I Became The Stepmother of My Ex-husband

by Usui Takumii

not mine, is from 'this seat is bored'.

20. 96 to 100

Chapter 96 Part 1: The Wind Blows

From the end of the sixth year of Yuanjia, the political turmoil that later generations called the Wenzhong Change had already revealed signs.

Countless people wrung their wrists when reading through this history. Zhang Xiao Lian had been in the cabinet for half his life, in those ten years he had been the First Assistant. How many people praised him was how many people slandered him. The later generation also half criticized half praised this powerful First Assistant. However, no matter how later generations evaluated, at this time, Zhang Xiao Lian still did what he thought was right with a clear conscience.

For example, choosing the Empress candidate for the Emperor.

After the New Year, the Emperor would be sixteen years old, not to mention imperial family, even the children from ordinary officials should consider starting a family at this age. As the head of a country, the Emperor naturally had many ministers worrying about his marriage.

The ministers carefully selected from the official households of the fifth grade in the capital, the third grade and above in other provinces, and carefully drafted a list of young lady with innocent backgrounds, good morals, and ages between thirteen and sixteen. The Empress Dowager Qian and the cabinet soon got a copy. As soon as the Empress Dowager held the list, she immediately circled the Qian family's young lady.

The Empress Dowager Qian's thoughts were well understood. Three thousand were pampering one person, not hoping to give birth to children only long to become the woman. She herself could stand up because of her family, of course, she understood that the Emperor's family womenfolk have so many benefits. Now because of her the Qian family had become one of the most honorable family in the capital. It didn't make sense for them to have so much influence but didn't send their daughter to the palace.

The Empress Dowager wanted to let the Qian family continued to be the empress, but how could First Assistant Zhang agree.

First Assistant Zhang had made plans for the Emperor for the next ten years. This year the Emperor would choose a candidate who has both ability and political integrity, has warm and virtuous personality to become the empress. According to the legacy of the founding emperor, the concubines of the harem shall not be selected from the houses of important officials, and to select the best from ordinary families, this was to prevent the monopoly of the maternal relatives. Although the legacy of the founding emperor was not very realistic, but the main idea was not wrong. That was, the Empress's family should not be too prominent, so as not to threaten the Emperor's power in the future.

And since she was the empress, her appearance must be dignified and generous, too seductive or too outstanding was not acceptable. The sage of the ancient times valued morality and literary talent, because those who were famous for their beauty all without exception became the calamity for the country.

In this way, one could imagine what kind of women First Assistant Zhang singled out.

When the list that had been instructed by the First Assistant passed on to the Emperor, the Emperor only looked at the first few names and his face turned dark.

The Empress Dowager also eagerly lobbied the Emperor and highly recommended her perfect nieces. However, the Emperor had the heart to set up a little palace maid by his side. The little palace maid had accompanied the Emperor for five years. The two thoughts were very much in line. Whether commenting on the ancient history or poetry, the Emperor and this palace maid had endless topics to talk about, endless jokes to tell. The Emperor ascended the throne at the age of eight. Before ascending to the throne, because Bu Guifei was especially pampered in the harem, he did not receive any attention from his father emperor, let alone favor. After he ascended the throne, although he lived in luxury, but outside there was teacher First Assistant Zhang and inside there was adoptive mother Empress Dowager Qian. Before the Emperor could enjoy his childhood, he had to learn to be an ideal sage king. For ten years in the quite Forbidden City, he could only comfortably talk with this little palace. The Emperor pulled this little palace maid as confidant, and naturally wanted to give his sweetheart a good name.

The First Assistant and the Empress Dowager had their own ideas, but the Emperor seemed to have a favorite candidate. After the election, the disagreement was on the verge of breaking out and gradually became uncontrollable. Afterwards, who became the empress was no longer important. The Emperor, the First Assistant, and the Empress Dowager all felt that their kindness was not reciprocated. The empress's selection was actually just a fuse, the crux of the matter was these three people's estrangement and grievances they accumulated over the years.

It was also an eventful period. When the court was rocked by the storm, at the end of the year there was a continuous snow for a month in the northwest. The farmers' houses collapsed, cattle and sheep were frozen to death, and a large number of starvation even appeared in some places. In order to pass the year decently, the cabinet suppressed the matter, but Zhang Xiao Lian personally wrote a letter, instructing the Governors of Shanxi and Shaanxi to open the warehouse to help people.

Zhang Xiao Lian's heart was good, but the final result was quite different. No one dared to neglect the letter from the First Assistant, but without official court orders, many procedures could not be followed. In addition, the local officials also wanted to have a good New Year. When the news from Shanxi and Shaanxi could not be press down anymore and passed on to the Emperor's ears, in Xi'an Prefecture alone thousands of people had died from freezing and starvation.

Because of this incident, the capital once again set off an uproar.

This time, the impeachment against Zhang Xiao Lian was vicious and fierce, far surpassing the one in early summer last year. The confusion in the court turned into a complete mess, everyone was busy writing impeachment memorials, or busy protecting themselves. Almost no one remembered that in Guanzhong every second someone died.

Yan Wang really couldn't stand by and watch, so he requested himself to be sent out of the capital and went to Qin and Shaanxi for disaster relief.

"The snow was heavy last night and the wind blew all night, but it's sunny this morning, which is really weird."

"Isn't it?" Lin Wei Xi's stomach had already bulging. With the support of the maid, she slowly walked in the deep winding corridor of Yan Wang Mansion. There was heavy snow last night, and all trees in the vicinity were covered with white snow, only the snow on the roof were melted by the sun, revealing the green glazed tiles underneath.

Liu Su Niang carried her skirt while walking down the steps, she turned around and hurriedly said to Lin Wei Xi: "There are steps here, Wangfei be careful with your steps."

Lin Wei Xi cautiously stepped on the ground and said, "I am not as fragile as you think, I still able to walk, why would I be so delicate? I was kept in the house for three months to take care of my fetus, cannot come out to stretch my legs. My bones are about to rust."

Yan Wang went out of the capital just after the New Year to fix up the disaster situation, didn't even celebrate the Lantern Festival. Lin Wei Xi stayed alone in the mansion, with great difficulty the imperial physician' orders, because of the startled horse' incident, had finally passed. As long as Lin Wei Xi did not move around too much, daily activities should be safe. Liu Su Niang felt sorry that Lin Wei Xi lived by herself with her first pregnancy, so she dared to run over to accompany Lin Wei Xi. Unexpectedly, the famous Yan Wangfei was very friendly. In the past few days, Liu Su Niang often came to Yan Wang Mansion, and she gradually became familiar with Lin Wei Xi.

The two of them came out of the main courtyard and walked around in the garden for half a circle, both of them were sweating thinly. There was a pavilion right in the front, Lin Wei Xi asked the maid to put down the windshield curtain, leaving only one side open, and she sat down opposite Liu Su Niang.

The maids filed in with charcoal fire, hot tea and pastries. In just a short time, the pavilion became fragrant and pleasant, warm and harmonious. Sitting in the pavilion, you could see the vast snow scene outside, holding hot tea and a pleasantly warm stove to enjoy the snow, the breeze was gusting, the sky was high and the air was refreshing, the depression in the chest had unknowingly disappeared.

Chapter 96 Part 2: The Wind Blows

Liu Su Niang took a sip of hot tea, put her fingers on the green porcelain cup and asked Lin Wei Xi: "Wangfei, your due is in early April this year?"

"Yes." Lin Wei Xi nodded, placing her palm on her stomach, her expression unconsciously softened, "He's already seven months old, I didn't even realize."

"When the child is born, every day is like that, it's called not knowing the years." When talking about the child, Liu Su Niang couldn't help but smile. "I don't know if this baby is a boy or a girl. But from what I see he know how to love his mother. He specifically chose to be born in April, when the spring is in full bloom, isn't it just to make Wangfei suffer less. When the child is born, the weather will be just right, and confinement will not be like the summer, and at that time, Yan Wang must have already returned."

The more Liu Su-niang talked, the more she felt that it was like Heaven's will. When Lin Wei Xi heard Gu Hui Yan's name, the smile on her face couldn't help but constricted: "I hope."

"Yan Wang will definitely come back." Liu Su Niang didn't expect that her casual words would cause Lin Wei Xi's grief. She hurriedly comforted Lin Wei Xi: "Yan Wang's trip this time is to provide disaster relief. If it was not because there is no one else in the court, why would Yan Wang leave you this mother and child and go out for disaster relief out of the capital by himself? Guanzhong's matters are really messy. A few days ago, my lord was very worried every day in the court. It was not until Yan Wang asked for his order that he finally put down his heart and said to me, 'Guanzhong is the land of Longxing (the origin) of Three Qin and Two Han Dynasties. Now starving people are everywhere, if the delay continues, afraid there will be riot. Now that Yan Wang has gone, then there's no need to worry.'"

