Chapter 72: Getting too into character

  The child made a fuss for a while and got tired, Wen Yu was much better than before, she didn't know how many times, being held by the wet nurse to go back, watching them leave, Su Ying and Fu Ye Yang said: "I think Wen Er is still a bit insufficient, but her spirit is better than before, let's continue to adjust with medicine and diet from now on."

  "What's Yao Shen?" Fu Yeyang didn't really know what it was and asked.

  Su Ying's face was smiling: "They say 'three points of illness, seven points of nurture', I used to think that when adjusting Wen'er, I only paid attention to the former. Later, I asked a very skilled pediatrician and he said that Wen'er's illness originated from the womb, and taking medicine for many years has damaged her appetite."

  It also says "those who eat grains live", but Yun'er doesn't often eat whole grains, so she can't nourish her spirit and blood, which isn't a good thing. So I thought of inviting the chef to come and treat her, this way both treatment and nourishment are taken care of, it's a perfect solution.

  Speaking of this medicine, it's worth mentioning that Wei Niang previously tried to take advantage of the eldest daughter's illness to seduce Su Ying, but ended up getting into trouble. Fu Ye Yang couldn't have forgotten about it, and furrowed his brow, sighing: "I've troubled you."

  He didn't want to mention Wei Yiniang either. Su Ying's smile spread across her face: "I am Wen'er's legitimate mother, and doing these things is also what I should do." When would she say such words that were not from the heart again? She felt the difficulties of being a legitimate wife and mother once more, and didn't know how other families educated their illegitimate children. It seemed like she had to go ask for advice tomorrow.

  Su Ying stopped at that, she did this just to give Fu Yiyang the impression that she would not mistreat his illegitimate daughter and do her best, in case something really happened in the future, at least let him think that she had done something behind the scenes.

  Su Ying sighed in her heart, it was all because the previous Su family had left a good impression on Fu Yeyang that was too deeply rooted, so even if she wanted to make some changes, she couldn't go beyond the framework she had established before.

  Furthermore, if there wasn't the amber that brought people back to life, they also had Wei Niang who was driven mad by her illness. Adding on top of that, there's Chen Wanqiu, the time-traveling woman who's showing off outside, and the concubine of Prince Zhongrui. Who knows if there are any others she doesn't know about? She didn't want to be affected or discovered. This way, hiding in the shadows and watching the show is much more interesting.

  When Su Ying said that, Fu Yiyang sighed again in her heart. This person is just so strange, the more she looks at someone who catches her eye, the more pleasing they become to her, and even the unpleasant things she usually does can be justified, and with comparison, the good becomes even more apparent.

  It was just like when Wei's concubine was favored, she would complain to Su Shi in various ways, and Fu Ye Yang wasn't unaware of it. But at that time, he still thought Su Shi wasn't broad-minded enough; now looking back, however, he felt that he really didn't understand people, having spoiled this concubine who took advantage of his kindness for so many years, even letting her give birth to a daughter out of wedlock.

  For example, Su thought that the Su family was too dignified and wouldn't make a fuss or have any feelings. Fu Ye Yang didn't say anything, but looking at how he came to the main house less and less often to stay overnight, even when he did come over, not every time would they do that thing. It's like this, if the side sowing the seeds doesn't put in enough effort, then no matter how fertile the land is, it still won't grow any seedlings. Not to mention Su's land had been secretly sabotaged by Fu's mother and turned into a barren wasteland.

  Now looking back, since Su Ying took over, she has been using every trick in the book and hasn't given anyone else a chance to drink meat soup. Fu Yeyang still can't forget about Su Ying's delicious meat that he hasn't had enough of yet, and when he looks at others, he feels they are dull and uninteresting.

  The night before departure, Su Ying and Fu Yao were more affectionate than usual. Fu Yao was going out for two or three months, still to the Jiangnan water town, Su Ying was uncertain in her heart, but no matter how she thought about it, she made up her mind that this night, she had to give him a sweet treat, so that he could savor it from time to time and never forget.

