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Pregnant
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Shen Lan Chi’s pregnancy, for the Zhennan Wang Manor, was an enormous good news.
That very day, a round of reward money was handed out in the manor. The entire manor from top to bottom was filled with a joyous atmosphere. Not only so, in the evening, that escaped rooster even got sent back by the An Duke Manor next door———–This chicken didn’t have eyes, flying from the Zhennan Wang Manor’s garden into Zhennan Wang’s in-law family’s yard. It just so happens that Shen first madam was worried about her daughter, thus came over with the chicken in hand.
Seeing that chicken getting carried into the garden upside down, Shen Lan Chi was between laughter and tears.
Shen first madam, hearing that she’d fainted during the day, was extremely worried, repeatedly asking her if there was anything wrong, also saying that pregnancy is the most difficult time for women. Currently, there aren’t any signs, but in the future, she will certainly vomit whatever she eats, extremely uncomfortable.
“I also don’t know why I fainted. I merely spun around, then suddenly felt dizzy, and just passed out.” Shen Lan Chi was somewhat puzzled, “The doctor said that there’s no need to panic, many women are all like this, telling me to just eat well and rest well.”
“Aiyaa, then you better be more careful in the future.” Shen first madam was increasingly cautious, “Just afraid that you’ll be like me, suffering in the future. Back then, when I was pregnant with you, I’d suffered so much. You liked to kick and make a fuss, unwilling to settle down.”
Seeing how old debt from nearly twenty years ago was about to get flipped out, Shen Lan Chi hurriedly stopped her, saying with a smile, “Mother is right. Even if for my husband’s sake, this daughter will be extra careful.”
Seeing her full of energy, clearly doing quite well, Shen first madam relaxed. Then, recalling how ages ago, she and her husband wanted to have Shen Lan Chi married to the crown prince, she felt a wave of emotions inside.
Times have already changed. Fortunately, Lan’er didn’t marry the wrong person.
If back then, she’d married the crown prince, perhaps she would already be a lingering spirit now. By marrying Lu Qi Yang, she instead was able to live a smoother life.
Very soon, the old wangfei, Xie Ying Luan, came over. After showing concern for Shen Lan Chi, she pulled along Shen first madam’s hand, wanting her to go play cards with her. Shen first madam could only turn her down, saying, “You may be idle, completely carefree, but I’m not. There’s still matters at home that need to be taken care of.”
Xie Ying Luan was helpless and could only let her go.
Lu Qi Yang was still caught up in the initial excitement, continuously circling around Shen Lan Chi, making her a bit dizzy. Very soon, he reached out to touch her abdomen, rubbing through the clothes and muttering, “Unable to feel much, yet already pregnant?”
Shen Lan Chi nearly rolled her eyes, saying: “How can it show this early?”
“You’re right.” Lu Qi Yang’s voice was full of excitement, “At least need to wait another two to three days.”
“More like two to three months!” Shen Lan Chi casted him a glance.
Now that Zhennan Wangfei was pregnant, quite a few people took the opportunity to send gifts, attempting to pull in the relationship. After some time, even the palace bestowed gifts. Reportedly, it was bestowed by the empress, Ji Fei Xia.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The person sent from the palace was the capable court lady by Lu Zi Xiang’s side, Shen Ran.
It had rained for while in the afternoon, leaving the ground wet and slippery. The procession from the palace arrived before the Zhennan Wang Manor. Shen Ran wore a light apricot-colored palace dress, her raven hair tied up in a crown like men. Covered in a thin veil, her beautiful face peeked through.
Seeing Shen Lan Chi come out to receive the bestowment, Shen Ran softly whispered, “Older sister Lan, this bestowment although borrowed the empress’s name, who actually bestowed it, older sister should…..having an understanding, right?”
Shen Lan Chi’s heart skipped a beat.
To have the ability to make the court lady by his Majesty’s side run an errand, who else can it be?
Of course it’s Lu Zi Xiang.
Shen Lan Chi’s smile faltered for a moment, unable to that easily accept this gift. It was still Lu Qi Yang that lifted his robe and stepped out, saying with a smile, “Such generous gifts, one would be a fool to not accept. When Lady Shen returns to the palace, remember to help us thank her Highness, and tell her that we will certainly return her a generous gift another day.”
Shen Ran responded with a ‘yes’.
With the umbrella in hand, she departed from Zhennan Wang Manor. However, as she was about to get on the horse carriage, she heard a furious voice, “Ah Ran!”
