Chapter 100: Rui’er

Chapter 100: Rui'er

So, Mother Chen was reminding Chen Yuhu to start building those connections early.

After all, having connections in court makes things easier.

After chatting for a while, Mother Chen said, "You handled things very well this time; you didn't slack off."

In the past, she certainly wouldn't have chosen this approach.

Mother Chen continued, "The affair between the Cheng and Lin families should be drawing to a close. Lin Ji is temporarily serving as chief envoy, Qing Bai and Qing Zhuo have overshadowed Cheng Qi, elevating their own and the Cheng family's reputation, and you've even received an Imperial Mandate."

"Don't dwell on temporary grievances; you need to look at the bigger picture."

"We can't let this entanglement continue; gradually, we'll lose sight of our original intentions."

Chen Yuhu composed herself and replied, "Yes, Mother, your daughter understands."

Mother Chen was right. In the future, the family's main goal shouldn't be to bring down the Cheng clan or eliminate Cheng Shi; they still needed to focus on their own well-being.

Chen Yuhu truly took her words to heart this time.

Seeing her serious expression, Mother Chen smiled, feeling relieved.

Even though her daughter was married, she worried about her just as much.

Families should support each other; they couldn't just watch one fall into misfortune and drag the others down. This mutual protection was simply how things worked.

Ultimately, practical interests were always intertwined, a truth the old lady had long understood.

After speaking with Mother Chen, Chen Yuhu was led to her sister-in-law, Su Shi's, room.

Su Shi had been waiting, and upon seeing Chen Yuhu, the two embraced warmly.

Chen Yuhu exclaimed, "You've recovered so well! Just like before."

Su Shi also laughed.

She was beautiful, with eyes that curved like a little fox's, and she and Chen Yuhu had an instant rapport.

Both of them loved good food.

Whenever Chen Yuhu sent delicious treats to the Chen family, Su Shi's share was always generous.

Su Shi said, "My family recently sent over a lot of fabric. Since you're here, Sister, pick out some you like to take home later."

Chen Yuhu demurred, "I feel bad, always taking your things. I didn't even help when you gave birth to Rui'er."

"It's not that you didn't want to help; the circumstances were special. Qing Jiao and the others are at an age where they're starting to care about their appearance. In a few days, it'll be the birthday banquet at the eldest sister-in-law's home. Mother told you, didn't she?"

"You should dress up beautifully and bring the girls along."

Even though Chen Yuhu couldn't attend, the gifts she sent were more than enough, giving Su Shi considerable prestige among everyone.

A few bolts of fabric were nothing to her family; they had plenty to spare. Even if she didn't give them to her own family, they'd just go to outsiders.

Besides, this second sister always appreciated her gestures.

The two chatted and laughed for a while, and just then, Rui'er woke up. The wet nurse brought her out for Chen Yuhu to hold.

Chen Yuhu had barely held Lin Qinggui since his birth.

It wasn't that she was so petty as to take her anger out on a child, but she truly couldn't bring herself to like him.

For some reason, it felt different from her feelings for Qing Luo and An Zhi. Perhaps it was because the child was older and had value, so her selfish instincts made her biased.

Holding the swaddled baby, Chen Yuhu thought about this and told herself she couldn't go on like this. Qing Gui had no biological mother and wasn't registered under Concubine Hua.

So the primary responsibility still fell on Chen Yuhu.

Besides, the child was growing up and would soon understand things.

A child without a concubine-mother was always easier to manage than one with.

Chen Yuhu held her own niece, a tiny infant, gently cooing to her, reluctant to let go.

The little girl's eyes didn't resemble her mother's but looked more like the Chen family.

Chen Yuhu, unable to escape convention, found herself liking the child even more.

Su Shi could tell the difference between genuine affection and false flattery. After all, they were aunt and niece, closer than others.

As the aunt and sister-in-law chatted, Su Shi shared some news with Chen Yuhu.

