Chapter 57 Chapter 57 You...you are pregnant.
Zhu Yinluan paused for a moment, but quickly concealed her emotions.
"I wonder what brings you here, Miss Yao?" From Chen Kouyu's tone, it seems that she has a close relationship with the daughter of the Grand Marshal.
But... when you think about it, it’s not surprising.
Chen Kouyu has a frank personality and few people dislike her.
Zhu Yinluan had never seen the daughter of the Grand Marshal before.
The last time Yao Zi came, it was Mrs. Shen who received her. She hasn't come since then.
In addition, there were quite a few wives of officials and noble ladies who came to visit. It was indeed as Shen Jingzhan said, they wanted to get closer to the Shen family and gain some benefits from the palace examination leak case.
Even though Shen Jingzhan had told her to be careful from the beginning, Madam Shen still couldn't let her receive the ladies of the noble families alone, and kept an eye on her every time.
Therefore, Zhu Yinluan only served as an escort. She often didn't even need to say a word. She just sat next to Mrs. Shen and responded with a word or two from time to time.
The Shen family is of high status, and most of the people who come and go are top dignitaries in the capital. Zhu Yinluan has only heard of many of them but has never seen them.
In the past two days, Mrs. Shen has been arranging Chen Kouyu's marriage. She has turned down many invitations and accepted most of them from ladies of aristocratic families with young talents. She always wants Chen Kouyu to accompany her, and naturally, Zhu Yinluan has to follow her side.
Just now when she was having breakfast, Madam Shen had specially sent someone to deliver a new shawl and pearl hairpin, and asked Shen Kouyu to try them on with her dress, saying that they were newly acquired scattered flowered silk and floating luster brocade.
Not only was it given to Chen Kouyu, Zhu Yinluan's share was also not left vacant.
Zhu Yinluan's clothes were always elegant. She knew that the things sent by Mrs. Shen were mainly for Chen Kouyu, so she just went through the motions and picked out one or two pieces, and did not take more.
Besides, she doesn't need these.
In the past, Shen Jingzhan had asked people to buy countless head ornaments, jewelry, silks and satins for her.
"Sister-in-law, you haven't met Sister Yao yet, right?"
Chen Kouyu handed the invitation to the maid and asked the mother in charge to invite Yao Zi to the main hall for tea and treat her well. She and Zhu Yinluan would go there soon.
"No." Zhu Yinluan said truthfully.
"Sister Yao is gentle and generous. Maybe she can get along well with my sister-in-law." Chen Kouyu told her about Yao Zi's personality and behavior.
Zhu Yinluan listened with a faint smile, but did not take it too seriously.
This has always been different between people.
From what Chen Kouyu said, it seemed that Yao Zi and she were good friends, but their friendship was ultimately based on the family backgrounds of the two families.
It was not advisable to let Yao Zi wait too long, so without saying a few words, the two of them went over.
Just as Zhu Yinluan had imagined, Yao Zi had the demeanor of a noble lady.
Chen Kouyu was considered tall among women, but she was still shorter than Yao Zi. Yao Zi wore a blue and pink dress, had her hair combed in a Chaoyun Jinxiang bun, and wore a jade hairpin inlaid with rubies. She looked dignified and beautiful.
While Zhu Yinluan was looking at each other, Yao Zi was also observing her.
To be honest, when she knew that Shen Jingzhan was going to get married, she had already asked someone to get Zhu Yinluan's portrait. After learning about her background, she felt that she was not worthy of Shen Jingzhan at all.
But when I saw her today, I found Zhu Yinluan to be so beautiful, even more beautiful than in the portrait.
If we put aside their family backgrounds and just look at their appearance, she and Shen Jingzhan are a perfect match.
Yao Zi felt that she was of good character and appearance, and she had met most of the noble ladies from the capital's aristocratic families. But she never expected... that the concubine's daughter of the Zhu family would be so beautiful?
Zhu Yinluan's dress was elegant, she didn't wear too many hairpins and rings, and her face looked like she had no makeup on...
She can catch people's attention with just a little dressing up. If she attends the event in a formal dress, wouldn't she be the most beautiful among all the girls?
