When Liu Yi heard that Xiao Qin'er was about to give birth, he sobered up instantly.
He rushed over in a hurry, and when Pei saw him, she raised her hand to hit him.
As a result, his hand stopped in mid-air and he couldn't continue hitting.
She simply pointed at Liu Yi and said, "Look at what you have done. It's simply ridiculous."
Liu Yi wiped his face and said, "Qin'er, are you okay?"
"It's still unclear. The child hasn't come out yet. You should first think about how to explain it to your in-laws. They haven't seen you for a whole day, and they sent people to look for you but couldn't find you. Your in-laws are very unhappy."
Liu Yi looked guilty and said, "My son just went out to have some fun."
Pei scolded angrily, "You're still trying to hide this from me. Your cronies said it themselves. Aside from a few drinks at the beginning, we haven't seen each other since you returned to the capital. They don't know what you've been up to."
Liu Yi was shocked, "My mother even found out this."
Pei's face was stern. "My in-laws are guarding here, how can I neglect them? If I can't give face to the Xiao family, I have to give face to the Concubine Shu. Come up with a reason quickly and think about how to explain it."
"My son just went out to have fun."
"Who can you fool with this? What did you do outside? Do you really think that this princess doesn't know?"
Liu Yi felt guilty, "Mother, have you guessed it?"
Pei said angrily, "Hurry up and clean up your affairs outside."
Liu Yi nodded, but he was thinking that this period of time could not pass, so he could only stay in the mansion honestly.
After a day and night of hard work, Xiao Qin'er gave birth to a boy weighing seven kilograms at dawn.
Liu Yi was overjoyed. He was a father now, and to a son. His son was the eldest grandson of the royal family, haha.
"Reward, reward everyone in the mansion."
"Thank you for the reward, sir."
When Mrs. Pei woke up this morning, she heard that Xiao Qin'er had given birth to a boy. She was also very happy and said, "She deserves a generous reward."
Then she warned Liu Yi, "Qin'er gave birth to a son for you. You should quickly focus on your work and take care of the things going on outside. Don't let Qin'er find out."
"My son knows."
Liu Yi quietly instructed Wang Shun, "Go over there for me and tell her to behave herself and not make a fuss. I can't go over there recently, so I'll go visit him after I'm done with this busy period."
"As you command," Wang Shun took the order and left.
Gu Jiu and Ouyang Fu came with gifts to congratulate Xiao Qin'er.
No one dared to send food, for fear that something might go wrong and they wouldn’t be able to wash it off even if they jumped into the Yellow River.
I don’t dare to send the medicinal materials, because if something goes wrong with them, I won’t be able to explain it.
The two of them chose to send cloth without any prior agreement.
Gu Jiu selected four pieces of brocade and four pieces of cotton cloth and sent them over.
Ouyang Fu only gave cotton cloth.
The two were invited into the bedroom together, and the first thing they saw was the little child lying next to Xiao Qin'er's pillow.
A newborn baby is not pretty, with its wrinkled and red face. But seeing it sleeping soundly with its fists clenched tightly, it looks very cute.
Ouyang Fu's heart melted when she saw the child.
In the past two years, she has dreamed of getting pregnant, but her stomach has not been cooperating and there has been no movement.
Seeing Xiao Qin'er's child, she was very envious. She went to the bed and looked at it carefully. "The child is so cute, and looks like my younger brother and sister."
"Does it really look like me?"
Xiao Qin'er smiled, looking contented with having a son.
Ouyang Fu nodded, "She really looks like my sister-in-law."
Xiao Qin'er smiled so hard that her teeth were visible.
"Before, my mother said that I gave birth to the eldest grandson of the palace and was a hero to the palace. What kind of hero am I? I just hope that the child can grow up safely and without illness or disaster. Oh, sister-in-law, I hope you won't be offended. Look at my words, they are really unpleasant."
Gu Jiu smiled. Xiao Qin'er was a new mother, so she didn't bother with her.
She said, "Your sister-in-law is indeed a hero, and no one can erase this. As for me, your sister-in-law has no need to worry. Everyone has their own destiny of having children, and I am not in a hurry."
