Chapter 99: Elders' Concern
The joyous news of the Duke of Zhenguo's wife's pregnancy was like a pebble thrown into a lake in early winter; the ripples quickly spread throughout the capital's elite circles. Following the jubilation within the mansion, well-wishes and congratulatory gifts from all sides, especially from elders, poured in like snowflakes.
The first wave of significant concern naturally came from the Forbidden City.
Just as the rewards were being distributed within the mansion, and the joy on the servants' faces had not yet faded in the afternoon, the gatekeeper hurriedly reported that the angels from the palace had arrived, and in two separate groups—one from the Empress's Kunning Palace, and the other from the Emperor's Qianqing Palace.
Gu Yangui and Su Wanrou dared not delay, and immediately changed their clothes and went to the main hall to open the central door to prepare to receive the imperial decree.
The first to enter was Eunuch Chang, the chief eunuch in charge of the Empress's palace. He was fair-skinned, beardless, and had a friendly smile. Behind him followed a long line of eunuchs carrying brocade boxes and trunks.
"Lord Duke, Madam, I extend my congratulations to you both!" Eunuch Chang smiled before speaking, gave a curtsy, and said in a high-pitched but warm voice, "Her Majesty the Empress was overjoyed to hear of Madam's good fortune, saying that Heaven has blessed loyal and virtuous people! She originally intended to summon Madam to the palace immediately, but considering that Madam's health is now very delicate and she should avoid overexertion and catching a cold, she specially sent me to deliver her imperial decree and bring some small trinkets to help Madam relax and unwind during her pregnancy."
Su Wanrou, standing beside Gu Yangui, curtsied slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace and for troubling you, Eunuch, to make this trip."
"Madam, please rise, you've made me too kind." Eunuch Chang offered a slight gesture of support, then cleared his throat and began to convey the Empress's decree. The decree essentially instructed Su Wanrou to rest and recuperate during her pregnancy, and not to adhere to palace rules by frequently visiting the palace to pay her respects. He assured her that if she needed any precious medicinal herbs or experienced nurses, she should simply ask. His words were filled with the loving care of an elder for a younger woman.
Then, he gestured to the young eunuch to present the rewards one by one. Among them were:
Medicinal herbs: top-quality bird's nest, old ginseng from Changbai Mountain, Ganoderma lucidum, donkey-hide gelatin, etc. are all excellent tonics.
Fabrics: Soft gauze, brocade, and cicada wing gauze, all tributes from Jiangnan, are extremely soft and breathable, making them suitable for pregnant women.
Jewelry and playthings: a set of red gold and kingfisher feather headdress, a set of warm and lustrous Hetian jade jewelry, and several jade carvings for playthings symbolizing many children and blessings, such as pomegranates and gourds, which are exquisite and lovely.
Everyday items: calming ambergris, soft camel hair blankets, etc., showing meticulous care.
"Her Majesty the Empress also specifically instructed," Eunuch Chang added with a smile, "that this soft, light blue silk is a new design from the Jiangning Textile Bureau this year. It is extremely light and delicate. Her Majesty said that since the Lady is young, she will surely wear it with elegance, and instructed her to keep it to make several sets of everyday clothes."
This gesture was incredibly thoughtful and considerate. Su Wanrou thanked the Empress again, deeply grateful for her kindness. Gu Yangui also cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your help in conveying this to Her Majesty. My wife and I are extremely grateful."
Just as Eunuch Chang finished counting and handing over the rewards, another report came from outside the door: Grand Eunuch Gao, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, had arrived.
The eunuch, Gao, appeared more dignified, but also wore a smile as he read out the emperor's decree of reward. The emperor's reward was even more substantial and formal: a plaque inscribed with the words "Fortune, Longevity, Health, and Peace" written in his own hand, a thousand taels of gold, two hundred bolts of brocade, and other tribute items such as deer antlers and sable furs.
"His Majesty said that the Duke of Zhenguo is a pillar of the nation, and the addition of a new member to his household is a great joy. He hopes that the Duke can focus on his duties and that his wife can rest and recuperate, so that next year the Duke's household can have another pillar of the nation." Eunuch Gao conveyed the Emperor's encouragement.
"Your Majesty, we kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace!" Gu Yangui and Su Wanrou expressed their thanks together. The emperor's reward was not only an honor bestowed upon his subjects, but also an affirmation of Gu Yangui's status and contributions, making it exceptionally significant.
After seeing off the two prominent palace eunuchs, Su Wanrou looked at the gifts that almost filled half the hall and took a soft breath. Gu Yangui noticed her slight unease, took her hand, and said in a low voice, "This is His Majesty and the Empress's grace, and it is what you deserve. Just accept it."
Su Wanrou nodded, feeling much more at ease. She instructed Wang Mama and Qingdai to carefully register and record the palace's rewards and store them properly in the treasury. The imperial calligraphy plaque, on the other hand, needed to be hung in the main hall on an auspicious day.
The imperial gift served as a signal, and soon after, congratulatory gifts from various princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials began to arrive. Steward Gu Zhong, along with several capable servants, was busy receiving the gift lists at the gatehouse, barely having time to breathe.
