concubine Mei passed, it would be a blow to her eldest granddaughter.

“How much time does she have left? Can she make it through a full month?”

Physician Zhou hesitated, then nodded: “She should be able to.”

The Old Madam: “Don’t be stingy with medicinal ingredients. Whatever is needed, if it cannot be purchased, tell me. At the very least, she must be sustained for one month.”

Then the Old Madam had someone send word to her eldest granddaughter, asking her to return for a visit when she had time.

If she couldn’t come see Concubine Mei before she passed, she would surely leave behind regrets.

Yun Shuyao also heard the news that Concubine Mei had vomited blood. Judging from her previous condition, this probably wasn’t due to envying Luo Yu—this was for Ying Yu’s sake.

Yun Shuyao frowned. Why did she have to torment herself?

Since she only planned for Ying Yu, she should know that if she didn’t properly control her emotions, she would worsen. If she died, Ying Yu would inevitably fall gravely ill, and moreover, with her birth mother gone, Ying Yu would have to observe mourning.

Shaking her head, Yun Shuyao set this matter aside and prepared to attend the child’s third-day celebration.

The Fourth Prince was Prince Yong. When his secondary consort gave birth to a son, logically it should be quite lively. However, because of the current sensitive political situation, the Fourth Prince had no intention of making it a grand affair.

This time, Yun Shuyao and Tang Wanxin went together. The Old Madam wasn’t going.

Since she wasn’t going, Lin Ruhai couldn’t go either, which was inevitably disappointing.

He wanted to see his grandson, but opportunities were too few.

Female relatives could claim social visits, but as a man, it wasn’t proper for him to enter the inner quarters. Only in the future, when his grandson grew older and began studying, would his time with him increase.

But even when his grandson grew up, with the Crown Prince’s position unstable and various princes participating in the succession struggle, he might still maintain his current detached attitude. If he showed obvious favoritism, the Emperor… most likely wouldn’t trust him as much.

Lin Ruhai looked toward the direction of the Imperial Palace.

Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?

The Crown Prince was the heir apparent, reinstated yet with an unstable position, and the hearts of various ministers were also unstable.

If this continued, chaos would easily erupt.

If the Crown Prince were to be deposed again, all the remaining princes would have opportunities… Lin Ruhai couldn’t help but smile bitterly. At that time, it would be very difficult for him to maintain his current neutral position.

——

The little prince Luo Yu gave birth to this time was ranked fifth. Yun Shuyao looked and saw he was also a healthy child, and Luo Yu was also safe and sound.

This time for Luo Yu’s delivery, she hadn’t been notified. The main reason was that she had already established firm footing in this household and was confident she could control the situation.

After the third-day celebration ended, Yun Shuyao entered the birthing chamber to see her daughter, feeling very gratified.

She couldn’t help much in the Fourth Prince’s household. Now that her daughter had grown up and could resolve matters herself, Yun Shuyao finally felt at ease.

While speaking privately, Yun Shuyao took out two jade bottles. The medicine inside consisted of black granules. “I’ll continue improving it. Use these for now—they’re for nourishing the body.”

These two, viewed separately, were both nourishing, but taken together with a medicinal catalyst added, they would have contraceptive effects without harming the body.

Luo Yu happily accepted them: “Thank you for your efforts, Concubine Mother.” Two sons were truly enough.

“Concubine Mother, come hold her.”

Most newborn babies didn’t look very attractive. This child’s skin was still somewhat red and not very beautiful, but because Luo Yu had given birth to her, there was naturally a filter over her. However Yun Shuyao looked at her, she found her pleasing.

While holding the child, Yun Shuyao spoke: “Have the Fourth Fujin and the others made any moves?”

Luo Yu shook her head: “They’re working on Lady Li’s petition for ennoblement.”

This matter wasn’t public, but she also had people who passed information to her. Luo Yu sighed: “Grandmother was impulsive before. Even if she hadn’t mentioned it, Lady Li would have been tempted herself.” It was unnecessary.

Luo Yu naturally welcomed Lady Li’s petition for ennoblement.

As a pillow companion, she also understood some of the Fourth Prince’s temperament. He was so self-restrained, and moreover, he disapproved of many matters at court—he just had to accept them given the circumstances. If there were an opportunity, he would certainly strive for it.

For a prince without power or influence to ascend to the throne was too difficult.

So he might possibly use the position of secondary consort to form marriage alliances and attract support.

Yun Shuyao also sighed: “That’s why your grandmother was too embarrassed to come see you this time.” Otherwise she wouldn’t have failed to come. Instead, she had them bring many good things for the child, which also carried the meaning of compensation and apology.

Luo Yu frowned. Did people’s temperaments really change after they aged? Grandmother hadn’t been this impulsive before.

Luo Yu thought again of the Emperor—he too was now more tolerant of many veteran ministers than before.

Yun Shuyao: “The Old Madam has realized it and reined herself in. Moreover, now the household management is in your sister-in-law’s hands. She won’t do superfluous things.” She would also be more careful.

Luo Yu nodded.

Yun Shuyao: “On the Fourth Prince’s side, you needn’t say much.” Even if she knew the Fourth Prince’s thoughts, she had to act as though she didn’t. At this time, with the Crown Prince still there, he should still be a good brother and good subject without ambition.

Luo Yu: “I understand.” Sometimes, one couldn’t be too clever.

Then Yun Shuyao mentioned that Concubine Mei had bowed to her, hoping she could look after Ying Yu, and also mentioned that her days were numbered: “I previously thought she had several months to half a year left. Now perhaps it’s only one or two months.”

Luo Yu had no objection to looking after her elder sister, but she didn’t agree with what Concubine Mei had said. She said Concubine Mother had no heart—how could that be?

Concubine Mother’s heart toward their siblings held not a trace of falsehood. Concubine Mother simply didn’t place other people together in her heart as well.

A thousand people had a thousand faces. Everyone’s personality was different, and what each person valued was also different. Concubine Mother lived freely and comfortably—that was excellent!

However… Luo Yu also worried: “Concubine Mother, you won’t become a nun, will you?”

She had discovered quite a few Buddhist scriptures and Daoist texts at Concubine Mother’s place. Combined with her somewhat detached temperament regarding all worldly matters, it truly made her a bit afraid.

Become a nun? She was overthinking it.

Whether Buddhist or Daoist establishments, both had various rules and restrictions that prevented freedom. Moreover, with an added layer of sacred veneer, they more easily harbored filth and corruption. Her current life was perfectly fine—why would she become a nun?

She was merely using them for reference.