Lin Ruhai’s focus regarding this matter was on the court—the relationship between the Crown Prince and the First Prince…

Lin Ruhai didn’t believe the Emperor wouldn’t know about it.

Compared to the past, the Crown Prince was already becoming somewhat unable to maintain his composure.

Lin Ruhai could understand why the Crown Prince would be anxious. The current Emperor clearly had longevity. As long as the Emperor was alive, he could only ever be the Crown Prince. With the Emperor aging day by day, looking at his son in the prime of his life, what thoughts were in the Emperor’s heart?

What the Crown Prince faced wasn’t just the Emperor’s wariness and subtle precautions against him, but also…

Lin Ruhai didn’t dare say these words to anyone. Only when alone would he secretly ponder them.

This year the Emperor made his sixth southern tour. After returning, he went on a trip beyond the Great Wall, bringing both the First Prince and the Crown Prince by his side.

One could say this showed the Emperor’s regard for these two. Looking at it from another angle, one could also say this was the Emperor’s wariness of these two princes with the greatest power, making the Emperor keep them both by his side, under his watchful eye—only this way could he feel at ease.

If things continued this way, there were only two possible outcomes: one was that the Crown Prince endured bitterly until the end, and the other was that the Crown Prince could bear it no longer… Thinking to this point, Lin Ruhai withdrew his thoughts.

He felt somewhat fortunate that back then, with a grand stroke of his brush, the Emperor had assigned his daughter to the Fourth Prince. Otherwise, if it had been the First Prince or the Crown Prince, he would have had to claim serious illness and retire from office.

Did the people around them really not see this crisis?

It wasn’t that.

Some people were deliberately speculating, but some people were forced into it. Wanting to extricate themselves—how could that be easy?

At this time, Yun Shuyao received a letter from her cousin Yun Chang. After reading the letter’s contents, she gave it to Lin Ruhai exactly as it was.

Yun Chang served in Yangzhou, managing matters related to salt administration. This was a highly sought-after position, and his information was well-informed. Although the Xue family was in Jinling, that area was also within Yun Chang’s scope of attention. Knowing that the Xue family had gone to the capital, he wrote this letter to tell them the reason for the Xue family’s journey to the capital.

The Xue family said they were here to visit relatives, simultaneously sending their daughter to learn the rules in preparation for the next selection, and also to inspect their business in the capital… They spoke beautifully, but in reality they were fleeing from a murder case.

When competing with someone over a maid, Xue Pan had accidentally killed someone. It was a son of a good family whose father had even served as an official. However, now that all the family’s relatives had passed away, with his death, only a loyal old servant from the household cried out for justice.

The local prefect apparently had some relationship with the Four Great Families. Although this case had no ambiguities, it was suppressed. Thus came this journey to the capital by Xue Pan and the others.

Yun Shuyao frowned. So there was such a matter?!

Lin Ruhai was not at all surprised by this matter.

Foolish Tyrant, Foolish Tyrant—calling him foolish meant his temperament was somewhat single-minded; calling him a tyrant also described his domineering and unforgiving temperament.

He had done plenty of bullying men and oppressing women. Previously it hadn’t blown up because the Xue family cleaned up after him. Now Xue Pan had someone’s life on his hands, and the Xue family couldn’t clean up the mess.

Because of this letter, Lin Ruhai’s attitude toward the Xue family changed immediately. He wrote a letter having someone go carefully inquire about the details of this matter, then instructed Yun Shuyao: “Just leave it at that. No need to associate too frequently with the Xue family.”

Lin Ruhai looked down on people like Xue Pan. Although currently this letter only presented one side of the story without evidence, Lin Ruhai trusted Yun Chang’s character. Eighty to ninety percent should be true.

Lin Ruhai also specifically instructed Daiyu, urging her to keep her distance from Xue Baochai.

That brother of hers was a complete hoodlum, with a lawsuit on his hands. If he had a reckless fit and caused trouble again, it would be too late for regrets.