She lifted her head to look. Turns out, it was Wu Xiu Ding.
He was currently at the height of his success, dressed neatly in brand new clothes. His di brothers also no longer dared to make fun of him, only tremblingly trying to curry favor with him. As such, he now walked with confidence.
Seeing Wu Xiu Ding, Shen Ran was a bit astonished, saying: “Turns out, it’s Sir Wu. Is something the matter sir?”
“What business I have, you would not know?” Wu Xiu Ding was somewhat annoyed, going forward a few steps, grabbing her wrist, and angrily saying, “Sir Lu said that he wanted you to go to his side to serve a period of time, yet you entered the palace! What kind of place is the imperial palace, could it be that you don’t know?”
Shen Ran struggled for a moment, saying in a calm tone, “Naturally know.” After saying this, she had her hand pulled out.
“Why were you unwilling to wait for me?” Wu Xiu Ding was somewhat vexed, “If you’d just waited a little longer, I wouldn’t have let you suffer hardships anymore. Now I can finally hold my head high and never let others humiliate me anymore.”
However, Shen Ran’s face remained expressionless, “Sir and I are neither family nor friends, merely once master and servant. Why would sir let me ‘wait for you’?”
Hearing her have their relationship drawn this clearly, Wu Xiu Ding blanked for a moment, subconsciously arguing, “I was the one that had you taken out of the jiaofang! How am I neither family nor friend?”
When Shen Ran heard, she slowly lowered her eyes and said, “If I’m not mistaken, the one that helped redeem me should be that Gentleman-in-Attendance Sir Lu, and you merely did this in his place. In the past in the Wu family, even your monthly allowance may not necessarily come down, so where do you have the money to buy a residence for me?”
She instantly just guessed the truth. Wu Xiu Ding choked on the words in his throat.
She was right. The one that wanted to save Shen Ran was Lu Jing Hua. The one that helped Shen Ran buy that residence was also Lu Jing Hua. He merely helped Lu Jing Hua do it.
“…..Yes.” Wu Xiu Ding was somewhat embarrassed, turning away.
“Since that’s the case, there’s no need for sir to worry about me too much.” Shen Ran lifted her eyes, her tone calm, “Wanting to climb higher, that is only human nature. Sir has the aspiration to excel and become the top scorer in the imperial exam, so how could I not want to climb onto wealth and glory? When living with sir in the Wu family, I was used to seeing the wastrel behavior of noble sons, so I now increasingly don’t want to be reduced to a servant.”
Her words left Wu Xiu Ding speechless.
Back then, in the Wu family, his di brothers frequently bullied him. Shen Ran completely took it all in. Having suffered many hardships, she was very clear of the vicissitudes of the world. Wanting to climb higher, it was naturally understandable and nothing to be blamed for.
Although understanding this principle, Wu Xiu Ding still wanted to struggle. He half-angrily said, “Is wealth and prestige really that important? Even more than a lifetime of peace and stability? I originally could’ve taken care of you for a lifetime!”
His words were a bit impulsive. When the line ‘a lifetime’ came out, he finally felt a bit embarrassed. He shouldn’t have said this——-At present, the matchmakers have practically trampled through the doorsteps. His di mother has also looked over several noble young ladies for him.
However, Shen Ran’s expression grew faint, saying: “Yes, wealth and prestige is just that important. I, Shen Ran, am precisely such a mundane girl. Sir doesn’t need to view me highly, just let me rot on my own.”
After saying this, she turned around and got on the horse carriage, not looking back at Wu Xiu Ding again.
Wu Xiu Ding didn’t have an umbrella to begin with. After the horse carriage went off into the distance, the increasingly heavy rain completely drenched him. He let out a sneeze, very much in a sorry state.
• • •
This rain continued to fall, falling for an entire day and night, yet still not stopping. The next evening, the sound of the rain still gradually plopped against the Liu family’s roof.
Inside the study, Liu Chang leaned against the pillar, repeatedly succumbing to drowsiness, his head nodding nonstop. Seeing this, Liu Yu directly woke him, ordering him to go to the side to rest, while he himself put on a coat and slowly walked onto the corridor.
The clouds at night were dense. There was no stars nor moon in the sky. Amidst the sound of the rain, there were faint sounds of the melancholic summer insects mixed in. The raindrops landed on the bamboo leaves, making a soft pitter-patter sound.
