Chapter 112◇
◎The Finale Part 2◎
Feng Ran's breathing gradually thinned, and Duan Jingchuan, as if a prophet, promptly released her lips. His warm breath fell on her nose, making her feel lightheaded, and she softly nestled in Duan Jingchuan's arms.
After a long while, Feng Ran finally came to her senses. Staring at Duan Jingchuan's lips, she said with lingering desire, "Husband, you are becoming more and more skilled."
He wiped the sweat from Feng Ran's nose and said, "It's all thanks to Madam for giving me the opportunity to learn."
"Oh, so you still love the children more. Think about it, how long has it been since you kissed me on your own initiative?"
Upon hearing this sentence structure, Duan Jingchuan felt a chill run down his spine, and sweat broke out on his nose.
What does Madam mean by this? Is she really angry? Did he use the wrong approach? Shouldn't he have answered her questions seriously instead of just brushing it off?
Just as Duan Jingchuan was questioning his existence, Feng Ran kept giggling.
"It seems our child will definitely not take after my husband; otherwise, his temperament would surely be better."
"Ouch." Feng Ran frowned and looked at her stomach in surprise.
Duan Jingchuan also felt the considerable force and asked in surprise, "Did he kick you?"
Two hands, one big and one small, were placed on Feng Ran's belly, but the child didn't cooperate, only moving slightly before falling silent again.
Feng Ran's lips trembled slightly. "Husband, could this child resemble me?"
"Isn't it good to be like you?" Duan Jingchuan retorted.
“I don’t want someone like me to compete with you for your favor.”
“Baby, you should be like your husband, or like your father, and be a mighty general.”
No matter how Feng Ran tried to coax her, her belly didn't move at all.
Following the news of Fengran's pregnancy, Wang and Zhou also became pregnant one after another, and both suffered from severe morning sickness.
They weren't as lucky as Feng Ran; at their worst, they couldn't even stand the smell of meat, comparable to Duan Jingchuan's situation back then.
The chefs summoned by Lord Duan came in handy again, and began to prepare various nourishing meals for the other two pregnant women.
However, the other two pregnant women did not have as comfortable a life as Feng Ran. After Feng Ran became pregnant, Duan Jingchuan stayed by her side every step of the way and did not separate rooms from her. However, not long after, their husbands each took in maids to serve as concubines in their rooms.
As a pregnant woman herself, Feng Ran felt immense sympathy for Zhou and Wang, but whenever she encountered the Duan brothers, her eyes would lash out like knives at them.
As the most precious and favored pregnant woman in the entire household, the two brothers naturally dared not offend Feng Ran. They both distanced themselves from the maids who served her, and even if they were not with their wives every day, they would still go to visit them from time to time.
Now, Madam Wang and Madam Zhou were even more grateful to Feng Ran, and they would visit Jinghua Courtyard whenever they had the chance.
The two women had married into the family later and were unaware that outsiders were not allowed to enter Jinghua Courtyard in the past. However, this rule had long since been abolished, and this small courtyard was probably the most popular place for all the women in the household.
Perhaps because there were too many pregnant women in the manor, the old Marquis Duan waved his hand and closed the door to guests. The two brothers, Duan Yuze and Duan Yuzhe, also declined social engagements except for official business, and went home on time to accompany their newlywed wives.
Duan Jingchuan refused all outside affairs and refused to leave his residence. This grand occasion reached the emperor's ears.
The emperor simply laughed it off, “No wonder, it’s rare for the Marquis of Dingbei’s household to have new additions, and this time it’s three. It’s always better to be careful.”
Only then did Prime Minister Wu learn that Feng Ran was pregnant, but since she hadn't informed him, and he didn't want to be given the cold shoulder, he simply pretended that he had never had a daughter named Feng Ran.
All the ladies in charge of the Dingbei Marquis's household are pregnant, so the household management has now fallen to the young ladies who are about to get married.
Duan Yutang and Duan Yuxia will be getting married at the end of the year. At that time, Feng Ran will be about to give birth, so we definitely can't help them with too much. Therefore, their weddings will be handled entirely by Aunt Xu and Aunt Wang.
The two concubines also came from prominent families and were capable of teaching the two girls how to manage a household. Moreover, the mansion had specially hired a governess to assist them, which gave the two girls, who were about to be married, more confidence.
With Qin Shi gone, the two concubines developed a mutual respect and affection for each other. Concubine Xu had no daughter, while Duan Yuxia was well-behaved, cute, smart, and sensible, and they developed a genuine bond with each other.
