Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lu Bao'er originally, when she met Lady Zhao at the wedding banquet, thought Lady Zhao's invitation to come to the manor for fun was just polite talk. Who would have thought that, just a few days later, Lady Zhao really sent a visiting card to the Xie manor, saying they had just received a basket of fresh autumn pears and specially invited her to come taste them.

Lu Bao'er didn't expect Lady Zhao to be sincerely interested in making friends, and her grandmother was overjoyed.

To stand firm in the circle of official wives, Lu Bao'er naturally needed a guide; getting on good terms with Lady Zhao of the Director of the Dali Court's family was perfect—it was like someone bringing a pillow just when she was dozing off, making her feel delighted.

Lu Bao'er wasn't thinking as far ahead as her grandmother; she was simply happy. It turned out there really were people who didn't care about her background and sincerely wanted to be friends with her. Speaking of kindness, Old Lady Su was one such person, and Lady Zhao was another.

Since Lu Bao'er was visiting the Zhao manor for the first time, her grandmother had her dressed up elaborately. She wore a pearl 'Three Friends of Winter' hairpin on her head and changed into a scarlet flower-and-fruit patterned small jacket. A few days earlier, Xie Junling had taken out cloth from the storehouse and specially tailored several new-style horse-face skirts for Lu Bao'er; wearing one to pay a visit was just right.

The Zhao manor wasn't far away; a short carriage ride got them there. Although Mister Zhao held a higher rank than Mister Xie, the Zhao manor lacked the grandeur of the Xie manor. Indeed, the Xie residence was an imperial gift; given his background, a mere signboard crashing down could crush an official in the capital, and he couldn't even buy a house near the imperial city.

A residence like the Zhao manor, close to the imperial palace and with three courtyards front and back, was already something only a wealthy family could afford.

Lady Zhao had the head stewardess greet Lu Bao'er; in the flower hall, the Zhao family's eldest daughter was already waiting.

Upon seeing Lu Bao'er, Lady Zhao pulled her little daughter into her arms and pointed at Lu Bao'er, saying, 'Yang'er, hurry and pay your respects to Aunt Xie.'

Lady Zhao's little daughter was named Zhao Huayang, about five or six years old, with two pearl dragonfly hair ornaments on her head; at that moment she shyly hid behind her mother and, in a childish voice, said, 'I have greeted Aunt Xie.'

Lu Bao'er thought such a dainty, lovely girl was adorable; she took off the gold filigree jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Zhao Huayang, saying, 'This is for you to play with.'

Lady Zhao knew Lu Bao'er's background and didn't dare let her take something too valuable; she glanced at her and chided, 'The child already has everything—why waste money? I and my sister aren't outsiders; there's no need for such formal gift-giving.'

Hearing those words, Lu Bao'er felt deeply moved and repeatedly said, 'I wouldn't pretend to be rich by swelling my face; the emperor had previously awarded my husband some silver, and he set aside a portion for me to buy some guest-receiving jewelry. As you know, I come from a humble family and am not used to wearing those ruby hairpins and jade ornaments; now I can pick something not too costly to win a smile from Yang'er—what's wrong with that?'

Having said all that, there was no point in Lady Zhao refusing further.

She smiled, pursing her lips, had the wet nurse take Zhao Huayang away, and led Lu Bao'er into the inner chamber to speak intimately: 'You, too, are fortunate; since you haven't been to the capital before, you might not know some things. Mister Xie is the emperor's personally appointed top scholar; it's said his writings are praised even by the emperor himself, and his future looks bright! Look—just after entering the Hanlin Academy, he's been granted a residence and a stipend, for fear that Mister Xie's daily life might be hard.'

Lady Zhao, Ye Qiying, had been mingling in the capital for some years and, getting along well with her husband, naturally could pick up some rumors from the official circles.

She glanced around, seeing no one nearby, and whispered to Lu Bao'er: 'Don't think that Mister Xie has been in the Hanlin Academy for half a year without making a stir—this is the emperor protecting him! Earlier favor was too heavy, drawing envy; my father said, "Tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind." For now he's nurturing his strength and biding his time; later he will surely be entrusted with important duties. By then, it won't be you coming to my manor in response to my invitation—I'll be the one seeking you out, and you might not even have time to see me!'

'Don't talk nonsense!' Lu Bao'er squeezed Ye Qiying's hand and said, 'If you really want me to call you sister, don't say things like that! You know my background—I've endured ridicule both openly and in secret, yet you don't despise me and dare to speak heart-to-heart with me. Even if we both gain fortune in the future, our families should still keep in touch.'

Ye Qiying felt warm inside hearing Lu Bao'er say those words with sincere trepidation. She had good judgment in making friends, and befriending Lu Bao'er was a fine choice.

After their conversation, they felt much closer. Thinking that Lu Bao'er still had no pregnancy, Ye Qiying suddenly pulled out a prescription from a box and handed it to her, saying, 'Since I'm taking you as a sister, I also want to tell you a few other things. You and Mister Xie still have no child, and you're still young; if you hastily bear a child, your body might not withstand it. Keep this; after intercourse, drink a bowl of this, which contains nourishing herbs—it can prevent pregnancy and strengthen your body without harming it.'

In ordinary families, parents-in-law and couples all pray for offspring, but only women understand that childbirth is the gate to the underworld—if you pass through it you enjoy blessings thereafter; if you cannot, you may die there.

Seeing Lu Bao'er's blank expression, Ye Qiying said, 'I know you at this age are all eager for your husband's affection and reluctant to refuse him. But you must understand that you still have decades ahead; if you leave behind any hidden illness, you'll suffer for the rest of your life. Men are all the same—today they may treat you well, tomorrow their looks fade and their love strays, and they'll switch to someone else. So your health and any children are of utmost importance. Listen to my advice, sister: you can simply send your personal maid to your husband to "open his face"—that is, to sleep with him—and then feed him another bowl of anti-conception soup. Even a plaything without children is not something you can't control; it's in your hands to decide. Moreover, you could earn a reputation for virtue and magnanimity—why not?'

Perhaps because others usually do this, Ye Qiying, seeing that Lu Bao'er was still young and feared childbirth would be difficult, naturally did not want to push her toward the gate to the underworld.

Lu Bao'er, however, was startled; she wasn't stupid and knew what marital relations were. But Xie Junling simply had no interest in her at all, and since they only chatted a few words before bed each day, just sleeping together as bedmates was actually quite nice.

She hadn't even considered going further; she felt Xie Junling was pure-hearted and few-desired, as if he didn't place much importance on that matter……

Um, could it be that Xie Junling despised her petite frame, with not even two ounces of meat, finding her bony and unappetizing, hence his lack of interest?

Then should she cater to his preference and find two pretty maids to amuse him?

Anyway, she had no objection to not taking a concubine or elevating a servant girl to secondary wife; other than that, she had no particular opinions.

Just the thought that Xie Junling might some night not sleep in their room but on someone else's bed made Lu Bao'er feel a bit uneasy.

In that case…… who could warm her feet before sleep?!