Chapter 678: Matriarch He’s Good Intentions (2)
Chu Lian was only three months pregnant, so counting back the days, it had happened only after they had returned to the capital. It was definitely their He Family’s child and not some wild bastard.
Once she got the news, the matriarch went into the ancestral hall to offer up incense with the help of Senior Servant Liu.
Although she was already a bag of old bones, she insisted on kneeling for two whole hours, begging for Chu Lian’s first child to be a boy…
Even Senior Servant Liu couldn’t move her from her prayers.
When she returned from the ancestral hall, Matriarch He started preparing things for her unborn great-grandson.
Senior Servant Liu noticed that the old matriarch wouldn’t sit still and tried to coax her, “Matriarch, you don’t have to be so rushed. There’s still another six months to go! Furthermore, we don’t know if it’ll be a little girl or boy. If you prepare the wrong items, then it will go to waste.”
The matriarch’s expression turned fierce upon hearing such words from Senior Servant Liu, “What nonsense are you speaking? Of course it’s going to be a little boy. Senior Servant Zhou, follow my instructions and prepare all the items for boys!”
Senior Servant Liu had no choice but to follow along with what Matriarch He wanted.
While the servants were busying themselves, Muxiang stood still in shock like a statue.
She ran back to her own room in a panic and locked the door.
Once the door was shut, she could no longer hide the resentful and sinister expression on her face.
From an obedient maidservant, she changed into a demon who had just crawled up from hell.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this! It wasn’t supposed to be…!” She leaned bonelessly against the door, sliding down into a squat. She grabbed at her hair, her eyes staring wildly into space, as if she couldn’t accept the news she had just heard.
In her past life, she hadn’t had any children since she hadn’t consummated her marriage with He Changdi. After she had gotten together with Xiao Bojian, although the two of them had gone to bed together many times, she hadn’t gotten pregnant.
She had always thought that it was her body that wasn’t fertile, and she had always held some regret.
When she opened her eyes and realised that she had been reincarnated into one of Matriarch He’s maidservants, she had first felt cold hard fear. Later on, that had been mixed with a thread of elatement, as this body was perfectly healthy. In the future, when she got He Changdi back again, she could give birth to their children.
Furthermore, the lack of any good news from the current Chu Lian and He Changdi after they had been married for so long had proven her guess from her past life.
However, how had this happened!? Wasn’t her old body supposed to be infertile? How had that imposter gotten pregnant with He Changdi’s child?
How could it be!
She was the only one in the world who could bear children for He Changdi!
The more Muxiang thought about it, the angrier she was. Slowly, that anger was mixed with depression. She wanted to rush over to Chu Lian right now and tear her into pieces.
Why!? How! That body was hers!
She was the one who was supposed to marry He Changdi!
How could that monstrous imposter use her body and take her husband and live so happily?!
In her extreme rage, Muxiang destroyed everything she could move in her room.
When she was done, she laid panting over the desk, her eyes bitterly cold as she looked at the bits and pieces of the broken things on the floor.
She looked like a viper eyeing her prey and wanting it dead!
That monster had stolen away her body… She wasn’t going to let it go so easily!
When He Changdi returned in the evening, Chu Lian had already ordered the servants to prepare everything.
Countess Jing’an and Chu Lian sat in the same carriage, while He Changdi rode his horse alongside them and the guards all the way back to the old residence.
They had already made a promise with the rest of the family that they would meet at the Jing’an Estate tonight. Even He Changjue had returned early.
Once they got to the Jing’an Estate, Chu Lian and He Changdi bowed in greeting to Matriarch He and Count Jing’an, before taking their seats at the large round table in the center of the parlour.
This intimate family banquet was bathed in a joyous and harmonious atmosphere. Even Matriarch He didn’t make any sour comments.
When they were done, the family moved to the parlour of Qingxi Hall to have tea and chat.
Now that Chu Lian was pregnant, Matriarch He’s mood seemed to be much better.
He Changdi hadn’t returned to the old residence in some time as well, so Matriarch He pulled him alongside her to catch up.
Seeing that He Changdi had become much thinner, the matriarch’s heart ached for her youngest grandson.
“Look at you, why don’t you know how to take care of yourself outside? You’ve become so thin.”
Chu Lian stiffened up a little, but she didn’t say anything.
While Matriarch He might not have meant anything by her words, it didn’t sound like that to the others.
It sounded like the matriarch was blaming her granddaughter-in-law for not taking good care of her husband and allowing him to get so thin from overworking.
He Changdi’s cool and handsome face didn’t change at all. When he spoke, it was in his usual low tones.
“Grandmother, you must be mistaken. I haven’t lost weight at all.”
Since it was rare that He Changdi would return to visit them, the matriarch didn’t contest his words.
“Alright, alright, you haven’t gotten thinner at all.”
Countess Jing’an followed up to smooth out the awkwardness in the air, “It looks like Sanlang has gotten even more muscular than before. Mother, you don’t have to worry at all.”
The family continued chatting happily. Count Jing’an didn’t say much, but his gaze was full of satisfaction and affection when looking at his youngest son and daughter-in-law.
Just as the family was enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, the matriarch suddenly spoke up, “Sanlang, Sanlang’s wife, since you’ve already moved out, then so be it. I can’t stop you anyway. In the past, it didn’t matter much that it was only the two of you in your estate, but things are different now. Sanlang’s wife is pregnant, we can’t be careless with this. I’m too old and I can’t walk well now, so I can’t move over to your estate. However, I can’t rest easy with the two of you so far away. I thought over this for some time, and I’ve decided to send Muxiang back with you. She can serve Sanlang’s wife and report her condition to me. I’ll feel more reassured this way.”