"The eldest master is not young anymore, isn't the sister-in-law really worried?" Ouyang Fu asked curiously.
Gu Jiu sat down on the stool beside the bed and said, "I'm really not in a hurry. Pregnancy and childbirth are both very difficult. Take your time, and you'll experience it sooner or later."
Ouyang Fu lowered her head and smiled, "Sister-in-law has an open mind, I am ashamed of myself."
Gu Jiu chuckled softly, "Actually, a woman's pregnancy is also related to her mood. If she's too worried and anxious, she might not be able to conceive even though she wants one. But once she gives up and lets nature take its course, she'll be able to conceive soon. There are many such examples."
Ouyang Fu looked thoughtful and asked, "Really?"
"Of course it's true." Gu Jiu said firmly.
Xiao Qin'er smiled and said, "I didn't expect that my sister-in-law knows so much. She even knows how a woman can get pregnant."
Gu Jiu said softly, "I love reading and observing the people around me. Over time, I will naturally discover some patterns."
Xiao Qin'er scoffed at Gu Jiu's words, but Ouyang Fu took them to heart.
She hasn't been able to conceive for two years. Could it be because she thinks too much and is nervous all day long?
There was a noise at the door, and everyone turned around to see that it was Liu Yi.
Liu Yi came to visit Xiao Qiner.
Xiao Qin'er's face fell instantly.
She took a series of deep breaths, finally suppressing her inner anger, and called out softly, "Cousin!"
"Qin'er, you've worked hard."
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "You two can chat, my second brother and his wife and I will take our leave first."
"Take care, my two sisters-in-law."
When they reached the garden, Ouyang Fu said, "Fourth Brother's wife and Fourth Young Master will probably have a quarrel."
Gu Jiu had a different opinion. "Not necessarily. I think she has suppressed her anger. She should be patient for a while and wait until she is over her confinement before talking about other things."
Ouyang Fu said, "It's really hard for Fourth Sister-in-law. Such a terrible thing happened during childbirth. I hope it won't affect her confinement. If she gets postpartum illness, that would be troublesome."
Gu Jiu smiled softly, "Don't worry, even though Fourth Sister-in-law seems to be a bit noisy, if something really happens, she will have a plan in mind."
Ouyang Fu agreed with this.
Xiao Qin'er usually makes a lot of noise, but it's all about small things. When faced with a big situation, she will know when to advance and retreat.
Her son and health are the most important at this time, and she will definitely not quarrel with Liu Yi during the confinement period.
If you want to make a fuss, wait until you are out of confinement and have recovered your health.
As expected, Xiao Qin'er and Liu Yi looked very loving and there was no quarrel.
Pei thought that Xiao Qin'er didn't know that Liu Yi had a mistress outside, but she didn't know that Xiao Qin'er knew it very well.
Madam Xiao did advise Xiao Qin'er, "I think my son-in-law is really absurd. I don't know what he is doing outside. You should keep a close eye on him on weekdays and don't let him be fooled by people outside."
Xiao Qin'er said dejectedly, "How can I care about him? He goes out all day and comes back drunk, reeking of alcohol. It's almost suffocating."
Madam Xiao said, "Tell him to drink less. If he starts drinking at such a young age, what will he do when he gets older?"
Xiao Qin'er nodded. "I will persuade him, but I'm afraid he won't listen to me. Mother, I feel very sad too. Men are nothing."
"What's wrong? What's wrong? You can't cry during confinement. Did Liu Yi bully you? Tell me, and I'll go to the palace to find Concubine Shu."
Xiao Qin'er held back her tears. "My cousin didn't bully me. It's just that before we got married, he listened to me in everything. But after we got married, he became a completely different person. When I talk to him, he's always impatient, as if everything I say is offensive. It's really too much."
Madam Xiao laughed. "You scared me. I thought that brat Liu Yi had bullied you. Men are always like this. They're one way before marriage, and then another after marriage when their true nature is revealed."
