Chapter 683 - Younger Brother-in-law
Although her youngest daughter was now married, the two residences weren’t far from each other so if anything came up it’d be easy for them to get in contact. Madam Liu made the quick decision to stay in the capital. The stewards in Tanggu were all experienced, so only Yu Hai and her eldest son needed to go back to keep an eye on things. She could peacefully stay by her daughter-in-law’s side and wait for her eldest grandson to be born!
Yu Xiaocao watched as Xiaolian repeatedly congratulated their eldest sister-in-law and smiled, “Xiaolian, should I take your pulse too ah?”
Xiaolian immediately blushed a bright red and repeatedly waved her hands, “No need, no need...I just changed!”
In actuality, Xiaolian was quite looking forward to having children. Zhuang Xiaomo was an orphan and she knew that he thirsted even more than she did for affection. Thus, no matter how busy their seafood wholesale business got, he always carved out the time to accompany her. If they had a small baby linking them even closer together, wouldn’t he be incredibly happy ah?
Madam Liu was so happy that her mouth was cracked wide open. When she heard that, she persuaded her eldest daughter, “Have your younger sister take a peek. Xiaomo isn’t getting any younger and it is the right time for him to start having children to keep the family line going ah! Your younger sister must have some good prescriptions for fertility and nourishing the body. Once your body is healthy and strong, would you need to worry about getting pregnant ah?”
Xiaolian obediently stretched out her hand after hearing her mother’s words, allowing Xiaocao to take her pulse. Although Xiaolian’s body had been deficient in nutrients when she was young, she had been nourished over many years with mystic-stone water and had long recouped all that she needed. However, Xiaocao still warned her, “I know your family business is busy but you need to take care of yourself. Haven’t you been training a few maidservants to be your assistants? There’s no need to do everything yourself!”
In the past half year, her husband’s business had been booming and he couldn’t handle it all by himself. Thus, Xiaolian also became busy and was exhausted at the end of every day. After hearing her younger sister’s warning, she asked somewhat anxiously, “Is my body okay ah? Will I have trouble getting pregnant…”
“Child, what nonsense are you saying? Don’t you have your younger sister here? She was even able to cure the infertility problem of the heir to Marquis Dingyuan’s Household. What do you need to be afraid of now?” The smile on Madam Liu’s face gradually disappeared and a tone of anxiety was added onto her voice.
“Don’t worry about it and scare yourself needlessly! Your body is quite healthy; it’s just that you’ve been more tired lately! I’ll give you two prescriptions to nourish your body. After drinking them for a month, you should be fine! However, while you’re taking the medicine, you can’t have any intimate time with Older Brother Xiaomo…” Yu Xiaocao didn't bring her medicine box along for this visit so she sent Yingchun back to get it.
In actuality, Xiaolian’s condition was quite serious. Although her body had slowly recovered throughout these years, she had been poorly nourished when she was young. After being married for half a year, she didn’t have more mystic-stone water to strengthen her and spent a lot of energy in managing her husband’s business. If it had been any other doctor treating her, they would have said a lot and cautioned her that she’d need to rest and nourish herself for half a year.
None of this, however, was a problem to Xiaocao. All of the medicines in her box had been infused with spiritual energy, so after drinking a few prescriptions, everything would be fine. However, she still planned on privately talking to Zhuang Xiaomo. The maidens of the Yu Family weren’t married over to work until they were tired to the bone. Why should they work like a man?
The kitchen followed Xiaocao’s instructions and sent a goblet full of medicinal cuisine over. Liu Huifang sniffed lightly at the faintly fragrant medicinal congee and didn’t have a bad reaction to it. She frowned as she took a small spoonful and placed it into her mouth. Eh? The taste was quite good. She ate a few more spoonfuls and didn’t feel the desire to vomit come up. After finishing a whole goblet of medicinal congee, Liu Huifang felt warm and comfortable. Then, a feeling of something moving occurred in her abdomen. Was that the baby moving around? She held her little bump as a maternal glow seemed to come off of her body.
The news that Yu Hang’s wife was able to eat something had transmitted to the outer courtyard. Yu Hang was delighted beyond measure and the smile on his face almost reached the back of his face——this was definitely the product of his younger sister’s hard work, so now he didn’t need to worry anymore! Little Shitou decided to be merciful to Zhu Junyang on account of him almost becoming an uncle and no longer treated him with disdain.
Yu Xiaocao had lunch in the inner courtyard and sat around afterwards to talk a bit. Before long, word came from the outer courtyard that it was getting late and time for her to head back. Madam Liu reluctantly escorted her daughter to the second gate as tears flowed down her eyes.
She wasn’t sure the next time she would be able to see her daughter after she left. Madam Liu truly missed her.
Xiaocao hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe her mother’s tears. She gently hugged her mother and softly said, “Mother, don’t worry ah! His Highness treats me very well. We currently live on our own and I am the only mistress in the house. If you miss me, I’ll come over a few times to visit!”
Madam Liu stopped her tears after hearing this. Lady Fang, however, interjected, “That’s not okay! After all, you are a married woman now and can’t always run back to your maternal home. If other people see this, what would they think?”
“Then...if you two miss me, come over to Imperial Prince Xu’s Estate to visit! There are so many empty rooms in the estate, so pick any one to stay in!” Yu Xiaocao hurriedly said.
Madam Liu gave her a look and said, “Our two residences are so close to each other, so it’s not proper for me to live at your place. That being said, your eldest sister-in-law is pregnant and as her mother-in-law, what would people say if they saw me abandoning her while living at your residence?”
