"So it turns out that this cheap woman has been hiding in Changfeng Pavilion every day instead of seeing anyone because she got pregnant." After returning to Baomo Hall and going behind the hugu stone screen, when she saw Zhao Rou and Huo Qiyan sitting on the luohan bed, Cheng said, unable to hold back, "Rou, a belly that's been over four months can't be covered up anymore, I didn't see it wrong, Gu Ying is indeed pregnant."
Huo Qiyan's expression also changed. She cried aggrievedly, "Auntie... How can a woman like her deserve to be pregnant with Cousin's child..."
For a moment, Cheng was also extremely anxious. The one in Gu Ying's belly was the legitimate eldest son of the Duke's mansion. If this child was really born, her and Chang Xing's status would become more and more embarrassing. It was all because those undeserving sluts were not ambitious enough, and so far no one had been able to give birth to a son or daughter for her son. Otherwise, she would not be so anxious.
She looked at Zhao Rou, who was sitting on the edge of the luohan bed, in a loss.
Zhao Rou was very calm. She was from the Zhao family of prominent families and noble ladies, completely different from people like Cheng who could not get on stage.
She pinched the lid of the teacup to brush away the tea foam, and casually laughed, "What are you worried about? Our Adu is young and vigorous, strong and healthy. It’s quite normal for her to get pregnant after getting married."
"How can it be the same?" Cheng said, pulling at the corner of her mouth. "Although I am the main mother of the Duke's Mansion, it is Yanyan who I feel sorry for. She has her heart set on her cousin, but before she can even enter the Duke's Mansion, Gu Ying gets pregnant first. Then...then what is our Yanyan to do in the future?"
When Zhao Rou heard this, her eyes cooled slightly. She glanced at her daughter who was sitting in the chair twisting her handkerchief non-stop. What Cheng said was right. She couldn't let her own daughter go raise another woman's child.
"Mother..." Huo Qiyan pouted aggrievedly, "You have to think for me, okay? I haven't even given Cousin a child yet, what right does Gu Ying have?"
Zhao Rou glared at her dissatisfied daughter. This daughter of hers was useless.
No matter how powerful Adu was, he was still the son of her elder brother. Yanyan was his cousin by blood and had grown up with Adu like childhood sweethearts. She clearly had the best chance to marry Adu, but somehow that cheap slut Huo Qiyan took advantage of the opportunity first. Later, Gu Ying was also given a chance. It was truly a waste of such a good opportunity with her beautiful face and graceful figure.
"You..." Zhao Rou reproached her with a tone.
Huo Qiyan hurriedly hugged her mother's arm and acted coquettishly, "Mother, you won't just stand by and watch your daughter be suppressed by Gu Ying, will you? I can't let Gu Ying give Cousin his eldest son. Cousin's child can only be born by me..."
"Shameless." Zhao Rou lovingly poked her between the eyebrows, meaningfully said, "Don't worry, her child won't be born safely."
A nearly imperceptible flash of light flashed in Cheng's eyes. She quickly agreed excitedly, "Auntie Zhao really has good ideas. For women to conceive and give birth, which one is not nine deaths and a life?"
With a word from Zhao Rou, Cheng was relieved.
After all, Zhao Rou was an extremely capable woman. If she opened her mouth, Gu Ying's child probably wouldn't expect to be born safely.
Zhao Rou glanced lightly at Cheng, "How's Granny Sun?"
Cheng was embarrassed for a moment, "That side of Changfeng Pavilion still won't let her go."
"What's the matter with you? You can't even handle a Gu Ying?"
"It's just... Adu is protecting her, we can't even get close to Changfeng Pavilion, let alone go in and take someone."
"Why is she holding onto an old granny?"
"I don't know either. Could she have found out about what happened back then..." Seeing that Huo Qiyan was still here, Cheng immediately shut her mouth.
"..." After Zhao Rou was silent for a while, she impatiently said, "Take another look in a few days. If it really doesn't work...think of another way."
Cheng also shut her mouth. She didn't dare say anything in the end, only carefully glanced at Zhao Rou with her expressionless face.
When she got vicious, her eyes were too gloomy.
Cheng shrank her neck. She thought that it would be best to resolve Granny Sun's matter as soon as possible, otherwise...the consequences would be endless.
...
At today's banquet, everyone knew that Gu Ying was pregnant with the Heir Apparent's child. Whether they were truly happy for her or just pretending to be happy for her, they all congratulated her with smiles on their faces.
Except for Cheng and the others, Gu Wan's face didn't look good either. She was just an illegitimate daughter and didn't have the qualifications to participate in the Duke's Mansion’s banquet today. If Gu Ying didn't want to see Gu Shuang, it wouldn't even be her turn to come today. She originally thought she could come to get acquainted with some young ladies from prominent families, but unexpectedly the others were all here to fawn over Gu Ying and couldn't be bothered to pay attention to her.
She glared fiercely at Gu Ying's figure, not knowing how many times she had scolded her in her heart.
Gu Ying was quite happy. The pregnancy couldn't be kept secret for long, and she didn't plan to keep hiding it anyway. It was just that in the Duke's Mansion, she would have to be more careful in eating, dressing and spending money.
After eating with the madams and chatting for a while, she then excused herself to go back to Changfeng Pavilion to rest, saying her body hadn't fully recovered yet.
When she left, she saw Cheng and Zhao Rou whispering to each other, not knowing what they were gossiping about.
Yin Lan said, "No knowing what sinister things they’re plotting. My Lady, do you think we should send someone to keep an eye on them? After all, My Lady is pregnant now, everything needs to be handled carefully."
Gu Ying thought about it. "Yes, have Huai'an arrange it."
After saying that, she had already returned to Changfeng Pavilion.
Aunt Qin and Aunt Zhao were already sitting in the side hall of Changfeng Pavilion. The carved lattice windows facing south were wide open. In the middle of the courtyard, the hibiscus and pomegranate flowers bloomed very lively, and the floral scent spread into the room. On the red sandalwood flat table were a few vases with flower arrangements.
Behind the bookcase, Aunt Qin smiled at Gu Ying with her hands outstretched, “Oh my, Ying, you’re finally back. Hurry and let Auntie take a look!”
Gu Ying laughed as she walked over and was pulled into Aunt Qin’s arms. Aunt Qin had a frank and easygoing personality. She reached out and rubbed Gu Ying’s belly, “It feels like a boy. It looks like our Ying is going to give the Heir Apparent a son.”
Aunt Zhao said while stroking her seven or eight month belly, “It’s too early to tell at this stage. When I was pregnant with Shuang, my belly was pointy. The midwife all said it was going be a boy, but what happened in the end? Still a girl.”
The corner of Gu Ying's mouth curled up as she watched Aunt Qin and Aunt Zhao bickering with each other like a pair of old married couples full of delight and resentment. Her heart only felt warm.
Aunt Qin glared at her. "My senses have always been very accurate. I said Ying is going to have a son, so she must have a son."
Aunt Zhao said, "Then let's make a bet today, what do you say?"
Aunt Qin readily agreed, "Good, you say it, what prize shall we bet?"
Aunt Zhao's eyes rolled as she thought about it and said, "Then bet on that bracelet on Aunt Qin's wrist, how about it?"
Aunt Qin looked down at the mutton fat jade bracelet, stroked it and smiled at Gu Shuang. She said, "This bracelet is what I plan on giving to my daughter-in-law in the future, it can't be used as a bet. Anything else, just name it."