Just like your father, before he got married, he would blush whenever he talked to me. Look at him now, does he still blush? His face is stern, his eyes are glaring, he is more powerful than anyone else, very scary.
Xiao Qin'er laughed, then felt a little sad, "Doesn't mother blame you?"
"What are you complaining about? We've been married for decades and have been through this. I've long been used to it. You, too, should be more open-minded. It doesn't matter if a man has many flaws. The most important thing is that he treats you well and knows how to care for you. Does Liu Yi care about you?"
Xiao Qin'er nodded and said, "He feels sorry for me." But he feels even more sorry for the woman outside.
She pinched the fur quilt, feeling a surge of discomfort in her heart, but she had to convince herself to be patient.
"You've always been strong-willed, and now that you're a mother, you need to learn to be gentle. Use gentleness to overcome hardness, and never confront men head-on. Men are all about face, so you need to give them enough face in front of others."
Mrs. Xiao spoke earnestly.
Xiao Qin'er nodded, but didn't take it seriously.
She already had her own ideas in mind, but now she was just keeping them to herself.
…
On the twenty-eighth day of the lunar year, Liu Zhao finally returned from the military camp. This time he was able to rest for a month.
Liu Zhao had a scruffy beard and had taken people to a place hundreds of miles away to perform official duties. He had been gone for more than half a month and had no time to tidy himself up.
Gu Jiu looked at him with disdain, then told the maid to prepare hot water.
She said, "Don't come near me until you're clean."
Being despised like this, Liu Zhao's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot and he looked unhappy.
Gu Jiu personally served tea, "Come, have a cup of tea to quench your thirst first. This year's winter tea won't make you get angry."
Liu Zhao stared at Gu Jiu's hands. They were thin and long, with fair and tender skin. They were really beautiful.
He stretched out his hand and wanted to hold Gu Jiu's hand.
As a result, Gu Jiu despised him and refused to let him shake hands.
"Wash it clean first."
Liu Zhao looked resentful and shouted to the outside, "Is the hot water ready?"
"Sir, the hot water is ready, you can wash up anytime."
Liu Zhan stood up and snorted at Gu Jiu, "I'll settle the score with you after I've cleaned myself up."
Gu Jiu: Haha!
She still had a score to settle with Liu Zhao, and Liu Zhao had the nerve to ask her to settle it.
By the time Liu Zhao finished washing, the sun was setting and it was time for dinner.
The table was full of dishes that Liu Zhao liked.
Liu Zhao was surprised. "Did you ask Qian Fu to prepare this specifically?"
Gu Jiu shook his head. "Although I haven't spent much time with you, I've figured out your preferences. How is it? Is it delicious?"
Liu Zhao drank half a bowl of soup first, then ate a piece of crispy chicken. "Not bad, it's still the same chef."
Gu Jiu picked up some food for him.
Liu Zhao enjoyed it as a matter of course, but he was still a little confused.
When did Gu Jiu become so virtuous that she even knew how to serve others? There is something strange about that.
He remained calm and focused on filling his stomach first.
After dinner, Gu Jiu rested for a while and then went to wash up.
After washing, I crawled into bed with a book in my hand, ready to read before going to bed.
Liu Zhao followed in and said, "I heard that my fourth brother's wife gave birth to a boy. Let's have a baby too."
Gu Jiu slapped Liu Zhao's face away and said, "You told mother that father had hidden a sum of private silver. Mother did everything she could to snatch the silver from father. Father got angry and asked me to return the silver. He said that you and I are one, and if he couldn't find you, he would let me take the blame for you."
Liu Zhao frowned, "How shameless! He asked you for money, how could you open your mouth?"
Gu Jiu looked at Liu Zhao with a half-smile, then stretched out his hand, "Give it to me."
"What do you want?"
"Silver, of course."
Liu Zhao shook his head, "No money."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "It's okay if you don't have money. Just get out and don't sleep in my bed."
She started to kick, but Liu Zhao was prepared and grabbed her foot.
"I don't believe you will obediently hand over the silver to my father."
"Why wouldn't I? He's a prince. Even if his words don't have nine tripods, they still have eight tripods, seven tripods."
