Chapter 400 - 399: Heir Apparent (150 Plus Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 400: Chapter 399: Heir Apparent (150 Plus Monthly Tickets)

Mu Lianxiao ultimately did not move Du Yunluo back to the main house.

Better to avoid unnecessary trouble, lest it gives people something to talk about later.

However, for the past few days, Mu Lianxiao either practiced martial arts or slept in the ear room accompanying his wife and child. Even if he didn’t say anything, just looking at the lovely faces of the two, he felt extremely comfortable.

Du Yunluo, unable to get out of bed, asked Mu Lianxiao to write a letter to Du Yunru for him, a family letter to be sent to the Du Mansion in the Capital, which Mu Lianxiao had already sent out that day.

Both husband and wife were far away in Xuancheng, without the need to entertain guests for the baby’s third-day bathing ceremony, only with Du Huairang’s close relatives attending.

Even so, the ceremony was lively.

Midwife Qiu had served many mothers in Xuancheng, many of whom were wives of officials.

She had seen many silver ingots in the baby’s bathing bowl, but seeing gold ingots in this small area was truly rare.

Midwife Qiu’s eyes widened in surprise.

Previously, when the eldest son’s wife at the government office gave birth to Brother Duan, there had also been gold ingots.

This time too, there were gold ingots, as expected of Lord Prefect’s niece, truly wealthy people.

After the ceremony, Mrs. Yang held the child and entered the ear room, smiling as she spoke to Du Yunluo, "This child is amusing, with big round eyes, not crying or fussing."

Leaning against a pillow, half-sitting, Du Yunluo chuckled at the words, "Only cries when hungry or wet."

"Easy to raise, no worry," Mrs. Yan, already showing her pregnancy, came in holding Brother Duan.

As soon as she let go of his hand, Brother Duan ran over to his little brother, giggling merrily.

After the third-day ceremony, Mu Lianxiao prepared to return to Shanyu Pass.

Before setting out, he moved Du Yunluo back to the main house and held his son once more before leaving.

During her confinement, Du Yunluo grew somewhat bored, but upon receiving a letter from Du Yunru, her eyes brightened, and she asked Jin Rui to write a reply for her.

Jin Rui wrote following Du Yunluo’s instructions until the last sentence, at which she blushed, looked up, and said, "Madam..."

Du Yunluo couldn’t stop laughing, waving her hand vigorously, "Write it just like that."

Jin Rui could only muster her courage and wrote down Du Yunluo’s urging for Du Yunru to have another child.

She could well imagine Du Yunru receiving this letter, feeling both shy and annoyed, wanting to tear it up.

Mrs. Yang checked in on Du Yunluo several times and was relieved to see her recovering well during her confinement.

"Considering the time, this year’s spring examination should be starting soon," Mrs. Yang said with a smile.

The Du Family had Du Yundi and son-in-law Shen Wenyu taking the examination, drawing not only attention in the Capital but also in Xuancheng.

According to previous lives, in this spring examination, Du Yundi would pass with flying colors, while Shen Wenyu would make it in next year’s special examination.

But in this life, things were different. In last year’s special examination, Shen Wenyu did not pass, and it was uncertain what would happen this year.

After Du Yundi succeeded, he would marry Mrs. Tang, as Du Gongfu intended.

Mrs. Tang was gentle and courteous, and without the interference of Shi Lian’er, she and Du Yundi were harmonious, giving Mrs. Zhen a daughter-in-law to talk to.

Once her confinement was over, Du Yunluo was finally able to carry her son and walk around the house.

The child’s name was to be given by Madam Wu, so for now, he was simply called "Brother."

Brother had grown, his little face fair and tender, with large, bright black eyes staring at Du Yunluo.

When he cried, his voice was clear, clutching Du Yunluo’s fingers tightly, refusing to let go.

With a son, Du Yunluo lost interest in reading and writing, dedicating all her time to Brother from morning till night.

