The Sheng residence celebrated two happy events in quick succession, creating a harmonious atmosphere. However, the Jiaxi Hall at the Ningyuan Marquisate was chilly. Gu Yankai had returned to Beijing from the border to report on his work during the Lunar New Year holiday. From his arrival to his departure, he had never stayed in Jiaxi Hall, where Bai Shi resided, spending almost every day with his son, Gu Tingyu.
Occasionally, Aunt Xia would sneak over, taking some of the things Qin had given her, and reminiscing with Gu Yankai about Qin. And the night before leaving the mansion, Gu Yankai actually wailed and cried in the ancestral hall, calling out Qin's name. Many people knew about this, and although no one dared to laugh at Bai's joke, they all felt that Bai had truly displeased her husband.
Bai didn't say a word from beginning to end. Gu Yan left at four o'clock in the morning on the day he returned to the border, but Bai still didn't go to see him off. She slept soundly in her bed.
When she got up early to wash up, Chang'er's eyes were red and swollen, and she kept cursing Gu Yankai in her heart. Bai Shi glanced at Chang'er, waved away the others, and pulled Chang'er aside and said, "I'm not angry, why are you angry? There are days when two people's lives are as sweet as honey, and there are days when they are as cold as ice. If you don't take others' words to heart, they won't hurt you in the slightest. If you take them to heart, you will only bring yourself unhappiness."
Seeing Chang'er's tears welling up in her eyes, Mrs. Bai sighed and said, "Think about it. For a woman like me, born into a merchant family, to become the mistress of such a noble mansion is already quite remarkable. A person's fortunes are relative. If I marry into a wealthy family and am loved by my husband, it might even affect my lifespan. As for me, I must live well in this life."
After hearing this, Chang Er quickly made two "pooh" sounds and said, "No way, my lady, your good fortune is yet to come. When my lady gives birth to a boy and a girl, I won't worry about... I won't worry about you."
Picking up a handkerchief and wiping the tears from Chang'er's face, Bai thought of her unborn daughter in her previous life, and her heart ached. She closed her eyes and said, "Yes, give birth to a boy, and then a girl."
Chang'er's marriage was finalized a few years ago, with a man from her hometown. His family had little money, but seeing that Chang'er came from a wealthy family, they offered her a generous betrothal gift. They also promised that after the marriage, Chang'er would be allowed to serve in their household. This was quite open-minded, and the man and Chang'er were clearly interested in each other.
Bai and Chang'er agreed that Chang'er would return to the mansion when her child was one year old. She would then start as a housekeeper's wife and see if she could become a housekeeper's wife in the future. She also promoted Xiangyun, a second-class maid, to fill Chang'er's position.
The cosmetics from the Fragrance Pavilion had indeed influenced the Bai family's rouge shop in the capital. After a month of persistence, the Bai family transformed the shop into a ready-made clothing store. Besides managing the household affairs of the Marquis's residence and attending daily greetings and visits, the Bai family now spent their remaining time designing ready-made clothing. Many Jiangnan garments were not available in the capital, and since childhood, the Bai family had loved tailoring, and soon they had established a ready-made clothing store with a distinctly Jiangnan style.
The fourth and fifth wives occasionally came to pick a fight, but they never gained any advantage. The Marquis was usually immersed in military books, and even when Bai Shi went to pay her respects, she often only bowed to the main wife and never saw the Marquis.
Gu Tingyu now speaks fluently, worthy of being Qin's son, equally frail and intelligent. Gu Yankai had originally planned to sleep with Bai upon his return, but Gu Tingyu's words dissuaded him. A veteran of years on the frontier, he not only yearned for Qin with tender affection, but later wept bitterly while hugging her belongings.
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