Chapter 211 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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 Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

 Chapter 211: 

 New Year

“Your Highness, what are you writing?” 

With only a month left until the New Year, Lin Yunwan noticed that Qi Lingheng had been in the study writing something for the past few days, which looked like another memorial.

She set down a bowl of soup and remarked, "You've been writing for several days now."

Qi Lingheng rubbed his temples, feeling weary from writing. 

He replied, "It's the New Year's greeting to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager."

Lin Yunwan walked over and asked, "May I take a look, Your Highness?"

"Of course," Qi Lingheng chuckled, picking up the greeting to show her.

Lin Yunwan glanced at it. 

With His Highness's talent, drafting a New Year's greeting was not a difficult task. There were also letters from the palace placed casually on the table, and she started to read them all. After reading, she understood everything. The Empress was urging for the birth of an heir.

But it seemed that His Highness had promised to fulfill their wish for a grandchild as soon as possible. No wonder this year's greeting was difficult to write. 

Qi Lingheng stood up and walked over to her side.

He hugged her waist and gently caressed her flat abdomen, whispering, "Now do you understand the difficulties of your husband?"

Lin Yunwan turned her head and smiled, "Isn't it your fault? Offspring are heaven's gift. How can you promise the Empress and Emperor when we'll have children?"

"If I hadn't said that, you would have to visit your in-laws this New Year."

Qi Lingheng had intended to pinch her cheek, but seeing her turn around with her hairpin askew, he adjusted it for her.

Lin Yunwan knew he was considering her. Returning to the capital now was indeed not the right time. She went to the desk, took up a pen, and wrote a greeting as well. As she finished, she remarked, "Even a daughter-in-law must visit her in-laws. I'll send a greeting as a gesture of respect."

Qi Lingheng went to take a look and saw that her greeting was almost like a self-accusation. She was taking all the blame upon herself. "This won't do. It's not right to blame the Princess alone. It's this prince's fault."

Qi Lingheng was joking with her. When they first married, they had consulted a physician, and their health was fine. However, the matter of offspring was indeed not something that could be rushed. No matter how urgent the Empress was, it couldn't be hurried.

He picked up his pen and completed the latter part of his greeting. "The Princess bears guilt, and this prince cannot escape it either." It was also a self-accusatory manner of writing.

Once the ink had dried, Qi Lingheng instructed A'Fu to quickly send the greetings to the capital.

"In a few days, the roads to the capital will be closed. Don't delay on the way."

A'Fu took the greetings and replied, "I understand!"

~

Jiangqian Relay Station urged the horses on, delivering the two greetings to the capital. Anything sent back to the capital by Prince Huan was directly delivered to the imperial court or the harem.

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Emperor Jingshun and Empress Zhao together read the two greetings from their son and daughter-in-law. 

Emperor Jingshun was very pleased, smiling as he remarked, "Truly a newlywed couple deeply in love." 

The Empress was also satisfied. The affection and tenderness expressed in the greetings were clear to her.

"The daughter-in-law's literary talent is also excellent, worthy of being the legitimate daughter of the Lin family."

"If it continues like this, Your Majesty, are you still afraid of not having imperial grandchildren?"

Emperor Jingshun nodded. He wrote a letter back to his son and daughter-in-law, along with generous rewards, and instructed someone to convey the message: "If the Princess Consort gives birth to the imperial grandson of our Great Zhou, I will reward her handsomely!"

Empress Zhao also wanted to reward them. Aside from the rewards, she was quite curious, "I wonder how the legitimate daughter of the Lin family managed to win over Lingheng."

Her son appeared obedient, but in reality, he was quite willful and unruly.

Emperor Jingshun also had many questions, but even after Wang Mama returned to the capital, she didn't provide specific reasons.

He stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, "Since ancient times, heroes have had difficulty resisting the charms of a beauty; it must be the case here."

Empress Zhao didn't quite agree. There were plenty of beautiful and talented individuals in the capital, but she hadn't seen her son deeply infatuated with anyone.

However, with her son finally married, it resolved a concern they had as parents, so she decided not to dwell on it too much.