Yao Zi couldn't help feeling nervous.
Besides that, she couldn't help but wonder, was Shen Jingzhan attracted by the appearance of the girl from the Zhu family?
But… Shen Jingzhan doesn’t seem like someone who judges people by their appearance.
Although Yao Zi felt mixed emotions, her face did not reveal any flaws.
After exchanging greetings with Zhu Yinluan, she said, "I've heard that the young lady is kind and friendly. I've always wanted to visit her, but I never had the chance. Today I finally got to see her."
As she was speaking, Yao Zi asked someone to bring up the gifts she had prepared.
Zhu Yinluan also exchanged a few polite words with her before allowing the little maid to accept the gift.
After following Madam Shen for some time and meeting many officials' wives and noble ladies, Zhu Yinluan also learned a lot of polite words for meeting people. More importantly, her courage, character and determination were also honed a lot.
Yao Zi was also amazed at her gracefulness and elegance. She had thought that those concubines' daughters from small families were all timid, but Zhu Yinluan gave people the feeling of being at ease.
She doesn't look like a girl from a small family at all, but she does come from a small family.
Chen Kouyu asked Yao Zi why she wanted to come to the Shen family today? She didn't tell anyone in advance, so she should come earlier and have breakfast together.
Yao Zi collected her thoughts and said, "My mother is ill, so I have to take care of her by her side, so I didn't come to the Marquis' Mansion. Otherwise, if sister Kouyu came home, I should have come to greet her, and I shouldn't have waited until today to talk to you."
"Aunt is sick? What happened?" Chen Kouyu asked hurriedly.
"Nothing, it's just the rainy season, I caught a cold and feel unwell. I've asked the imperial physician to see me, and I'm feeling much better now."
In fact, it was because of the matter of the Grand Marshal that he became unwell, and of course he couldn't tell anyone about it.
Chen Kouyu didn't notice it, but Zhu Yinluan noticed from Yao Zi's subtle expression that there was something hidden in her words.
Naturally, she did not expose it, and followed Chen Kouyu in expressing her condolences.
There was really nothing for Yao Zi to do when she came here today. She just heard that Chen Kouyu had returned to Beijing, so she came to visit and "by the way" to see Zhu Yinluan.
But somehow, Old Madam Shen was alarmed, and she sent her old mother over to say that Yunmei Hall had prepared lunch and asked the three of them to go there to eat and talk.
I had heard that Yao Zi often went to the Shen family to look after the old lady. Today, seeing how familiar old lady Shen was with her, I knew that what she said was true.
Old Mrs. Shen also knew that the wife of the Grand Marshal was ill, so she asked Yao Zi about it in detail and asked the housekeeper's mother to pack some thousand-year-old ginseng for Yao Zi to take with her when she returned to make medicinal soup for her mother.
Yao Zi said, "Although the elder's gift cannot be refused, but just now in the front hall, the young lady heard that my mother was ill and had already ordered the servants to prepare ginseng. This thousand-year-old ginseng is priceless. If I bring so much back, my mother will scold me for not knowing the rules as a junior."
Old Mrs. Shen glanced at Zhu Yinluan.
I asked the housekeeper to change the gift to something else and let Yao Zi take it back.
Mrs. Shen was not at home today, but the eldest concubine brought her grandson to pay her respects to Old Madam Shen, but she did not stay for dinner.
Because the eldest concubine had brought people here beforehand, during the meal, Old Lady Shen couldn't help but urge Zhu Yinluan to have a child with Shen Jingzhan as soon as possible.
Zhu Yinluan clenched her silver chopsticks and said she understood.
Yao Zi couldn't help but look over. She knew Zhu Yinluan's identity, and of course she also knew that Zhu Yinluan had not been pregnant for four years after marrying into the Wei family.
Chen Kouyu had something to ask Zhu Yinluan, so she naturally jumped out to help Zhu Yinluan smooth things over, saying that she had only been married for a short time and there was no need to rush about having a child, and besides, wasn't it a matter of time?
Old Madam Shen snorted and continued with Shen Kouyu's words, "Your brother and sister-in-law's affairs are indeed not urgent, so what about your affairs?"