The two girls were getting married around the same time at the end of the year, and the two aunts couldn't offer much help. The only one they could count on was Feng Ran.
Aunt Wang loved her daughter dearly. Although she was reluctant to see Duan Yutang marry far away, since it was already a fait accompli, she could only try her best to plan for her daughter's future.
"You two sisters should visit Jinghua Courtyard more often and learn from your second sister-in-law."
Aunt Xu nodded in agreement, "Sister is right. Although your second sister-in-law can't teach you much about managing the household, the fact that she can keep her husband firmly in her grasp is a skill that not every girl can do. Even if your second brother is a virtuous man, it's not an easy thing for him. You two sisters should pay more attention to her strengths. If you can learn this skill, you will benefit from it for life."
Duan Yutang nodded somewhat awkwardly.
Duan Yuxia and Feng Ran had a good relationship. Knowing that Duan Yutang was uncomfortable, she took the initiative to speak, "Great! It just so happens that several of our sisters-in-law are currently at Jinghua Courtyard. We can also learn from them how to manage a household."
Duan Yutang, having found a way out, naturally followed suit. Yes, she wasn't going to Jinghua Courtyard to see Feng Ran; she was going to learn how to manage the household from her sisters-in-law.
When the two sisters arrived, a round table had already been set up in Jinghua Courtyard, and even Duan Jingyin was present.
Feng Ran raised an eyebrow at the two sisters, and Lazy Sheep said, "You two are here, have a seat!"
The two sisters, not understanding the meaning, sat down in a daze.
Feng Ran straightened up, cleared her throat, and was about to speak when Duan Jingchuan came out with a dark face, carrying a cushion.
Feng Ran shifted her body slightly, leaning back against the cushion to make her stomach more comfortable. She smiled and said, "Thank you, husband. You can go and attend to your business now. Don't listen to us talking."
Duan Jingchuan raised an eyebrow at the group of women soldiers and said calmly, "Alright, if you need anything, just tell Xiong Qi and Xiu'er."
After watching Duan Jingchuan enter the study, Feng Ran cleared her throat. "Looks like you guys are pretty well-informed. Feng Ran's little class is starting today, so listen carefully!"
The Duan sisters were completely bewildered. Had something happened that they didn't know about? Something seemed off about the scene.
The most obvious signs were Wang and Zhou, who straightened their backs. Even their pale faces due to morning sickness couldn't hide the starlight shining deep in their eyes as they looked at Feng Ran with great anticipation.
Duan Jingyin felt a little uncomfortable, but she still listened attentively.
Relying on her familiarity with Feng Ran, Duan Yuxia couldn't help but ask, "What is Second Sister-in-law trying to do?"
Feng Ran produced a small bamboo stick from somewhere and tapped it on the table in a serious manner. "Aren't you all curious about my way of controlling husbands? Of course, that's what I'll talk about."
Duan Yutang immediately reacted like a rooster with its feathers standing on end, shouting, "Who said that? I didn't!"
Feng Ran stroked her chin, looked at Duan Yutang's flushed face, and chuckled, "Alright, you don't have any, but since you're here today, let's listen together! It's my way of doing my part as your sister-in-law for the future."
Feng Ran took a sip of milk and continued, "There are no outsiders here today, and no one will spread what we said today. You can speak freely and say whatever you want to know, what you are wondering about, what you don't understand, or what you are angry about. Even if I can't come up with a plan by myself, there are so many people who can help me come up with ideas. In the end, we will be able to break out of our predicament."
Feng Ran originally intended to hold this tea party for the three Duan sisters.
Now that Qin is gone, she has a responsibility to guide the three Duan sisters. Although the three sisters were not very likable before, everyone makes mistakes, and as long as they can change, she doesn't need to hold it against them.
Whether you like someone or not is one thing, but responsibility is another, and Feng Ran understands this very clearly.
As for Wang and Zhou, she simply couldn't stand seeing two perfectly good girls, pregnant and having to watch their husbands with other women on either side of them, suffering in silence while pretending to be magnanimous.
She only gave a slight hint, and these two came straight over, which shows they're not pushovers by nature. Since that's the case, why don't we all sit down and have a frank talk?
This table is full of people who live under the same roof. Even if they keep their grievances to themselves, everyone here knows what's going on.
