After leaving the main hall, Hua Ru asked Qi Wu, "Mother, it's a great joy that San Shu is pregnant. Do you think I should go ask after her well-being?"

  Qī Wǔ's heart sighed, although he was a bit dissatisfied with his daughter-in-law, but compared to those overly calculating daughters-in-law, she was already the best. Never mind, there's no hurry in educating her, let's take it slow.

  "You'd better go, these days you've had a lot on your plate and you're not in good spirits either. Wait till you've recovered a bit and then come back to my place. As the eldest grandson's wife, you can't always be so weak."

  "Yes, it's the daughter-in-law who is troubling you."

  Qī Wǔ shook his head and left without saying a word. Huá Rú sent him off with a gentle smile, her usual dignified demeanor momentarily forgotten, until the group turned a corner and she could no longer see them. Only then did her soft smile fade away. Suddenly, she felt a pang of regret - why had she pretended to be weak? With her background, wouldn't it have been better if she had played the role of a bold and fierce martial arts expert instead?

  It's better to think twice, it won't work out either. Not to mention that the aristocratic families generally look down on the rough Jianghu people, even the rules of the mansion are enough to make her drink a pot of wine. She might have just shown off her power and then she would be punished immediately. The ladies in the mansion are idle and have plenty of time to deal with her. Just thinking about it makes one shiver, how can the days be described as "water deep and fire hot".

  "Chun Yu, go back and bring the prepared things, I'll wait for you at the fork in the road."

  "Yes."

  Because she had to wait for someone, Hua Ru started walking slowly at first, sizing up this place that was still too unfamiliar to her.

  She said that the architecture of Hebei and Yangzhou are incomparable, but if she had to pick out an advantage, it would be that the houses have very high eaves, which look very majestic.

  The pavilions and buildings seem stiff to her, completely different from the delicate beauty of Yangzhou. The gardens here are also much more monotonous, it's not even right to call them gardens, using "green forest" would be a more fitting description. Hua Ruoyan thought for a moment and understood that Jizhou has a long winter, trees with strong vitality can survive, but those fragile flowers and grasses cannot, the fact that Qi Manor still has some shows that its foundation was not bad in the past.

  The mansion is very large and feels empty because of its size, if only it could be changed according to her wishes...

  Suppressing her restless thoughts, Hua Ru returned her gaze, and even if she was itching to make some changes, the Qi manor didn't have the extra funds for a major renovation at present. Even if they did, the master of the house wouldn't let her make reckless changes.

  The sound of footsteps came from a small path on the left, Hua Ru Chu thought she hadn't heard it and continued to walk forward at a steady pace.

  Qī Liáng furrowed his brow and walked quickly, turning out of the small path to see people in front of him, he paused for a moment, then forcibly changed direction and sped up.

  "Big sister-in-law."

  Hua Ru turned around and gently called out "Third Brother" as she supported someone who was bowing with a slight incline of their body.

  Qī Liáng revealed his usual bright smile and said in a cheerful tone: "I didn't expect to run into Big Sister here, what a coincidence! Are you on your way to visit Third Aunt?"

  "Yes, Third Aunt's pregnancy is a big joyous event, I should go congratulate her. Is Third Brother also planning to visit Third Aunt?"

  "No." Qi Liang smiled awkwardly, "I was just coming to ask after Eldest Sister-in-law. I also wanted to visit Third Aunt, but... my monthly allowance isn't much, and at the beginning of the month I bought a gift for Eldest Brother's wedding, so for now I don't have any money to buy something to give to Third Aunt. How can I show up empty-handed?"

  She's a clever person, quick-witted, Hua Ru squeezed the handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth, smiling warmly, "I've actually prepared several things, let the maid go get them, Third Brother, if you're not disgusted, Eldest Sister will give you a share."

  Qī Liáng's eyes lit up, and his already large eyes became even bigger. "Is this okay? Won't it be taking advantage of Dà Jiě?"

  "You've spent all your monthly allowance to buy gifts for me and my husband as a congratulatory gift, this is...this is considered a return gift from you, in our place, relatives are supposed to return gifts, it can't be said that you're taking advantage of me."

  "Then I really accept it, sister-in-law, you are so kind." Qi Liang's excited and cheerful appearance was infectious, even if Hua Ruochu knew he was putting on an act, the smile on her face grew a little wider.

  "There's no need for such politeness among family members."

  It was as if he had thought of something, and Qi Liang's face darkened, his smile slowly fading away, just like the sun suddenly being covered by a thick layer of clouds. "Sister-in-law, you're a good person, you don't know how some people treat me, it's as if I'm something that can't be seen... Sister-in-law, don't misunderstand, I'm not talking about brother, brother is very good to us, really."

  Is this person clever or stupid? Doesn't he know that saying these things in front of her is very offensive?

  "Although you don't like to talk, you are a kind-hearted person."

  Just a few days after entering the door, can you see that he is a good person? Qi Liang was unwilling to stir up trouble and was about to continue, when Chun Yu quickly walked over, carrying a square cloth package in her hand.

  "Miss, the maid has brought everything."

  "Open."

  "Yes."

  Undoing the towel, there were three boxes stacked inside. Hua Ru Chu took out the middle one and handed it to Qi Liang, "The things in this one are not bad, you won't be impolite if you give this as a gift."

  Suppressing the urge to open and look, Qi Liang nodded repeatedly, touched beyond words, "Thank you, sister-in-law, thank you, sister-in-law."

  Always from head to toe Yun Shu opened the package to help Chunyu re-tie it, she was reluctant to give up that box of good ginseng, why didn't the young lady give that shameless person the largest box at the bottom, looking at big things doesn't necessarily mean high value.

  "Let's go, it's getting late."

  "Yes, elder sister first."

  The Qi Shen family's courtyard is very large, with servants and attendants coming and going, it's unclear whether it's because there are more people due to the pregnancy or if they originally had this many, but it looks lively and festive, full of joy.

  When Hua Ru entered, everyone bowed down and said, "We have seen the young master's wife, we have seen the good son."

  "No need for formalities, I've come to pay respects to Third Aunt, is she asleep or awake?"

  "The three madams have just eaten and should be awake now, Young Master and Mistress, please follow me."

  Yaya had already gone to report the news, and although Qi Shen's wife refused to see her, the upbringing of a noble family still prevailed, and she instructed her personal maid to greet her outside the house.

  "The slave girl Xiang'er has seen both young and old madams, and has also seen good masters."

  Hua Ru's expression naturally became more enthusiastic as soon as she knew who she was, and she reached out to help her up, smiling: "Third Aunt, are you alright? Wasn't the shock too much for you?"

  "Don't worry, madam, the lady is waiting for you, please come in quickly."

  Xiaoyuan raised the curtain, and the turbid air inside made Huajun wrinkle her brow as soon as she stepped in. She wanted to remind him of something, but the words circled on the tip of her tongue before she swallowed them back down.

  "How is Aunt San doing?"

  "Qiliang asked San Shu An."

  "Sit down, Xing'er, and have some tea."

  "Yes."

  P.S. Do you feel stifled? Actually, it's okay, as for Hua Ruochu, she doesn't care about this family, so there's no need to mention feeling stifled, but she feels tired, and it won't always be like this, don't worry everyone.