Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 27

Chapter

When Lu Bao'er first met Madam Zhao at the wedding banquet, she had thought that Madam Zhao's invitation to her house was just a polite gesture. But within a few days, Madam Zhao had actually sent a visiting card to the Xie Mansion, saying that they had a basket of fresh autumn pears and had specially invited her to come and taste them.

Lu Baoer didn't expect that Mrs. Zhao was really interested in making friends, and the old nanny was overjoyed.

If Lu Baoer wanted to gain a firm foothold in the official wives' circle, she naturally needed a guide, so making friends with Madam Zhao from the Dali Sizhi family was the best thing to do. It was really a delight to be handed a pillow when I was dozing off.

Lu Baoer didn't think as far ahead as the old nanny did; she was simply happy. It turned out there were people who didn't care about her background and were genuinely friendly with her. Speaking of being friendly, Madam Su was one example, and Madam Zhao was another.

Since Lu Bao'er was visiting the Zhao residence for the first time, the old maid dressed her up meticulously. She wore a pearl headband with the Three Friends of Winter pattern on her head and a crimson jacket with a floral and fruit pattern. A few days ago, Xie Junling had brought out some fabric from the warehouse and had several new horse-faced skirts specially made for Lu Bao'er, perfect for her outing.

The Zhao residence wasn't far away, arriving in less than half an hour by carriage. Although Lord Zhao held a higher rank than Xie Junling, the Zhao residence wasn't as grand. Come to think of it, Xie Junling's residence was granted by the emperor. Given his social status, in Kyoto, where a falling plaque could crush an official, it was impossible for him to afford a house near the imperial city.

A large house like the Zhao Mansion, which is close to the imperial palace and has three entrances and exits, can only be afforded by a wealthy family.

Madam Zhao arranged for the housekeeper to come and welcome Lu Baoer. In the flower hall, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family was already waiting.

When Mrs. Zhao saw Lu Baoer, she pulled her little daughter into her arms and pointed at Lu Baoer and said, "Sister Yang, come and thank your aunt and pay your respects."

Mrs. Zhao's youngest daughter, Zhao Huayang, was only about five or six years old. She wore two pearl dragonfly-shaped beads on her head. She hid shyly behind her mother and called out in a baby voice, "Hello, Aunt Xie."

Lu Baoer thought such a petite girl was very cute. She took off the gold filigree jade bracelet on her hand and handed it to Zhao Huayang, saying, "This is for you to play with."

Mrs. Zhao knew Lu Baoer's background well, so she didn't dare let her take anything too expensive. She glanced at her and said angrily, "The child has everything, why spend so much money? My sister and I are not strangers, so is it worth such a polite gift?"

Lu Baoer was deeply moved by her words and said repeatedly, "I won't try to be too arrogant. The emperor gave my husband some silver, and he used part of it to buy me some jewelry for entertaining guests. You know, I come from a humble family and am not used to those red hairpins and precious jades. Now I can pick out a relatively inexpensive piece to please Sister Yang. Why not?"

Now that things have come to this, there is no point for Mrs. Zhao to refuse any further.

She pursed her lips and smiled, asked the wet nurse to take Zhao Huayang away, led Lu Baoer into the inner room, and said to her in a personal tone: "You are also a lucky person. You have never been to Kyoto before, so I am afraid you don't know some things. Lord Xie is the number one scholar chosen by the emperor. It is said that the emperor also praised his articles. He will have great luck in the future! Look, he just entered the Hanlin Academy, and he was rewarded with a house and a subsidy. I am afraid that Lord Xie will have a hard time." Madam Zhao Ye Qiying had been in Kyoto for so many years, and had a good relationship with her husband, so it was natural for her to hear some news in the officialdom.

She looked around and saw no one was around, so she whispered to Lu Baoer, "Don't think that there's been no news about Lord Xie joining the Hanlin Academy for half a year. It's because the emperor is protecting him! He was favored too much in the past, which made others jealous! My master said that a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Now you have to recuperate for a while, and you will definitely be of great use in the future. When the time comes, you won't have to come to my house to accept my invitation. I'm afraid that even if I go to look for you, you won't have time to see me!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Lu Baoer shook Ye Qiying's hand and said, "If you really want me to call you sister, don't say that! You should know how much ridicule I have suffered openly and secretly because of my background, and yet you don't despise me and even dare to speak to me from the heart. Even if we are lucky enough in the future, our two families will still have exchanges."

Ye Qiying was very upset when she heard Lu Baoer say such words with such trepidation. She had good judgment in making a friend like Lu Baoer.

After a few words, they became closer. Ye Qiying thought that Lu Baoer was still not pregnant, so she suddenly took out a prescription from the box and handed it to her, saying, "Since I call you sister, I want to tell you something else. You and Master Xie are childless, and you are still young. If you give birth to a child rashly, I'm afraid your body won't be able to bear it. Keep this, and drink a bowl after sex. It contains nourishing herbs, which can prevent pregnancy and nourish your body without harming your body."

In ordinary families, parents-in-law and husbands all pray for children, but only women understand that childbirth is the gate of hell. If you can pass it, you will enjoy happiness, but if you can't, you will die there.

Seeing Lu Baoer's bewildered face, Ye Qiying said, "I know that at your age, you're all after your husband's affection and can't bear to reject him. But you have to understand that you still have decades to live! If you develop any underlying health problems, you'll have a miserable life. All men are the same. They might treat you well today, but tomorrow, when their looks fade and their love fades, they'll be the next person. So, your health and having children are paramount. Listen to my advice, and send your personal maid to your husband for a facial surgery, and then feed him a bowl of contraceptive soup. You can hold a toy that doesn't even have a child in it in your hands, and you have the final say. Besides, you can also gain a reputation for being virtuous and generous. Why not?"

Perhaps everyone else did the same thing. Seeing that Lu Baoer was still young and afraid that the delivery would be difficult, Ye Qiying naturally did not want to push her to the gates of hell.

Lu Bao'er was taken aback. She wasn't stupid; she knew what sex was. But Xie Junling had no interest in her at all. Besides, the two of them chatted before bed every day, and it was nice for them to sleep in the same bed together.

She hadn't thought about anything further. She always felt that Xie Junling was pure and simple, and didn't seem to care much about that kind of thing...

Uh, could it be that Xie Junling dislikes her small body and lack of meat, which makes her feel rough on the teeth, so he has no interest in eating?
Then should we cater to his preferences and find him two beautiful maids to entertain him?

Anyway, since they don't want to take a concubine or a concubine, she has no objection to anything else.

But when Lu Baoer thought that Xie Junling might not be in the room one night and sleep on someone else's bed, she felt a little uncomfortable.

So... who can warm her feet before bed?!
(End of this chapter)