Once the third lunar month ended, Lu Xiu's pregnancy finally reached three months. The matter of having a tongfang in the courtyard was also on the agenda.
Qiu Shi told Lu Xiu to bring back Han Jianye's two tongfang. It was not that she intentionally made things difficult for Lu Xiu, but Lu Xiu was now pregnant and could not serve Han Jianye. "I hand-picked these two maids, so I can guarantee that they are both honest and proper people." Meaning that they would not cause Lu Xiu any trouble. As for Qiu Yanfu, Qiu Shi had selectively forgotten about her.
Lu Xiu blushed a little stiffly and answered with a reluctant smile, "Okay." Although she knew that this was the rule, her heart inevitably felt a little unhappy.
Old Woman Jian persuaded, "Miss, the Lady is already very generous. You can't have a knot in your heart towards her." Usually, when a mother-in-law knew that her daughter-in-law was pregnant and did not arrange for a concubine for her son, she would insert someone herself instead. In comparison, Qiu Shi had waited until her Miss' pregnancy to be firmly stable before she mentioned it, which was already a very generous act of her.
Old Woman Jian was originally Second Lady Lu's confidant. However, Second Lady Lu always felt uneasy since she knew Ye Shi harboured ill intentions towards Lu Xiu. Therefore, she gave Old Woman Jian to Lu Xiu to watch over her. Only then did she feel rest assured.
Lu Xiu smiled reluctantly. "I know. I don't blame my mother-in-law." She just felt a little sad in her heart.
Old Woman Jian also understood. If the wife didn't feel anything wrong in pushing her husband towards another woman, it was a sign that she did not feel anything for her husband.
After seeing Lu Xiu, Han Jianye felt that she had something on her mind. After asking a few questions to Lu Xiu, he still couldn't get anything out of her, so he specifically inquired about the matter from Old Woman Jian.
Old Woman Jian didn't hide it as she subtly told him. According to Old Woman Jian, Miss was supposed to select a good maid to serve Guye while pregnant. However, Miss was unable to accept this road that she kept on postponing it. As a result, she was told to bring back the two maids who served Guye before. Also, according to Old Woman Jian's words, since the two maids were born in residence, they surely had a different kind of relationship with the Second Master. Frankly speaking, this matter made Lu Xiu don't feel any relief.
Han Jianye thought it would be no big deal to bring back his two tongfang, but looking at Lu Xiu's sullenness, he was a little anxious. Not only was he worried about Lu Xiu's health, but he was also worried for his son. At first, Han Jianye wanted to go and ask Qiu Shi not to bring back the two maids. When he was halfway there, he remembered that Yuxi had told him to think more when anything cropped up. So he made a detour to Taoran House. [T/N]
When Lu Xiu came out of the house, she didn't see Han Jianye and asked, "Where did the Second Master go?" Since she was pregnant, Lu Xiu had also set up a small kitchen in the courtyard to make it convenient for her to eat anything. Most of the time, Han Jianye would stay with her for their evening meal unless he could not return from a social function.
Old Woman Jian whispered, "Second Master has gone out. He was originally going in the direction of the Master Courtyard but later turned to Taoran House." Initially, Old Woman Jian was troubled that the Second Master would go to the Lady to talk about the tongfang. Later on, when she learned that the Second Master had gone to Taoran House, she was relieved.
Lu Xiu was a bit taken aback. "What is he going to do at Taoran House?"
Old Woman Jian shook her head and said, "I'm not sure about that either." She knew that Han Jianye attached great importance to the Fourth Miss, but it didn't feel right to go looking for her in this situation.
Lu Xiu, whose spirits were a little weak because of her pregnancy, instructed, "Let me know once the Second Master returns. I will wait for him for our evening meal together."
When Han Jianye arrived at Taoran House, Yuxi was having her dinner.
Yuxi was so surprised to see Han Jianye walk in. "Er Ge, did something happen?" Yuxi asked this because it must be something important for Han Jianye to come over at mealtime. [+]
Only then did Han Jianye realise that he had come at the wrong time and said somewhat awkwardly, "There are some things I want to ask you." Seeing Yuxi stand up, he hurriedly said, "It's not too late for you to finish your meal first."
Yuxi was a little suspicious. For him to let her finish her evening meal before he could talk indicated that the issue was not that urgent. But even so, Yuxi couldn't truly make Han Jianye wait. "Let's go to the study and talk!"
Han Jianye was stammering as he told Yuxi the purpose of his arrival, "Originally, I wanted to tell Mother not to bring those two people back first. I don't think it's not the right time yet. Yuxi, you think about things thoroughly. Do you think I should tell Mother about this?" Han Jianye felt that he was not as thorough as Yuxi, so he thought it would be better to ask her first.
Yuxi did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Ge, why are you asking me about such things? I'm your meimei, not your stewardess. If people found out, they would laugh their heads off." It was a wonder that Han Jianye could even think of asking his meimei about his bedroom matters. She had always felt that this Er Ge of hers was unreliable, but she had never imagined that he would be so unreliable.
Han Jianye laughed embarrassingly. "Didn't you tell me to think about things thoroughly? That's why I came over to ask! Yuxi, do you think I should go and tell Mother?"
Yuxi was really defeated by Han Jianye. In order to get back to her dinner early, she said, "It's good to know that you love your wife, but there are ways to do it. If you were to go and talk to Eldest Aunt about it so boldly, she would be upset."
Han Jianye hastily said, "But Ah Xiu is in a bad mood. I'm worried that it will not be good for her and the baby!" This situation was a real dilemma.