"What's the matter with your granddaughter?" Chen Kouyu pretended to be deaf and dumb, and her voice gradually weakened.
"What's the matter?" When talking about this pair of siblings, Mrs. Shen also had a headache.
At the beginning, she was very angry because neither of them wanted to marry. Now Shen Jingzhan finally got married. Although the person he married was not of good status, it was still considered a marriage, and her life was still pretty good after all.
But Chen Kouyu hasn't married yet. If the Shen family didn't have some influence in the capital, who knows how many people would say bad things about her. Fortunately, she is broad-minded and doesn't take what others say to heart, but Old Lady Shen and Madam Shen are anxious.
The bystanders are anxious, but the parties involved are indifferent.
Chen Kouyu was scolded because she spoke up for her. Zhu Yinluan was just about to pick up some food for Old Lady Shen to change the subject, but Yao Zi stepped in first and said that Chen Kouyu had to take her time to choose and was not afraid of anything.
She picked up some food for Old Lady Shen first, and Zhu Yinluan didn't move.
"This girl has been spoiled by her family, and now she is becoming more and more lawless." Speaking of this, Old Lady Shen talked about Shen Kouyu's rash departure from home, "I don't know where she got such courage, and she is not afraid of anything happening."
Chen Kouyu was silent the whole time. Yao Zi followed up what old lady Shen said and praised Chen Kouyu for developing a kind heart from watching and hearing the old lady around her. She was concerned about the disaster when something happened in Liuzhou, so she couldn't sit still at home in the capital.
"She is not kind-hearted at all, she is just naughty and mischievous." Old Mrs. Shen was pleased in her heart, but on the surface she was still scolding Shen Kouyu for not listening to her family and often making people angry.
But as they were talking, Zhu Yinluan guessed that Yao Zi probably didn't expect that Old Lady Shen would suddenly turn the conversation to her.
She was asked, since she had reached the right age to get married and Chen Kouyu was already looking for someone, had her mother helped her find one?
Yao Zi was indeed surprised and almost embarrassed, but she recovered in a moment.
"Mother...Mother is already helping me choose."
Zhu Yinluan paid attention to Yao Zi's series of reactions and figured out that Yao Zi must be in love with Chen Jingzhan.
Putting aside what Fang Zhongyue said earlier, that His Majesty was wary of marriages between important ministers, the relationship between Yao Zi and Shen Jingzhan... it was probably a case of love and indifference.
Shen Jingzhan was thinking about his beloved who had married early.
It’s a pity for Yao Zi.
"You are good in everything. Ask your mother to carefully select the person and the auspicious day. Send someone to inform me in advance. You used to come to me often to show your filial piety. Now that you are married, I also want to prepare a dowry for you."
Yao Zi felt bitter. How could Old Lady Shen not know how she felt about Shen Jingzhan?
She originally thought that if she got closer to Old Lady Shen and curried favor with the elders of the Shen family, there would be a turning point in the relationship between her and Shen Jingzhan. However, she did not expect that when she visited the house today, Old Lady Shen would speak and completely cut off her thoughts.
Yao Zi tried hard to suppress the strangeness in her heart, maintained a smile and said, "Thank you for your concern."
Old Mrs. Shen smiled and said, "Eat some vegetables."
After lunch, Chen Kouyu sent Yao Zi out, and Zhu Yinluan waited for Old Lady Shen to take a nap.
"Have you seen what the girl from the Yao family feels about Ting Lan?" Old Mrs. Shen asked Zhu Yinluan, leaning on the pillow with one hand.
"My granddaughter-in-law doesn't dare to talk nonsense." Even though she could see it, Zhu Yinluan still spoke with reservation.
Despite this, Mrs. Shen was not angry at her caution.
Tell her about the disputes between the Shen family and the Yao family over the years.
Yao Taiwei was once the prince's teacher. Later, after changes in the times and politics, he was transferred to the position of Taiwei. He also taught Shen Jingzhan for several years.
Hearing the latter sentence, Zhu Yinluan thought, since the Taiwei had taught the prince, and then taught Shen Jingzhan, and dared to worship under the Taishi, wouldn't the Shen family be afraid of being impeached? But she did not interrupt Old Lady Shen.
