Chapter 107 Chapter 107
When Yao Niang was having contractions, she suddenly heard Gu's mother shouting, "Girl, the lady is here, your dear mother is here."
She also didn't expect that her mother would arrive at the same time as she was giving birth. When she saw Xie again, she was a little plumper than before. Both mother and daughter had never expected to meet in this scene.
"Yao Niang, mother is here, don't worry." Xie saw her daughter lying on the bed with a painful face and hurt to comfort her.
But Yao Niang's pain was gone after a while. She smiled and said, "Mother, my daughter's stomach pain is gone now that you are here."
Xie smoothed her daughter's hair and said, "These are contractions, which come and go. We arrived at the inn at midnight yesterday, and somehow I remembered that you were pregnant. I asked them to go back and wanted to come over to check on you, but I didn't expect that you were about to give birth."
"With mom by my side, I'm not afraid of anything." Yao Niang took a deep breath.
Xie had a lot of experience in childbirth, so she asked someone to heat water for her to bathe. She said to Yao Niang, "Before you give birth, wash your body clean. You will feel much better."
…
The Yan family returned to Beijing. Yan Yingqi had already gone to the palace to meet the emperor. Li was at home with her two children, her brother-in-law and her own son. She was naturally very proud to be back now. She went home in tears last time, but this time she was victorious.
Her younger brother-in-law was only one or two months older than her son, and they were like brothers. Since she returned to Jinling, he often helped take care of the children. Her mother-in-law always treated her very well. To be honest, the situation in the Yan family was very special, and it was almost obvious that her father-in-law favored her mother-in-law. However, she was the daughter-in-law of the Xie family, so she benefited from it and could not say anything.
But if she had such a strong enemy, she would probably be unable to sleep or eat.
"You guys clean up our yard first and let the fifth master and the young master take a nap. I will go to the front yard and ask them to clean up the main yard. Mother just sent someone back saying that my sister is in labor and she has to stay at the Shen family to take care of her. If the baby is born, we will have to go to their house in person to congratulate them." Li said.
"Grandma, the third young lady has been married to the Shen family for three years and just gave birth to a child. Good things are happening to her. But the eldest young lady is going to the capital with us this time. I wonder if she will be jealous of the third young lady when she sees her situation?" Li's servants were also worried.
Xie was talking to Yao Niang about this matter: "After the mourning period, many things happened to our Yan family. Jingwen's marriage could not be delayed any longer, so we had to finish Jingwen's marriage first. Ying Niang's marriage to the Xu family was also imminent. But I didn't expect your father to relapse faster than expected, so no one paid attention to your elder sister. I didn't expect that she would come along with us hiding in the box when we were halfway through the journey."
Yao Niang stroked her belly and looked at Xie and said, "Maybe it was the work of the eldest lady..."
"Yes, I guess it was her. I was busy with Jingci and missed you, and I bet that your father would be able to recover, so I comforted him when he was frustrated. But Zhen lost the support of the people, and your father became a stranger to her. She was anxious, and I thought I had a sure win. How could I know that Yan Ningxin secretly boarded the ship? With her strict management of the household, how could she not know that a living person was on the ship? I'm afraid she did it on purpose to dislike you and me." Xie also guessed it.
Yao Niang had already had two or three rounds of cramps by noon. After taking a bath, she looked at the silver noodles that were brought to her and ate them while saying, "She doesn't hate me. You know that she once asked me for a painting, but it was not given to the prince of Qi, but to Gong Ding. Now Gong Ding is on duty in the inner cabinet. It would be good if she keeps quiet. If she makes trouble, I'm afraid my father will punish her. I'm already sitting on the fishing platform, so why should I rush to deal with her? I'm not Ying Niang."
It has to be said that after three years of marriage, Yao Niang has mastered the art of cultivating her energy and is no longer the same person she used to be.
After finishing the noodles, Yao Niang felt a little tired and was about to take a rest when she started to feel pain again. This time, she was really about to give birth. She used to feel that menstruation was so painful, but now that she had given birth, she knew that this pain was ten times more than menstruation.
