Yun Shu had just lain down and was about to embrace the soft, fluffy quilt to drift off to sleep when she heard the System’s inquiry. She immediately focused her mind to check the System panel messages.
Sure enough, there was an option asking her to select “Yes” or “No.”
“My ovulation day? What a coincidence. One shot and it’s a hit—this efficiency is top-notch, truly wonderful!”
Yun Shu sighed in admiration, then tapped “Yes.”
Because the Heir Apparent had a rule of favoring his concubines only once a month, if she hadn’t coincidentally hit her ovulation day, who knew when she would have been able to conceive?
Since luck had brought her this opportunity, she had to get pregnant quickly.
“System, since the Shizi has had no children all along, is it because his body isn’t up to it?” Yun Shu asked again.
If it was Lu Jin Yan’s weak sperm issue, that would mean only she could conceive his child, and no matter how hard the young mistress and others tried, it would be in vain.
In that case, her survival risk index would skyrocket.
Putting herself in the young mistress’s shoes, if she had no legitimate son, of course she would eliminate the mother and keep the child—removing her, the birth mother, and registering the child under her own name to ensure the child’s loyalty.
【Host, the Shizi’s body is fine.】
Yun Shu couldn’t help but think, indeed, the imperial physician had examined the Shizi several times.
So, the reason the Shizi had no children before was simply due to poor timing during intercourse? Or was someone secretly sabotaging things?
【Host, the conception of a child requires nourishment from the parents’ affection. Please collect Favor Points to provide nutrients for the baby, ensuring better growth.】
Yun Shu studied carefully and found that the so-called Favor Points included not only her own affection for the child but also the care and love from the child’s father toward her and the child.
Additionally, they could be obtained by completing missions issued by the System.
Favor Points could help protect the pregnancy and alleviate the various pains of her pregnancy.
They could also be exchanged for Attribute Points, randomly allocated to the fetus’s three major attributes—appearance, constitution, and intelligence—making the child more beautiful, healthier, and smarter.
Looking at the Favor Points column, it showed she had five hundred points.
The System had also noted that these five hundred Favor Points were obtained from her recent intimate encounter with Lu Jin Yan.
Regarding this, Yun Shu could only sigh:
Who among my people understands? The System is just too good! The joy of earning points to raise a baby is simply intoxicating just to hear about!
Early the next morning.
Yun Shu was still in her dreams when her birth mother, Ma Cuilan, woke her up.
“Daughter, get up quickly, don’t sleep anymore. You still have to go to the young mistress’s place to serve tea. You mustn’t forget the rules!”
As Ma Cuilan spoke, seeing that Yun Shu still wasn’t willing to get up, she directly pulled off the quilt, dragged her out of bed, and then anxiously checked her body.
Finding no bruises or marks, Ma Cuilan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The Heir Apparent had always been a reserved and self-disciplined person, never indulging in desires. It seemed he was indeed restrained in bed and wouldn’t torment women.
“Mother, it’s still early.”
Yun Shu yawned. Although she said it was early, she still picked up her clothes and put them on, her movements lazy and her voice soft.
Ma Cuilan looked at her daughter’s innocent face and charming figure, feeling that now that she had lost her virginity, her every move carried a seductive air, appearing improper.
Ah, it’s fortunate that her daughter followed the Heir Apparent and became his bedchamber maid.
Otherwise, with her looks and figure, she would surely have been taken by other masters in the mansion.
The illegitimate Fourth Young Master had already shown interest!
Because her daughter had become the head maid by the lady's side, he had been wary and hadn't dared to act directly.
Now that she had become the bedchamber maid of the Heir Apparent, even if she couldn't bear children, she would have security in the future.
Not only would the Fourth Young Master no longer dare to harass her daughter, but her daughter would also no longer be casually given away to others.
Moreover, the young mistress was a good head wife who never mistreated the concubines beneath her.
Seeing her get up, Ma Cuilan helped her wash up while asking,
"Was the Heir Apparent gentle last night? Did he ask you anything? How are you feeling? Does it hurt?"
Yun Shu felt like laughing at her mother's questions.
However, there was no need to pretend to be shy in front of Ma Cuilan, since her mother knew her true nature—shameless and thick-skinned.
"Mother, the Heir Apparent is so strict with rules. I followed the fire prevention manual you gave me, but he scolded me and told me not to be seductive…"
Yun Shu hummed twice, complaining.
