Seeing the situation, Mama Shu didn’t dare say more. She hurriedly got up to personally instruct her trusted young maid to quickly find the servant who had accompanied Yu Jingxiu to the government office today.

After quite a while, the young maid finally brought a servant wearing blue clothes and a small hat, running over.

“Mama,” the young maid said breathlessly, “Today it was Duanyan who accompanied the Young Master to the office, but Duanyan isn’t here. They say he went out to run errands for the Young Master, so I brought Chengxin, who also serves the Young Master…”

If you can’t catch lice, catch nits.

Since Madam had questions to ask, someone had to answer, right?

The young maid was clever. Normally, this wouldn’t have been a problem, but at this moment, Madam was looking to find fault with the Young Master, and could turn nothing into something…

Mama Shu couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.

Meanwhile, Madam Yu had already grown impatient waiting and coldly said, “What? Have my orders become ineffective for his people now?”

Her maid broke out in a cold sweat but forced a smile. “Perhaps something delayed him. I’ll go check!” She took three steps in two, leaving the inner chamber while repeatedly urging Mama Shu.

Mama Shu had no choice but to bring Chengxin in.

Chengxin kowtowed.

Madam Yu’s anger suddenly subsided, and she said, “Since Duanyan isn’t here, let’s wait until he returns before we discuss this.”

Chengxin breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, “I’ll wait at the main gate, and as soon as Duanyan returns, I’ll tell him.”

Madam Yu nodded and dismissed Chengxin.

Mama Shu knew that Madam Yu became most expressionless when she was troubled, and worry lines appeared on her brow.

Madam Yu looked at her and curled her lip, saying, “Don’t worry. I suddenly realized something. Here I am, anxious and angry, afraid that he might make a mistake that would ruin his reputation and future, while on his side, he might be complaining that I’m not letting them live in peace, constantly bothering the couple when I have nothing better to do… If that’s the case, why should I be at a disadvantage with no benefit? If I make myself sick with worry, I’ll have to pay for my doctor. Better to follow their wishes and let them do whatever they want.” Her expression turned cold. “I want to see what kind of life they think would be satisfactory.”

“Madam…” Mama Shu murmured, not knowing how to console Madam Yu.

“Forget it,” Madam Yu smiled self-mockingly and said, “Let’s not talk about this anymore.” She then began speaking about Concubine Wu, “…That unfilial son now only has the Fu woman in his heart. He may not listen to what I say. Assign two reliable old women to work in the back chambers and look after Concubine Wu. After all, when it comes to having sons or daughters, the chances are fifty-fifty.”

Concubine Wu’s pregnancy was further along than the Young Mistress’s. If both the Young Mistress and Concubine Wu gave birth to sons, Concubine Wu’s would be the eldest, which would be unacceptable. If the Young Mistress had a daughter while Concubine Wu had a son, who could guarantee that the Young Mistress’s next child would be a son? Before that, Concubine Wu’s son, as the Yu family’s only grandson, would have to be protected… Given this, before the children were born, Concubine Wu couldn’t be allowed to have any mishaps.

This was Madam Yu’s thinking, but she feared the Young Master might not think the same way…

Mama Shu understood.

These two old women would likely need to be secretly placed by Concubine Wu’s side!

“I know what to do,” she said softly. “I’ll quietly find two steady women.”

Madam Yu nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, just as his mother had predicted, Yu Jingxiu had dismissed Chengxin, who came to report to him. Sitting at Fan’s bedside, he couldn’t help but complain quietly: “Just because I left the office early, she had to send for my servant to question him. I’m not fifteen or sixteen anymore. I’ve already passed the highest imperial examination and am a sixth-rank lecturer at the Hanlin Academy, working at the Court of State Ceremonial. If word of this gets out, how will I face others?”

Fan also had many complaints about her mother-in-law, but didn’t dare show any disrespect in front of Yu Jingxiu. She just offered lukewarm advice: “Filial piety comes first among all virtues. They say ‘old child, old child’—you should just think of it as humoring your mother.”

“I suppose that’s all I can do,” Yu Jingxiu sighed helplessly.

Fan tugged at his sleeve curiously and asked, “What did you send Duanyan to do?”

Yu Jingxiu smiled and said, “Didn’t you say yesterday that you wanted to eat eggs fried with Chinese toon sprouts? I heard that some gardeners in Fengtai use greenhouses to grow flowers, and there are Chinese toon trees that have sprouted, so I sent Duanyan to get some…”

“My lord!” Fan was very moved, with tears glistening in her eyes, but then her expression tightened, and she said, “If Mother finds out, won’t she scold you?”

Yu Jingxiu’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before he smiled and said, “What’s there to scold about? Aren’t you pregnant now?” His voice lowered as he showed some guilt. “It’s all my fault. If only I had persisted a bit longer!” He gently placed his hand on Fan’s belly, which had not yet begun to show.

“How could this be my lord’s fault?” Fan hurriedly said. “It’s my fault… If only I had shown signs earlier…” She began to choke up. “All these years, everything my lord has done for me, I remember it all… It’s my fault, I don’t have the good fortune…”

“Don’t cry, don’t cry!” Yu Jingxiu wiped away Fan’s tears. “Be careful not to frighten the child.” He quietly promised her, “Rest assured, as long as I’m here, I won’t let you or the child suffer any grievances!”

Fan nodded and nestled in Yu Jingxiu’s arms.

