Chapter 116: Fu Wanan’s Marriage

Chapter 116: Fu Wanan's Marriage

Before giving birth, Lin Baozhen was already in great discomfort. Her entire body felt as if all her bones were loose, and it wasn't just walking that hurt; even holding chopsticks to eat was painful.

The doctor said that she had eaten too well before, making her a bit overweight, and that she needed to walk more to help with the delivery.

Lin Baozhen was extremely resentful about this. During the early stages of her pregnancy, she always felt nauseous, and the household went all out to cook for her to make her gain weight.

Who would have thought that when it came time for the baby to descend, they would say her belly was too big, and if she continued eating like this without walking properly, it might be life-threatening during childbirth.

Lin Baozhen felt she was the most unfortunate pregnant woman in the world. She had never heard of a situation where a pregnant woman couldn't gain weight.

She reduced the amount of food she ate, and her husband forced her to walk. At this time, Lin Baozhen especially missed her mother.

It just so happened that the matter with Wan Xiuer had been settled, and the punishment for Lin Zongfei had been decided. Lin Baozhen met Wang Shi.

According to He Lanting and Emperor Chengde's thoughts, Emperor Chengde, due to Wan Xiuer's escape, declared in court that even beheading Lin Zongfei wouldn't satisfy his anger.

All the officials knelt on the ground to appease the emperor's wrath, and Lin Yi, in particular, bowed until his head bled.

When court was dismissed, he could barely walk and had to be supported out of the hall.

In the court, only a few people guessed Yan Ji's true identity, while others did not, and Lin Yi belonged to the latter group.

Not knowing Yan Ji's true identity, he still wanted to protect his son, Lin Zongfei. After all, it was just trouble caused by a concubine, and Lin Zongfei didn't do it intentionally.

Lin Yi had only one wife and one concubine. His wife was Wang Shi, and his concubine was Wen Shi. They had only one legitimate son.

At his age, if he didn't protect Lin Zongfei, he might never have another child.

Wang Shi also couldn't bear to lose her son. She sought help from her own family and from her daughter's in-laws, the Wei Wuhou Mansion.

Xie Yuan originally didn't want to get involved in this matter, but Wang Shi kept insisting on seeing Lin Baozhen, and everyone knew how much Wang Shi and Changqing Marquis doted on Lin Baozhen.

What if Lin Baozhen was disturbed, and something happened to the child in her womb?

Moreover, Xie Jingzhi also spoke up for Wang Shi, and Xie Yuan eventually took on the matter reluctantly.

Xie Yuan went to Yutang Palace to kowtow to He Lanting, pleading for his cousin to spare Lin Zongfei and speaking on his behalf to the emperor.

He Lanting had very few people she could use. Wei Wuhou was the most important person for her to gain power. She indeed didn't want to forgive Lin Zongfei, but she also knew something.

Lin Yi and Lin Zongfei belonged to Concubine Chen's faction among the court officials. If she beheaded Lin Zongfei and dismissed Lin Yi, she could vent her anger, but she would lose two useful people.

Furthermore, He Lanting also knew that even if she hadn't been frightened that day, she wouldn't have been able to keep the child in her womb.

She had been a palace concubine for some time, favored by Emperor Chengde, and received the most imperial favor in the palace, yet she couldn't give birth because she had been plotted against early on.

The old lady of Yongning Marquis' household had plotted against her greatly, causing Yan Ji's death and making her witness the humiliation of her child. She also gave her medicine that harmed her body, preventing her from having any more children.

He Lanting hated her former mother-in-law intensely but could do nothing about the old lady who was already dead and whose remains were gone.

Because she had too few people on her side, He Lanting couldn't severely punish Lin Zongfei.

He Lanting pinched her nose hard and said to Xie Yuan, "You must make it clear to Lin Yi that Lin Zongfei's release from prison is due to you and me. Both of you must work for me, especially Lin Zongfei. He must behave well in the capital and start working under you. You must teach him well!"

Xie Yuan naturally agreed.

Lin Yi had already joined Concubine Chen's faction when his son presented auspicious offerings, so there was no objection.

He Lanting had always been known as a gentle and kind person in the emperor's eyes. Now, she gently persuaded Emperor Chengde, and he finally nodded, dealing leniently with Lin Zongfei.

Lin Zongfei, who had previously held a powerful position, was transferred to the Ministry of Justice and placed under Xie Yuan's supervision, becoming an Undersecretary in the Ministry of Justice.

The emperor intended to give Lin Yi a lesson by demoting him to a low-ranking official in the Ministry of Revenue, working under Pei Jin.

Lin Yi was relieved that his son's life was saved, but he aged visibly in a short time, now working under Pei Jin, who had once tried to take his wife.

But overall, the storm that had closed the city gates was finally over.

At this time, Lin Baozhen met Wang Shi.

---

Wang Shi looked at her daughter with a complex expression. Lin Baozhen's nose had become somewhat larger, her neck a bit darker, but her demeanor was carefree.

"Mother, why are you looking at me?" Lin Baozhen, unhappy with the changes in her appearance, grumbled, "Am I not pretty now? It will be better after I give birth. My mother-in-law even told me that if I'm carrying a boy, it will be like this. The little brat in my belly is really a troublemaker. I won't have any more children after this."

Wang Shi held Lin Baozhen's hand and slowly walked with her in the garden. Because she had almost lost her son, she now hoped her daughter would have another child.

"If you only have one, what if you lose it? You don't know how close your brother came to disaster."

"But he's fine now, right?" Lin Baozhen said nonchalantly, "Our Lord Marquis is the closest and most trusted person to Concubine Chen. What's there to worry about? In the future, he should listen to the Lord Marquis's orders."

Wang Shi, hearing about the emperor's great anger in court, had a vague idea that Yan Ji might be the emperor's biological son.

She hadn't slept well for days, especially thinking about how her daughter had directly confronted the murderer in the temple, leading to Yan Ji's death.

With no one around, Wang Shi couldn't help but ask, "Do you think the emperor is so angry about the child from Yongning Marquis' household because he might be his biological son?"

"How could that be possible?" Lin Baozhen replied without hesitation, "Mother, don't you remember what I told you? Everything has been verified. It was only after Yan Ji's death that Concubine Chen gained favor. To me, it's better that Yan Ji has no remains. Concubine Chen won't think about this child anymore."

Wang Shi, who had started to suspect Yan Ji's identity, was swayed by her daughter's convincing words.

"Alright, don't mention this to anyone else," Wang Shi warned her daughter.

Wang Shi then recounted the situation at home and mentioned that her husband, Lin Yi, was now working under Pei Jin, which was extremely humiliating.

Lin Baozhen said without hesitation, "He deserved it for favoring that Wen family and Lin Er in the past!"

Mentioning Lin Er, Lin Baozhen couldn't help but ask, "How is Lin Er doing recently? Has she gone to Tongwu County?"

Wang Shi paused and replied, "She hasn't, because she's been preoccupied with Miss Fu's marriage."

Wang Shi's expression was complex; sometimes she felt her daughter's premonitory dreams were a bit off, but no matter what, they always ended up on track.

Just like with Miss Fu, her daughter had said that she would marry Qian Qianhu after being humiliated.

And now, there has been no news of this young lady being humiliated. Instead, she fell seriously ill not long ago, and Qian Qianhu ran around tirelessly, showing his affection for Miss Fu.

Lord Jiuqian, Fu Bin, agreed to let Qian Qianhu marry his niece.