Chapter 165 Xu Chumian's Pregnancy Care
Since Zhao Yu left the capital, Xu Chumian has been spending more time at Heyun Courtyard.
Her body was becoming increasingly cumbersome, so Xiao Tao slept directly on the soft couch in the inner room, so that she could be of immediate use if the young master's wife felt hot or cold in the middle of the night.
Zhao Lingyao and Madam Zhang would visit her every two days.
Once Xu Chumian felt better, she would take a walk around the mansion with a few maids.
Zhao Yu had only been gone from the capital for ten days. Xu Chumian didn't want to admit it, but it was the truth, and she started to miss him.
She couldn't help but sigh softly and rub her round belly.
Xiao Tao rushed over from the courtyard, "Madam, the young master has sent word back."
Xu Chuming looked surprised, but a smile appeared between her brows. "So soon? Let's go back."
Qiu Yu couldn't help but say, "Madam, please be careful."
Xu Chumian hummed in agreement. She had been longing for this child for a long time and was extremely careful every time she went out.
Back in the courtyard, the messenger was one of Zhao Yu's personal guards.
Xu Chumian couldn't help but ask, "Have we arrived in Jiangnan yet?"
"I turned back to the capital when we were nearing Jiangnan. Judging by the days, the young master should have arrived around the day before yesterday."
Zhao Yu rode a horse, which was much faster than a normal carriage.
Xu Chumian chuckled and went into the inner room to open the letter.
The letter was written in a handwriting familiar to Xu Chumian, strong and vigorous, with a distinctive style. It asked Chumian how things were these past few days, whether the child was still fussy, and whether she was sleeping soundly at night.
Xu Chumian's eyes welled up with tears as she read the letter. Pregnant women are often more sensitive and sentimental than usual. She wiped the tears from her eyes. The letter ended with him saying that he was doing well and everything was fine, and that Xu Chumian should not worry.
There was a nearly dried-up crabapple blossom left in the envelope.
Xu Chumian had a faint smile on her face.
The guard then went to deliver a message to Duke Zhao and Lady Zhang.
Xu Chumian took this opportunity to write back to Zhao Yu.
Seeing this letter is like meeting you in person.
Xu Chumian picked up her pen, but hesitated to put it down.
She placed her left hand on her stomach. She had so much to say before, but now, she didn't know how to begin writing.
So, following Zhao Yu's lead, she replied that everything was fine and the baby in her womb wasn't bothering her.
Finally, Xu Chumian wrote:
Baby and I both miss you.
After sealing the letter, Xu Chumian's face flushed.
Since becoming pregnant, she has had difficulty concentrating every day, and in the past few days she has only had time to make a pair of shoes and socks for Zhao Yu.
It was placed together with the children's small clothes.
Xu Chumian carefully wrapped the cloth around the item and handed it to the guard, instructing him to deliver it to Zhao Yu.
Perhaps because she received news from Zhao Yu today, Xu Chumian slept very well that night.
As the child grows older, the weather outside also gets cooler.
When Xu Chumian went for a walk after dinner, she had to wear a cloak outside. The cool air filled her nostrils as Zhao Lingyao whispered in her ear.
Zhao Lingyao started talking about her new storybook.
He would occasionally ask Xu Chumian for advice.
Xu Chumian was bored at night, so the two sisters-in-law would stay in the Heyun Courtyard tea room whenever they had nothing to do.
The second wife personally came several times to drag Zhao Lingyao away, fearing that Zhao Lingyao would disturb Xu Chumian's rest.
Xu Chumian always had a gentle smile between her brows.
In the first month after Zhao Yu left the capital, His Highness the Crown Prince brought Rong Chang to visit Xu Chumian.
Rongchang seemed to have grown taller. The palace used many effective scar-removing medicines, and the marks on her face were no longer visible. Her eyes and brows now held a more composed and aloof air.
However, the moment Rongchang saw Xu Chumian, she became the little girl he had watched grow up.
Rongchang curiously touched Xu Chumian's belly.
"Sister, how much longer until you give birth?"
Xu Chumian is now six months pregnant.
The baby will be born in a little over three months.
The Crown Prince remained in the front courtyard and did not come to the Heyun Courtyard.
Rongchang said, "I heard my elder brother, the Crown Prince, mention that Brother Zhao Yu will be back soon."
Xu Chumian responded with a soft "hmm".
During this month, she frequently received letters from Zhao Yu.
In yesterday's letter, he only said that if everything goes smoothly, he might be able to set off for Beijing in two months.
But disaster relief doesn't always happen in such a short time.
Xu Chumian doesn't ask for anything else now. It doesn't matter if he can't make it back in time for the baby to be born. As long as he is safe and sound in Jiangnan, that's enough.
During this trip out of the palace, Rongchang also prepared some trinkets for his unborn nephews and nieces.
"He can play with it after he's born."
Xu Chumian patted Rongchang's hair and reminded her younger sister to balance work and rest in addition to attending classes every day.
The imperial family was strict, and judging from Emperor Mingde's attitude towards Rongchang, he did not intend to raise his only daughter into an innocent and ignorant princess.
Rongchang, however, was not thinking about these things.
Zhao Yu's brother told her that only when she stands high enough and has enough in her hands can she protect the people she truly wants to protect.
Rongchang and the Crown Prince did not stay long at the Duke of Zhao's residence; they did not even have time for dinner before returning to the palace.
That evening, Madam Zhao summoned Xu Chumian to Ci'en Hall for dinner.
The wives of the first and second wives were also present.
During the meal, the topic of Zhao Lingyao's marriage came up.
Zhao Lingyao, however, kept changing the subject and refused to give a direct answer.
Xu Chumian could roughly guess Zhao Lingyao's thoughts, guessing that she still couldn't forget the third-ranked scholar named Li Mingze.
The third-ranking scholar now works at the Hanlin Academy, so Zhao Lingyao has no chance to meet him.
Xu Chumian said gently, "This matter depends on fate. Perhaps the timing is just not right for that person to appear."
Zhao Lingyao immediately gave Xu Chumian a grateful look.
She truly deserves to be called her sister-in-law.
The second wife couldn't help but pat Zhao Lingyao on the shoulder, "You never do anything proper all day long."
Zhao Qian also spoke up for his sister, saying, "How old is your sister? I'm not even married yet, what's the rush for her?"
Just as the second master was about to speak, the second mistress's gaze slowly shifted over.
The second master choked. Ever since that concubine incident, the second mistress had never given him a kind look, nor would she allow him to go to her courtyard. In short, the second mistress had already gotten used to living in the Duke of Zhao's mansion, and she didn't want to go through the trouble of divorce again. In short, out of sight, out of mind. As long as no one dared to bully Zhao Qian and Ling Yao, the second mistress was not in a hurry.
Furthermore, with Old Madam Zhao and her elder brother and sister-in-law all siding with the Second Madam, she felt even less afraid.
The second wife glanced coldly at Zhao Qian, "You're not married yet, and you're proud of that? Men and women are different. If a girl is still unmarried after eighteen, she becomes an old maid. I'd like to support Lingyao for the rest of my life. The spittle from those aristocratic families in the capital could drown Lingyao."
Zhao Lingyao touched her nose. "Mother, I'm only sixteen. There's no rush."
Second Madam: "There's no rush to get married, let's get engaged first."
Zhao Lingyao cried out to God for help.
Madam Zhao tapped her cane. "Alright, Chu Mian is right. This matter depends on fate. We can't just marry off Ling Yao to someone who seems suitable. There's no rush."
Since Madam Zhao had spoken, no one else dared to say anything more.
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