Chapter 740: Graceful and Sentimental

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

The Old Lady heard the good news about Bao Yu and had no heart to play cards anymore, laughing from ear to ear, only letting Lady Wang support her to the front hall to talk.

Lady Wang laughed, "It's still the Old Lady's longevity reflecting the good fortune. By next summer, the Old Lady will have another great-grandson."

Wang Xifeng found it funny in her heart. Her aunt only thought of good things; what woman could guarantee she would give birth to a son?

But thinking about it, others might be like this, but this Cai Xia was too strange. She could get pregnant just by being touched by a man; it was possible she would really give birth to a son.

Although her aunt often did stupid and messy things, she actually did a beautiful thing this time, raising such a girl who was so easy to conceive.

She laughed, "Bao Brother is truly proud this time, actually running ahead of Cong Brother. The Old Lady is going to have a long line of descendants—a great thing."

"I hear Cai Xia is truly good. Such a girl who is easy to conceive is a living treasure in the boudoir. Maybe she can give birth to a son."

"It's just that the timing is too coincidental. Next March, Miss Xia is going to marry into the mansion. If the family has an eldest son born of a concubine, I'm afraid the young lady won't feel comfortable in her heart."

The Old Lady was stunned upon hearing this.

He sighed: "What Feng Yatou says is also reasonable; in families like ours, although the men have women to serve them at fifteen, they are usually married by fifteen."

"The time difference isn't much, so there are rarely eldest sons born of concubines."

"If it weren't for that incident at the Imperial Clan Court, Bao Yu's marriage wouldn't have been delayed. This can't be helped. Adding children and increasing the family is a good thing after all."

The Old Lady turned and laughed, "Moreover, this generation of Bao Yu is also rare. I'm afraid Bao Yu's matter won't be the only one."

"Cong Ge'er, although he didn't cause trouble outside, happened to lose his father, and good-for-nothing, he lost a marriage bestowed by the Emperor."

"Otherwise, he and the Zhen family girl would have been married long ago, and maybe they would even have children. Now he is in three years of mourning, and he can't marry a wife for a while."

"However, women have entered his room, and he will likely have an eldest son born of a concubine in the future, which is also understandable."

"Since this is not a single case in the family, others can't say anything. Even if Miss Xia isn't comfortable when she enters the mansion, we will coax her a few more times; how could she be unforgiving?"

"If we go back to the beginning, if it weren't for Bao Yu's incident at the Imperial Clan Court, the Xia family's status wouldn't have been able to reach the Jia family."

"This isn't us looking down on them; it's just proper human relations. We women are just talking behind closed doors."

"That Xia family mother is an extremely shrewd person. With matching status and weighing the pros and cons, how could she not understand the truth? Naturally, she will talk to her daughter."

"Therefore, although this is a topic, it's not important, so there's no need to be too cautious."

Wang Xifeng felt unconvinced. The Old Lady was also funny, always using Cong Lao San to set a foundation for Bao Yu.

Are they the same kind of goods? If my Ping'er gives birth to an eldest son born of a concubine, he might be the Rongguo Duke in the future, even more valuable than an ordinary legitimate son.

If Bao Yu gives birth to an eldest son born of a concubine, he's just born of a maid. Can this be the same?

Lady Wang laughed, "The Old Lady is still experienced. In our Jia family, legitimate and illegitimate are different."

"Cong Ge'er is born of a concubine, yet among the eight branches in the capital and the twelve branches in Jinling, no disciple is as prominent and proud as him."

"Therefore, legitimate and illegitimate are the same in our family. As long as Bao Yu's eldest son born of a concubine is well-raised, he can also win glory for the Old Lady in the future."

……

Ying Chun smiled slightly upon hearing this and didn't speak.

Tan Chun felt something was wrong upon hearing the good news, but she was a young lady of the boudoir, not understanding the affairs of men and women, not understanding the principles of raising children, so she just muttered in her heart.

She just thought that it is said that like father like son, for Second Brother to raise a son who is as powerful as Third Brother when he grows up, I'm afraid it's impossible.

But she thought again, Third Brother was raised by the First Master, and they are not half-alike, so maybe the mother's words are true.

