CH 82

After Ruan Xi became pregnant, Mama Yang began displaying her full capabilities by taking care of everything in a suitable fashion, especially in the aspect of her meals, where she dedicated her utmost care and effort, which allowed Ruan Xi to nurture her baby comfortably.

Presently, apart from taking strolls around Harmonious Dwelling in the morning or evening and paying extra attention to her diet and daily habits, there was not much difference in Ruan Xi’s life compared to the past.

In a blink of an eye, one month passed.

Ruan Xi’s countenance was incredibly good, and she did not exhibit any pregnancy-induced nausea in her first trimester, and her appetite was quite decent.

In contrast to Liu Wan Wan who started to play the devil once she became pregnant, Ruan Xi was far more inconspicuous and quieter.

However, Ruan Xi not going to the main courtyard to serve her mother-in-law for the past one month had landed in the eyes of everyone within the back courtyards, and while they did not dare to randomly gossip on the surface, they were all making guesses in private.

Zhao yiniang could not resist the urge to throw out a few accusatory sentences when she was paying her respects yesterday, but she was viciously reprimanded by Wen furen in response, and it was only then that they learned that Wen furen had dismissed her daughter-in-law from having to serve her.

Faintly, the rumours that Ruan Xi had lost favour spread around of the residence.

Liu Wan Wan’s morning sickness had been severe recently, and her appetite was not the best either, so her emotions were more susceptible to fluctuations. She laughed happily once she heard of the matter. With an infertile daughter-in-law swaying in front of her everyday, anyone would feel frustrated in their heart whenever they saw her, especially when she, a pregnant wife of a concubine-born son, was acting as a basis for comparison.

“Da sao’s current situation is quite awkward. Say, when do you think Furen will make da ge admit concubines?” Liu Wan Wan asked her two maidservants with a whisper.

Why should an infertile older sister-in-law be allowed to monopolise the pampering of the shockingly talented and handsome Wen Ting Zhou, while Wen Ting Yi’s back courtyard had several concubines whose appearances were as pretty as flowers?

“Nubi does not know.”

“It probably won’t occur, Da Shaoye has deep feelings for and attaches great importance to Da Shao-furen.”

Liu Wan Wan lowered her eyes, her fair, tender, and jade-like hands caressing her abdomen as she sneered in a low voice, “Does he have deep feelings and attach great importance to her though?”

In a few more years, and without any children by her side, even her position as legitimate wife would be hard to keep.

Whereas she, Liu Wan Wan, was the first to become pregnant among the five wives that married into the Wen Family at the same time, and she would be giving birth to Minister Wen’s eldest grandson, which meant that her position would be like a floating boat on a rising tide. Perhaps, she might even get to suppress Ruan Xi, and just the thought of it alone made her endlessly happy.

The beaded curtain clinked as a Mama brought in a bowl of bird’s nest inside.

When Liu Wan Wan caught sight of the bird’s nest, she frowned immediately. Sounding displeased, she said: “Why isn’t it a blood bird’s nest, didn’t Husband say that I would get to drink a blood bird’s nest today?”

“Er Shao-furen, blood bird’s nest is extremely precious, and only the Furen will have it. Apart from Da Shao-furen, no one else has the right to drink it.” That Mama explained.

Liu Wan Wan pursed her lips, her pretty face sinking, “Even da sao, an infertile woman, gets to drink blood bird’s nest. The child I’m harbouring in my stomach is Minister Wen’s eldest grandson, and I’m not even allowed to drink a bowl of blood bird’s nest?

“Furthermore, my appetite has been terrible recently, and I’ve been throwing up whatever I’ve been eating, and I simply want to drink blood bird’s nest.”

“But the blood bird’s nest that Da Shao-furen drinks was bestowed by Lao Furen?” A maidservant said in a meek voice, her gaze glinting briefly.

Once those words were uttered, Liu Wan Wan became angrier.

