Chapter 298: Mouse Meets Cat

"Do you want me to promote him?"

"Yes, this doesn't count as forming a faction; for an official of good character, we should give them a hand."

"After the New Year, Wang Jiaru's Student will go handle this."

"If after the New Year Chuan'er and Zihan both pass the imperial examination, it's best if they can stay in Jingcheng."

"Shouldn't we assign them elsewhere first, let them experience the hardships of the common folk, wouldn't that be better?"

"Jingcheng is just a huge dye vat; first let them learn to deal with all kinds of petty people, then becoming local officials is most suitable. It's a kind of trial, after all they haven't really been exposed to society, so they don't know its dangers."

"Sir said that."

"Hmm, nothing much, you don't need to stay with us; your daughter-in-law has been sleeping for almost a day, she should be waking up by now."

"Then Wang Jiaru's Student took his leave."

"After hearing the news, the Zhen Guogong Fu family immediately sent a grand gift, and the Xiao Family did as well; the due date is early August, and soon the Qiao Family will have another child."

"At first they didn't believe it; some people, to probe the truth, even went specially to ask the Qiao Family's servants."

"Not only did they know he is a Matrilocal Husband, but also that he is henpecked, fearing his wife like a mouse seeing a cat."

"Feng'er was reading a military strategy book in the house when his wife rushed in, grabbed his shoulder, and shook him vigorously."

"Approaching the New Year, this also counts as a happy event."

"Yes, Father, they didn't consult the Imperial Doctor; they used the Zhen Guogong Fu's resident doctor."

"Mu Shi has that temperament; she comes in a whirlwind and leaves in a whirlwind."

"Seeing Grandfather go to the kitchen, she immediately entered the room, paid her respects to Qiao Mai, and sat opposite her."

"She obediently placed her hand on the table, Qiao Mai took her pulse and paused for a while."

"However, she's not that shameless; she returns to the Xiao Family at the end of the year, and probably won't come back before she gets married."

"Mu Shi and she are good friends, they get along well; when idle they stroll together in the garden, sometimes they go to the Playground and play like children for a while."

"Xianggong, aha, Mother just took my pulse; I'm pregnant, your child, our baby—are you happy?"

"Slice some sausage, okay? Haven't had it in ages. Then a plate of boneless chicken strips, and the rest you can handle."

"You've worked hard at home."

"Father, that would be in some far‑off time; how about letting Dizi use a little trick?"

【5】 "Qiao Mai doesn't intervene, and rarely appears before them, fearing they'd feel constrained."

Qiao Mai also doesn't intervene, and she rarely appears before them, lest they think they are not free.

"Your anti‑nausea reaction is quite good,"

"Mu Shi opened her mouth, 'Become, become a mother? What does that mean?'"

"Mu Shi widened her eyes, her hand instinctively reaching out, 'Mother, you still know medicine?'"

"Liu Yuyi gritted his molars, 'Go ahead, do it cleanly; if you dare ruin the Liu family's financial line, I will certainly not let her get away.'"

"The reason for the refusal is simple and blunt: I'm a reverse‑insertion son‑in‑law; I have no say at home. Anyone who wants to visit my house must get my wife's consent; if she forbids something, he will resolutely not do it."

"Before the shadow could fall to the ground, the ram's horn had already pierced the black‑clad man's heart."

"They inquired, and indeed in Jingcheng, families that arrange a child's marriage like this are rare."

"You've been pregnant for over two months."

"Aha, I'm going to be a mother, wonderful! Mother, I want to tell this news to my husband."

"Wife, rest assured, that day will never come."

"Great, I have an heir now, the Jiang Family has an heir, Father, Mother can finally rest in peace."

"Those who have visited Jixiang Yuan are only the Zhen Guogong Fu family and the Xiao Family members."

"When Yuan Jiaqi heard that the lady was about to wake, he immediately ran back to Yuexian Pavilion; indeed, as he entered the room, he saw Qiao Mai drinking water."

"Yes."

"A bit, dinner's soon; shall we eat together?"

"Wife, hehe, you're awake, are you hungry?"

"Xianggong, we must never become ungrateful."

"Yes, Mother."