  Fu Yiyang, who had never experienced this kind of feeling before, sat on the edge of the bed. The book he was pretending to read had been thrown somewhere, his Adam's apple moved up and down, his hands gradually tightened their grip on the bed frame, at first he could still control himself from pulling her into a deeper kiss.

  He could wait until that warm and soft place wrapped him tightly, Fu Yeyang knew from the beginning that he would taste a hundred flavors on her that made him irresistible, but it was even more stimulating, his eyes had already caught fire, red-eyed and panting heavily, his hands clasped her shoulders, never having such a flavor before...

  Never thought she would cling so tightly, as if afraid he wouldn't come back, Fu Yeyang's heart and mouth were burning hot, her body even hotter, it seemed like there was no soft spot on her entire body, while she had already softened into a puddle of water, you in me, me in you, mixed together, unable to extricate.

  The next day, the two of them woke up without needing to be called. No one spoke first, they just stuck together with their legs entwined. Su Ying blinked her eyes, unsure what to say, unclear about what unexpected events might occur when Fu Ye Yang went out, and the foundation was too shallow. She swallowed the words that had reached her lips and rested her head on his chest, a hint of coldness welling up in her eyes. When she opened them again, there were tears in her eyes, as if she couldn't bear to part with him, like a hook, Fu Ye Yang's heart also felt suffocated.

  In the end, he still kissed her lips, his palm stroking her belly, his voice hoarse: "Take good care of the child."

  Su Ying pursed her lips, nodded, and stretched out her hand to cover his palm, unable to say a word.

  This scene of farewell is really not suitable for her.

  After seeing Fu Yiyang off, Su Ying felt as if she had lost all her strength. Aloe and Mint supported her on either side, "Madam, let's head back."

  Back in the main courtyard, Su Ying, who had brought up the bird's nest congee that Zisu drank every day, also put down her spoon after drinking only half a bowl. Mint and Aloe exchanged a glance, wondering why Madam's expression was not quite right as soon as Master left?

  Mint thought for a moment, if she said that the wife was reluctant to part with her husband, it also made sense. When the wife got up earlier, her eyes were red, and in these days, the husband and wife had been getting along well for some time, and they had developed feelings for each other, which wasn't strange at all.

  Lü Huai didn't know how to persuade her yet, when someone came in to report that Qi Mama had arrived. Qi Mama used to serve under Fu's grandmother and later became the wet nurse of Fu Ye Yang, also managing his private quarters, with a considerable amount of prestige.

  Su Ying naturally wanted to give her a dignified appearance, so she immediately had Lu Hui tidy up her hair and clothes for her, and went to the door to welcome her.

  Although Auntie Qi was advanced in years, her body was still robust and she looked kind-hearted. Perhaps it was because of Fu Yanyang's previous entrustment that she took special care of Su Ying. She had been there for less than two days when Su Ying figured out the benefits of having this old lady around.

  Qī Māmā has been sent out of the mansion by Fù Yìyáng to enjoy her retirement for two or three years, but most people in the mansion still recognize her. As soon as they heard that Fù Yìyáng had specially invited her back to take care of Sū Yǐng, they knew it was a gesture of respect from the old master to his wife. Moreover, although Qī Māmā has left, the connections she made in the past are still there, and sometimes one word from her is more effective than several words from Guì Māmā.

  Su Ying felt much more at ease, and the depression she had previously felt due to uncertainty about her future gradually dissipated. After all, when a boat reaches the bridgehead, it will naturally go straight; even if Fu Yiyang really couldn't hold on and went outside to scatter seeds, that wasn't something she could control.

  Her main task now is still to take care of her pregnancy.

  It is also unknown whether Su Ying was magnanimous or fearless, but after Fu Yiyang left, she lived a carefree life.

  It can be said that in the days when Fu Yiyang was not around, Su Ying had the most leisurely time after she had beaten him. Firstly, she didn't have to pretend to be a virtuous and gentle wife all day long, with everything revolving around Fu Yiyang. Even if it was just an act, it had become a conditioned reflex over such a long period of time. When Fu Yiyang suddenly left, Su Ying really felt somewhat unaccustomed to it. Secondly, she didn't have to rack her brains to protect that cucumber of his, and the pursuit and siege of the concubines could also be less urgent, but she couldn't relax either, who knows what kind of trouble they would stir up again.

