Chapter 1091: Chapter 1081: Childbirth (3)
"Me?" Qin Yuanfeng hesitated for a moment, looking at the sapphire-colored swaddle, then at his own hands, his face unmistakably showing two words: Timid!
Xiqiu leaned forward again, Qin Yuanfeng extended his hands, and Xiqiu taught him how to cradle. He awkwardly formed a circle, allowing Xiqiu to place the swaddle onto his arm, not daring to move.
"Don’t be afraid." Xiqiu exchanged a glance with Ruan Jingliu, the former couldn’t help but laugh, while the latter had a disdainful look.
Qin Yuanfeng finally shuffled his steps forward, his gaze fell on the newborn son, looking like a red-faced monkey, quite unattractive. He glanced at Ruan Jingliu and asked, "Is this...really my son?" So ugly.
Ruan Jingliu frowned, coldly responded, "If you don’t acknowledge him, then he will take my surname tomorrow."
"No." Qin Yuanfeng waved his hands, causing the child to tremble along with his movement, Qin Yuanfeng broke out in a cold sweat, realizing holding a child is harder than wielding a sword: "I acknowledge, I acknowledge!" He lowered his head to speak to his son, "Son, I..." He pondered what to say, thought for a moment and opened his mouth, "I am your father."
Xiqiu couldn’t hold back her laughter, and Ruan Jingliu, seeing his awkwardness, also smiled.
Suddenly, the child in the crook of his arm began to cry, Qin Yuanfeng was startled as if he might throw the swaddle out. Xiqiu laughed and said, "Maybe he’s hungry, let Sister Jingliu try feeding him."
"Oh." Qin Yuanfeng placed the child beside Ruan Jingliu, there were no outsiders in the room, Ruan Jingliu reached to untie her clothes, and Qin Yuanfeng realized that Ruan Jingliu was going to feed the baby herself, causing him to stutter as the blood rushed to his face, "Didn’t they hire a wet nurse?"
Ruan Jingliu glared at him, "Quickly go out." With him there, she was embarrassed to expose herself.
Qin Yuanfeng never benefited in this aspect, he hung his head and retreated out obediently.
Xiqiu helped Ruan Jingliu untie her blouse, cradling the child’s head. The baby seemed instinctively able to suckle, holding the nipple and sucking away merrily.
Unable to get milk, the child cried again, Ruan Jingliu showed a helpless expression, "Let the wet nurse try." Xiqiu held the child reassuringly, "Keep trying and soon there will be milk." Still, they called in the wet nurse.
"You should sleep for a while." Xiqiu tucked the blanket around her, Ruan Jingliu nodded, just about to speak when a sharp voice suddenly intruded from outside, "Second brother, how come no one notified me when sister-in-law was giving birth? I have experience and could lend a hand." The tone undisguisedly ingratiating.
Xiqiu looked at Ruan Jingliu, who coldly laughed, "Ever since the power of managing the household fell into Yuanfeng’s hands, she visits even more frequently. I ignore her, and she can sit in a room all day alone."
Xiqiu sighed, the Qin Family’s First Young Madam indeed knows how to handle matters.
Ruan Jingliu lay down, she exited the room and saw the First Young Madam commanding maids to move items, box after box being carried inside, she smiled and said, "It’s always said that the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, how can the younger sister-in-law manage the confinement alone? Happily, I’m free during this period, so I’ll just move in to help you." She then pointed to the room on the right, "Just place it here on the right, it’s closer and convenient for care." Acting as if she was the head of the household.
Qin Yuanfeng wore a sullen face but was unwilling to argue with a woman, he waved for a servant, "Go invite the big brother over." He didn’t pay any mind to the First Young Madam.
The First Young Madam was taken aback, asking, "Why invite him?" Qin Yuanfeng replied with a stern face, "Big sister-in-law is so considerate of us, naturally, I cannot tire big brother out. There’s a lot of work at the Yangzhou store, big brother alone can’t manage, I might as well take it back and let him relax."
The First Young Madam’s face changed color, standing there awkwardly, her eyes rolling several times before she suddenly saw Xiqiu come out. She quickly greeted with a smile, "You must be Fourth Madam." She bowed to Xiqiu, "I often hear sister-in-law mentioning you, finally meeting you today." She continued, "Fourth Madam, you’re truly youthful and so beautiful, impossible to tell you’re a mother of three."
Xiqiu smiled at her, "First Young Madam is too kind." She then said to Qin Yuanfeng, "Fourth Master is still waiting for me outside, I shall return for now, will come back tomorrow. If you need anything, just send a maid."
Qin Yuanfeng repeatedly agreed, saying, "Much obliged." Leaving First Young Madam alone on one side.
Xiqiu gave a slight nod to both of them, taking Nanny Cen and Bihuai and leaving the courtyard.
First Young Madam didn’t know whether to advance or retreat, glanced towards the room, clenched her teeth and lifted the curtain to enter. Before her foot stepped inside, Ruan Jingliu’s icy voice came from within, "Since there’s no one managing the household these few days, you must keep the gate closed. If anyone comes, turn them away, if unrelated people show up, kick them out."
This was not giving orders to the maids, but essentially speaking to her.
First Young Madam snorted coldly, letting the curtain drop with a swoosh.
Xiqiu went to the outer courtyard of the Qin Mansion, Fourth Master Xiao was already waiting at the second gate, upon seeing him, Xiqiu smiled and said, "Why aren’t you resting at home?" As they walked side by side, Xiqiu asked, "I heard the Emperor has awakened, is there no major harm?"
Fourth Master Xiao personally helped her onto the carriage. The servants of the Qin Mansion weren’t surprised, as their master was even less reserved than Fourth Master Xiao, wishing to place his wife on a pedestal.
Watching the Xiao Mansion’s carriage slowly leave, they sighed inwardly, Xiqiu and Ruan Jingliu, these non-biological sisters, both found good matches in marriage, their husbands either wealthy or noble, yet not ostentatious and extremely considerate.
Xiqiu sat in the carriage with Fourth Master Xiao, she quietly asked, "The Second Prince’s fief is in Shanxi, was it his own choice?" Fourth Master Xiao slightly nodded, "Yes, he took the late Emperor’s Imperial Decree and requested the Emperor to grant him Shanxi. The Emperor didn’t ask much and had Chief Chang draft the decree." He agreed straightforwardly.
Xiqiu never thought that the Second Prince would use the late Emperor’s Imperial Decree to ask the Emperor, this wasn’t asking but clearly blackmailing.
How could the Emperor possibly tolerate this!
"So, has it been decided when the two Princes will go to the border land?"
Fourth Master Xiao’s lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile, faintly said, "Nothing has been decided." Not only has nothing been decided, but it seems to be indefinitely postponed.
Indeed, threatening the Emperor has led the Second Prince to completely lose favor. Although the Emperor granted him the title and fief, he didn’t specify when he could go there. If he remains in the Capital like this, even if the Second Prince has grand ambitions, he wouldn’t stand a chance under the Emperor’s watchful eye.
It’s like a hungry person drawing a cake to appease hunger, merely an empty honorary title of a Prince.
Wondering what kind of reaction the Second Prince will have once he understands the Emperor’s intention.
Xiqiu pondered for a moment, "I see this time the Emperor seems not sick but rather..." as if intentionally testing his sons.
Fourth Master Xiao didn’t deny it, only said, "The camps have already been withdrawn."
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