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Chen Feng knew she had to wait at least three months into her pregnancy before she could go to the kitchen and prepare her favorite foods. Being a food lover, she had become even more particular about her food choices and didn’t enjoy the meals prepared by the Tangyuan kitchen maids. She had Mama Hua and two other kitchen servants prepare her meals at the Fengyuan kitchen instead, mentioning that the water quality there seemed better and the food tasted more flavorful.
The old Marquis agreed wholeheartedly, as he also preferred the dishes prepared at Fengyuan, nodding in approval, “Indeed.”
In the evening, Chu Lingxuan hurried back.
Chen Feng and the others, along with Li Xuan and Chu Hanyan, were walking from Fengyuan to Tangyuan when they spotted Chu Lingxuan approaching from the Tangyuan gate.
Seeing her father, Chu Hanyan ran towards him, shouting, “Daddy, Daddy, Sister is going to have a little brother and sister! Brother said, Mom will be like Sasa and have twins at once.”
And thus, the rumor spread!
Mama Li and the others laughed again, while Chu Lingxuan was delighted to hear the news.
Approaching Chen Feng with Chu Hanyan, Chu Lingxuan smiled brightly and said, “Why aren’t you resting in the room? Why are you wandering around?”
Chen Feng replied with a smile, “It’s boring to stay in the room all day. Taking a leisurely walk outside and playing with the children lifts my spirits.”
Chu Lingxuan nodded, reaching out to assist Chen Feng but hesitated as it wasn’t appropriate in broad daylight. Instead, he withdrew his hand, touched the back of his head, and looked at Chen Feng with a cheerful smile.
Seeing him so excited and awkward, he looked like a greenhorn father for the first time.
Indeed, his joy was that of a first-time father.
Although Chu Lingxuan adored Chu Hanyan now, when he first found out about Lady Ma’s pregnancy, he wasn’t pleased at all. He felt a sense of discomfort and disgust. He harbored resentment towards the entire Ma family, including the woman who was forced upon him by Consort Ma and Princess Rong Zhao. If it weren’t for the palace women coming the next day to collect the ceremonial silk, he would never have touched Lady Ma at all.
Later, he learned that Lady Ma had been neglected and often scolded by Princess Rong Zhao for refusing to listen to his words. Caught between her disapproving natal family and her husband’s family, she was troubled, leading to poor health and eventually passing away during childbirth.
Chu Lingxuan had felt a hint of pity, but it was only fleeting. If given a second chance, he and the Chu family would still not treat her kindly. They would remain on opposing sides. She was merely a pawn used by Princess Rong Zhao and Consort Ma to disgust him and his family.
The child in Chen Feng’s belly was the long-awaited one for him.
Seeing him in military attire, drenched in sweat with his hair and clothes soaked, and hearing that he had come directly from training, she felt sorry for him. She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from his face with a handkerchief, saying, “It’s still a bit cool now. Hurry back to bathe and change clothes so you don’t catch a cold.”
Chu Lingxuan held her hand that was holding the handkerchief, reluctant to let go, and led her towards Tangyuan.
Being pregnant with his child, cherished and loved by him, Chen Feng felt it was normal and truly happy. Meanwhile, Hong Fei and the other maids blushed and followed behind with lowered heads.
Mama Li was pleased and smiling. With the Master treating Madam so well, perhaps there would be no need for a secondary maid? Finding such a good man in a noble family was indeed rare.
On the way, Chu Lingxuan regretfully said, “I rushed back as soon as I heard the good news, forgot to bring you some food. One of my subordinates mentioned that his wife, during pregnancy, loved to eat sour and spicy rice noodles from a place in Baiyang Hutong. It’s a southern dish with minced meat, soybeans, crushed peanuts, parsley, celery, and pickled vegetables, both spicy and sour, very appetizing.”
Hearing this, Chen Feng’s mouth watered uncontrollably, feeling a strong craving. She pouted and teased, “You didn’t bring it back, why describe it in such detail? Are you intentionally teasing me?”
Hearing the sound of her swallowing saliva, Chu Lingxuan quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll have Chu Huai return to the capital to buy it. When he returns, the city guards will open the gates for him, and as soon as that shop opens tomorrow, he’ll bring it back for you.”
Craving the delicious sour and spicy rice noodles, Chen Feng was eager to indulge. She nodded in agreement, and Chu Lingxuan immediately arranged for Chu Huai to return to the capital and buy the noodles from the place Liu Jiangjun had recommended.
While Chu Lingxuan was bathing, Dabao finished school and went straight to Yanxiang Pavilion. After greeting Chu Hanyan and Little Xuan playing in the courtyard, he entered the main room.
Approaching Chen Feng, he asked, “Sister said Daddy is back?”
Chen Feng nodded.
He then earnestly said, “Mother, since you’re having a little brother or sister, Father shouldn’t share a bed with you.”
This made Chen Feng a bit upset, retorting, “You’re just a child, why worry about such things?”
Dabao explained, “Mama Li said you’re delicate now and should be careful not to be touched or bumped. If Father moves around in his sleep and accidentally touches you, what would happen? You’ve said I kick and punch in my sleep, I’m afraid Father might do the same and harm the baby.”
Understanding his concern, Chen Feng chuckled and reassured him, “Your father is an adult, he won’t move around while asleep.”
Dabao persisted, “But haven’t you said ‘better safe than sorry’? What if he moves unknowingly? Our house isn’t like those in the village, why do we have to squeeze together?”
Seeing him so flustered, Chen Feng couldn’t help but laugh. She felt the mischievous boy was intentionally causing trouble for Chu Lingxuan, yet he argued confidently.
Autumn, familiar with Chen Feng and Dabao, chuckled without reservation.
As Chu Lingxuan emerged, he pursed his lips. If this young master wasn’t the 11th prince, he would’ve swatted his backside for causing a commotion. He had rushed back from afar just to sleep next to his pleasantly scented wife.
Addressing Dabao seriously, he said, “Finished school? Tonight, Dad will review your studies to see if you’ve made progress in recent days.”
Afterward, he presented Dabao with his six-year-old birthday gift. Chu Lingxuan had missed celebrating his birthday with him on the 2nd of March due to prior engagements.
Taking the gift, Dabao pouted slightly. It seemed like he held the authority to determine his progress, didn’t it?
After dinner, Chu Lingxuan took Dabao to review his studies in Energetic Courtyard directly. Meanwhile, Chen Feng settled Li Xuan for bed in the east wing, feeling tired. She washed up and rested in bed.
Feeling a slight disturbance, she opened her eyes to see Chu Lingxuan returning.
Sitting on the bed, he said, “Scoot over, I’ll sleep on the outer side.”
Chen Feng moved over and remembered Mama Li’s advice, turning to him, “Lingxuan, I can’t attend to you for a while. Have you taken a liking to any maids?”