Extra 3-11: Do whatever you want

Tao Sheng had no issue with raising children. Even before she confessed her feelings to Ji Yanming, she had always had a clear goal: work hard, save money, find a partner, and have children to care for Mr. Ji, who might otherwise grow old alone.

After the physician’s diagnosis, Tao Sheng felt she had achieved something big in life. The only downside was that this era didn’t accommodate pregnant women well. With so much attention on her, she often found it hard to move freely, and her career hit a pause.

Still, she thought that having twins was more complete, solving two problems at once. She marveled at Ji’s prowess and gave a thumbs-up to the child she hadn’t yet met.

One day, while returning with Zhang Xinyue from praying for amulets, they heard that Marquis Changle had arrived.

The Changle Li family was well-respected. Lord Li had been favored by the late emperor and remained influential even when Xiao Ze was struggling, so he was still in a good position now.

Tao Sheng found it odd, as the Luo and Ji families had little connection with the Changle Marquis, so why had he come?

Upon entering the house, she saw not just Marquis Changle but two beautiful young women.

Tao Sheng was briefly stunned.

Marquis Changle stood up and said with a smile, “These two maids were bought by my wife, but I’m too old to enjoy their company. It would be a shame to keep them hidden at home. Please, Lord Luo, accept them.”

He hadn’t just come to visit but also to deliver these women.

Tao Sheng refused several times, but he insisted.

Feeling uneasy, Tao Sheng asked, “My Lord, why would you come to my house with such a generous gift? I can’t accept it unless you explain.”

Marquis Changle nodded.

He understood that Lord Luo, being cautious, wouldn’t accept anything without reason.

Lowering his voice, Marquis Changle whispered to Tao Sheng: “This was actually your majesty’s idea.”

While inspecting the capital today, Xiao Ze had visited his farm and, upon seeing the two maids, asked that they be sent to serve.

It seemed the two maids bought by these ladies were very good. The emperor kept looking at them while drinking tea.

Marquis Changle was happy. The mourning period had just ended, and the emperor hadn’t taken in new concubines yet. If these two maids became the emperor’s first new concubines and were favored, Changle’s position would be secure in the dynasty.

Changle Hou ^[1]refers to Marquis Changle. told Xiao Ze about the maids’ good qualities: they were gentle, attractive, skilled at sewing, and good at serving tea. He suggested if the emperor liked them, he should take them. Even if they just worked in the palace doing chores, it would be good.

Xiao Ze shook his head: “It’s a waste for such good girls to be palace maids.”

Marquis Changle was even happier. The emperor didn’t want them for palace chores, but perhaps to become concubines.

Then Xiao Ze said, “In that case, send them to Lord Luo. The imperial physician said pregnant women need to be around relaxing, pleasing things. These maids are delicate, not overly coquettish, and skilled at tea-making. They’re good for her now.”

Changle Hou understood. The emperor liked these maids but wasn’t keeping them for himself; they were for Lord Luo. Since the emperor favored Lord Luo, pleasing her would also please the emperor.

Changle agreed happily. 

Tao Sheng didn’t know what had happened, but when she heard that the maids were sent by Xiao Ze, she accepted the gift.

That afternoon, Tao Sheng went with Luo Xin to visit her aunt. When she returned, the maids were gone. Qing Xing explained that Ji Yanming had heard about it and sent the maids back to Changle Marquis’ Mansion.

Tao Sheng was puzzled: “Why would my cousin care about this?”

She always thought Ji Yanming didn’t care about gift exchanges between families.

The wet nurse, Madam Zhou, approached with a serious look. “I have something to say, but I’m not sure if I should.”

“Go ahead,” Tao Sheng said.

Mother Zhou said, “Ji Yanming is a rare talent. The emperor trusts him, and officials respect him. But now, there’s only one girl in his room, and she’s pregnant. He has no maid. If others hear about it, they’ll talk.”

Tao Sheng still didn’t understand, so she asked, “Can you explain it more clearly?”

