This evening, Lin Ruhai and the Old Madam went to the ancestral hall to offer incense to the ancestors, barely closing their eyes all night.

Their Lin family had been single-succession for generations. Perhaps this would be the only child of this generation.

Of course they had to tell the ancestors about this great joyous occasion.

However, the Old Madam knew this wasn’t the only child of this generation.

This child would be Daiyu’s elder brother or elder sister.

To be fair, the Old Madam previously had no issues with Jia Min as a daughter-in-law.

She was the legitimate daughter of Duke Rongguo, well-educated and reasonable, with a ten-mile bridal procession. After marriage, the couple was harmonious. The only thing that troubled her was that initially her daughter-in-law was too fond of poetry and books and didn’t want to take on the burden of household management.

Years of infertility?

This was a Lin family tradition—it couldn’t be said to be Jia Min’s fault, so she had never blamed her before.

But when the Old Madam saw in her dream the fate of the Lin family many years later, the Old Madam couldn’t help but transfer her anger.

True, Daiyu was a daughter, but she was also the Lin family’s bloodline.

The Lin family had no son to inherit the family business. Jia Min passed away, Ruhai was also poisoned to death. Daiyu became an orphan. Seeking refuge with her maternal grandmother and marrying into the Jia family would have been a path.

But what was the final result?

That Jia Baoyu actually married Xue Baochai, a merchant’s daughter, while her family’s Daiyu met the fate of fragrant death and jade destruction!

The Jia family—what a fine Jia family! They had completely devoured the Lin family’s last drop of bloodline!

When she saw that scene in the dream, the Old Madam almost died of anger and wanted to directly strangle Grandmother Jia.

She claimed to love Jia Min most, and by extension loved and protected Daiyu. But in reality?

It was just because the Lin family’s wealth all entered the Jia family, and Daiyu’s body wasn’t very healthy. With her good daughter-in-law opposing, she just watched Daiyu go to her death!

After waking from the dream, she also doubted whether this was just a dream.

But when things in the dream corresponded one by one with reality, the Old Madam could no longer treat it as just a dream.

After several operations, only then did Ruhai bring them all to take up office in Xingtai Prefecture.

This had never happened in the dream.

Then the Old Madam searched everywhere for extraordinary people and strange events.

Since she had this opportunity to have such a prophetic dream, there might be people with real abilities who could break this situation for the Lin family.

So she obtained two birth charts, found two people, and elevated them into the residence.

Now Concubine Mei was pregnant.

The Old Madam felt her hard work hadn’t been in vain.

Undeniably, this approach was unfair to the unknowing Jia Min.

But the Old Madam truly had no good feelings left for the Jia family.

If this dream had come earlier, she wouldn’t have formed a marriage alliance with the Jia family!

Therefore, when she heard her son say that after the child was born they would give it to Jia Min to raise, she fell silent.

Jia Min might not truly harm the child, but what about the Jia family behind her?

The late Duke Rongguo had two sons and four daughters under his knee. The two sons were both born to Grandmother Jia. Concubine sons either weren’t born or died young within a few years after birth. The other three concubine daughters did grow up, but were all married off by Grandmother Jia to people who looked good on the surface. The Old Madam had people investigate—while still young, they had all now met fragrant death and jade destruction.

Grandmother Jia only appeared kind on the surface.

She truly didn’t dare entrust the Lin family’s concubine-born child to Jia Min to raise.

A child so small—wanting the child to have an accident and die young was too easy.

She didn’t dare gamble.

The Old Madam avoided discussing this matter. Lin Ruhai understood his mother’s meaning.

But he didn’t understand. He frowned: “Mother, why…”

When exactly did Mother become so distrustful of his wife?

What did she do wrong?

He believed she hadn’t.

If she really had, Mother wouldn’t remain silent.

Then where did Mother’s dissatisfaction with Min’er come from?

The Old Madam fingered the prayer beads in her hand: “Hai’er.” She called him by a term she hadn’t used in a long time. “You should write a letter back to the clan. So many years have passed—it’s time.”

Lin Ruhai was stunned.

Their family’s ancestors had some conflicts with the clan side. It had been decades with no contact.

He had always considered himself a person without a clan. Now Mother was… wanting to reconcile?!

Lin Ruhai was very intelligent—otherwise he wouldn’t have passed the Third Place Scholar examination at such a young age.

He understood Mother’s meaning.

—

Early in the morning, Lin Ruhai hadn’t really closed his eyes but didn’t seem tired at all, arriving at the yamen in high spirits. People who saw him couldn’t help but wonder.

Did the master’s household have some joyous occasion? His face was full of spring breeze?

Deducing further, what could make him so happy?

The greatest possibility was offspring.

People his age—some had sons about to marry.

Yet the prefect still had no children.

No one said anything openly, but privately there was all kinds of speculation.