“This is outright bullying, I insist on drinking blood bird’s nest and that’s not negotiable.”

Half a month ago, Liu Wan Wan used her pregnancy to say that she wanted to eat the braised duck that the Emperor had praised to the high heavens, but Ruan Xi had refuted by saying that with her pregnancy, it was not suitable for her to eat braised ducks.

A physician had testified to it as well; certainly, it was not advisable for her to eat braised ducks with her condition, which left Liu Wan Wan both angry and helpless.

But the bird’s nest was a different case. This was a nutritious tonic which was most suitable for pregnant women to consume.

Why should an infertile woman be allowed to eat it, whilst she, a precious and noble pregnant woman, was unable to eat it?

Liu Wan Wan felt angrier the more she thought about it, and she could not help but dry heave. Afterwards, she unexpectedly disturbed her foetal energy, which gave the maidservants and Mamas serving by her side a terrible scare.

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This news reached Wen furen’s ears very quickly, and once she was informed of the reason why Liu Wan Wan had agitated the foetal energy, Wen furen laughed out of anger.

That Liu shi was just the wife of a concubine-born son, and owing to her pregnancy, she was secure in the knowledge that she had a backing, which was why she had been constantly playing the devil for the past month or so. Did she really think that everyone would move aside for her?

“Mama Zhao, go and tell Liu shi to keep in mind what her identity is, and to not covet the things that don’t belong to her.

“Right, pass on a message to Zhao yiniang, and tell her to manage Liu shi properly.”

Mama Zhao complied and went to Liu Wan Wan’s courtyard.

Ruan Xi did not know that Liu Wan Wan had unexpectedly disturbed her foetal energy because she could not eat the blood bird’s nest, since she was reading in her room to while away the time.

“Shao Furen, the blood bird’s nest has been stewed.” Mama Yang carried a bowl of blood bird’s nest into the room.

Currently, Ruan Xi would drink a bowl of blood bird’s nest everyday. Ever since Wen lao-furen learned of her pregnancy, she had sent quite a few precious and superb-quality blood bird’s nests over.

With regards to the favour that Ruan Xi had been receiving from her superiors, Mama Yang had sighed in admiration numerous times.

“Shao Furen, nubi just heard a piece of news. Er Shao-furen wanted to drink blood bird’s nest, but because she didn’t get to eat it, she disturbed her foetal energy.”

Su Yu brought up the incident once she stepped into the room.

“Furen dispatched Mama Zhao to rebuke Er Shao-furen, telling her to bear her own identity in mind, and Er Shao-furen completely lost her face now.” Su Yu could not help but laugh gloatingly as she spoke to this point.

Putting down the empty bowl, Ruan Xi raised her eyebrows. “Why did she have a sudden craving for blood bird’s nest?”

Su Yu replied: “Isn’t it because she heard that you were drinking blood bird’s nest, which made her want to drink it as well? Why doesn’t she think about her own identity first?”

Ruan Xi’s lips twitched.

Prior to this, she had fussed about wanting to eat braised duck, and now it had changed to blood bird’s nest. The child was not even born, and yet Liu Wan Wan was stirring so many moths, but against all reason, she was always only targeting her.

And now she really did it; her mother-in-law had retaliated.

It was highly likely that Liu Wan Wan would remain quiet for the next few days.

At this time, Wen Ting Zhou returned. He had been returning to the residence early after he was let out of his office recently.

Once the maidservants and Mama in the room saw that their master had returned, all of them retreated tactfully.

Wen Ting Zhou sat beside Ruan Xi, his large hand caressing Ruan Xi’s lower abdomen gently as he inquired in gentle tones:

“Ruan Ruan, have you been well today?”

Truth to be told, he was already aware of comings and goings in Harmonious Dwelling because he had his men reporting to him, but Wen Ting Zhou was in the habit of asking.

“Been eating well, and sleeping soundly, won’t you say that all is well?” Ruan Xi replied with a chuckle.

