This year was the thirty-fifth year of the Kangxi era.

The twins were born in the twenty-eighth year. They were now already seven years old.

There was a distinction between males and females.

Soon the three of them would be separated for classes.

Now with this matter occurring, Lin Hu could not help but sigh.

For all these years, the master’s family had only these three little sprouts.

He had once thought there would be no others. Even if there were, he never imagined it would be the mistress of the household who had not conceived for many years who became pregnant.

This was unexpected for Lin Hu. For others, it was even more like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

It struck people dizzy and disbelieving.

Jia Min still felt light and floating now, as if stepping on clouds.

Was she happy?

Naturally she was happy, but she was also afraid.

Afraid that the clouds beneath her feet were insubstantial, that with one careless moment she would fall from the clouds and be smashed to pieces.

She placed both hands on her lower abdomen, her eyes staring tightly at her flat belly, as if wanting to see through to some truth.

Originally she had not felt anything at all, but she had fainted.

Today when she was admiring flowers in the courtyard with Sister Yin, she fainted, alarming everyone.

Physician Zhou came. She also woke. Then she heard Physician Zhou’s congratulations.

Physician Zhou took her pulse for a very long time, then spoke with a definite tone: “Congratulations, Madam!”

She was pregnant.

Over a month along.

Jia Min did not hear clearly what Physician Zhou said afterward. Her brain seemed to have been heavily struck by something and had forgotten what thinking was.

Suddenly a familiar aura drew close. She was embraced.

Jia Min raised her head to look. In her heart, she had many words she wanted to say, but on her lips, she could not speak a single word. Her eyes slowly reddened.

Lin Ruhai sighed: “I know. Min’er, our child has come. This is a joyous matter. Don’t cry.”

Jia Min’s tears finally fell: “Yes, he has finally come. Why did he come so late? I thought he would never come.”

She had almost despaired, thinking that in this life, she would have no way to possess her own child.

Jia Min cried thoroughly and freely.

While she was venting these years of grievance and joy through crying, the entire main courtyard also fell into wild delight.

Everyone was beaming with joy. No matter what they were doing, they overflowed with happiness.

The Old Madam received the announcement and immediately rushed over. Looking at this daughter-in-law, she closed her eyes.

As expected, ever since learning that Second Madam Jia had become pregnant and truly given birth to that ridiculous Baoyu, she knew her granddaughter was about to come.

Thinking of that ethereal and refined child who died young before marriage, the Old Madam sighed in her heart.

“From now on, take good care of your body. When going out, bring more people with you. Don’t let this kind of thing happen again.”

When she fell, if Zhao Yin had not noticed her condition was wrong and promptly caught her in time, if she had fallen directly like that, who knew what the situation would have been.

Jia Min obediently listened. She herself was also somewhat frightened: “I’ve made Mother worry. It won’t happen again in the future.”

She would definitely take good care of herself and let her child come safely into this world!

No matter what situation she encountered, she would endure it!

This news quickly reached Concubine Mei and Yun Shuyao.

Concubine Mei’s body had now been restored to health. She had always wanted to bear another son, but there had been no good news.

She never imagined that Jia Min could still conceive?

How old was she already!

She could not help but feel somewhat worried. Jia Min was pregnant. She did not know whether what was in her belly was male or female.

Whether male or female, Concubine Mei could not think of any benefit to herself and her daughter.

If it was a daughter, even though her Ying Yu occupied the status of eldest daughter, before a legitimate daughter she would still be inferior by a head. If it was a son… she looked toward Concubine Yun’s direction.

In that case, Yun Shi in the future would never again receive the importance she had now. She would be knocked back to her original form.

With a legitimate son, who would still pay attention to sons of concubines?

But correspondingly, in the future the main courtyard would become imposing.

After thinking about it, Concubine Mei did not know whether she hoped for male or female. If… they could not be born, that would be best.

Jia Min’s body had not been that healthy to begin with. If there were some accident… Just as she thought this, Nanny Wu beside her seemed to casually say: “Madam has good news. The Old Madam and Master will probably be overjoyed. Today was truly dangerous. If she had fallen, that would have been terrible. In the future, Madam’s side will probably be full of people. If the Rong Duke residence over there learns of this good news, they should also send people.”

Nanny Wu saw Concubine Mei’s expression was wrong and quickly warned her.

If you want to court death yourself, don’t drag us down with you.