However, since he hadn’t stated it explicitly, they couldn’t directly congratulate him, or if extreme joy turned to sorrow it wouldn’t be good.

Seeing his good mood now, some previously accumulated difficult matters should be brought out.

Facing these headache-inducing matters, Lin Ruhai still wore a smile and was very patient.

Even when some made mistakes, he didn’t criticize.

Once they left Lin Ruhai’s sight, they couldn’t help but discuss among themselves.

“Looks like it’s true.”

“Sir, we should start preparing.”

“Prepare what?”

“Ancient texts.”

“I’m also preparing ancient texts.”

Their superior had no obvious hobbies, but for scholars, ancient texts and calligraphy paintings were things least likely to go wrong.

“The master has finally seen the moon through the parting clouds.”

Previously they had privately speculated whether the prefect’s lack of children was because his body had ailments. Now this rumor was dispelled without attack.

However, this also made it easy to associate—could it be that the principal wife he married was too jealous, which was why at his age he still had no children? Thinking further that his wife came from the capital’s Rongguo Mansion, a large and prosperous family, perhaps there were many unavoidable circumstances. So when marrying a wife, one should marry a virtuous one…

—

Yun Shuyao still had to pay respects today. On the way to Bitao Courtyard, she again recalled last night’s speculation.

Before entering the Lin family, she had made up her mind to be a carefree salted fish. After staying a few years, she could find an opportunity to break free. Pregnancy was unexpected.

Now with this speculation, Yun Shuyao’s mood was truly complex.

She shouldn’t be so fortunate, should she?

But her abilities truly had no movement. No matter how anxious, she couldn’t verify it.

Yun Shuyao decided to study medicine when she had the opportunity. The saying that many skills don’t weigh one down was too reasonable.

For now, she could only wait and see.

If not pregnant, the plan remained unchanged—she would still be a salted fish in the Lin family.

If truly pregnant, even a flopping salted fish was still a salted fish. Yun Shuyao would still laze around in her small courtyard.

As for the child, if truly pregnant, Yun Shuyao had to admit she still had some anticipation in her heart.

In modern times, after her grandmother passed away, she had been all alone. In the apocalypse, she only lived a few months. She wasn’t even clear whether the original owner still had relatives alive in the world.

Coming here, having complete parents, having sensible and lovable younger brothers—if she could also have a child connected by blood, it would be perfect.

If she bore a son, the struggle between legitimate and illegitimate children objectively existed. But Yun Shuyao believed children were blank slates. With good teaching, she believed she could teach the child the principle of self-reliance.

The Lin family ultimately had no hereditary title. The imperial examinations were a narrow bridge requiring personal struggle.

If she bore a sweet and soft daughter, she would likewise be strict. Learning more would allow her to live better in this era with greater restrictions on women.

But was this ideal state possible?

If she were truly pregnant, a very obvious problem was Jia Min and the Jia family behind her.

That the principal wife didn’t want concubines or concubine-born children—Yun Shuyao could completely understand. But in this feudal era that hadn’t yet been overthrown, women—very few could escape this cage.

Thinking this, Yun Shuyao couldn’t help but sigh. Up to now, Jia Min’s actions could be called honorable and above-board.

She hadn’t used underhanded methods against the two concubines, and was even tolerant enough not to establish strict rules.

But after being provoked?

Yun Shuyao had smelled medicinal odors on Jia Min many times. Without illness or disaster, the medicine she took was most likely fertility medicine.

If both she and Mei Shi had offspring while Jia Min remained infertile, Yun Shuyao wasn’t certain whether she would torture herself day after day under such comparison and then lose her rationality.

And the Jia family… Duke Rongguo had already passed away, but the connections he left behind hadn’t completely dissipated.

Correspondingly, Yun Shuyao’s days in the Lin family weren’t spent in vain. She had perceived some things beneath the peaceful surface, such as… the relationship between the Old Madam and Jia Min.

She seemed not very trusting of Jia Min.

Like yesterday in Meixiang Courtyard, after the Old Madam confirmed Concubine Mei’s pregnancy, she immediately assigned an experienced nanny and two maids to go over.

This could be said to be consideration for Concubine Mei, having experienced people serve by her side. But it could also be said she didn’t trust the household-managing madam Jia Min and worried she would harm Concubine Mei, so she sent her trusted aides over just in case.

If she herself became pregnant, the Old Madam would likely do the same.

This was a safeguard.

Otherwise, relying only on Yun Shuyao herself, it was hard to say.

Her abilities were still level one now. The spirit mirror was in a frozen state—could only be looked at but not used or communicated with. Compared to ordinary people, she just had somewhat greater strength.

If someone came forcefully, calling ten or eight skilled fighters, she would have no solution.

Hong Xiu didn’t know what the concubine was thinking. Her brows were tightly furrowed all along the way. She didn’t disturb her, but when nearly at Bitao Courtyard, seeing the concubine still immersed in thoughts, she gently tugged on the concubine’s sleeve.

