The two young nannies who traveled thousands of miles from the Rong Duke residence—one had a husband surnamed Qi, the other had a husband surnamed Ding.

The two of them could not understand the situation at the aunt’s household.

The aunt was now pregnant—that was correct. Her body was somewhat uncomfortable—that was also true. But the aunt could not labor, yet there were so many servants!

The aunt only needed to open her mouth—that was enough. Where would she be tired?

With the power in hand gone, if the Old Madam had one moment of carelessness and let someone find an opening to harm the aunt and the young master in her belly, what would they do?

This problem was the most serious.

But it was also something the two of them could not advise on.

Because the aunt herself had no opinion about handing over household management. Moreover, that was the Lin family’s Old Madam. Even if they had any thoughts in their hearts, they could not go before the Old Madam to have her return the authority.

Then the problems they could grasp were just the other two.

Before coming, they already knew some of the aunt’s household situation. But truly coming here, seeing with their own eyes, they were still somewhat incredulous.

The aunt was also too kind and gentle toward concubines and sons and daughters of concubines! Now the aunt herself was pregnant and suffering. The two concubines—forget about establishing rules—even paying respects was exempted. Even if the aunt was drowsy and could not get up, she could also have them come pay respects at other times.

If she did not want them at her side to prevent harming the fetus, she could also have them copy sutras in their own small courtyards to pray blessings for the aunt and the unborn young master. There were too many things that could be done.

Not like now, not establishing rules. This way, it was very easy to let their hearts grow big.

Also those several concubine-born children. Look at what they ate and used, and also the tutors hired. Were these concubine-born children worth such effort?

They should call the aunt “mother.” Now the aunt’s body was uncomfortable. They did not come serve and attend. Even if the Old Madam gave the word, they should spontaneously and consciously come.

If rules had been established from childhood, letting them know respect for superiors and inferiors, there would not be this current situation.

However, it was also not too late now.

Establishing rules now—when the young master was born, it would save worry.

Where was the error in this?

Nanny Qian—as a Jia family person, not only did she not agree, at this time she still had to drag their feet like this.

The last time she cared for a child or a pregnant woman was how long ago? Where was she as experienced and rich in experience as them?

Nanny Ding was extremely proud in this aspect. Second Madam was attended by her when giving birth to Young Master Baoyu.

Had Nanny Qian stayed at the Lin family for many years and changed heart?

Nanny Qian felt she was wronged beyond measure.

She raised objections to the two of them’s statements—one was to preserve her own status. The other was purely that their practices were wrong.

For example, the Madam’s meals. The Madam had married into the Lin family for so many years. Her tastes had long since changed from the Jia family. Now after becoming pregnant, making her open her mouth to eat was even more difficult.

They made dishes popular in the Jia family. Laborious was laborious. Delicious was also delicious. But for a pregnant woman, this was too greasy. She pointed out this point—what was wrong? They themselves also realized this problem. Before long, didn’t they withdraw it?

This was clearly wanting to perform. As a result, they used too much force.

Also the matter of the Lin residence’s concubines and concubine-born. Could this be compared?

The Jia family consistently did not value concubine-born. This was also because the Jia family did not lack offspring—there were legitimate offspring. Not caring about concubine-born was not caring.

But the Lin family—just these few sprouts. The master, forget about brothers and sisters—there were not even close cousins.

It was simply impossible to treat them the same as the Jia family.

Jia Min also felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Indeed, Nanny Qi and Nanny Ding were experienced, said quite a bit of insights, and helped her massage, making her much more comfortable. But their control over her was indeed also stronger. This was not permitted, that would not do. Moreover, they always raised their opinions about some of her practices. For example, urging her to find the Old Madam to take back household management, urging her to establish authority over the concubines and sons and daughters of concubines, and so on, making Jia Min vexed beyond endurance.

It was just that they spoke with solemn vows, repeatedly bringing up that if she did not manage strictly, in the future it would cause serious consequences. For example, the Old Madam would regret and not return household management to her.

Again, for example, the two concubines’ hearts would grow wild. In the future, relying on their children being older, they would bully her child.