  This is still not enough. Fu Mu seemed to have calmed down and stopped bothering Su Ying, but suddenly changed her nature, which was too strange, just like a carnivore suddenly becoming a vegetarian, it didn't make sense.

  Su Ying was very curious about what Fu Yi Yang had done in it, and if possible, teach a few tricks, old man.

  On the other side of the house, Third Madame was so busy taking medicine to prevent a miscarriage that she didn't have time to cause any more trouble; Chen's wife finally became pregnant after losing her powerful arm, and also gained the disdain of Fu Mu, but these were not important, what mattered was that there was security in her belly, Third Madame was not legitimate, the child she gave birth to would be the true heir, now seeking incense and Buddha for a son had almost become an obsession; Wang's concubine was put under house arrest, those singing girls who were sold off were sold off, locked up in the house like birds in a cage, suddenly became quiet.

  Of course, the most important reason is that Fu Xueyang's body is not strong enough, and he has been suffering from a shameful disease. He has been staying at home to recuperate recently, and even the language flower outside has temporarily stopped picking.

  In July and August, there were still people posting invitations for Su Ying to visit their homes to admire the flowers and moon. By September, when they saw that she was carrying twins and looked bigger than usual pregnant women, it was like blowing up a balloon all of a sudden, looking quite frightening, so they didn't dare invite her to social gatherings anymore.

  As autumn approaches, Fu Yiyang has been away for two months now. Su Ying hasn't received any hints from him about spreading his seeds outside, so she's slowly letting go of her worries.

  "Madam, it just rained yesterday and the road is slippery. Why don't you just walk around the house instead?" Su Ying walks around the garden every day, and she has been doing so until now. Qi Nian was initially puzzled, but after hearing that this would make her legs strong and childbirth easier, she thought to herself that giving birth would be like taking a stroll outside the Ghost Gate, not to mention that Su Ying is carrying twins.

  Qī's mother-in-law also said that Sū Yǐng was the pregnant woman with the best complexion she had ever seen, her face rounded and plump, looking radiant, although her belly wasn't particularly attractive, but her good skin still shone through, making people feel at ease just by looking at her, which made Qī's mother-in-law have an even better impression of Sū Yǐng.

  Su Ying had also met Chen Wanqing, the third wife, once before. Her pregnancy was similar to Su Ying's, and now they were both six months pregnant. However, unlike Su Ying, Chen Wanqing did not look radiant at all. Her face was pale yellow and gaunt, her legs thin, making her belly appear even more prominent. She looked even more alarming than Su Ying, who was carrying twins.

  But Madame Chen, Su Ying, was not seen, and that's right. She had finally managed to get pregnant with this child, so she naturally treated her belly like the apple of her eye, staring at it constantly. It's said that she didn't even leave the house, afraid that something unexpected might happen. She was really being overly cautious, and even pushed off attending the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet.

  When it comes to that family banquet, there is no joy at all. The mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law gathered together, their faces not harmonious and their hearts not in harmony. Madame Fu ate two mouthfuls of food, then covered her forehead and said she had caught a cold and was uncomfortable, so Yinger supported her back to the main house.

  It was indeed a time of great abundance, but pregnant women were forbidden to eat, and wine was also not allowed. At the table, only Su Ying and San Tai Tai were left, truly a trio of shadows, making them appear even more desolate.

  Third Madame covered her stomach with both hands, looked up at Su Ying and saw her smiling leisurely. She felt a lump in her throat. The maid next to her served the dish, but she suddenly lost her appetite and pushed the plate aside. Su Ying looked over, her face smiled before speaking: "Not to your taste?"

  To tell the truth, Third Madame doesn't count as a proper sister-in-law, and when this child in her belly is born, it won't be considered a legitimate second wife's son or daughter either. However, perhaps neither Old Mistress Fu nor Third Madame has such awareness, judging from how much more importance Old Mistress Fu attaches to Third Madame's pregnancy.

  Su Ying and San Tai Tai didn't have much of a relationship, although San Tai Tai had been married for half a year now, Su Ying could count the number of times they met on one hand. Anyone can make small talk.

