Madam Fu gazed at her daughter’s flushed face and shy expression with eyes full of contentment, but still gently scolded her: “Once you’re married, you should be more attentive. How is it that nearly three months passed before you knew, and only after the doctor checked your pulse? What about Yu Wei? Isn’t she serving by your side? Didn’t she notice whether your monthly cycle had come or not?”

Seeing her mother angry, Fu Tingyun hurriedly said, “This isn’t Yu Wei’s fault. I was too careless.” She explained how Yu Wei felt her fate was unlucky and, to avoid bringing bad luck, hadn’t touched her things for a month.

Madam Fu’s expression softened slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” The child was already four months along, yet her daughter had only just informed her. “Did your father say or do something again?”

Fu Tingyun was startled.

Why had her mother suddenly become so distrustful of her father?

Why would she suspect her father’s involvement at the slightest irregularity?

A thought flickered through her mind, and she said, “It was Zhao Ling who wouldn’t let me. He said the baby wasn’t yet three months along, and he was worried about surprises. He thought it better for me to rest at home.” As she spoke, she recalled how, since learning of her pregnancy, the first thing Zhao Ling did upon returning home each day was to wash up, and the second was to touch her belly and talk to their unborn child. This made her feel that the reason Zhao Ling was so good to her was entirely because of the child in her womb. Her tone carried a hint of complaint.

Hearing this, Madam Fu’s brows furrowed repeatedly. “If Lord Zhao wants you to rest at home, then you should do so. Why speak with displeasure?” She continued, “Now that you’re married and about to become a mother, how can you still refer to your husband as ‘he’? You should either follow others and call him ‘Ninth Master’ or respectfully address him as ‘husband’!”

Fu Tingyun pouted and refuted her mother: “I call him ‘Ninth Master’ at home.”

To talk back when the conversation had reached this point? In the past, Quanhui was never like this. She had been spoiled by Zhao Ling!

Madam Fu, who should have been displeased, couldn’t help but smile and said, “I’m saying this for your good. Surely you won’t address the father of your children this way in front of them?” As she spoke, her gaze softened to the point it could drip water, and she asked softly, “Have you had strong reactions these days? Is there anything in particular you crave?”

“I especially enjoy pickled vegetables,” Fu Tingyun said, her mood brightening as she saw her mother’s happiness. Her eyes and brows brimmed with smiles. “As for reactions,” confusion flickered in her eyes, “I’ve heard people say that in the first few months, you throw up whatever you eat. But apart from often feeling tired and wanting to sleep, I haven’t had any other reactions. Otherwise, how could I not have known I was pregnant?” As she spoke, her expression darkened, and she said in a low voice, “Do you think the child might…” A trace of fear flashed across her face.

Such thoughts had frequently surfaced in her mind since learning of her pregnancy, but whenever she saw Zhao Ling’s joyful face, she dared not ask anyone. Today, visiting her mother, she harbored great hope that her mother could provide an answer.

Madam Fu was stunned, then glared at her daughter in displeasure. “Child, what nonsense are you talking? Others pray for what you have, yet you’re complaining! Do you know whom you take after? You take after your grandmother! Your grandmother bore six sons and three daughters, none of whom gave her trouble. Moreover, all the children were healthy and survived.”

As Fu Tingyun listened, her eyes brightened, and her hidden worries were swept away. Her face became as bright and radiant as summer flowers in sunshine, appearing even more spirited than usual. Where was there any trace of the weariness typical of a pregnant woman?

Watching her, Madam Fu couldn’t help but smile and shake her head. “Back then, the reason the Yu family sought this marriage was entirely because your grandmother and I were both fertile. They also had your birth chart examined by Master Tianyi from Dragon Tiger Mountain, who said you had a destiny favorable for bearing sons…”

Fu Tingyun was astonished.

She had thought it was because the Fu family had a clean reputation and her cheerful, lively personality pleased the elders…

She never expected this to be the reason.

Since her mother knew, clearly the elders in the family also knew.

Fortunately, she hadn’t married into the Yu family. Otherwise, what would she have become?

She felt somewhat displeased, but even more relieved.

Then she recalled her recent conversation with Zhao Ling, guessing whether they would have a son or daughter.

Zhao Ling had joked that he was the only remaining sprout in his family and would cherish either a daughter or a son. He had also said they should have several children… Later, as they continued talking, Zhao Ling had become mischievous again, saying things like “even without meat, he should at least have a taste of the soup” and other such nonsense. But these were mostly jokes with little lustful intent. She could genuinely feel that he was simply trying to express a joy he couldn’t otherwise articulate.

If she truly took after her grandmother, wouldn’t they have many children?

If Zhao Ling knew this, he would surely be so happy he wouldn’t know east from west!

Fu Tingyun imagined a little person with eyes and brows just like Zhao Ling’s, who would give the same cold sidelong glances… Just thinking about it filled her with joy.

Madam Fu regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. Seeing the strange expression on Fu Tingyun’s face, she silently cursed herself for being muddleheaded.

Her daughter was living well now. Why had she, as if possessed, brought up the past, needlessly causing her daughter displeasure?