Lin Wei Xi did not expect that the future First Assistant Shen's evaluation of Yan Wang would be this high. Shen Changzhou was right to worry. If Guanzhong's snow disaster was not dealt quickly, it might be not long before everyone revolted. The Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties were nurtured from there. Perhaps Guanzhong this piece of land had some mysterious power. If there was revolt in Guanzhong it was not a small matter.

Seeing that Zhang Xiao Lian and the Emperor were now started to get dirty, Lin Wei Xi could basically conclude that the heavenly book was correct, and soon Zhang Xiao Lian would pass away. The mainstay would fall, and Zhang's party, like abandoning a sinking ship, would scatters. In the next ten years the court would still settling accounts with Zhang Xiao Lian, rejecting Zhang Xiao Lian, and then vindicated Zhang Xiao Lian again. The First Assistant after Zhang Xiao Lian was Shen Changzhou, the husband of Liu Su Niang in front of her.

First Assistant Shen's ancestral hometown was in Changzhou. Nowadays, factions in the court were prevalent, and because factions that naturally formed by ancestral hometown were also very strong, so in the officialdom many used hometown to called others. Lin Wei Xi also followed the officialdom's method of calling Shen shi as Shen Changzhou.

Speaking of natural disasters, Liu Su Niang also sighed: "Who knows that this year's snow will be so fierce. I heard that there are thousands of people freezing to death in Xi'an every day. Sometimes a whole family freezes to death, even there are no people to collect their bodies. Alas, not only my lord, but many people are actually worried about the situation in the northwest. The northwestern people are sturdy, and not too far away there are foreign tribes glaring like tiger watching its prey. If there is chaos in Guanzhong, the northern tribes will take advantage of the situation to go south, then it will be troublesome. Of course these barbarians can't compete with our imperial court, but these people fight back and forth, and the one that suffer stills common people. Fortunately, there is Yan Wang, because if there's Yan Wang, there is no need to worry about outside and internal wars."

Lin Wei Xi laughed: "Wangye has only been away for more than ten days. I am afraid that he has just entered Xi'an. It is too early to say these words now."

"How can this be called early?" Liu Su Niang unexpectedly stern, and said solemnly, "Ten years ago, the northern tribes invade the border, the northern part of Yan, Zhao, Qi and other places were fighting, to be able to gradually calmed down the wars in various places was it not relied on Yan Wang alone. In the past few years, there was a great chaos in the capital, and if there was no Yan Wang who entered the capital in times to save the country, it's uncertain what the scene is now. Yan Wang's achievements have been remembered throughout the Great Zhou. Although I and my lord are unknown people, but also sincerely admire Yan Wang. Now the northwest met natural disasters, in spite of the severe cold at the end of the year, even heartlessly left his pregnant Wangfei, Yan Wang still personally went to the northwest for disaster relief. With this act of his, it's unknown how many people will be saved. Yan Wang is highly loyal and admired by many people. I don't say this to be flattering or fawn over. This is really my sincere word."

Liu Su Niang's words were solemn, and Lin Wei Xi couldn't help but straighten up. She looked at Liu Su Niang for a while, and slowly smiled: "Su Niang's words are too heavy, on behalf of Wangye I thanked Su Niang and Shen Changzhou for their trust. You usually look gentle and weak, and you don't like to go out to socialize, didn't expect to have such insights on political affairs."

Liu Su Niang was suddenly praised, her cheeks flushed, and she smiled shyly: "I just listened to the words my lord said. I just learned it randomly, not worthy of Wangfei's praise."

"How can it be not worthy. Although Su Niang is a woman, but also a woman who can match any men, seeing this sharpness let people feel ashamed of one's inferior." Lin Wei Xi said this sincerely. No wonder in the previous life Liu Su Niang had died for many years but Shen Changzhou did not remarry, and he still have a deep affection for Liu Su Niang. Presumably this couple often discuss political affairs, each other's hearts and minds were mutually interlink and became confidants, this kind of affection could be discovered but not be sought.

Even if it was their own backyard and there were no other people around, they couldn't talk too much about current affairs. Lin Wei Xi and Liu Su Niang had tacit understanding and quickly changed the subject: "You came out today and left all the children with Shen Changzhou, is that okay?"

"What can be the problem." Liu Su Niang was very relieved. "Those little devils like to pester their fathers very much, and do not think who gave birth to them. I also don't want to stay at home all the time, as if besides home, I have nowhere else to go. Don't mind them, we can talk freely. On the contrary, you are the only one in the mansion these days. Even if there are servants, it's still too hard."

"What hard can I have?" Lin Wei Xi laughed. If according to the trajectory in the heavenly book, Liu Su Niang was pushed into the pool by Zhao Wang during the Dragon Boat Festival the year before last and died early. In this life, because Lin Wei Xi pulled Liu Su Niang in time, she didn't fall into the pool and gave birth to her baby safely. Naturally, Shen Changzhou's madam had nothing to do with the daughter of Han's family. Now Lin Wei Xi watched their family was very harmonious and happy, her heart silently said 'it's really nice'.

Liu Su Niang saw Lin Wei Xi although smiling, but the smile seemed to be a bit lonely. Liu Su-niang knew it in her heart, Yan Wangfei didn't say anything, but she still missed Yan Wang who was away from the capital. That said, which woman didn't want her husband to be with her when she was pregnant, not to mention this was Lin Wei Xi's first child, and the relationship between their husband and wife had always been very good.

Liu Su Niang didn't know how to console her. Although she unhesitatingly said that Yan Wang would be able to come back before Lin Wei Xi gave birth, but after the snowstorm, there was a risk of plague. Yan Wang must guard against the plagues and rebellions in various places. Who dared to guarantee that Yan Wang could be back in April. Liu Su-niang felt sorry for her, Lin Wei Xi had a life-saving grace for her, on top of that she was the wife of Yan Wang, Liu Su Niang and her husband both respected Lin Wei Xi. Now seeing this exquisite and beautiful like immortal Yan Wangfei showed her loneliness, Liu Su Niang as a woman couldn't stand it.

Liu Su-niang led Lin Wei Xi to talk about children instead. Liu Su-niang already had a son and a daughter, if it's about parenting she could talk endlessly, and Lin Wei Xi unknowingly was also taken in.

When mentioning children, Lin Wei Xi's expression was indeed energetic. Liu Su Niang gradually felt relieve. They were still talking when suddenly saw a figure walking on the other side of the path. In such snowy day, eyes were full of white, just this person wore pink all over, wrapped in silvery snow it was unspeakably striking to the eyes.

Lin Wei Xi was also surprised to see this person. She asked the maid next to her: "Who is this?"

"Answering Wangfei, this is the new lady that Shizi brought back to the mansion."

Gu Cheng Yao's concubine? Lin Wei Xi was surprised. When this happened? How could she as the mansion's mistress and also the stepmother didn't know? As the people walked in, her face appeared in front of everyone. When Lin Wei Xi saw the other's face, her face suddenly sank.

This concubine looked very much like her in the previous life.

Chapter 97 Part 1: Giving Birth

Lin Wei Xi's face sank when she saw the woman walking down the path.

Although it was only a vague shadow, this woman had big eyes and a high nose, just looking at the upper half of her face, she did look like Gao Xi. Lin Wei Xi thus thought that this was the woman Gu Cheng Yao had brought back, but covered it up so not letting her know, how could she not get angry.

Wan Yue felt bad when she saw this Lu Niang. When she caught sight of Lin Wei Xi's uncomfortable expression her chest tighten, she hurriedly walked down the steps and waved to the little maids who was attending outside: "Wangfei is receiving a visitor, who permit you to let miscellaneous people to come in?"

The maids hurriedly went to pull Lu Niang out, but Lu Niang refused to cooperate. She wore a pink jacket and skirt, her hair pulled into a very high bun, with white snow on the ground simply, it simply pierced the eyes: "Mother Wangfei, this slave is brought back by Shizi, and still hasn't come to pay respect to you."

Lin Wei Xi's face was cold, and Liu Su Niang also felt awkward. She had long heard that Shizi Consort of Yan Wang Mansion suddenly reject the world for monastic life and moved into the Buddhist Hall to pray for her mother-in-law. Which family's womenfolk did not enjoy the rich and honorable days, and insisted to enter the quiet place of Six Roots to serve Buddha? This looks like an excuse. But this topic had become taboo in the capital, and even the gossipy madam dare not gossip about it. Yan Wang Mansion's Shizi Consort entered the Buddhist Hall after Wangfei received the shock that caused her fetus to be a bit unstable, in addition it was said at that time the old madam of Duke Yingguo Mansion came to Yan Wang Mansion, but when she returned she fell ill. All the signs were connected together, afraid the reason for the Shizi Consort's imprisonment was probably related to Wangfei. Maybe it have something to do with the startled horse matters.

