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“Mother, why are you crying again? Is your stomach still hurting?” Dabao shouted from the doorway.
Mrs. Wang, who had already retreated to the side room, hurried over to lead Dabao away.
Chen Feng and Chu Lingxuan exchanged a smile, knowing that the little troublemaker had done it on purpose.
Feeling exhausted, Chen Feng lay down to rest. Chu Lingxuan covered her with a blanket and softly said, “You’ve been tired for so long, take a good nap.”
In Chen Feng’s mind, the image of the frantic Golden Swallow appeared again, making a fuss, “Mommy, quickly bring the little brothers into the space, I want to play… Mommy, hurry up, I’m getting anxious, so anxious I want to bang into a wall, so anxious I want to curse… Oh, I really want to play with the little brothers…”
Feeling utterly fatigued, Chen Feng drifted back into sleep.
She was awakened by the children’s cries. It was already dark outside, the room illuminated by lamps, with the two wailing children being held by the wet nurses, and Chu Lingxuan anxiously watching over them.
Seeing Chen Feng awake, Mama Li smiled and said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with the boys. They had milk from the wet nurse this morning, but ever since they had your milk, they refused to take theirs.”
Chen Feng got up, laughing as she picked up Yu, the louder crier. Strangely, as soon as Yu was in her arms, his cries stopped, and he eagerly searched for the milk, hungrily latching onto it as soon as it was in his mouth.
Since the children were still young, Chen Feng’s breast milk was enough to satisfy them both. After feeding Yu, she then fed Ming, and the two brothers lay contentedly on the small bed, gazing up at the sky.
The maids brought a small table to the bedside, laden with chicken soup, pig’s trotter soup, crucian carp soup, stir-fried pig liver, and mixed tofu. Although the dishes were light on salt, Chen Feng still ate a fair amount as she was hungry. Moreover, she needed to eat more to ensure the babies were well-fed.
After finishing her meal, Chen Feng noticed that Chu Lingxuan hadn’t left yet and asked, “Aren’t you going to rest in the outer courtyard?”
Annoyed, Chu Lingxuan replied, “My wife and son are here. Why should I go to the outer courtyard?”
“Children are noisy, I’m afraid you won’t sleep well tonight.” Chen Feng remarked.
“No problem.” Chu Lingxuan replied.
Initially planning to take the night shifts to care of Chen Feng, Mama Li was delighted to see the affection between the young couple, beaming with joy.
She thought to herself that she had always believed the previous master and his wife of the mansion to be the most loving couple, but she had been mistaken. The most loving couple was actually her own master and mistress.
On October 3rd, the Chu family hosted a lively celebration for the children’s third-day ceremony, with esteemed guests from various distinguished families in the region attending.
Typically, such celebrations didn’t require inviting so many people, a few relatives and friends would suffice. However, the old Marquis was thrilled to have welcomed two healthy grandsons and insisted on a grand affair. Although he already had a prominent grandson in the capital, the child was born from a concubine. As the old Marquis didn’t hold the second family in high regard, especially considering the child’s status as a grandson from a concubine, he couldn’t compare to the legitimate twin grandsons from the main family.
Due to the discomfort felt by Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang appearing together in front of guests, and their inability to get along with aristocratic families, Chen Ming’s family members did not attend the ceremony that day, planning to visit the children the following day.
Chen Ming felt uneasy seeing Chen Shiying and Mrs. Wang standing together under the window, both crying. To an outsider, it might seem like they were a couple. Despite understanding their concern for Feng, he found it heart-wrenching. The sight of Chen Shiying in tears made him feel a pang of sadness. A man crying so much seemed almost unmanly…
In the Chu family, apart from Chen Feng, there was no adult mistress present. Madam Jiang arrived early to oversee the female guests that day. In the Chen family, everyone except the elderly lady was present, including Chen Yuhui.
Having Chen Yuhui attend was essential not only because she had returned to normal but also because the He family members were also expected. If the younger daughter Chen Yuqing didn’t come for her niece’s ceremony while the elder daughter Chen Yuhui was present, it could lead to criticism.
Before arriving, Madam Jiang had a private word with Chen Yuhui, advising her to maintain her composure as a young woman and keep her distance from the married women of the household, suggesting that brief greetings would suffice…
Madam Jiang couldn’t be too explicit, fearing that Chen Yuhui might try to ingratiate herself and be looked down upon by the He family. The He family originally had their sights set on the legitimate daughter Chen Yuqing, so they were displeased that this illegitimate daughter had managed to attach herself in this way. On the day of the marriage proposal, Madam He and Young General He were visibly upset. If any unpleasantness arose at the Chu family, it could cause trouble for Chen Feng.
The close relations of the Fu family, Mrs. Qin, and Mrs. Liu, who got along well with Chen Feng, paid her a visit in the bedroom, while others exchanged pleasantries outside.
The three Chen sisters had been by Chen Feng’s side almost the entire time, making Chen Feng uncomfortable, especially when it came to Chen Yuhui. If it weren’t for the presence of other senior members like old lady Fu, she would have directly asked Chen Yuhui to leave.
Originally, Chen Feng felt a pang in her heart seeing Chen Yuhui’s disdainful expression, as if everyone owed her respect. However, that cheeky girl intentionally struck where it hurt, making unkind remarks, “Goodness, big sister’s belly is still so big. If it doesn’t shrink back, what will she do… These two children are so small, with wrinkled faces like old men. They look nothing like their sister and brother-in-law…”
“Second sister!” Chen Yuqing pulled her sleeve disapprovingly.
Chen Yuhui brushed off Chen Yuqing’s hand; she was intentionally provoking Chen Feng. Chen Yuhui had heard from her father how risky Chen Feng’s childbirth had been, nearly costing three lives, and how Chu Lingxuan was deeply distressed, standing under the window calling out for Feng and eventually breaking down in tears. Her father praised how well this son-in-law treated her daughter, showing great affection and loyalty.
Despite knowing that her father had also shed tears, she always thought of him as an emotionally expressive scholar, so his tears were expected. But Chu Lingxuan, who seemed as cold as ice, shedding tears for Chen Feng was surprising to her. Her grandmother had always said that Chu Lingxuan’s initial choice for marriage was her. This showed that men were fickle, even the best of men could be swayed by seduction.
She hesitated briefly. If Chen Feng had truly passed away, should she keep her word and marry He Linsheng, or should she break off the engagement again and marry Chu Lingxuan? If she had to choose whom to marry, she would prefer Chu Lingxuan. Even if it meant becoming a third wife, she was willing…
Unable to bear Chen Yuqing’s confrontational attitude, Chen Feng coldly retorted, “Little sister, even if my belly were larger, when we walk out together, I would still look much more beautiful than you.”
Mrs. Liu chuckled and pointed at Chen Feng, saying, “They say Mr. Chen is gentle and courteous, always with a smile for everyone. You’re still his daughter, how come you’re nothing like him, speaking so bluntly? Even if it’s true that you’re ‘much more beautiful,’ it’s not something you should say so bluntly.”