When Lin Daiyu heard that Xue Baochai’s brother had a lawsuit on his person, she was stunned. Sister Xue seemed very amiable—how could her brother have such a temperament?

“Then how can they still come to the capital…” Halfway through speaking, she stopped herself. Daiyu knew that someone must have operated behind the scenes during this period.

She responded somewhat disappointedly.

Daiyu was thinking about whether to write a letter to remind the three Ying Chun sisters, but was stopped by Lin Ruhai: “Next time you meet face-to-face, tell them then.”

For such a major matter, the Jia family should also know. It was just that the younger generation might not have channels to know, and the elders wouldn’t bring it up unprompted for no good reason.

Daiyu sighed and asked about Ying Chun entering the Eighth Prince’s household: “Father, will the Eighth Fujin…”

Lin Ruhai shook his head: “Daiyu, I know you’re worried about her. With her temperament, at first she might suffer some grievances, but afterward it will be fine.” The Eighth Prince wasn’t stupid. Even if the Eighth Fujin was jealous, he would dissuade her. There might be difficulties in private, but on the surface, that would be slapping the Emperor’s face.

Not long after, Ying Chun entered the Eighth Prince’s household. The next day, Lady Zhang and Lady Mao also entered the Eighth Prince’s household.

In the capital, quite a few people waited to watch the show, and some even opened betting pools in private.

Betting on how the Eighth Fujin would respond. However, they were disappointed.

Ying Chun had no news, and neither did the others. Moreover, not long after, good news spread—Lady Zhang was pregnant!

Everyone knew what this represented for the Eighth Prince’s household that had no heirs to this day.

The Eighth Prince’s household didn’t make a grand announcement, but this news still spread quickly. For the Eighth Prince, this was tremendously good news. However, correspondingly, for the Eighth Fujin it was not.

Because the Eighth Prince could so quickly get a newly entered concubine pregnant, the reason for having no children previously clearly lay with the Eighth Fujin.

For a time, many men in the capital sympathized with the Eighth Prince: “Having a fierce wife at home.”

“This Eighth Fujin is just too domineering. For so many years she hasn’t taken any concubines for the Eighth Prince. Otherwise, the Eighth Prince would already have a house full of children and grandchildren.”

“I heard that the Eighth Prince is frequently subjected to the Eighth Fujin’s lion’s roar…”

…

After this news spread, the Eighth Fujin didn’t go out for a period of time. Everyone could only spread talk like “supposedly” and “I heard,” not knowing truth from falsehood.

After the news of Lady Zhang’s pregnancy spread, the Jia family became anxious, very much wanting to ask whether there was some mistake—was the pregnant one Lady Jia?

But their anxiety was useless. They couldn’t get in, couldn’t see anyone. Even with myriad thoughts, they could only suppress them.

Amidst this anxiety, the Jia family also had good news—Wang Xifeng was also pregnant.

Speaking of coincidences, Wang Xifeng managed numerous household affairs, and being busy was the norm. Just when Aunt Xue had business and came to their door, she sent over a type of incense. One thing led to another, and they lit a small piece at the time. As a result, after Wang Xifeng smelled it, she vomited. Seeing this, Aunt Xue’s expression changed, suspecting she had been deceived, with valuable items switched for inferior goods. She hurriedly called for a physician. After the physician took her pulse, he clasped his hands with a beaming smile and offered congratulations: “Congratulations, Second Madam is with child. It’s already been nearly two months. However, recently Madam has perhaps been overly fatigued and needs to rest in bed for a period of time to recover.”

Wang Xifeng touched her belly in disbelief, overjoyed beyond expectation: “Is it true?!”

Then came fear. She hadn’t rested properly recently. With people in the household feeling restless, she was too, and hadn’t noticed the abnormalities in her body. After giving birth to Elder Sister, she had hoped to have a son. Without a son at her side, ultimately her backbone wasn’t firm.

Then she noticed the physician said she was overly fatigued, and if it continued, it might not be good. Wang Xifeng was greatly alarmed. If she just rested in bed, she couldn’t manage household affairs. Would she have to yield the stewardship authority?

