When Xiao Yunrou was three months pregnant, it was almost the end of the year. During the New Year holidays, families visited each other frequently, and the news of Xiao Yunrou's pregnancy gradually spread. Many families went to De Rou Yuan to give gifts.

Xiao Yunrou sat in the main hall, looking at the gift list handed over by the housekeeper, sorting out the relationships in the capital in her mind, making some minor changes, and then letting the housekeeper deliver the gifts according to the list. Next, she had to meet the managers of the shops and manors under the name of the Marquis's mansion to count the New Year gifts, check the accounts, and issue rewards. In addition to the dowry, it would only be one day before the New Year.

The previous dynasty also had a holiday, and Pei Lingfeng was in the Marquis' Mansion every day. He felt distressed seeing Xiao Yunrou busy every day, and wanted someone to help her share some of the work but was rejected.

"It's just some accounts and gift lists. I just need to review them. Other tasks are done by others. It's not that tiring."

"I see that you have lost a lot of weight these days, so let Madam Su give you more supplements."

Pei Lingfeng didn't know what to say anymore. He started to wonder whether he should hire a nanny to take care of his body.

On New Year's Eve, all the members of the Marquis's family gathered together, except for Pei Lingyun's family who were exiled to Changzhou. The Marquis brought the whole family to the palace for a banquet. Although Pei Lingzhi was not a high-ranking official, the Marquis's family had not yet been separated, so the Marquis brought him along. It was Zhuang's first time to enter the palace, and she began to pull at her clothes nervously when she paid her respects in Zhining Garden in the morning.

"Look at your achievements. Can't you be more generous? Don't bring shame to our mansion when you enter the palace."

Shen looked down on Zhuang's petty attitude and scolded her rudely in front of everyone, which made Zhuang blush and she didn't know what to do with her hands. She looked at Xiao Yunrou calmly drinking from the teacup, and she was envious in her heart.

When the time came, several people got on the carriage to the palace. Pei Lingfeng originally wanted to ride a horse, but thinking of Xiao Yunrou, he was worried, so he got on the carriage with her.

"Be careful when you enter the palace. The roads are slippery in the snow. Let Madam Su follow you."

Pei Lingfeng gently stroked Xiao Yunrou's belly, feeling very worried. The palace had many rules and regulations, and one had to kneel down at any time. Pei Lingfeng didn't think much of it before, but now that he thought about it, it was really uncomfortable for Xiao Yunrou to enter the palace with a big belly.

"Don't worry, the Empress Dowager has exempted me from kneeling in the ancestral temple with the other ladies. I will just have to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

Xiao Yunrou's gentle voice soothed Pei Lingfeng's worried heart. Only when she hugged her gently could Pei Lingfeng feel completely at ease.

The palace banquet was a happy one. After it was over, Xiao Yunrou followed the carriage of the Marquis's mansion back to the mansion. The family went to Zhining Garden to celebrate the New Year again. However, there was one more person this time, Shen Qingqing who lived in the guest house. Because Shen Qingqing was always knowledgeable, everyone had a good impression of her and occasionally chatted with her.

The chair Xiao Yunrou sat on had been padded with thick cushions. Pei Lingfeng sat beside her and asked about her well-being, which made the Marquis nod his head repeatedly. Shen was unhappy because Pei Lingfeng treated Xiao Yunrou much better than her, but she didn't dare to say anything because the Marquis was here, and just turned her head away in frustration. Zhuang looked at her husband who was just drinking tea and chatting with the Marquis, and could only envy Xiao Yunrou from the bottom of her heart.

When the sound of firecrackers rang out, representing the arrival of the new year, all the masters and servants in the Marquis' Mansion smiled. Led by Pei Lingfeng, several people paid New Year's greetings to the Marquis and Shen. Shen immediately handed out the red envelopes she had prepared, and everyone stood up and returned to their rooms to rest.

When she was in Zhining Garden, Xiao Yunrou was so sleepy that she went back to her room, took off her clothes and went straight to sleep on the warm bed. After Pei Lingfeng washed up, he saw Xiao Yunrou sleeping soundly, so he moved her closer helplessly, gently covered her with a quilt, and then hugged her to sleep.

