Chapter 120 Congratulations

"Zhou Feng is taking you to see handsome men?"

The candlelight cast a soft glow, making him appear as beautiful as jade.

His face was expressionless, and his eyes, which held a hint of indifference, gave him a chilling aura.

"No, it is that I wish to see the talent and style of the students from the South."

"Have Granny Xu reserve a private room at the Yueyou Teahouse where the discussion is being held."

"We arrived too late and couldn't get a reservation."

“I happened to run into Zhou Feng, who asked me why, and then gave me the private room.”

Zhou Jin: "How are the students from the South doing?"

"She's far inferior to my husband."

"Heh." Zhou Jin, "How is Young Master Cui?"

"Naturally unadorned, simple and pure like jade."

"From what you're saying, you have some ideas?"

"If she is not married, I would like to keep her here for a while."

"I thought you were going to follow the example of Jia Nanfeng of the Western Jin Dynasty and Empress Feng of the Northern Wei Dynasty, choosing male favorites to consolidate your power?"

Li Qu's heart skipped a beat, and goosebumps rose all over her arms.

Debauchery and interference in politics.

None of these charges are ones she can bear.

She stared straight at him, unwilling to be outdone in the slightest.

"My husband, how dare you defile me like this? Are you trying to force me to my death?!"

"You're being insulted?" Zhou Jin's gaze swept over her indifferently. "Then tell me, why did you go to the discussion meeting?"

"Why did you speak out at the discussion meeting!"

"Why did you expose your identity in public!"

Zhou Jin's gaze was so sharp that any excuse seemed weak.

Xu Mama, who was supporting Li Qu, dared not breathe too loudly.

Li Qu stepped forward and stood in front of the desk: "Yes, I deliberately went to the discussion meeting."

"He deliberately showed off his talents at the discussion meeting."

"I want everyone to know that I am a perfect match for my husband!"

"I am worthy of the position of Third Madam Zhou!"

"My husband is not one to be blinded by lust!"

"I want not only my husband to know how good I am, but also the people of the three accounting offices, the women in the household, and even the whole world to know."

"I just wanted to prove myself!"

"Why would my husband defile me by making me do such a shameful thing as having an affair?"

"Could it be that my husband has two minds, and therefore also suspects me?"

"Don't try to change the subject." Zhou Jin stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.

He placed his palm on the table, looked down at her, and said, "A woman's way lies within the inner chambers; what kind of decorum is it to show your face in public like this!"

"Whether it's the eldest sister-in-law of the Second Mansion or the message sent by Huai Shi, the accountant of the Third Department, I have never been confined by you!"

"You've become incredibly audacious, actually daring to try and make connections outside the household under the guise of being Madam Zhou!"

"Men and women are different!"

"I'm not dead yet!!"

Li Qu's intention to build connections was exposed, and her heart trembled.

"Don't think that just because you're taller than me when you stand up, you can talk nonsense!"

"It's all just my husband's guess."

"Furthermore, when I travel, my servants and maids never leave my side, and Huai Xia and Huai Chuan also follow me closely!"

"I have never overstepped the bounds in the slightest!"

Zhou Jin came out from behind the desk.

“You haven’t overstepped your bounds. You invited Cui Zhiyan into the private room for a half-hour chat!”

"You haven't overstepped the bounds, so how can those students see your face!"

"Tell me how to define transgression!"

Li Qu: "Zhou Feng was present; I did not speak to Young Master Cui alone!"

"When I left the teahouse, the wind accidentally lifted the veil; it was not that I deliberately made a scene!"

Zhou Jin swept the books off the desk beside him, furious: "You always have so many excuses!"

His words were becoming increasingly emotional.

"There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and between men and women! There is a proper order between husband and wife, and the laws and etiquette must be followed!"

"From this day forward, you are not to be allowed to leave the manor even once!"

After saying that, he took a step and walked outside.

This pregnant woman is unfaithful and shows no remorse.

He needed to find a quiet place.

"You're going to confine me!" Li Qu hurried after him and grabbed his sleeve.

Zhou Jin's expression showed no sign of softening: "Yes, I'm going to ground you!"

Things cannot be accomplished overnight, so Li Qu wisely chose to change his attitude.