"Mu Shi, as a daughter‑in‑law, does well; knowing the mother‑in‑law returned, she waited outside, and if she weren't afraid of disturbing Grandfather and Mother‑in‑law's affection, she would have rushed in long ago."

"In the deep night, a shadow drifted into Jixiang Yuan; as soon as it entered, three goats spotted it."

"Although she married over quickly, Qiao Mai had no taboo about it and told her that staying until the wedding day is also fine."

"The future second daughter‑in‑law Xiao Qingling also fell in love with the Qiao Family; when idle she comes to stay a few days, usually residing in Ling'er's courtyard."

"Hehe, go ahead, try, go ahead, try."

"Mother,"

"For their brothers, it's even more heartfelt; especially the marriage, the arrangements are truly dignified—a brother contributes four hundred thousand taels of silver, fairly."

"I've recently gleaned some insights from medical books; let me try them on you."

"Indeed, be more careful in the future; whatever you go through is fine. You're about to become a mother; being a mother is firm, protecting the child is what you should do most."

"Mu Shi was startled; she pushed aside Xianggong, 'Xianggong, do you still want to claim ancestral roots?'"

"Remember to find a doctor and take your pulse again."

"Hearing Yuan Da‑ren personally fetch water to bathe the lady, personally serve tea and meals, any matter concerning the lady is handled by him himself."

"Standing nearby were his three sons, 'Heard Princess Mu has good news?'"

"No, that's just what people say; after all, Father and Mother are watching from heaven. Though I'm now a Qiao Family member, my bones still flow with Jiang blood, and that can't be changed."

"You're about to become a mother, yet you're still all over the place."

"Mu Shi is pregnant, the whole family is happy; Qiao Mai even wrote a special prenatal recipe, handed it to the kitchen maid, so they can vary her three meals a day. Being a Qiao Family daughter‑in‑law is truly wonderful."

"Just as the Qiao Family was celebrating, the owner of the Mingren Medical Hall in Jingcheng, Liu Yuyi, paced back and forth in the living room."

Mu Shi gave a strange look at Xianggong, then slowly nodded.

At a glance it was just one person, the eldest of the three goats; let the other two continue to keep watch, while it followed the shadow drifting into Tingfeng Pavilion.

Xiao Qingling also felt the same; she came here, and for the first time could meet Yun'er, the two could chat idly, and the second was that staying here was especially comfortable.

Hmph, sooner or later they will beg me; when that day comes, I will make the Qiao Family truly taste the consequences of offending my Liu family.

"No Hard Work at all, enjoying a carefree life every day; don't even mention how comfortable these days are."

Qiao Mai glanced at her belly, "Reach out your hand."

"Huh? How could I not know?"

In this life, being able to be Qiao Mai's son truly feels extremely satisfying.

Feng was startled, then, just like her, ecstatically embraced her, shedding tears of joy.

The Fengyun brothers were very pleased with these two families' marriage affairs, and they truly respected Qiao Mai, this foster mother, from the bottom of their hearts.

"Mother, am I really going to become a mother?"

Now they have to believe it, even if they don't want to; many people are itching to see the luxury of Jixiang Yuan, but alas, they have never been able to get their wish.

"No, I can't let my wife go hungry; quickly tell me what you want to eat, I, your husband, will personally run to Chufang."

He is a distinguished First Rank Official, and taking care of his beloved wife is something he does meticulously, hands‑on; everyone in the household envies this couple, truly a model marriage.

Mu Shi, after marrying here, has never felt constrained; she even finds the husband's family more comfortable and freer than Niang Jia.

"Then, wife, wait a moment; I, your husband, will be back soon."

Yang Laoda, with a corpse atop its head, arrived at Yuexian Pavilion; it stood in the courtyard, reporting to its master telepathically.

"Do you mean on Mu Junzhu?"

Now all officials and generals know that Yuan Jiaqi is a man who married into the family, because as soon as someone said they wanted to come to his house, he immediately refused.

"Master, I caught a big villain; after he came to our house, he headed straight for Tingfeng Pavilion,"

At this moment, Qiao Mai had already gotten up and walked into the courtyard; looking at the black‑clad person it was carrying, she reached out and retrieved a packet of medicine from his body.

She opened the medicine packet, gave it a gentle sniff, and her face instantly darkened.

"You damn dog, actually came up with this idea."

(End of Chapter)