Chapter 71: Household Matters

Chapter 71: Household Matters

Qin's praise of Lu Lingyun was on an astronomical level.

It made everyone in the room brighten up.

Especially Cui and the young woman who had just smiled at Lu Lingyun.

She looked at Lu Lingyun with sparkling eyes.

"Mother always praises her daughter-in-law. If you keep it up, my face will turn as red as a monkey's bottom," Lu Lingyun said.

"You still know shame? I thought even if I praised you to the heavens, your face wouldn't show a hint of red," Qin laughed heartily.

Anyone could tell from their conversation that they had an extremely close relationship.

It was far from the typical formal mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dynamic.

Qin genuinely liked Lu Lingyun from the bottom of her heart—her character, the things she did, everything pleased her. She was composed, rational, and balanced. Such a woman truly satisfied her every expectation, and now she regarded Lu Lingyun as her own daughter.

Hearing her best friend speak so highly, Cui also developed a favorable impression of Lu Lingyun, "Alright, stop showing off your daughter-in-law to me as if no one else has one."

As she spoke, she looked at the young woman standing nearby, "Niyue, come here."

The young woman named Niyue stepped forward gracefully and bowed to Cui and Qin, "Lady Li greets Lady Qin."

"Niyue, you're such a good girl. How is your health these days?"

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Qin. Niyue is much better now."

"A woman must take good care of herself after childbirth. Mama Wen, bring the items," Qin said.

"Yes."

Mama Wen brought forward a box containing top-grade ginseng that was over a hundred years old.

"I collected this while staying at another residence, thinking it would be perfect for you since you are still recovering."

Li Niyue didn't dare accept it without looking at her mother-in-law first. Seeing Cui nod, she then said, "Thank you, Lady Qin."

"Don't mention it." At this moment, Qin remembered the child, "Where is your little Qian'er?"

As soon as she spoke, the sound of a baby crying came from the inner room.

Cui laughed, "He must have sensed his godmother coming to see him."

A wet nurse from the inner room carried out a half-year-old boy, and both Cui and Qin immediately surrounded him, cooing and smiling.

Standing to the side, Li Niyue watched the child with longing in her eyes but didn't dare to hold him.

"Sister-in-law, is this the young master?"

Lu Lingyun asked at this moment.

"Yes, he's my child, Xu Zhengqian."

Cui Shi held the child and called for Lu Lingyun to come closer, "Lingyun, come here too, hold our little master."

"Yes, Aunt," Lu Lingyun called affectionately. She stepped forward carefully and held the half-year-old child, her movements somewhat stiff. She couldn't help but ask, "Sister-in-law, is it like this?"

Seeing this, Li Niyue hurriedly came over to help adjust her hands, "Place your hand here, supporting the child's back."

With Li Niyue's assistance, Lu Lingyun adjusted her position and managed to hold the child steadily, "Why is holding a child so difficult?"

Her words made Cui Shi and Qin Shi laugh.

"After all, you haven't given birth yet!"

"Lingyun, you need to hold more often. Hold a child, and soon you'll have one!"

Cui Shi joked.

Qin Shi then said mysteriously, "Indeed, we're about to have a child in our family."

"Oh? Is it Lingyun?"

"Xiao Jun's fortune is a bit lacking; she has given all her good luck to our family. Both of Yunshuo's concubines are expecting." Qin Shi explained.

Hearing this, Cui Shi quickly pulled Qin Shi to sit down, "Such a big matter, and you didn't tell me."

"I wanted to surprise you today."

"You really did surprise me." Cui Shi glanced at Lu Lingyun and Li Niyue standing inside the room, "You two are young; go into the inner room with the child and chat. I'll talk with your aunt."

"Yes, Mother."

"Yes, Aunt."

Lu Lingyun, still holding the child awkwardly, bowed and entered the inner room with Li Niyue.

Once inside, she handed the child back to Li Niyue.

Li Niyue was taken aback.

"Sister-in-law, aren't you going to take him? Do you want me to hold him until my arms ache?"

Upon hearing this, Li Niyue, after her initial shock, immediately felt touched and hugged the child tightly.

"Qian'er, it's Mama."

Lu Lingyun looked at her and knew she had guessed correctly.

Li Niyue was not allowed to hold the child.

Indeed, Li Niyue was not allowed to hold the child. She had a difficult childbirth, suffering from postpartum hemorrhage and nearly losing her life. It took her several months to recover from her weakened state. As soon as the child was born, her mother-in-law, Cui Shi, took the baby to raise. One time when she held the child, her hands and feet were weak, almost dropping the baby. Since then, her mother-in-law strictly forbade her from holding the child again.

Li Niyue held the child tenderly, sitting by the bed and soothing it gently. Soon, the child fell asleep.

Even after the child was asleep, she refused to let go.

Lu Lingyun did not mind; she sat quietly nearby, sipping her tea.

As the warm tea settled in her stomach, she heard Li Niyue speak, "Thank you."

Lu Lingyun looked up, "What do you mean, Sister-in-law?"

"You actually know how to hold a child," Li Niyue said, looking at Lu Lingyun. Her eyes were clear, revealing Lu Lingyun's little trick just now.

Lu Lingyun had pretended to be awkward to deceive Cui Shi and Qin Shi, but Li Niyue noticed that she held the child very steadily when she took over.

Yet, she said nothing about it.

She simply coaxed Cui Shi into letting her hold the child.

"Sister-in-law, don't think too much. I just find Qian'er adorable," Lu Lingyun smiled calmly.

Li Niyue looked at her smile, "Now I understand why Lady Qin speaks so highly of you. You truly are someone likable."

"If Sister-in-law likes me, then I like Sister-in-law too."

Li Niyue chuckled, instantly bridging the gap between them.

She held the child and asked Lu Lingyun to sit beside her. They chatted for a while, quickly finding common ground.

They were around the same age and both married into wealthy families, which gave them plenty to talk about.

As they chatted, the conversation turned to household management.

"Is the marquisate now under your management?"

"Yes, my mother-in-law has entrusted all household affairs to me," Lu Lingyun replied.

Li Niyue looked at her with envy, "In our duke's residence, my mother-in-law still manages everything. She mentioned wanting someone to share the burden, but I have a sister-in-law who is her niece. She wants both of us to manage together."

"How do you manage together?"

"She wants us to compete to see who can manage the household better until the end of the year. Whoever does well will take over."

Li Niyue sighed.

Having two sons in the family made things complicated.

Although the eldest son usually inherits the title and the eldest daughter-in-law is groomed as the future matriarch, Cui Shi favored the younger son and his wife, who was also her niece. If Li Niyue hadn't given birth to a son first, the balance in the duke's residence would have tipped towards the younger branch.

Hearing Li Niyue's troubles, Lu Lingyun held her hand, "Sister-in-law, don't worry. If you encounter any problems managing the household, come to me. I'll help you come up with ideas."

Li Niyue's eyes immediately lit up.

She had heard about how well Lu Lingyun managed her household.