The Imperial Physician arrived quickly.

He was experienced and soon confirmed it. Moreover, as an Imperial Physician, what he liked most was a pregnancy pulse.

Among the imperial family, there was no one who didn’t love children, much less the Fourth Beile who currently only had two sons and one daughter under his knee, all born by Geges. For his age, his offspring were truly not abundant.

“Congratulations Beile, congratulations Ce Fujin. Ce Fujin has been with child for over a month.”

Hearing the answer he wanted, the Fourth Prince also stood up somewhat excitedly, waving his hand. “Excellent! Reward them!”

Su Peisheng’s face had already bloomed into a flower as he personally presented the Imperial Physician with a superior red envelope.

The Fourth Prince looked toward Luo Yu. “Huai Zhen, excellent news!”

Under his gaze, Luo Yu’s face flushed. “Master…” She was going to become a mother. Thinking of this, her heartbeat quickened even more.

All around was jubilation.

Not only was the master happy, Su Peisheng was happy—those maids were also very happy. Their master was a Ce Fujin. When she did well, they could follow and do well. In this rear courtyard, having no children was very disadvantageous.

Just like that Gege Li—her rank was lower than their Ce Fujin’s. Wasn’t it because she had children as backing that she could be so willful and unrestrained?

It would be even better if she could bear a son in one stroke.

Currently the Fujin had no biological son. If their Ce Fujin gave birth to a son, then his birth status would be the highest. If the Fujin had no children afterward, or only had daughters, then the possibility of their Ce Fujin’s little prince being conferred as heir apparent was also very great.

Even if the Fujin had a biological son, their little prince wouldn’t fare poorly in the future either—a title would be inevitable. No matter how one looked at it, this was a great joyous occasion.

Besides the Imperial Physician receiving a superior envelope, all the other attending maids and young eunuchs received rewards. This added joy upon joy.

Including Luo Yu—the Fourth Prince had Su Peisheng open the storehouse and bring over a pile of things she would like.

Luo Yu had received quite a few rewards from Fourth Master. No matter what he gave, she happily accepted. Now was the same.

This courtyard was filled with jubilation, the commotion considerable. The news quickly spread.

When the Fujin learned of it, she accidentally knocked over her teacup. The tea spilled on the table, dripping onto the floor. At this moment, however, Uranala couldn’t be bothered. So quickly Lin had become pregnant?

She had entered the household almost a full year ago, lacking two months. How could she be so fortunate?!

Her long fingernails dug into her palm, deeper and deeper, until blood gradually seeped out. Only then did she hazily awaken and release her palm.

Seeing the blood in her palm, the old nanny was greatly alarmed. “Fujin!”

Uranala frowned. “Silence!”

Just secretly apply some medicine.

The old nanny closed her mouth and distressedly fetched medicine.

The Fujin was right—they couldn’t make a commotion. If news got out and people made associations, that would be bad.

Gege Li learned of it a step later than the Fujin. “What? Lin has become pregnant!”

“Detestable!”

“I knew it—she’s a threat!”

The Fujin’s Hong Hui had passed away, and now here came another Lin!

Not content with competing for Fourth Master’s favor, now she also wanted to seize away her son’s position.

Her son was the eldest son. He was the future heir apparent!

Gege Li’s temper had never been good. Behind closed doors, there was a crackling commotion. Outside the door knelt attending maids with deeply bowed heads, not daring to look more or listen more. Even the wet nurses caring for the little prince and little gege at this time took the children far away.

Before being taken away, the ten-year-old little gege looked toward the room’s direction, her eyes filled with trepidation. Mother is so angry… she was somewhat afraid.

With such a commotion at Gege Li’s place, it couldn’t be hidden from this residence’s master. The Fourth Prince received the news and frowned, only relaxing after a long while.

The Fujin heard about it, waved her hand, and looked leisurely toward the direction of Gege Li’s courtyard. So much porcelain. “Punish according to the rules. The cost of newly replaced porcelain goes on her account.”