The first one she fundamentally did not believe. The Old Madam wholeheartedly worshipped Buddha and was not a person who valued power. Otherwise, she would not have, not long after she first entered the household, handed the keys to her.

The second one had to be guarded against.

Her biological child, whether male or female, would be legitimate. But precious status did not mean they absolutely would not be bullied.

The child’s older brothers and sisters were already seven years old. If they bullied, the child was still young and would not even know how to complain.

Jia Min became anxious.

Could she properly protect her own child?

Should she teach the three children some rules?

When Zhao Yin came to visit, she detected the anxiety in her emotions. She insisted on asking the reason. After learning she was worried her own child would be bullied, Zhao Yin’s face immediately darkened.

What did the people from the Jia family mean by this?

She had only seen people console pregnant women, make pregnant women maintain happy moods. She had never seen people specifically come to add trouble for pregnant women.

Originally, Jia Min was of a sensitive and thoughtful temperament. Now she was also in the special period of being pregnant, even more easily overthinking. Yet saying these things—were they afraid she thought too little? Her body was too healthy?

Zhao Yin drove all the servants out and scolded Jia Min.

“Do you know you are now carrying a child? Being so heedless of your own body, overthinking—look at your hands. You’ve lost weight again. What are you worrying about?”

“You are the legitimate wife carried in through the main gate in eight-bearer sedan chair by Magistrate Lin. You’ve managed the household for many years, such a long time. Do you still not know what temperament the Old Madam and others are?”

“You just need to properly give birth to the child. After that, no matter how much you worry, I won’t care about you.”

“Do you think you’re still that little girl from back then, understanding nothing, knowing nothing? If the child is bullied, you would not know? Are all these many servants by your side useless?”

“Do you know what status you are? You are a third-rank high official’s legitimate wife, with an official title conferred, and you come from the Rong Duke residence. Yet you’re worried about a few small children? Are you underestimating yourself too much, or overestimating those few children too much? Are you an incompetent person?”

“They are being good to you, but you yourself must know whether good intentions will do bad things. How did you let yourself be led by the nose?”

Jia Min was made somewhat ashamed by her words and covered her face with a handkerchief: “Sister Yin, I overthought.”

Seeing her like this, Zhao Yin softened her tone: “Your personality is like this. Then what about the people by your side? Don’t they know to properly advise you? What is most important for you now? You don’t know? They also don’t know?”

Jia Min took a deep breath and touched her belly: “Sister Yin, I know I was wrong. It won’t happen again.”

Yes, she should not affect herself. Now recalling, these past few days she had not properly eaten some food or slept well.

This would not do.

Her child she painstakingly awaited—she would properly protect him.

Zhao Yin: “You truly knowing you were wrong is good.”

When she was about to leave, she and Lin Ruhai met through a screen.

Lin Ruhai thanked her.

He had also advised Jia Min, but Jia Min did not listen to his words. Moreover, some words—when he said them, they did not have such strong persuasive power.

Zhao Yin nodded. Her tone was neither salty nor bland: “No need to thank me. Sister Min and I have friendship of many years. Knowing about it, I would not watch her drill into this dead end.”

Zhao Yin returned. Sitting in the carriage, she was somewhat lost in thought.

The Old Duke indeed had good eye, finding such a husband for Jia Min.

It was just that the family members were somewhat sparse—no brothers to support, could only rely on his single-handed struggle. But this also meant there were no people dragging him down. Marrying him as wife, there were no sisters-in-law with red eyes that needed to be dealt with.

Not to mention, although he had no brothers and elders to support, he himself was sufficiently outstanding. How many people could sit in the position of third-rank high official at this age?

Zhao Yin inevitably thought of her own husband.

He was now still a sixth-rank junior minor official. She also did not know whether by the time he was old and retired, he could be promoted to fourth rank.

Thinking of how Lin Ruhai early on requested conferral of official title for Jia Min. As for her, under his cousin’s pillow talk, he delayed a long time before requesting conferral for her.

She was his legitimate wife. This conferral—not giving it to her, could it be given to his cousin instead?

Clearly he and Lin Ruhai differed little in age.

But the gap between the two people fundamentally did not deserve to be compared together.