Xie hoped that Yao Niang would have a smooth birth. It didn't matter whether it was a boy or a girl, but she had to be safe. After all, as long as you have green mountains, you will never worry about lack of firewood. She hoped that all her children would be well.
…
When the sky was covered with dense clouds in the evening, it looked like a flaming cloud. Shen Linfeng stood outside the door, waiting for good news.
Hearing a baby cry from the inner room, Shen Linfeng stood up suddenly and rushed in again. Seeing his wife's hair soaked with sweat and her face pale, he felt much more relaxed.
Xie stood up and said, "Aunt, happy news of your birth."
"Really? That's great, that's great. I also want to thank you, mother-in-law, for taking care of my wife here. I don't know how to thank you enough. I'll send someone to take you back." Shen Linfeng also knew that Xie had traveled a long way and came here to take care of Yao Niang for a whole day, so he was also very considerate.
Xie smiled and shook her head: "This is a great joyous event. Yao Niang suffered a lot, but fortunately she gave birth smoothly. Otherwise, I really don't know what to say."
Shen Linfeng personally asked the housekeeper to send Xie back. He went in to take another look at the mother and daughter. The child seemed to be wrinkled and red, with a lot of hair on her body and face, much like a little monkey. He and Yao Niang were both extremely good-looking people, could they also give birth to ugly daughters?
But it was really strange, she was so small, but she could breathe through her nose just like adults, and her heart rate also rose and fell. Looking at Yao Niang who was now sleeping on the bed exhausted from childbirth, Shen Linfeng was full of sympathy.
The first wife gave birth to a daughter, and Mrs. Shen said with a smile, "Mother Qian, I will go and see her myself tomorrow."
Giving birth to only a daughter is no different from not giving birth at all. She asked Mother Qian again: "Mrs. Wang has been quite active recently. She is often away from home and doesn't even think about what she should do."
Mother Qian said, "This old slave doesn't know."
Madam Shen Er had a good idea. If her son passed the provincial examination, he would definitely marry a second wife, and then the Xinning Marquisate would be unable to say anything. They only had this one son, and they couldn't get married and have an empty child for several years.
The eldest wife at least gave birth to a daughter, which shows that she is still fertile. But it is hard to say about Wang.
Shen Xunfu was already worried about a situation like Grandma Qing, so he specially selected a woman with a clean family background to come to his house to serve Shen Linqing.
Grandma Qingda has to prepare for the second wife to move in these days, and she doesn't seem to be happy at all.
When she heard that Yao Niang had safely given birth to a daughter, she couldn't help but touch her belly and said, "It would be nice to have a daughter, it would be better than having an empty belly."
Han Ruohua and Shao were both there. Shao always seemed to be outspoken. She was delighted when she first heard the good news that the first wife had given birth to a daughter. But then she learned that Grandma Qing was going to take a second wife, which made her feel a little sad.
Although Shao was lucky, she couldn't help but say, "Sister-in-law, do you really want to marry that Chu? Although she is the daughter of a poor family and her father died early, she is a beautiful lady."
"Since it was my father-in-law who arranged it, and he even sent someone to send her to Beijing, I, as a junior, had to listen to the arrangements of my elders. To be honest, it's my own fault." Grandma Qing didn't seem to be reluctant at all.
Grandma Qing has been married for six years, and Shao has been married for five years. At first, they had some disagreements, but after they separated, they became closer. Shao was also worried about Grandma Qing. in the future. You must not be careless."
After listening to what Shao said, Grandma Qing was somewhat moved. She knew that although Shao had some small thoughts, she was not a bad person. Han Ruohua, on the other hand, was a stubborn person. She said nothing about the matter. She saw everything and said casually, "Let's think about what to give to the eldest wife for the third day of her wedding first, so as not to give duplicate gifts."
"It's nothing more than giving some gold and silver ingots, which is nothing." Han Ruohua said.
Shao smiled and said, "I'm afraid the eldest will have to ask my sister-in-law to preside over the third-day bath. Dalang's wife is a smart person, but now she has just given birth and her family has returned. Dalang was also appointed as the Right Chunfang Youzhongyun a few days ago. I'm afraid there will be even more people coming, and someone will have to greet them."