Liu Zhao said viciously, "Don't worry about how many tripods he has. I just know that you will never hand over the silver obediently."
"Believe it or not, I gave the silver to my father."
Liu Zhao shook his head, "I don't believe it."
Gu Jiu bent her knees and tried to kick him away, but the man was too heavy and strong, so her efforts were in vain.
She snorted and pulled at his collar, causing his clothes to come loose, revealing his muscular chest.
Gu Jiu took a quick glance and found it really beautiful.
Then he said seriously, "You set the fire yourself and then ran away. You left me with such a mess. Do you know how terrifying Father was during those two days?"
"Father didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
"He asked me for money. Do you think it was difficult?"
Liu Zhao frowned and said in a low voice, "You are becoming more and more shameless."
"Who are you calling shameless?"
"Of course it's because my father is shameless."
"If you have the guts, don't talk behind my back. Say it to my face. See if father will spank you."
Liu Zhao smiled and scratched Gu Jiu's nose. "Do you really want to see me get spanked by my father?"
Gu Jiu laughed, "What do you think?"
Liu Zhao pressed her down, preventing her from moving. "Did you give the money to father?"
"I told my father I had no money, and if he insisted on forcing me to pay, I had no choice but to sell my dowry and peddle it on the street. This made my father furious. He even said I had copied him, that I was full of evil intentions and only knew how to scheme against my own family."
Gu Jiu snorted and tugged at his collar, "Am I really full of bad intentions?"
"Of course not. He's just talking nonsense. He's angry because he didn't get the money, so he said that on purpose."
Gu Jiu laughed, "You're quite good at comforting people. Did you make a mistake outside and feel guilty?"
"How could I feel guilty?" Liu Zhao looked serious and blamed Gu Jiu for not trusting him.
Gu Jiu bit his ear and said, "Do you know that Fourth Brother has a mistress outside, and Fourth Brother's wife found out? The reason why Fourth Brother's wife gave birth to the child early was because of this incident. But Fourth Brother thought he kept it a secret, and Fourth Brother's wife didn't say anything. I guess Fourth Brother's wife planned to deal with this matter after she finished her confinement."
Liu Zhao was surprised. "Thinking about it carefully, with Fourth Brother's personality, it's not surprising for him to have a mistress. He must have made a lot of money when he went to Jiangnan. Naturally, he has enough money to keep a mistress. But now that Fourth Brother's wife knows about this, I'm afraid he can keep her but not enjoy her."
Gu Jiu looked at Liu Zhao with a half-smile, "Then will you follow your fourth brother's example and keep a mistress outside?"
"Do you think I'm crazy?" Liu Zhao bit her lips fiercely. "You doubt me all day long and refuse to trust me a little more."
"Trust takes time to build, and it also requires opportunity. You didn't give me time, let alone opportunity. I'm not a naive person who believes everything you say."
"What is a silly and innocent girl?" Liu Zhao asked without hesitation.
Gu Jiu laughed, "Silly and sweet, you can understand it as being simple and easy to be deceived, believing everything others say and never learning from their mistakes."
"Then you are definitely not a naive person, you should be considered a vicious woman."
"You are the evil woman."
Gu Jiu was furious and even called her a vicious woman.
Since she couldn't beat Liu Zhao, she bit him with her teeth.
Liu Zhao didn't care and was still laughing, "Bite as much as you want, I have thick skin anyway."
Gu Ji was very angry. He tried his best but failed to bite through the skin. It can be seen that Liu Zhao's skin is really thick.
Liu Zhao hugged her and asked, "Are you tired?"
Gu Jiu hummed, "You are so annoying. You actually dare to call me a vicious woman. Be careful or I will poison you to death one day."
Liu Zhao said seriously, "If you poison me, you will have to pay with your life."
"You are such a boring person. You should say that even if you die under the peony flowers, you will still be romantic."
"How can ghosts be as happy as human beings? This young master just wants to sleep with you every day and have a happy and romantic life."
"You rascal."
"The scoundrel wants to kiss me now,
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