The next day, Xiao Yunrou distributed red envelopes to the servants in the mansion, and even gave double portions to the servants in Zhining Garden, each of whom received five taels of silver, which made them smile. You know, the monthly salary of a first-class maid in the mansion is only two taels of silver. Five taels of silver is enough for a family to eat for half a year.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Pei Lingfeng accompanied Xiao Yunrou back to the Xiao family. Pei Lingfeng accompanied Xiao Hongyu and Xiao Yunyan to the front yard to talk, while Xiao Yunrou accompanied the Su family members to chat in the house. However, after chatting for a while, Xiao Yunrou turned the topic to Xiao Yunya.

"My second sister has already reached the age of marriage, and my third sister will also reach the age of marriage in two months. Has mother chosen families for the two sisters?"

Xiao Yi was the only illegitimate child in the Xiao family, and she was about the same age as Xiao Yunya. Mrs. Su had no bad intentions towards her. Although the expenses for her upbringing were not as high as those for the two sisters, compared with other demanding stepmothers, it was already very good. At least when Xiao Yi went out to attend a banquet, she had talents to show off, and her demeanor would not make people look down on her. For this reason, there were many families in Beijing who wanted to marry Xiao Yi.

Since Xiao Yunrou started learning how to manage the household, she has kept in mind Su's words: concubines are nothing but toys. As long as they do not offend the majesty of the mistress, there is no need to care about them. And concubines should not be raised as wastes. Isn't it true that marriages between noble families rely on sons and daughters? How can all relationships be smoothed out by relying only on legitimate sons and daughters? Only concubines' sons should not be left alone.

Xiao Yunrou wondered if she had remembered Su's words in her previous life and had severely punished Pei Yuanshen and disciplined Shen Tang, she would not have ended up like this.

Xiao Yunrou shook her head gently, shaking off the thoughts in her mind. Now, she should not think about the past anymore, but look to the future.

Xiao Yunya and Xiao Yi both blushed when they heard Xiao Yunrou's words. Xiao Yunya was used to being coquettish and angry, so she stood up, stomped her feet, and ran out. Xiao Yi didn't have the courage like Xiao Yunya, so she could only sit there with a red face.

"Come on, Third Sister, go play with Second Sister. I'll talk to Mother."

Xiao Yunrou looked at the blush on Xiao Yi's face and joked softly. Xiao Yi bowed as if she had been pardoned and walked out quickly, which made Xiao Yunrou chuckle.

"Mother, you haven't told me yet."

After the two of them walked away, Xiao Yunrou looked at Su seriously. Su did not hide the truth and took out the portrait that had been arranged.

"I have been preparing for all this for half a year. It's a good opportunity for you to come and help me look into it. Once I have chosen, I will go and test the waters in the spring."

Su didn't have many portraits in her hands, and they were all carefully selected. They were young talents with clean family backgrounds, good family traditions, and aspirations. Xiao Yunrou looked at them one by one and asked with a smile:

"Has mother made up her mind?"

Su smiled faintly and pointed at someone. Xiao Yunrou looked over and saw that it was the eldest son of the Dali Temple's Shaoqing.

Xiao Yunrou curled her lips slightly, it was indeed the same as in her previous life. Xiao Yunrou thought about it, in her previous life, Xiao Yunya gave birth to two sons and a daughter after she got married, and there were not many concubines in the backyard. Although the two of them were not very sweet, they were much better than her and Pei Lingfeng. This marriage was indeed good.

"The person my mother chose is indeed not bad."

Su's smile deepened when she heard this. She could not change Xiao Hongyu's attitude towards her eldest daughter, but she would never marry her younger daughter into a noble family to live a life of intrigue and scheming. The scholarly family of the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple was a perfect match for the Xiao family.

As for Xiao Yi, Su Shi has not yet decided. According to Xiao Hongyu's opinion, they can wait until after the imperial examination to decide. Xiao Yunrou was a little surprised to hear this news. After all, in her previous life, after Xiao Yunya's marriage was settled, Xiao Yi's was also settled. This life is a little different.