If he could properly be an official, could allow her children to rise to a higher level, that would be acceptable. But Liu Zishi was clearly of mediocre aptitude yet always fancied himself extraordinary.

Thinking to here, Zhao Yin mockingly curved her lips and sighed somewhat gloomily.

When her eldest daughter married out the year before last, to make her daughter’s dowry more abundant, how much effort did she expend?

Again, she spent how much effort to settle this selected candidate for her Rudan.

Currently it appeared her eye was not wrong—he was an honest and kind gentleman.

She also did not hope her son-in-law could be as accomplished as Lin Ruhai, but if he could have half his respect toward his wife, she would be satisfied.

Then her thoughts turned to her son. He was sixteen this year. This year he would marry a wife into the household. Very soon, she would be holding a grandson. She hoped they as husband and wife could be deeply affectionate as lovebirds and properly live their days…

After Zhao Yin left, Jia Min suppressed these two new nannies.

At this time, she especially clearly felt the inconsistency between her maternal family and her own thinking.

This was not the Jia family. She indeed knew Mother looked down on concubine-born.

She had three older sisters above her, but from childhood to adulthood, she had not seen their faces even a few times.

Until now, her impression of those three sisters was their deeply lowered heads.

What their faces looked like—her memory had already blurred.

Moreover, Mother valued the power in hand very highly. Now her two sisters-in-law had married in for so many years. Eldest sister-in-law was a remarriage, also had no offspring under her care. Not releasing power for fear she would harm Lian’er was also understandable. But second sister-in-law was the original wife, also bore two sons and one daughter for the Jia family. Now Zhu’er was already thirteen. In another two years, second sister-in-law would also be a person about to become a mother-in-law. Mother still had no intention of delegating the authority in hand downward. She only had second sister-in-law manage less important trivial matters. The most important keys had always been in Mother’s hands.

The servants raised by Mother also thought the same as her. This was not suitable for the Lin family’s situation.

The Jia family was of noble military background. The Lin family was a scholarly family. Although ancestors also had titles, they were different from the Jia family’s kind of military merit.

Moreover, because the Lin family’s offspring were precious, even concubine-born children were held in the palm of the hand.

Having such young people come serve her—what could they do?

Them coming to pay respects was already sufficient.

The wet nurse and Sister Yin were right. They had experience in caring for pregnant women—that was true. But in other aspects, some of their thinking was not acclimated to the Lin family. She had to selectively listen.

As Jia Min stabilized the pregnancy and completed three months, news spread. Many old friends with connections wrote letters or sent gifts expressing concern.

The Lin residence from top to bottom was filled with joyous busyness.

However, this busyness did not have much relation to small children.

For Ying Yu and the other two, it was still attending classes as usual, occasionally going out to banquets together with Father as usual.

It was just that because Mother’s body was uncomfortable and she no longer went out, they also no longer went out with Mother.

But to say there were completely no changes… that was also impossible.

They were already seven years old.

At this age, they were no longer completely small children.

Although in the residence, because management was strict, by their sides they could hardly hear any harsh words, once going out, much information would be passively poured into their ears.

The adults knew. The children more or less would also hear some fragments from parents and elders.

Some people’s attitudes became subtle.

Especially some legitimate children from families with similar official rank.

Previously they were friendly, seemingly not caring about concubine-born. But not everyone did not care.

It was just because the Lin family’s situation was special, so their legitimate small circle also accepted the three from the Lin residence.

In the situation without legitimate offspring, being particular about this had no meaning.

But now the situation had changed.

When Ying Yu and the other two now went out visiting, some people, because their age was still young and they did not know how to read the situation, bluntly said it: “I heard you’re going to have legitimate brothers and sisters. Will you be bullied at home in the future?” This was from families without concubine-born children.

“In the future, you don’t know if your days will be difficult. At that time, I can help you…” This was from families with concubine-born, and moreover with clear distinction between legitimate and concubine-born, with obviously different treatment.

“Ah, congratulations. In the future, you’ll have another younger brother or sister.” This was from the carefree ones, families where the legitimate-concubine boundary was not very clear.

