Chapter 237: Chapter 219, Mild Discomfort_1
“Madam, she has given birth!”
Looking at Wang Manman who rushed into the room with an excited face, Daohua wore a face full of black lines.
What do you mean ‘madam has given birth’?
Have you forgotten how to speak?
Wang Manman did not notice her slip of the tongue and excitedly announced to Daohua, “Madam, Lin Xushi has given birth to a daughter, you have another sister now.”
Daohua silently looked at Wang Manman, who was wearing a smile on her face.
Seeing her own madam staring straight at herself, Wang Manman’s smile stiffened slightly, “Madam, what’s wrong?”
Daohua, with a face void of expression, “Shouldn’t I be the one asking what’s wrong with you? Lin Xushi gives birth to a daughter and you are this happy?”
Wang Manman quickly shook her head, “I am not happy, no, I am happy because Lin Xushi gave birth to a daughter, not a son. Now, let’s see how she can be so smug.”
“Before she gave birth, she went around clamoring for sour foods, acting as if she wanted to tell everyone she was certain to be carrying a boy. Well, now, she has lost face, hasn’t she?”
Daohua glanced at Wang Manman, who was taking perverse pleasure in the misfortune, “… Whether it’s a boy or a girl, both are the children of the father.”
Wang Manman, “It’s not the same. If it had been a son, Lin Xushi would have been even more arrogant.”
This time, Daohua refrained from saying much.
In ancient times, everyone harbored the deep-seated notion of valuing males over females. Although she did not hold such a viewpoint, it was indeed better for Lin Xushi to have given birth to a daughter than a son.
Wang Manman added, “Oh right, madam, the master has punished Liao Family.”
“Oh?” Daohua raised an eyebrow, “Punished for what?”
Wang Manman, “The master said that Liao Family caused Lin Xushi to deliver prematurely, so he has confined her to her quarters for three months, and she must also copy scriptures to pray for blessings for the newly born fifth young madam.”
Daohua’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Did Liao Family really push Lin Xushi?”
Wang Manman pursed her lips, “Who knows? Anyhow, Lin Xushi’s maid is adamant that it was Liao Family who pushed her, and there were no witnesses by Liao Family’s side at that time.”
“However, Liao Family’s reaction was strange. She did not offer a defense for herself, merely saying that she nearly caused the Yan Family’s lineage harm, admitting her guilt and accepting her punishment.”
Daohua’s eyes flashed, “It seems she knows how to retreat in order to advance.”
Since Lin Xushi had just given birth, it was clear that their father intended to side with her. In this case, the more Liao Family defended herself, the more likely she would irritate their father. It would be better to admit guilt humbly since at least the attitude in acknowledging fault was good.
Moreover, her choice of words in saying ‘almost caused harm’ was quite intriguing. Was she insinuating that Lin Xushi struck at her first?
“Let’s leave them be, and quickly bring me the embroidery frame. I must finish embroidering the pouch for my fourth brother before his birthday, or else he will fuss again.”
December 18th is the birthday of Fourth Brother Yan Wenkai, which is only a few days away.
Wang Manman looked curiously at the embroidery, “Madam, what animal are you embroidering here? I’ve never seen this before, is it a bear?”
Daohua smiled as she picked up the embroidery frame and looked at it with satisfaction, “Isn’t it cute? This is an animal from Bashu, considered a kind of bear, I suppose.”
Pandas are bears, after all.
…
Shuangxin Courtyard.
Lin Xushi lay in bed, looking at her daughter in the swaddling clothes beside her with some disappointment.
Ever since she found out she was pregnant, she had always thought she was carrying a son.
The greater her hopes had been initially, the greater her disappointment was now.
She had originally thought that giving birth to another son would bring her husband’s affection back to her, but now, all her thoughts were in vain.
Just then, Senior Maid Xiyun walked in: “Madam, your mother and sister-in-law have come to see you.”
