The next day was Yan Ningshuang's family recognition ceremony. According to protocol, Ren Yaoqi was originally supposed to attend. However, the Princess Consort had Nanny Xin come early in the morning to inform Ren Yaoqi that she should rest well in her room and not go to Chengde Hall. Ren Yaoqi did not go against the Princess Consort's wishes, so she did not attend Yan Ningshuang's family recognition ceremony.
Although Xiao Jingxi had been acting normally since yesterday, Ren Yaoqi could tell he still hadn't fully recovered from the shock of becoming a father for the first time. Early in the morning, instead of sleeping, the first thing he said to Ren Yaoqi when she woke up was, "Yaoyao, what do you think of the nickname 'A Bao'?" Ren Yaoqi's response was to turn over, close her eyes, and go back to sleep.
Afterwards, Ren Yaoqi chased Xiao Jingxi out of the room and had Pingguo bring her a few account books to pass the time. Recently, Ren Yaoqi had been familiarizing herself with the Princess Consort's accounts. Since she had to stay in her room for the near future, Ren Yaoqi decided to use this time to sort out the Yanbei Prince's Mansion's accounts from recent years.
Just as she was checking last year's expenditure records, Sangshen came running in happily, saying that the Madam and Eldest Miss had arrived. The Madam and Eldest Miss Sangshen referred to were naturally Ren Yaoqi's mother, Madam Li, and Ren Yaohua.
Ren Yaoqi had originally planned to wait until after Yan Ningshuang's family recognition ceremony to tell her family about her pregnancy. Hearing that they had come on their own, she thought Xiao Jingxi had sent someone to notify them.
Madam Li and Ren Yaohua soon arrived at Zhaoning Hall. Madam Li looked overjoyed. Seeing Ren Yaoqi, she hurried over, supporting her as she said happily, "Qi'er, is it true? Are you with child?"
Ren Yaoqi smiled slightly, "Yes, Mother, it has been confirmed." Madam Li was overjoyed to hear this.
Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi's abdomen and said with a smile, "Early this morning, Pan'er came running to tell me she was going to be a sister again, and I didn't understand what she meant at first. Later, I found out she had heard the maids responsible for purchasing outside discussing that you were pregnant. She was just clamoring to come see you."
Due to the feud between the Xianwang Residence and the Yan family, Madam Li and Ren Yaohua themselves did not attend yesterday's wedding banquet, only sending ceremonial gifts as a courtesy. Therefore, they did not know about what had happened at the banquet.
Madam Li also said, "Nanny Zhou also hurried to tell me after hearing the discussions outside. I heard that now the entire Yunyang City knows about your pregnancy. You, child, really—how could you not send someone to tell me about such a big matter? Instead, I had to hear it from others."
Madam Li's tone held a hint of reproach, and Ren Yaoqi quickly apologized with good grace.
The mother and two daughters sat together to chat. Madam Li asked Ren Yaoqi many questions, such as whether she had a poor appetite, why she looked thinner, and whether she preferred sour or spicy foods. Ren Yaoqi patiently answered each one.
Madam Li held Ren Yaoqi's hand and said, "If only you could have a boy in one go."
Having a son or daughter had almost become an obsession for Madam Li. When Ren Yaohua gave birth to a daughter with her first child, Madam Li had been quite disappointed. Now that Ren Yaoqi was pregnant, Madam Li naturally hoped Ren Yaoqi's first child would be a boy.
Ren Yaohua, however, said indifferently, "Mother, why are you saying these things now? Whether it's a boy or a girl isn't something she can decide. When I had Yi Jie'er as my first child, it's not like the Lei Family tried to divorce me over it."Ren Yaohua's eldest daughter was named Lei Changyi, with the pet name Sister Yi. Although Ren Yaohua had given birth to a daughter, due to Lei Ting's respect and protection, no one in the Lei Family dared to gossip. Ren Yaohua now lived comfortably and had become much more open-minded.
Madam Li glared at her displeasedly and said, "Is the situation at Yanbei Prince's Mansion the same?"
Seeing that Ren Yaohua still wanted to say something, Ren Yaoqi quickly interjected, "Sister is right. Whether the child is a boy or a girl is not something I can decide. As long as he is born safely and grows up healthy, that's all that matters. Mother, don’t worry. The Prince, the Princess Consort, and my husband are all reasonable people. They won’t treat me differently just because I gave birth to a girl."
Madam Li finally sighed, "I hope so."
Since only the mother and her two daughters, along with Ren Yaoqi’s few maids who had accompanied her as part of her dowry, were in the room, Madam Li spoke more casually. She asked, "Has your mother-in-law mentioned arrangements for someone in the bedroom?"
Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua were both taken aback by this question. Ren Yaohua glanced at Ren Yaoqi and frowned.
Ren Yaoqi replied calmly, "Not yet."
Madam Li hesitated for a moment. "The rules in the prince’s mansion are very strict. Back when my mother was pregnant with me, the palace also sent someone to the mansion. I’ve heard that such rules exist in prince’s mansions. I wonder if Yanbei Prince’s Mansion is the same…"
Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, "Perhaps that’s a rule for the prince’s mansions in the capital. I haven’t heard the Princess Consort mention it. The Prince has neither concubines nor maids for that purpose."
Madam Li’s expression softened slightly. "That’s good. Actually, I was just worried. Back when the palace arranged someone for your maternal grandfather according to the rules, he only accepted them for appearances and later sent them all away. I think Jingxi is also a loyal and righteous child…"
Just as Madam Li said this, they heard Pingguo, who was guarding outside, announce formally, "Miss, the young master has returned."
