After Zhao Huanxi left, Yin Furen collapsed, lying in bed unable to rise. She lost her appetite and was deeply depressed, and even with Zhao Jiazhen’s wedding approaching, nothing could lift her spirits.

Zhao Jiaxian and Zhao Jiashan took turns coming to comfort her, but their efforts were in vain.

Xu Nian’an knew that Yin Furen blamed her for not being able to keep Zhao Huanxi, so she didn’t try to get close to her. Instead, she quietly took on the responsibility of managing the household, arranging everything for the household. Since she had handled such matters before, and with everyone in the household now aware that Zhao Huanxi was the confirmed heir to the Guogong’s title, the servants naturally cooperated with her, making the work easier.

Soon it was Mid-Autumn Festival. In the past, when Guogong Yé had not fallen ill, the whole family would go to the Guanyue Tower (lit. Moon Viewing Tower) to admire the moon. But this year, with Guogong Yé bedridden, it would seem unfilial for the descendants to celebrate the festival with joy. Without going to the Guanyue Tower, Xu Nian’an couldn’t decide how to arrange things and went to Yin Furen’s bedside to seek advice.

Yin Furen had lost weight, her complexion pale and yellow as she lay in bed, weakly saying, “Do as you see fit.”

Zhao Jiazhen, fearing Xu Nian’an might be put in a difficult position, said, “Now that both grandparents and mother are ill, how about we let each branch of the family celebrate separately? Just send some silver, and I believe Shushu*s and **Shenshens from the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Branches will understand.”

Xu Nian’an thought for a moment. Given the situation within the First Branch, Second Branch with Ning Shi’s issue, and Fifth Branch with Lao Taitai’s troubles, it indeed wasn’t suitable for everyone to gather together pretending to celebrate Mid-Autumn with harmony. She nodded and said, “I will go and inform the Shushus and Shenshens first.”

She stood up to leave, but suddenly, everything before her eyes went dark, and she could no longer see clearly. Soon, everything turned pitch black, and her limbs lost strength, leaving her unable to even speak. Slowly, she crouched down where she stood.

“Di Mei, what’s wrong with you?” Zhao Jiazhen, seeing Xu Nian’an suddenly turn pale and crouch down, quickly stood up and supported her, helping her sit on the stool, and asked with concern.

Yin Furen also turned her head to look.

Xu Nian’an took a moment to recover, and her vision returned, though her face remained as pale as snow.

She felt a bit fatigued and said, “It’s nothing, I probably just stood up too quickly and it made my vision go black for a moment.”

“But your complexion is very pale. Have you been overworked lately? You should go rest for now, leave the rest to me,” Zhao Jiazhen said.

Xu Nian’an knew she couldn’t afford to fall ill. With Zhao Jiazhen’s marriage approaching, if both she and Yin Furen fell sick, not only would the household affairs be left unmanaged, but if someone maliciously wrote to Zhao Huanxi telling him that his mother and wife were both unwell, it could disturb his peace of mind.

She nodded and said, “Then I’ll leave it to San Jie.”

“Perhaps you should see a physician. Your face really doesn’t look well,” Zhao Jiazhen said.

Xu Nian’an shook her head and said, “I’ll rest for a while first. If I still don’t feel better after sleeping, then I’ll see a physician.”

Zhao Jiazhen helped her out and instructed a maid to escort her back to Shenhui Courtyard to rest.

After seeing Xu Nian’an off, Zhao Jiazhen returned to the side room. Yin Furen said to her, “Don’t listen to Nian’an. Quickly send someone to fetch a physician. If she falls ill, your brother will worry and won’t be at ease.”

Zhao Jiazhen nodded and sent for a doctor. Then she returned to Yin Furen’s bedside and said, “Mom, I know you are worried about Huanxi and feel distressed, but Di Mei might not be feeling any better than we are. She and Huanxi were so close. Now that he’s gone, and you have fallen ill because of it, think of how much pressure she must be under. You need to pull yourself together. If Huanxi finds out you have fallen ill just because he left, he’ll be so worried and feel guilty in Liaodong.”

At the mention of this, Yin Furen couldn’t help but tear up, saying, “Is this something I can just ‘pull myself together’ from simply because I say so? Your brother left as soon as he said he would, and we don’t know when he can come back. He is still so young; if… if something happens, he won’t even have anyone to ‘shatter the clay basin’ for him. How pitiable is that?”

