12 – Having a Baby
Ye Chen and Shen Qiu returned to the Duke Manor by mid-afternoon. The sun was beginning to set westward, and with numerous trees in the manor, it was quite cool and pleasant.
Shen Qiu and Ye Chen first went back to their own courtyard to wash up and change clothes, then headed together to the Hall of Glory and Majesty. Xiao Old Madam was playing cat’s cradle with Granny Sun.
Ye Chen said with a laugh, “Grandmother, you really are a child at heart! Though you and Granny Sun appear old, you’re practically just three years old in spirit!”
Xiao Old Madam pouted, put down the red string, and pointed at Ye Chen with her index finger, saying, “You, you… in the entire Great Yin Kingdom, only you would dare tease me like this!”
Then she beckoned to Shen Qiu and said, “Qiu’er, come, come sit by grandmother!”
Shen Qiu reached out her hand, and Xiao Old Madam grasped it, having her sit beside her. A maid brought tea over, and Ye Chen casually picked it up, placing it on a small side table.
Xiao Old Madam patted Shen Qiu’s hand and said, “Before you married into our family, you used to visit every year with your grandmother. You were so lively back then. Now that you’ve married in, why do you seem so distant with me?”
Shen Qiu smiled and replied, “It’s not that I’m being distant. It’s just that my mother said after marriage, one should be more dignified so as not to bring shame to the husband’s family. So…”
Before Shen Qiu could finish, Xiao Old Madam interjected, “Oh, who said that? We’re family—there’s no need for so many rules. I still prefer how you used to be, when you would act spoiled with me. Now that I’m your grandmother by marriage, you’re being so formal with me. It breaks my heart!” As she spoke, she wiped away a tear.
Seeing this, Shen Qiu immediately leaned her head on Xiao Old Madam’s shoulder and said coquettishly, “Grandmother, I promise I won’t be like this anymore! Please don’t be upset!”
Xiao Old Madam burst into laughter and said, “That’s more like it!”
Dinner was still held together in Old Duke’s bedchamber.
In the evening, Ye Chen and Shen Qiu strolled side by side in the courtyard. The Duke Manor was truly vast.
Ye Chen explained to Shen Qiu, “This Duke Manor was originally the residence of the Regent from the previous dynasty, so it occupies the largest area among all the estates in the capital.”
“It’s divided into the front courtyard and the rear courtyard, covering over ninety mu of land. The front courtyard is smaller and is where I handle official affairs and receive male guests. The rear courtyard has five main sections: our Autumn Dust Courtyard, my parents’ Xi Garden, Grandfather and Grandmother’s Hall of Glory and Majesty, my aunt’s maiden chamber, the Hibiscus Pavilion, and one guest courtyard, which is also the largest!”
Shen Qiu asked, “Does your study not count?”
Ye Chen tapped Shen Qiu’s nose and said, “No, that’s a Water Pavilion, considered more for enjoying scenery among pavilions. The courtyards I mentioned are only for living quarters.”
“On the east and west sides, there are several gardens. The east side has a Plum Garden, a Flower Garden, and a Medicine Garden. The Flower Garden supplies flowers for the manor, and the Medicine Garden was specially cleared for a close friend of mine who is currently traveling and hasn’t returned yet.”
“The west side has an Orchard, along with laundry rooms, stables, and the like, as well as living quarters for the menial servants.”
“That’s roughly the layout!”
Shen Qiu nodded and said, “I understand now! By the way, husband, how serious is Grandfather’s leg condition? Lying in bed for so long can’t be good for him!”
“Grandfather is a man who’s been on the battlefield. Lying like this must be terribly hard for him!”
Ye Chen looked at Shen Qiu and said, “No one can help Grandfather with his legs. He himself is unwilling to get out of bed.”
Shen Qiu exclaimed in surprise, “Ah, why is that?”Ye Chen lowered his head and sighed, “My grandfather was proud his entire life. During the Emperor’s most difficult times, my mother married down to my father just to secure my grandfather’s full support. But given my grandfather’s temperament, even if my mother hadn’t married my father, he would still have protected the Chu Family’s reign.”