Nanny Wu inevitably felt regret. She had to wait until the eldest young miss turned ten before moving out to her own courtyard. Now she still lived together with Concubine Mei.

If it were a son, it could be earlier.

After the eldest young master turned five, he moved out to live in his own courtyard.

If she were not bound together with the eldest young miss, she truly did not want to deal with this Concubine Mei.

From time to time she had to be frightened by her. She did not know how her courage was so great.

Concubine Mei was doused with a basin of cold water. Her somewhat overheated brain calmed down.

These years she had restored her body to health and wanted to bear another but had no good news. Besides feeling gloomy, she had also thought about gaining some power and developing her own people, but reality gave her a big slap.

The power in the Lin residence—there was simply no room for her to interfere.

At most, her own small courtyard was under her command.

However… Jia Min’s days were also not that easy to pass.

It was true that the Old Madam basically no longer managed affairs, but the people under her were not eating idle meals at home.

On Concubine Mei’s side, her psychology was like a five-flavored bottle turned over. Over there, when Yun Shuyao learned this news, she immediately reacted.

This should be the female protagonist of that book “Dream of the Red Chamber” about to be born. Her name was Lin Daiyu. From this name, one could see Lin Ruhai’s consistent naming habit.

All were jade characters.

As for what she felt… Yun Shuyao looked at the other servants in the courtyard somewhat cautiously observing her expression. Yun Shuyao felt somewhat helpless.

She had known very early that Jia Min would become pregnant. No need to worry about other things.

Her acceptance was also good. No need to worry she would do anything underhanded.

She had principles.

As for whether the two children would develop psychological imbalance?

Yun Shuyao had already given them preventive inoculation in advance. They were not very old, but already had social interactions and their own small circles. Around them were quite a few legitimate and concubine-born little companions. Looking at what kind of lives they lived and what restrictions they received was beneficial for them to recognize themselves clearly and cultivate the quality of self-reliance.

Yun Shuyao had frequently deliberately pointed things out for them to observe.

The good lives they could have now were only because there were no legitimate offspring. So what they enjoyed was half the treatment of legitimate offspring.

This was treatment given only under helpless circumstances.

Not because of themselves.

What others gave, others could also take away.

What would be the most direct changes if there were legitimate younger brothers and sisters?

If it was a legitimate son, Chen Yu would largely lose the help and support from his father and family. Resources would tilt toward the legitimate son.

If it was a legitimate daughter, the impact on Chen Yu would not be great. There would be an impact on Luo Yu, but not that great either.

She was already seven years old.

When the legitimate younger sister grew up, she might already be married. But for them, the very important role of father might change.

Literati already emphasized legitimacy.

The father who originally doted on them might, after having legitimate children, take away attention and affection to divide it to another person. This sense of loss—Yun Shuyao believed this was most important.

What she taught was to tell them they still had their concubine mother.

They also had family behind their concubine mother.

As well as themselves.

What they learned and mastered themselves, no one could take away.

Feelings were also like this. It was not saying that in the future they would not love or respect their father, but that before loving others, they must first cherish themselves.

If the situation they did not want to see truly occurred, they must also maintain themselves.

Now hearing this news, Luo Yu and Chen Yu were startled at first, then reacted.

This situation, their concubine mother had told them about many times. So their expressions were very calm. They even smiled: “Then we must congratulate Madam and congratulate Father. We’re going to have another younger brother.”

Nanny Wang saw this scene and could not help but smile: “Indeed congratulations are in order.”

She was afraid they would get caught in a dead end and become troubled. That would be difficult.

But now seeing this scene, after she smiled, she became somewhat worried again.

Were they underestimating the importance of this matter? Too naive, not knowing their futures would all be affected?

Nanny Xie looked at Chen Yu with pride in her eyes.

She understood very well the Old Madam’s emphasis on the eldest young master. Now the eldest young master’s calm and steady attitude—the Old Madam would definitely be happy knowing about it.

Even if the Madam gave birth to a legitimate son, as long as the Old Madam was still here, she would not let people neglect the eldest young master.

Some things did not need to be worried about.

Everyone’s thoughts were different. The Old Madam distributed reward money to everyone. The Lin residence from top to bottom was full of joy. But after the joy, the atmosphere still became somewhat strange.

For example, Zhao Xinghua in the needlework room—after so long, forget about pregnancy, she was still an unmarried girl. Hearing others’ congratulations, she only felt as if falling into an icy cave.