Thinking of this who was not sweating all over, where still dare to continue to investigate. During the New Year, the womenfolk would gather together, celebrated with song and dance, all smiled and paid a New Year's greetings, not at all mention a word of Yan Wang Shizi Consort Gao Ran, who was once in the limelight.

It seems that there had never been such a person in the capital.

Now Liu Su Niang directly ran into the newly bought concubine of Shizi Gu Cheng Yao, which seemed to confirm the silent speculation in the capital. One could imagine how awkward Liu Su Niang was. On the other side, the maids, half persuading and half coercing, hurriedly took Lu Niang by the arms. When the people could not be seen anymore, Wan Yue lowered her head and pleaded with Lin Wei Xi: "This slave neglected her duties, and letting unrelated person to come in and offend Wangfei and Lady Liu, asked Wangfei to give punishment."

No decent family would let the concubine come out to welcome the guests, when entertaining the guest suddenly ran into a woman with peach powder from head to toe with unclear identity, this was considered rude to the madam who came as the guest. Liu Su Niang hurriedly smiled and broke the awkwardness: "It's no bother, the other side deliberately did it, and you can't stop it no matter how carefully you arranged it. Just sitting for a long time, I'm a little tired, and Wangfei can't stand the cold, let's go back."

In front of Liu Su Niang, Lin Wei Xi didn't say much, smiled and took Liu Su Niang back to the main courtyard. As soon as Liu Su Niang left, Lin Wei Xi's face immediately cooled down: "What's going on today?"

Wan Yue stepped forward and knelt on the ground, bowed her head and said, "Reporting for Wangfei. This slave have arranged manpower on the trail, but the garden was big, and it was snowing. The granny that guard the road didn't see Lu Niang, at once let her break in. It was this slave neglecting her duty. Ask Wangfei to give punishment."

Yan Wang Mansion's garden covered a vast area, and now in winter, the trees looks bleak, made it more and more spacious and empty. The road in the garden extended in all directions. If someone looked at it and want to get in, how could a few grannies at the entrance stop them? What's more, in their own mansion, Wan Yue's focus was not to guard the checkpoint. She arranged more manpower by Wangfei's side, and carefully looked after Lin Wei Xi.

No one thought that this nameless woman would be so bold, dared to wear pink in public, and ran to Lin Wei Xi with a big heart. Lin Wei Xi also knew that Wan Yue couldn't be blamed for today's matters. She fined Wan Yue three months' salary and let Wan Yue get up.

"Her name is Lu Niang?"

Wan Yue was embarrassed and tried to respond as cautiously as possible: "Yes. When Shizi brought her back didn't say what her status is. The people below didn't dare to make claims, so she is called Lu Niang for the time being."

Gu Cheng Yao brought the people back, but didn't say whether this was a concubine or a tongfang or just an ordinary singer plaything. The maids in Qingsong Garden had just experienced the catastrophe of Shizi Consort, and now they all felt anxious, how they still dare to casually agree. They were afraid calling her too high will make the master unhappy, but they couldn't call her miss either, without better option they took one word from the woman's name and vaguely call her Lu Niang.

"Who is she? When did she enter the mansion?" Mentioning this Lin Wei Xi became more and more angry, what did Gu Cheng Yao mean? Without saying a word, he brought back a woman who looked like Gao Xi back, but he sneakily kept Lin Wei Xi from knowing. Who he was trying to disgust?

Wan Yue became more cautious, holding her breath and shook her head, then she lowered her eyes and refused to say anything. Lin Wei Xi knew that she couldn't ask Wan Yue anything. If really want to ask about this matter, still need to ask the person involve.

At a quick glance today, this Lu Niang was covered in pink, with hair pulled in a high bun, and a golden hairpin on top. Only a primary wife could wear red and crimson, and Lu Niang wore a bright and gorgeous pink that was only a hue lower than red. It could be seen that she was very arrogant and very ambitious. Lu Niang was just a woman who was bought back without a name. Where did she get the confidence to be this flamboyant that she almost blatantly provoked the face of the primary wife?

The reason could only come from the male master. It must be the illusion that a noble master gave her, let her thought that she was very favored. It happened that Shizi's primary wife was beaten into the cold palace. Perhaps she thought she could fight hard and get herself a future of a side concubine (cefei) or even a primary concubine (zhengfei). Therefore Lu Niang ostentatiously came to find Lin Wei Xi, and tried to kowtow to Lin Wei Xi and from Lin Wei Xi she could publicly acknowledged.

What a courage.

"Outrageous." Lin Wei Xi's anger was not light, she slapped her hand on the table, and everyone in the room was holding their breath, didn't dare to speak. Of course Lin Wei Xi was angry, but she also knew that she was not angry because Gu Cheng Yao willfully took a woman back, nor was it because Gu Cheng Yao spoiled concubine unprincipledly and broke dignity rules. She was angry because the woman looks like Gao Xi.

This was not Lin Wei Xi's own narcissism, but because she had looked at that face in the mirror for seventeen years, how could she not recognize her previous life's appearance. Although the overall feeling was completely different, but if the mouth and chin were covered and only looked at the upper half of the face, at first glance it could easily create an illusion.

This made Lin Wei Xi feel offended.

But it was exactly because she knew that she couldn't say anything. When did she meet Gao Xi? Even if she knew it was Gao Xi, but Shizi missed his deceased wife and found a woman with a similar face to spoil her, how could it concerned Lin Wei Xi as the stepmother?

Lin Wei Xi was angry for a while, still feeling extremely annoyed. In the end she could only drop her face and said to Wan Yue impatiently: "Pass on a message to Shizi. It doesn't matter if he want to receive and spoil her. But let him remember that once out of his courtyard, just take care of his women. If dare to rush in front of me like today, don't blame me for destroying the flowers and being rude to his sweetheart."

Wan Yue lowered her head to take her orders. When she heard this, her eyes drooped and agreed in a low voice.

Chapter 97 Part 2: Giving Birth

Wan Xing did not have as much thought as Wan Yue. Seeing that Lin Wei Xi was in a bad mood, she tried to please her by bringing the oranges and peel them: "Wangfei, this is the new tribute oranges, do you want to try?"

Lin Wei Xi had no appetite, she glanced at it and said, "Just put down first."

Wan Xing peeled the oranges for Lin Wei Xi silently. She placed the clean orange segments on the blue porcelain plate, while muttering unconsciously: "They just see that Wangye is not here. If Wangye is in the mansion, who dare to make you angry? "

Speaking of Gu Hui Yan, Lin Wei Xi's anger really weakened, and turned into melancholy. Gu Hui Yan had already left for half a month, and she was expecting labor in less than three months. Could Gu Hui Yan really rushed back?

Gu Hui Yan left very anxiously at that time, hurriedly passed the word that he was going to go faraway. When Lin Wei Xi packed his clothes, she couldn't speak privately, even until he took people to depart. And in front of so many people, Lin Wei Xi couldn't talk to him the matter of giving birth and the like.

So did Gu Hui Yan know that she would have a baby in April? Lin Wei Xi's heart was gloomy, of course she could write to him and tell him, but before Gu Hui Yan left, he was still a bit indifferent with her. What's more, Gu Hui Yan was really occupied by the trip this time, and Lin Wei Xi rashly sent a letter urging him to return early. What was this called?

"Wangfei?"

Lin Wei Xi returned to her senses and saw Wan Xing looked at her with concern. Lin Wei Xi realized that she had been in a daze for a long time.

Lin Wei Xi's anger suddenly burst out, and whispered: "Love return not return. Anyway, the birth of the eldest son also not caught up. It's not unusual to miss another one. If you don't come back, I will name him myself."

Wan Xing didn't hear what Lin Wei Xi said, but looking at Wangfei's face, it's good if they didn't know. Wan Xing smiled and didn't dare to interrupt.

The days without the head of the household passed by very slowly but also very quickly. Very slowly because Lin Wei Xi was frustrated every day, it seemed that there was no difference every single day. Very quickly because before she noticed it, it's already March.

Lin Wei Xi's movement was already very inconvenient, she needed people to support her when going out. However, her belly was huge, but her waist was still slender. Today Gu Cheng Yao came to pay respect to her as usual. When he came in, he saw Lin Wei Xi walking around the garden supported by the maid. Her belly was already high and bulging, but her waist was surprisingly thin. Gu Cheng Yao almost squeezed a cold sweat. He was afraid the servants by the side would break Lin Wei Xi's waist if they were not careful.

Gu Cheng Yao's eyes followed Lin Wei Xi's body, and he couldn't help but a bit impatient. Wan Yue accompanied Lin Wei Xi, she became alert when she heard Shizi's arrival. When she saw Gu Cheng Yao's expression at this time, her heart sank. She immediately walked over and crisply yelled, "Greetings, Shizi."

The clear female voice immediately pulled Gu Cheng Yao's thoughts back, and he saw the maid in front of him watching him warily. Gu Cheng Yao only shoot her a glance, and then walked by Wan Yue silently, stopped five steps away, and steadily saluted Lin Wei Xi: "This son pay respect to mother."