Second Brother's descendants don't need to be as outstanding as Third Brother's; as long as they are as obedient as Lan'er, the Old Master will be satisfied enough.

Daiyu felt strange and disgusted upon hearing Lady Wang's words, picking up her teacup and pouring it into her small mouth.

This Second Aunt is always thinking blindly. The child hasn't even appeared, yet she's thinking about winning glory in the future, just wanting to overshadow my Third Brother.

Wang Xifeng's mouth twitched. Her aunt was also seeing a ghost. She hated him so much in the past, yet today she praised Cong Brother—the sun must be rising from the west.

It's just that these words are also ridiculous. There is no secret recipe for giving birth to a son in this world. Bao Yu can get Cai Xia pregnant, but can he guarantee she will give birth to a son? It's just ghost-tricking.

Even if Bao Yu really gives birth to a son, "dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and mice beget mice that can dig holes."

With the goods raised by Bao Yu, can he be as successful as Cong Lao San in the future? It's truly a spring and autumn dream of his mother. Her aunt's heart is truly big.

The Old Lady didn't agree with the idea that legitimate and illegitimate were the same in her heart upon hearing Lady Wang's words. After all, it was a lifelong thought; how could it be easily changed?

But she didn't show it on her face, smiling and saying, "Your words make sense. As long as they are filial and successful, I will treasure them regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate."

She then laughed at Ying Chun, "Second Girl, you are the sister in charge of the house now. There is no lack of pretty maids in your brother's room."

"Go back and urge him more. Don't let him have only official business in his head. His official rank is not small now; he should be content."

"Let him put more heart into the boudoir. He will have a big family and business in the future, and branching out and spreading leaves is the most important thing."

Although the Old Lady's words were domestic, they were somewhat explicit. Not only did Ying Chun blush, but even Daiyu and Tan Chun flushed red.

Only Shi Xiangyun giggled, thinking that if Third Brother also gave birth to a child for me to play with every day, how happy that would be...

Wang Xifeng laughed, "Look at the Old Lady's words. Although Second Sister is the young lady in charge, she is still a yellow flower girl. How can she say such words?"

"Just entrust it to me, the granddaughter-in-law. I am Cong Brother's sister-in-law. Now that the First Lady is eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddha, it is only right and proper for me to urge my brother-in-law."

"Besides, whether there is any movement in his room, I am the only one who knows clearly."

"Liu Wuer and Ping'er are shaking in front of me every day. Whether they are pregnant or not, I can tell at a glance. Just watch, I will report the good news to the Old Lady sooner or later."

Lady Wang felt uncomfortable, always feeling that Wang Xifeng was deliberately using words to distort things, suppressing the Second Branch's momentum in front of the Old Lady.

Originally, this good news today made Lady Wang feel like she was walking on stilts with bare feet—slippery and shaking in her heart.

Now hearing Wang Xifeng's high-spirited words, she couldn't help but feel a lot of jealousy and malice.

That boy in the East Prefecture is the same age as Bao Yu, and the women entered his room on the same day. It's been a long time, yet there's no movement.

That boy from the East Prefecture is the same age as Baoyu, and it was also the same day that women entered their rooms; this time is not short, yet I haven't seen any movement.

The Old Lady laughed loudly at Wang Xifeng's words, "You monkey, you don't have a gate on your mouth. How can you be such a sister-in-law? You don't even know how to be ashamed."

……

Rongguo Mansion, Bao Yu's courtyard.

A strange atmosphere permeated the courtyard. Everyone looked happy on the surface, but inside it seemed filled with shock, anxiety, and restlessness.

It was like the muffled thunder that oppressed the sky before a rainstorm, unable to erupt for a long time, pressing down on all things until they were stifled and about to be destroyed.

Lady Wang came to see Bao Yu in the morning, and then went to Cai Xia's room. The two only talked for a while.

Lady Wang called Yu Chuan to pass the word to the East Road Courtyard, asking Mother Chen to invite a good doctor to come and treat Cai Xia.