Grandma Qingda said seriously: "Not entirely. The managers in their family must have arranged everything."
The last time she got close to the Fan family, she deliberately didn't go to the first house. Given Yan's self-esteem, she would definitely not be someone who would tolerate others causing trouble in her house.
This person is definitely not someone who is easy to get close to. If she suspects you, you will not be in her eyes. Besides, Grandma Qing also knows that there can't be two tigers in one mountain, especially now she is not in such a mood, Chu will come in soon.
It is also said that Wen Qilang went to Shen Linfeng to learn that Yan Yingqi had returned to Beijing, and he hurried back. This time, Aunt Yin did not come with him. Because Yan Jingzhang was required to study at home and at least pass the examination, Aunt Yin was now at home helping to take care of the old lady Yu and playing with her grandson. She did not have to follow the rules here at Zhen's house, and she was happy.
As for Aunt Feng, Yan Yingqi considered that she was still young and did not want to waste her youth. After asking for her opinion, on the way here, he asked Zhen to cancel her slavery and marry her to a magistrate in Jinling as a consort.
Qianniang went back to pay her respects to Zhen first. Seeing that Zhen had a few more white hairs, she did not dare to say much. She only said that she missed them and talked about Yingniang's marriage.
Zhen smiled and said, "This time I came back to arrange your sister's marriage. The Xu family has been waiting for three years. Your sister is sixteen this year, and the wedding date is set for this June."
"That's great. I've been thinking about this too." Since Qianniang's father-in-law resigned, her husband has also been a retired official, and the people who usually surround them have long since dispersed.
Fortunately, her father is now the prime minister again, although he is only an assistant minister, but he is also an assistant minister. Qianniang really feels that she is very lucky. She even feels better when she hears that Yaoniang has also given birth to a daughter.
Of course, this was also said by Yingniang. She had grown three years older and had grown up a lot. She was wearing a rose purple and gold-engraved knee-length narrow-sleeved jacket, paired with a vermilion skirt. She was also surrounded by pearls and jade, which made her look very elegant.
"Before I knew it, my second and third sisters both had children. We used to be together and nothing happened, but I was alone at home and it was extremely boring." Yingniang and Qianniang have always had a good relationship.
Qianniang sighed: "I think so too. When you get married, we should keep in touch more often. You know, Yaoniang and I don't usually interact with each other."
Yingniang tilted her head in confusion: "Why is this?"
"I often send invitations to her, but she doesn't always come. A few days ago, I heard that her sisters-in-law in the Shen family don't interact with her much either." Qianniang felt that Yaoniang was really a bad person.
Yingniang covered her mouth and said, "Third sister is not easy to get along with. I don't think she can get along with anyone. It just so happens that eldest sister has gone to the capital. Who knows what strange things she will do in the future."
Qianniang couldn't believe it: "What? Big sister came to Beijing. Did dad ask her to come?"
Yingniang was about to speak when she heard from outside that the Third Madam was coming. Zhen's niece also returned to Jiujiang Prefecture after Yan Jingwen got married, and her father arranged the marriage.
Xin Wan was now dressed as a woman, still looking slim and graceful. She was saying, "Second Aunt, Third Miss, the feast is ready at home. Madam asked me to invite you over."
Qianniang did not expect that Xin Wan would eventually marry Jingwen. It really did not seem real. She had always thought that Xin Wan would never become the daughter-in-law of their Yan family.
Finally, she stood up and called out, "Third sister-in-law."
Xin Wan grew up in the Yan family and is very familiar with Qianniang and Yingniang. She doesn't have to get familiar with her in-laws' family like others do. This is probably an advantage.
Now, hearing Qianniang calling her, she responded somewhat embarrassedly: "Let's go."
The people from the first house were having dinner together, but Qianniang did not see Yan Ningxin. She knew that Yan Ningxin might not have come back through normal channels. If her father had allowed her to come back, he would have done it openly. Now it was clear that the first lady did not want her to come out.
