Chu Lian was only three months pregnant, so counting back the days, it had happened only after they had returned to the capital. It was definitely their He Familyâs child and not some wild bastard.
Once she got the news, the matriarch went into the ancestral hall to offer up incense with the help of Senior Servant Liu.
Although she was already a bag of old bones, she insisted on kneeling for two whole hours, begging for Chu Lianâs first child to be a boy...
Even Senior Servant Liu couldnât move her from her prayers.
When she returned from the ancestral hall, Matriarch He started preparing things for her unborn great-grandson.
Senior Servant Liu noticed that the old matriarch wouldnât sit still and tried to coax her, âMatriarch, you donât have to be so rushed. Thereâs still another six months to go! Furthermore, we donât know if itâll be a little girl or boy. If you prepare the wrong items, then it will go to waste.â
The matriarchâs expression turned fierce upon hearing such words from Senior Servant Liu, âWhat nonsense are you speaking? Of course itâs going to be a little boy. Senior Servant Zhou, follow my instructions and prepare all the items for boys!â
Senior Servant Liu had no choice but to follow along with what Matriarch He wanted.
While the servants were busying themselves, Muxiang stood still in shock like a statue.
She ran back to her own room in a panic and locked the door.
Once the door was shut, she could no longer hide the resentful and sinister expression on her face.
From an obedient maidservant, she changed into a demon who had just crawled up from hell.
âIt wasnât supposed to be like this! It wasnât supposed to be...!â She leaned bonelessly against the door, sliding down into a squat. She grabbed at her hair, her eyes staring wildly into space, as if she couldnât accept the news she had just heard.
In her past life, she hadnât had any children since she hadnât consummated her marriage with He Changdi. After she had gotten together with Xiao Bojian, although the two of them had gone to bed together many times, she hadnât gotten pregnant.
She had always thought that it was her body that wasnât fertile, and she had always held some regret.
When she opened her eyes and realised that she had been reincarnated into one of Matriarch Heâs maidservants, she had first felt cold hard fear. Later on, that had been mixed with a thread of elatement, as this body was perfectly healthy. In the future, when she got He Changdi back again, she could give birth to their children.
Furthermore, the lack of any good news from the current Chu Lian and He Changdi after they had been married for so long had proven her guess from her past life.
However, how had this happened!? Wasnât her old body supposed to be infertile? How had that imposter gotten pregnant with He Changdiâs child?
How could it be!
She was the only one in the world who could bear children for He Changdi!
The more Muxiang thought about it, the angrier she was. Slowly, that anger was mixed with depression. She wanted to rush over to Chu Lian right now and tear her into pieces.
Why!? How! That body was hers!
She was the one who was supposed to marry He Changdi!
How could that monstrous imposter use her body and take her husband and live so happily?!
In her extreme rage, Muxiang destroyed everything she could move in her room.
When she was done, she laid panting over the desk, her eyes bitterly cold as she looked at the bits and pieces of the broken things on the floor.
She looked like a viper eyeing her prey and wanting it dead!
That monster had stolen away her body... She wasnât going to let it go so easily!
When He Changdi returned in the evening, Chu Lian had already ordered the servants to prepare everything.
Countess Jingâan and Chu Lian sat in the same carriage, while He Changdi rode his horse alongside them and the guards all the way back to the old residence.
They had already made a promise with the rest of the family that they would meet at the Jingâan Estate tonight. Even He Changjue had returned early.
Once they got to the Jingâan Estate, Chu Lian and He Changdi bowed in greeting to Matriarch He and Count Jingâan, before taking their seats at the large round table in the center of the parlour.
This intimate family banquet was bathed in a joyous and harmonious atmosphere. Even Matriarch He didnât make any sour comments.
When they were done, the family moved to the parlour of Qingxi Hall to have tea and chat.
Now that Chu Lian was pregnant, Matriarch Heâs mood seemed to be much better.
He Changdi hadnât returned to the old residence in some time as well, so Matriarch He pulled him alongside her to catch up.
Seeing that He Changdi had become much thinner, the matriarchâs heart ached for her youngest grandson.
âLook at you, why donât you know how to take care of yourself outside? Youâve become so thin.â
Chu Lian stiffened up a little, but she didnât say anything.
While Matriarch He might not have meant anything by her words, it didnât sound like that to the others.
It sounded like the matriarch was blaming her granddaughter-in-law for not taking good care of her husband and allowing him to get so thin from overworking.
He Changdiâs cool and handsome face didnât change at all. When he spoke, it was in his usual low tones.
âGrandmother, you must be mistaken. I havenât lost weight at all.â
Since it was rare that He Changdi would return to visit them, the matriarch didnât contest his words.
âAlright, alright, you havenât gotten thinner at all.â
Countess Jingâan followed up to smooth out the awkwardness in the air, âIt looks like Sanlang has gotten even more muscular than before. Mother, you donât have to worry at all.â
The family continued chatting happily. Count Jingâan didnât say much, but his gaze was full of satisfaction and affection when looking at his youngest son and daughter-in-law.
Just as the family was enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, the matriarch suddenly spoke up, âSanlang, Sanlangâs wife, since youâve already moved out, then so be it. I canât stop you anyway. In the past, it didnât matter much that it was only the two of you in your estate, but things are different now. Sanlangâs wife is pregnant, we canât be careless with this. Iâm too old and I canât walk well now, so I canât move over to your estate. However, I canât rest easy with the two of you so far away. I thought over this for some time, and Iâve decided to send Muxiang back with you. She can serve Sanlangâs wife and report her condition to me. Iâll feel more reassured this way.â