Chapter 165 New Year's Eve
Lu Changming announced loudly, "Congratulations, my lord! Congratulations, my lord!"
"The messenger just arrived, and the dozens of cartloads of winter clothes that the mistress brought have also been delivered. The soldiers won't have to endure the harsh winter this year."
"really?"
Lu Changming pointed outside, "The army is still waiting outside the camp, you see."
Pei Yanzhi took the letter from his hand, carefully folded it, and put it in his pocket. Then he lifted the curtain and went outside the tent.
Sure enough, dozens of trucks loaded with cotton and linen were neatly parked in the barracks. Although it was still not enough for the entire army, with the cotton and linen they brought from Chizhou, the winter would not be so difficult to endure.
One happy event after another.
Soon the whole army knew that their lord was going to be a father and that his wife was pregnant.
The news that Yanzhou is about to welcome its young master is more inspiring to the army than anything else.
February 16th, the fourteenth year of the Taikang era, the eve of the Lunar New Year.
When the spring branches fall to the ground early in the morning, they crunch on the accumulated snow underfoot, and the wind blows through the eaves, shaking the snow off the branches.
Chunzhi exhaled a puff of white breath and hurriedly ran into the house. At this moment, Ji Shu also got up.
Tonight is New Year's Eve. In any case, she is still the mistress of Yanzhou. She should go back to the Pei residence to stay for the next two days.
Chunzhi helped her sit down slowly. From behind, she still had a slender waist and graceful figure. If you didn't look closely, it was not obvious that she was pregnant.
Seeing that the lady looked languid and tired, he said softly, "It's been a long time since we've been back. I heard that Lord Jun is making great strides on the front lines, defeating the enemy army one after another."
Upon hearing this, Ji Shu remained calm and simply instructed, "It's almost New Year's, so give the servants two extra months' wages. Everyone has worked hard this year."
Chunzhi smiled and said, "Then this maid thanks Madam on their behalf. Now everyone can have a good New Year."
After arranging their hair and having breakfast, the group boarded a carriage and headed to the Pei residence.
Madam Pei knew she would be returning today. Before she even reached the door, she saw Granny Chang. Upon seeing the carriage, she quickly stepped forward and first bowed.
She carefully examined Ji Shu's complexion and saw that her face was rosy and her cheeks were much fuller than before. She smiled and said, "The old lady has been looking forward to this for a long time and specially asked this old servant to wait here!"
Ji Shu asked with a smile, "How is Mother's health?"
Granny Chang's smile deepened: "She's doing very well, especially thinking about being able to hold her grandson next summer. She couldn't be happier."
The group walked and talked as they went inside.
Granny Chang delivered all the items to Wenxin Pavilion and then went back to report.
Ji Shu pushed open the bedroom door in the West Garden, and a familiar scene rushed in. It had only been two or three months since she left, but it felt like she had been gone for a long time.
Seeing that screen and bronze mirror, all those days spent together, whispering sweet nothings, came flooding back to me.
She didn't know if others felt the same way, but she felt nothing was wrong as long as he wasn't mentioned.
But whenever he touches an old object related to him, he feels a dull ache deep inside.
Ji Shu walked into the room, examined herself carefully, and finally sat down in front of the dressing table. Looking at herself in the mirror, a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
Chunzhi carefully arranged all the items needed for the next two days, then held up an item and said, "Madam, we didn't take this with us when we left last time. Should we take it this time?"
Ji Shu turned her head and her eyes flickered slightly. In her hand was none other than the gem-carved dagger that Pei Yanzhi had given her last time.
Chunzhi handed her the items, and she picked them up and saw that they were exactly the same as the ones she had left with. She said softly, "Keep them!"
"yes."
In the evening, Ji Shu took Chunzhi to the main hall of Fushou Garden.
Wei Heng sat in the chair, and even though the room was filled with the finest silver charcoal, her palms remained icy cold.
Pei Xingjian sat to the side, seemingly oblivious to his grandmother and Wei Heng's conversation, quietly gazing at the painting on the screen.
"Xingjian?" He only looked up when Madam Pei called him.
Madam Pei's expression darkened slightly, but remembering that it was New Year's Eve, her tone softened: "Heng'er is asking you whether you'll return to the Wei family on the first or the second day of the new year?"
Pei Xingjian said calmly, "Then let's make it the second day."
As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Heng's expression turned sour. Everyone knew that returning home on the first day of the lunar new year was the proper thing to do; returning on the second day was also acceptable, but it would still be a loss of face.
Just then, a servant's voice came from the doorway: "Madam has arrived."
This was the second time Pei Xingjian had seen Ji Shu since she moved out of the Pei residence, and also the first time Wei Heng had seen her at the Pei residence.
Ji Shu wore a fluffy, soft fox fur cloak, the collar of which covered half of her chin, making her skin appear radiant and her eyes and brows exquisite.
Upon entering, one sees the old lady with her eyebrows slightly curved, making her even more breathtakingly beautiful.
Wei Heng took a deep breath. Even though she was unwilling to admit it, Ji Shu was indeed the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She looked at Pei Xingjian without making a sound.
Sure enough, he stared blankly at Ji Shu, his eyes no longer as calm as a stagnant pool.
Wei Heng lowered her eyes and covered her eyes. When Madam Pei saw her coming, she was even happier and hurriedly said, "Come and sit down. Now that you are pregnant, don't bother with those formalities."
Ji Shu responded, and Chunzhi stepped forward to untie the sash, took the cloak, and stepped aside.
Today she wore a very fitting red dress, embroidered with large crabapple blossoms, the petals layered upon each other, the shadows of the flowers swaying as she walked, as if they were about to bloom at any moment.
Only her slightly protruding belly revealed the difference.
Pei Xingjian's gaze fell on her lower abdomen. He couldn't tell when they last met, but now she must be almost four months pregnant.
A feeling he couldn't quite describe welled up inside him.
Wei Heng lowered her eyes and stood up, calling out "Mother" in a gentle and respectful tone, as if she had practiced it countless times.
Ji Shu accepted the title of "Mother" quite naturally and said gently, "I left in a hurry today and did not prepare a gift. I will make it up to you next time."
Wei Heng's expression stiffened slightly, and she responded in a low voice. Madam Pei nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this.
After everyone was seated, Shutong served warm tea, and Madam Pei said gently, "You weren't here for Xingjian's wedding. Today is New Year's Eve, so let's have a family meal together."
"Xingjian said that you and Heng'er knew each other back in Chongzhou?"
"You have indeed met me a few times, haven't you, daughter-in-law?"
Wei Heng dared not reveal anything else, only nodding, remaining excessively quiet.
During the meal, Madam Pei sighed softly.
"Now that we are reunited here, I wonder how your father is doing on the front lines, and whether he has had a hot meal?"
Ji Shu comforted her, "The supplies sent to the army should have been received by now, so it should have gone smoothly."
Madam Pei smiled helplessly: "I told him about your pregnancy in my letter. I think we should receive his reply in a few days."
Ji Shu was stunned upon hearing this. She had only intended to keep it a secret from him from beginning to end, and leave after the child was born. She did not expect that the old lady had already sent a letter.
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