But if she came back and did something wrong, then the reputation that I had worked so hard to build would be gone. In his anxiety, he thought of Yao Niang again, thinking that she must be more anxious than he was.
In fact, Yao Niang didn't take it to heart at all. After she gave birth to her daughter, within a few days, her wrinkled face turned into a little glutinous rice dumpling, pink and tender and very cute.
Shen Linfeng smiled and said, "What name do you want to give it? We can choose a full name later, let's call it by a nickname first."
"Tell me a few first," Yao Niang asked.
Shen Linfeng mentioned several words like "virtuous" and "virtuous", but Yao Niang rejected them all. She couldn't help but say, "It is said in Luoshen's poem that if you look closely, it is as bright as a lotus emerging from the green waves. What do you think of Ruofu? Her nickname is Fu'er. I hope our daughter can always be like a lotus emerging from the water, and will not be stained by the mud even if she is in the mud."
When he heard the name Yao Niang had chosen, he recited a few words: "Ruofu, Ruofu, OK, let's call her this."
"Tomorrow is the third day of the lunar year. I have asked the steward to make arrangements for me. As for the female relatives, I originally wanted to invite Wang to come, but I had a hard time removing the nail that the second madam left for us. It is easier to invite a god than to send him away. If the third wife's grandmother, Qingda, marries the second wife, I am afraid there will be a fight. The Shao family and we are not on good terms with each other, so I want to invite your cousin to come." Yao Niang said.
Shen Linfeng smiled and said, "In my opinion, there is no need to invite anyone. We are almost ready anyway."
"That being said, someone has to preside over it. I have already sent someone to invite her. If she doesn't want to, then forget it." Yao Niang was quite open-minded.
In fact, Han Ruohua is now like the grandmother of Qingda and the younger sister of Shao. She can never stand out. Now there is a chance to promote her. If she doesn't dare, then forget it. This shows that this person is just playing tricks and is not a person who can take charge.
Han Ruohua usually kept silent among the sisters-in-law, but now she responded and soon came to the main room. Grandma Qing laughed: "It's true that a dog that bites doesn't bark."
On the day of the third day of the baby's birth, Xie brought Jingci and her grandson Runger over. When she saw Yaoniang's daughter Ruofu, she was overjoyed: "This child will be snow-white in just a few days. Her nose is like yours and her mouth is like your aunt's. She is so pretty."
"Mom, I can't tell who she looks like because she is too young. But I think it would be nice to have a daughter. I have a cabinet full of dolls now, and I can give them to her to play with." Yao Niang said.
Xie and Li looked at each other and laughed, "You are still so childish. How is your health?"
Yao Niang said, "He must still be feeling uncomfortable. He needs to stay in confinement for another month or two. He will be fine after recuperating. Now that you are all in the capital, I feel relieved. Moreover, my husband was promoted to editor a few days ago and then transferred to You Chunfang Youzhongyun. Although he is now very successful in his career, he still has many shortcomings. I would like to ask Dad to give him more advice. He has always been open-minded and is very willing to listen to other people's opinions."
"Once a daughter gets married, she will devote herself to her husband. Look at you, you are still thinking about your husband while you are in confinement after childbirth. You are really something." Xie teased her daughter.
Yao Niang was smiling and saying that Zhen had brought Ying Niang over. Ying Niang was well-fed, and looked fair, healthy and full of vitality. However, Zhen looked bloated and haggard, as if she had aged ten years since she was in Beijing.
"Auntie, fourth sister." Yao Niang nodded.
Zhen was very able to hold on, and her level was roughly the same as that of Mrs. Shen Er. She always looked like a considerate and kind person. This time, she came over and took a look at Ruofu, and said, "This child is born in a neat shape. Perhaps only you can give birth to such a child."
Everyone laughed at this remark. Yao Niang then asked Li: "Do Wu Lang (Jing Ci) and Run Ge'er fight with each other? I heard that children of similar age are most likely to steal things."
Li smiled and said, "Fifth Uncle loves our nephew Run very much. He always shares all the new things with his nephew."
"That's great." Yao Niang looked at her little brother Jingci and always felt that he looked very well-behaved and had a personality very similar to Jie's. He would definitely be a talented person in the future.