Liu Yu frowned and stared at a slender bamboo in the courtyard, his face showing a pensive look.
Today, his Majesty brought up contacting the Mujin tribe again. If last time, his Majesty still had the intention of discussing with him, then this time, it was just informing him. Most likely, his Majesty has already let his trusted aide go take care of this matter———have the Mujin people released into the borders, so as to let Lu Qi Yang shoulder the crime of colluding with foreign enemies.
The Mujin clan were barbarians, narrow-minded and vindictive by nature. Previously, when Lu Qi Yang had driven out the Mujin people, he’d killed their tribe’s warriors. If the Mujin people were to make a comeback, it’s possible that they will harbor resentment, and like in the previous dynasty, massacre all the people in the border towns.
When time comes, the commoners will lose their home.
Recalling how the Mujin people slaughtered and plundered at the borders in the early years of the previous dynasty, committing all sorts of evil deeds, the worried look on Liu Yu’s face deepened.
The night wind grew colder, even puffing up his sleeves. He stood a while in the wind, feeling chills all over his body. He finally realized that he shouldn’t have come out for some air this late into the night. Thus, he returned to the study and walked behind the desk.
Standing before the desk, Liu Yu picked up the brush, repeatedly deliberating, before finally making the first stroke.
——–Honorable General, the above desire to open the borders to welcome the foreign tribe. Yu fears that the Mujin people will soon be dispatched to the north border, hope that general will ready the army to respond to unforeseen events. Though written in haste and far from thorough, may your every moment be filled with blessings and peace. Unable to say more, thus only hope for your understanding.
After he finished, he folded up the letter and stuffed it into an envelope, carefully sealing it, before finally waking Liu Chang who was dozing off nearby.
“Young….young master?” Liu Chang rubbed his sleepy eyes and woke up. Hearing the wind and rain outside, he said, “I accidentally fell asleep again? Why didn’t young master wake me? Later, if caught by the madam, young master will get lectured as well.”
Madam Liu always felt that Liu Yu wasn’t strict in disciplining the people under him, being too indulgent towards the servants.
Liu Yu wasn’t very concerned, saying, “In any case, I won’t be able to live for that many more years, so what’s the point of following these rules? Take this letter and quickly send it to the Zhennan Wang Manor.”
When Liu Chang heard, he turned pale from shock, repeating, “The Zhennan Wang Manor? Young master, are……are you sure?”
“Go.” Liu Yu said, his expression indifferent, “The rain is heavy; the hour is late, sorry to trouble you to take this trip.”
Liu Chang took the letter and muttered to himself.
The heavy rain and late hour of the night weren’t really a problem. But, his young master suddenly wanting to send a letter to the Zhennan Wang Manor, that was just very hard to grasp. Judging from his Majesty’s current stance, it’s wanting to push out someone to contend against the Liu, Song, and Ji families. That Shen family, at present, is just an empty shell, weak and powerless. His Majesty still wants to let the Zhennan Wang Manor and the three families to check and balance one another. Under this kind of circumstance, his young master actually wanted to contact Zhennan Wang, don’t know as to why?
Furthermore, that Zhennan Wangfei even came from the Shen family, having a not-so-pleasant past with his younger master……….
Liu Chang although grumbled inside, he still quickly went out to deliver the letter. Braving the rain the entire way, by the time he arrived at the Zhennan Wang Manor, he was already thoroughly drenched all over. The letter in his hand had also gotten damp, becoming limp. Under the gradually softening patter of the night rain, Liu Chang knocked against the Zhennan Wang Manor’s door, having the letter given to the steward.
Not long after, this letter got delivered to the brightly lit main courtyard of the manor.
The night rain outside fell nonstop, but the inside of the room was bright and dry. The pearl curtains were half-drawn, concealing the half-asleep person on the bed. A faint wisp of incense smoke drifted out from the small golden censer, its fragrance light and pleasing.
Lu Qi Yang shook open the incredibly damp letter and swept over it with his eyes, his complexion instantly darkening.
“What’s wrong?” Behind the curtains, Shen Lan Chi propped up her body, lazily asking, “Did something happen?”
“Nothing, just rest.” Seeing her get woken, Lu Qi Yang put away the letter and said, “Just, I will probably need to take you to the Northern Pass sooner. Perhaps, we’ll need to depart the day after tomorrow.”
He was always like this. Whenever something happens, he would always want to keep it from her, having everything secretly taken care of, not letting her know.
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