She pouted and looked at him with a wronged expression: "So what if I'm grounded? Anyway, you're the one who'll bully me for the rest of my life."

Zhou Jin was filled with rage and was about to refute what she was about to say, but upon hearing this, he choked back all his anger.

hateful.

"Clever words and a flattering expression!"

"These are my heartfelt words."

She hugged his arm and took his hand, placing it on her heart.

"In this life, the next life, and the life after that, I will be bullied by my husband."

"I only like it when my husband bullies me, and I only want my husband to bully me."

"I won't do it again, please don't be angry, my husband."

The familiar softness of his palm eroded his upright and unyielding spirit.

He turned around and grabbed the back of her head with his other hand.

He leaned down and kissed her sweet lips.

He pounded hard under his palm, kneading and pinching.

It made her gasp.

He kissed her fiercely, his large hands also restless, seemingly annoyed by the fabric, and skillfully unbuttoned her clothes.

She had absolutely no chance to defend herself.

He didn't even give her a moment to breathe.

He pushed aside the things that were in the way of the desk and propped her up on it.

He desperately wanted to possess her, and listened to her moan.

Beneath this woman's docile and gentle exterior lies an ambitious heart.

He lowered his eyes, watching the woman blush and blush because of him, obediently letting him fiddle with her.

The anger in her heart dissipated considerably: "A-Qu, from now on you are not allowed to share a room with other men! Not even when there are maids or servants present!"

"Young Master Cui is still a child."

"Zhou Feng is a man!"

Isn't that my nephew?

She couldn't help but open her eyes to look at him, only to meet his condescending, warning, and unrestrained gaze.

She lowered her long eyelashes shyly: "In my heart, only my husband is a true man."

His voice was hoarse: "Have you stopped taking the medication to prevent miscarriage?"

"It was just stopped yesterday."

He raised his hand and completely stripped away the clothes that were about to be hung up but weren't.

In my opinion, the root of chaos lies in incompetent rulers and treacherous ministers; order and chaos depend on the right path, not on the inner chambers of women's quarters!

To have such insight.

This should be Zhou Jin's woman.

She could only be Zhou Jin's woman.

He couldn't help but thrust deeper and faster, which made her moan softly.

"Aqu, you are mine."

*

He hadn't been this unrestrained in a long time, and he had been playing around for quite a while.

After washing up and coming out of the bathhouse, Granny Xu had already prepared dinner.

She was a little slow applying some pregnancy cream to her stomach after showering.

When they arrived at the dining room, he had already picked out a plate of fish for her.

Seeing her approach, he got up and pulled out a chair for her.

Li Qu's fingertips brushed against his hand as he pulled out the chair, and when he looked up at her, she winked at him playfully and beautifully.

He no longer acts like someone owes him millions.

It soothes my heart.

After she was seated, I sat down next to her, served her the fish and served her food.

She said sweetly, "Thank you, my husband."

He ignored her.

She picked up her chopsticks and ate.

His expression remained calm and composed.

The foot under the table rubbed against his leg.

He paused in his eating, then continued.

Her feet slowly rubbed against his ankles, her toes hooking around the loose legs of his casual trousers, inching upwards little by little.

She changed her sitting position and continued eating.

Her foot had already gone past his knee and was rubbing against the middle of his thigh.

He finally reached out and grabbed her restless foot: "Stop fooling around."

She rubbed against his palm, pleading sweetly, "Husband~ please don't forbid it, okay?"

Zhou Jinyuan had no intention of actually confining her to her quarters.

He toyed with the delicate toes in his palm, raised his long eyelashes, and asked meaningfully, "Let's see how it behaves?"

Li Qu expressed his confusion.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingertips tracing the soles of her feet, eliciting a giggle from her as she tried to pull her feet away and run away.

But he wouldn't let her go.

Grab her by the heels so she can't escape.

She ran her fingers back and forth across the soles of her feet, then leaned back in her chair with a laugh, pleading, "Husband, no more~"

He grabbed her foot, brought it close to his abdomen, and rubbed it against the sole of her foot.

She gasped and covered her face, then laughed through her fingers.