  Third Madame found Su Ying's smile on her face more and more piercing to the eyes. She had been living in the Hou Mansion for less than half a year, but she felt that it was not as comfortable as when she was at her natal home as a young lady, even though she was being pampered and waited on in her own courtyard. However, once she stepped out of the second house, who would still acknowledge her as Third Madame? The maids below would whisper to each other, talking about how great First Madame was, and which noble family's wife had invited her to go sightseeing, and what precious gifts the servants had given to curry favor with her. Hearing this too many times made Third Madame feel unbalanced in her heart.

  Originally, Madam Fu's coldness towards Su Qing made San Niang feel balanced, but now it seems like Madam Fu is also trying to avoid her. San Niang felt uneasy and when Su Qing asked her, she said: "I don't have a good appetite like my sister-in-law, nor can I put my mind at ease. And I'm not afraid that Big Brother will be charmed by the seductive women of Jiangnan, you know Jiangnan is full of beautiful women."

  As soon as the words came out, everyone in the pavilion stopped moving. The lotus and mint leaves beside Su Ying furrowed their brows. Su Ying sighed inwardly, how did she catch the eye of this third madam?

  Her heart was not pleased, but the smile on her face became even warmer. "This pregnancy of mine has two, one eats and three people make up for it, being fat and wide-hearted is inevitable," she paused and said, "My old husband is struggling, he writes letters saying that at night he still needs to light lamps and burn wax, making me worry about him."

  Su Ying's two sentences sound like she's showing off, and in fact, she really is. Let's not talk about the first sentence, just the second one. On the surface, it seems like she's sympathizing with Fu Ye Yang's hard work, but actually, she's still talking about how much favor Fu Ye Yang has received from the emperor. Some people want this kind of favor but don't even have the chance, let alone that person who was infatuated with the fox spirit and indulged in lust for women. No need to mention it clearly, let's just say it.

  This family's banquet is bustling with people coming and going in a hurry, I don't know if he's rushing to accompany that little lover he's keeping outside?

  Third Madam obviously understood Su Ying's implicit meaning, her face didn't look good, and she didn't continue the conversation. She pushed it off saying that her stomach wasn't feeling well, leaving Su Ying alone staring blankly at a big table of dishes.

  After such a commotion, Su Ying also lost her appetite and gave away the few dishes she hadn't eaten to let the young girls share them, and this family banquet dispersed just like that.

  Su Ying thought of Fu Yeyang's letter that came around Mid-Autumn Festival, thinking that if Fu Yeyang was at home during the festival, there would be more festive atmosphere. But then she thought again, with Fu Yeyang there, there would be another round of conflict, and wouldn't it be even more suffocating? There's no way to have both ways.

  Su Ying walked around the yard and came back, Zi Su smiled and brought out a plate of Osmanthus sugar steamed chestnut cake, as soon as she opened it, the fragrance filled her nose. "The osmanthus is freshly picked from the garden, and the chestnuts are newly arrived, they smell so good, have some, ma'am, tonight there's also a dish of pan-seared chestnut chicken."

  There are several osmanthus trees in the garden, which bloomed luxuriantly this year and have been in bloom from August to now. The maids picked the osmanthus flowers on the branches to make either osmanthus filling for pastries or use them in cooking. The cook who was invited from the south was eager to make osmanthus wine. Su Ying had seen osmanthus wine before, but she had tasted osmanthus and water pear jam. It was a lively scene while they were doing these things.

  Su Ying picked up a piece of osmanthus sugar steamed chestnut cake and put it in her mouth, while Lu Hui directed the little maid to take out thicker winter clothes and hang them out to air, saying: "Madam's birthday is approaching, I don't know if Master can make it back?"

  Su Ying was stunned for a moment before she realized it was the Su family's birthday, and no one had ever mentioned celebrating her birthday before.

  Looking back at the letters Fu Yiyang wrote back and put in a box, what she wrote to Fu Yiyang were all trivial matters. His replies started from being brief and concise, not even filling up a thin sheet of paper, and later became more and more full, sometimes when he was in the mood, he would compose a poem about the local scenery.

