CH 100

Wen Ting Zhou silently recorded Ruan Xi’s strange reaction, and then he strode up to the side of Ruan Xi’s bed and told the wetnurse to carry the child over.

After Ruan Xi caught sight of the child, she immediately turned her attention towards the child, and that smidgen of guilt completely disappeared with a trace. Upon seeing that, Wen Ting Zhou’s gaze softened slightly.

“Ruan Ruan, Mother said that our child is very clever, and he doesn’t cause a fuss at all. He was clearly very unruly when he was in your womb, he’s a wily boy.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Ruan Xi could not help but laugh. A newly born infant would go to sleep as long as they were fully fed, how could he throw a fuss? They would eventually know after waiting for a month or two.

Mama Yang: “……”

A young married couple without any experience was usually like this.

“It’s quite good, yes. Father and Mother are really fond of this little guy, and they want to hold a grand Third Day Bath Ceremony.”

Wne Ting Zhou regarded his soundly sleeping son with a warm and gentle gaze.

Ruan Xi was very happy, though she was a little regretful as well, “It’s a shame that I can’t attend the child’s Third Day Bath Ceremony.”

Wen Ting Zhou held her supple waist, smiling as he comforted her: “The imperial physician said that you can’t be exposed to the wind after giving birth to a child, lest it harms your body. You can attend the Full Month Banquet, Mother said that the Full Month Banquet will be held in a grand fashion too.”

This time, Ruan Ruan gave birth to the child very smoothly, which dispersed the deeply rooted shadow in his heart, but a shred of its influence still lingered.

He wanted to remain happily married with Ruan Ruan until they were old and grey, whilst being healthy.

“Mn, I know.”

Ruan Xi smiled and nodded. She was merely having a small moment of regret. This was the ancient era; with the medical treatment and general conditions retrogressing, she had to be all the more attentive during her postpartum month, lest she succumbed to puerperal fever.

Wen Ting Zhou’s expression was tender as he told the wetnurse to carry the child away. Mama Chen said that a child that was just born needed sufficient sleep.

Wen Ting Zhou informed Ruan Xi of this point.

Likewise, Mama Yang concurred from the side.

Hence, Ruan Xi was reluctant to part as she watched the wetnurse carry away the child, with Mama Yang and the others withdrawing outside.

She originally wanted to breastfeed the child on her own, but she remembered the etiquette and practices of this era, and the existences of the two transmigrators Ruan san niang and the female protagonist, so she decided not to bring it up.

All in all, it was better to do as the natives do.

It was currently at the beginning of spring; the spring was cold with the chill in the air, while charcoal braziers burned inside the room, making it as warm as spring.

Only Wen Ting Zhou and Ruan Xi were left inside the room.

Ruan Xi coughed lightly before she asked: “Ting Zhou, you… Why did you suddenly barge into the birthing room yesterday?”

It did not seem like something Wen Ting Zhou was capable of doing, especially since he was always so calm and self-possessed.

Wen Ting Zhou’s body stiffened, his handsome face flushing red for a moment before he looked at Ruan Xi deeply. He did not hide from her, and he slowly explained the reason.

Ruan Xi felt a burst of distress after hearing his story.

She did not expect that the refined and cultured Wen Ting Zhou, who was akin to a light breeze and suspended moon, would have such a shocking experience when he was younger.

That would explain why Wen Ting Zhou suddenly barged into the birthing room.

It turns out he had a psychological shadow in his heart, and it could be reckoned that he was terrified and afraid that she would follow in his younger aunt’s footsteps.

“Then you… Are you alright now?” Ruan Xi asked carefully.

Wen Ting Zhou’s smile was handsome and bright, “Ruan Ruan, I could not be better, it’s all in the past.”

Silently, Ruan Xi observed his pure and gentle smile which seemed to be devoid of any haze. Has he truly overcome that deeply seated, nightmarish memory that was once buried in his heart?

Since Wen Ting Zhou said that it was all behind him, then it was all behind him, she supposed.

“Ting Zhou, what do you think the child’s diminutive name should be?”

Ruan Xi changed the topic to the diminutive name that they were giving the child instead. His formal name was not up to them to decide, since Minister Wen was personally naming him.

Wen Ting Zhou displayed an unhurried smile as he said: “Ruan Ruan can call him whatever diminutive name she wants.”

Ruan Xi felt joyous in her heart. The novel’s female protagonist Mu Qing Ci loved delicious food, so all the nicknames that she gave her children were related to food, like dumpling (baozi), steamed bun (mantou), twisted bread roll (huajuan), so on and so forth.

She contemplated briefly before saying: “Let’s call him Ah Yu, the ‘Yu’ from beautiful jade.”

瑾瑜 (pinyin: jing yu) — It is the name of a beautiful jade, and even the ‘瑜’ character on its own means ‘fine jade’, and it possesses connotations of virtue and talent.

Wen Ting Zhou did not even think about it as he replied: “The name that Ruan Ruan came up with is very good, let’s call him Ah Yu.”

“Then it’s settled.”

An elated smile emerged on Ruan Xi’s visage, her eyes flashing with specks of resplendent light.

“Mn.”

Wen Ting Zhou’s lip corners tugged up as he pressed a gentle kiss on Ruan Xi’s lips.

……

Time passed in a blink of an eye. All of the people around the Capital were aware that the Minister Wen Residence was going to hold the Third Day Bath Ceremony for his legitimate eldest grandson.