Madam Fu hurriedly attempted to remedy the situation: “It’s good that you didn’t marry into the Yu family. Even with your favorable destiny for bearing sons, the Yu family’s eldest son had three wives. I fear that unless you gave birth to five or six sons, the Yu family elders would never be satisfied.”

Nearby, Xiu Zhu’s wife was sweating profusely.

What was wrong with the madam today? Her words were all mixed up, completely lacking her usual shrewdness and capability.

Why suddenly mention the Yu family for no reason?

Could it be because Madam Yu had sent her maid to inquire about her health some days ago, stirring Madam Fu’s emotions?

But Miss Fu’s marriage was already settled, and bringing these matters up now would only add to her worries.

Thinking this, regardless of her position, she hurriedly smiled and said, “Young Madam, what kinds of pickled vegetables do you like? I’ve heard that Beijing’s Baiwei Quan pickled vegetables are the best. I’ll send you some in a few days.”

Hearing this, Madam Fu came to her senses and quickly smiled: “Xiu Zhu’s wife is so thoughtful. Look at me, just talking away. Quanhui, what pickled vegetables do you like? I’ll have Xiu Zhu’s wife send you some.”

Her mother had given her all her savings and no longer received her uncle’s support, so she was surely not well-off. Like her mother, she didn’t want to accept anything from the Fu family, and even less did she want her mother to spend money on her.

“Please don’t send me any pickled vegetables,” Fu Tingyun feigned distress. “Ninth Master, that big mouth, tells everyone he’s going to be a father, and that these days I only want to eat pickled vegetables. His colleagues and superiors have all sent homemade pickled vegetables or bought some from Baiwei Quan. We now have at least fifty or sixty varieties—enough to open a pickle shop.” Though her tone conveyed three parts dissatisfaction, it held seven parts sweetness.

Watching her, Madam Fu was on the verge of tears.

This child, though married, was still full of childish spirit.

She had already been helpless once when this child was in difficulty. She couldn’t bear to watch her fall into hardship again.

Madam Fu took a deep breath and asked with a smile: “Who is preparing the baby’s clothes?”

“Zhao Ling bought two women in their thirties, saying they both have experience and will serve me during my confinement and take care of the child. These days, Yu Wei is teaching them the rules and guiding them in making baby clothes.”

“Rather than buying two women at once, it would be better to buy one first,” Madam Fu knew that Zhao Ling had always been considerate toward her daughter, but hearing this still made her heart swell with joy. She advised them, “Later, you’ll need a wet nurse. The wet nurse and two little maids helping to care for the child will be enough.”

She could hardly tell her mother that she had said the same thing, only for Zhao Ling to joke, “Now you think there are too many people, but later you’ll feel there aren’t enough”…

Fu Tingyun’s expression revealed some embarrassment.

Madam Fu thought she was merely uncomfortable and smiled, changing the subject: “Have you started looking for a wet nurse?”

Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly: “Ninth Master asked his colleagues, and everyone said the wet nurses from Daxing Prefecture are good. Even the palace wet nurses mostly come from Daxing. Fortunately, Ninth Master has a brother serving in Daxing Prefecture who has already looked at several candidates. We’ll finalize the selection after the New Year.”

Madam Fu nodded slightly.

This Zhao Ling loved Quanhui deeply in his heart. Otherwise, how could a man concern himself with such detailed matters?

She couldn’t help but take her daughter’s hand and advise her once more: “Ninth Master treats you so well. You mustn’t disappoint him.”

Why did her mother always give this advice whenever they met, as if she had a flirtatious nature?

Fu Tingyun felt somewhat unhappy and complained coquettishly: “I’m very good to him. I make his clothes and shoes for all four seasons. On his birthday, when he had to go to the palace for duty, I woke up before him and personally made him a bowl of longevity noodles…”

Madam Fu looked at her and laughed heartily, making Fu Tingyun feel uncomfortable: “What, what do you mean?”

“Isn’t that what you should do?” Madam Fu gazed at her with a smile.

Fu Tingyun’s face turned crimson.

…

After seeing her daughter off, Madam Fu leaned against the large pillow at her bedhead and fell into a daze.

Xiu Zhu’s wife didn’t dare disturb her and quietly tidied up the teacups.

Suddenly, Madam Fu asked, “What did the young mistress send to Quanhui?”

It was as if she had eyes in the back of her head!

How could she earlier have spoken as if possessed?

Xiu Zhu’s wife was puzzling over this when she heard Madam Fu say in a tone that seemed both reflective and explanatory: “I know the young mistress’s nature. She is truly a lady from a noble family. Though timid, she wouldn’t do such base and contemptible things. Since she knows Quanhui is pregnant, she would surely offer congratulations.”

“Madam is indeed perceptive,” Xiu Zhu’s wife sincerely praised. “The young mistress found a few old clothes of the young master’s and sent them to the young madam, wishing her an early birth of a noble son.”

Hearing this, a flash of pain crossed Madam Fu’s face: “I regret it so much! Initially, I shouldn’t have listened to his father and left him in Beijing. Had he come with me to Huayin, how could he have become what he is today!”

It took Xiu Zhu’s wife a moment to realize that the “he” Madam Fu referred to was Fu Tinggui.