Yao Zi admired Shen Jingzhan and often visited Shen's family.
But Lord Shen was cautious in his actions. Even if General Yao had conveyed his feelings, he had no intention of marrying into the Yao family, not to mention that Shen Jingzhan had someone in his heart and didn't like Yao Zi at all.
When talking about Shen Jingzhan having someone in his heart, Old Lady Shen glanced at Zhu Yinluan.
Feeling the gaze of Old Lady Shen, Zhu Yinluan looked straight ahead.
Old Madam Shen went on to say that before she got married, Shen Jingzhan had already gone to Yunmei Hall to tell her that he had no interest in Yao Zi and asked her not to come to the Shen family often to avoid misunderstandings.
Knowing what he meant, Mrs. Shen naturally did as he said and asked Yao Zi to come less.
Later, Shen Jingzhan got married and the palace examination paper leak case occurred.
Speaking of this, Old Lady Shen asked Zhu Yinluan if she knew about the turmoil in the court these days?
Zhu Yinluan shook her head, "I only heard some superficial things, and my granddaughter-in-law doesn't know the specific details."
As a woman in the imperial harem, it is enough for her to live a good life. Why should she inquire about the affairs of the court?
"The case of leaking the palace exam questions is quite complicated. I just want to tell you that the Grand Marshal is not innocent."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yinluan's heart skipped a beat.
The Grand Commandant is not innocent? Then the Yao family is...
She had only heard before that the case of leaking the exam questions involved the general, but she hadn't thought deeply about how exactly he was involved.
Could it be that the question was leaked by the general?
"In the future, you should accept fewer invitations from the Yao family, and you should persuade Yu'er to have less contact with Yao Zi."
Zhu Yinluan heard the implication of what Old Lady Shen said. Yao Zi had been sent away today because of marriage matters and had given up all thoughts on coming. If she came again in the future, it would probably be for family matters.
Old Madam Shen refused to meet her, and Madam Shen was not a fool, so she would naturally find an excuse to shirk her responsibility, so…the person Yao Zi was looking for was naturally Shen Kouyu.
Now Chen Kouyu and her family are unhappy about the issue of getting married, and if Mrs. Shen tells her directly, it is very likely to provoke her to rebel.
So, I came to her and entrusted it to Chen Kouyu.
Zhu Yinluan nodded, "When my granddaughter-in-law finds out, she will definitely advise my sister-in-law."
"Yeah." Old Mrs. Shen said softly.
But after a while, Old Lady Shen said to Zhu Yinluan, "Some time ago, the imperial physician prescribed a fertility-enhancing diet. Take it back and give it to the small kitchen in the courtyard. Let them make it for you, but... don't let Tinglan know."
Originally, I wanted Zhu Yinluan to take the fertility-aiding prescription directly, but medicine is three-point poison. If Shen Jingzhan knew about it, he might come to Yunmei Hall to kill him. It’s better to be roundabout.
Zhu Yinluan replied with a "yes" and added, "I'm afraid I can't hide the fact that I'm eating medicinal food from my husband."
Shen Jingzhan comes back to dine with her every day, so how could he not tell?
"You can think of a way to tell him that it's a medicinal diet for strengthening the body and just fool him." Old Mrs. Shen was dissatisfied.
Zhu Yinluan could only nod, "Grandson's wife knows."
Old Madam Shen thought she was unwilling, so she said bluntly, "If you still don't feel pregnant after the New Year, I will hire someone to serve Tinglan."
Zhu Yinluan lowered her eyebrows and said, "Yes..."
If it really came to this, her marriage with Shen Jingzhan...
Zhu Yinluan believed that Shen Jingzhan would not accept it. She was just afraid that the "alliance" she made with Shen Jingzhan would be known by the Shen family and they would make a fuss.
After all, it was said above that if he took a concubine, he would be dismissed from office and stripped of his title.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yinluan couldn't let it go.
Although the days seem peaceful, there are still many things going on.
When Zhu Yinluan came out of Yunmei Hall, Chen Kouyu was waiting outside.