The parent was here, Gu Cheng Yao was also in good health, so there was no reason to miss the daily paid respect in the morning and evening. In the past, Lin Wei Xi deliberately avoided him. When Gu Cheng Yao came to pay respect, they talked across the window, even if the paid respect was over. But today' schedule was a bit unfortunate, unexpectedly bump into each other head-on.

Lin Wei Xi's face was indifferent, casually nodded without turning her face away. After this accident, she was not in the mood to walk in the garden as exercise to ensure a smooth delivery. She let Wan Xing helped her walk into the house.

Usually at this point Gu Cheng Yao would turn around and leave. But today didn't know why, Gu Cheng Yao wanted to stay a little longer. He followed Lin Wei Xi into the main room with his face as usual. Behind, Wan Yue's gaze almost burned a hole in his back.

"How's mother lately? Did younger brother or sister troubled you?"

Lin Wei Xi looked up at Gu Cheng Yao strangely, and said, "It's alright, Shizi is considerate."

Gu Cheng Yao paused, and then asked: "I heard that mother's appetite is not good recently and hardly eats much anymore?"

Lin Wei Xi's morning sickness period was no long, but didn't expect when she was near delivery time she would be very nauseous instead, and had no appetite for anything. But everyone knew that Lin Wei Xi could not lack strength during this period of times.

Lin Wei Xi still looked unconcerned, said with a cold tone: "Who is so meddlesome and talked about this in front of you?"

Gu Cheng Yao was a little helpless. Lin Wei Xi had always been willful like this. Her health was not good, and everyone was caring for her, but she herself seemed to ignore it. Gu Cheng Yao didn't dare to irritate her, so he could only say: "No one talks too much. Your delivery is the most important matter in our mansion, and everyone in the mansion dare not to relax. Why still need someone else to remind you? Your body is weak, I heard that when women giving birth it consumes life' qi and blood. If you don't eat properly right now, how can you have any strength then?"

Lin Wei Xi had heard these words many times, and casually let out an "hmm", without even lifting her head. Gu Cheng Yao was full of concern, but it seemed to only hit the air.

Gu Cheng Yao couldn't help laughing at himself. This was different from the past. No matter how much he said words of concern, Lin Wei Xi didn't even bother to listen, let alone took it to heart. Perhaps only if these words come from his father's mouth, then Lin Wei Xi would more or less listen to them.

He knew that his feelings were inappropriate and useless, and instead could put Lin Wei Xi in crisis. Gu Cheng Yao was also determined to bury all this, they all should have a new life. However, no matter how many times he made up his mind, when he heard the people inadvertently say that Wangfei had no appetite, and barely touch her dinner these few days, he still couldn't hold back his heart and wanted to come and personally have a look.

He made an excuse for himself, he only came to take a look at Lin Wei Xi. But when he really saw the person, he wanted to stay with her for a while, persuading her to eat well and take care of her body.

Lin Wei Xi's intention to send off the guests was very obvious, but Gu Cheng Yao remained silent in front of her for a long time, and after a long while he was still not leaving. Lin Wei Xi's eyes fell on Gu Cheng Yao's body, and lightly glance at him: "Shizi, you still have something?"

Gu Cheng Yao stood in his original place for a while, and suddenly showed a helpless smile, or it should be said a forced smile: "You are right, you really saw this day."

What? Lin Wei Xi turned her head suspiciously, but she did not see Gu Cheng Yao's expression. Gu Cheng Yao turned his face away and deliberately looked at the vibrant spring scene outside the window: "Father sent a letter the day before yesterday, Shanxi and Shaanxi' arrangements has been properly made. He should be back soon."

When his father return, she could really feel at ease.

This time Gu Cheng Yao didn't wait for Lin Wei Xi's reply, and walked out quickly before she could respond.

Of course Lin Wei Xi found it baffling. She only regarded Gu Cheng Yao as going crazy, and did not take the previous sentence to heart. It was now the end of March, and the capital was full of flowers and the spring breeze was cool and soft. According to the letter sent back by Yan Wang a few days ago, he should arrived in the capital in early April, just in time for when Lin Wei Xi giving birth.

But things in this world could have coincidences. On the evening of the conversation with Gu Cheng Yao, Lin Wei Xi suddenly felt her stomach hurts, and then the pain gradually became stronger, until she couldn't even stand steadily. The midwife that already arranged at earlier time came over to take a look, and said solemnly: "I'm afraid Wangfei is going to start."

Wan Xing was shocked: "But the due date is still half a month away!"

"Each woman's childbirth has its own circumstances. It's not uncommon to start half a month early." The midwife hurried out as she said, "Go and call people over, I'm afraid Wangfei will be tonight."

Chapter 98 Part 1: Pearl

After the midwife said this, the maids in the courtyard was obviously panicked: "Wangye is not in the mansion, who should be invited over?"

Wan Yue came back to her senses, and hurriedly said, "Hurry up and call someone at Grand Princess Shou Kang Mansion. The grand princess has a lot of knowledge and must have an idea. There is also Lady Liu of Shen Mansion. She already gave birth to two children, should also know what to do."

"But night curfew is soon, we may not have time to go out now..."

"That's enough!" Lin Wei Xi experienced another labor pain, and now her face was white. There were fine beads of sweat on her forehead, her face was bloodless, and one look everyone knew the pain was severe. Lin Wei Xi almost used all her willpower to say: "It's late, don't bother grand princess and Liu Su Niang. In the mansion the stuffs for giving birth have been prepared since a long time ago. All the stuffs that should be there are readily available, the two midwife are also experienced old-timer. You all will listen to the midwife's words, just deliver the baby like this."

"Wangfei…"

Gao Ran was imprisoned in the Buddhist hall, and Yan Wang was not in the mansion. Now Lin Wei Xi was about to give birth. All at once the people who could make decision in the mansion were gone, it's understandable for the maids to be panic. Fortunately, Lin Wei Xi was very strict with them. Even on this occasion, the maids ran around to bring scissors and to boil hot water, they were nervous but orderly, and none of them appeared chaotic.

Gu Cheng Yao was studying in the study as usual. Today, for some unknown reason, he couldn't calm down for a long time. He heard the maids running around outside with loud footsteps. Gu Cheng Yao opened the door and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Wangfei is suddenly in pain and now is about to enter the delivery room."

Gu Cheng Yao was taken aback. Why no one told him about such a big thing? Did Lin Wei Xi plan to do it by herself?

Gu Cheng Yao hurried to the main courtyard. He and Lin Wei Xi were about the same age. When the stepmother gave birth, it was strange for him as the stepson to come over, but human life is beyond value. How many women went back and forth to the gates of hell during childbirth, and then did not get through. Compared to Lin Wei Xi's safety, avoiding suspicion was nothing.

When Gu Cheng Yao arrived, he happened to see Lin Wei Xi walked into the specially prepared delivery room supported by people. Even at this time, Lin Wei Xi insisted on walking by herself and refused to lie down easily. Gu Cheng Yao's lips moved, his hand lifted a little, and then put it down again. Lin Wei Xi was his stepmother, and his younger brother or sister would be born soon. What qualifications did he have, and what position did he have to tell Lin Wei Xi not to be afraid.

Since Gu Cheng Yao appeared, the maids who were running around in the courtyard obviously became more confident. Although Gu Cheng Yao could not decide anything about Lin Wei Xi's matters, but with a master standing in the main hall, the people felt a little bit reassured. Standing in the courtyard of the early spring, for the first time Gu Cheng Yao felt that times flies so slowly.

He was only eighteen or nineteen years old. Although he had two marriages, they had not lasted long. He never experienced the battle of childbirth. He only heard that women giving birth were very dangerous, if the baby's fetus was not good, it could cause dystocia, hemorrhage, etc. However, these few words he heard before further aggravated Gu Cheng Yao's panic.

The sky gradually turned into a dark blue color, and the blush color in the west could not be seen anymore. The evening in March was particularly comfortable, the wind was moist and cool, with the faint fragrance of magnolia. In the eyes of the scholars, this was probably a poetic leisurely spring night that makes people feel prosperous. But Gu Cheng Yao didn't notice the outside world at all, his mind was all ahead. The movement in the delivery room was really not optimistic. The shouts and running footsteps were endless. Just listening to it, Gu Cheng Yao thought that she must be in pain.

She was actually very afraid of pain.

Gu Cheng Yao's thoughts galloped wildly, suddenly heard the sound of orderly and powerful footsteps from behind, and the whole mansion seemed to get excited by this. Gu Cheng Yao felt an imposing air, quickly turned around. As expected, Yan Wang was back.

"Father."

The people in the courtyard were surprised and delighted. The maid that was holding the water basin immediately put the things in her hands, knelt on the ground and deeply pressed her forehead on the ground: "Wangye!"

