Time Travel: The Noble Family

An Zhichen embraced Yueyao and said, "You’ve worked hard." Usually, you could take a leave, but at this critical moment, unless your parents die, no other circumstances allow for taking leave.

Yueyao thought Lady Fang might pass away before the year ended, but even after New Year’s Eve passed, she didn’t hear the Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion’s obituary. When she returned from the palace after New Year celebrations, she heard from the Chief Steward that the Old Madam of the Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion passed away at the end of the Chen Hour.

Yueyao immediately changed out of her court attire into plain clothes. Since she was adopted into the household, the mansion didn’t need to hang white cloth. However, Yueyao, considering An Zhichen’s complex feelings towards Lady Fang, had all the vibrant decorations in the mansion completely replaced.

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With Lady Fang’s passing, Madam Yin and Lady Xiao Fang were enough to handle things, and Yueyao wouldn’t burden herself with such a chore. During the first seven days, Yueyao went daily to do her duty and then returned.

After the Lantern Festival, Yueyao was originally going to prepare for Tingzheng’s marriage arrangements. However, Nanny Hua stopped her: "Madam, the marriage arrangements are tedious and tiring; Madam should ask someone to help with them."

Yueyao asked in surprise: "Why?" If Xiang Wei or Xi Yu had said this, Yueyao wouldn’t have found it strange. After all, they were aware of the matters with the Lin Family. But Yueyao was sure Nanny Hua wasn’t aware of her dislike for the Young Miss of the Lin Family.

Nanny Hua smiled and said, "Madam, you’re likely pregnant again. Newly pregnant women shouldn’t overexert themselves, so for Miss’ marriage arrangements, Madam should ask for help." In the first three months, the fetus is unstable, requiring great care.

Yueyao was startled, then realized her monthly cycle was indeed delayed by five or six days. Yueyao touched her belly, initially planning to have a child in another six months, not expecting it would come so unexpectedly: "Go invite Doctor Zhang to take a look."

Doctor Zhang hesitated: "Madam, it’s too early to tell, another seven or eight days are needed for certainty." Yueyao’s cycle was too early for him to be one hundred percent sure.

In the evening, An Zhichen returned and, hearing the news, immediately invited an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau to diagnose Yueyao. After feeling her pulse, the physician said: "It’s too early to tell; we have to re-evaluate after a few days for certainty." The Imperial Physician would never give an absolute assurance.

An Zhichen was overjoyed: "This means there’s a chance. Someone, handsomely reward them." Although he wasn’t biased towards having a son, he still hoped for a boy.

Yueyao laughed and repeated what Mingzhu said the other day: "I don’t want to bear twins. Imagine the ordeal Mingzhu went through having two troublemakers!"

Not only Yueyao, but even An Zhichen was anxious about it; back then, Mingzhu almost had a fatal incident with the twins: "Let’s take it one at a time, no rush." He didn’t want many, just hoping for a pair of boys would suffice.

Yueyao laughed and said, "That’s already quite a lot; you’re talking about four children. Look at the Madams across the Capital City, how many have four children?" There are several reasons why the legitimate wives can’t bear four legitimate children, and Yueyao thinks the two most significant reasons are: first, it’s difficult for the legitimate wives to gain the husband’s affection; second, childbirth is hard on women. Every year, many women die in childbirth.

An Zhichen quickly brought up Zhuang Ruolan as an example: "Cousin-in-law has already given birth to three sons and two daughters." If luck were on her side, maybe she would have more.

Four children were within Yueyao’s acceptance range, so she didn’t say much more: "Speaking of which, Uncle’s health has been deteriorating over the past two years, and he says he’ll return this year."

At the end of last year, Yueyao personally wrote a letter to Ma Peng; Ma Peng replied that he too wanted to return and was working in the Capital City, but he’d need some time. Yueyao wasn’t dissatisfied, as Uncle was only not as healthy as before, occasionally falling ill but not bedridden. Ma Peng promised to return this year and wouldn’t break his word: "I just don’t know when Cousin will return?"

An Zhichen said: "To be transferred back to the Capital City from afar requires at least a year’s preparation." The positions in the Capital are limited, and if Ma Peng wanted to return to the Capital last year, it would certainly not be a good post.

There’s another point An Zhichen didn’t mention; in the government, there’s an unspoken rule that father and son or close relatives generally wouldn’t serve as officials simultaneously. Of course, this is just a general situation."

Yueyao nodded: "I understand; it’s just that Uncle has aged significantly over the past two years, his spirit isn’t as good as before, and because of that, he’s always falling ill. Heyue, after this busy period, spend more time with Uncle, even if it’s just to keep him company for a chat."