Yuxi advised, "You can go tell Eldest Aunt. But you have to pay attention to the way you're going to say to her. For example, if you are worried that Er Sao's terrible mood will affect your child, tell her that you're concerned for your child. Also, you can inform her that you will bring them back once Er Sao gives birth. This way, Eldest Aunt will not take any offence." After a pause, Yuxi asked, "Er Ge, since you married Er Sao, how many times have you had meals with Eldest Aunt? Luckily, Eldest Aunt has a good temper. If she were replaced by another mother-in-law, she would have been unhappy for a long time. She would also do her utmost to give her daughter-in-law tight shoes for her to wear. But look at Eldest Aunt. How well she treats Er Sao. Er Ge, you can't marry your wife and just forget your mother. You have to spend more time with Eldest Aunt in the future. " Dage was too busy even to get away from his work. Thus, it was impossible to expect him to spend more time with Eldest Aunt. While Han Jianye, in comparison, was much more at leisure.
Han Jianye blushed and said nervously, "I'll correct it later."
Yuxi knew that Han Jianye was just careless, not unfilial. "In the future, you should spend more time with Eldest Aunt and coax her more so that she will always be happy. When she can hold her grandson in the future, she will surely not bother you and your wife's affairs anymore." People made the rules. As long as her aunt didn't care about it, what did it matter if her aunt broke the rules? No one else has the right to peck her on this matter anyway.
Han Jianye said with a smile, "It's a good thing I came over to ask your opinion." If he had gone over and blabber to his mother that he wouldn't pick up his two maids back, just the way he always did, his mother would have been unhappy.
Yuxi suggested with a smile, "Er Ge, from now on, don't come over to ask me about matters regarding your inner chamber. If it's something outside, and you can't decide and don't want to ask Dage, I can help you with it." It was not like a meimei should be in charge of her gege's bedroom matters. Moreover, if Er Sao knew about this, her mood would undoubtedly be uncomfortable.
Han Jianye smiled. "Alright. Then I won't bother you with your meal. I'll go to the Master Courtyard right now."
Yuxi didn't want to keep him there any longer either. "Then go! I guess Eldest Aunt is still having dinner at this time, so you can go over and accompany her. By the way, don't forget to have someone tell Er Sao." Han Jianye had many faults, and carelessness was one of them.
Han Jianye said with a smile, "Yuxi, whoever marries you in the future, it will unquestionably be a blessing for him." Such a gentle, considerate and understanding sister, he really couldn't bear to let her get married.
Yuxi smilingly urged, "Hurry up, I have to eat." If she didn't eat as soon as possible, it was estimated that the food would turn cold.
Zisu was about to take the food to be warmed up when she saw Yuxi walking over and asked with a smile, "What did Second Master want with Miss?"
Yuxi bristled, "Don't talk about him. Let's eat." This matter was something that could not be told to others. She had already instructed Han Jianye not to tell anyone about this, including Eldest Aunt and Er Sao. Otherwise, Han Jianye himself would lose face, and she would have to lose her face along with him.
It was unbeknownst to Yuxi that Han Jianye was now so convinced by her that he was obedient to every single word she said. Since that day, Han Jianye has divided his time at home by spending half of it with his wife. While another half with his mother.
Han Jianye wasn't a good coaxer, but Qiu Shi wanted her son to care for her more. Hence, it didn't matter if he didn't have any ability to coax her. Therefore, as her son often came over to keep her company, she turned a blind eye to Han Jianye's comment about not allowing the two maids to come back for now.
Naturally, Lu Xiu was not displeased, as it was only natural for children to be filial to their parents. In this way, the young couple spent a large part of their evening meal in the Master Courtyard. The relationship between mother and son, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, was as harmonious as it had ever been. Even Yuxi was surprised by this.
At the beginning of the fourth lunar month, the person whom Yuxi had sent out to inquire about Zisu's stepmother came back. Naturally, that person could not enter the inner courtyard to report his findings, but he could only send in the information he had inquired about. [+]
Yuxi was very surprised to see what was brought in and told Zisu, "That stepmother of yours, she has been sold by her new husband."
Zisu didn't understand. "Sold?" Only when one was a slave could one be sold at will, and a woman from a respectable family couldn't be treated the same way. Otherwise, one would get into trouble with the law.
Yuxi nodded her head a little. "Uh-huh, sold." He Shi's new husband resented her old age and had hooked up with a young and attractive widow. When He Shi found out about it, she felt that the man was unreliable and held on tight to her property. When the man could not get the money, he noticed something was wrong and tried to coax He Shi. He took advantage of her when she was off guard to tie her up and sell her to some nook and cranny unknown to most people. While the man, himself, exchanged He Shi's property for money and ran away with the little widow.
The man was working in a place like the gambling house. How could he make a living in that kind of chaos if he wasn't ruthless? He Shi, what a way to get yourself killed.
Zisu said viciously, "This is what you call evil will be rewarded with evil. Heavens still have eyes. What about the male adulterer? Have you found him yet?"
Yuxi shook her head, "No. This matter is not easy to check. But it's pitiful that they have left that child behind. He's reduced to begging now."
Zisu asked nervously, "Miss, isn't he the son of that thing? Why didn't he take him away?"
Yuxi smiled lightly. "It's the man's son, not the little widow's son." The little widow wouldn't want such a drag. And this child, because he looked too much like that man, the Ling family decided that he was not their flesh and blood, so it was natural that they didn't care about him.
Zisu was in a complicated mood. It was quite a while before she said something, "Miss, if you can, it would be better to send him to the orphanage!" The orphanage was specialised in taking fatherless, motherless and homeless children.
Yuxi nodded. "I will have this matter taken care of."
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi