Chapter 322 - The Baby’s One-month-old Banquet

Jian Xubai returned in the evening and heard that her daughter’s name had been given by the Empress Dowager. And she also sent a decree, which let Jian Xubai dumbfounding. He said, “Mother must have done it on purpose. She clearly knew when we named the child before.”

He added, “Yesterday Mother did not say anything about the name. I thought she was too happy to forget it. It turns out she had her own plans.”

The intention, naturally, was to let the Empress Dowager come up with the baby’s name.

But both Grand Princess Jinguo and the Empress Dowager were well-intentioned. Even though the couple could not name their first child, they said a few complain words and let it go.

Jian Xubai said to his wife, “I said that we should celebrate your birthday. You said it was not necessary. As a result, I did comply with you, but God in the end gave us a big gift.”

He refereed that Song Yixiao giving birth to a daughter on her own birthday. Wouldn’t a strong and lovely first daughter be a great gift?

“It’s indeed a coincidence.” Song Yixiao also felt that she and her daughter were extremely destined to be together. Thinking of this, she could not help smiling lightly and said that they can save one birthday party in the future.”

The two of them had a vision about their daughter. Song Yixiao asked about the murder case in Jianling “This case was a false accusation. Now His Majesty authorized to investigate thoroughly. Will it be finished soon?”

However, Jian Xubai shook his head and said, “It’s not so easy. After all, the crown prince is to be recorded in the history record. In order to prevent future generations from suspecting that the emperor is biased the crown prince, the Emperor did not hesitate to sacrifice courtiers for the crown prince’s reputation. The Emperor ordered that all of Huang Jingting’s transgressions since he started his career must be reveled, no matter how big or small. This is the only way to convince the world.”

And he apologized, “So I’m afraid I won’t be able to take leave until this thing is over.”

He felt very guilty. It was already the third year of marriage, and his daughter was just born. He had been saying that he wanted to spend some time with his wife exclusively, and as a result, he had been busy until now.

Song Yixiao was a reasonable person. The crown prince won the fight for the title of heir to the throne. As the crown prince’s right-hand man, Jian Xubai’s future was already a straight path. He couldn’t slow down his work for the sake of family matters. Otherwise, it was inevitable that people will think that he was arrogant because of the new baby.

Not only Jian Xubai has been steadfastly following to the crown prince. The friends at the beginning might be rivals for power and profit in the future.

How could she let her husband fall into such a trap?

Song Yixiao reassured him, “There is no need for you to take leave now. You know that there are so many people serving us, and I do not need to pay respects to the elders. However, our mother is very concerned about me every day. The baby has the foster-nurse and maid to take care of, and Aunt Yun takes care of our health. You don’t need to worry about it. You need concentrate on finishing your business, and then we can enjoy the happiness of our family.”

She added, “It is now said that men should not enter the delivery room. Although I know you don’t care about that, but it’s not good to spread it out. Next time you come to see me, let’s talk across the screen.”

Jian Xubai said disapprovingly, “I went out to tell the maids not to spread it out. Otherwise, I will send them out. By the way, since our daughter is called Qingyue, the maid Yuedeng should change her name. Otherwise, even if it is not a word, the same sound is not good.”

Song Yixiao laughed, “Of course. I have just renamed her Xiandeng.”

These days, Wei Xi knew that Jian Xubai just got a daughter, so he did not let him do too many things. So that Jian Xubai can accompany his wife and daughter. The Council of Censorate, at the request of Emperor Xianjia, impeached Huang Jingting and several appointed scapegoats. Since Wei Xi, the imperial counsellor, came the Council of Censorate, everyone was very busy.

In fact, it was not necessary to do so. After all, most of the things that impeached Huang Jingting had real evidence. Huang Jingting himself did not expect to escape the trouble. It was supposed to be very quick.

The problem was that Emperor Xianjia, for the sake of the crown prince’s reputation in the history books, asked for the whole case must be overturned and unassailable. This might not be difficult, but certainly tedious.

Jian Xubai was busy until the day before Song Yixiao finished her confinement in childbirth. The day before the confinement, she had a comfortable bath. The next day at the banquet, she talked to Xie Yiren and others, “When I was pregnant, I only thought that raising a baby was already very delicate. The first thing that I did was to find out that it was a blessing to be able to raise a baby properly. When I gave birth, I felt that there was nothing more thrilling than having a child. It was only later that I realized that the most frightening thing was the confinement in childbirth.”

Xie Yiren had not yet given birth, but before marrying she also received some guidance on birth and nourishment. She knew that she should not wash hair, bathe and go out during the confinement, which was really unpleasant for a noblewoman who was very fastidious about personal hygiene and well brought up since childhood.

She said, “The weather was still a bit cold when you gave birth to the baby, and it’s only now that the climate has really turned warm. So when you’re in the confinement, even if you don’t bathe every day, at least you won’t sweat a lot and you can endure a period of time. I told you, my sister-in-law had a tough time during the month. She gave birth to my nephew in June, but she didn’t go to Cuihua Mountain to HYPERLINK “C:/software/YoudaoDict8.9.6/Dict/8.10.3.0/resultui/html/index.html” l “/javascript:;” prevent HYPERLINK “C:/software/YoudaoDict8.9.6/Dict/8.10.3.0/resultui/html/index.html” l “/javascript:;” sunstroke for fear that something would go wrong on the way. She couldn’t use ice in the hot summer, so how hard was that confinement? My sister-in-law almost cried when she came out of the confinement. She soaked in the bath for several hours then she came out reluctantly. She said she still felt a smell on her body.”