Gu Hui Yan nodded casually, without looking at the people, but fell straight on the closed door of the delivery room: "She has gone in?"

"Answering Wangye, Wangfei has been in the delivery room for half an hour."

Gu Hui Yan's eyes fell on the door, the expression on his face condensed. He was still wearing an inky black court dress, the sun and moon and beasts on his body were magnificent and rich. Perhaps it was because he hasten his return, Gu Hui Yan's aura still carried the majestic he showed in Shanxi and Shaanxi: "Isn't it supposed to be mid-April? How can it be so much earlier?"

The maid shook her head and said that she didn't know, Gu Hui Yan waved his hand with a calm face and motioned them to do their own thing.

Gu Hui Yan came back early. Although he didn't say a word, the atmosphere in the entire courtyard suddenly changed. This invisible change was far beyond Gu Cheng Yao's ability.

Gu Cheng Yao lowered his head silently, clenching the hand that was about to extend a while ago. During this period of time when his father was not in the mansion, he paid respect morning and evening every day. Although most of the time Lin Wei Xi could not be seen, but it gave him an illusion, perhaps it would be good to live such peaceful and regular days. Lin Wei Xi suddenly gave birth prematurely, and Gu Cheng Yao rushed to the scene immediately. Separated by thin walls, Lin Wei Xi was inside, and he waited anxiously outside. This was also easy to create a sense of confusion.

But now, all falsehoods and delusions had been shattered by force. Gu Hui Yan had return.

With him just stood there and didn't to say anything, he became the backbone for everyone. Presumably, the maids had already passed the news to the delivery room, the midwife's voice obviously became more rhythmic, and it was clear that the mother's mood had stabilized.

The dark blue sky turned into a deep black, and then gradually turned into ink black. The stars filled up the whole sky, and it was already three hours since Lin Wei Xi entered the delivery room.

Looking at the basin full of watery blood from the delivery room, Gu Hui Yan who led the troops to fight battle for many years, felt dizzy and palpitated for the first time.

"Is that her blood?"

The maid with the blood basin stopped and hurriedly saluted in this position: "Answering Wangye, not entirely, there is already hot water in the basin."

But even this was scary enough. The little maid who replied hurriedly ran away and returned with a new basin of hot water. Gu Hui Yan watched these people around him come and go, in his half lifetime that although was not that long but could be said to experienced strong wind and big waves, he felt scared for the first time.

Chapter 98 Part 2: Pearl

He hurriedly left the capital that day. It was true that the situation in Guanzhong was not optimistic, he was anxious to deal with the disaster. But there was also a small factor that he did not know how to face Lin Wei Xi. Simply avoiding in the name of disaster relief, he thought, he needs to calm down for a while.

When he was in Xi'an, he helped victims of the disaster, mobilized provisions, rebuilt houses, as well as sprayed medicines to guard against the plague after a natural disaster. There were endless tasks waiting for him every day, and Gu Hui Yan had absolutely no time to let his imagination run wild. But in the dead of night, when he sat in the Governor's Mansion, his thoughts would always uncontrollably float to Lin Wei Xi. Lin Wei Xi was experiencing morning sickness when he left, didn't know if it's better now. He heard that women would have cramps in the later stages of pregnancy, sometimes could not sleep all night, and yet he irresponsibly abandoned her and left...

Lin Wei Xi had never written to him, but Gu Hui Yan knew everything about Lin Wei Xi's movement. Later, the letter that were sent by his trusted aide said that Wangfei's appetite had plummeted as the month gets bigger, she couldn't even eat for a few days.

Gu Hui Yan didn't know how angry he was when he received the letter. He only been away for a few days, but Lin Wei Xi was not eating well again. She even dared to blatantly not have dinner. If he didn't specifically leave someone to watch over her, afraid Lin Wei Xi would threaten the maids again, and flip this incident lightly, and then when he returned, he would never know what Lin Wei Xi had done.

Gu Hui Yan finally couldn't sit still. His daily official duties were already heavy, and those days became more and more stressful. The governor's mansion top to bottom were used as support around the clock. Gu Hui Yan quickly took care of the snow disaster. The remaining things like rebuilding houses and so on would be time-consuming laborious work. Gu Hui Yan left these to the local officials. He arranged for some trusted aide to provide assistance, or to be more accurate to supervise. He himself quickly returned to the capital.

However, even though he returned to the capital half a month earlier, he almost missed Lin Wei Xi's birth.

Looking at this basin of watery blood and the heart stopping cry from the delivery room, Gu Hui Yan felt a wave of fear. He had long heard about how dangerous childbirth for women. There were dystocia and hemorrhage, postnatal illness, and there were also those who have completely injured their body because of childbirth... there were numerous, Gu Hui Yan couldn't even think about it. If Lin Wei Xi also had any mishap, she would disappear forever, then what should he do.

In comparison, the anger and shock Gu Hui Yan had before leaving the capital were nothing. He even left Lin Wei Xi because of these things, left her alone in this dangerous situation. If he did not rush back tonight, if Lin Wei Xi had any mishap, he would not be able to forgive himself for the rest of his life.

Suddenly there was commotion in the delivery room, the midwife's voice clearly became much urgent: "Wangfei push, I have already seen the head... quickly give Wangfei ginseng slice! Come on push... it's come out, it's come out!"

Both Gu Hui Yan and Gu Cheng Yao were shocked, and immediately locked their eyes on the door of the delivery room.

Very soon, the midwife opened the door and came out. She held a tightly wrapped baby in her arms, smiled and said: "Congratulations Yan Wang, it's a precious daughter."

It's a precious daughter?

The midwife put the little baby in front of Gu Hui Yan. Gu Hui Yan almost cautiously stretched out his hand, and very carefully touched her face.

In fact, Gu Hui Yan wasn't sure what to expect, but when he felt her heat and humidity, and how she still carried her mother's body temperature, Gu Hui Yan's heart suddenly softened.

This was their daughter, the daughter of him and Lin Wei Xi. He spent half his life as a military horse, but in his thirties, he received such a precious gift.

The midwife originally worried that Wangfei gave birth to a daughter, would this kind of great mansion be unhappy. But when she saw Yan Wang took special care and gazed at this little life, wanted to touch but didn't dare to, her heart was at ease. How could heavenly descendants be the same as ordinary people's house? Yan Wang's child, even a daughter, was also an honorable Junzhu1, glistening like pearls, what should she worried about.

Seeing that Yan Wang liked the child very much, the midwife immediately put down her heart, the smile on her face became brighter. Isn't it brilliant? Yan Wang Mansion had gave birth, the attitude of the family to the child directly related to her reward. The midwife grinning from ear to ear and said: "Wangye, after seeing it the child has to be taken inside. Although it is March, and she's tightly wrapped, but I dare not let her get blown by the wind for too long."

Only then did Gu Hui Yan react, yes, she was just born, how could she get blown by the wind? Even if the room was surrounded by screens, Gu Hui Yan always feels that the outside environment was not safe, and every place threatened his fragile daughter. The midwife held the baby again to show Gu Cheng Yao, and at this time, Gu Hui Yan suddenly realized that something was amiss: "Where is Wangfei? Why cannot hear her voice?"

Gu Cheng Yao was still immersed in the wonder of this little life, but when Gu Hui Yan said this, he was also startled.

The midwife was taken aback by Yan Wang's voice. She said in her heart it was indeed a person who had been on the battlefield and walked through the Hall of Supreme Harmony2. He was so friendly just now, but when he revealed his true color still could scare people endlessly. The midwife covered her heart, waiting for the palpitations to pass, before she could speak: "Wangfei is too tired and has gone to sleep." Seeing that Gu Hui Yan's expression was wrong, she added another sentence: "Wangye please don't worry, Wangfei do not have a sign of postnatal bleeding, just exhausted."

Gu Hui Yan looked into the room, still feeling uneasy. He bypassed the crowd and wanted to go in, but was hurriedly stopped by the servants: "Wangye you cannot. The delivery room is full of blood and will destruct the official career."

"I have led dozens of battles from south to north, the number of lives on my hands is uncountable. Even if it will destruct, it's the blood fiend on my body that will destruct other people. What, delivery room is ominous, how can I care about such absurd words?"

After Gu Hui Yan finished speaking, he strode in without looking back. The mixture of humidity and blood' smells in the delivery room rushed towards his face. Gu Hui Yan saw Lin Wei Xi on the bed, and his heart suddenly clenched.

She had always loved beauty, but now she was lying weakly and helplessly on the wet bedding, strands of wet hair sticking to her forehead, her complexion was pale, and her lips were chapped, only her chest moved ups and downs weakly.

Gu Hui Yan carefully took Lin Wei Xi's hand, placed it to his lips, and kissed it lightly.

"Xi'er, I'm back."