He admired the twisted toes of his subordinate's small feet, then looked at her covering her face, unable to look people in the eye. After a while, he released her feet.

She quickly pulled her foot back.

She lowered her hand, revealing a delicate pink face.

She asked, "How is it performing?"

He leaned back in his chair, a faint satisfaction in his eyes, and lazily murmured, "Mm."

She smiled and happily served him food.

He found it amusing, picked up his chopsticks again, and savored the time he spent with her.

The air smells sweet.

*

Li Qu's due date is in mid-September.

Before going to bed, Li Qu followed some methods taught by the midwife and did appropriate exercise, which was beneficial for childbirth.

Zhou Jin sat on the couch, looking at Li Qu who was squatting with her arms around a chair, and said to her.

“Aqu, I will deliver what you want to you.”

"You don't have to risk doing something that would give people something to talk about."

Li Qu had no time to pay attention to Zhou Jin's words because she found that her stomach was a little sore.

She stood frozen, holding onto the chair, when Xu Mama asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Madam?"

The midwife monitored Li Qu's movements each time.

Seeing this, the midwife quickly stepped forward: "Does your stomach hurt?"

Li Qu, holding onto the back of the chair, frowned and nodded.

Zhou Jin slowly sat up straight, clearly becoming nervous.

The midwife quickly asked, "How does it hurt?"

Li Qu didn't speak for a moment, then said, "It hurt a moment ago, but it doesn't hurt now."

The midwife pressed again, "How does it hurt?"

"My stomach feels a bit tight, similar to the abdominal pain that usually occurs during menstruation."

The experienced midwife said, "She might give birth early. Let's wait and see."

Upon hearing this, Granny Xu quickly instructed Cuiguo, "Summon the doctor!"

He instructed Hongguo: "Guard the courtyard gate well, prepare hot water in the kitchen, and boil everything. Follow the previous arrangements, with clear division of labor and everyone performing their duties."

Then she went to make the bed, find clothes for Li Qu, and prepare a towel.

The midwife helped Li Qu sit on the couch.

Zhou Jin sat opposite her.

His hands, resting on his knees, pressed nervously against them: "How are you?"

Li Qu smiled and said, "It's alright, it just hurt a little just now."

Zhou Jin was much more relaxed.

The midwife took the opportunity to explain the birthing process to everyone.

About an incense stick's time later, Li Qu's stomach reacted again.

The midwife confirmed the signs that labor was about to begin.

The entire Fanghua Garden was under martial law and bustling with activity.

When Doctor An arrived, he took Li Qu's pulse and then personally prepared ginseng soup for Li Qu, as well as medicine to keep him alive in case of any accidents.

The commotion from the third branch of the family could not be kept secret from Shouchun Hall.

When the old lady learned that Li Qu was about to give birth, she quickly prayed to Buddha.

If this pregnancy goes smoothly, there will be an heir in the south.

Li Qu could sleep during the first half of the night, but during the second half, she would sleep in fits and starts with pain.

By dawn the next day, when the contractions started, she couldn't help but cry.

Zhou Jin stayed with her the whole night without sleeping.

The morning sun pierced through the window, washing away the darkness of the night.

On the bed, Li Qu leaned back in her chair, smiling as she looked at the man sitting beside her.

The man's ears drooped, like a big dog that had done something wrong.

Li Qu threw the handkerchief she was using to wipe her tears in his face: "I'm not afraid, what are you afraid of?"

Zhou Jin took the handkerchief into his hand.

The midwife urged, "Third Master, there's nothing we can do here!"

"Please go to the outer room and wait quickly."

"It is strictly forbidden for men to be present in the room where a woman is giving birth!"

"Moreover, I estimate that the Third Madam's birthday is only one or two hours away."

"You're just getting in the way."

Zhou Jin squeezed Li Qu's hand: "I'll wait for you outside."

"Mm." Li Qu nodded with a smile.

Zhou Jin swallowed his emotions and stood up.

She suddenly grabbed the hem of his robe.

He turned to look at her and saw her looking up at him with a radiant smile, tears streaming down her face: "Jinlang~"

"Everything I've said is the truth. I'm willing to have your child. But if something happens to me, you must follow my will."