Sister Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun both knew that Cai Xia's complexion had been bad for the past two days, and she had no appetite, as if she had been hurt in her vitality.

However, this matter couldn't blame others; it was somewhat her own fault. Who told her to toss and turn with the Bao Er Ye every night?

Even if the Bao Er Ye was a broken gong and a leaking drum, unable to truly fight with real swords and guns, Cai Xia couldn't withstand such abuse.

Sister Xi Ren felt a bit sour in her heart. Everyone was a woman; what kind of illness was this? It was just exhaustion at night, or blood loss from her period, leading to some physical weakness.

Everyone was a slave maid, but it was a common thing. How could she be so precious that the Lady had to invite a good doctor for her?

After all, she was a maid who had served the Lady for many years, and she had a bit more affection than herself. Sister Xi Ren thought of these things, and her heart felt empty.

In the past, when Cai Xia was by the Lady's side, she looked like a very proper maid. I didn't expect that after entering the Bao Er Ye's room, she would be a completely seductive hoof.

The Bao Er Ye had been somewhat inseparable from her since he got her. As long as Cai Xia was on night duty, there would be special movement in the room.

Sister Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun were closely related, so naturally, they paid more attention, and they had listened at the wall several times.

The Bao Er Ye was especially energetic toward Cai Xia. As long as they locked the door, they would blow out the candles, and the Bao Er Ye would chase and play, his words diligent, and he would be happy.

That Cai Xia would often scream and pant, beg softly, and be soft and obedient. In short, she was not a good thing.

Every time there were lewd sounds in the main room, even the little maids in the courtyard could hear them, making Sister Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun quite ashamed and annoyed.

Actually, they had grown up in wealthy families since they were young, and as Bao Yu's people in the room, they didn't expect to be uniquely favored.

Not to mention that there would be a Bao Second Young Lady in the future, so what number could they count as?

Bao Yu loved to mix with whoever he wanted, and Sister Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun couldn't manage it, but since Cai Xia entered the room, the Bao Er Ye's actions were too biased.

Every time Cai Xia was on night duty, the Bao Er Ye would be happy. When it was Sister Xi Ren and Cai Xia's turn, the Bao Er Ye would become dull.

He was no longer as fond of taking advantage and grinding as before. Even if there were some actions, they would end hastily, unlike before.

Although Sister Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun both knew that Bao Yu, even if he was fierce in the room, was just a silver-like pewter spear head, a dumb firecracker with the core pulled out.

But in all things, one should not worry about scarcity but about inequality. The Bao Er Ye was so attentive to Cai Xia and perfunctory to them, so they were dissatisfied in their hearts.

Seeing Seeing Caiyun was fine, but Sister Xi Ren felt awkward no matter what.

She always felt that she had slept with Bao Yu early, leading him to understand the affairs of men and women, and the Bao Er Ye should remember this affection.

In the past, Bao Yu was like this to her. As long as the Bao Second Young Lady hadn't entered the mansion, she should be the "stronghold mistress" in the Second Branch.

Although she wouldn't say this out loud, so as not to delay her virtuous reputation, she thought so at every moment.

She didn't expect that after Cai Xia entered the room, the things that seemed logical in the past would become different.

To say that these were just Sister Xi Ren's dissatisfaction, she usually didn't dare to speak out, just swallowed and digested them herself.

She thought Bao Yu was someone who couldn't do it, so he was easier to coax. As long as she was more gentle to him, she could always make Bao Yu change his mind.

Sister Xi Ren had such plans in her heart, and she had been stabilizing her mind for the past two days.

She never dreamed that the Lady inviting a doctor to see Cai Xia would result in a bolt from the blue. The doctor actually said Cai Xia was pregnant.

Sister Xi Ren had never been so desperate in her life. She was completely messy and wished she could find a crack in the ground to drill into.

Could it be that the Bao Er Ye had been drinking those soups every day, and his illness had long been cured? He just didn't have the temperament toward herself and Seeing Seeing Caiyun...

Xing Xing Fu Ren was a woman who had been through it. She must have seen this, which was why she was in such a hurry to stuff Cai Xia into the Bao Er Ye's bed.

