Pregnancy

"Chang Gong is so young, he hasn't even passed the county exam, how can he get into the Mingshan Academy?"

Lin Yunyi said, "Elder Sister, you don't know, right now the Lu family only has Chang Gong as a promising talent. The Lu family is using all its resources to support Chang Gong's education."

It took countless connections and a great deal of money to barely get the person into the Mingshan Academy.

"This may not be a good thing."

Lin Yunwan was worried that forcing Chang Gong to learn too quickly would only hinder his studies.

"Elder Sister, you don't need to worry about that. I talk to him occasionally, and I see that he's doing very well in his studies. He's just a bit too hardworking, and he's quite thin."

Lin Yunwan smiled, "That's just how he is. He'd never feel pain even if he stayed up all night studying.

Having said what needed to be said, Lin Yunwan asked her younger brother, "How many days do you plan to stay in Jiangqian?"

Lin Yunyi pursed his lips, blinked, and said, "I'll stay for three or four days at most."

He looked at Lin Yunwan and expressed his worries. "My mother and I are worried about you. We won't be able to put our minds at ease until we come and see you for ourselves."

"Now that I've seen it all, Elder Sister —I can't stay any longer."

Lin Yunwan knew that her younger brother was doing it all for her own good.

If the Prince Huan Consort, who looks exactly like the wife of Marquis of Wuding, were to appear beside the Legitimate Son of the Lin Family, that would be quite unacceptable.

She said gently, "Jiangqian has many sights and things that are different from those in the Capital. Since you're already here, let me show you around."

Qi Lingheng asked with a smile, "Does Your Princess Consort require me to risk my life to accompany you?"

Lin Yunwan glanced at him. "Your Prince, you've come along, but your life is not yours to live."

Lin Yunyi couldn't help but chuckle, "Brother-in-law, my sister is still in your care. Your life—you should leave it to my Elder Sister!"

Everyone chatted and laughed as they had dinner at the Lakeside Pavilion.

On the way back to the courtyard, the lights across the lake were reflected on the water, creating a very tranquil scene.

"Elder Sister, I'm going to rest now."

"Go."

Lin Yunyi bowed to Qi Lingheng: "Brother-in-law, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest early with your sister."

Qi Lingheng nodded.

After A Fu led Lin Yunyi away, Qi Lingheng put his arm around Lin Yunwan's shoulder and whispered, "Let's go back too."

The couple returned to the Main Courtyard together, Lin Yunwan seemed preoccupied.

What are you thinking about?

Lin Yunwan sighed, recalling her conversation with Yun Yi, "Yun Yi told me everything is fine at home. I know him... he only reports good news and hides the bad."

She took off the hairpin from her hair, trimmed the wick, and the candle became brighter.

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "Yun Yi said that Ge Bao'er is still with the Lu family, which means that the Duke Xingguo's Residence has accepted her. Otherwise, the Lu family would not have kept her."

"Ge Bao'er is ambitious, but narrow-minded and petty. Now that she has someone backing her up, she probably won't give up easily."

"Yun Yi must have a lot of things he hasn't told me."

But she couldn't just sit and wait to die!

Qi Lingheng took the hairpin from her hand, wiped away the soot and grime, and said gently, "I'll take care of things in the capital, don't worry."

Their eyes met, Lin Yunwan took out a Leopard-Tail Jade Pendant that had been sealed away for a long time.

"Your Prince, please help me find someone."

Qi Lingheng recognized the Jade Pendant and asked suspiciously, "Whose?"

Lin Yunwan did not answer for the time being.

The next day, Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng took Lin Yunyi out discreetly and strolled around Jiangqian.

They also went to Ci'en Temple together to pray for blessings.

Time flies, and the day for Lin Yunyi to leave has arrived.

The docks are bustling with people, unlike when they went out in disguise. As a woman, Lin Yunwan would definitely attract a lot of attention at the docks.

Qi Lingheng said, "You stay home, I'll go see my brother-in-law off."

Lin Yunwan nodded and escorted them to the Second Gate.

Lin Yunyi was very reluctant to part with her, but he was already too old to hug and cuddle with his sister.

He walked to Lin Yunwan's side and said in a low voice, "Elder Sister, please take good care of yourself here. Only if you are well will Mother and I be well."

