Chapter 59: Chapter Fifty-Nine

In the first three months the fetal condition is unstable, making miscarriage most likely; one must focus on rest daily, so during the first three or four months pregnant women rarely go out—either staying on the couch to protect the fetus or moving only within the house. At five or six months the fetal condition stabilizes, and they can go out for a few rounds. Childbirth is a major affair; not a moment can be careless. The midwife also says that after five or six months, more outings are beneficial for delivery. The nourishing chicken soup can be drunk daily, but it should be degreased to avoid gaining weight, which would make delivery difficult when the baby is large. It's not the farmer's saying that the more you eat, the better; it's one person eating two portions.

From this, Old Lady Su's midwife seems very experienced, explaining everything methodically. The old nanny relaxes a bit, focusing more on Lu Bao'er's meals.

Lu Bao'er has been cooped up at home for five months and feels terribly bored. She suggests going to Bao Fo Temple to pray, a good excuse to get out and clear her mind.

Bao Fo Temple is a royal shrine in Jingdu; on the back hill stands the Grand Hall of the Great Hero, a hall reserved for the emperor's prayers, normally closed to commoners. Though the Grand Hall is off‑limits, the front hall can still be visited for worship, so incense burns constantly. Official wives in Jingdu often go to Bao Fo Temple to pray and eat vegetarian dishes, praying for their families' safety.

Bao Fo Temple isn't far; a carriage ride takes only about half an hour. Seeing Lu Bao'er gloomy and cooped up all day, the old nanny readily agreed.

Xie Junling learned of this and felt uneasy. He specifically instructed the old nanny to add extra cushions in the carriage, bring more maids, and keep a close watch on Lu Bao'er's movements. With everything arranged, he felt a little reassured and allowed Lu Bao'er to go out.

Early the next morning, the old nanny dressed Lu Bao'er in a green silk‑woven gold‑threaded jacket embroidered with lotus vines, paired with a peach‑red plain cloud‑patterned horse‑face skirt. Since it was early autumn and not too cold, Lu Bao'er wore no cloak. She only pinned a simple jade hibiscus, perhaps because pregnancy had changed her tastes, and she no longer liked overly flashy attire.

The carriage set off, speeding toward Bao Fo Temple.

Knowing that official wives would come to pray, Bao Fo Temple set aside a special official road for these women and their retinues. As a royal shrine, it could not allow a high‑ranking official's wife to clear the area herself. Should wives of officials above a certain rank clear the venue? Are they more honored than the emperor? Such a degree is hard to gauge and invites gossip, so everyone tacitly agrees to use the official road and avoids any clearing actions.

Although Jingdu lies at the emperor's feet and is richer than ordinary places, it has many rules; a careless word can easily reach the emperor's ears. In other words, life here is both carefree and agonizing.

As Lu Bao'er was helped by the old nanny and Liu Xiang up the blue‑stone steps, she happened to see Li Jiao not far away. Li Jiao had just returned from praying, accompanied by only one maid. Though dressed richly, her gaunt face and a hint of bluish‑gray in her eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

Lu Bao'er thought she was an old acquaintance she had met before and wondered whether to greet her. While hesitating, Li Jiao had already spotted Lu Bao'er, surrounded by servants, her belly protruding—clearly pregnant. Li Jiao had initially assumed Lu Bao'er's good fate meant she would never bear a child and would become a laughingstock among official wives, left destitute when she grew old and faded, especially after Xie Junling took another into the household. Yet, Li Jiao was surprised to find Lu Bao'er's luck so great: she had returned to a wealthy natal family, her husband had not taken a new wife in three or four years, and the couple were deeply affectionate, and now she was pregnant.

Li Jiao clenched her hands so tightly that her nails dug into her palms; compared with Lu Bao'er's good fortune, Li Jiao felt utterly miserable. That Cui Yuan had some tricks, keeping Shen Yun confined in the courtyard. She thought Cui Yuan must have some method; one day Li Jiao boiled chicken soup and called Shen Yun to drink, but he didn't come. Irritated, she went looking for Shen Yun and saw him together with a ten‑year‑old little maid! It turned out Cui Yuan deliberately sought such innocent, tender girls to bring to the room for Shen Yun's pleasure. Li Jiao felt as if struck by lightning; she had always believed Shen Yun, despite any flaws, was a proper official, just unlucky in his career, unable to rise. She comforted herself, recalling that her maternal grandfather only became Minister of Revenue in his old age, so not everyone is as lucky as Xie Junling.