When she first transmigrated six years ago, Ma Cuilan, the mother of this body, was only a few years older than her previous life. Plus, Ma Cuilan was bold and straightforward, didn't favor sons over daughters, and genuinely loved the original owner, which made Yun Shu quite fond of her.
So, she had come to regard Ma Cuilan as a good sister in her heart, speaking frankly about everything.
"You, you—you're just too unruly in private!" Ma Cuilan first chided her, but after thinking for a moment, she whispered to Yun Shu,
"Although the Heir Apparent scolded you, he didn't actually punish you, so he probably wasn't truly angry.
When it comes to matters in bed, you have to be a bit more creative, not too rigid, otherwise you won't be able to keep a man."
"Mother, you really understand!" Yun Shu gave Ma Cuilan a thumbs-up and smiled suggestively, "No wonder Dad is so obedient to you."
Ma Cuilan tapped her on the head in annoyance, "No respect for your elders."
Once the mother and daughter were ready, they chatted and laughed, stepping out of the room with smiles on their faces.
But before they had taken two steps, they ran into their archrivals in the mansion—Hong Ling and her mother, Miao Chunmei.
"Look how happy they are, their eyebrows are practically raised. Anyone would think Yun Shu already has good news."
As soon as Miao Chunmei saw them, she started attacking with sarcasm.
She was bitter!
She was jealous!
Clearly, her daughter Hong Ling was outstanding in every way—even her hairdressing skills and needlework were far better than Yun Shu's—yet her daughter had always been overshadowed by Yun Shu, only ranking second in the lady's favor.
Now that both her daughter and Yun Shu had been chosen by the lady to be given to the Heir Apparent as bedchamber maids, the Heir Apparent had chosen to favor Yun Shu first.
According to the Heir Apparent's rules, he never favored women consecutively, so her daughter Hong Ling would have to wait three days!
"Aunt Miao, I appreciate your kind words. I'm also hoping for good news soon," Yun Shu pretended not to understand her sarcasm and said with a smile,
"I still have to go to the young mistress's place to kowtow and serve tea, so I won't chat with you first. I'll go ahead and pave the way, so I can tell you about it when I return, to avoid any mistakes when your Hong Ling goes."
"You, you…" Miao Chunmei was choked by her words, pointing at Yun Shu and wanting to retort, but Hong Ling tugged at her mother and said gently to Yun Shu,
"Sister Yun Shu, thank you."
"No problem, we've always been good sisters, and even more so now. It's only right," Yun Shu also smiled gently and generously, without a single flaw.
Afterward, the two parties parted ways, and the smiles vanished from both their faces.
"Daughter, you must be even more careful of this Hong Ling from now on. Once you gain favor, watch out for any underhanded schemes she might use to harm you behind your back." Ma Cuilan frowned, whispering to Yun Shu.
"Mother, you must also be on guard. Miao Chunmei manages the kitchen purchases alongside you. If she can't get to me, she might target you." Yun Shu reminded her as well.
"If you are punished, I will suffer too. We are a family—prosperity and loss are shared."
This was the Duchess's method of managing her subordinates, emphasizing balance and restraint.
Her mother and Miao Chunmei had always been at odds, sworn enemies who wished nothing more than to crush each other.
By having the two of them oversee the kitchen purchases together, the Duchess ensured they would keep an eye on each other, preventing collusion in embezzlement.
It was the same with her and Hong Ling.
Although they were polite on the surface, behind the scenes, they often schemed against each other, looking for any weakness to exploit.
The Duchess chose them as chamber maids precisely to make them compete fiercely, further preventing Miao Chunmei and her mother from forming alliances and deceiving their mistress.
Wutong Yuan.
Young Madam Liu Ruozhu had also risen, attended by several maids as she dressed and washed.
"Did anything go amiss with the Shizi last night?" Liu Ruozhu asked the matron Qin beside her.
"No, Yun Shu was very proper. After attending to the Shizi, she left without lingering or attempting to stay overnight, nor did she try to flatter or vie for favor." Matron Qin replied, a hint of approval for Yun Shu in her words.
"The head maid trusted by Mother is indeed clever." Liu Ruozhu said softly, smoothing her hair by the bronze mirror.
Just then, the gatekeeper entered and reported,
"Young Madam, Yun Shu has come and requests an audience outside."
"Have her come in and wait." Liu Ruozhu said.