1 Junzhu, the title of a princess, the daughter of a prince (wang) ↩

2 Hall of Supreme Harmony, one of three major halls of the Forbidden City, it's the place where the emperor enthroned and held important ceremonies.↩

Chapter 99 Part 1: Reborn

The news that Yan Wangfei gave birth to a daughter, and that the mother and daughter were safe spread quickly. Now already entered night curfew, perhaps when the sun comes out tomorrow, everyone in the capital would know that Yan Wang Mansion had a new Junzhu.

Yan Wang spent half his life as military horse, fighting in the north and the south, and Shizi also had grown up alone. It was conceivable how the two of them love this newly-born, incredibly soft little Junzhu.

Gu Hui Yan came out of the delivery room and gave the space to the womenfolk. Lin Wei Xi had just finished giving birth, there were many places that need to be tidied up by the maids, if he continued staying in the room it would only inconvenienced them. When Gu Hui Yan came out, he happened to see Gu Cheng Yao holding the little Junzhu behind the screen, teasing her carefully. Perhaps the little girl hungry, she held Gu Cheng Yao's fingers and started to cry. Gu Cheng Yao's expression immediately became painful and loving. Perhaps he didn't hear the sound, subconsciously looked up in the direction of the delivery room.

Gu Hui Yan record everything with his eyes, his expression was still, and after the wet nurse took his daughter away, he walked out slowly and silently.

"As soon as she entered the delivery room, you came over?"

Only then did Gu Cheng Yao realize that Gu Hui Yan had come out. Gu Cheng Yao's heart shook. When did his father come out? How much did he see just now? Gu Cheng Yao's face stretched taut, probably he didn't even realize that his voice was tense and defensive: "Heard the maid passed on the message, this son thought that there was no master in charge here, so took the liberty to come over."

Gu Hui Yan smiled indistinctly. Although his voice was moderate, but there seemed to be a whirlpool in his eyes, which instinctively let people feel danger: "You did the right thing today. Her safety is the most important thing. For her safety, everything else must be compromised."

Gu Cheng Yao lowered his head, wondering whether or not he should reply this sentence. He always felt that his father's words seemed to have other meaning.

Gu Hui Yan was not in the mood. He stared at the sky, his deep voice neither happy nor angry: "It's getting late. You also have stayed up for half a night. Go back."

"Yes."

Gu Cheng Yao asked to be excuse to Gu Hui Yan, and then slowly withdrew. After walking out of the courtyard, Gu Cheng Yao realized that his hands were sweating.

There was a heavy weight in his heart, and this weight gradually tightened, almost making him unable to breath.

Lin Wei Xi slept so hard that she could not lie down anymore, and only when her limbs became drowsy from sleeping too long, did she slowly wake up.

As soon as she moved her fingers, her palm was immediately held. She heard someone ask softly in her ear: "Wake up? Would you like some water?"

Lin Wei Xi laboriously opened her eyes and stared to the bedside for a long time before recognizing the person in front of her: "Wangye?"

"It's me, I'm back." Gu Hui Yan lightly and gently supported her back to get up, and carefully placed her on the soft pillow, "You have been sleeping for a long time, so drink some water to moisten your throat first."

Lin Wei Xi nodded, Gu Hui Yan soon brought fresh water. Didn't know whether it had always been warm, but the water temperature was just right.

Fresh water ran down the throat into the esophagus, and the dryness felt much better. After Lin Wei Xi's lips were moisten with water, it regained its vitality like a rose. She only drank one cup then hurriedly took Gu Hui Yan's wrist and asked, "Where is the child?"

"Here." Gu Hui Yan put down the water, carefully picked up the baby from the wooden bed, and handed it to Lin Wei Xi. "She is a little Junzhu, really look like you."

Lin Wei Xi finally saw the baby she carried in her womb for ten months. She hugged her daughter in her arms, looked carefully and looked again, for some reason she felt like crying: "She is really small."

"Hmm." Gu Hui Yan stretched out his hand and pressed warm fingers to her eyes, "Don't cry, crying during confinement is not good for your eyes."

Lin Wei Xi blinked and withdrew her tears. The slender eyelashes ran across Gu Hui Yan's fingertips, felt soft and itchy, almost could tickle people's heart.

Gu Hui Yan put down his hands, continued to focus and carefully gazed at Lin Wei Xi. However, Lin Wei Xi didn't have time to pay attention to this now. She held her daughter and kept watching. After a while, the corners of her mouth curled slightly: "Where is it look like me, in your eyes do I look like this?"

Gu Hui Yan glanced at her amusedly. He turned his head and coughed, still couldn't help but smile: "Naughty, how can you talk about your daughter like that."

Lin Wei Xi suddenly became a little jealous. She was just this old but already guarding me from scolding her. However, even though Lin Wei Xi said so, in her heart she regarded this little girl as a treasure. She took a small breath, looked carefully for a while, and said, "Cannot see with her eyes closed, but nose and chin looks like me. She still so small but her chin is pointed. It can be seen that in the future she surely be a beauty like me."

Gu Hui Yan smiled and looked at her: "Yes, thank you Wangfei."

Lin Wei Xi finally held the child to her heart content, and then she reluctantly handed her to Wan Yue, and let the wet nurse to hold her to breastfeed. Gu Hui Yan sighed softly in his heart. It was rare, he sat here and talked to her for a quarter of an hour, but it's the first time her eyes looked at him.

However, even if Lin Wei Xi and Gu Hui Yan were leaning face-to-face, her gaze frequently slipped to the door, only perfunctory conversed with him. After a long time, Lin Wei Xi remembered that Gu Hui Yan had official duties, and she still didn't know what happened with the disaster situation in Guanzhong.

"Wangye, why did you come back so soon?"

Just remember to ask now, Gu Hui Yan's face was calm, really unable to see that his heart already sullen for a long time: "Qin Shan's matter more or less has been handled, and the rest is not difficult, so I just return in advance."

Lin Wei Xi let it passed, and asked, "You came back half a month earlier than the letter said. Will it be hard to explain it to the emperor and First Assistant?"

Gu Hui Yan didn't care about this, and said indifferently: "Why would it be hard to explain, it was originally the troubles they caused. I personally went to clean up their mess, what else do they want?"

Lin Wei Xi did not answer, she looked at Gu Hui Yan carefully for a long time, and then suddenly laughed, "What's wrong with you today, why are you so angry?"

Gu Hui Yan smiled gently at her, and helped Lin Wei Xi lie down: "It's nothing." He nearly sighed and said, "Don't worry, you should rest and recuperate. This time let you suffer a hardship. I am wrong. Leaving you alone and left."

Lin Wei Xi was put back on the bed and muttered in a low voice: "I don't want to sleep anymore."

"You didn't eat well before, but now still want to lose temper?" After Gu Hui Yan finished speaking, his tone became soft again, "Be obedient, confinement is the most tiring, so sleep a little longer."

Lin Wei Xi could only fall asleep, the woman who just gave birth really lacked energy. Not long after she tilted her cheek slightly she fell asleep again.

Gu Hui Yan watched quietly for a while, got up and walked outside. Those knots of estrangement before the trip seemed to sink under the deliberate ignorance of the two.

Chapter 99 Part 2: Reborn

Gao Ran sat in the Buddhist hall, staring hollowly at the wooden fish in front of her. She faintly heard some music, and after a few beats, she barely reacted as she raised her head: "What's wrong outside, why is it so lively?"

The maid who did not know whether she should serve or guard Gao Ran lowered her head and said briefly: "Today is the third day washing1 banquet of the little Junzhu."

"Third day washing?" Gao Ran paused and asked, "She gave birth to a daughter?"

The maid lowered her head and said nothing, and seemed unwilling to talk too much to Gao Ran. Gao Ran also didn't insist on the answer. She returned her eyes to the wooden fish in front of her. After a while, she suddenly laughed gently and slowly. The laughter was so soft and ethereal, it made people get goose bumps all over.

"She actually gave birth to a daughter, she actually gave birth to a daughter." Gao Ran smiled and tears fell from her eyes. She took such a big risk and did not hesitate to calculate her family in order to keep Gu Cheng Yao's Shizi position. But in the end, Lin Wei Xi gave birth to a daughter.

So what was she doing all this for?

Gao Ran thought she was ridiculous. She made a desperate move, thinking that she was doing something brave, but the final result told her that all this was in vain. Lin Wei Xi was pregnant with a daughter, in the future apart from dowry, it would not affect Gu Cheng Yao at all. But all this was too late, Gao Ran had already implicated and imprisoned, and at the same time offended her family and husband.

Although this Buddhist hall was still part of Yan Wang Mansion, in Gao Ran's eyes, it was no different from a prison.

Gao Ran listened to the faint movement outside and said in a daze, "It seems very lively today."

The maid did not answer, but Gao Ran's sentence was also not a question. The sound of the salute she heard just now was the etiquette performed to welcome the Holy One. The emperor could not leave the palace, but the close eunuch by his side represented him. The emperor in the deep palace actually sent people to attend the third day washing, the rest of nobilities and court officials no need to be said.