For the servants, in these years, their residence only had three children. Male descendants were only one.

Without being polite, many people had already regarded the eldest young master as their next generation’s master.

When the eldest young master selected servants, quite a few stewards with status had their family’s appropriately aged juniors go up to compete.

The Eight Immortals crossed the sea, each displaying their divine powers.

Some feelings had to be cultivated from childhood, just as their master’s most relied-upon people now also grew up with him from childhood.

To prevent their families from being gradually marginalized, establishing good relations with the eldest young master was necessary. Now the Madam had good news. If this pregnancy, what the Madam bore was a son…

Now the distance to reaping what was sown was still over half a year, but people’s hearts were already somewhat unsettled.

After watching Jia Min fall asleep, Lin Ruhai came to his mother’s place. The Old Madam had specifically summoned him.

“Hai’er.” Looking at her son, the Old Madam smiled slightly: “Has she already fallen asleep?”

“She has.”

The Old Madam nodded: “Today’s matter, I know you are also happy, but regarding Chen Yu’s side, do not neglect him. He is our family’s eldest grandson!”

The Old Madam had not mentioned at the start that she had dreamed, so she had not planned to tell him.

Unless she was about to die, otherwise such things that would diminish fortune and virtue—she bearing it alone was sufficient.

She had no way to explain her “foreknowledge,” to tell him that what was in his wife’s belly was her granddaughter, not grandson.

Since it was a granddaughter, many troubles would not exist.

Her grandson was only one. She must protect him well and not let scheming people find an opening.

The Old Madam’s vigilance toward the Jia family people was raised again.

Today when she went to see Jia Min, she had already seen how delighted they were.

Jia Min had not been pregnant all along. Whatever thoughts they had, they could only suppress. Now that Jia Min was pregnant, those people were stirring restlessly.

According to the Old Madam’s understanding, ordinary families, when the master’s child’s gender was uncertain, should not be too excited. But the Jia residence, people from that place without rules—the Old Madam did not hold much hope.

If through one moment of carelessness, someone harmed her precious eldest grandson, even if afterward the person was cut to pieces, it could not make time reverse and start over.

Hearing his mother’s reminder, Lin Ruhai fell silent.

Thinking of how over these years Min’er had reprimanded her dowry staff quite a few times, he sighed: “Your son understands. Mother, rest assured. I will pay attention.”

He also knew some things—better safe than sorry.

Moreover, he also did not hope the children would have some irreconcilable conflict, especially when another child just learned of his existence, not knowing if male or female, and also uncertain what kind of person he would be in the future.

Furthermore… he also thought he would only have these three children in this life and had devoted his full heart and effort to these three children.

Comparatively, he not only had a son but also two daughters. He was already very fortunate.

Now this was an unexpected joy.

Zhao Yin received a substantial thank-you gift.

Because according to Jia Min’s physical condition, if she had fallen solidly, who knew what might have happened. Thanks to her.

After Zhao Yin learned of this matter, she was also very surprised. Then she smiled, feeling happy for Jia Min. She had finally made it through.

If she could bear a son in one stroke, all the grievances suffered over the years would no longer be problems.

She immediately sent a calling card to come to the Lin residence.

Zhao Yin’s family was also in Guangzhou. After their mourning period ended, through Lin Ruhai’s operations, before long they obtained official positions.

Afterward, when the three-year term ended, because they knew Lin Ruhai and his family were here, they spent effort to also transfer here. Now their two families lived very close and could frequently visit and talk.

However, when Zhao Yin arrived at the Lin residence, she discovered a problem.

Everyone being happy was normal, but looking at Jia Min’s performance, it seemed a bit excessive?

Looking at Jia Min lying on the bed, Zhao Yin could not help but frown: “Younger Sister Min, you just keep lying down?”

Jia Min was somewhat embarrassed: “Sister Yin, I know this won’t do. It’s just that I feel walking now is unsteady. Let me slow down first.”

She only spoke this way to Zhao Yin. She was too embarrassed to admit her anxious and worried mentality.

However, she also believed she would not need long to adjust back.

Zhao Yin breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good then. As long as there’s no problem with your body, you cannot keep lying in bed.”

“Sister Yin, thanks to you. I don’t even know what to do.”

Some words she was too embarrassed to say to Lin Ruhai.