After hesitating and struggling for a while, she still declined to the Old Ancestor and the others under Ping’er’s persuasion. Protecting the pregnancy was most important.

When Second Madam Wang heard this good news, the corners of her mouth moved. She was pregnant again.

How could this be?

She knew her niece’s personality. She gave her flattery: “How can the household manage without you?”

Wang Xifeng was somewhat flattered by the praise, but the physician’s words were still in her ears, so even reluctantly, she still declined: “My body is disappointing. Let Tan Chun and the others help manage the household. They should also learn.”

A sister-in-law managing the household couldn’t last long.

Second Madam Wang glanced at her, then at the delighted Tan Chun: “That’s also good. Their elder sister-in-law is also capable. Let her work hard and guide them.” Her daughter-in-law managing the household was also fine.

She didn’t believe she had no sense of crisis.

Good news might come in clusters. Once Wang Xifeng’s pregnancy reached three months and this news spread, Tang Wanxin was also pregnant.

She had no obvious symptoms. It was her monthly courses being delayed. She called for a physician to take her pulse, and Physician Zhou said with a face full of smiles: “Congratulations, First Young Madam, you are with child!”

Tang Wanxin was beside herself with joy. Soon someone went to report the news. The Old Madam came immediately, holding her grandson’s wife’s hand and unwilling to let go: “Good, good, good! Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Whatever you want to eat, don’t be polite!”

When Chen Yu returned from the Hanlin Academy and heard this good news, he couldn’t help but joyfully clasp his hands behind his back and walk circles around Tang Wanxin in the room. After holding it in for a long time, he finally managed one sentence: “Is there anything you want to eat?”

Seeing her grandson’s rare foolish appearance, the Old Madam smiled so widely her mouth wouldn’t close: “Usually I don’t see you being tongue-tied. How is it today you can’t say anything?”

Tang Wanxin lowered her head, hands folded over her lower abdomen, smiling shyly.

Marrying into the Lin family, marrying the only son of the Lin family’s generation, she didn’t need to scheme against other sisters-in-law, but the pressure wasn’t small either, because the pressure for heirs in this generation all fell on their household.

After Yun Shuyao learned of it, she was silent for a moment. Another child was about to become a father. Time passed so quickly.

Calculating, she was thirty-six this year. At an age where in modern times she’d be called “elder sister,” now she had not only become a grandmother, but was also about to become a grandmother again!

After his joy, Lin Ruhai felt relief. He had been very worried his son would be like him, not having children for many years, enduring pressure during that period that others couldn’t imagine.

Now it was good. Whether male or female, it was a good start.

However, after Concubine Mei heard this good news, she sat blankly in her room for a long time.

The three siblings were born only one day apart. They were all eighteen years old this year.

But Luo Yu already had a pair of dragon and phoenix twins, and now Chen Yu also had good news. Only her Ying Yu still had no good news.

Concubine Mei couldn’t help but feel anxious. Was it because the child born after using that medicine had a weak foundation, and that’s why there was no good news?

She had such suspicions in her heart, then once again wrote to her aunt. If the body was indeed weaker, it wasn’t without solutions.

That pregnancy-assisting medicine—she didn’t believe there were only those two pills in the world. There must be more!

Gao Shi, seeing her daughter’s urgent letter, had a face full of bitterness.

If she still had any, she would have given them to her daughter long ago. Giving birth to the Lin family’s son—wouldn’t that be good?

Now, no matter how anxious her daughter was, she couldn’t produce a third pill.

Just when she was at her wit’s end, a monk and a Taoist came to her door, saying they knew her troubles and could help her.

At first, Gao Shi didn’t believe them. These two people looked slovenly—what real abilities could they have?

But when she witnessed with her own eyes the miraculous nature of these two, the flame that had long been extinguished in her heart reignited: “Master, please help this believer achieve her wish!”

Thus, Concubine Mei received a letter. Her aunt and younger brother were coming to the capital, and moreover, she would bring secret medicine to the capital!