Gege Li naturally wouldn’t truly take the maids’ monthly silver to make up for it. How much was a maid’s monthly silver anyway?

Naturally it was her “kindness”—she would pay the silver herself to replace them.

When the Fujin learned of this, she smiled. “Since that’s the case, do as Gege Li says.”

She wasn’t lacking money now. She had given birth to so many children and wasn’t someone who had never received Master’s favor. Even after Ce Fujin Lin entered the household and her favor was diluted, the Fourth Prince still visited quite often.

However, if she did this every few days, even mountains of gold and silver would be moved empty.

The pregnancy news wouldn’t be spread outside—they had to wait three months for the pregnancy to stabilize before going public.

Within the Beile residence, the Fujin’s place had to be notified. As for the other Geges’ places, this evening depended on whether their own sources of information were well-informed or not.

With such a commotion at their place, it actually wasn’t much different from making it public in the residence. On the second day when going to pay respects, in front of these Geges, the Fujin looked amiably at Luo Yu. “Your physical condition is now special. In the future, you don’t need to come so early for morning greetings.”

Physical condition special?

Now even those with blocked information knew.

They all looked over enviously, especially Niuhuru and Gege Song who had entered the household together with her. She had the longest seniority, had been pregnant twice, gave birth but unfortunately couldn’t raise them.

Luo Yu naturally couldn’t become arrogant from favor. Facing these people’s meaningful gazes, she acted as if she didn’t see them. “Fujin’s generous affection makes this younger sister feel apprehensive.” The Fujin said she could come late—she wouldn’t do so unless later when her pregnancy was far along and truly inconvenient.

Gege Li scoffed, looking askance. “What is Ce Fujin apprehensive about? The imperial grandson is of paramount importance. Ce Fujin is just too young, hasn’t experienced anything, which is why she’s so cautious.”

The Fujin coolly swept her a glance. During her several pregnancies, she had frequently been absent from morning greetings, constantly saying pregnancy made her drowsy and unable to rise.

Luo Yu said, “The little prince also wants to come pay respects to his legitimate mother.”

After one night, Luo Yu’s mood had now settled.

She ignored Gege Li’s indignant gaze. If none of the Fourth Prince’s other women gave birth to sons, then without question, in the future the inheritance would only go to her son.

It would be strange if she could remain indifferent to this situation.

She lowered her head and smiled. “Rules cannot be abandoned. I don’t have any discomfort anywhere currently.”

Gege Li snorted through her nose.

The barely perceptible smile on the Fujin’s face grew somewhat larger. She wouldn’t continue this topic further. She swept a glance around—envy without jealousy?

For every one of them to cultivate themselves and nurture their characters—that was impossible. She didn’t need to be anxious. She just needed to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.

After returning from paying respects, Luo Yu leaned exhaustedly on the couch. Clearly the time hadn’t been long.

She touched her still-flat belly, staring outside in a daze.

She had listened to Aunt’s words and taken those measures, trying to avoid it as much as possible, but she still became pregnant. This child was an accident.

It made her somewhat joyful. She wanted to give birth—that was beyond question. But she also worried this child came too early, that she wouldn’t be able to protect him.

There was also the difficult ordeal of childbirth—that wasn’t so easy to overcome.

When the Fourth Prince returned and saw her listless appearance, he sat behind her, gathered her into his embrace, placing one hand on her lower abdomen. “What’s wrong? Unhappy?”

Luo Yu raised her head slightly. “Master, it’s not unhappiness. I’m somewhat afraid.”

“Afraid? Afraid of what?”

Luo Yu frowned, her face full of distress. “I don’t know if I can be a good mother.”

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince smiled, touching her face. Yes, his Huai Zhen was still young. She had married into the household less than a year ago. Worry was understandable. When Hong Hui was born, he had also worried whether he could be a good father.

“If you’re worried, invite your aunt and grandmother to come keep you company and chat.”

Luo Yu was overjoyed. “May I?”