Yet Shen Yun was secretly having an affair with that still‑young maid! She suddenly felt nauseated, thinking Shen Yun was filthy. If he liked someone, he should bring her openly and give her a status; there was no need for covert flirtations that blur master and servant. A person could be so shameless and spineless that his very roots are rotten.

At that moment, Cui Yuan happened to see her, pursed her lips and smiled, "Sister, did you see?"

Li Jiao remained silent, glaring at Cui Yuan with fiery eyes.

Cui Yuan sneered, "Let me tell you another thing, sister: in the bird‑nest soup you usually drink, I've added something. It won't kill you, but your womb may no longer bear a child." Cui Yuan has long harbored a grudge against Li Jiao for ruining her body, and now wants Li Jiao to taste this.

Li Jiao broke out in cold sweat, saying, "What nonsense are you spouting? How could you possibly put something so potent in it?"

Cui Yuan lifted her sleeve to cover her mouth, letting a small smile spill out, "Sister, you're really dense. This courtyard belongs to the Cui family, and this household is run by the Cuis. I'm a Cui; can my actions be any less convenient than yours?"

Li Jiao never imagined there were Cui Yuan's people in her courtyard; enraged, she slapped Cui Yuan hard enough to make blood spurt from her mouth. Hearing the commotion, Shen Yun, his clothes disheveled, rushed out of the room. Li Jiao, seeing his appearance, felt so disgusted she wanted to vomit. How could she ever have hoped for someone like him? Does Shen Yun even understand modesty?

When Li Jiao arrived, Shen Yun's previous romantic thoughts faded, and he broke out in cold sweat. After his official career stalled, he could not lift his head before Li Jiao, only daring to hide with Cui Yuan for a while. Now his filthy inner self had been laid bare before Li Jiao, and in front of this high‑ranking principal wife, he could no longer raise his head.

Shen Yun, truly the legitimate son of the Cui clan, inherited his mother's fiery nature; he shoved Li Jiao and scolded, "Li Jiao, do you have any manners?"

"Manners?" Li Jiao laughed angrily, "I'm a principal wife; disciplining an ignorant concubine isn't wrong, is it? Do you know? I've never been able to bear children, and it's this little slut's doing! She put medicine in my bird‑nest soup!"

Hearing that, Shen Yun was stunned again. His ears went soft, and he was once more swayed by Li Jiao, staring blankly at Cui Yuan.

Cui Yuan, seeing how foolish Li Jiao was, pitied herself and said, "How could I possibly have drugged you, sister? If you don't believe me, call a doctor and you'll find out!"

Cui Yuan's boldness made Li Jiao realize she was being manipulated and had fallen into her trap! Li Jiao had been childless for years, a constant worry, and upon hearing Cui Yuan's words, she didn't discern truth from falsehood and believed everything.

Now she claims Cui Yuan framed her; if the doctor later says she's healthy, she'd be the liar! She tried to frame Li Jiao but failed, and Shen Yun will certainly no longer trust her.

Li Jiao felt panicked and at a loss.

Cui Yuan, daringly, pressed, "Grandmaster, quickly summon a doctor to examine sister! If sister suffers any mishap, won't it be blamed on me?! I, Yuan'er, consider my status low; merely being by my husband's side is enough, I never seek to seize anything, so how could I harm sister? Moreover, sister's attendants are all my own servants; how could I get close to strike?! Sister, even if you did such a thing to me, I have never resented you, so why keep pressuring me again and again?"

Cui Yuan's words were sincere and moving; even Li Jiao admitted her performance was convincing, resembling a pitiful concubine driven to desperation by her mistress.

But Shen Yun, who adored the delicate‑fragrant‑and‑precious type, cradled Cui Yuan and shouted, "Servants, summon a doctor to take the lady's pulse!"

At this point, Li Jiao had no recourse. When the doctor declared her body perfectly healthy and unharmed by any medicine, she looked at Cui Yuan and coldly smiled, "It seems I wrongly blamed you, sister; that slap today was unforgivable. I'll send you some medicine to heal. After all, my husband's favorite is your face; if it gets hurt, that would be bad."

Shen Yun saw her act and didn't say more, but from now on he despised Li Jiao even more, refusing to set foot in her courtyard. Cui Yuan's goal was achieved, and she returned satisfied.

The only one suffering heavy loss was Li Jiao; Shen Yun refused to be close to her, so she naturally could not bear a child. Without a child, could she divorce Shen Yun or what?

Li Jiao had become despondent, spending her days praying and chanting. She thought she had long let go of love, yet today, upon seeing Lu Bao'er, a surge of jealousy rose again; she had never truly let go of her hatred.