Zhao Yin smiled: “With the relationship between you and me, saying these things is too distant. Do you have any reactions now?”

Jia Min touched her lower abdomen: “Can’t eat much, no appetite. Other things are fine for now.”

Zhao Yin nodded: “This reaction is common. Let me tell you…” She began imparting experience to Jia Min.

Jia Min listened with great interest.

She had already heard Physician Zhou say these things, but now she still wanted to continue listening.

Or rather, now all topics related to children, she could listen to with relish.

“By the way, did you tell your maternal family about this?”

“I’ve already sent someone with a letter.” After confirming the good news, Jia Min wrote a letter to Grandmother Jia.

Over these years, she had had conflicts with her mother, but they were not major conflicts. Mother truly loved and cared for her. This joyous matter—she and herself alike had both anticipated it for many years. Now that it came true, Jia Min did not want to wait a moment.

She was about to become a mother now too. She very much wanted to bury herself in her mother’s embrace like when she was young. It was just that they were truly too far apart.

They could only communicate through letters.

Telling of her own joy and also unease.

She did not have experienced old nannies with rich child-rearing experience by her side. Even if there were some, caring for children was many years ago.

Their skills had become rusty.

So her purpose in writing the letter, one was to announce the good news, the other was to request people.

In early pregnancy, one could not tell outsiders. The fetus was not yet stable. But the Rong Duke residence did not count as outsiders.

Zhao Yin nodded: “I imagine the Duke’s wife will certainly be happy for you.”

This letter traveled by swift horse relay to the Rong Duke residence and indeed caused jubilation.

Grandmother Jia saw the letter and was truly happy.

After all these years, her daughter had finally seen the moon through the clouds!

The letter requested people. Grandmother Jia naturally would not be stingy. She immediately had people prepare and pack luggage to travel south by boat.

Because of joy, she had people pack many things. When Second Madam Wang saw this, she could not help but curl her lips.

After all these years, she finally conceived. Look at this treasuring manner.

Looking at her youngest son in the arms of a nanny beside the Old Madam, Second Madam Wang subconsciously straightened her back. She had borne two sons and one daughter for the Jia family. Her youngest son was even born with jade in his mouth and would definitely become a dragon among men in the future.

She had rendered such great merit to the Jia family, yet she did not see the Madam so delighted.

Moreover, speaking of it, that was already a married-out aunt. She was no longer a Jia family person. Yet sending so many good things—truly not worthwhile…

Second Madam Wang’s heart was full of complaints. Her face also showed some. Grandmother Jia saw this and cursed “ill omen” in her heart. On this greatly joyous day, she put out such a face for whom to see?

Was she afraid others did not know her relationship with her sister-in-law was not good?

Truly sinful.

Having Baoyu brought to her side to raise was indeed correct. Just like this, having her raise the child—who knew what she would raise the child to become!

…

Male and female students separating for classes was something planned before. Now the plan became reality.

Their curriculum became different. Chen Yu’s class schedule added much from the Four Books and Five Classics. Ying Yu and Luo Yu’s side added needlework and other content that noble young ladies must learn.

Chen Yu’s tutor was mainly still Lin Hu. Additionally, horseback riding and archery were newly added.

On Ying Yu and Luo Yu’s side, an old nanny was added. This was someone Lin Ruhai commissioned others to hire—a nanny who came out from the palace.

Especially skilled in needlework.

Lin Hu would still teach the two female students, but the emphasis changed.

For the three students, they were divided into classes, meaning what they had to learn increased, and class time also lengthened.

As children of a third-rank high official’s family, they were born possessing many things others might strive their entire lives without necessarily obtaining.

Similarly, if they wanted to stand out, wanted to surpass companions born at other ranks, what they had to give could not be little either.

Lin Ruhai was now a third-rank junior circuit intendant, also known as daotai.

His promotion speed was very fast. He could go from fourth-rank senior prefect to third-rank junior circuit intendant—one reason was because his evaluations during two consecutive terms were excellent. Another was that he also had other merits.

For example, eliminating certain White Lotus Society personnel and strongholds, obtaining certain important intelligence, and so on.

The Old Madam was also satisfied with this result.

In the dream world, her son’s promotion speed was similarly fast. Moreover, he later became the Salt Censor of Lianghuai, which was also a third-rank junior position. Moreover, that position, because of its special nature, could not be assumed unless one was the emperor’s trusted confidant.