“You may.” After other residences’ Fujins and Ce Fujins became pregnant, they also invited people from their natal families. It wasn’t like when they were still in the princes’ residences in the palace—that had been inconvenient.

Luo Yu had been waiting for these words. She understood Fourth Master’s temperament somewhat. Speaking and acting within the rules made it easier to gain his favor. Within this scope, if there were some small transgressions, he also wouldn’t make much of it.

With his permission, she could invite Grandmother and Aunt over several more times, and Fourth Master wouldn’t be angry.

“Did he cause you any trouble today?”

Luo Yu replied, “No.”

Her appetite had actually improved. As long as there was no river fish, she ate with great relish.

“A filial one.”

After the Fourth Beile’s residence sent someone to explain the situation, Old Madam was instantly excited, staring intently at the messenger. “Second Young Miss is truly with child?”

“Yes, the Imperial Physician came to confirm it.”

“Good, good, good! This is truly a great joyous occasion!” Old Madam felt as if boundless motivation surged from her body. Even her eyes felt sore.

It was different now, completely different. Her granddaughter was about to give birth to an imperial grandson.

The Lin family’s fate had completely changed.

When Daiyu heard, she straightened her small frame, her eyes becoming brighter. She was going to be an elder!

Would it be a little nephew or little niece? No matter which, she would be a good elder.

Yun Shuyao’s brows furrowed quickly, then relaxed.

Her worry was inappropriate in this era. Her daughter was almost seventeen—pregnancy at this age was extremely common. Everyone came through this way. In their view, becoming pregnant soon after marrying in was actually a fortunate matter.

As for the risks of childbirth—in their view, it was just the way things were.

Yun Shuyao asked, “Have her tastes changed at all? Is she uncomfortable anywhere?”

This maid had been brought from the Lin residence and understood Luo Yu well. “Except for products from rivers, everything is fine. She hasn’t had any adverse reactions either.”

Old Madam turned in a circle. “Let’s collect more recipes that might be useful and bring them all to her together!”

During the day, the two men of the household weren’t present. Lin Ruhai went to the government office, and Chen Yu attended a poetry gathering.

When they returned and learned this news, Lin Ruhai sat there for a long time without speaking. He was going to become a maternal grandfather. How had time passed so quickly?

It seemed like a babbling little girl was still before his eyes. How had she suddenly become a mother?

Chen Yu walked several circles in place, muttering to himself, “I can give him elementary education in the future.”

“What else does Second Sister’s place lack?”

“What can I send?”

Seeing him like this, the tension in Yun Shuyao’s heart loosened somewhat. “Your Second Elder Sister’s place lacks nothing. No matter what you send, she’ll be happy.”

Old Madam sent up a calling card, set a date, then went with Yun Shuyao bringing prepared items to visit.

They first went to pay respects to the Fujin.

This was Old Madam’s first time entering the main gate of the Fourth Beile’s residence.

Yun Shuyao had come before, but Old Madam’s seniority was high. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t easily visit just anyone’s household.

Toward the Fujin, Old Madam’s attitude was very cautious and careful. This was the future Empress.

Now her granddaughter lived under her authority. A respectful attitude was appropriate. Even if they became enemies, they still had to observe propriety at such times, much less when they currently weren’t enemies.

Yun Shuyao observed her expression and appearance. She knew they would visit today. The clothes and jewelry on her person were all formal attire for receiving guests.

Although the Fourth Fujin wasn’t some peerless beauty, calling her moderately beautiful was no problem. The only debatable point was that she was overly mature, but this also couldn’t be called a problem—it also represented dignity.

Uranala also showed courtesy toward these two.

One was a Marquis’s wife, the other was a fourth-rank mandated lady personally conferred by the Emperor.

If she acted overbearing and condescending, that would be foolish.

Both these people had cautious personalities. Thinking of their watertight replies, the Fujin sighed. Compared to Li, this Lin was much more difficult to deal with.

She looked toward the direction of Gege Li’s courtyard. How long can you endure?

I hope you won’t disappoint me.