Gao Ran couldn't help muttering: "Going this far just for one lousy girl?"

The maid had her own orders, she didn't have to acknowledge Gao Ran. But despite that, the maid couldn't help but criticize: "Even if it's a girl, that's still our mansion's Junzhu, the pearl in Yan Wang's palm. In the world if there are men, there are also women. The harmony of yin and yang is the norm. Shizi Consort yourself is a woman, and your sisters, mothers, relatives and friends are also woman. Why do you look down on daughters like this?"

Gao Ran coldly said, "What do you know." This maid was born to serve people. How could she understand that men conquer the world, women conquer men. If women wanted to climb up, when young rely on men, later on rely on sons. What's the use of having a daughter?

Not only Gao Ran, but the maid also felt that this abandoned Shizi Consort was simply unreasonable. The two were tired of seeing each other, and it didn't take long before the maid go out to take care of the daily matters. Only Gao Ran was left in the empty Buddhist hall.

Gao Ran knelt down on the pad, tapped the wooden fish one after another. Boom, boom, boom sound echoed in the high and cold Buddhist hall, the Buddha on the altar table stood high, looking down on the seven sufferings of the world with compassion.

Gao Ran's thoughts seemed becoming clear with the sound of the wooden fish.

In the past, there were blooming flowers in front of the eyes, and the clouds of smoke came and went, and her eyes seemed to be blinded by the splendor and wealth. Until she came to the Buddhist hall, she only read scriptures and heard the sound of the wind every day. She had a lot of time and one day could only think about one thing. If still couldn't figure out in one day, then two or three days, until she figure it out.

After tossing and turning over and over again, Gao Ran finally found some problems that she hadn't paid attention to before.

For example, Lin Wei Xi was clearly growing up in a remote country, why was she not unfamiliar with the four arts, and even the first time she played gomoku, she defeated Gao Ran, who has the advantage of time and place? For example, why was she so familiar with Yan Wang Mansion, walking in the mansion with green tiles and red walls, everywhere had an imperial atmosphere, the young ladies from third grade official would be panicked, but why for Lin Wei Xi it was as natural as breathing?

Another example, Lin Wei Xi's face was so pale on the day of Duke Yingguo Shizi's death. Even when she was diagnosed with pregnancy, such a big happy event, why was she still wear plain colors. Also, why was she contemptuous and nearly hostile to Han shi, why she meddled with Duke Yingguo Shizi's matter, why did she recommend Gao Ke. You know, this kind of other family's affairs, no one would want to get involved, to avoid the problems that could arise in the future, and also to provoke troubles for oneself.

Why did Lin Wei Xi do this?

One point alone might be difficult to explain it, but when all the things were combined, there was only one answer.

Lin Wei Xi was Gao Xi. Gao Ran herself was a transmigrator, how could she forget that being reborn after death could also happened to other people.

Gao Ran slowly laughed, the laughter was hoarse and low, resounding in the empty and desolate Buddhist hall, it unspeakably horrifying. That's it, that's how it is, she said why she always had a sense of deja vu when facing Lin Wei Xi, she said why Gu Cheng Yao always couldn't control himself to look at Lin Wei Xi, she said why Lin Wei Xi always targeted her like that!

The wooden fish in Gao Ran's hand suddenly fell and hit the ground with a loud sound. The guard maid was taken aback, and ran inside in panic: "Shizi Consort, what's the matter with you?"

Gao Ran's eyes fixedly looked at the wooden fish mallet that was rumbling on the ground. Her eyes dark, but if looked closely it didn't seems to focus. Her voice rise and fall seemed like suppressing a huge emotion, as if there was strong black ink in it: "I want to see Lin Wei Xi."

The maid paused, you still want to see Wangfei? What are you dreaming about?

"You tell her that if she doesn't come to see me, she will regret it."

1 Third day washing, a very important ceremony for a baby in ancient China. On the third day after a baby is born, a bathing ceremony will be held with relatives and friends to wish the baby good luck, the bath is to wash to filth, eliminate disasters and avoid difficulties. ↩

Chapter 100 Part 1: Sisters

(TN: counting the last three chapters till the mains story ends)

"Wangfei, the Jingsi Hall over there said she want to see you."

Lin Wei Xi carefully wiped Rui Yang's mouth. She always liked to spit bubbles after drinking milk. Lin Wei Xi paused when she heard what Wan Yue said, "Did she say it herself?"

"Yes." Wan Yue bowed her head in response. In fact, these words should not be passed on to Lin Wei Xi. At first Gao Ran frantically said that she wanted to see Lin Wei Xi. The guard maid just treated her as being fanciful and ignored her. However, after ten days passed, Gao Ran still unyieldingly shouted to see Lin Wei Xi, and her appearance became more and more crazy. The guard maid was frightened, so without better option she had to send the message to Jingcheng Courtyard. Of course Wan Yue was not happy when she heard this, but the guard maid who couldn't bear it came again once more and said that Shizi Consort's condition was very scary. It was best for Wangfei to know these matters. Wan Yue ponder over it, fearing that there was something serious, so she passed the words to Lin Wei Xi.

At this time, almost a month had passed. Gao Ran was stimulated on the day Rui Yang had third day washing ceremony. When her words finally handed over to Lin Wei Xi, Lin Wei Xi's confinement was over.

According to reason Lin Wei Xi would not pay attention to such crazy talk, but today Lin Wei Xi didn't know what happened. She held her daughter and walked slowly in the room, then gently put Rui Yang on the small bed, her voice was casual and light: "When this happened?"

"On the day Junzhu had the third day washing banquet. Perhaps that one heard the salute when the palace came to give Junzhu Longevity Lock, and this make her crazy."

Wan Yue felt that Gao Ran was just pretending to be mad. The womenfolk who were detained for a long time all become sick. Gao Ran must have been stimulated by the third day washing, and then she madly wanted to see Wangfei. If Wan Yue could say, she did that, Wan Yue didn't think Gao Ran really had anything to say to Wangfei.

"Look after Junzhu carefully. Before going to bed she just had milk, so she should be able to rest for a while. But be careful not to let her eat her hands. These are small problems but you can't let her get used to it."

Wan Yue was surprised when she heard this: "Wangfei, you..."

"Since the guard maid passed on the words, she must have been harassed by her. She was confined in the Buddhist Hall for half a year, pondering over her mistakes behind closed doors every day, I'm not sure if she really has anything to say."

Wan Yue didn't think their Shizi Consort was a person who could repent. But since Lin Wei Xi said so, Wan Yue could only comply: "Yes."

Wan Yue brought Lin Wei Xi's cloak over, and when she left the house she opened the umbrella. It was May now, but Lin Wei Xi had just been out of confinement, the maids still dare not let Lin Wei Xi get blown by the wind.

In the southwest corner of the mansion, a high wall separated the two worlds. Lin Wei Xi immediately felt a gloomy cold as she walked into the Buddhist Hall. It was already May, outside there were grasses everywhere and birds were flying full of vitality, but this place seemed to have been forgotten by the spring. The guard maid walked to the door and respectfully pushed open the door of Jingsi Hall: "Reporting to Wangfei, Shizi Consort is inside."

"Well, go on then."

Lin Wei Xi waved to the maid, and the guard maid retreated behind the door with her hands down. Wan Yue took the umbrella and was about to enter the door with Lin Wei Xi, but was stopped by Lin Wei Xi: "You all wait outside."

Wan Yue was really taken aback: "Wangfei?"

"It's alright, I'll just go in by myself. It's just across the door, if there's anything you can immediately push the door, nothing will happen."

Wan Yue was still uneasy, but Lin Wei Xi already decided. Before Wan Yue could persuade her, she had crossed the doorstep, turned and closed the door.

The door was closed, and the Jingsi Hall became gray again, and fine dust was flying in the beam of light. After a while, Lin Wei Xi adjusted to the light inside.

She saw Gao Ran kneeling behind the partition with her back to her. Even such a big matter happened outside, Gao Ran still tap the wooden fish as if she hadn't heard anything.

Lin Wei Xi didn't think she really didn't hear it. The structure of Jingsi Hall was similar to the structure of other courtyards in the mansion. The front row of the house were divided into main hall, side room, and small side room. Except for the main hall, each room was divided into many small spaces by partitions. Gao Ran was now sitting behind the carved wooden partition door in the side room to worship the Buddha.

Lin Wei Xi slowly walked to the door of the side room, but she didn't mean to go in, separated the carved wooden partition and a low couch, she asked, "What do you want to say?"

The sound of the wooden fish finally stopped, Gao Ran's straight back was to Lin Wei Xi: "It's really not easy to see Yan Wangfei, three and five requests, it's been almost a month before seeing Wangfei's face."

Lin Wei Xi didn't bother to answer Gao Ran. She ignored Gao Ran's sarcasm, her voice was clear and cold: "What do you want? Nowadays I have no patience to listen to your suspense."