“Later, when my father went on his final campaign and never returned, my mother went searching for him and also never came back. In the end, my grandfather accompanied my aunt with troops to retrieve my father and mother’s bodies. But my aunt was severely injured and passed away half a month later despite treatment.”
“My grandfather always believed that my father’s death was due to his own misjudgment—that he gave the wrong order, which led to my father’s death in battle and caused both my mother and aunt to lose their lives. After my aunt passed, he never left his bed again. Doctors came in waves, but no one could help!”
“Qiu’er, but I know—my grandfather isn’t physically ill. His illness is here!” Ye Chen pointed to his own heart as he looked at Shen Qiu.
Shen Qiu held Ye Chen’s hand and said, “It’s alright, let’s think of a way. There are only two of us juniors left in the Ye Family. When we have children, grandfather might get so happy that he recovers!”
Only after speaking did Shen Qiu realize what she had said, and her face instantly flushed red.
Ye Chen looked at Shen Qiu with a smile, then whispered gently by her ear, “Qiu’er is willing to bear my children? Qiu’er, say it again, would you?”
Shen Qiu lowered her head even further. Ye Chen gradually laughed aloud, then quietly whispered in her ear again, “Qiu’er, let’s go back right now and have children!” After saying this, he picked up Shen Qiu and ran towards Qiu Chen Pavilion!
Qiu Chen Pavilion was the name Ye Chen had ordered changed the day after their wedding—it was their home together.
Ye Chen jogged all the way back to Qiu Chen Pavilion. Ming Yue foolishly chased after them asking, “Lord Duke, what’s wrong with the madam?”
Shen Qiu was too embarrassed to even lift her head. Xing Er also ran out from the room, thinking something had happened. Just as Ming Yue was about to follow Ye Chen into the room, Mu Qing suddenly descended from above, blocking Ming Yue and saying, “The Duke and Madam have important matters to attend to. Why are you causing a disturbance?”
At that moment, the sound of tearing fabric came from inside the room, followed by Ye Chen’s voice: “Mu Qing, clear everyone from the courtyard. If anyone disturbs me and my wife, I’ll chop you up!”
Mu Qing hurriedly replied, “Yes.”
Then he said to Ming Yue, “Hurry up and leave. The madam is helping the Duke vent his fire. Young girls like you shouldn’t hear this!”
Xing Er pulled Ming Yue out of the courtyard. Mu Qing glanced at the door and smiled, then followed them out.
Shen Qiu never expected Ye Chen to be so violent—her inner robe was torn by him. What would she do when the maids came in to clean up later? How could she, the Duchess, ever show her face again?
Noticing Shen Qiu’s distraction, Ye Chen exerted force fiercely, capturing her lips as he said, “Qiu’er isn’t being good. I must punish you properly!”
Before Shen Qiu could react, she began to lose control of her breathing.
After Xing Er and Ming Yue left the courtyard, it took quite a while for the heat in their faces to subside. Mu Qing leaped onto a large tree nearby.
Only when Ming Yue and Xing Er had fallen asleep leaning against each other, and Mu Qing had also closed his eyes on the tree, did a voice call out: “Attendants!”
It was Ye Chen’s voice. Ming Yue and Xing Er jolted awake immediately. Ming Yue muttered, “Finally finished!”
Mu Qing looked at Ming Yue and scoffed, saying to Xing Er, “Is this girl missing a screw in her head?”By the time Ming Yue realized Mu Qing was insulting her, Mu Qing had already reached Ye Chen.
Ye Chen said, “Have someone draw hot water. Once it’s ready, everyone leave. No attendants needed!” After speaking, he retreated back behind the bed curtains.
The maid prepared the bathwater while Xing Er entered to gather the clothes scattered on the floor. The bed curtains remained drawn, and Xing Er didn’t dare lift her head, scooping up the garments before hastily retreating.