"Lingheng said that the Lin family is fragile this year, so he won't trouble them. Let's wait until next year... I want to meet my daughter-in-law."

Emperor Jingshun also wanted to meet her. He chuckled and said, "It would be even better if she comes to the capital with my imperial grandson."

The Emperor and Empress laughed and joked. A palace maid entered and said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience."

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Emperor Jingshun frowned slightly, "He is frail, why would he come in such strong winds and heavy snow? Go, have someone escort the Crown Prince back immediately. Also, send Imperial Physician Chen to the Crown Prince's residence to check his pulse. Regardless of the outcome, he should come and report the truth."

The palace maid bowed and exited, "Yes."

The Emperor continued listening to the newly composed music by Empress Zhao.

~

"Your Highness, His Majesty is preoccupied, and considering the heavy snow, he wishes for me to escort you back with a retinue." It was the Emperor's most trusted eunuch who spoke.

The Crown Prince looked up at the snowy Imperial City. The red walls and green tiles were covered in a blanket of white. He coughed lightly and chuckled, "Father is right, the snow is indeed heavy. Too heavy..."

"Please convey my regards to Father."

"Yes."

Assisted by his attendants, the Crown Prince left the palace.

Imperial Physician Chen went to check the Crown Prince's pulse, recorded the results, and brought them to Emperor Jingshun, giving a detailed explanation.

Afterward, rare medicinal herbs flowed into the Crown Prince's residence like a stream.

~

"Yunwan, look, the Emperor and Empress are very pleased. The Empress even said you have talent." Qi Lingheng received a letter from the Empress and proudly presented it to Linyunwan.

Linyunwan smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Your Highness's favor. The Empress loves me as much as she loves her own child."

She hadn't expected the Empress to dote on Qi Lingheng so much, almost like how a common family spoils their youngest.

But when she glanced at the family letters on the table, her expression suddenly turned melancholic.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

"What's wrong?" Qi Lingheng's expression also changed. Just a moment ago, they were both joyful, but now he couldn't fathom her sorrow.

Linyunwan gave a faint smile. "It's nothing."

She changed the subject, saying, "My lord, Xiruo is not getting any younger. She was originally a maid in the mansion, and I know nothing about her background. But considering her age, I think it's time for her to be married. What do you think?"

"Xiruo is already your maid, and her heart belongs to you. Whatever arrangement you decide for her, she will accept," Qi Lingheng replied.

"I'm just worried about not being fair to her," Linyunwan said.

Qi Lingheng chuckled, "I have never seen you mistreat any of your maids."

Except for their wedding night, the maids never let him disturb her in the bath. Whenever he visited, Xiruo and Cuiqin, the two maids, would immediately inform her.

Lin Yunwan could only say, "Then I'll find a suitable place and settle Xiruo there."

There were also other household affairs to be dealt with.

Today, Qi Lingheng had to meet with officials from the provincial government, so he left after a brief moment.

Lin Yunwan stayed in the mansion's meeting hall and met with all the stewards and managers responsible for external operations such as shops and farms.

"Managing these people requires a combination of kindness and severity, but since the new year is approaching, let's not say anything ominous for now. We'll discuss it after the new year," Lin Yunwan said to Xiruo and Cuiqin.

Cuiqin replied, "Wangfei, the New Year's gifts are all prepared."

Lin Yunwan nodded. "Distribute them."

As the New Year approached, everyone inside and outside the mansion received rewards.

Lin Yunwan also meticulously organized the social connections between the mansion's officials, prominent families in Jiangqian, and influential figures in the capital. She flawlessly sent out New Year's gifts to each household without any mistakes.

Amidst the busy and trivial tasks, she also heard some good news: Dong Shuangshuang was about to give birth.

Cuiqin chuckled, "We've already invited a midwife to stay at home. It's for the Lunar New Year."

Lin Yunwan smiled, "Have someone donate five hundred taels of silver for incense oil to the Temple!"

At the end of the year, they made two more donations. Lin Yunwan happened to hear that the Su family had also made two donations.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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