Chapter 281 Thick-skinned
The following day, Sheng An arrived at the Tan family home accompanied by Xu Jinnian.
Mrs. Tan looked radiant and seemed to be in a very good mood.
Knowing Sheng An's purpose, Madam Tan immediately summoned a maid: "Take Madam Xu to the eldest young lady's room and tell her not to go out in the wind."
That day, after returning from the Marquis of Yongyi's residence, Tan Qingrou developed a high fever and has been staying in her room for the past two days, with her meals being delivered to her by her maid.
Sheng An thanked Madam Tan, said something to Xu Jinnian, and then followed the maid to Tan Qingrou's room in the backyard.
"Sister An'an, what brings you here!"
Tan Qingrou was leaning against the soft couch, gazing out the window in a daze. Upon hearing Mingcui's announcement, she was about to get up to greet him when Sheng An, who had just entered, stopped her.
"If you're not feeling well, just lie down. There's no need for us to be so formal with each other."
Tan Qingrou sat up and asked Mingcui to bring her a chair.
With Hongliu's help, Sheng An sat down and carefully examined Tan Qingrou's face. She saw only a hint of illness, but no sign of dejection, which reassured her slightly.
Tan Qingrou guessed Sheng An's purpose, and a faint smile appeared on her beautiful face: "Sister An'an, I'm fine."
After saying that, he personally poured Sheng An a cup of tea and gestured for Ming Cui to leave.
Seeing this, Sheng An also sent Hong Liu out.
Once everyone else was in the room, Tan Qingrou spoke first:
“Sister An’an, it’s an honor for me to marry into the Yongyi Marquis’s mansion and to marry the promising Second Young Master Song. I am willing to accept this marriage.”
After saying that, he briefly recounted how he had mistakenly drunk tea laced with potent drugs after Sheng An left that day, omitting the fact that Sheng An hadn't had time to drink the cup.
Tan Zhenlin arrived just in time that day, and Tan Qingrou and Song Zhihang did not go all the way to the final step, but they did do other things that they should not have done.
Tan Qingrou suffered an undeserved misfortune. The Marquis of Yongyi knew he was in the wrong, and after discussing with the Tan family, they agreed to the marriage.
Those people who plotted against you and Song Er deserve to die!
Sheng An was furious. She had long heard that the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion was not peaceful, but she never expected that those people would be so heartless as to scheme against an innocent woman.
"Don't be angry, An'an. Be careful of the baby in your belly."
Tan Qingrou tried to calm Sheng An down, afraid that she might get sick from anger.
Sheng An took a deep breath, still feeling wronged for her.
The young girl clearly had the opportunity to find a man she liked and spend her life with, but because of this scheme, she was forced to be tied to Song Er.
Although Song Er comes from an extraordinary background, has remarkable abilities, and a bright future, he is not the husband Qingrou is looking for.
“Sister An’an, you don’t need to be sad for me. What I just told you was what I really felt. I’m willing to marry Young Master Song.”
Tan Qingrou's expression was serious, her eyes sparkling brightly, and her words were incredibly clear:
“My father is a fourth-rank official, which is nothing in the capital where powerful and wealthy people are everywhere. The Marquis of Yongyi’s mansion and the Second Young Master Song are my best choices.”
She had no romantic feelings for Song Zhihang and didn't care whether he had concubines in his harem. After marrying into the Marquis's mansion and becoming Song Zhihang's legal wife, what she wanted was the power in the Marquis's mansion's harem.
The children she gives birth to in the future will be legitimate descendants of the Marquis's family, and will have a bright future without having to work hard.
Isn't this all a woman desires in her life?
Now that everything is within her grasp, she won't be foolish enough to turn it down.
Sheng An opened his mouth, but couldn't help but recall what Tan Qingrou had said in Qingzhou. Suddenly, he felt that this marriage was indeed excellent.
Tan Qingrou shook her hand, her previous seriousness vanishing, replaced by a playful wink:
"Song Er and I will get married this year. If we have a child next year, we might even become in-laws with Sister An'an."
The thought of having a beautiful daughter-in-law or son-in-law made Tan Qingrou feel that a marriage between relatives was a good idea, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Sheng An's belly.
Sheng An was exasperated and quickly interrupted her fantasy: "This isn't something we adults can decide; we should respect the children's ideas!"
If couples who are not meant to be together are forced to be a couple, wouldn't that be harming both children?
Besides, the children's genders are unknown, so it's too early to talk about it now.
Tan Qingrou had no rebuttal and could only regretfully end the topic.
After returning from the Tan family, Sheng An relaxed and settled down at home to rest and prepare for childbirth.
I've calculated the days, and the baby will be born in about two months.
Touching her belly, Sheng An suddenly remembered something important and turned to ask Xu Jinnian, who was reading a book beside her, "Have you thought of a name for the baby yet?"
Xu Jinnian was stunned.
Seeing his expression, Sheng An knew he hadn't thought about it at all, and immediately said with disdain, "You haven't even thought of a name yet? How can you be the baby's father!"
She wanted to name the child herself, but her education level was limited, and she couldn't think of any good names.
"It's my fault."
Xu Jinnian, realizing his mistake, put down his book, stood up, walked to her, squatted down, and whispered in her ear, "Baby, don't worry, Daddy will definitely give you a name that you'll be happy with."
Sheng An chuckled: "You make it sound like it can understand what you're saying."
Xu Jinnian said solemnly, "Baby is our child, and he will definitely be as smart as you and me."
Sheng An was speechless: "Is this praising the child or praising yourself?"
Xu Jinnian took her hand and placed it on her protruding belly, overlapping it: "Praise me."
Sheng An: "..."
When it comes to shamelessness, she feels she is slightly inferior.
After discussing the baby's name, Sheng An brought up the topic of midwives, wanting to spend more money to find an experienced one to stay at their home in advance.
Having lived two lifetimes, this was her first time giving birth, and in this backward era where there was no cesarean section. She was afraid that she would have a difficult delivery and that there would be no one with experience by her side.
"Don't worry, An'an. I've already found a midwife. She'll come and stay with us next month until you give birth safely."
Xu Jinnian knew his wife was scared, so he got up and hugged her: "This midwife is very experienced. She has safely delivered no less than 10,000 babies."
Sheng An asked in surprise, "When did you find this?"
She had no idea at all.
Xu Jinnian smiled and said, "After you were diagnosed with pregnancy, I asked someone to find her."
Sheng An was surprised again, so early?
Xu Jinnian patted her head: "This concerns you and the child, how can we not prepare early?"
Upon hearing this, Sheng An couldn't help but feel moved: "Yes, I'm relieved."
This man is quite reliable; he spent several months carefully selecting the midwife, so her delivery skills must be excellent.
The couple talked for a while, and then Aunt Niu came over, wanting to leave and return to the Jiang residence.
Sheng An looked as if the sky had fallen, and tightly gripped Aunt Niu's hand: "You can't leave, what will I do if you leave!"
Aunt Niu watched her exaggerated performance, her lips twitched slightly, and a rare hint of helplessness appeared on her usually cold face: "We agreed on half a month."
Sheng An pretended not to hear and shook her hand pitifully: "Aunt Niu, you are the best. Can you stay for three more months until I finish my postpartum confinement? I promise I won't stop you then."
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