"I know."

Lin Yunyi clenched his fist secretly, gritted his teeth, and said, "Wait for me—wait for me to grow up."

"Elder Sister, one day I will be just like Father!"

"I know."

Lin Yunwan choked up a little.

A Fu urged him from outside.

Qi Lingheng then left with Lin Yunyi.

As they left, Lin Yunwan silently shed tears.

But she was happy inside.

She would feel uneasy if Yun Yi didn't come.

"Yun Yi, if the Lin Family encounters any difficulties in the Capital, write to me."

"I still have a few of my men here, they're all very reliable. If you don't have time to write to Jiangqian, go find them first."

Qi Lingheng handed over a piece of paper.

The list above contains the names of ministers with whom he had close personal relationships, including both civil and military officials.

Lin Yunyi had grown up and understood what the writing on the paper meant.

This might be my brother-in-law's trump card.

He didn't even look at it before pushing it back.

"Brother-in-law, a real man shouldn't rely on others for everything. How can I support my sister and my family in the future?"

Lin Yunyi chuckled mischievously, "Or is it that you don't trust me, brother-in-law?"

He scoffed and said, "Don't forget what kind of people my father and sister are. I am my father's son and my sister's brother; I will certainly not be inferior to them."

"Understood."

Qi Lingheng tore up the paper, patted his shoulder, and said with a faint smile, "You two siblings are so alike."

They share the same stubbornness and obstinacy.

Lin Yunyi said softly, "There's another one that looks like it too..."

His nephew, Chang Gong, not only writes like his sister, but sometimes acts similarly.

Qi Lingheng knew about that child.

He had seen it once by chance at the temple.

After seeing Lin Yunyi off, Qi Lingheng went to the yamen again. The celestial signs indicated that this year would be a year of disaster.

The river embankments and weirs in several counties of this province are of paramount importance.

As Feudal Prince of Jiangqian Prefecture, he could not stand idly by.

Lin Yunwan single-handedly guarded the Prince's mansion, managing both internal and external affairs.

She summoned the steward of the Front Courtyard and inquired, "I heard that the person leading the patrol outside the Prince's mansion is the son of the Jiangqian Guard Commander?"

Whenever Qi Lingheng went out, in addition to the guards of the Prince's Mansion, he would also contact the Jiangqian government office to arrange for people to patrol the area frequently.

Lin Yunwan often asked the people in the Front Courtyard to prepare tea and food for them.

On several occasions when she went out, she saw a handsome soldier on horseback, which greatly attracted Xiruo's attention.

The steward replied, "Your Princess Consort, that is Xu Tianyou, the youngest son of Xu Biao, the Jiangqian Guard Commander."

Lin Yunwan then sent people to inquire about the Xu family and Xu Tianyou.

He's a martial arts fanatic, never married, and an expert with a spear.

After listening, Lin Yunwan smiled and looked at Xiruo: "Did you hear that?"

"Princess Consort..."

Xiruo blushed slightly.

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "A woman should marry when she comes of age. Even if she's shy, she shouldn't delay her life's most important event."

Xiruo seemed to be considering it.

Lin Yunwan patiently waited for Xiruo her own.

Xiruo for a long time, Xiruo finally said, "Your Princess Consort, may I spar with him a few times?"

Cuiqin burst out laughing, "Sister Xiruo, you're getting married, not going to war!"

Lin Yunwan couldn't help but chuckle, but in the end, she went along with Xiruo's idea, saying, "I'll have someone go and ask him what he thinks."

Cuiqin covered her mouth and laughed.

She had never seen a match made this way before!

She went out to collect Lin Yunwan's personal belongings and brought them back in, when she suddenly thought, "Your Princess Consort, your period hasn't come again this month. Should we have the Physician check your pulse again?"

"He's probably just tired..."

In the past two months, she has met with many managers and also made time to visit various estates and shops to see for herself.

But my body is tired, though my mind isn't.

Lin Yunwan didn't take it seriously and instructed her maid, "Go and fetch Physician. Don't tell Prince, so as not to distract him."

"Yes."

However, this pulse reading revealed a pregnancy pulse.

"Congratulations, Your Princess Consort, you are two months pregnant."