Chapter 401 - 400: New Shoots

Chapter 401: Chapter 400: New Shoots

In the Capital during March, new buds had already emerged on the treetops.

From a distance, the tiny green dots exuded vitality, and the sunlight falling on the trees was different from that of winter, comforting and warm.

Mrs. Zhou looked at the new buds, her eyes filled with a deep smile.

This dreary deep courtyard of the Marquis Mansion, after the white snow had melted, welcomed the arrival of new life amidst the piercing chill of spring, like a beam of light illuminating Mrs. Zhou’s heart.

Her gaze was intense, and she smiled, saying, "Did you hear? A letter from Lian Xiao’s family just arrived, the child was born on January 26th."

Lian Family pursed her lips: "A boy?"

"Yes," Mrs. Zhou’s eyes curved into a smile, "mother and child are safe."

Lian Family said nothing.

Just maintaining a smile took all her strength.

Speaking of grandchildren, Mrs. Zhou was radiant, as if ten years younger, while she, on the contrary, instantly aged ten years.

The first of the Lian generation, clearly it was their second branch that married first, yet Mu Lianxiao had gotten ahead.

Originally, it should have been theirs, but Jiang Yunuan just happened to have a daughter first.

It’s not that having a daughter is bad; Lian Family herself also loved girls, but...

But the daughters of Dingyuan Marquis Mansion are all little debt collectors!

Mu Yuanjing was a lunatic, seducing Mu Lianyu to commit such acts, the second branch owed her nothing, yet she sought death in a way that tormented the second branch!

As for Mu Lianhui...

Thinking about it made Lian Family’s liver ache, that mouth of hers could stab her heart and lungs, it was a struggle to find a suitable match for her, only to be delayed because of the mourning period.

If Sister Niang also became a little debt collector...

Lian Family shivered.

Mrs. Zhou smiled again and said, "The first boy of the Lian generation, our branch finally has a successor. Sister-in-law and Lian Cheng’s wife are here to see the Old Madam, right? I’ll go offer incense to the ancestors first."

Lian Family’s gaze flickered with a trace of gloom; she knew Mrs. Zhou was referring to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion’s branch, but her heart felt blocked, as if Mrs. Zhou was talking about the main branch, completely casting their second branch aside.

Lian Family glanced through the half-opened window at Madam Wu inside, and her heart sank little by little.

Mu Lianxiao now has a son, and with some more meritorious service, he will be ready to inherit the title.

In a few years, when Madam Wu passes away, the family will be divided, and by that time, their relationship with the main branch will slowly grow distant, until they become like the other branches in the clan.

Lian Family could not accept such an outcome.

Her eyes shifted, and her nails dug even deeper, as Lian Family smiled and said, "Well, congratulations to big sister-in-law, it’s a pity he wasn’t born in the Capital, we’ll have to wait some time to hold the boy."

"Wait if we must," Mrs. Zhou said, "I’ve always hoped for Lian Xiao to carry on the line, I’ve waited all these years, so waiting a little longer is nothing."

With that, Mrs. Zhou walked through the courtyard and headed out.

Lian Family stared deeply at Mrs. Zhou’s back, feeling as if Mrs. Zhou’s steps were much lighter than usual.

She stood on the veranda for a while, exhaled the pent-up air in her chest, and then brought Jiang Yunuan into the house.

"The Old Madam is so happy, we are also joyful to see it." Lian Family plastered on a smile, lifted the curtain, and entered the inner room.

Madam Wu’s eyes crinkled with laughter, she said, "I’ve been waiting for this news, and now my wish has come true, how could I not be happy?"

Lian Family with a forced smile: "A wish fulfilled, what a joy in life."

Unfortunately, the wish fulfilled was not hers; otherwise, Lian Family would have laughed herself awake even in dreams.

Madam Wu nodded, her gaze tender, "Lian Xiao, that child, as soon as the boy was born, he hastily wrote back.