Wang spoke first, "Sister-in-law, I'm not afraid to admit it, but although I come from a humble family, I still hope to have a husband with whom I can grow old together in harmony. But now, I'm pregnant, and I have to watch him take a new wife. I'm really unhappy about it. May I ask, sister-in-law, how do you manage to make the Marquis of Le'an listen to you so much?"
After hearing this, Zhou couldn't help but nod, as this was also what she wanted to know.
Feng Ran didn't answer directly, but turned to the three sisters and asked, "You three are bystanders, so why do you think this is?"
Duan Jingyin is a straightforward person with no ulterior motives. "That's because my second brother is inherently virtuous and upright."
Duan Yuxia also said with certainty, "That's because my second brother and sister-in-law have a very deep relationship and can't tolerate a third person."
Duan Yutang wasn't good at talking and always couldn't help but argue with others. "You've all forgotten that on the first day my second sister-in-law married into the family, she carried her dowry maid in her hand. On the second day, she kicked Aunt Xu. Later, she broke a silver spear with her bare hands. Let alone my second brother, any man, even if he had ten times the courage, would think twice about whether he'd live to have two women on his left and right."
These words left the three Duan family girls looking embarrassed, while the two new wives were hearing about Feng Ran's heroic deeds for the first time. They immediately stared at Feng Ran with admiration, as if wondering how such a small body could unleash such immense power.
Feng Ran ignored the various gazes and simply nodded in affirmation of what the three sisters said, "You are all right, but you don't know that from the very beginning, I made it clear to my husband that as long as I am here, no one else can be with him."
Turning to the two pregnant women with a look of exasperation, she said, "You two are just too weak-willed. Before you entered the manor, they could keep themselves pure. Why can't they after you entered? Your families haven't fallen into ruin yet. You're just getting married, not selling yourselves. Why do you have to stoop so low and fawn over men? Isn't it better to be yourself?"
Ignoring her husband and being herself, having a temper in front of him? These are words that no one else has ever heard before.
Zhou said softly, "But, disrespecting one's husband will result in being divorced."
"So be it. You have a dowry, you're young and beautiful. Being divorced means you're free. Why can't you find someone better?"
Feng Ran didn't say anything about trying to keep her husband or refusing to be divorced. It's true that the world is unfair to women, who can be divorced at will. However, there's no law that says a divorced woman can't find a second spring. As long as she ignores gossip and lives her own life behind closed doors, she might even be better off after being divorced.
Zhou Shi, who had always been meek, suddenly brightened her eyes. It was as if the shackles that had bound her every day had finally found a key to unlock them. When she looked up, she saw the free sunlight.
After dealing with the two pregnant women who were disgusted by their husbands, Feng Ran turned to face the three girls who were about to be married.
"This is for the two of them; the three of you can just listen to it."
Duan Jingyin asked, puzzled, "Does Second Sister-in-law mean we should be more gentle and virtuous?"
Duan Jingyin had her suspicions because the three sisters, though seemingly gentle, each had their own personality and were by no means pushovers.
Feng Ran raised an eyebrow, her eyes full of mockery, "Virtuous and gentle my foot! You two sisters-in-law married up, and the deed is done, so you can only try your best to stand on your own two feet. You three unmarried girls, if you don't arm yourselves with a bit of fierceness, are you going to be mistreated after you marry into the family?"
Even Duan Yutang, who was always somewhat unconventional, was almost speechless with surprise, and stammered, "Are you going to use force to intimidate your future husband?"
Feng Ran's little stick was too short; it could only tap the table a few times. "Girl, you need to be more mindful. Civilized people never use their hands."
As a result, she received a circle of incredulous faces, clearly suspecting that she must have laid a hand on Duan Jingchuan.
Feng Ran's lips twitched with anger, and she couldn't help but touch her belly. "My little one! Your mother is very harmonious, friendly and democratic. Don't be fooled by them."
Duan Yutang transformed into a curious child this time, asking, "Then how should I be fierce?"
Feng Ran wanted to make a good impression on the child, so she put down the small wooden stick, gently stroked her belly, and began to give instructions in a soft voice, "You three sisters are daughters of military families, how can you do this kind of thing yourself? In the future, I will each select two maids with good skills as your dowry, you should make good use of them."
Now that things have come to this point, Feng Ran stopped keeping everyone in suspense. She was getting a little tired of sitting, so she blurted out the rest of her story in one go.