  Fu Yi-yang's writing is elegant and refined, his impromptu poems have a unique charm, and he even talks about romantic affairs with his wife in letters, but this kind of elegance is rare, perhaps he himself feels embarrassed.

  Letters don't come frequently, but this kind of thing has never happened before. Not to mention earlier, at the beginning of the year, Fu Yiyang went out and sent a letter back home to report safety, and then there was nothing else.

  Su Ying looked at the letter sent by Fu Ye Yang, and thought about how he had been away for two months without any news, and somehow her heart began to rise with some expectations. She had thought before that no matter what happened here, it wouldn't be worse than her previous life.

  Although there is a system pressing on her head, it has been so long since Fu Yiyang came over, and she still has two in her belly. Su Ying's heart wants to say that she doesn't have half a point of expectation, that's all fake. When she first arrived here, she only thought about making herself comfortable. With her personality, even if there was no task, she would still take action against Fu Yiyang's concubines. Those people are always on the opposite side of her, and she doesn't want to make herself uncomfortable.

  Just the presence of Wei Yiniang was enough to make Su Ying feel stifled for a while, thinking that she had just arrived two months ago and had been pretending to be ill, making herself a mere decoration. If it wasn't for Wei Yiniang's later carefree and arrogant attitude, overestimating Fu Yeyang's tolerance towards her, and deliberately putting on an act of self-destruction, Su Ying would have been squeezed out of the picture.

  Now, as time goes by, she can see that Fu Yeyang values the child in her belly more than he used to value and respect her. He is willing to give her the dignity of being his legitimate wife, not sleeping with concubines, and refusing his mother's suggestion to find him a new partner. He will even smile when he feels the baby kick...

  Now that two months have passed, and she has been dry for two months, the things she worried about haven't happened. Putting aside her mission, if Fu Yeyang really gets a new partner in the future and sleeps with someone else, in the past, she wouldn't think much of it, but now that she's experienced so much, if that happens again, she'll really feel resentful and uncomfortable in her heart.

  I also don't know what will happen in the future.

  Su Ying suddenly didn't know what to think about next and also didn't have the idea of writing a letter to Fu Yiyang to ask when he would be back.

  Mint looked at her pale face and helped her lie down to rest. Su Ying rubbed the mandarin duck embroidery on the quilt with her fingers, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart. At first, she thought it would be easy-going, treating herself as an outsider, watching coldly from the side, but unknowingly got into the play, and even entered too deeply.

  Su Ying stroked her belly, how did she suddenly become so sentimental?

  Yongping heard Fu Yiyang instruct him to prepare to return to the capital, and for some reason, he felt a great sense of relief in his heart. He remembered that when he was about to leave, his wife had called him over and instructed him to take good care of Master Yong, and also promised that his father would be made the second manager of her dowry shop.

  Yongping was thinking at the time, if Madam had such means in the past, why didn't she use them before? Otherwise, she wouldn't have ended up being squeezed out by Wei Niang to the point of having nowhere to stay.

  The wife's soft laughter at that time still makes Yongping feel a chill down his spine to this day. If this matter isn't handled properly, he'll be skinned alive by the wife once he returns home!

  Fortunately, the old master cleaned himself up and returned home. He also made amends with his wife and became even more determined to hold on to the leg of the Zhengyuan.

  Yongping was delighted to think that, and then heard Fu Yeyang calling him in to grind ink. He hastily went forward to serve, his eyes scanning the letter in Fu Yeyang's hand, which was none other than the one that had just arrived from the capital today. Looking at Fu Yeyang's expression, he was certain that it was a letter written by Madam herself. Every time this happened, Master's mood would be exceptionally good.

  He lowered his head and stopped glancing up, focusing on grinding his ink.

  Fu Yiyang looked down at the elegant cursive script on the letter paper, thinking of what was said before that her handwriting had more heroic spirit than the cursive script she wrote before marriage, but less spiritual. This is probably the difference between being a woman and being a wife.

  For some reason, Fu Yiyang suddenly remembered the night before she left, her eyes shining with tears, and her heart warmed up.

  ps：

  Act cute