You see what he wrote in the letter, the baby was born from morning until evening, a big healthy boy.

Cannot tell his looks just yet, but that mouth, like his wife.

Being a father makes a difference, never before has he written such detailed letters."

The Old Madam laughed heartily.

Lian Family’s heart bled, but she said, "Becoming a father, of course, makes a difference, he’s bubbling with joy, writing home to you in excitement."

Jiang Yunuan sat quietly to the side, her lips lifted, but her eyes bore no hint of laughter.

Madam Wu’s joy stung her eyes.

She noticed the letter spread out on Madam Wu’s quilt, reluctant to be put away, the joy conveyed in the letter pierced her deeply.

Clearly, it was spring in March, the charcoal brazier in Madam Wu’s room had been removed, but Jiang Yunuan felt cold, her fingertips continuously trembling.

She remembered when she gave birth to Sister Niang.

Jiang Yunuan also went into labor at dawn, suffering until evening, drained completely, she finally gave birth to a daughter.

Unlike Du Yunluo, accompanied by Mu Lianxiao, she was alone.

She suffered alone, cried alone, gave birth alone.

Not to mention a three-day wash, even when Sister Niang turned one month old, her father was absent.

By the time Mu Liancheng returned to the Capital, Sister Niang was nearing a hundred days old.

Jiang Yunuan’s eyes slowly filled with mist.

Compared to the boy eagerly awaited by everyone in the main branch, her Sister Niang was pitiful.

What future, what title, are they really that important?

Important enough to leave wife and children in the Capital, making them fret and worry, all for a chance to fight for it?

Jiang Yunuan held back her tears with all her might, not daring to let Madam Wu or Lian Family see, her hands tightly twisted a handkerchief, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

If she had known it was going to be this cold today, she wouldn’t have put away the hand warmer.

Madam Wu chatted with Lian Family for a while, then asked, "Lian Cheng’s wife, where is Sister Niang?"

Jiang Yunuan’s body stiffened, she replied awkwardly, "Sister Niang is taking a nap."

Madam Wu glanced at the Western clock: "At this hour, Sister Niang should be waking soon, right? You’d better go back and look after her."

Jiang Yunuan quietly looked toward Lian Family, who nodded slightly at her.

With a word of acknowledgment, Jiang Yunuan curtsied and withdrew.

Outside, the sun was bright, but Jiang Yunuan felt no warmth; she almost fled back to Shangxin Courtyard in a state of panic.

Sister Niang had just woken up, rubbing her eyes as she sat on the bed, Mrs. Liu Menghai gently combed her hair for her.

Jiang Yunuan walked in quickly, took the comb from Mrs. Liu Menghai, and said with a trembling voice, "Let me comb her hair."

Mrs. Liu Menghai looked at Jiang Yunuan’s pale face and didn’t ask anything, suppressing her curiosity as she left.

Jiang Yunuan sat next to Sister Niang, meticulously combing her daughter’s hair.

As she combed, her vision blurred, and Jiang Yunuan could no longer suppress herself, she threw the comb aside and hugged Sister Niang, bursting into tears.

Sister Niang was stunned, unsure if she was frightened or provoked by Jiang Yunuan’s tears, she opened her mouth and wailed.

Mrs. Liu Menghai outside heard it clearly, she cautiously peered into the inner room, but could see nothing past the screen, just the pitiful cries of Sister Niang tugging painfully at her heart.

Sister Niang cried heart-wrenchingly, Jiang Yunuan came to her senses, no longer caring about herself, she called for Mrs. Liu Menghai to come in, and together they soothed and coaxed until Sister Niang finally stopped crying.

Mrs. Liu Menghai carried Sister Niang, patting her back as she walked.

Sister Niang hiccuped, pouting her little lips, looking extremely pitiful.

Mrs. Liu Menghai opened her mouth to console Jiang Yunuan, but seeing her lost in thought with her head down, she swallowed her words.