Shattering the Clay Basin (摔瓦盆): This is a deeply significant funerary custom in traditional China. During a funeral procession, the eldest son (or a direct male heir) must shatter a clay basin on the ground. This act symbolizes the "breaking" of the connection to the living world and is a duty that only a son or grandson can perform.
When Yin Furen says 'no one to shatter the clay basin' for Zhao Huanxi, she is lamenting that Zhao Huanxi has no children yet. If he dies in Liaodong, he will have no son to perform his funeral rites, meaning his spirit would theoretically be "homeless" or "unfed" in the afterlife.

When Yin Furen said this, Zhao Jiazhen couldn’t help but shed tears. She tried to hold them back and scolded gently, “Mom, why are you saying such inauspicious things? Didi will definitely come back safely and will be filial to you for the rest of his life.”

By midday, the physician arrived, and Zhao Jiazhen went to Shenhui Courtyard to handle things. After a while, she came to Jiaxiang House with a joyful expression, gently waking Yin Furen, who had her eyes closed, lost in thoughts of her son. “Mom, Di Mei is pregnant!”

Yin Furen was stunned for a moment, then turned her head in surprise, unable to believe it. “Really?”

“Really! Zhang Taifu said that although it’s still early and the pulse is not very clear, it’s unmistakably the pulse of pregnancy.”

Yin Furen sat up, threw aside the blanket, and was about to get out of bed to see Xu Nian’an, but Zhao Jiazhen pressed her back gently, saying, “Di Mei has already gone to rest. Mom, it’s better not to disturb her now. But since she’s now with child, she shouldn’t be burdened with managing the household anymore. How about I discuss with the Lu Family to postpone my wedding to Lu Feng for a bit? I can stay home to manage the household until your health improves.”

Yin Furen replied, “There’s no need for that. I’m fine now. Heaven has shown mercy, giving your brother a successor.”

At noon, Yin Furen had her most satisfying meal since her son left.

Watching her mother make an effort to regain her strength, Zhao Jiazhen felt a mix of heartache and relief.

Having successfully given birth to five children herself, Yin Furen was well-versed in how to care for a woman during different stages of pregnancy. After lunch, she immediately prepared a detailed meal plan for Xu Nian’an for the coming days, instructing the kitchen to start brewing nourishing soups. Then, with her spirits lifted, she personally went to Shenhui Courtyard to visit Xu Nian’an.

Xu Nian’an had just woken from a short nap and was having lunch when she saw Yin Furen arrive. She stood up and said, “Mom, you are up.”

Yin Furen hurriedly said, “Sit, sit. You’ve just conceived, you shouldn’t move too quickly or make big movements to avoid straining yourself. From now on, take everything slowly, alright?”

The two of them sat down by the table. Yin Furen noticed that the dishes on the table were barely touched and looked at Xu Nian’an, who seemed noticeably thinner.

She glanced around the quiet, empty room and thought about how her son and daughter-in-law had only been married for a year, their relationship still in its prime, when her son suddenly left. Her daughter-in-law was left alone, confined to an empty room. In truth, it must have been even harder for her than for herself as a mother. Yet Xu Nian’an never complained, silently bearing it all, taking on the household responsibilities, and not even realizing she was pregnant.

Yin Furen couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. As a mother-in-law, she hadn’t fulfilled her role properly.

“Nian’an, now that Huanxi is away and you’re with child, why not move to Jiaxiang House for the time being? It will be easier to take care of you there,” Yin Furen asked.

Xu Nian’an nodded. “Alright.”

Looking at her daughter-in-law, who had always been cheerful and full of smiles but now appeared worn and frail, Yin Furen said gently, “If Huanxi knew you were pregnant, he would be overjoyed. Shall we write to him and share this good news?”

Xu Nian’an quickly responded, “Mom, please don’t tell him.”

Yin Furen was puzzled. “Why not?”

Xu Nian’an explained, “Before he left, he said he didn’t want me to have a child while he was away because he wouldn’t be there to take care of me, and he’d feel he had failed me. If he knew I was pregnant, it would only distract him. He already worries about you and me. His focus should be on staying safe and returning home. There’s no need to burden him further with thoughts of the baby.”

Yin Furen understood from Xu Nian’an’s explanation that her foolish son was likely worried. If Xu Nian’an had a child and he didn’t return, she might refuse to leave the Jing Guogong Residence, rendering the plans he had made for her future useless. Yet how could everything in life go as he wished?