Wen Ting Zhou revealed an assured smile, tugging her into his embrace gently. “That’s good. I heard the physician say that women were prone to exhibiting symptoms of morning sickness in their first trimester, but you’ve been well for the past two months, it is obvious at a glance that this child is a filial one.”

Ruan Xi laughed out of amusement.

The child inside her womb was just a small bean sprout right now, how did he manage to perceive that it was filial?

“Ruan Ruan, you shouldn’t not believe it. Look at Liu shi for instance, once she became pregnant, she has been tossed and turned until she’s a complete mess.”

人仰马翻 (pinyin: ren yang ma fan) – to suffer a crushing defeat, to be in a pitiful state.

Wen Ting Zhou said with mirth.

This was what ‘if there is no basis for comparison, there will be no disparity’ meant. After he witnessed Ruan Ruan’s condition, he was full of expectations for his unborn child.

This was a filial child who knew how to cherish their mother.

Ruan Xi: “…..”

“Perhaps I’m carrying a girl, which is why she’s so quiet and she doesn’t kick up a fuss.”

Wen Ting Zhou’s lip quirked up as he lowered his head to kiss her hair. He laughed softly, “It would be nice if it was a girl, and it’s best if she is as pretty and cute as you, and clever and quick-witted.”

Ruan Xi blushed, but then she remembered that illustrious families attached a great deal of importance to the question of legitimacy, especially their legitimate eldest son and legitimate eldest grandson. Perhaps Wen Ting Zhou might not care, but Minister Wen and Wen furen would probably care.

It was highly probable that they were not willing to see their oldest grandson coming out of an illegitimate son’s wife.

“But, gonggong and popo are hoping that I will give birth to a son.”

“Ruan Ruan, you don’t need to pressure yourself. As long as it’s our child, regardless of whether it’s a girl or a boy, I will love them all the same. You don’t need to worry about Father and Mother, you have me for everything.”

Wen Ting Zhou quickly comforted her.

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After Ruan Xi heard Wen Ting Zhou said that, incomparable anticipation emerged in her heart.

Wen Ting Zhou also talked about how the ice chunk store that Ruan san niang had opened recently was raking in the profits.

Ruan Xi immediately thought of saltpetre ice.

She did not expect that Ruan san niang was crazy enough to make that.

Despite raking in the profits by selling the ice chunks in an unbridled manner, Ruan san niang did not send a single ice chunk to the Earl Chengyi Residence, and this attracted the verbal attacks of many, as well as the accusations of misconduct from the imperial censors.

Ruan Xi could not fathom what she was thinking either; was she planning to lay down a clear dividing line between her and the Earl Chengyi Residence?

“How did the Emperor react?” Ruan Xi asked curiously.

Wen Ting Zhou hooked up his mouth corners. “Your san jie has presented the ice manufacturing method to the Emperor.”

Ruan Xi: “……”

She knew that would be the case, the good things in Ruan san niang’s hands would inevitably land in the Emperor’s hands in the end.

She was quite curious when cement and glass would appear.

She really wanted to change the windows in the room to glass.

“However, her unrestrained selling of ice chunks has attracted the attention of a great many. Some have guessed that she has the method to manufacture ice, but the Emperor’s favour for her has proven to be an obstruction, so they didn’t act.

“Apart from this matter, she has been confronting Mu taifei recently, and has eaten a melancholic loss.”

A smear of laughter flashed past Wen Ting Zhou’s eyes.

Ruan Xi: “……”

She admired Ruan san niang to death in her heart, she actually dared to confront Mu taifei.

At this juncture, Ruan san niang probably didn’t have the time to think about her, right?

Reality certainly proved that this was the case.

In the imperial palace, Ruan san niang was fighting Mu taifei like wildfire, and she had tossed Ruan Xi to the back of her mind a long time ago.

The time elapsed to the eighth month, and the news of Ruan Xi’s pregnancy was finally announced to the public.