Chapter 101

Chapter 101

By the fourth month of her pregnancy, Yao Niang's morning sickness had subsided, and her appetite began to grow. Once unable to finish a full bowl of rice, she now ate two bowls at noon and a bowl of noodles with half a pancake in the evening.

It was around this time that she received a letter from Jie Shi. Since becoming pregnant, Yao Niang had written back to Jin Ling, and Jie Shi, with her vast experience, had filled several pages in response.

First, she expressed her joy, then sternly reminded Yao Niang not to overindulge just because she was pregnant. Overeating could make the baby too large, complicating childbirth or even leading to a difficult labor.

She also advised Yao Niang to control her diet, avoiding excessively cold or spicy foods to prevent hemorrhoids.

Yao Niang took note of every point, realizing how much there was to consider during pregnancy. She asked her brother Xiao Qing to buy several medical books on gynecology and pregnancy from the bookstore.

In one book, she read that apart from the first three and last three months, couples could still be intimate as long as it wasn't too intense.

Heaven! Such a thing was possible, but she certainly couldn't do that.

When Shen Linfeng returned, she showed him this particular page: "Look."

Shen Linfeng had been so busy lately that he occasionally relieved himself when the urge struck. He glanced at Yao Niang, who said, "We should be more careful. If something goes wrong, it won't be worth it."

"Yes, yes, my lady is right," Shen Linfeng thought to himself, cursing his own baser instincts for even considering it.

Yao Niang was teasing him, and seeing his distress, she couldn't help but giggle.

During these months of her pregnancy, Shen Linfeng truly appeared to have a clear mind and controlled desires. Thinking about human nature, she considered finding him a concubine. However, she quickly dismissed the idea; if Shen Linfeng were to be with someone else, she wouldn't want him anymore. Moreover, a concubine couldn't bear children immediately, and the Shen family did not allow illegitimate children to be recorded in the family register unless absolutely necessary. It would harm both parties.

Now that her pregnancy was stable, occasional intimacy between them wasn't out of the question.

She whispered many things into Shen Linfeng's ear, causing his face to turn bright red and shy. "My lady, are you really willing? I don't want you to do this."

"What are you talking about? We are husband and wife. I love you so much, and I've never complained about anything." Yao Niang said softly.

Shen Linfeng was at a loss: "My lady, you are too good to me."

Regardless of what happened between them that night, the next morning, Yao Niang specially invited a doctor to check her pulse, relieved to find nothing amiss with her health.

She also mentioned how her cousin-in-law, Lady Qing, had miscarried before, and Aunt Fan had sent many supplements and visited frequently. Now that she was well, she decided to visit the Fan family by carriage.

The Fan family, newly appointed as the Left Censor, was considered a rising star in the court. When Lady Qing arrived, the place was bustling with visitors. Fortunately, as the daughter-in-law of the Henan governor and a member of the Shen family, and being related to Lady Fan, she was promptly announced, and Lady Fan came to greet her personally.

"Cousin, I'm late, and I fear you might blame me. So I've brought some humble gifts, hoping you won't mind," Lady Qing said.

Lady Fan smiled: "Why are you being so formal with me? Your mother was such a kind and generous person. When I got married, she knew my family was poor and sent six trousseau items to help. Seeing you now, you look just like your mother."

Lady Qing thought to herself that her mother hadn't seen much of Lady Fan while alive, likely due to her father's low status. Now, Lady Fan's attentiveness was for her own cousin, but she still smiled: "Cousin, you flatter me. I am far from my mother's caliber."

They walked in together, and Lady Fan called for her daughter: "Ask Hui Niang to come and greet her cousin."

Fan Ruhui, though not breathtakingly beautiful, was a refined and elegant young woman. Seeing her, Lady Qing felt a deep sympathy for her.

"Cousin."

Fan Ruhui looked at Lady Qing and smiled, calling out: "Sister."

After exchanging pleasantries, they began to chat. Speaking of herself, Lady Qing sighed: "I'm not feeling well these days, yet I still have to manage the household and congratulate others on their pregnancies."

Lady Fan shed a tear: "If your mother were here, she wouldn't let this happen to you."

Lady Qing's mother had died the year she got married, and she had left in mourning. Her grandfather, a deputy minister of war, had arranged this marriage. However, shortly after her wedding, her grandfather passed away in office. Her sisters were not as fortunate as she was; her father's generation relied on her grandfather's legacy for minor positions, and even her uncle's career was not smooth.

Therefore, Lady Qing thought of her mother and cried.

While the two were weeping, Fan Ruhui was indifferent. Back then, this cousin of the Wang family married into the Shen family during mourning, hardly caring about her own mother; all she had in mind was her marriage. But for women, marriage is indeed the most significant matter in their lives, akin to being reborn.

Being reborn can only guarantee one's life for the first dozen years or so, but finding a good husband ensures a lifetime of security.

I am probably no different.

