Huangfu Zeduan watched his wife’s slender, weak back and told Zhou Xun: “Go protect your mistress and make sure nothing happens to her.
Li Weichen took a clean cup, poured half a cup of wine, and handed it to her: “Pingzhou is located in the northwest border region, does not produce tea trees, and all tea leaves are transported from far away. Even ordinary tea from the capital can be sold at a high price here. The tea that Miss Ye, as a member of the royal family, usually drinks is probably a top-grade tea like Liuyun?”
Ye Hui furrowed her brows and stared at him: “Who is a member of the royal family? Who have you been listening to spreading rumors?”
Royal family members, in her previous life, were the families of Obama and Hu Ge. Dreaming about it was fine, but in real life, it was unthinkable. In her previous life, she was just an ordinary person. After crossing over, her status was slightly elevated. Her first husband was from a moderately well-off family, and her second husband was a big entrepreneur. However, their master’s sects were quite impressive. Although the Eagle Gate might not compare to the Shaolin Temple, their reputation was certainly not small!
Li Weichen looked thoughtful: “Who gave you the dragon-shaped jade pendant on your chest?”
Ye Hui touched it through her clothes. Although she didn’t understand the value of this jade, it gave off warmth in the cold winter and was helpful for her cold constitution. Perhaps this was why her second husband gave her the jade pendant! She picked up her wine cup and took a small sip: “I bought this jade from a peddler on the street for two copper coins one day.”
“Hmph!” Li Weichen seemed to be hearing a fantastical tale, looking disdainful as he downed the entire cup of wine: “Lying without even preparing a story. How could a rare jade be bought for two copper coins?”
Ye Hui couldn’t be bothered with his thoughts. In any case, they had no connection, and they would never have any in the future.
“Do you know each other?” Wang Xiaoya sat down next to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and took a big gulp: “Brother Li, Ye Jiejie is my friend. You’re not allowed to bully her.”
Ye Hui was surprised by the girl’s kind heart and felt a good impression towards her.
The three of them fell into silence. Ye Hui had been on bad terms with Li Weichen from the start. The two encounters in Furong Town and the brothel had left her with a negative impression. She put down her cup and turned to sit on the bed. She had been feeling weak these days and tired easily. Perhaps her period was coming, but this time it was a week later than usual. Since crossing over, this body seemed to never quite cooperate with her, and her menstrual periods were always extremely uncomfortable.
Wang Xiaoya was lost in her own worries, reluctant to have the county mistress of Xilin come to the governor’s residence and take her place, but she had no say in the matter.
Li Weichen continued drinking, occasionally glancing at the beautiful figure on the bed with a look of admiration that even he was unaware of. When she inadvertently looked over, he felt as if his thoughts were exposed, blushed, and became uncomfortable.
About half an hour later, Huangfu Zeduan entered from outside, glanced at Li Weichen, then focused his gaze on his wife, seeing her looking weak and feeling heartache.
Ye Hui put on her shoes and smiled at her husband.
Huangfu Zeduan helped her put on her cloak, then removed his own to wrap her completely from head to toe, thinking about how cold it was outside.
“Wife, let’s go home,” he said.
Ye Hui felt herself lifted off the ground, carried out, and soon fell asleep.
Suddenly, Huangfu Zeduan’s face showed genuine shock, disbelievingly looking left and right at her lower abdomen, where his son was inside. Gradually, his eyes narrowed into a slit, and he became overwhelmingly joyful. He reached out and embraced her, not knowing what to do, just spinning her around the room several times. Excited and beside himself, he muttered while walking, “I’m going to be a father, I’m going to be a father!”
For a thirty-year-old man, hearing he was going to have a son was mixed with intense emotions. Ye Hui even saw a hint of tears in the corner of his eye. Could her second husband actually be crying from happiness? How was that possible? He was such a tough guy.
“Husband, that’s enough, can you put me down? Aren’t you tired from holding me like this?”
“No, you can’t walk, you can’t stand,” Huangfu Zeduan quickly shook his head. “Tomorrow, I’ll have Zhou Xun go buy some thousand-year-old ginseng and He Shou Wu. You’re so weak, you need to nourish yourself properly.”
Ye Hui hurriedly said, “You can’t take supplements indiscriminately. Taking too much can be harmful. Besides, I’m just guessing. It’s not certain whether I’m pregnant. What if the doctor tomorrow confirms I’m not, won’t you be disappointed?”
“I’m sure I am. Absolutely,” Huangfu Zeduan said confidently, then suddenly remembered something: “Oh right, you haven’t eaten. Eat quickly, don’t starve our son.”
“I can’t eat meat now. Just the smell makes me nauseous. You can have the red date and black chicken soup yourself.”
“Then what should we do? I’ll have the kitchen prepare some vegetarian soup for you first, and we’ll figure out the rest later.”
Huangfu Zeduan laid his wife on the bed: “Rest a bit. I’ll go research pregnancy diet recipes. Moji, take good care of the madam.” He tucked her in and went to the outer hall. Opening the door, he spoke to the servant in the corridor: “Go find Zhou Xun and Shang Hong. Tell them I have something to discuss. Also, tell the kitchen to prepare some light dishes, saying the young madam is pregnant and can’t eat greasy food. Oh, and notify everyone to take good care of her. Future monthly wages will be doubled.”
Huangfu Zeduan excitedly rubbed his hands, eager to share his joy, pacing back and forth in the living room, sometimes muttering about becoming a father, sometimes laughing inexplicably.
Ye Hui realized for the first time that men could be this verbose. She thought of Qin Yuhang. Since he last came to sell autumn grain and visit her, she hadn’t seen him for over two months, and he hadn’t even sent a letter. She was truly worried. Moji noticed her strange expression and asked, “Miss, do you have something on your mind?”
“I’m thinking about Brother Qin. I wonder what he’s doing now?”
“I heard that since winter, many cattle and sheep have frozen to death on the Turk side. People are privately discussing that next spring, the barbarians might raid the borders.”
West of Pingzhou was the Qiang people’s territory, and further north was the Turk’s sphere of influence. Barbarians were naturally bloodthirsty. Without resources, they would rob, not just stealing goods but also people. Most Yingtang citizens were skilled in farming and crafts, and those captured could be sold for high prices.
“Moji, what does the barbarian border raid have to do with Brother Qin?”
Moji looked bewildered: “I’m not sure. I accidentally overheard Master Huangfu asking Zhou Xun to send a carrier pigeon to Master Qin in Shazhou, asking him to collaborate with the Shazhou King to guard against the Turks.”
“Both masters are merchants. What does a national war have to do with them?” Ye Hui was surprised for a moment. “Go to the outer hall and call Master Huangfu. Tell him I have something to ask.
Shang Hong felt depressed and grabbed his hair, wishing he had just kept quiet. His mother’s husband was numerous, and the children he had were also many, with the youngest still in swaddling clothes. Since he was old enough to understand, he had always played with his younger brothers, knowing everything.
“Son-in-law, the young lady requests you to come in.”
