Chapter 41: The Second House (Part 3)

Bai Jing Yu suppressed the resentment in her heart and, with a concerned expression, asked Xu Jun Lang about Xiang Rui’s condition. Xu Jun Lang said that the several servant women in the lady’s courtyard were watching over her, and a doctor had been called. The doctor said that she had experienced a miscarriage, and a midwife was on her way. When he passed by the Feng yuan (Fragrance Courtyard), Xiang Rui was in unbearable pain, and although it wasn’t her due time, it seemed she had to give birth.

Bai Jing Yu instructed Xiang Xue to call over a midwife from the courtyard and find some experienced servant women to help. She also had some silver sent over as a reward for the helpers. Afterward, Xiang Xue went to arrange the women, and when she returned, she poured Xu Jun Lang another cup of hot tea and helped him remove his official attire, replacing it with a soft satin robe. Xu Jun Lang no longer wore his serious expression and looked more relaxed.

After a while, lunch was served. The little maids entered and arranged the dishes, bringing hot water to wash their hands and faces. Xiang Xue carefully served Bai Jing Yu and Xu Jun Lang as they ate lunch. Bai Jing Yu moved a plate of fragrant duck to Xu Jun Lang’s side, smiling as she said, “You must be starving after such a busy morning? I remember when we first married, we loved eating this dish. These days, I can’t eat duck because of my medicine, but I had them make it every day, hoping you’d come. Please try some!”

Xu Jun Lang responded, “Duck is a warming food. You’re sick; you shouldn’t even touch it! Here, try this chicken wing and clear-braised catfish. This is the fish eye, your favorite!”

Bai Jing Yu’s eyes reddened, “You still remember I love fish eyes…”

Xu Jun Lang looked up at her, “What’s wrong? I remember all your likes. We’ve been married for years, and that love isn’t going anywhere!”

Bai Jing Yu wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, “With you saying this, all my hardships over the years are worth it. Even if I die, I’d die content! If you marry someone else in the future, just treat my Lian’er well, and that’s all that matters.”

Xu Jun Lang’s face darkened, “What nonsense are you talking? You’re fine, why would I marry someone else? When Mother arranged for us to marry, she said you were not only beautiful but also very capable. You’ve done so much for the family over the years, and it’s all in my heart. You’re a noblewoman from a good family, far better than the first wife of the elder branch. I’m not the eldest son who must listen to the grandmother’s arrangements to marry another wife… I have only one wife, and I’ll never take another concubine. Xiang Rui and Xiang Xue are your people. If they have children and you like them, you can take them under your name. They can be raised as secondary wives for the sake of the children. I would never be as foolish as the old master, unable to differentiate between the main and secondary wives.”

Bai Jing Yu’s face softened, and a smile appeared on her lips, “As long as you have me in your heart and cherish me, you can do whatever you like. I will fully support you.”

The couple exchanged a few more affectionate words. As they were finishing their lunch, Bai Jing Yu, in a cheerful mood, pointed to the leftover food on the table and said to Xiang Xue, “It’s still warm. Take it to the other room and eat.”

Xiang Xue thanked her, took the small table, and returned with another wooden table to serve hot tea before leaving to eat.

Bai Jing Yu took a sip of tea and noticed Xu Jun Lang’s eyebrows furrow slightly. She comforted him, “Don’t worry, Xiang Rui is a first-time mother, so it won’t be too fast. I’m not fully recovered yet, so I can’t go see her, but there are a dozen women watching over her, including the midwife and doctor. The maids have split into three groups to check on her, and they’ll report any news immediately. You can’t go into the delivery room, so just wait here for news. The madam should be receiving a message soon, and then she’ll be back.”