There were also some concubine-born who had long been jealous of their treatment. Clearly all were concubine-born—why could their days be lived so well?

Now they were also about to fall down. Moreover, the eldest son of a concubine… quite a few people looked at Chen Yu with subtle gazes.

If his legitimate mother’s pregnancy was a legitimate son, whether this eldest son of a concubine could even grow up was unknown.

Someone took pleasure in their misfortune: “In the future, we’ll be the same. Chen Yu, let me tell you, later when you see your legitimate mother, your attitude must be even more respectful…”

Lin Ruhai learned of these things and was very unhappy, but also knew this was unavoidable.

Unless it was a family without rules, otherwise there was always distinction between legitimate and concubine-born.

This was the rules. This was also the ritual law.

The current Crown Prince was not the eldest. Because he was legitimate, before long he was designated as Crown Prince.

It was just that Lin Ruhai, looking at the three children being disdained because of concubine-born status, inevitably felt somewhat displeased in his heart.

However, these three children gave him unexpected pleasant surprise.

Facing these words that more or less contained malice, Luo Yu and Chen Yu frowned slightly, were somewhat displeased, but overall emotions were stable. Facing those watching-the-excitement words, they even rebutted them one by one.

Ying Yu’s courage was somewhat smaller. At first, she did not understand. Later understanding, grieved until her eyes reddened. But being mindful she could not cry outside, tears hanging on her eyelashes about to fall but not falling made Lin Ruhai, who was watching from afar behind the flower bushes, want to go console her.

He restrained himself.

He could not always let the children live under his protection.

Also, no one would truly dare do anything to them. Maids and women by their sides also followed.

At most, just some verbal quarrels.

He heard the last sentence: “Why are you crying? I said you’re raised by a concubine—I didn’t say it wrong. After you grow up in the future, who knows what family you’ll be casually matched to. Crying now—later won’t you cry yourself blind?”

Lin Ruhai’s brows furrowed tightly.

Which family was this little girl from? How was it that at such a young age, opening her mouth was about matching to families? Where did the rules go?

At this time, Lin Ruhai saw Luo Yu go up and whisper something unknown in Ying Yu’s ear. Ying Yu was startled, then immediately turned tears into laughter. That little girl, infuriated, stamped her feet. Her finger pointed at Luo Yu for a long while unable to speak. Then she twisted her head and ran away.

Lin Ruhai was somewhat curious. What did she say?

After returning, he called Luo Yu to the study: “Today in the garden, what did you say to your older sister?”

Luo Yu did not really want to answer. She raised her eyes to look at Father, seeing he was standing with hands behind his back, smiling as he looked at herself. She pouted: “Father, you first promise you won’t scold me.”

Lin Ruhai composed himself: “You speak.”

Luo Yu blinked, extremely obedient: “Father, you haven’t promised me.”

Lin Ruhai smiled but did not smile: “Are you speaking or not? That pear blossom brush washer you said you wanted before—you don’t want it anymore?” He employed bribery tactics.

Luo Yu: “…”

Her desire was written on her face.

That brush washer was so cute. She had asked Father for it several times. Father always whetted her appetite: “Father—” She drew out her tone, acting spoiled.

But seeing Father’s iron-hearted appearance, Luo Yu still compromised: “Father, if I say it, will you give it to me?”

Lin Ruhai remained immovable as a bell: “This depends on what you say.”

Luo Yu pressed her lips: “I also didn’t say much. I just asked Older Sister one question.”

Lin Ruhai indicated he was all ears.

Luo Yu’s eyes looked toward the ground: “I said, Older Sister, did you hear a dog barking?”

Lin Ruhai: “…”

Lin Ruhai: “?!”

His obedient little padded jacket—when did she actually learn to curse roundabout?

People were always hypocritical.

Lin Ruhai would say that little girl who opened her mouth talking about matching people lacked proper upbringing. But when his own little girl cursed, he lightly glossed over it.

He even believed she loved her sisters and deserved praise, giving her the brush washer she had wanted for a long time as a reward.

It was just that, looking at Luo Yu’s joyful appearance holding the brush washer, Lin Ruhai believed he should properly talk with Yun Shi.

She could not always raise her daughter as a son.