Font Size:
Chen Feng began telling the story, sitting cross-legged on the bed with the two children listening attentively. The story was the well-known “Magic Brush Ma Liang,” which the children loved, their eyes wide with excitement.
Chu Lingxuan’s eyes were also wide open, completely absorbed in watching Chen Feng. It was rare to see him so captivated, especially in front of the children.
After telling the story once, she was requested to tell it again, then a third time. She shook her head, “No, it’s already late, and your Father needs to get up early for work tomorrow. In the future, I will turn this story into a picture book for you to enjoy slowly.” With that, she got off the bed, ready to carry Chu Hanyan to the kang bed for sleep.
Dabao quickly stood up to hug his mother for a kiss, saying, “Mother, kiss your son. It’s been a while, give me more kisses.”
Chen Feng smiled, kissed Dabao’s cheeks all around, up and down, left and right. Dabao did the same, returning kisses to Chen Feng all around.
Seeing this, Chu Hanyan called out, “Mother, I want kisses too, I want kisses too.”
Chen Feng then hugged her and kissed her cheeks all around, and Chu Hanyan returned the kisses.
Chu Lingxuan, furrowing his brows, asked, “Feng, what are you all doing?”
Chen Feng chuckled but didn’t say a word.
Dabao, with a big grin, joked, “Father is jealous, Father is jealous.”
Chu Hanyan quickly hugged her father’s neck and gave him two kisses, reassuring him, “Father, you’re not jealous. Hanyan will kiss you.” She then called out to Dabao, “Come on, give Father a kiss. If we all kiss him, Father won’t be jealous anymore.”
The little girl was quite clever at times.
Although feeling a bit embarrassed, Dabao agreed with the reasoning and leaned in to give Chu Lingxuan a couple of kisses.
Chen Feng smiled and said to Chu Lingxuan, “They both kissed you, so you should kiss them back.” She wanted Chu Lingxuan and Chen Dabao to have a closer relationship.
Reluctantly, Chu Lingxuan returned two kisses to the children, feeling a bit embarrassed.
The little girl protested, “No, you have to kiss all around.”
After some playful moments, Chen Feng finally carried Chu Hanyan away.
The next day at the hour of the Tiger (Around 3-5 AM), Chen Feng was awakened by Hong Fei. She had instructed Hong Fei the night before to wake her up if Lingxuan was up and she was still asleep.
As a wife, she felt it was her duty to see her husband off to work.
Breakfast was already set in the west room. After Chu Lingxuan finished his meal, Chen Feng escorted him out of the Yanxiang Pavilion.
Seeing no one around, Chu Lingxuan gave her a quick kiss and whispered, “You mustn’t be soft-hearted. Today, make sure Dabao and Hanyan go back to their courtyard to rest.”
Chen Feng chuckled, “Got it.”
Chu Lingxuan added, “When you go to the Yingshuan Monastery, help me apologize to Mother, and I’ll visit her another day. I heard that Master Wuzhi isn’t at the temple, so don’t go to Lingyin Temple to see him.”
Perplexed by how Chu Lingxuan knew about Master Wuzhi’s absence, Chen Feng agreed, “Alright.” She then cautioned him, “It’s still dark outside, so be careful on the road.”
Chu Lingxuan nodded, turned, and walked towards the outer courtyard, disappearing into the thick darkness.
Chen Feng gazed at the morning star in the sky, twinkling brightly.
With the hour still early, she considered joining Mrs. Zeng in Fengyuan to make vegetarian snacks for Abbess Liao Chen, but her fatigue overtook her. With a yawn, she returned to the kang bed for a short nap.
Since there was an oven in Fengyuan for making snacks and the well water was scented with Agarwood bark, Chen Feng asked Summer to take Mama Hua to Fengyuan early to prepare the snacks. Mama Hua was skilled in cooking and made excellent snacks.
As Chen Feng dozed off peacefully, Mrs. Li came to wake her, “Madam, it’s time to get up.”
Chen Feng turned over but drifted back to sleep.
Mrs. Li continued, “Madam, you have to go to Yingshuan Monastery today.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng reluctantly got up, but her eyes remained shut. Muttering, “So tired, don’t want to get up.”
Observing Chen Feng’s reluctance, Mrs. Li thought of a possibility and chuckled, “Madam, today is the 25th, and your cycle hasn’t arrived yet. Could it be?”
Realizing this, Chen Feng suddenly woke up. Indeed, she should have started her cycle on the 25th, but amidst her busy schedule, she had forgotten. It was already the 29th, delayed by four days. However, such a short delay wasn’t necessarily significant.
She remarked, “Just four days, it might not be.” Yet, she secretly hoped it was.
Mrs. Li advised, “Regardless, Madam needs to be cautious. Today, when riding the carriage, ensure the seat is thick, and the pace is slow. Pay attention to everything that needs attention.” If it were any other matter, Mrs. Li would advise against going, especially at this crucial time when it’s best to avoid riding in a carriage. However, visiting the Mother-in-law was a different story.
Chen Feng nodded in agreement.
Looking at the rosy-cheeked Chu Hanyan sleeping beside her, she pinched her little nose and smiled, “Hanyan, time to wake up. We’re going to see Grandmother today.”
Upon hearing about visiting her Grandmother, Chu Hanyan instantly perked up, seeing her mother sitting beside her made her even happier. Sitting up, she exclaimed, “I slept with Mother last night. Mother smells nice, it’s lovely.”
The attendants helped them dress, and Dabao, who was still in bed, was called by Summer and dressed as well.
They all headed to the west room for breakfast, where the Golden Swallow was dining with Qiqi and Gray on a large plate. The snacks were prepared by Mama Hua that morning, and aside from the ones for the master of Tangyuan, some were packed to take to Yingshuan Monastery and a few to Luyuan.
Prepared, Chen Feng and her group left the upper room. Next to the west wing was a small house, the home of Zhui Feng’s family. Sasa was lying by the door, feeding both Chang and Duan in its embrace while Zhui Feng watched them gently.
Thinking ahead, if she were truly pregnant, Chen Feng decided she should keep her distance from the pets, except for the Golden Swallow. She instructed the servants to temporarily move Zhui Feng’s family to Dabao’s courtyard and relocate Qiqi and Gray’s nest to Hanyan’s courtyard.
She left Autumn behind, in case Li Xuan got restless, Autumn could take him to Fengyuan to play.
After bidding farewell to the pets, they proceeded to the outer courtyard. Dabao went straight to his study room for his lessons, while Chen Feng and Chu Hanyan boarded the carriage.
With extra cushioning on the seat, Mrs. Li instructed the coachman to drive slowly, ensuring Madam wasn’t jostled.
Due to the slow pace, they arrived at Yingshuan Monastery near noon. Chen Feng paid respects to Abbess Liao Chen, presented the vegetarian foods, clothes and shoes she had made herself.
Abbess Liao Chen returned the gesture by gifting Chen Feng a string of sandalwood prayer beads blessed by the Master at Lingyin Temple. Concerned by Chen Feng’s complexion, Abbess Liao Chen hesitated, “It seems like a slippery pulse, but not quite.”
Blushing, Chen Feng explained that her cycle was delayed by four days.