For a moment, the mansion became unusually calm, or rather, peaceful.

Jiaming was taking care of her pregnancy in a leisurely manner, waiting for Hongxuan to return every five days to cultivate a bond between him and the baby in her womb.

Actually, Jiaming knew the benefits of prenatal education, but she was a bit lazy, so she grabbed Hongxuan, the little strongman.

Moreover, this is also a way to guide the little one's learning.

So she said to the little one, "Do you want a little brother? A little brother who will listen to you?"

Xiao Hongxuan blinked and said excitedly, "Of course I want to!"

That's simple. Just read to your younger brother more often and tell him stories so he gets used to your voice. He'll definitely like you a lot in the future.

The little guy was very interested in raising his younger brother himself, so he did as he was told.

But day after day, he waited and waited, and there was still no sign of his younger brother. There were still several months to go, and Xiao Hongxuan was getting frustrated and didn't want to keep going.

“Xuan’er, you must be persistent in doing things…” Jiaming took this opportunity to educate Hongxuan, encouraging him to persevere and cultivate his patience.

The little guy has always been sensible and naturally understood the reasoning Jiaming was giving him, but he was still somewhat unwilling.

Jiaming thought about it and felt that simply reasoning with him wouldn't be enough; it would be best to guide him subtly.

So, what methods should we use to guide them?

Jiaming touched her big belly, looked at Hongxuan who was pouting and unwilling, and frowned in thought.

Suddenly, a smile appeared on her lips, then her expression quickly changed, and she said wearily, "Sigh, your mother reads to your brother and tells him stories every day, it's quite tiring. Can't you come back these next few days to help your mother and let her rest for a couple of days?"

Xiao Hongxuan's eyes widened, his mouth slightly open, about to say something, when he was interrupted by Jiaming's words.

"Sigh, I know this is too much trouble for you, and I don't want to do this either, but," Jiaming said, covering her face, then, putting on a dramatic act, her eyes quickly welled up with tears, "I can't not read to your little brother and tell him stories. This is prenatal education. You were raised like this when you were little, which is why you are so smart. If I don't give your little brother prenatal education, what if he's a little slow? What if he's too slow? What if your father doesn't like him? Waaah!"

Xiao Hongxuan's throat was a little dry, and he couldn't speak for a moment, but that didn't stop his mind from racing.

"Mother, do you have to change so drastically? It's so contradictory!"

"Is it okay for you to cry like this? Actually, what you care about with prenatal education isn't that it will make your son as smart as me, but that you hope your son can persevere in doing something, right?!"

"After all, you were just giving your son a serious lecture earlier, teaching him to persevere, which is why you had him continue reciting stories to his younger brother, right?!"

"Mother, your acting is a bit fake, your son can tell."

The last thought flashed through Xiao Hongxuan's mind, and he was about to say it when Jiaming interrupted him.

"This should be Mother's responsibility, but Mother is just too tired. Waaah, I have to cook by myself and take care of things in Peach Garden. Waaah, and your father's wife in the backyard is always causing trouble, always finding fault with Mother. Waaah, each thing takes so much energy and effort. Look, I have to read to your brother and tell him stories again. Mother just hopes that you can help Mother for a couple of days each time you come back, so that Mother can rest for a while."

After Jiaming finished her tearful story, she looked at Xiao Hongxuan with anticipation and said, "Xuan'er, you've always been good to your mother, you'll definitely help your mother, right?"

Xiao Hongxuan's mouth moved, as if he wanted to say, "Mother, your acting wasn't convincing, your son can see through it, so you won't agree?"

But when he met his mother's moist eyes, the little guy couldn't bring himself to say it. His heart softened, and even though he knew it was just his mother trying to trick him, he still replied, "Okay!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his mother perked up instantly. The fact that her eyes were wet was just his imagination. Xiao Hongxuan was speechless for a moment, and of course, he felt a little upset.

However, once he made a promise, he had to keep it; this was Hongxuan's principle. Moreover, the moment he wavered even slightly, he would hear his mother's cries and her wet eyes again, and then he would become determined again and continue.

Gradually, Hongxuan discovered that it was actually quite nice to recite texts and tell stories to his mother every five days. His mother would listen attentively to his stories, and sometimes she would even point out the flaws in his stories. At these times, the feeling of arguing with his mother was quite enjoyable.

Especially when he wins an argument with his mother, the feeling is simply exhilarating!

These peaceful days passed by one by one, and soon, two pebbles were thrown into the lake, instantly causing ripples on the calm surface.

The two young ladies-in-waiting, Suochuoluo and Geng, who had been given to the Fourth Prince, have entered his household.

One is Geng, who had a good ending in her previous life, and the other is Mannu.

People think of Hongzhou from the previous life when they think of Geng Shi. Although Geng Shi and her child may have changed in this life, they might still be the same as in the previous life. So they are somewhat wary of her, but not much.

But the other woman, Suochuoluo, is different. She is a Manchu woman who entered the mansion in place of Niohuru from the previous life. If she also gives birth to a prince, she is very likely to be another Niohuru.

The thought of this possibility stirred a complex mix of emotions in those who knew about their past lives.

We must never allow the Suochuoluo clan to become the Niohuru clan; we must eliminate this possibility.

So, having just been reprimanded by the Fourth Master, they, excluding Jiaming, couldn't help but get moving again.

Previously, Fourth Master had targeted and eliminated the forces under their command, but that doesn't mean that all of their subordinates had been taken over by Fourth Master. There were always some who were deeply hidden or those who had just been subdued and could still be used.

After the Fourth Prince eliminated the influence of the women in his harem, although he secretly left people to keep an eye on things in the mansion, his previous actions had left traces of his men. Therefore, it was acceptable for the wives and concubines to secretly do small things behind the Fourth Prince's back.

Moreover, the Fourth Prince never expected that his wife and the others would be so bold. He thought that his wife, Lady Li, Lady Hesheli, and the others would be too afraid of the heavy losses to keep quiet for a long time.

The Fujin and the others were quiet for a while, but that period was rather short. Their fear of another Niohuru clan member far outweighed their fear of the Fourth Prince.

So, on the very night that Suochuoluo entered the mansion, she was tricked by the three women: the Fujin, Li, and Hesheli.

Apart from Jiaming, who vaguely discovered this due to the vast and secretive network of relationships within the mansion, no one knew that Suochuoluo had actually been given a sterilization drug.

Jiaming had initially felt sorry for Suochuoluo, but on the day of her visit, Suochuoluo looked at her sideways, and she immediately stopped feeling sorry for her and instead felt schadenfreude.

Hey, it's actually quite good that the wives and the others are teaming up.