Today, Lady Qing came over, and the wife of the Left Censor-in-Chief received her personally, which could not be just for reminiscing. Lady Fan had tea served and said, "Lately, I heard that your family’s match with the Yan family, the old Chancellor Yan, has been challenged several times due to the Wei Guogong case. Although my husband oversees the Censorate and can speak up, he dares not rashly offer help."

Lady Qing wondered what her aunt was up to.

When someone wants to do you a favor, there must be something they want in return. The Fan and Yan families have never had any ties, yet her aunt offered to help. What did she really want?

"Aunt, our third branch separated from the main house last year, so I’m not very clear about the matters of the main house," Lady Qing said, aware of her limitations. She dared only to provoke Shao Shi verbally, mostly because Shao Shi appeared respectable, relying on her brother and father, who were merely common gentry.

Moreover, these were internal matters among sisters-in-law. If the Fan family used her to harm the Shen family, she would certainly refuse, especially concerning such major political affairs, which she did not fully understand.

Then Lady Fan smiled and said, "I heard that Scholar Shen’s marriage has been fraught with difficulties. What happened? I remember that my family once worked together with his father at the Dali Temple. Later, when we were posted out, I didn’t know much about the capital’s affairs."

Lady Qing replied, "Originally, Eldest Master was betrothed to the eldest daughter of Attendant Yan. This young lady of the Yan family was born into nobility, her mother being the daughter of Prince Qi. However, she fled her wedding due to threats, and our family and the Yan family fell out long ago. But later, Miss Yan San went to Kaifeng to visit her maternal grandfather and somehow met Eldest Master again. He was like bewitched, usually never disobeying my elder aunt, but he knelt down and begged her to agree, threatening to die if she refused."

Lady Fan immediately felt the situation was complicated and asked, "So, does this mean that Shen Linfeng’s new wife must be very beautiful?"

"Pretty enough," Lady Qing said.

When a woman cannot deny another's beauty, saying they are "pretty enough" means they are definitely a great beauty.

"Chancellor Yan has offended too many people in court. As long as Chancellor Wen remains in office, things are still manageable since the two families are related by marriage. But if Chancellor Wen steps down, the old chancellor might find it hard to continue in court. At that time, the Yan family will likely..." Lady Fan’s meaning was clear.

Lady Qing understood what Lady Fan meant: Shen Linfeng was young and a disciple of Vice Chancellor Zhao. After Chancellor Wen retired, Vice Chancellor Zhao was highly likely to become the Prime Minister. Emperor Qianyuan now favored Vice Chancellor Zhao more than Chancellor Wen, so her aunt’s implication was that the Yan family was about to fall.

However, she smiled and said, "Aunt, you don’t know, she is pregnant now, so it won’t affect anything."

A large clan like the Shen family wouldn’t easily divorce a wife. If a wife’s family declined and she was divorced, she would have been divorced long ago, which would be absurd.

Lady Fan glanced at her daughter, about to say something, but saw Fan Ruhui accidentally spill hot tea on Lady Qing, drenching her.

The conversation abruptly stopped. Fortunately, wealthy families always carry a small bag when they go out, containing simple changes of clothes. Lady Qing went to change, leaving Lady Fan and her daughter alone.

Fan Ruhui looked at her mother, somewhat exasperated, and said, "Mother, what are you trying to do?"

"What am I trying to do? Everything I’m doing now is for your good. Your father always wants to marry you to men with some talent but whose families have already declined. I can’t bear it," Lady Fan said, her heart also pained.

Fan Ruhui replied, "Mother, when you arranged me to marry the son of my father’s superior, after he got promoted, he wanted to get rid of us, either demanding an exorbitant dowry or deliberately ruining my reputation, almost accusing me of adultery. Later, we managed to break off the engagement. I fell in love with Mr. Cao, and we made a private vow. Unfortunately, he was a coward, but I don’t regret following him. But now, Father says Zhou Lingguang is talented, and while I don’t particularly like him, I never thought of taking someone else’s husband."

"Do you know anything? Shen Linfeng is upright and highly capable. In three years, as soon as Vice Chancellor Zhao advances, he will rise rapidly. If you marry him, you might become the wife of a prime minister. Besides, the Shen family of Wu Xing is extremely wealthy. Isn’t everything I do for your good? We came to the capital from a provincial post. That Prefect Fang, because he was a disciple of Vice Premier Gong, accepted bribes and even had other people’s wives sleep with him. What dirty deeds aren’t there in politics? Do you think you can live smoothly just by marrying down? No, you can’t. Just endure the criticism for a few years; who will remember in three to five years? Like this Yan family, sisters remarrying, how many remember?" Lady Fan used to be very proud, but pride can’t put food on the table. One can’t always think about the future; one must see what they can truly obtain.

Zhou Lingguang might have a bright future, but why should her daughter suffer with him when she can enjoy a better life with Shen Linfeng?

At the same time, as part of the deal, she would also have her husband speak up for Yan Mai, which would be better than being attacked by everyone and losing face in the capital.