In the past, she had appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was always concerned about having a child… She placed a statue of Guanyin at her bedside, hid talismans under her pillow, chose auspicious days for intimacy… Yet there had been no sign of pregnancy, and her periods had become irregular… She knew some medical principles and understood that she was too anxious. Though she knew she needed to relax, that string in her heart remained taut of its own accord…

Later, when Wu entered the household, she suddenly felt somewhat disheartened.

Yu Jingxiu had both apologized and begged for forgiveness, carefully watching her mood as they lived day to day.

She thought that having already lost the chance for a child, she couldn’t lose her husband as well… So she gathered her spirits to deal with him, and unexpectedly became pregnant…

Could this be fate?

Fan bit her lip, her fingers clutching Yu Jingxiu’s sleeve until they turned white.

She softly said, “When is Mother going to Tanzhe Temple to fulfill her vow? I want to go with her…”

Yu Jingxiu was startled and said, “Can your body handle it?”

Fan sat up straight and coquettishly complained, “Don’t I want the Buddha to bless our mother and child’s safety?”

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry!” Yu Jingxiu hurriedly said. “I’ll talk to Mother about it right away.” As he spoke, he was already thinking about how to arrange for Fan to go worship. “I’ll assign several attentive old women to accompany you…”

Fan leaned against Yu Jingxiu’s chest and silently laughed.

…

Fu Tingyun was also laughing.

“Where did you get these from?” she pointed at the green sprouts in the small bamboo basket. “It’s only mid-February!”

Yu Wei smiled and said, “Manager Ye sent them. He said they’re for the Madam, Miss, and Young Master to taste.”

Fu Tingyun picked up a leaf and brought it to her nose to smell: “How fragrant!”

Youyou, sitting nearby, imitated her mother’s actions and took a leaf to smell: “So fragrant!”

Everyone laughed heartily.

Fu Tingyun hugged Youyou and asked, “Do you know what this is?”

Youyou shook her head: “I don’t know!” Her bright black eyes glanced toward Madam Tong.

Madam Tong covered her mouth and smiled, saying, “These are leaves from the Chinese toon tree. They can be fried and eaten.”

Ten-month-old Young Master Xi couldn’t speak yet, but he could understand. Hearing this, he immediately grabbed a handful and was about to stuff them into his mouth.

Fu Tingyun, quick-eyed and nimble-handed, caught her son’s small arm: “You little glutton, all you think about is eating!” She shook the Chinese toon sprouts from his hand back into the small bamboo basket.

Young Master Xi burst into tears with a “wah!”

Yu Wei hurriedly took him in her arms, gently rocking him, and defended him: “Being able to eat is a blessing. The Young Master is a fortunate person.”

Fu Tingyun smiled and shook her head: “You just spoil him!”

“Listen to what Madam says,” Yu Wei smiled. “Isn’t the Young Master still small? When he grows up, he’ll naturally become sensible. How can you call this ‘spoiling’?”

Perhaps because when Youyou was small, Yu Wei had focused on finding Zuo Junjie, but by the time Young Master Xi was born, her wish had been fulfilled, and she was feeling empty inside. With an innocent child beside her, her attention naturally turned to Young Master Xi. Compared to Youyou, Yu Wei paid more attention to Young Master Xi.

Fu Tingyun didn’t argue with her but asked about Manager Ye: “Hasn’t he been running business in the Northeast these past few years? It’s the season for collecting furs and ginseng. How is he in the capital? And he even has time to get Chinese toon leaves for us?”

“I heard from the servant that Manager Ye has been promoted to head manager of the Beijing branch,” Yu Wei smiled. “The official handover will be on the first day of the third month. He’s staying in the capital these days to check the accounts!”

“Oh!” Fu Tingyun smiled. “We should prepare a gift to send over.”

The Great Prosperity Company had several important branches, with the Beijing branch ranking first, followed by the Hangzhou and Guangdong branches. Manager Ye taking over the Beijing branch meant his position in the Great Prosperity Company had risen.

“I was just about to discuss this with Madam,” Yu Wei smiled. “Although Manager Ye often sends us things, they’re just ordinary seasonal items like these Chinese toon leaves, observing the customs between familiar households. I think we should send a congratulatory gift according to custom, and add a small jade gourd or jade pendant. What do you think?”

“That sounds good!” Fu Tingyun smiled. “I remember I have a white jade pendant symbolizing steady promotion in my collection. Let’s send that!”

Yu Wei smiled and responded, “Yes.”

Yan Qing reported from outside: “Madam, there’s someone called He Xiulin who says he’s been entrusted by the Ninth Master to deliver a message to the household.”

He Xiulin…

That name sounds familiar…

Fu Tingyun pondered as she instructed Yan Qing to bring in the letter. She looked at the water clock and said, “The Second Master will finish school in about half an hour. Tell Steward Zheng to invite Mr. He to the hall in the south wing for tea…” Before she could finish, she exclaimed, “Oh! I remember now. He Xiulin, the Assistant Commander of Ganzhou Guard, is the eldest son of He Wei, the Commander of Yulin Guard. Wasn’t he in Ganzhou? How is he with the Ninth Master? And why did the Ninth Master entrust him to deliver a letter?” She then hurriedly instructed Yan Qing, “Quick, go call Zheng San here. I have questions for him to ask Mr. He.”

Yan Qing hurried off to call Zheng San.