"Actually, I don't have much experience. I just want to tell you that when getting along with others, the first thing is to love yourself and be a good person. As for the rest, if you are willing to love and care for others, that's fine. As long as you live a little selfishly, no matter what kind of people you meet in the future, you won't have a bad life. Besides, you have the backing of two marquis families. If you are really bullied, won't you cry?"
"The reason I called you here today is to tell you this: whatever the grievances we may have had in the past, that was all within this mansion. But once you leave this mansion, you are surnamed Duan, and you will not tolerate being bullied by outsiders. Of course, if you are unreasonable and domineering, I will not interfere."
Just as the slightly wicked little dumpling Zhou Shi Nuonuo spoke up, "Then can we still bully the guy surnamed Duan?"
Before Feng Ran could turn her gaze away, Madam Zhou realized she had asked a stupid question and quickly said, "I didn't say anything. I was just delirious."
Feng Ran's mini-lesson ended just like that. The girls were all filled with ambition and high spirits, and they were all racking their brains, thinking about how to deal with their future husbands.
The Duan brothers felt a chill run down their spines. Looking at the setting sun of early autumn, they both thought that they should wear more clothes tomorrow.
The days quickly passed to the end of December, and Feng Ran, who was almost nine months pregnant, was busy running around.
Duan Jingchuan didn't dare leave her side for even a moment. Even when Feng Ran went to the front yard to entertain the female guests, he followed her with his head bowed and eyes lowered.
With two young women getting married at the same time, the Dingbei Marquis's residence was naturally bustling with activity, but the pressure placed on three pregnant women was indeed quite immense.
The three Duan brothers were remarkably harmonious, and without prior arrangement, they divided the work and managed both the front and back yards, afraid that their pregnant wives might overwork themselves.
Feng Ran also presented two maids who knew martial arts to Duan Yutang and Duan Yuxia, saying to them, "These two maids are quite skilled in martial arts; they are more than enough to protect you."
Then four more boxes were brought out, and the two sisters were treated exactly the same. When the first box was opened, it contained a gleaming dagger.
"Although it's not auspicious to give a knife as a wedding gift, I thought it was a useful item, so I'm giving it to you today. These are three identical daggers that I found in my father's storeroom. I had a skilled craftsman engrave some words on them. They're enough to scare people when you take them out."
The two sisters took the dagger, opened it, and saw the inscription "Presented to my beloved daughter by Duan Zhengjin." They immediately understood that the dagger represented Lord Duan, and also that they were favored daughters. Especially for Duan Yutang, who had married far away, having this dagger would give her much more confidence.
The second box contains a set of headdresses, made according to the months of the two people's births.
"This set of headdresses was painted by your second brother himself and made by the best brothel in the capital, Baihualou. You can take it out and brag about it, saying that it was given to you by the Marquis of Le'an. With such a powerful backer, why not take advantage of it?"
Duan Yutang's tears fell with a thud, landing on the shimmering jewels.
The two sisters knelt down together and sincerely bowed to Feng Ran and Duan Jingchuan, saying, "Thank you, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law. I apologize for what happened in the past."
Duan Jingchuan finally spared a glance at the two sisters, then immediately looked away and said in a low voice, "These are all your sister-in-law's ideas. Live well from now on and don't let her good intentions go to waste."
After seeing the two sisters off in the bridal sedan chair, Duan Jingchuan hurriedly excused himself from the guests, put his arm around Feng Ran's waist, and helped her back to her room without giving her a chance to explain.
Feng Ran was indeed quite tired, and leaned most of her body against Duan Jingchuan. "Husband, being pregnant is really tiring! I feel heavier and heavier these days."
Duan Jingchuan remained silent, but focused even more intently on supporting Feng Ran.
To be honest, Feng Ran's pregnancy was quite fortunate. She had no symptoms whatsoever, ate and slept well in the early stages of pregnancy, and didn't experience cramps or leg swelling in the late stages. The only problem was that her body felt a little heavy. This made the other two pregnant women extremely envious!
Even if Feng Ran didn't have these reactions, Duan Jingchuan didn't dare to relax. Ever since Feng Ran's belly reached five months, he had been on edge every day. Not only did he accompany Feng Ran for walks every day, but he also personally learned massage techniques and would massage her carefully every night before bed.
After helping Feng Ran into the room, Duan Jingchuan didn't call anyone to come and bathe her. Instead, he brought a basin of warm water for Feng Ran to soak her feet, and then moistened a towel to wipe her body. His service was very attentive.