She even imagined that if she became Xie Junling's wife, everything Lu Bao'er possessed would be hers. Lu Bao'er had taken everything from her, and now she still flaunted before her.

Lu Bao'er didn't know that her friendly smile to Li Jiao would be interpreted that way. As they brushed past each other, Li Jiao suddenly tripped over a maid beside her; the maid lost balance and fell straight onto Lu Bao'er! On the blue‑stone steps of the mountain path, if Lu Bao'er were to tumble down, the child in her womb would surely be lost! Li Jiao pretended to be flustered but secretly laughed. It wasn't intentional; what could Lu Bao'er do to her?!

Unfortunately, the maid only knocked Liu Xiang, who was on Lu Bao'er's side, down the hill; Lu Bao'er was still well protected by the old nanny, suffering only a fright.

Lu Bao'er hurried, "Quick, send someone to check Liu Xiang! Does she have any injuries?!"

Li Jiao pursed her lips, thinking, "Showing such kindness to a maid, how pretentious."

Before she could apologize, the old nanny's slap landed on her face.

Li Jiao naturally knew this was the old nanny who had served the imperial family, yet she was merely a servant—how could she dare strike her?!

Li Jiao gritted her teeth, "A dog servant dares to hit me?! My maid only bumped into you accidentally, not on purpose."

The old nanny sneered, "Did you not see the kick Li Jiao secretly delivered? What are you pretending now?!"

She calmly said, "I, an old servant, only accidentally brushed the lady; please don't take it to heart. My mistress is the wife of the Deputy Minister of the Great Justice Court; you dare to collide with her face‑to‑face without knowing rank, have you forgotten the distinction of status?"

Xie Junling is now a fourth‑rank senior official, truly beyond Li Jiao's reach. She should have yielded to Lu Bao'er rather than directly colliding with her. The old nanny was metaphorically scolding, saying she didn't understand the rules! Li Jiao's face burned, yet she could not utter a word in defense.

So that slap would be a wasted strike for the old nanny? Li Jiao's anger flared again; should she lodge a complaint with her own family or with the Gu family? She then thought, the Gu family would never risk offending Lu Bao'er for her; her own clan is outside Jingdu, though a centuries‑old noble house, they have no ministers in the court, so how could they defend her?

With that thought, Li Jiao's cold sweat fell again. She almost forgot that this was not a day for her to act wilfully; had she accidentally knocked Lu Bao'er down earlier, it would have been a disaster.

At this moment, Li Jiao's lingering jealousy vanished, and she thought of being a quail, eager to return home.

That night, after Xie Junling returned to the residence, the old nanny, for the first time, went to speak with him: "Sir, there's something; I'm not sure whether I should mention it."

Hearing that, Xie Junling slightly raised his hand, signaling silence: "I already know about the Shen family; I have my own limits." Since he said so, the old nanny had nothing more to say.

Regarding Lu Bao'er, Zhu Sheng had already informed Xie Junling. After Lu Bao'er became pregnant, Xie Junling, uneasy about her traveling alone, assigned Zhu Sheng to protect her covertly. If an accident struck Lu Bao'er, Zhu Sheng's skill could safeguard her; the lives of others were irrelevant to him. Thus, even if Liu Xiang were to fall, Zhu Sheng paid it no mind.

Whether Li Jiao intended to harm Lu Bao'er or not, this accident was undeniably complex. He had passed the age of sympathy; he only knew that anyone bold enough to strike at him must understand the price to pay.

During this period, the imperial examinations were underway; candidates schemed to contact officials, learn who the chief examiner was, swap exam questions, or learn the examiner's grading preferences. Where there was demand, there was response. Everyone covertly probed the officials' limits, and some ministers, seeking a fortune from wealthy families, pretended to share information in exchange for money.

A few days earlier, Xie Junling, often dressed for outings, was suddenly pulled into an alley by a man on the road. The man claimed he saw him as a scholar destined for future wealth, merely lacking luck, and asked if he wanted to buy that luck.

Xie Junling laughed and asked, "What is this luck?"

The other party, seeing Xie Junling was clueless, quoted a number, then produced a private seal, saying, "This is my master's private seal; my master is an official, so he has a way to obtain examination questions. It depends on whether you're willing to pay the silver."

The seal looked very familiar to Xie Junling; it was Shen Yun's personal mark. Could he really be dealing in such transactions?

He hadn't wanted trouble, but thinking that the clueless wife of the Shen family had angered him, he decided Shen Yun must taste some hardship.