The crowd laughed when they heard this and asked which of her sisters-in-law was. Xie Yiren covered her mouth and laughed, “I accidentally said this thing out. I can’t tell you more details, or my sister-in-law will blame me if she finds out.”

The crowd laughed again, “Your parents＇ family only has a few sisters-in-laws. Even if you don’t tell us now, we’ll know later. At that time, you still have to be reproached by your sister-in-law. It is better to tell us now.”

Since Jian Qingyue’s one-month-old banquet was held on this day, it was impossible for relatives not to be present.

While greeting the guests, Song Yixiao kept an eye on her stepmother, Madam Lu. She noticed that she was much more haggard than when she came to visit her on the tenth day of the second lunar month. Although she had been smiling and talking to people, she showed that she was very happy about the birth of her stepdaughter. However, the worry and resentment that occasionally swept across her brow did not outwit Song Yixiao’s eyes.

“Could it be that my grandmother really abused Song Yijiao?” Song Yijiao was surprised to see this. She knew that Elder Lady Pang was not a good person, but Madam Lu’s docility was a far cry from Wei Mengying’s. And Madam Lu had also given birth to a son to the Song Family. Even a mother-in-law who didn’t like her daughter-in-law, for the sake of her grandson, she should treat her daughter-in-law well.

Moreover, Song Yijiao was still her biological granddaughter. Thinking about this, Song Yixiao felt herself was stupid. Wasn’t she also the granddaughter?

“No wonder Mother bullied my father at first, but then she remarried.” She sighed, “I met my father by chance that time. When he sent my stepmother and my second sister back to the Song Family’s mansion, I saw how much my father loved my second sister, and I thought Madam Lu’s children had a higher status in his mind. How could my grandmother still not treat her granddaughter well if my father helped say something to her? I’m sure he treats me pretty much the same as any other his daughters.”

He was such a patriarchal person. Wei Mengying did not give birth to a son when she was in the Song Family, so how could she not leave?

However, Wei Mengying was a stark contrast to Madam Lu. Although her mother-in-law had just passed away, she was not dressed in rich and colorful clothes, her spirit was very good. She’s something of a smooth operator..

When Song Yixiao saw her unconcealed joy, she knew that she must have solved the matter of the Prince of Hengshan’s desire to let Lu Guanqun marry the Gu Family’s concubine’s daughter.

After the one-month-old banquet started, Wei Mengying took the time to come over to Song Yixiao. First, she exchanged a few pleasantries with the people around her. And then Wei Mengying hinted that she had something to say to Song Yixiao alone.

In the granddaughter’s one-month-old banquet, it was normal for the grandmother who wanted to talk to her daughter in private. The people didn’t know the real relationship between them, so they went away after hearing this.

“It’s also more convenient for you because you have finished the confinement.” Seeing that no one else was around, Wei Mengying said, in a rather smug tone, “Prepare a congratulatory gift for Lu Chai’er. Her wedding is in a few days.”

“Wedding?” Song Yixiao was stunned and subconsciously said, “Who is the bride?”

According to Wei Mengying’s coldness and impatience towards her stepson and stepdaughter and Lu Chai’er was only a concubine’s daughter, so Song Yixiao thought Lu Chai’er would not have a good ending. It was fine for her to marry into a family with decent style.

Wei Mengying plucked the fringe at her temples and said with a smile, “It’s the son of Gu Family in Hongzhou.”

“Prime Minister Gu’s grandson?” Song Yixiao guessed that.

“That’s right.” Wei Mengying gladly said, “Although he is a concubine’s son, but it is said that his character and appearance are good. Of course, I don’t care if it’s really good or not. Lu Chai’er is not my own child, so it’s none of my business if she lives good or not in the future. I didn’t marry her to those poor families, and that’s already a big favor to her.”

Song Yixiao laughed coldly at this and said, “Yes. You didn’t marry a girl who wasn’t your own to a poor family. But when I was preparing for marriage, do you remember who recommend many poor families to me?”

Wei Mengying remembered that in order to force her daughter to give in, she followed Ms. Bo’s plan and brought some defective people to Song Yixiao. She blushed, then as if nothing had happened. She said, “It’s past things. You’re living a good life now. This time you only gave birth to a daughter, and your husband’s family are satisfied. What else can you blame me for? I raised you and taught you well. You could not say that your good life now are not influenced by me.”

“You let Lu Chai’er marry into the Gu Family for preventing Master Guanqun from marrying the Gu Family’s granddaughter.” Song Yixiao would not expect her own mother to feel guilty, but she was just upset at her complacent appearance and deliberately said these words. Wei Mengying said, “After all, the Gu Family is an aristocratic family, fame is the most important. Since their grandson marries Lu Chai’er, they won’t let their daughter marry into the prince’s mansion. Otherwise, it would be an exchanging marriage. But the new noblemen who becomes noble by taking advantage of the competition for the crown prince. There are several girls in these new noblemen’s families. For example, there are several young ladies who have not yet married in the family of Ministry of War.”

Song Yixiao paused and said, “You are so happy. Has Lu Guanqun’s remarriage girl been decided? And She is just the right choice for you?”