Feng Ran carefully cradled her belly, then looked at the two increasingly full breasts in front of her, and couldn't help but start to act coy again, "Husband, you are becoming less and less interested in me. Even now that I am like this, you only remember to wipe me down."
Duan Jingchuan was too busy to do anything else, so he gave Feng Ran a perfunctory kiss on the corner of her lips. "Don't provoke me. You'll be nine months pregnant tomorrow. You need to rest and recharge."
Feng Ran pouted, her conscience softening a bit. "Then you've worked hard, my husband. You should go to sleep too; you're the most tired one today."
Duan Jingchuan finished wiping her face, gently touched Feng Ran's forehead, and said softly, "It was Madam who worked harder. You go to sleep first, I'll be there in a little while."
Feng Ran was exhausted and slumped onto the pillow, quickly falling into a deep sleep.
When Duan Jingchuan returned, his body still damp with sweat, she was already fast asleep.
Duan Jingchuan didn't go to sleep immediately. He gently and skillfully massaged Feng Ran, watching her furrowed brows slowly relax before he finished.
He lay down on his side and patted her gently. Feng Ran nestled naturally into his arms. He then touched Feng Ran's belly and whispered, "Baby, be good, don't bother your mother. She's tired today."
As if the baby could understand, despite constantly rolling around in Duan Jingchuan's belly, the baby actually calmed down after being soothed by him.
Feng Ran doesn't suffer from the common problems of pregnant women; she doesn't need to get up at night, and she can sleep in until she naturally wakes up every morning.
Every time she woke up, the first thing she saw was Duan Jingchuan's exquisitely handsome face, which could make her happy for a whole day. But today she was woken up by a stomachache and felt something falling down.
Feng Ran had a bad feeling and quickly called out to Duan Jingchuan, "Husband, I think I'm going into labor."
Duan Jingchuan was startled and fully woke up. He first touched Feng Ran's lower body, then touched her forehead, and comforted her, "Don't be afraid, I'll go get someone."
He got out of bed immediately after saying that, not even putting on his boots properly, and stumbled a bit when he reached the door.
Feng Ran's eyes curved into a smile, and it was unclear who was nervous.
The thought of giving birth was just a gut feeling. Her water hadn't broken yet. Feng Ran slowly got up, put on a coat, and planned to wait for Duan Jingchuan to return so he could help her to the delivery room.
Yesterday, the Marquis's family married off their daughter, and the servants were all exhausted. They got up a little late this morning, and when Duan Jingchuan went to knock on the midwife's door, many people were just opening their eyes.
Five midwives were already waiting at the Marquis's residence, wary of the three pregnant ladies giving birth at the same time. As soon as they heard someone knocking on the door, the neatly dressed midwives immediately jumped up.
"Is she about to give birth?"
Duan Jingchuan was still able to remain calm at this moment. "I have contractions in my abdomen, the baby seems to have turned into the correct position, my water hasn't broken, and the mother looks to be in good spirits."
The midwife's brow twitched; it was coming soon. "I'll have someone prepare hot water right away. Please trouble the Marquis to take the lady to the delivery room. We'll be there shortly."
Duan Jingchuan nodded, then quickly ran back to the room. Seeing that Feng Ran was ready, he blamed himself and said, "It was my oversight to leave you alone in the room. Were you scared?"
Feng Ran shook her head. "I'm fine, I feel great, don't be afraid."
Sometimes, she felt as if it wasn't her who was pregnant, but Duan Jingchuan. For the past nine months, he hadn't been able to eat or sleep properly, and the slightest disturbance would send him into a panic. Now that she was about to give birth, she felt relieved; at least after the baby was born, Duan Jingchuan wouldn't have to suffer so much.
Actually, Feng Ran wasn't entirely alone in the room. After Duan Jingchuan frantically ran out of the room, Xiu'er knew that Feng Ran might be about to give birth. She quietly waited at the door for her mistress to summon her. Only when she saw Duan Jingchuan run back did she feel relieved enough to go and arrange other things.
The people in the manor had already rehearsed it a thousand times, and as soon as the news came out, they immediately started operating in an orderly manner.
The midwife first pressed on Feng Ran's belly and then asked Feng Ran how she was feeling. Then her eyes relaxed. "Don't worry, Madam. This pregnancy is going very smoothly. There's still some time left. Madam can eat something to fill her stomach first."
When Xiuer brought over a bowl of noodles, Lord Duan also arrived. He grabbed Xiong Qi and asked him in detail about the situation inside.