Zhou Jin felt as if something was gripping his heart, and he suddenly felt suffocated.

The possibility that he was deliberately avoiding was revealed by her.

"Oh, my lady, ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! May the wind blow it away!"

The midwife waved her hand repeatedly and urged Zhou Jin to leave quickly.

Granny Xu was also urging them on.

She looked at him and slowly let go of his hand: "Go."

Then, exhausted, I leaned back against the seat, enduring another round of pain.

Zhou Jin's legs felt like they were filled with lead.

The midwife impatiently grabbed Zhou Jin's arm and dragged him outside.

"You're in the way, really in the way!"

She audaciously threw Zhou Jin out the door, and as she turned to go back inside, her arm was grabbed.

She turned around and saw the usually cold and intimidating Master Zhou looking at her with red eyes: "Save the baby!"

The midwife nodded blankly, "Eh, eh!"

The gate was closed, shutting Zhou Jin out.

He wiped his face, turned around and went down the steps, asking Huaiqiu, "Is there anything unusual?"

“Huaixia kept a close eye on things in the kitchen the whole time, and no one in the yard seemed to notice anything unusual.”

"Have all the medications Dr. An requested been tested?"

"Everything has been checked, and the old lady even brought over a century-old ginseng."

"Is the wet nurse being taken care of?"

"She has been recuperating at home. Doctor An has examined her and found nothing wrong."

Huaiqiu noticed that his master was restless, so he brought a chair for Zhou Jin and asked him to sit down and wait.

Zhou Jin sat in the chair, closed his eyes, and waited quietly.

Her familiar voice and smile lingered in my mind, along with the tears that had streamed down her face as she spoke just now.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that he could not bear that possibility.

Just thinking about it makes me feel like I can't breathe.

He bent over, hunched over, and covered his head with his palm.

I suddenly regret being mean to her last night.

*

The loudest sound in the room wasn't Li Qu's, but the midwife's.

"Inhale, exhale!"

"Yes, like that, give it your all, try again!"

"Great, let's try again!"

The entire Fanghua Garden seemed to have been put on pause, with only the midwife's voice echoing in the space.

Until a cry rang out, all things revived, the wind rose, leaves fell, and birds sang.

Zhou Jin seemed to wake from a dream and slowly stood up from the chair.

It was a quarter past noon.

The midwife was overjoyed. She opened the door, knelt down in Zhou Jin's direction, and said, "Congratulations, Third Master! Congratulations, Third Master!"

"The Third Madam has given birth. Mother and child are safe and sound, without any injuries!"

She seemed to have won the lottery, grinning from ear to ear.

Granny Xu carried the cleaned child out: "Third Master, please take a look. He's a handsome young man."

Zhou Jin walked step by step towards the corridor. As he went up the steps, Huaiqiu quickly helped her master.

Zhou Jin steadied himself and walked up the corridor, glancing at the baby in swaddling clothes.

The little one is so disrespectful; she clenches her fists and bursts into tears.

Full of vitality.

Dr. An was already waiting on the side, and the group of people escorted the child to a side room to examine the child's body.

Inside the house, basins of blood were brought out, some deep and some shallow, along with blood-stained cotton cloths.

Everyone was laughing.

Upon seeing Zhou Jin, he said only one thing: "Congratulations, Third Master."

Zhou Jin wanted to go inside, but the midwife stopped him: "The Third Madam needs to rest now, please wait for an hour."

Zhou Jin withdrew one foot that had just stepped across the threshold and instructed Huaiqiu: "Assign a position to her son according to his qualifications, and give him an additional hundred taels of silver."

The midwife knelt down and bowed deeply.

"The entire hospital will receive double the usual reward!"

Huaiqiu was ordered to prepare the reward.

Cuiguo ran out of the house: "Third Master, Madam wants you to personally look after the young master!"

"good."

Before Zhou Jin could ask anything else, Cui Guo had already turned and gone inside.

Zhou Jin then walked towards the side room.

He took a deep breath, then exhaled, and a smile suddenly bloomed in his eyes.

The joy that follows fear is the most profound.

*

The whole household was celebrating, but Aunt Xun was preoccupied with a letter from the capital and had not yet spoken to Li Qu.