Xu Jun Lang shook his head, “You’re taking care of everything so properly, I’m not worried. But I am thinking about something else.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“Well, it’s embarrassing. My salary is mostly given to you and Mother, and the rest is kept for daily expenses. Not long ago, the Governor of Jing Zhou was heading to the capital, and as he’s from the same cohort as me, I had to entertain him and help with various relations, spending quite a bit of silver. I thought I wouldn’t need any more money, but… you’ve been secluded at home and haven’t heard about the Qi Wang. Qi Wang is the younger brother of the current Emperor, favored by both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. He’s returning victorious and injured, and officials are rushing to visit him. My colleagues and I are discussing sending a heavy gift to the Qi Wang’s residence. Each of us must contribute five or six hundred taels of silver, but right now, I don’t have that much…”

Bai Jing Yu raised an eyebrow, “Five or six hundred taels? Is that too little?”

Xu Jun Lang was taken aback, “Not at all. There are seven or eight of us, so together, we’d be contributing four to five thousand taels, enough to prepare a very respectable gift!”

Bai Jing Yu thought for a moment, “But Qi Wang is different from King Jin, King Wei, or King Yue. He is the Emperor’s younger brother, and this time he’s returning from battle with great achievements. The Emperor will surely reward him greatly, and the Empress Dowager won’t let him go easily. He might stay in court to handle official matters. You’ve been in office for three years and are only a sixth-grade official. Although the Empress Dowager is somewhat related to your family, she doesn’t often use her connections. The Qi Wang will definitely receive a great reward. This is the perfect opportunity to establish a relationship with him as a distant relative. In the future, if you go to visit him, it will be much easier to approach him.”

Xu Jun Lang asked, “How do we establish this relationship?”

Bai Jing Yu suggested, “Don’t pool together money with your colleagues. We can use five or six thousand or even more to prepare an extraordinary gift on our own, including a personal letter, and send it to the Qi Wang’s residence. If he ever needs help, he will know of you. If he forgets, you can find an opportunity to approach him.”

Xu Jun Lang was startled, “Good heavens! How could we possibly come up with five or six thousand taels for a gift?”

Bai Jing Yu glanced at Xiang Xue, who lowered her head. Bai Jing Yu continued, “Tomorrow, go to the embroidery shop at the east end of Ren Yi Street. Take my personal letter and have the shopkeeper hand over the silver account, which will be about seven or eight thousand taels. I’ll also give you two thousand taels in silver notes. Add it up to a total of ten thousand taels. Tell the master and have him go with you to pick out a suitable gift to send to the Qi Wang’s residence personally.”

Xu Jun Lang looked at Bai Jing Yu, his eyes shining with admiration, “Jing Yu, you really are… no wonder the fortune teller said you have a prosperous husband. You’re taking such care of me. In the future, as I rise, I’ll make sure to reward you handsomely!”

Bai Jing Yu hid her smile behind her sleeve, lightly coughing, and said softly, “We’re in this together. Who else could I rely on but you? If not for you, would it be for someone else?”

“Of course, it’s for me. In the future, it will all depend on me!” Xu Jun Lang eagerly moved to sit next to Bai Jing Yu, gently patting her back. “You must take care of your health and not overexert yourself. Our Lian’er is growing up, and we will have a son soon, then everything will be perfect!”

Bai Jing Yu nestled into his warm embrace, inhaling deeply. A heat rose in her eyes: this tenderness, once all hers, now seemed much harder to receive.

Xu Jun Lang, holding her, said worriedly, “I’ve heard that Qi Wang has a strange temper, unpredictable in his moods. His preferences may not be the same as other people’s. If we send him a gift that doesn’t please him…”

Bai Jing Yu closed her eyes and leaned against him, “The eldest master has always been close to the Emperor, but he never took you brothers to meet the Emperor. That shows he didn’t want you to have too much success. You shouldn’t believe everything he says.”

Xu Jun Lang pondered, “The eldest master is not that bad… fine, I’ll go ask him about Qi Wang’s preferences.”

Bai Jing Yu gently stroked his face and sighed, “My dear, you’re only a day younger than him, yet he acts like the older brother. He is the eldest son, but he has never shouldered his responsibilities. He only cares about his own achievements, ignoring the younger brothers…”

Xu Jun Lang said, “It’s fate. What can be done?

This will be something we both have to carry together. I’ll make sure to be clear-minded.”