Madam Li quickly swallowed her words.
When Xiao Jingxi entered and saw everyone in the room looking at him, he calmly stepped forward to greet Madam Li, then smiled and said, "I was just about to send someone to inform you, Mother. I didn’t expect you to come."
Madam Li then explained how she and Ren Yaohua had rushed over to confirm the news upon hearing it. Madam Li now had a favorable impression of her second son-in-law, so even with Xiao Jingxi’s return, the atmosphere in the room did not become awkward.
Xiao Jingxi glanced at Ren Yaoqi and said to Madam Li with a smile, "Am I interrupting your conversation by being here?"
Madam Li was about to speak but was interrupted by Ren Yaohua, who had been silent until then. Ren Yaohua looked directly at Xiao Jingxi and said bluntly, "Not at all. My mother was just recalling some rules of the prince’s mansion, worried that my younger sister might overlook them due to her youth and inexperience. She was giving her some advice to avoid criticism from ill-intentioned people in the future."
Madam Li frowned. "Hua'er!"
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Xiao Jingxi was unfazed by Ren Yaohua’s attitude and smiled. "Oh? What rules?"
Ren Yaohua said seriously, "Since there are no outsiders here, I’ll speak plainly. I’ve heard that there’s a rule in prince’s mansions: when the principal wife is pregnant, the mansion arranges for someone to serve in the bedroom. I wonder if Yanbei Prince’s Mansion also has this rule?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but pause for a moment, then inwardly sighed with a bitter smile.Although he had long known his wife's elder sister was formidable, it was only today that he witnessed her prowess firsthand. In this world, which other sister-in-law would dare straightforwardly ask in front of her brother-in-law and mother-in-law: "My sister is pregnant, so sorry for the inconvenience. During this time, does our brother-in-law need a concubine?"
Even a man who originally had such intentions would deny it out of concern for his reputation. Otherwise, not only would he offend his wife's family, but he would also be labeled as lustful.
Fortunately, Xiao Jingxi was no ordinary man and harbored no such frivolous thoughts. Faced with such a bold question from his sister-in-law, he merely paused briefly before replying with an unchanged smile, "Our Yanbei Prince's Mansion has no such custom. My father also never kept concubines."
Back when the Princess Consort was pregnant, the Old Princess Consort had arranged several stunningly beautiful women for the Prince, each excelling in both appearance and talent. The Prince accepted them without hesitation in front of others but later bestowed them all upon his subordinates. This gesture deeply moved a group of bachelors too busy with warfare to marry, who swore lifelong loyalty to such a considerate Prince.
The Prince was immensely satisfied. When the Princess Consort became pregnant with their second child, he proactively sought out the Old Princess Consort for more women, even specifying that only the finest beauties would do. This infuriated the Old Princess Consort so much that she smashed a teacup and refused to leave her quarters for three days. By the time the Princess Consort was pregnant with Xiao Jinglin, the Old Princess Consort merely rolled her eyes and didn’t even show her face.
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua smiled with satisfaction and turned to Madam Li, saying, "Mother, you were right. Our brother-in-law is indeed a loyal, righteous, and reasonable man."
Everyone: "..."
Although Madam Li somewhat blamed her eldest daughter for her rash and unrestrained words, Xiao Jingxi's response put her mind at ease. Having been suppressed by a concubine for over a decade, she was deeply reluctant to see her daughter face such unpleasantness.
Thus, the atmosphere of the conversation relaxed considerably. Madam Li grew increasingly pleased with this son-in-law, affectionately calling him "my son" and "Jingxi," completely forgetting her earlier concerns about Second Young Master Xiao's poor health.
As they were chatting, the head maid Sangshen entered again to report that Third Young Master Xiao and his wife had arrived.
Ren Yaoqi frowned and exchanged a glance with Xiao Jingxi, hesitating whether to let them in now. Her main concern was the potential awkwardness if Madam Li were to encounter the Yan family.
In the end, Madam Li said, "Since they’ve already come, there’s no reason to avoid them. Let them in."
Ren Yaoqi thought it over and agreed with Madam Li, as avoiding them might make it seem as though they were overly wary of the Yan family.
Thus, Xiao Jingyue and Yan Ningshuang were quickly ushered in.
Xiao Jingyue still wore his usual carefree demeanor, while Yan Ningshuang carried a faint trace of melancholy between her brows. The moment she entered, her gaze drifted toward Xiao Jingxi.
Unfortunately, this sorrowful and resentful glance was caught by Ren Yaohua, who immediately frowned and narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Yan Ningshuang from head to toe.
After exchanging greetings, Xiao Jingyue said with a grin, "We didn’t see Second Sister-in-law at today’s family recognition ceremony, so Ningshuang was quite uneasy. We decided to come on our own to fulfill the formalities. I heard Second Sister-in-law is pregnant—congratulations from me to Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law." He then turned and gazed tenderly at his newlywed wife. "Ningshuang? Aren’t you going to congratulate Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law?"Yan Ningshuang’s face paled slightly at these words. She bit her lip lightly and glanced at Ren Yaoqi’s abdomen.
Ren Yaoqi smiled and said, “I was impolite today. Please don’t blame me, Third Sister-in-Law.”
Yan Ningshuang looked at Ren Yaoqi, her expression stiff. “Congratulations,” she said, biting her lip again. Her face was pale as she added, “I heard it was discovered yesterday. What a coincidence.”
If there’s no update around midnight, don’t wait for it.
Come back to check the next morning～o(∩_∩)o.
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