Seeing Brother’s daily changes, Du Yunluo couldn’t help but feel that Mu Lianxiao missing these changes was truly regrettable.

Thinking about this sparked her interest in writing again.

Du Yunluo recorded the child’s daily changes, keeping one copy in the study and sending another to Shanyu Pass every half month with Jiuxi.

One day, just as Du Yunluo was halfway through writing, Jin Rui came to report that Jiuxi had returned.

After changing his clothes, Jiuxi came in and greeted Du Yunluo, his eyes constantly drifting toward Brother.

Du Yunluo asked, "How is the Princely Heir?"

Jiuxi, distracted by Brother, collected himself and quickly nodded, "Madam, Sir is in good health, but he often thinks of you and Brother."

"How do you know this?" Du Yunluo jokingly glared at him.

"Not only I know, Shuying and Ming Liu know as well," Jiuxi grinned, "Sir treasures the notebook you sent, unwilling to let it go, constantly asking me how Brother grabs or stares. I can’t really explain, and being no match for his questions, I hurried back to see Brother closely, so I can answer better next time and earn more reward money."

His words made everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Du Yunluo held her stomach, "Not getting any reward from the Princely Heir, so you’re trying to milk some from me? Such opportunism will get you no reward here."

Jiuxi scratched his nose and added, "I have more to report. Sir mentioned he’ll return to Xuancheng on the 26th of this month."

Du Yunluo’s eyes suddenly brightened.

This month’s 26th meant only ten days or so remaining.

Jin Rui, observing Du Yunluo’s expression, smiled behind her hand, "Madam, this time you’ll have to give a reward."

Du Yunluo playfully punched Jin Rui.

At the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion in the Capital,

Mrs. Zhou brought the family letter to Baijie Hall.

Seeing the envelope in Mrs. Zhou’s hand, Madam Wu’s heart skipped a beat.

"A letter from Lian Xiao?" Madam Wu propped herself up, asking eagerly.

Mrs. Zhou stepped forward, placed a red gold money python pillow behind Madam Wu’s waist, and replied with a smile, "It’s from Lian Xiao."

Madam Wu took the letter, calculating the days; it must be a letter of good news, but she didn’t know whether Du Yunluo had given birth to a son or a daughter.

Even if it were a daughter, Madam Wu wouldn’t dislike it, but she hoped for a son, the legitimate eldest grandson of the legitimate eldest branch, to continue the family line, which was most important.

Suppressing her anxiety, Madam Wu opened the letter.

Mrs. Zhou was also tense, particularly noticing Madam Wu’s slightly trembling hands, her own heart in her throat.

Until Mrs. Zhou saw Madam Wu smile.

Since Mu Yuanjing’s suicide last year during La Ba, this was the first time Madam Wu smiled.

Mrs. Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, silently uttering a Buddhist prayer.

It seemed Du Yunluo had given birth to a son, ensuring their branch had descendants...

"Old Madam," Mrs. Zhou laughed, "is it a son?"

"It’s a son, a son!" Madam Wu’s hand tapped the quilt emphatically, pride and excitement written all over her face, "Born on January 26th, mother and child are safe."

Mrs. Zhou took the letter and read it carefully, her eyes misting over, "I should go and offer incense to the ancestors."

Madam Wu nodded, "Hurry along; I need to think carefully. This being the first son of the ’Ling’ generation, the legitimate eldest grandson of the legitimate eldest branch, I must come up with a good name."

Mrs. Zhou didn’t disturb Madam Wu further and retreated from the west side room.

Upon stepping out of the main house, Mrs. Zhou saw Lian Shi and Jiang Yunuan standing under the veranda.

Lian Shi had just arrived and had heard the conversation inside through the window.

She looked up at Mrs. Zhou, her hand in her sleeve tightly clenched, leaving deep crescent marks in her palm, while her face had to maintain a smile, "Eldest sister-in-law, has Lian Xiao’s wife given birth?"