On the day of the Third Day Bath Ceremony, the front of the Minister Wen Residence’s entrance was unusually lively with the bustle of noise and activity as low-profile and yet luxurious horse carriages stopped out the residence gates on both sides of the streets.

Early in the morning, Ruan Xi had specifically changed into a bright-coloured lined jacket and skirt. Although she couldn’t go out to greet the guests, she still wanted to dress herself in a cool and relaxing fashion.

Wen Ting Zhou was outside entertaining the male guests, while Ah Yu, that little boy, had already been carried away by Wen furen.

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Inside the room, Ruan Xi was conversing with her attending maidservants Su Yu and Su Zhu, and not long after, someone arrived to visit Ruan Xi.

Ruan Lao Taitai and Lin shi were the earliest to arrive.

Both of them were slightly astonished when they noticed how good Ruan Xi’s complexion was, but they promptly remembered that she managed to smoothly deliver the Wen Residence’s legitimate eldest grandson without much troubles, and they no longer found it strange.

“Zu mu, Mother!” Ruan Xi was preparing to get up to bow slightly.

Ruan lao taitai pressed her down, not allowing her to get up.

“Si yatou, you remain seated!”

“Si niang, how is your body right now?” Lin shi asked in concern.

Ruan Xi revealed a bright and quick smile, “Quite well. Zu mu, Mother, have both of you seen the child?”

Ruan Lao Taitai grinned affectionately, “We did, he’s a healthy and sturdy little boy.”

The legitimate eldest grandson of the Wen Family’s second branch was borne by her fourth granddaughter. In the future, the relationship between the Wen Family and Earl Chengyi Residence was bound to become more intimate.

As for Ruan san niang, who was being rather favoured in the imperial palace, Ruan Lao Taitai and Earl Chengyi did not really attach any importance to her, and that was really because she was too good at squandering.

Ruan Xi told Lao Taitai and Lin shi about her recent circumstances, Lao Taitai also told Ruan Xi about the things that happened in the residence and… Ruan san niang’s matters.

Ruan Xi listened with a smile.

After Lao Taitai and Lin shi were done conversing with Ruan Xi, they noticed that the time was getting late, so they departed from Harmonious Dwelling soon after.

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Shortly thereafter, a bright and beautiful lady with her hair combed into a pretty hairstyle befitting of a married woman, came inside with her maidservants trailing behind her.

It was Duke An’s legitimate daughter Wen Jing Ru.

Ruan Xi revealed a happy smiling expression when she saw Wen Jing Ru.

“Jing Ru, long time no see.”

The moment Wen Jing Ru caught sight of Ruan Xi, stupefaction filled her eyes, “Long time no see, tang sao, you have become even prettier.”

堂嫂 (pinyin: tang sao)– paternal older male cousin’s wife.

It was said that after a woman gives birth to a child, ten parts of their beauty would be reduced by three.

However, Ruan Xi’s countenance remained the same.

Simultaneously, she was also slightly envious of Ruan Xi, since a lady that was two years younger than her managed to become pregnant with her tang ge’s child shortly after their marriage, and even gained a baby boy in one move.

Whereas she had been married out at the end of last year, and she had yet to become pregnant. Hence, she specifically came over to dabble in Ruan Xi’s auspicious energy, while asking if there were any secret methods for getting pregnant.

At this moment, a maidservant outside reported: “Shao Furen, the Fourth Prince’s Consort has arrived.”

Wen Jing Ru knitted her brows slightly as she mumbled, “Why is she here as well?”

Ruan Xi smiled in response.

The Fourth Prince’s Consort Li Xiang Xiang came inside with her maid servants and Mamas, garbed in luxurious skirts, appearing elegant and poised.

She wasn’t surprised either when she saw Wen Jing Ru inside the room.

“Congratulations to Wen shao-furen on happily gaining a noble son!” Li Xiang Xiang congratulated her with a smile.

She heard that most women would become uglier after giving birth to a child, but when Li Xiang Xiang realised that Ruan Xi was one of those exceptions, she could not avoid being slightly depressed.

Her motive for coming over to attend the Third Day Bath Ceremony was the same as Wen Jing Ru, which was to dabble in the auspicious energy.

Despite marrying the Fourth Prince for so long, her stomach was not showing any movement at all, and Li Xiang Xiang was also fraught with anxiety in her heart.

“Many thanks to the Fourth Prince Consort!”

Ruan Xi smiled slightly.

“The auspicious time is arriving soon, are the both of you not going to watch the Third Day Bath Ceremony?”

Wen Jing Ru shook her head with a crinkle-eyed smile, “I saw that you were isolated and on your own, so I specifically came over to accompany you.”

After saying that, she could resist glowering at Li Xiang Xiang.

However, Li Xiang Xiang did not mind as she giggled and concurred.

Ruan Xi: “…..”

Su Zhu and Su Zhu: “……” Are we not human beings?

After her speechlessness passed, Ruan Xi started to converse with

the pair, and as they continued to talk, it veered towards Wen Jing Ru asking

Ruan Xi if she had any secret methods for getting pregnant.

Ruan Xi: “……”

She chuckled helplessly, “Since when did I possess a secret method for pregnancy, it’s just having good luck, that’s all.”

A smear of disappointment flickered past Wen Jing Ru’s eyes.

Li Xiang Xiang became silent.

At this time, the Third Day Bath Ceremony had already commenced, but no one expected that Liu Wan Wan would go mad during the Third Day Bath Ceremony.