However, Xiao Yunrou didn't care. She knew Xiao Hongyu's character well. Although he would marry his daughters off for marriage alliances, he would not ignore their lives. The families he chose were all clean and had children who were willing to make progress.

Xiao Yunrou had lunch at her parents' house, rested for a while, and then returned to the Marquis' Mansion with Pei Lingfeng. The first month of the year was the time for banquets at various houses, and the Zhenyuan Marquis' Mansion received many invitations every day. Xiao Yunrou was pregnant and couldn't go out, and Zhuang's status was not high enough, so those that couldn't be postponed were all sent to Shen. She hid in Derou Garden to have some free time, and greeted Shen every day. Occasionally, Zhuang would come over to visit and talk.

However, the thirteenth day of the first lunar month was the time for the annual banquet at the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion, and even if Xiao Yunrou wanted to be lazy, she had to go to entertain the guests. Fortunately, the banquet was held according to the rules of previous years, and Xiao Yunrou only glanced over the list, and the people under her began to prepare.

On the day of the banquet, Xiao Yunrou woke up early in the morning. Pei Lingfeng smiled gently as he saw Xiao Yunrou, who was still in a daze and was being helped to change her clothes by Hongzhuang. After she finished her makeup, Pei Lingfeng immediately held her and sat her on his lap, then picked up the Luozidai and prepared to draw Xiao Yunrou's eyebrows.

"Young Master, can you draw eyebrows?" When Xiao Yunrou saw Pei Lingfeng's actions, her sleepiness disappeared immediately. She looked him up and down with a look of disbelief on her face.

"You'll know when you take a look." Pei Lingfeng smiled gently and drew eyebrows for Xiao Yunrou.

A quarter of an hour later, Xiao Yunrou looked at the bronze mirror and couldn't believe how symmetrical and neat her eyebrows were. She was ready to wipe off the painting she had done.

"When did you learn this?" Xiao Yunrou looked suspicious.

"Why would I need to learn how to draw my wife's eyebrows?"

Pei Lingfeng said it seriously. Xiao Yunrou didn't believe it, but she couldn't see anything from Pei Lingfeng's face, so she had to give up. But if Liufeng heard it, he would just look disgusted with his master, right? Who is the person who wasted two boxes of Luozi Dai in the study?

After putting on makeup, looking at Xiao Yunrou in a purple long dress embroidered with plum blossoms and the rabbit fur cloak in Hongzhuang's hands, Pei Lingfeng took out a purple jade plum blossom hairpin from the makeup box and put it on Xiao Yunrou, which matched her clothes perfectly.

Xiao Yunrou let Pei Lingfeng dress her up. She couldn't remember when it started, but Pei Lingfeng would personally match her jewellery whenever he took a rest. She was surprised at first, but now she's used to it. Xiao Yunrou wondered if she could also tie Pei Lingfeng's hair herself next time. Husband and wife should always give and take.

After everything was arranged, she went to Zhining Garden with Pei Lingfeng. Pei Lingzhi and Zhuang followed closely behind them. They had breakfast together in Zhining Garden. Zhuang followed Xiao Yunrou to the garden to receive the female relatives, while Pei Lingfeng and Pei Lingzhi followed the Marquis to the front hall.

Guests arrived one after another, and the garden was filled with laughter and joy. Shen Qingqing, who lived in the guest house, also came out today, wearing a pink dress that made her look very young.

Ever since the Shen family fell into decline, Shen Qingqing seldom appeared in public. Now, many noble ladies pointed at her and whispered about her. Shen Qingqing couldn't find anyone to talk to, and she didn't want to give up the banquet and just go back to the guest house. She could only bite the bullet and go to Xiao Yunrou.

"Cousin, ladies."

Xiao Yunrou glanced at Shen Qingqing but didn't say anything. Shen Qingqing sat carefully next to Xiao Yunrou and listened to her greetings with other ladies.