Seeing the concubine return to her senses and show her a smile, Hong Xiu also smiled, then put away her smile and followed behind the concubine, stepping through Bitao Courtyard’s main gate.

Jia Min had already risen. The makeup on her face was considerably heavier than usual, bloodshot threads filling her eyes. She probably hadn’t closed her eyes much last night.

Visibly, not many of the people serving in the courtyard had relaxed faces.

Whether or not the principal wife bore children, the principal wife was still the principal wife—her status wouldn’t change.

But having or not having one’s own biological child greatly concerned one’s quality of life in old age.

So the people of Bitao Courtyard had fallen into worry for their own futures.

However, Yun Shuyao believed Jia Min didn’t need her sympathy.

For her to sympathize with Jia Min would be as laughable as a modern 996 office worker sympathizing with a wealthy family’s pampered young lady.

The pampered young lady without children was still a high and mighty young lady. Ordinary people striving for several generations might not even touch the edge of her status.

Yun Shuyao acted as if she’d seen nothing and paid respects as usual.

If Jia Min also acted normally, she would casually say a few meaningless words and then let her return.

But now, looking at Yun Shi paying respects, Jia Min suddenly became distracted.

Mei Shi was pregnant. Would Yun Shi also become pregnant?

She was now drinking medicine prescribed by the famous Doctor Chang that she had sought out. But she had been drinking it for some time and couldn’t see any therapeutic effect.

She was distracted for a while, then chatted with Yun Shuyao.

“Qiuzhu, serve some refreshments to Concubine Yun.” Jia Min naturally knew that Concubine Yun loved food—this characteristic.

And food—her Bitao Courtyard never lacked it.

“Concubine Yun, I remember you’re the eldest daughter in your family?”

A senior maid brought up tea and exquisite pastries.

Jia Min’s tea was naturally good tea.

Yun Shuyao was a common person—she could only say this tea was delicious but couldn’t say anything else.

The pastries were not only beautiful but also delicious.

Yun Shuyao had asked the kitchen staff. If she wanted to eat this, it would cost two taels of silver.

Her monthly allowance was only three taels.

“Yes, I have two younger brothers below me.”

Jia Min smiled: “You have two brothers. I also have two, but they’re older than me—they’re my elder brothers.”

Yun Shuyao also smiled. She knew this. The other main character, Jia Baoyu, was her second brother’s son.

Jia Min: “I remember your father will participate in the autumn examinations in three years. Has he encountered any difficulties?”

Yun Shuyao was somewhat “flattered”: “Thank you for Madam’s concern. My father is already very satisfied.”

She had mentioned borrowing books to Lin Ruhai. Lin Ruhai was very generous and organized some for her. She looked—aside from individual travel records he gave her, the rest were all about the Four Books and Five Classics, and many books had annotations.

When she had people send these books back home, her father even wrote a thick letter back in excitement…

This time was the longest Yun Shuyao had stayed in Bitao Courtyard.

A full incense stick’s time.

On the way back, she saw a group of people walking toward Bitao Courtyard.

The woman leading them wore conspicuous silk and satin. The glittering gold jewelry on her head was familiarly glaring to Yun Shuyao.

This was… Concubine Mei’s legitimate mother, right?

The woman behind her wore slightly inferior clothing—she should be Concubine Mei’s birth mother.

Yun Shuyao guessed correctly. Those two were one Concubine Mei’s legitimate mother Yang Shi, and one her birth mother Gao Shi.

They brought two full carts of gifts to visit.

The Mei family were merchants.

Scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant—this ranking explained many things.

The Mei family had money. After having money, they wanted higher status.

Therefore, regarding this third daughter who was selected for her birth chart to enter the prefect’s household as a concubine, beyond surprise they held expectations of one hundred twenty percent, preparing abundant dowry for her and analyzing in detail the situation of the prefect’s household.

If the next Lin family head came from their Mei family daughter’s belly, it could guarantee their family’s wealth and honor for several generations!

For this goal, the Mei family would fully support Concubine Mei.

And now, they had advanced a critical major step toward realizing this wish.

When they received the news last night, no one in the Mei family slept, preparing a large jar of pickled vegetables for their Third Young Miss, along with other things beneficial to pregnant women, loading two full large carts. After dawn, watching the time, they knocked on the Lin family’s gate.

And at this time, in Bitao Courtyard, Jia Min looked at the gate, lost in thought.

She hadn’t mentioned her natal family without reason. Previously, she hadn’t written to tell Mother about the household gaining two concubines. But now that a concubine was pregnant, Jia Min knew she couldn’t hide it any longer. If she continued hiding it, Mother would definitely be angry.

How should she write the letter so Mother wouldn’t be angry?

What she didn’t know was that her wet nurse had written letters back from the very beginning.

Now, Grandmother Jia’s reply had arrived.