"How is Feng Ran? What did the midwife say? Should I prepare two more doctors?"
Xiong Qi answered one by one, "Reporting to the Marquis, everything went smoothly. The midwife said that the lady's position is very correct and she will not suffer too much. She will be born before noon."
"Jingchuan has been inside with her the whole time. Doesn't he plan to come out?"
Xiong Qi shook his head. He had tried to persuade Duan Jingchuan, but Duan Jingchuan was adamant, and there was nothing he could do.
Lord Duan scolded in a low voice: "Nonsense! He's inside keeping her company, which makes him seem very affectionate, but if he gets scared during the delivery, do you think Feng Ran will care about him or the baby?"
Xiong Qi's lips twitched. So you're not afraid of your son entering the delivery room, but rather that he'll delay the birth of your grandson! So, once the next generation arrives, the previous generation will fall out of favor?
Feng Ran, who was on everyone's mind, was leisurely eating noodles. After eating half of the soft-boiled egg, she suddenly put the bowl down.
Duan Jingchuan quickly asked, "What's wrong? Is it not to your liking?"
Feng Ran shook her head, took Duan Jingchuan's hand, and placed it on her stomach.
He thought Feng Ran was not feeling well, so he gently stroked her and said softly, "Be good, baby."
She touched Feng Ran a couple of times and then stopped him.
"Husband, please take this half bowl of noodles out."
Duan Jingchuan shook his head, "Just let Xiuer send it out. I want to stay with you."
The cramps in her stomach became more and more frequent. Feng Ran knew that her time was coming. There was no time to reason with Duan Jingchuan gently. She directly ordered, "Husband, I'm about to give birth. I don't want you to see me. Get out of here now, or I'll get angry."
Duan Jingchuan was about to say something, but seeing Feng Ran's face gradually contorted with pain, and her constant urging him to leave, he shut his mouth and walked out, turning back every three steps.
Seeing that the person had left, Feng Ran breathed a sigh of relief and shouted, "Midwife, hurry up, I'm about to give birth!"
As soon as Lord Marquis Duan saw Duan Jingchuan come out, he immediately pulled him aside and asked, "How is it inside? Has the baby been born?"
Duan Jingchuan shook his head blankly, "She's about to give birth."
"Then what are you doing out here?"
Xiong Qi and Lao Li's lips twitched; the Marquis hadn't been like this just now.
Duan Jingchuan gently pried open Old Marquis Duan's hand and stood aside like a door god, saying, "Madam won't let me see."
In the early winter, a cold wind was blowing. Duan Jingchuan was covered in cold sweat, and his face was pale, clearly from being too nervous.
Lord Duan cursed inwardly at this man who had never seen anything like it.
The delivery room was quiet, and not a sound could be heard from Feng Ran. Duan Jingchuan became even more nervous, gripping the door tightly, as if he was about to rush in at any moment.
Lord Duan was also panicking. He knew that women usually screamed pitifully during childbirth, so why was Feng Ran making no sound at all? But he dared not speak up and put pressure on Duan Jingchuan, fearing that he might get agitated and cause something bad to happen.
An hour had passed, and apart from the midwife's soft whispers, Feng Ran's voice was still not heard.
Even the old Marquis Duan was almost unsteady on his feet, but seeing Duan Jingchuan standing like a wooden stake, his body stiff, he knew this couldn't go on, so he asked, "Have you decided what to name my grandson?"
It took three repetitions to finally get Duan Jingchuan's attention back a little. He asked blankly, "Didn't you name him, Father?"
"Your son asked me to name you, how come you're so carefree!"
After being sprayed in the face with spittle from Old Master Duan, Duan Jingchuan asked dumbfoundedly, "Why can't it be a daughter?"
“If it’s a granddaughter, that’s even worse. She’s about to be born and doesn’t even have a name yet. Don’t you like daughters?” Old Marquis Duan also imitated Feng Ran’s speaking style, forcefully interrupting Duan Jingchuan’s thoughts.
Why does my father look so much like my wife? He's so good at being unreasonable. Three question marks slowly appeared on Duan Jingchuan's forehead.
This interruption eased Duan Jingchuan's tension considerably, and as he breathed a sigh of relief, a short cry of a baby came from inside the room.
"It's born! It's born!" A midwife was the first to come out and congratulate them. "Congratulations to the two marquises! Congratulations on the birth of a young master!"
Duan Jingchuan ignored the child and hurriedly asked, "Where is my wife? Why can't I hear her voice?"