Among these many gifts, a few stood out, carrying genuine concern.
The congratulatory gifts from the Yongting Marquis's residence were personally delivered by the Marquis's wife, Madam Li. She made no grand entrance, arriving quietly in a small blue sedan chair accompanied only by two personal maids.
"Good child, don't be so polite!" When Madam Li saw Su Wanrou about to get up to greet her, she quickly took a few steps to stop her, pulled her hand and sat her down on the couch together. She looked Su Wanrou up and down carefully, her eyes full of satisfaction. "You look much better, your complexion is fuller, that's good, that's good!"
"I feel uneasy about troubling you to come in person, Madam," Su Wanrou said gratefully.
“What’s there to be uneasy about?” Madam Li patted her hand reproachfully. “I feel a connection with you. How could I not come and see such a joyous occasion? Those formalities are just for show.”
The gifts she brought weren't the most expensive, but they were extremely practical and thoughtful: there was red rice and other grains from her own estate, specially grown to nourish pregnant women; there were several handwritten books she had read during her own pregnancy, which discussed prenatal care and infant care, and included her own handwritten annotations; and there was a set of soft and comfortable baby underwear, which she said was made from the softest cotton fabric by the seamstresses in her household, perfect for a child to wear next to their skin.
"Pregnancy is a very complicated affair. The principles in books are one thing, but the experience of those who have been through it is another," Madam Li said earnestly. "You are young and this is your first pregnancy, so it's inevitable that you will have times when you don't understand or feel flustered. Don't be afraid of trouble. If you have any discomfort or questions, just send someone to my residence to let me know. Although I am not very capable, I have been through it twice and can help you with some advice."
These heartfelt words brought tears to Su Wanrou's eyes. In the circle of wealthy women in the capital, it was truly rare to receive such sincere care from an elder. "Thank you, Madam. Wanrou will remember this and will certainly not stand on ceremony with you."
Madam Li inquired in detail about her diet and daily life, and gave her many instructions, such as not to overdo it with tonics, to maintain a proper balance between activity and rest, and to keep her in a good mood. She sat for almost an hour before getting up to take her leave, and before leaving, she repeatedly told Su Wanrou not to see her off.
After seeing Li off, Su Wanrou felt a warm glow in her heart. This timely kindness was more precious to her than any valuable gift.
Immediately afterwards, the Duke of England's mansion also sent generous gifts. Although the Duchess of England did not come in person, the trusted nanny she sent was extremely earnest. Among the gifts, in addition to the usual valuable items, there was also a supposedly very effective amulet for preventing miscarriage, which the Duchess of England had specially obtained from the Baiyun Temple, the most popular temple in the suburbs of Beijing, as well as a pair of jade ruyi of excellent quality, symbolizing that everything would go well.
Even several princesses from the imperial clan who hadn't usually maintained close ties with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion sent lavish congratulatory gifts. In no time, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was bustling with visitors, and the gift lists piled up like mountains, demonstrating Gu Yangui's pivotal position in the court and his astonishing connections.
Faced with the overwhelming wave of concern and gifts, Su Wanrou quickly regained her composure after a brief moment of panic. With Gu Yangui's tacit approval and support, she demonstrated her exceptional abilities as the mistress of the Duke's mansion.
She wasn't simply basking in the joy of receiving the gifts; instead, she soberly instructed Granny Wang and Gu Zhong:
Detailed record keeping: All gifts, regardless of size or value, must be meticulously recorded, specifying who gave them, when, and what they are. This gift list is crucial, serving as a record of social interactions and preventing future management chaos.
Categorized processing: medicinal herbs and tonics were handed over to trusted doctors in the mansion for inspection, then categorized and stored in the warehouse for use as needed; clothing and jewelry were registered and stored in the private treasury; and some valuable decorative items were registered and put into the public treasury.
Drafting return gifts: Based on the gift list and the closeness or distance of relations with each household, after discussing with Gu Yangui, they began to prepare appropriate return gifts. The return gifts had to be in line with the status of the Duke's Mansion, cater to the recipient's tastes, be of commensurate value, and not be impolite. This task was tedious and important, and it greatly tested the wisdom and skill of the matriarch.
Su Wanrou handled everything perfectly. Even Gu Yangui couldn't find any fault with the list of return gifts she had prepared, and his admiration deepened.
"My darling, you've really grown up." At night, he held her in his arms and sighed softly in her ear, his tone full of pride.
Su Wanrou leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat, and whispered, "With my husband here and so many people caring about me, I feel very at ease. I'm just thinking that I can't let my husband down and I have to manage this family well."
“You’ve done a very good job,” Gu Yangui affirmed. “Even better than I imagined.”
The care and concern of her elders, like the warm winter sun, enveloped Su Wanrou, making her feel an unprecedented sense of security and support. She was no longer the second wife who needed to be careful and walk on thin ice; she was the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo, cherished by her husband, cared for by her elders, and recognized by everyone; she was a mother who was about to welcome a new life.
This confidence allows her to face everything in the future with greater composure and determination.
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