He is two years old this year. When he saw Yao Niang in front of him, being pushed by the adults and called "sister", he quickly hid behind Xie.
Yao Niang looked at him and said with a smile: "How about letting your brother-in-law take you out to play later? He misses you so much."
"Brother-in-law?" Jing Cihai didn't understand these relationships.
Yao Niang touched her brother's head and said to Xie: "In the future, mother, please bring him here more often so that he can accompany your daughter. Gong Ding is often busy with official duties, and your daughter is the only one living in this huge mansion. I think Jingci is very well behaved. If you have any problems, just send him to me."
To be honest, Xie felt more at ease leaving the child to her daughter than to her daughter-in-law. No matter how good Li was, she was still an outsider to her.
After the Yan family said something, the midwife outside wanted to take the children out for a bath. Xie and Li asked the wet nurse to take the children to the guest room. It was not appropriate for a girl like Ying Niang, who had not yet left the house, to stay in the confinement room for a long time, but she was also trying to see how her third sister was doing.
Everything seemed fine. Even though she gave birth to a daughter, the third sister had no worries at all.
Today is the third day celebration for the child and many people have come. Although Yingniang is now the daughter of the prime minister and is very proud, she is very happy to see that the daughter-in-law of the prime minister has come, which shows how much she values her third sister.
The female member of the Shen family who presided over the third day bath was Han Ruohua. For such an occasion where she could stand out, the eldest wife had prepared everything and only needed her to come out and preside over it. She really didn't expect that this opportunity would fall on her. Perhaps it was better to have closer relatives. No matter what, she was related to the eldest wife, so she would think of her for all the good things.
Shao and Qingda's grandmother whispered in each other's ears: "She didn't say a word, so she came here."
Grandma Qing said, "Say less." She looked at Xie. Xie was originally the heir apparent, and in fact was the second wife. Now standing next to Zhen, she seemed younger. Now she has entered the family, and her sons and daughters are more promising than Zhen's. She is afraid that she will be the same in the future.
Although Chu's father had passed away, she was talented and beautiful, had a clean family background, was literate, and had a very good temperament. As soon as she entered the mansion, Shen Linqing began to come back every day. He didn't even look at the concubines in the house.
Xie, however, was oblivious and threw a gold and jade longevity lock into the basin. People praised her, saying, "As expected of a grandmother, she is a very generous woman."
"This was worn by my grandfather when he was a child, and he specifically asked me to give it to my granddaughter." Xie said with a smile.
No matter who spoke to Xie, she always answered softly and never looked down on anyone. Madam Shen Er found this strange. Yan was an arrogant and cruel person, so she was not on good terms with anyone in the clan. She had Shen Linfeng under her control. On the contrary, her mother was gentle and affectionate, which was completely the opposite of her.
Ruofu's third day bath was held in a grand ceremony. Yao Niang had already asked people to prepare souvenirs for each guest. Unlike the traditional gift of eggs, they gave back special gift boxes, which contained a cake shaped like an egg, a handkerchief with the Chinese zodiac, a can of tea, a bottle of ointment, a pair of Chinese zodiac candles, and randomly placed tumblers with different meanings in the gift boxes.
Shen Linfeng also laughed and said, "There is a riddle in this tumbler. If you can guess it before tomorrow, there will be a reward. Remember, I will pay for it."
Many of the people who came were literati who loved to do these things. Rulong immediately opened it, but he couldn't figure it out after thinking for a long time.
Yan Yingqi appeared calm, but in fact he opened the note stuffed in the tumbler in the carriage, thought for a while and said, "Isn't this just a word 'Qing'? Wait, I have to go back to the Shen family."
Xie quickly pulled him aside and said, "Don't be embarrassed. Your son-in-law didn't invite you to eat anything you wanted. Now that you're back, there are only young people or your son-in-law's peers there. What are you doing?"
"I don't care. I'm going back now. You go home first. I'll be back soon." Yan Yingqi said as he was about to smoke.
Xie tried hard not to roll her eyes. This man had really become more and more backward the more he spent time with Jingci.
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