"Third Sister wrote saying she plans to return home for a visit next year."

Chen Yuhu, gently swaying with the child in her arms, glanced at her sister-in-law.

"I just came from Mother's, and she didn't mention anything about it."

Chen Yuhu thought for a moment and asked Su Shi, "Is there something else going on?"

Su Shi looked at Chen Yuhu; it seemed the two sisters really weren't in touch much.

Su Shi said, "She got married around the same time as you, and even Qing Jiao is already engaged."

"Her eldest son will come to the capital next year to take the imperial exams."

Chen Yuhu remembered, "Yu Song's daughter is also of age now."

"Yes! And Third Sister said her youngest son is quite mischievous and hopes our family can help teach him."

"She has many children. The eldest follows their family's elderly master, the second is studying under a teacher and traveling with him, and the youngest is being raised by her mother-in-law."

"But it seems he's been spoiled rotten, which is why Third Sister is worried now."

Chen Yuhu, holding Rui'er, smiled and said, "It's fine to dote on the youngest son a little."

Su Shi looked at Chen Yuhu and smiled without saying a word. Wasn't Qing Luo the youngest son? And he wasn't even born to Chen Yuhu!

He was sent to the Chen family right after he began his studies and now studies very well.

Third Sister's youngest son isn't much younger than Qing Luo, but he's only halfway through the Three Character Classic.

It's long been rumored that these two sisters didn't get along, and now it seems true.

But they've been married for so many years; even if there were issues in their youth, they should let it go by now.

And strangely enough, Su Shi couldn't help but smile. It's likely that the children of these two sisters will compete against each other in the upcoming Autumn Examination.

They truly are fated adversaries.

Chen Yuhu paid no mind to Su Shi's inner thoughts, but she genuinely had no interest in the matter.

When a tree grows tall, it branches out; all she wanted now was to take good care of her own children.

"Does Rui'er have a formal given name yet?"

At the mention of her daughter, Su Shi's eyes crinkled with a smile: "Yes, it's Chen Qiongfei, chosen by her father."

Chen Yuhu smiled, "That's a lovely name."

Among Chen Yuhu's three daughters, Rui'er was one, while the other two were named Chen Qiongwei and Chen Qiongpei.

All their names were carefully chosen by their parents.

An elderly servant woman came in to remind Su Shi to take her medicine, and Chen Yuhu glanced at her in surprise.

"Why are you taking medicine when there's nothing wrong with you?"

Su Shi didn't hide it from Chen Yuhu, "If I couldn't conceive, that would be one thing, but since I have Rui'er, I still want a son to uphold the family honor."

Chen Yuhu nodded; she could understand. When it came to sons, it was quality over quantity—they were a necessity in ancient times.

First, having a boy meant no one could accuse a woman of failing to continue the family line. Never mind if he's sickly—the point was, did she have one or not?

From then on, the duty of carrying on the family lineage was fulfilled.

Secondly, without a son, a family couldn't protect its wealth and would be picked apart by clan relatives.

For wealthy families, it was about preserving property; for farming households, it was simply a lack of labor.

In this era, without mechanization, people were literally worked like beasts of burden.

But Chen Yuhu also advised Su Shi, "What are you worried about? My second brother still doesn't have a legitimate son, and didn't his principal wife take a concubine for him because of that?"

"Even that didn't result in a child, so it's clearly not the woman's problem."

Su Shi's eyes widened—this... this isn't proper to discuss.

Chen Yuhu, however, believed she was just stating facts—it was the sickly men who were in denial.

But what Chen Yuhu said was something Su Shi already knew.

She found it improper to discuss her second brother-in-law with Chen Yuhu.

Yet, in the end, the two of them still ended up talking about it at length.

"Children are a matter of fate. We have Rui'er—first the blossom, then the fruit. All these years without children passed, and now that we have Rui'er, you have even less reason to worry."