Being tested by the Lady like this, this Cai Xia really succeeded. Doesn't this mean the Second Bao Master is capable, and only herself and Seeing Seeing Caiyun are incapable...

Sister Xi Ren was ashamed and angry to death. She was afraid that after this, the Lady would never value her again.

She had spent so much thought to sit in the position of Yiniang, and even her body had been put in, yet she ended up with this result.

She was unwilling no matter what...

……

To say that Cai Xia was pregnant, the person who was truly happy was not Sister Xi Ren or Seeing Seeing Caiyun, nor was it Lady Wang, and it wasn't even Cai Xia herself.

Only Bao Yu was truly happy. Although he had some doubts in his heart, he prided himself on being a person of pure heart and didn't disdain those dirty, ghostly thoughts.

Since Cai Xia entered the room, she was completely different from Sister Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun. Although those two were soft and flattering on the bed, they were somewhat perfunctory.

Bao Yu was not completely stupid, so he naturally understood their thoughts—nothing more than thinking he was someone who couldn't do it.

But Cai Xia was different from them. Every time they were in the same room, Cai Xia's eyes were fearful and pitiful, but she never disobeyed him.

No matter how he played, she wouldn't be lazy or perfunctory, serving him with all her heart, obedient in every way, making Bao Yu very moved.

No matter how he acted out, she would never be negligent or perfunctory, serving him wholeheartedly and being completely obedient, which greatly moved Baoyu.

This made Bao Yu's heart surge. Remembering the secret joy with Sister Xi Ren and Bichen in the past, it was exactly the same situation.

Every time he was in the same room with Cai Xia, lingering and grinding, it was like drinking poisonous wine, with infinite reverie, addicted to it. Waking up in the morning, he remembered the events of last night vaguely.

Bao Yu had always prided himself on being a pure person, and even more so a person of extraordinary talent born with jade. His getting this strange illness was just a tempering from heaven.

Now heaven couldn't abandon his strangeness, so it sent this strange fate of Cai Xia, actually curing him without medicine.

Bao Yu told himself again and again that the matter must be like this. Only such deeds fit his purity and detachment...

When the doctor said Cai Xia was pregnant, Bao Yu was overjoyed. Even if there were some doubts in his heart, he subconsciously turned a blind eye to them, impatient to raise his eyebrows and exhale.

On this day, Bao Yu went in and out of Cai Xia's room, asking about her well-being, his words diligent, and his care a hundred times over.

Sister Xi Ren and Seeing Seeing Caiyun couldn't help but kick over the vinegar jar, but Cai Xia had more ability than them, which was also a matter of no choice.

She had entered the room for a month and stopped her period, and was about to produce a big treasure. They could only sigh at their inferiority and admit defeat...

……

Lady Wang went to Rongqing Hall to report the good news, a scene of family joy.

The Old Lady was even more happy, praising her for her accomplishments in the inner house and her unique eye for talent, choosing a person like Cai Xia to let Bao Yu's descendants bloom early.

Wang Xifeng was a bit unconvinced, but she also congratulated her a few times. The sisters like Ying Chun naturally congratulated her too.

Lady Wang was complimented until she felt like she was stepping on clouds, laughing until her face was stiff, but her heart was more bitter than Coptis chinensis.

She had just left Rongqing Hall, her footsteps somewhat floating. Yu Chuan hurriedly stepped forward to support her, and the two returned to Bao Yu's courtyard all the way.

Lady Wang

Lady Wang had just entered the courtyard gate when she saw Baoyu carrying a tray with a pastel bowl of soup, walking straight into Seeing Cai Xia's room.

She couldn't help but frown; this Baoyu was becoming increasingly unaware of priorities; why was he starting to serve a maid?

On the bed in the room, Seeing Cai Xia was leaning against a pillow, covered by a brocade quilt; although she had received the happy news, she didn't seem very happy.

Seeing Baoyu enter with the tray, she hurriedly sat up and got off the bed.

Baoyu put down the tray and hurriedly stepped forward to stop her, helping her lie back down.

He smiled: "You are pregnant now, so you should rest more; from now on, don't worry about miscellaneous matters in the courtyard; just let Sister Xi Ren and the others worry about them."