“Then bring Eldest Sister-in-law along with you. I can personally make her some medicinal food to help her and then you won’t need to be worried about her and your future grandson!” Yu Xiaocao wasn't just saying that to be nice. Although her husband had already resigned from being the army commander of Xishan Barracks, he was still in charge of the firearms camp! She was pretty sure after his vacation for his wedding ended, he’d have to go back there and work early and come back late. He might even stay there for several days in a row. With only her around in the giant estate, wouldn’t it be boring? If her mother and eldest sister-in-law could frequently visit, then it’d be pretty swell for her!
Madam Liu felt quite tempted by this idea. Although her daughter-in-law was able to eat without puking today, she had truly thinned out too much recently and really needed to nourish herself back to a healthy weight. If her daughter could personally make some medicinal cuisine for her daughter-in-law, that’d be the best scenario…
At this time, Liu Huifang interjected, “Am I that delicate ah? I’m only pregnant, so do I need to live at the prince’s estate and have Princess Consort Xu herself make food for me? In our village, there are plenty of pregnant matrons doing work in the fields. Some of them work up until they give birth! How did I become so delicate now? Mother, my body is fine, so let’s not bother my younger sister too much! That being said, Younger Sister is a newlywed; it’s not right for us to disturb them at this time!”
Zhu Junyang, who was waiting outside the inner gate to escort his wife, heard her words and inwardly nodded his head a few times. He and his wife were right in the midst of their lovey-dovey period and he definitely didn’t want other people butting their heads in, especially that younger brother-in-law of his, who was standing right next to him. As soon as that fellow heard that his wife had invited Madam Liu to live at their estate, his eyes immediately lit up. Even a blind person could tell what thoughts were running through that brat’s head.
How could he allow a clingy little brother-in-law to invade his territory?? Men were similar to beasts in many ways and they all had their own territories and guarded them fiercely. This was especially true of newly married men. They absolutely didn’t want anyone to break their couple’s bliss.
Little Shitou angrily glared at the man next to him, ‘I naturally want to visit my second sister’s house, especially since I’m her younger brother!’
Zhu Junyang stared back, ‘Your second sister is my princess consort first and your older sister second. Remember that!’
Only now did Xiaocao, who had been conversing with her mother and godmother, sense the raging tension between the two men, one big and one small, in front of her. They were standing solemnly in front of her and staring at each other with serious looks. It looked like invisible daggers were flying in-between them as they conversed silently.
“Are you two——using your eyes to express your affections for each other?” Yu Xiaocao knew that her younger brother was deliberately picking on her husband and couldn’t help but crack a joke.
“Wife…”
“Second Sister——”
Who would want to exchange affections with this guy?! The two of them looked away as their hearts moved in one.
Little Shitou had only seen his second sister when she had just entered the residence and hadn’t had the chance to properly talk to her. Thus, he naturally didn’t have the time to deal with his brother-in-law anymore. He scurried over to his older sister’s side and pulled on her sleeve a couple of times. He even deliberately raised an eyebrow at Zhu Junyang.
Yu Xiaocao originally wanted to ruffle her younger brother’s hair like she always did when they were younger but discovered that he was now taller than her. She could only pat at his shoulder as she smiled, “Before I realized it, my younger brother has grown up to be a young man. What sort of things did you talk about with your second brother-in-law earlier?”
Little Shitou grinned at her winsomely and said, “We didn’t say much; I only urged him to treat you well...Second Sister, take good care of yourself and don’t let yourself get too tired. My master said that he plans on having me stay in the capital in the future to get used to the official circles. With me around, if you need any help from me, please ask. Also, you need to visit me often as I’ll miss you!” As he spoke, the rims of his eyes turned red.
Zhu Junyang fumed at the side. This stinky brat knew how to act cute and obedient in front of his wife. That wasn’t the topic of the conversation at all! What he actually said was more along the lines of: “My second sister is such a wonderful person but, in the end, she was stolen away by a certain someone!” and “My second sister once said that her husband must be loyal and cannot take any concubines let alone any side consorts! Otherwise, she’s willing to divorce her husband!” and “If you dare to bully my second sister, I will make sure to take my sister back and I don’t care about the fact that you're an imperial prince and favored official!”
This stinky brat, how could he possibly think that he, Zhu Junyang, had the desire to take in any concubines? He married his wife so he naturally had to treat her well. Bullying her was not something that had ever crossed his mind. That stinky brat was just hoping for things not to go well between them! His hints at ‘bringing my older sister back home’ were clearly just him being sour about his sister marrying someone, right? Hmph! Since his second sister had married into his estate, she was naturally now a part of his family. If he wanted to take her back, it’d be a no go! Not a single window would be left open for that brat!
The grievances Zhu Junyang held towards his younger brother-in-law naturally couldn’t be completely hidden. Yu Xiaocao was already used to the two of them not seeing eye to eye, so she ignored it. She first needed to comfort her younger brother as he was going to be participating in the court exams this next month. Doing well was the most important thing now!
“As the older brother-in-law, you’re older than my younger brother by a few years, so how can you lower yourself to his level and squabble like a child? You’re truly getting worse and worse with age!” Yu Xiaocao gave a sidelong look before turning back to Little Shitou, “If your second brother-in-law tries to bully you, make sure to tell me. I’ll have your back!”
If Little Shitou had a tail right now, it would be raised up, pointing to the sky. Hmph, Second Sister truly still loved him the most. His older brother-in-law could only stand at the side now!