Chapter 58: Chapter Fifty‑Eight

Early spring of the following year, Old Lady Su saw that Lu Bao'er had shown no sign of movement in her womb for several years, and her desire to bear a great‑grandchild waned, so she discussed adopting a child from the clan for Lu Bao'er. Since Cheng Linghe was expelled from the Cheng Clan, she realized the Cheng Clan was a despicable and shameless family, lacking any sense of responsibility—when you need them they are eager, but when you don't they bolt. Old Lady Su would never agree to let Lu Bao'er raise a Cheng child. If the Su surname were not a royal surname, she even considered inserting Lu Bao'er into the Su family genealogy.

While everyone paid little attention to Lu Bao'er's issue of offspring, she suddenly craved spicy and sour foods, felt weak at noon and liked to sleep, and even vomited, resembling early‑pregnancy symptoms. Lu Bao'er was constitutionally deficient, so her menstrual cycle was irregular—nine times out of ten it came only every two months—hence the household staff had not suspected anything. Now these signs looked exactly like pregnancy, so the old matriarch hurried to summon a midwife to take her pulse and examine the lady's condition.

The midwife, after feeling the pulse, couldn't help but smile, pinched three fingers and said, "Madam, this is a joyous pulse, strong and vigorous, already three months."

The old matriarch rejoiced, recited a Buddhist verse, and hurried to send someone to offer tribute and incense to Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth. She supported Lu Bao'er, beaming, and said, "Madam, be careful; the first three months are the most critical!"

Lu Bao'er was also surprised, a little shy, and gave a faint smile, "Should I tell my husband?"

"As for the Lord, I've already sent someone to Zhu Sheng to deliver a message; I expect to hear back within an hour."

"I also need to tell my maternal grandmother."

"No need for me, the Lord of Qingping County has already sent Liu Xiang to inform him."

Seeing that the old matriarch had arranged everything properly, Lu Bao'er saved herself a lot of effort.

Within less than an hour, a guest arrived. Upon hearing it was Old Lady Su visiting, Lu Bao'er hurried to have someone usher her into the mansion.

Lu Bao'er was about to get up to receive her, but Old Lady Su hurried, "Don't stand up! I came especially for fear you'd go to the Fu Mansion to speak with me. Don't trouble yourself; this is your first pregnancy, the most crucial, and there must be no mishap!"

Old Lady Su rushed over, flustered, and Lu Bao'er, hearing that, no longer insisted, shyly smiled and sat back on the Arhat couch.

This time Old Lady Su came to the residence because she feared Lu Bao'er had no elders in the house, no one to guide her, knowing nothing; should any mishap occur, her heart would break.

So she specially brought an imperial midwife for Lu Bao'er, along with some high‑quality tonic herbs for nourishing and stabilizing the fetus. Those with a double body are most fearful of fright at night; she also gave Lu Bao'er a pair of white jade ruyi to place beside the couch as calming pillows. These jade ruyi were given to her by her mother‑consort in the year she became pregnant, said to have been consecrated by a master, dispelling all demons, and that having them nearby always protects the bearer. The elderly are devout Buddhists; whether it truly works or not, they value the sentiment.

Old Lady Su rambled on about this and that, essentially instructing Lu Bao'er on how to nurture the fetus. Seeing her little mind nodding at everything, as if she understood everything, Old Lady Su felt helpless, so she relayed the instructions to Old Matriarch Bi Zhu, asking her to oversee Lu Bao'er's diet and daily life.

Seeing that everything was arranged, Old Lady Su returned to the Fu Mansion satisfied. She planned to make several trips to the Xie Fu in the coming days, to ensure Lu Bao'er's pregnancy was well cared for; whether the child turned out to be a great‑grandson or great‑granddaughter, she would love it, treating it as a precious bundle, since it would carry Su blood. As for Xie Junling, if he dared to despise having a daughter instead of a son, she would have Lu Bao'er divorce him. A man who cherishes his legitimate son now can reject Lu Bao'er, and later seek other concubines to bear him sons—things he cannot openly acknowledge.

Meanwhile, Xie Junling received the news, and his smile never left his face. Colleagues at the Dali Temple noticed his good mood and hurriedly asked, "Brother Xie, is there any happy occasion?"

Xie Junling replied calmly, "My humble wife is pregnant; it's already three months."

Everyone knew he and Lu Bao'er were a youthful couple with a very good relationship, so they immediately congratulated him and asked him to host a banquet.

However, Xie Junling was intent on returning to the mansion to see Lu Bao'er and had no mind to drink with colleagues. Do they have someone as beautiful as Lu Bao'er? Thinking that, Xie Junling politely declined, citing ill health, and said he would certainly treat everyone to a feast in a few days.

After finishing his official duties, Xie Junling rushed back to the mansion. It was his first time becoming a father; he showed no outward sign, yet his palms were sweaty. With Lu Bao'er pregnant, could he still share the same bed with her? Might he inadvertently hurt her? With no elders at home, should he seek advice from colleagues who have children? Though it was his first time as a father, he pursued perfection in everything and would certainly attend to Lu Bao'er in every way.

With that in mind, Xie Junling calmly entered the inner chamber. Lu Bao'er was directing a maid to place a jade ruyi, and upon seeing Xie Junling arrive, she hurriedly greeted, "Husband, you're back? Why so early today?"

"I finished my duties early today," Xie Junling said with a dry cough, not wanting to admit he was eager to see Lu Bao'er, so he had delegated some matters to colleagues and left work half an hour early.

Lu Bao'er was carrying a child yet still bounced about lightly; Xie Junling slightly frowned, placed a hand on her waist, and said, "Be careful; if you stumble or fall, what should we do?"

He thought for a moment, then reached out to place his hand over Lu Bao'er's lower abdomen, trying to feel the fetal movement.

Lu Bao'er laughed aloud, "At least five."

Xie Junling's thoughts were laid bare, his ears flushing slightly, and he said, "Since Old Matriarch knows these things, you should listen to her more. If any discomfort arises, send someone to inform me, and also tell Lord Qingping."

With no elders at home, they could only rely on this maternal grandmother.

But when Xie Junling saw Old Lady Su placing her own items throughout the house—such as the Arhat couch layered with soft cushions, fetal‑protecting prayer beads, and trendy nourishing dishes for pregnant women—he felt a vague irritation.

Is Old Lady Su doing this out of fear that he cannot care for Lu Bao'er, thereby questioning his ability?

Although elders are hard to refuse, he stored Old Lady Su's items in the storeroom and replaced them with better ones; that should be acceptable, right?

One day, when Old Lady Su visited the Xie Fu and found that none of the gifts she had given were being used, she realized Xie Junling was treating her as a rival.

In old age, he behaved like a child; his rebellious spirit flared, and he kept moving more items into the Xie Fu. Those unaware thought it was a dowry, and soon the Xie Fu's storeroom was packed, leaving Lu Bao'er bewildered, not knowing how to intervene.

On one side is her maternal grandmother, on the other her own husband; offending either is unwise, so she lets them handle it.

---------- Aside ----------

Today I checked this novel's earnings and made… 101 yuan.

So I'm writing purely out of love; feel free to recommend this book to friends. I plan to finish it this month! Let me know any scenes you'd like to see.

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