The spiritless Lin Xushi’s face immediately lit up upon hearing this, “Quick, quick, have them come in.”
Soon after, a middle-aged woman and a young woman were led in.
Seeing them, Lin Xushi tried to sit up, but the middle-aged woman quickly came forward to hold her down: “Don’t move, you’ve just given birth and need to recover.”
Lin Xushi didn’t push herself and, taking Lin Wangshi’s hand, she lay back down with her lead: “Mother.” She then turned to look at the young woman beside her, “Sister-in-law.”
Master Liao’s wife, Lin Xushi, also stepped forward with a smile and looked at the newborn girl: “Such a beautiful child, she really looks like you, sister.”
Lin Xushi smiled: “I actually hope she resembles Old Master more, that way, she could gain more of the Old Master’s affection.”
Hearing this, Lin Wangshi’s eyes immediately filled with tears as she choked up: “It’s all your father’s fault, if only he had fought for you a bit more, you wouldn’t have had to become someone else’s concubine. Now, even a child’s father’s love has to be fought and snatched for.”
Lin Xushi fell silent immediately and after a long while, she managed a bitter smile: “Mother, such is my fate.”
Seeing the guilt and self-reproach intensify on Lin Wangshi’s face and the sister-in-law’s expression becoming awkward, Lin Xushi had no choice but to feign lightness: “Mother, you know how the Old Master treats me, I have it pretty good in the Yan Family.”
Lin Wangshi’s face showed dissatisfaction: “Pretty good? If it was really good, why would you have had a premature birth?”
On hearing that, Lin Xushi’s eyes flickered and she glanced at the Senior Maid Xiyun in the room: “Go guard the door, I need to speak privately with mother and my sister-in-law for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Xiyun quickly withdrew.
Once alone, Lin Xushi whispered: “My giving birth wasn’t premature, it was deliberate, to deal with that woman in the courtyard.”
Lin Wangshi and Lin Xushi were both shocked.
After a moment of silence, Lin Wangshi finally scolded, concerned: “Why don’t you know to cherish your own body? If something had truly happened, what would Wenbin and Yishuang do?”
Lin Xushi hurriedly reassured her: “Mother, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Yet Lin Wangshi still felt fearful: “Women giving birth are already walking through the gates of hell once, you should never treat your body so lightly again.”
Lin Xushi’s face darkened: “In the future… I’m afraid there won’t be another chance.”
Lin Wangshi immediately responded with displeasure: “Don’t talk such nonsense, you’re still young.”
Lin Xushi also chimed in: “Exactly, given how much favor Lord Yan bestows upon my sister, you’re sure to have many children and blessings in the future.”
Lin Xushi shook her head with a bitter smile, “I used to think so too, but now…”
Lin Wangshi grew anxious, “What, has that vixen in your courtyard bewitched your husband?”
Lin Xushi shook her head again: “That’s not the case, Old Master isn’t one to be seduced by beauty, he’s indifferent toward Liao Family.”
Lin Wangshi’s face relaxed, “Then what are you still worried about?”
Lin Xushi was silent for a while before speaking: “To be honest, I’m not so worried about Liao Family now; it’s Madam I’m concerned about.”
Lin Wangshi and Lin Xushi looked puzzled.
Lin Xushi continued: “Just like this time, I risked premature birth to get rid of Liao Family, even if I couldn’t get rid of her, at least to make her leave my courtyard.”
“It was almost done, but with just one word from Madam, she changed Old Master’s mind, merely confining Liao Family and punishing her to copy Buddhist scriptures.”
“Compared to the agony of childbirth, this punishment is nothing.”
“Now, Old Master is placing more and more importance on Madam. In the past, Old Master would confide in me when things didn’t go his way, but now, Madam has become his confidante.”
“My reliance was always on Old Master’s partiality. If this affection is gone, then I truly will become just an ordinary concubine in the Yan Family’s back courtyard.”