Chapter 73 Climax of the Third Round

"Madam is pregnant. Our old man finally has a child. Shouldn't the old lady be happy? Normally, when a new bride comes home, the couple should spend more time together and have children soon. But the old lady in our house seems to be afraid that Madam and old man will get together. Madam spends two or three hours out of the twelve hours serving her in the old lady's yard. Old man can't even see her when he comes home. I don't know what the old lady is thinking!" Jingshu blurted out everything.

Yuan Wenshao showed an expression of disbelief. He asked Hualan, "Why have you never told me all this?"

Before Hualan could speak, Jingshu spoke again, "Madam, please understand that your husband is busy and hard-working with work. You have always silently borne all the grievances at home, fearing that your husband would be embarrassed if he knew. You see, your wife glared at me when I said this. Your wife really considers your husband in everything. Your husband, please have mercy on your wife. She is just pregnant, and she can't stand standing and following rules for hours every day."

After hearing Jingshu's words, Yuan Wenshao immediately turned around to look at Hualan. He happened to see Hualan glaring at Jingshu, and he knew that what Jingshu said was true.

"Sir, don't listen to what Jingshu said. It has always been the practice for mothers-in-law to set rules for their daughters-in-law. Mother wants to teach me well so that I can manage the affairs of the mansion for you." Hualan not only did not take the opportunity to complain, but also explained for the countess.

"Madam, don't make excuses for her. My cousin has been married into the Yuan family for several years, and I have never heard that mother wants to set rules for her. Why does my wife have to set rules after marrying into the family? Mother has always valued my elder brother more. I know, but we can't treat the two daughters-in-law differently, not to mention that you are pregnant. You don't need to worry about this matter anymore. I will go and talk to mother. You lie down and have a good rest first, I will be back soon!" After saying this, Yuan Wenshao turned around and left, not caring about what the people behind him said.

After Yuan Wenshao left, Hualan pointed at Jingshu and pointed at her with her finger, "You, you~ You have such a big mouth~"

Jingshu was unmoved, and even felt quite proud. As a servant, she should think for her master, and she had to do what her master could not say or do. Huixin stood beside Jingshu, and when Hualan could not see, she secretly made a gesture to Jingshu and praised her for being amazing.

Let's go back to the main courtyard of the Yuan family. Yuan Wenshao was informed by the maid and went into the house. The countess saw that only her youngest son came and did not see Hualan. Her face darkened, "Why did you come alone? Where is your wife? How come you can't stand the rules that have been set for only a few days and ask you to be a lobbyist?"

Yuan Wenshao saw that his mother did not see Hualan coming. His first reaction was not to ask if she was feeling unwell, but to blame her. It was known that his mother must be unkind to his wife. Yuan Wenshao directly counterattacked, "Since my sister-in-law came into my house, " I've never heard of my mother setting rules for my eldest sister-in-law in our family. Why does she have to set rules for Hualan?"

The Countess didn't expect her little son, who always obeyed her, to ask back. She was stunned and came to her senses after a while. She cursed, "Well! You have forgotten your mother after getting married. I raised you with great difficulty. It's only been two months since you got married, and you are siding with your wife and disobeying your mother. I have given birth to an ungrateful person! God, is there any justice in the world?" Then she burst into tears and cried for a while without shedding a single tear.

If it were any other time, Yuan Wenshao, a filial son, would have surrendered long ago. But when he thought of the gentle and considerate Hualan, and then looked at his shrewish mother, and thought of his unborn child, he was determined to seek justice for Hualan. Yuan Wenshao just stood there and watched his mother howling. The Countess howled for a while but her son didn't come to comfort her. She felt bored and stopped talking. She wanted to scold her again, but she heard her son speak again, "Mother should treat everyone equally. Since you don't want your sister-in-law to set rules, then Hualan doesn't need to set rules either. If mother wants to set rules for Hualan, then your sister-in-law should set them as well."

"I watched your sister-in-law grow up. I taught her all the etiquette and rules. What rules does she need to set? Your daughter-in-law is still unruly, so she dares to whisper in your ear."

"Mother, what you said is wrong. Hualan's manners were specially taught by the old lady of the Sheng family, and even the palace ladies praised her. The noble families in Tokyo all know it. Mother, who are you slapping in the face when you say Hualan has bad manners? The maid from the palace? Or other noble ladies?" Yuan Wenshao asked sharply.

The Countess was frightened by Yuan Wenshao's momentum and didn't say anything to refute for a long time. Yuan Wenshao didn't press her any more, and just said "Hualan is pregnant" and strode away.

The Countess was suddenly shocked by the news that Hualan was pregnant. Not only did she not look happy, but she looked sad. This Countess was biased. She thought that her eldest daughter-in-law had not given birth to a grandson yet, and she was afraid that Hualan's baby would be a boy, and would take away the title of the eldest grandson of the Yuan family. Therefore, even if the baby was her grandson, the Countess would still be unhappy.

In Hualan's courtyard, Yuan Wenshao hurried back and told her that he had agreed with the Countess that Hualan did not need to visit him morning and evening. He asked Hualan to take good care of the baby in the courtyard and not to worry about anything else. Hualan fell asleep sweetly because Yuan Wenshao was willing to stand up for her and said so many caring words.

Hualan was awakened by the noise outside the door. "Hui Xin? Hui Xin? Jing Shu? Jing Shu? Jing Shu?" After waking up, Hua Lan wanted to ask her two personal maids what happened outside, but no one answered after she called out many times. Hua Lan was helpless. The noise outside was really annoying, so she had to get up and go outside to take a look.

Hualan carefully protected her belly and got out of bed. When she opened the door, she saw Jingshu and Huixin, as well as Aunt Xu, arguing with someone. She called out twice but no one heard her. She had no choice but to raise her voice, "Jingshu! Huixin!"

The noisy voices died down. Jingshu and Huixin saw Hualan actually came out of the door, and hurried forward to help her. Aunt Xu also came over quickly, "Madam, why did you get out of bed? Didn't the doctor also tell you to take good care of this baby and rest in bed? Why did you get up?" As she spoke, she was about to help her into the house.

"Is this my sister?" A delicate female voice spoke, which gave people goosebumps.

"Who are you calling sister? Our Madam doesn't have a sister as ugly as you!" Jingshu didn't give her a chance to speak again and directly retorted.

"You?" The girl looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, but she was not dressed properly and looked like a seductress. After being ridiculed by Jingshu, her face immediately turned the color of liver. Suddenly, she didn't know what she thought of, and her face softened again.

"Madam doesn't like me to call her sister, so I won't call her that. I can just call her Madam. I am the concubine that the old lady gave to the second master. My name is Chunhong. From now on, I will serve the second master together with Madam." After saying that, she bowed to Hualan, but Hualan dodged to the side and refused to accept her greeting.

At this time, Hualan's face was already very bad. Aunt Xu kept persuading her to go back to her room and rest, not to care about this matter for the time being, and that the baby in her belly and her own body were more important. But Hualan's feet seemed to be fixed, and she couldn't move at all.

The two maids standing behind Chunhong saw that Hualan didn't say anything or move, and one of them stood up and said, "Second Madam, please take good care of Concubine Chun. This is a concubine specially arranged for the Second Master by the old lady because she sympathized with your pregnancy and it was inconvenient for you to serve the Second Master. Second Madam, please don't let the old lady down." The maid's arrogance made Jingshu angry. She wanted to rush over and tear her mouth, but Aunt Xu and Huixin tried their best to stop her. Huixin kept saying "Don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive", so Jingshu didn't do it.

Jingshu recognized another maid, who was Cuizhu who was beside the eldest lady that day!