"My lord, don't worry. The lady's delivery went very smoothly. She didn't suffer much and is still awake." The midwives beamed with joy. They had never seen a first delivery go so smoothly. She was clearly blessed.
"May I go in now?"
"Of course you can, but be careful not to bring the cold air in."
Duan Jingchuan entered the room and first went to the brazier to warm himself up. After feeling that there was no cold air, he rushed to Feng Ran's bedside and gently held Feng Ran's hand as if it were a fragile porcelain doll, not daring to grab it too hard.
Holding a cotton handkerchief, she gently wiped the fine sweat from Feng Ran's forehead, her expression extremely tender. "My lady, you've worked so hard. We will never have any more children."
Feng Ran actually felt fine. Apart from the initial pain, she felt unusually relaxed after giving birth, as if the snail shell she had carried for many years had been shed. Although she felt persistently tired, she was unusually excited and even wanted to get out of bed and run a couple of laps.
Duan Jingchuan seemed to be in a bad mood. He had been anxious before giving birth, and now that the mother was pregnant, she was worried that her husband might be depressed instead of the mother. Feng Ran cheered herself up and began to comfort Duan Jingchuan.
"Husband, have you checked on the child?"
Feng Ran only glanced at the baby briefly when it was born, and then thought it was too ugly, so she had the midwife take it away. Now, in order to divert Duan Jingchuan's attention, she didn't care about whether the baby was ugly or not.
Duan Jingchuan didn't even look, but the midwife, being very perceptive, immediately took the baby from him.
"Madam, the young master is very well-behaved. He doesn't cry or make a fuss. He's also very handsome and adorable."
Before Duan Jingchuan could look over, Feng Ran suddenly grabbed his hand, "Husband, if I give birth to an ugly child, you can't blame me, right?"
Duan Jingchuan smiled gently, his eyes warm and gentle. "How could our child be ugly? If he is not good-looking, then it is my fault."
The midwife grinned from ear to ear, "My lord, my lady, the young master is quite handsome, please take a look."
Newborn babies are all red and wrinkled, their eyes haven't even opened yet, how can you tell they're pretty?
Feng Ran glanced at it again, then quickly turned her head away, clearly resistant to the idea that this was the child she had given birth to.
Duan Jingchuan had never seen a newborn before, but through Feng Ran's lens, he felt the child was incredibly cute. It wasn't exactly beautiful, but that didn't matter; this was Feng Ran's precious child for him.
The new father didn't know how to hold the baby, so the two of them just looked at it, and the midwife took the baby away to take care of it.
Once the child was out of sight, Feng Ran turned her head and glanced at the midwife's retreating figure before suddenly asking, "What's the little one's name?"
Duan Jingchuan shuddered and reflexively said, "Don't worry, Madam. I don't discriminate against girls or boys. You take a nap, and I'll go pick out a name right away."
Why such a strong reaction? Feng Ran's eyes flashed with doubt. She touched the dark circles under Duan Jingchuan's eyes with heartache and said with a mischievous thought, "Father would be very happy to have this name. If my husband doesn't mind, please sleep with me for a while."
The delivery room had been cleaned up long ago, but Feng Ran's lochia had not yet cleared up. Normally, men would not sleep with their wives at this time.
Duan Jingchuan didn't have many reservations. He immediately took off his coat, climbed onto the bed, and carefully pulled Feng Ran into his arms. In the past, when he reached around her waist, his large hands would rest directly on Feng Ran's stomach. This time, her stomach was flat, leaving only a soft layer of flabby flesh.
Feng Ran said unhappily, "It's greasy, husband, you'd better not touch it."
"It's okay. Once you've recovered, I'll help you move around more, and it'll go away in a few days." Duan Jingchuan was hesitant to touch Feng Ran's body, afraid that it would hurt her.
Feng Ran wanted to be unreasonable, but being enveloped by Duan Jingchuan's aura, her late-arriving fatigue finally overwhelmed her, and her desire to retort was replaced by a peaceful sleep.
The old Marquis Duan was content with having a grandson. After seeing that good-for-nothing Duan Jingchuan sneak into the room and never come out again, the corner of his mouth twitched several times. Only after holding his grandson in his arms did he mutter, "Your father is a good-for-nothing. He can't walk away when he sees your mother. It's only because your grandfather cares about you. From now on, we, grandfather and grandson, will live well together and ignore them."