She said that she had sent Yao Zi out a long time ago and didn't want to enter Yunmei Hall because she was afraid of Mrs. Shen's nagging.
"Sister-in-law, have you helped me talk to my brother?" She was really worried.
Zhu Yinluan replied, "I said it, but my husband..."
The two walked to the veranda. Chen Kouyu was in a bad mood, so she didn't leave. She sat down there and grabbed some fish food nearby and threw it into the water.
Zhu Yinluan stayed by her side and watched her vent her anger.
Soon the fish food was gone, so Mingya took people to get it.
After the people left, Chen Kouyu suddenly said, "Sister-in-law, tell me the truth, did my brother ask you to stop interfering in my affairs?"
Zhu Yinluan, "..."
Madam Shen and Old Lady Shen always said that Shen Kouyu was straightforward and impulsive, without considering the consequences.
In her opinion, Chen Kouyu is actually very insightful.
After all, she is Shen Jingzhan's biological sister. How dumb can she be?
Not to mention, she, a girl, was able to go to Liuzhou alone and return from there unscathed.
Even if the Shen family members came to support her from behind, it was enough to show how powerful she was.
"Sister-in-law, you don't have to worry about me getting angry if you tell the truth. We have been together for some time. You should know what kind of personality I have, right?"
Zhu Yinluan has come into contact with three young sisters in total. Chen Kouyu's personality is more lively than Wei Mingyan's, and she is indeed not a stingy person.
"…My husband did tell me not to worry about it."
But she didn't expect that as soon as she finished speaking, Chen Kouyu turned around angrily, "Okay! Brother actually said that to sister-in-law! Sister-in-law, you really don't care about me!"
Being stared at by the girl with her hands on her hips, Zhu Yinluan said, "..."
These two siblings are really good at making people choke...
She gave Chen Kouyu an apologetic smile and said, "It's my fault, but..."
Zhu Yinluan didn't beat around the bush with her, "My aunt knows my background very well. I have no support from my mother's family, and I don't want to offend the Shen family's parents..."
"My mother-in-law and grandmother have repeatedly asked me to persuade you to get married. If I help you, I will be disobeying my grandmother and mother-in-law. If I help my mother-in-law and grandmother, I will betray your friendship with me. So I can only perfunctorily deal with both sides like this..."
After hearing this, Chen Kouyu became depressed again.
She looked at the fish fighting for food in the pond under the porch and said worriedly that she didn't want to get married.
Zhu Yinluan curiously asked her why she didn't want to get married?
"Because I still have a lot of things to do." Chen Kouyu looked at the pond embankment in the distance.
"What's the matter?" Zhu Yinluan asked her.
"Sister-in-law, did you like reading when you were young?" Chen Kouyu asked back.
"I like it, but my stepmother is very strict and often doesn't give me monthly allowance. Most of the books I read are second-rate books that Mingya bought from stalls outside, and some are even incomplete."
Zhu Yinluan spoke in a calm and indifferent tone.
Chen Kouyu listened to her calmly recounting her childhood years in the boudoir which seemed not to be easy. There was no resentment or anger on her face, just a very gentle look.
Zhu Yinluan noticed her gaze and looked over.
Chen Kouyu cleared her throat and asked, "What kind of books does sister-in-law read?"
"I look at everything, mainly whatever Mingya buys."
Chen Kouyu said "oh" and told Zhu Yinluan that she liked reading anecdotes and had read many female heroes in the books. She was very happy to see them doing justice and wielding swords in the world.
Speaking of this, Chen Kouyu gestured excitedly twice, "So I wanted to be a female hero who saves the dying and the wounded and eliminates the injustices in the world a long time ago."
Zhu Yinluan couldn't help but laugh and expressed her approval, "I heard from my husband that my aunt did a lot of good things and helped a lot when she went to Liuzhou this time."
But because Shen Kouyu was a girl and was born in a noble family, she must not tell anyone about her rash trip to Liuzhou. Firstly, she was afraid of ruining her reputation, and secondly, she was afraid that the noble families would use this as an opportunity to impeach her.