“Alright, we won’t tell him. Let’s hope he can return before you give birth,” Yin Furen said.

The best wing room in Jiaxiang House, closest to the main room with the best lighting and most spacious layout, was currently occupied by Zhao Jiazhen.

After returning from Shenhui Courtyard, Yin Furen instructed Zhao Jiazhen to vacate the room.

Zhao Jiazhen laughed and said teasingly, “Fine, all for the daughter-in-law. You are even kicking out your own daughter now.”

Yin Furen replied, “Do I even need to kick you out? In just over twenty days, you’ll be leaving on your own anyway.”

Zhao Jiazhen’s face turned bright red in an instant.

Yin Furen looked at her daughter, radiant as a blooming peach blossom, and sighed, “Lu Feng is a good man. This time, I can finally stop worrying about you.”

Zhao Jiazhen moving out, however, made Xu Nian’an feel a bit embarrassed.

“Mother is really something. There was no need to move over so soon, let alone have San Jie relocate because of me.”

In reality, Zhao Jiazhen hadn’t gone far, just moved to the room opposite her original one in the same wing.

“Mother was like that before, even if I married, I wouldn’t feel at ease. Now that she’s pulled herself together, it’s all thanks to Di Mei. Let alone moving across the hall, even if she asked me to move to the rooftop, I’d gladly do it,” Zhao Jiazhen said with a laugh, holding Xu Nian’an’s hand.

Her remark made Xu Nian’an burst out laughing.

Zhao Jiazhen glanced at Xu Nian’an’s still-flat belly and said, “The first three months of pregnancy are the most critical. Besides avoiding exhaustion or accidents, it’s also important not to overthink or worry too much. Di Mei, you’ve always been understanding, so you must keep an open mind this time as well. Mother held some resentment toward you before because she believed that if you had insisted on keeping Huanxi here, given your abilities and your bond with him, you could have convinced him to stay. But since you let him go, it shows you were prepared to accept all the consequences. If that’s the case, don’t let yourself become melancholic. Take good care of yourself and the child in your womb.”

Xu Nian’an nodded. “I understand.”

The two chatted for a while before heading together to the main room. Just as they reached the door, they overheard Yin Furen inside instructing, “Quickly distribute these to each branch, and make sure San Nainai doesn’t see them.”

Four Pozis responded in unison, carrying out a basket of oranges and a basket of large green crabs. Just as they exited, they came face-to-face with Xu Nian’an.

Xu Nian’an: “……”

The servants forced an awkward smile. “Greetings, San Nainai.”

Zhao Jiazhen, meanwhile, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.

Xu Nian’an entered the room and saw her mother-in-law’s equally awkward expression.

“Nian’an ah, it’s not that I don’t want to share with you,” Yin Furen explained, “but crabs are cold in nature and harmful to pregnant women. Since your pregnancy is still in its early stages and hasn’t stabilized yet, you need to be extra cautious. Once the three months are up, having one crab to satisfy your cravings wouldn’t hurt,” Yin Furen explained.

Xu Nian’an sighed helplessly. “Mom, I’m not that greedy. You should at least save some for yourself, San Jie, and Xuan Jie’er.”

Yin Furen replied, “I won’t eat them. Will you?” She turned to Zhao Jiazhen.

Zhao Jiazhen, trying to suppress her laughter, said, “I will. I’ll go to Xuanjing Zhai and eat them with Xuan Jie’er. I promise not to let Di Mei catch even a whiff of the smell.”

“What kind of Gu Jie is this, so shamelessly greedy? Aren’t you worried your Di Mei will laugh at you?” Yin Furen huffed in feigned annoyance.

Zhao Jiazhen grinned. “If I can’t be my true self in front of my family, that’s just too exhausting!”

Xu Nian’an covered her mouth, laughing softly.

Seeing Xu Nian’an smile, Yin Furen felt relieved and decided not to bicker with Zhao Jiazhen further.

✦

At the end of the Eight Month, Lü Chun led Zhao Huanxi and his group into the Guangning garrison.

In the main tent, General Li, the commander of Liaodong Town, was waiting. He had already been informed that the grandson of the Jing Guogong would be taking his place due to Guogong Yé’s illness. Now, hearing that they had arrived, he ordered them to be brought before him.