Mother Zhou said, “I heard Master Yueji and Prince Huan went to Changle Marquis’ mansion last year. These maids probably caught Ji Yanming’s eye back then. Changle Marquis sent them to you, but they were actually for him. He said they were for you because he didn’t want you to be upset. The emperor must have known and helped cover it up. Men are all the same at times like this.”

Tao Sheng felt something was off and replied, “But why did my cousin send them away?”

“Maybe Ji Yanming didn’t expect Changle Marquis to send them to him and feared you’d find out, so he sent them back quickly.”

Tao Sheng: …

She knew Xiao Ze wasn’t the type to beat around the bush. And Ji Yanming, who had been in politics for years and never took concubines, wouldn’t suddenly do something so messy.

Tao Sheng got up to talk to Ji Yanming, but Madam Zhou stopped her. “Don’t be too direct. You should ask him tactfully. I know you care about him, but it’s wrong that Ji Yanming has no maid. You should consider picking someone for him to avoid people criticizing you.”

Tao Sheng rolled her eyes. “Where did you get these ideas?”

She wanted to talk to Ji Yanming to clarify the matter, not start a fight. “Wait outside. I’ll go talk to him.”

Mother Zhou sighed and stayed outside, worried. Lian Chuan asked, “What’s wrong with her? Is Madam upset?”

Mother Zhou didn’t know how to explain, so she just said, “Let’s wait and see.”

Ji Yanming had returned from the western suburbs camp that day. He was resting after a bath, his collar half-open, and his hair slightly wet.

When Tao Sheng entered, she saw him resting like that, and she couldn’t help but feel a rush of emotions.

She sat next to him and began playing with his belt. “Marquis Changle sent two maids today.”

“I know.”

“I heard you sent them back?”

“Yes, I asked Tiandong to return them.”

Tao Sheng stopped and asked, “Why did you send them back?”

“The cousin of the wife of Marquis Changle is related to the Shen family, so the maids were actually for him.”

“But the Marquis Changle and his wife have always been careful, so they shouldn’t…”

She was talking about Ji Yanming and Tao Sheng’s distant relatives, the Shen family.

“Tao Sheng.” Ji Yanming softly called her name, “You’re in a delicate state now, and your energy isn’t what it used to be. You should avoid these things.”

Even now, Ji Yanming’s spies were reporting that the Shen family still planned to add Tao Sheng to their family tree and let Luo Xin move back to the Wenyuan Marquis’s Mansion. While the Marquis of Changle and his wife seemed unconnected to the Shen family, Ji Yanming was concerned about potential problems and foolish actions from others.

Tao Sheng remembered that last month, Ji Yanming had sent away a gardener.

“Was the gardener you sent away last month, because of the orchids, connected to the Shen family?”

“No,” Ji Yanming said, “He has nothing to do with them. It’s just that my cousin used to work in Duke Ling’s mansion.”

Tao Sheng was surprised. “You haven’t checked everyone around me, have you?”

Ji Yanming responded, “I have.”

Thinking about it, Tao Sheng remembered all that Ji Yanming had done for her, from the Amber situation in the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion to protecting her from Prince Rui’s ill intentions, and even helping her in the court. All these efforts allowed her to move forward smoothly.

She felt warm and kissed him.

Ji Yanming allowed the kiss for a while before kissing her back.

“I remember the imperial physician said the next four to six months are the most stable period.”

Tao Sheng, dizzy from the kiss, asked, “What do you want to do?”

Ji Yanming gently pressed his fingers against her head, then kissed her eyes.

“Do what I want to do.”

Lian Chuan waited outside, a little nervous. After all, the last time Lord Xie Huaian’s wife was pregnant, she had pulled his master aside to talk for a long time about how difficult it was to care for a pregnant woman, often throwing tantrums. He thought it was best to be careful.

But now, there was only a sense of love in the room.

He finally felt at ease.

He knew Tao Sheng was no ordinary woman—gentle, polite, and good with Lord Ji.