According to Shen Jingzhan, many people did not know that Shen Kouyu did all the good things because she gave herself a code name and wore a mask. No one knew that she was a young lady from a noble family in the capital. Maybe they just thought she was the daughter of a certain escort agency.
"It's a pity that we can't continue." Chen Kouyu's tone dropped.
"Sister-in-law, can't you help me talk to my brother and ask him to reject my family members on my behalf?"
"If this is accomplished, I will definitely remember my sister-in-law's kindness forever."
Zhu Yinluan sighed, "Otherwise...I'll go and tell my husband myself?"
"My brother won't help me."
Zhu Yinluan said that might not be the case.
Chen Kouyu looked at her.
"I heard from the servants of the Shen family that my aunt has been able to practice martial arts and read banned books since she was young. This is inseparable from the indulgence of my husband. It seems that my husband persuaded my mother-in-law and father-in-law to let my aunt practice martial arts?"
"To be fair, my husband is kind to me. If I can speak to him kindly, I think he might help me..."
Didn't Shen Jingzhan say it at the beginning? If there is something that the Shen family can't handle, just throw it to him.
Zhu Yinluan calmly and earnestly gave Shen Kouyu advice.
After listening to this, Chen Kouyu was indeed moved.
She was thinking, and Zhu Yinluan did not disturb her, but just fed the fish quietly beside her.
After a moment, Chen Kouyu gritted her teeth and said, "Okay, then I'll go and ask my brother for help!"
"If it doesn't work, I'll kneel on the ground and beg him!"
Looking at Chen Kouyu's fearless expression.
Zhu Yinluan, "..."
After she proposed the idea, Chen Kouyu stopped begging her and instead told her about what happened when she sent Yao Zi away just now.
Zhu Yinluan was about to tell her about this, but she didn’t interrupt and just listened to Chen Kouyu quietly.
But when he heard that Chen Kouyu had prescribed a prescription for the Taiwei's wife.
Zhu Yinluan was surprised, "Aunt, do you know medical skills?"
"Yes." After Chen Kouyu revealed it, she looked around and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't tell anyone. No one in the family knows about this."
The maids were driven away to a nearby place, and after making sure that they could not hear what the two of them were saying, Chen Kouyu spoke directly.
Zhu Yinluan thought, since Chen Kouyu dared to prescribe medicine for the wife of the Grand Marshal, maybe she really knew medical skills?
Maybe she could ask Chen Kouyu to take her pulse?
Zhu Yinluan did not forget that the wording used by the imperial physician who came to take her pulse was almost the same as what he said at the Wei family.
The imperial physician was arranged later, but she was at the Wei family at the time, and Shen Jingzhan didn't know her, so he couldn't arrange it.
The wording used in both pulse examinations was the same, which doesn't make sense.
At that time, she just felt surprised and strange, but she had no idea what was wrong with this weirdness.
"Sister-in-law, you don't believe it?" Seeing Zhu Yinluan's thoughtful look, Chen Kouyu said that the master she secretly worshipped was the most respected head of the Imperial Hospital, and no one could match his medical skills even after retiring for many years.
"Really?" Zhu Yinluan asked.
"It's true!" Chen Kouyu nodded.
"Then, young lady, can you please feel my pulse?" Zhu Yinluan found an excuse and said that Old Lady Shen had just mentioned the issue of offspring, so she wanted to see if she could get some medicine to help her conceive.
Chen Kouyu said it was no problem, clapped her hands, and came over to lean against Zhu Yinluan, took her hand and pulled her over, and turned her back to the maids to feel her pulse.
Zhu Yinluan was fine at first, but when she saw Chen Kouyu’s expression changed.
After releasing her wrist, he sat up again and carefully felt her pulse.
He quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Could it be that Chen Kouyu knew that it was not easy for her to conceive, or that she could not conceive at all?
Zhu Yinluan was thinking in a mess, and felt that she was too hasty and reckless. After all, Chen Kouyu was a member of the Shen family. What if Madam Shen and Old Lady Shen heard about it?
She had already made the worst plan in her mind. If that was really the case, what could she do to make Chen Kouyu agree to keep her mouth shut?
But she didn't expect that Shen Kouyu would say, "Sister-in-law, you...you are pregnant."
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