"Nowadays have no patience, then what about before?"

There were ripples in Lin Wei Xi's eyes, and she finally looked at Gao Ran seriously. Gao Ran also straightened her back, even if Gao Ran refused to show her timidity, but half a year praying to the Buddha, she had lost a lot of weight, and her shoulder blades were high and bulging. More importantly, she had lost her anger, and she looks like ten years old.

Lin Wei Xi knew what Gao Ran wanted to say to her. She knew, with her understanding of Gao Ran, if Gao Ran didn't think she could turn the tables, how could Gao Ran let others see her in such an indecent and unglamorous state. Lin Wei Xi smiled gently and said, "How I used to be and how am I now, what does it matter? You just need to know that now you are in the Buddhist Hall, I am afraid you will not go out in the second half of your life."

Gao Ran was pretty sure that Lin Wei Xi understood, and yet she didn't deny it, unexpectedly tacitly agreed like this. Gao Ran was surprisingly angry. She suddenly stood up and looked at Lin Wei Xi with fire-breathing eyes: "Why did you do this? What do I owe you? Why are you plotting to harm me!"

"Think clearly, who is plotting who." Lin Wei Xi's tone also suddenly tense, "Before at Huangjue Temple who plot the startled horse incident to frame Gao Ke and to hurt me, is that not you? Slandered Yun Hui for adultery, used the Yin Yang pot to harm others, didn't you arrange it with your own hands? You lost your conscience and did all the bad things. Now that you have received retribution, you blame others for harming you?"

Gao Ran's face was as white as a ghost, but because of the excitement, her protruding cheekbones were flushed, looking really strange: "But do you dare to say that you haven't secretly moved your hands? From serving tea, to Yun Hui, and the adoption matters, this piled up piece by piece, on the surface it appeared to be from the hands of Yan Wang or Shizi, but wasn't it you who hint and push until it developed according to your wishes?"

"So what, you deserve it." Lin Wei Xi fleetingly laughed, without concealing her contempt. "If you dare to do it, if you do something bad, you must bear the consequences of being discovered. At most, it's just that the consequences are more serious."

Chapter 100 Part 2: Sisters

"Why you cannot see other people well, don't you have enough?" Gao Ran was very emotional and almost screamed. But her voice was already hoarse, even if roaring, her voice was still low and fuzzy: "It was like this when I was in the Guo Mansion. You can't see me being liked by grandmother and father, so you try to destroy it. Cousins liked to come and talk to me, you put a cold face on the spot. It's you who are not likable, but you are hostile to me because of this. Don't you think you are pathetic?"

"Shizi Consort, you may think too much." Lin Wei Xi said coldly, "I have never been to Guo Mansion before getting married, nor have I disturbed your limelight. Although I don't know what you are talking about, I still want to remind you, don't take yourself too seriously. You feel that other people are targeting you, in fact, cannot say that other people are so absorbed in learning the Four Arts that they have no time to talk to you."

"Already like this, you still refuse to admit it?"

"What should I admit? I am now Yan Wangfei, previously Marquis Zhongyong's daughter. Everything is already clear, what needs to be covered up?"

"You..." Gao Ran was angry, but now she recalled that although Lin Wei Xi's words were fierce, she did not reveal any information about being reborn. Gao Ran understood the inside story and knew what Lin Wei Xi was talking about, but in the ears of others, this was just a mother-in-law teaching her former daughter-in-law.

Gao Ran's eyes fell on Lin Wei Xi's plain white shirt and skirt, and smiled ironically: "Since you are Marquis Zhongyong's daughter, why do wears plain clothes? Marquis Zhongyong's three-year filial piety is already over long ago. "

Lin Wei Xi said lightly: "Everyone has their own preferences. I like to wear lighter color clothes in summer. What is it to you?"

Gao Ran was dumbfounded. When a person wanted to defend herself, she could find many logical reasons. She didn't want to admit it. What's to be done if other people could catch her? However, what the facts were, this pair of former sisters and the current mother-in-law and daughter-in-law knew very well.

The two of them had been deeply opposed since childhood. As Gao Xi and Gao Ran grew up, they had to compete for more and more resources, father's favor, grandmother's reliance, family, reputation, marriage... When Gao Xi was young she was squeezed out of breath by her precocious shu younger sister, but why Gao Ran still blamed her like this? No matter how Gao Ran relied on adult intelligence and self-control to release her brilliance, Gao Xi could catch up immediately.

The two of them were completely at odds because of Wei shi's death, and no one thought of the other as sisters. When they were young, they were fighting for their father's attention. When they grew up, they were entangled by the same man. If it hadn't been for that unexpected event, Gao Xi would be married high, and Gao Ran might not be able to manage her husband's family properly just by relying on her own tenderness. Both of them would have a new life of their own.

But there were so many ifs in the world, one step wrong, the other steps followed, and now, no one could go back.

Speaking of the death of Duke Yingguo Shizi, Lin Wei Xi felt depressed. The death of her previous life's father was brought up by her biological sister, and even used this matter to attack her, no one would feel good. The two were silent for a moment, and by chance agreed to change the subject.

"Why are you back? You know that you are related to Yan Wang, how can you still dare to marry him? You do this... don't you feel guilty?"

In fact, Gao Ran was just bluffing. She herself didn't think there was anything wrong with it, they didn't have a real blood relationship. If you divorce, can you still control who your ex-wife marry? However, Lin Wei Xi was an ancient woman. In ancient times, the ethics of chastity was extremely important. Gao Ran deliberately asked this in order to bury a thorn in Lin Wei Xi's heart, so in the future she would feel guilty, would feel ashamed, and then gradually turned away from Yan Wang.

Gao Ran herself had a bad life, so she tried to make Lin Wei Xi's relationship cold, and unable to get her husband's love.

Who knows, Lin Wei Xi was very calm: "Although Yan Wang and I are separated by a generation, but first, an unmarried man and woman getting married does not violate the court order. Second, although I am the daughter of his subordinates, and on the surface a little bit awkward, it's not really a big deal."

Even if Lin Wei Xi bit to death her surname was still Lin. After all, her identity was impeccable. Whoever checks could only find out that she was Lin Yong's daughter.

Gao Ran was very angry, she almost found it laughable: "Then why are you entangled with Shizi again?"

"Watch your mouth." Lin Wei Xi glanced at her displeasedly, her skin was as white as snow, such a glance made her looks even more like a goddess high above, far unattainable. Lin Wei Xi said: "Shizi and I always abide by the etiquette. Since I passed through the door, I have never cared even a strand of his hair. What does it matter to me if you husband and wife are estranged?"

Gao Ran stared at Lin Wei Xi in a daze. After a while, she suddenly lowered her head and laughed, gradually turned her head up to the sky and laugh out of control. Gao Ran almost laughed out of her tears. Her laughter was sharp and piercing, but she didn't know who she was laughing at: "Pitiful ah pitiful, you are worried, you can't sleep at night, and you can hardly let yourself go, but she doesn't even know. Maybe she still hates you for your fickleness and will never forgive you for the rest of her life."

Gao Ran said these words without head or tail, Lin Wei Xi frowned subconsciously when she heard this. Lin Wei Xi didn't want to know what exactly this sentence mean, and who Gao Ran was referring to. After seeing this Gao Ran's side today, the relationship for half a lifetime between the two of them had been broken, and she would never come to see Gao Ran again in the future. Lin Wei Xi didn't want to stay any longer, turned around and left.

Lin Wei Xi walked through the main hall, already put her hand on the door, and could still hear Gao Ran crying and laughing, talked like crazy: "To seek and yet cannot get the white moonlight, to get and also lose the cinnabar mole. Men, only what you can't get is the best..."

Lin Wei Xi had already pushed the door open, and Wan Yue appeared in front of her with a slightly worried face. Lin Wei Xi didn't hear the latter words.

On the way back, Lin Wei Xi couldn't help feeling depressed. When she was young, she regarded Gao Ran as an imaginary enemy. After rebirth, she learned that she was only Gao Ran's foil and stepping stone, which was even more disappointing. When she finally came out of the quagmire of self-doubt, and met the person she wanted to stay together, Gao Ran was no longer enough to be her opponent. Was Gao Ran's current situation pitiful? Of course pitiful. But this was Gao Ran's self-inflicted punishment. When she harmed others, she should have thought that if she failed, she might be miserable for the rest of her life.

There was a strong contrast between the present and the past, and the old person from her past and present life has stepped into a semi-crazy state. All these ups and downs of life let people sighed, and Lin Wei Xi couldn't help but feel depress.

When she returned to Jingcheng Courtyard, as soon as she entered the door Lin Wei Xi saw someone standing with his back to her. The maids around wanted to say but did not dare to say and signaled to her that it had been a while since Yan Wang came.

Gu Hui Yan asked slowly: "Where have you been?"