He picked up the pastel bowl of soup again and said: "This is white fungus and lotus seed soup that I specifically went to the kitchen and asked them to make; just eat some for now.

There aren't any good ingredients in the kitchen; tomorrow I will ask Sister Feng to send some top-quality bird's nest, and when I have time, I will stew it for you; that stuff is truly nourishing."

Seeing Cai Xia listened with teary eyes and said sincerely: "Bao Er Ye, you are truly kind."

Baoyu was overjoyed to hear this and said: "I used to say that women who marry turn from pearls into dead fish eyes.

Now it seems that this is not true; although you have promised yourself to me, your every word and action is still wonderful; I would even be willing to die for you.

Now that you are pregnant, just rest assured; from now on, I will definitely treat you well."

Baoyu was whispering sweet nothings in the room, while Seeing Cai Xia felt panicked and uneasy, yet there was also a hint of joy...

Lady Wang stood by the side of the room door, hearing Baoyu's words clearly; her face was already gloomy, filled with indescribable anger and disgust.

Count's Mansion, South Slope Courtyard.

Jia Cong, Sister Miao Yu, Xing Xiuyan, Zhen Ying Lian, and others tidied up the plum blossom forest and returned to the South Slope Courtyard together.

Sister Miao Yu personally brewed tea to entertain them, and several people either arranged pieces for a game of chess or sat idly talking, each feeling content.

Sister Miao Yu's chess skills were quite high and could rival Yingchun's; Jia Cong was somewhat inferior, and after playing several games, he inevitably lost more than he won.

When Zhi Shao came out of Abbess Xiushan's room, Sister Miao Yu went to the Buddha hall to chant sutras and do her homework.

A cool breeze blew on the slope, and several people sat idly chatting, talking about everything under the sun, passing the time, which was very enjoyable.

When sunset arrived and the evening glow illuminated the horizon, Jia Cong finally took Zhen Ying Lian and Xing Xiuyan down the slope.

Because Zhi Shao did not need to be on night duty, she stayed behind to accompany Sister Miao Yu, and Jia Cong naturally had no objections.

When he had just entered the courtyard gate, he saw Wu'er, Ping'er, and Qingwen talking in the main hall, their words filled with excitement.

Qingwen's voice was crisp and beautiful, like pearls falling on a jade plate, and could be heard clearly from far away.

Jia Cong heard her say: "You said that girl didn't look like much in the past, but she is actually so capable; she got pregnant so quickly."

Jia Cong didn't react for a moment; what did "how did she get pregnant so quickly" mean? It was just that when Wu'er and Ping'er heard this, their pretty faces turned pink, and they giggled secretly.

Qingwen said again: "How did Bao Er Ye Bao's room get pregnant so quickly, and why is there no movement here?

Is it that the two of you are no good, wasting our Cong Sanye's time."

Ping'er heard this, her pretty face turned bright red, and she blurted out: "Hu Nao!"

Wu'er was also provoked until her face was bright red, and she pinched Qingwen, laughing and scolding: "You dead girl, you say anything; if you are so capable, you do it."

Ping'er couldn't help but laugh on the side; Qingwen was slightly stunned when she heard Wu'er's words, then her bright eyes brimmed with emotion, seemingly somewhat moved...

Jia Cong stepped forward and laughed: "You are chatting so enthusiastically; what is it that you want Qingwen to do? Tell me about it."

When Wu'er and Ping'er saw Jia Cong suddenly appear, both were startled, their minds shaken, their faces bright red, seemingly embarrassed to look at him.

Wu'er said: "It's time for dinner, and the Cong Sanye must be hungry; I'll go to the kitchen and ask them to start cooking."

Ping'er said: "I'll go help too."

Jia Cong saw their graceful figures leaving the courtyard in a hurry and couldn't help but be confused.

He asked: "Qingwen, what kind of mystery are you making? Why are the two of them acting so strangely?"

Qingwen snorted, somewhat unconvinced, and said: "Wu'er is on night duty tonight, and she will definitely tell the Cong Sanye in detail..." (End of chapter)