Chapter 1008 - 429: Poisonous Hand (Part 2)
Xiang Wei didn’t stand on ceremony with Yueyao, since the earnings belonged to Yueyao anyway and she had no need for money: "Give me fifty thousand taels of silver first. If I see a suitable shop, I’ll buy it." Xiang Wei didn’t plan on renting a shop; renting was too troublesome, whereas owning her own shop gave her the freedom to do as she pleased.
Yueyao had money on hand. Not to mention the dividends from the cloth workshop and dye workshop last year, Xiang Wei’s business dealings alone netted them fifteen thousand taels in dividends.
Yueyao promptly handed Xiang Wei sixty thousand taels of silver: "Ask me for more if it’s not enough." This money was earned by Xiang Wei for her, so she let Xiang Wei have her way; after all, a single confectionery shop couldn’t lose much.
When An Zhichen returned that evening, Xiang Wei asked the kitchen maid to bring a plate of egg tarts. An Zhichen ate half and gave the rest to Ah Kai and Da Tong.
Yueyao was very surprised; she didn’t know An Zhichen liked pastries, as most men weren’t fond of sweets. Because pastries are sweet, it wasn’t that Yueyao didn’t care for An Zhichen or that she was too careless, but she herself didn’t eat pastries, and with Xiang Wei not around in the An Mansion, An Zhichen wouldn’t mention it.
Xiang Wei, aware of Yueyao’s curiosity, smiled: "Miss, Ah Kai and Da Tong are from Haikou, and people from Haikou tend to eat sweeter food. An Zhichen spent many years in Haikou, so he was surely influenced too."
Yueyao nodded briefly: "Sweet food should be consumed less; it’s bad for your teeth."
Xiang Wei pursed her lips.
Yuehuan found an excuse to return to the Lian Mansion, first visiting Zhou Yue, then seeking Maternal Aunt Su. Yuehuan had some trepidation towards Maternal Aunt Su, but she couldn’t deny Su’s rich experience in household intrigue; she needed Su’s guidance.
Maternal Aunt Su quietly listened to Yuehuan’s account, then pondered for a moment before speaking: "Who do you suspect wants to harm you?"
In recent days, Yuehuan had uncovered some clues and shared her suspicions.
Maternal Aunt Su was a bit resigned; previously, she had offered to teach intrahouse affairs, but her daughter hadn’t wanted to learn, nearly leading to a significant loss now: "What you’ve discovered is only surface-level; it won’t be easy to uncover the people behind the scenes. Since you’re already certain you’re pregnant, go back and share this joyful news with your mother-in-law. Once you have your own small kitchen, just be careful and you should be fine." Typically, when a household’s daughter-in-law becomes pregnant, a small kitchen is set up for her.
Yuehuan felt somewhat uneasy: "Auntie, who on earth wants to harm me?" She couldn’t be at ease not knowing who was behind it.
Maternal Aunt Su sighed softly: "Your mother-in-law has only your husband as her son; naturally, she longs for you to give birth to a legitimate child soon. Knowing you’re pregnant, she’ll be overjoyed, never aiming to harm you."
Yuehuan listened and grew even more terrified, but she soon regained her composure; this wasn’t the time for fear: "Auntie, my husband has no younger brothers from other mothers, and there are no maternal aunts in my house. Who could want to harm me?" In Qian Tu’s generation, there were many offspring, but the second branch had only Qian Tu as their lone offspring.
Maternal Aunt Su said helplessly: "The main kitchen is managed by the First Madam; haven’t you suspected anyone from the main branch?" The depths of the Qian Family were daunting, and with her daughter’s disposition, it would be challenging to deliver her grandson safely.
Yuehuan was dumbfounded: "How is my pregnancy related to the main branch?"
Maternal Aunt Su was deeply worried about her daughter’s naivety: "The main branch has three legitimate sons, yet to this day, none of them have produced a legitimate heir. If you give birth to a son, he’ll be the legitimate firstborn of the Qian Family’s fourth generation." The aunts explained the complexities to Yuehuan, leaving her feeling a chill in her heart.
Yuehuan whispered softly: "I never intended to take their money!"
Maternal Aunt Su remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "After you return, don’t spread the news around; find a way to tell your mother-in-law about the pregnancy. Your mother-in-law will undoubtedly protect you."
After their marriage, Second Madam Qian quickly placed maids in Yuehuan’s house, causing tension between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Yuehuan wasn’t confident.
Maternal Aunt Su wanted to hold her forehead: "Do as I say, it won’t go wrong. With your mother-in-law’s protection, you’ll be fine." The second branch only had one son who grew up safely, demonstrating Second Madam Qian’s abilities and shrewdness.
Yuehuan thought for a long time before nodding. Even if her mother-in-law didn’t like her, for the child’s sake, she should protect her, right?
Upon returning to the Qian Mansion, nothing fitting a cold nature appeared on the table. With Maternal Aunt Su’s warnings in mind, Yuehuan didn’t even dare to eat pastries that day, daring only to drink water boiled by the maid.
For two days, Yuehuan lived in fear and trembling. On the third day, she feigned stomachache and had someone call for a doctor.
The doctor, after taking her pulse, was beaming: "Congratulations, young madam, you’re expecting. It’s been a month."
Second Madam Qian, unhappy with Yuehuan’s jealousy, had always been critical of her. But upon hearing that Yuehuan was pregnant, her dissatisfaction vanished, and she eagerly went to visit Yuehuan with joy.
With her mother-in-law’s attitude undergoing a complete change, Yuehuan was caught off guard by the newfound favor. At the same time, she felt secretly frustrated, having experienced firsthand the importance of children in this era.