But in the Old Madam’s view, that trusted confidant position—better not to have it.

No matter how valued by the Emperor, with life gone, what use was it?

Because of the imperial princes’ struggle for succession, their Lin family lost everything.

Now her son was far away in Guangzhou. His rank was also third-rank junior. What he did was also not that dangerous.

After a few more years, requesting exemption from selection for the two granddaughters, finding good families, and also arranging a marriage for the grandson to a noble young lady… their family could properly be together.

Moreover, here her distance from her nephew was also closer.

Thinking of her nephew who had already escaped the original death fate, the Old Madam felt a wave of satisfaction.

Now Daiyu was also about to come. The Old Madam thought of this and could not help but show a smile.

In this life, she would not become an orphan girl, would not need to take refuge at her maternal grandmother’s home. She would become the Lin family’s precious treasure, living this life happily and carefree.

From when she had that dream, Daiyu’s fate, the Lin family’s fate, were increasingly distant from the dream world.

The imagined future was very beautiful, but… the Old Madam looked at Jia Min’s inability to eat and felt somewhat troubled.

In the previous life, Daiyu was somewhat congenitally deficient, frequently drinking medicine.

Now there was also Ying Yu’s example. If not born into the Lin family, how could ordinary families afford to raise her?

Even raising her, her body would be weaker than ordinary people.

In the future when grown up, if still like this, it would affect marriage discussions.

Jia Min also knew eating little would not do, but she could not control herself.

Her reaction was not as severe as when Concubine Mei was pregnant, but compared to ordinary people, this also counted as a strong reaction.

Ever since realizing she was pregnant, after a few days, she who had been perfectly fine seemed to have pressed some switch and began a life of morning sickness. Now the only thing she could put in her mouth was pickled radish.

Crisp and sweet—with this, she could barely swallow a small bowl of rice porridge. Without pickled radish, she had to struggle a long time to swallow even one mouthful of porridge.

Unable to eat, where would she have energy to do other things?

Unfortunately, no matter how much effort the kitchen expended, there was nothing else that could stimulate her appetite.

Looking at her condition, she now not only did not need to pay respects to the Old Madam—even household management was taken over by the Old Madam, allowing her to rest peacefully.

The several children also did not need to disturb her. They went directly to the Old Madam’s place.

Jia Min now spent most of the day sleeping.

This day, Chen Yu came from his own courtyard, waiting for Luo Yu together to go to the Old Madam’s place. Yun Shuyao looked at the two children for a while and added a vest to Luo Yu.

Luo Yu tugged at the clothes on her body and raised a small face five parts similar to Lin Ruhai: “Concubine Mother, I’m not cold.”

Yun Shuyao nodded: “I know you’re not cold.”

Luo Yu very maturely sighed. Girls had growth spurts faster than boys. She now did not have the roundness of childhood. The food she ate was used for vertical growth.

She was now a good half head taller than her younger brother.

As for Chen Yu, because he had not yet officially had his growth spurt, he looked rounder than his sister.

He was also not cold, but because of last night’s rain, his nanny added clothes for him. He still obediently wore them.

There was a kind of cold called grandmother thinks you’re cold.

If he did not wear an extra piece, Grandmother would feel the servants were not serving wholeheartedly and insist they wear another piece. Since it was like this, might as well wear an extra piece from the start and take it off later.

Yun Shuyao laughed. When small children acted like adults, it always made one unable to suppress laughter: “Alright, you go. Don’t miss the time.”

After a heap of people left following behind the two children, Yun Shuyao originally wanted to cultivate for a while. She had been stuck at the level four bottleneck for so long. Now she had finally touched the threshold of level five and wanted to push through in one effort, so recently she had been cultivating quite diligently.

But just as she entered the room, an unexpected guest arrived at the courtyard—Concubine Mei.

The number of times Concubine Mei came to her side could be counted on one hand, and all were “no visit without reason.”

Yun Shuyao, associating this with Jia Min’s pregnancy situation, could not help but raise an eyebrow. She wouldn’t have held it in for several days in her own courtyard and come up with some “brilliant idea” to drag her into the water, would she?

No.

Concubine Mei coming to find her did not mention Jia Min. But after casually chatting a few words of pleasantries, what she said made Yun Shuyao unable to help but momentarily doubt her ears.

Concubine Mei had come to propose a marriage match.

Yun Shuyao: ?