The little one in my arms blew out a tiny bubble, then continued sleeping with her finger in her mouth.
When Duan Jingchuan and Feng Ran woke up the next day, they were disturbed by the baby's crying.
The child in the next room was crying so hard it was heartbreaking, and Feng Ran felt a pang of sympathy and couldn't help but get up to go and see what was wrong.
Duan Jingchuan quickly pressed Feng Ran down, "Madam, don't worry, I'll go take a look."
Upon seeing Duan Jingchuan, the old women seemed to have seen a savior. "Young Master, the young master refuses to nurse and cries incessantly. May we ask if the madam may feed him herself?"
Wet nurses and nannies, being experienced and knowledgeable, had naturally seen children like this before—children who only wanted breast milk and refused any wet nurses. However, young ladies from ordinary families were usually pampered and never offered to breastfeed, which is why they dared not bring up the topic.
If it weren't for Lord Duan's presence, they wouldn't have dared to say those words.
Duan Jingchuan looked at the small, limp child and felt a little panicked. He forced himself to say, "Let me hold you."
The child was extremely intelligent. As if knowing that this was his father's embrace, he stopped crying as soon as he entered. He nuzzled against Duan Jingchuan's chest, but finding nothing, he continued to wail loudly. Duan Jingchuan's scalp tingled from the crying, and he stiffly held the child, at a loss for what to do.
Lord Duan was heartbroken and could only suggest, "Why don't you carry her over and let Feng Ran see her? If she's willing to feed her, that would be best. If not, I'll think of something else."
Duan Jingchuan nodded stiffly, preparing to take the child to the next room.
The wet nurse quickly pulled Duan Jingchuan aside and whispered something in his ear. Duan Jingchuan blushed and took the child to find Feng Ran.
Although she disliked the child's appearance, Feng Ran still felt sorry for the child because the child kept crying.
After listening to Duan Jingchuan's stammering explanation, she didn't care about anything else and directly picked up the baby to prepare to breastfeed.
Note that it is "lift".
Duan Jingchuan was terrified. "Madam, slow down, his bones are still weak."
"Isn't it said that children won't amount to anything if they aren't toughened up? Wrapped up like a dumpling, what kind of trouble can you expect from them?" Feng Ran knew she had been rude, but despite her words, she still softened her touch.
Upon smelling the food, the child immediately lowered their head and inhaled deeply, behaving very obediently.
A whole night passed, and the child had grown quite a bit, his skin becoming much fairer and rosier. Feng Ran, somewhat clumsily supporting the child's little bottom, exclaimed in surprise, "Husband, he seems to have become more handsome."
Duan Jingchuan was also surprised, "The wet nurse was just teaching me how to feed the baby, but I didn't expect that Madam had learned it all on her own."
Feng Ran didn't even look up, muttering, "Isn't this just your alternate version?"
The child was named Duan Yunzheng, a name that Old Master Duan racked his brains to come up with, and the young couple had no objections.
Duan Yunzheng was a well-behaved baby. Except for his first milk, which he insisted on taking from his mother, he would accept any milk offered and had an exceptionally large appetite. As a result, the manor specially prepared two wet nurses.
It wasn't that Feng Ran didn't feed him herself, but that baby Duan Yunzheng only ate that one time, and after that, he refused to eat another bite, as if he thought his biological mother's food wasn't delicious enough.
In response, Feng Ran even let the large baby take a bite, insisting that he say it tasted good before she would stop.
After having a wet nurse, Duan Jingchuan and his new husband had no pressure in raising a child. All the big and small matters concerning the child were taken care of by Old Master Duan. Even Duan's brothers and sisters and his two new wives all liked this child who never cried or made a fuss.
The two pregnant women, who were about to give birth, often hovered around Duan Yunzheng's baby, saying, "Seeing such a beautiful and well-behaved child, I'm sure I'll be able to give birth to one just like him someday."
Another year of snow-covered landscapes and blooming plum blossoms. The high walls and courtyards isolated the undercurrents of the outside world. Under the sparse stars and bright moon, Feng Ran gazed at the night sky and asked, "My husband, are you happy?"
Duan Jingchuan smiled gently, his eyes softening. "I am very happy, I couldn't be happier. Has Madam ever regretted it?"
Feng Ran's heart softened. "You are my completeness."
The End —
A note from the author:
Braving the elements, we finally found our way home. With you by my side, I am overjoyed. This concludes the main text; may you find your own wonderful story.
Bonus chapters will be released irregularly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com