In their leisure time, it was good to chat and relieve boredom.
"By the way, how is Sixian learning the household rules at home these days?"
"Very well. She's more diligent than you. The governess says she's making rapid progress."
"Mother, you speak as if I were very lazy."
Princess Wenyi chuckled, covering her mouth, not bothering to expose her.
"What is it? Why do you suddenly ask about this?"
"In a few days, my mother-in-law will be hosting a banquet at home, inviting ladies from various families to gather. I'll have her come along then. There will be some fine young gentlemen attending. I heard from my elder sister-in-law that the驸马 (fù mǎ - consort to a princess) of the eldest Princess Fulin has a nephew. He's young and very talented, but his parents have passed away. However, his family background is substantial, and he's ambitious. He's currently studying at Yunqi Academy, and might even pass the imperial examinations next year. With the care of Princess Fulin, his future rise will not be difficult."
"You want Sixian to marry him?"
"It's not at that stage yet. It's just that she mentioned it, and I said to let everyone come and take a look. She can also have a look herself. If she fancies him, we can try to arrange a good match. If not, then it's fine."
This marriage prospect sounded quite good.
However, neither Madam Lin nor Princess Wenyi knew the man's situation, so they couldn't answer immediately.
The First Madam said after a while, "I'll inquire about it. Since Sixian is being raised by us, we can't let her be mistreated. Marriage is a major event, and a bad match can ruin her life. Let me vet him first."
"That's natural."
Bai Siruo understood the First Madam's intentions best. Although she had some minor disagreements with Bai Sixian in the past, she had let them go. In the end, Sixian was still a child of the Bai family, and they couldn't let her live a life of hardship, as it would ultimately reflect poorly on the Bai family.
The few of them chatted and laughed, and time passed.
At this moment, Mama Lin brought in a plate of milk cake, which was exuding a fragrant aroma. However, upon smelling it, Princess Wenyi felt nauseous.
She could endure it at first, but seeing her sister-in-law eat it, she couldn't hold back any longer and rushed outside to vomit.
Startled, Madam Lin almost dropped the cake and hurried out.
"What's wrong? Quick, send for the household physician!"
Madam Lin was extremely worried, while Bai Siruo seemed to have thought of something, her eyes lighting up. Could it be that Physician Zhang's medicine was so effective?
It's only been a few months, and she's already pregnant?
She was both surprised and delighted but dared not speak rashly, fearing that if it were just a common stomach upset, it would cause everyone unnecessary excitement. So, she could only hold back.
When the household physician arrived in a hurry, Princess Wenyi had already rinsed her mouth, but the discomfort persisted.
"Sister-in-law, please take that plate of cake away. The smell makes me feel very unwell."
"Quick, quick, take it away."
Mama Lin, seeing this, immediately instructed someone to remove it. She was puzzled, as the Fourth Madam had always been in good health. How could she suddenly be like this?
As she was wondering, she saw the household physician also looking incredulous.
He took her pulse repeatedly, not daring to be negligent. Only when the results were consistently the same did he break into a smile and say to Princess Wenyi and Madam Lin,
"Congratulations, Fourth Madam. Congratulations, Fourth Madam, you are with child."
"What!"
Everyone present was shocked, as if they had dug a pearl from an iron mine, rendering them speechless.
Madam Lin was the first to react and immediately said,
"Quick, go outside and invite all the renowned gynecologists to examine Fourth Madam."
"Yes!"
This was momentous news. The Bai family had always had few descendants. Princess Wenyi had suffered a lingering illness after giving birth to Bai Siruo, and despite years of treatment, she had not conceived. Now, her daughter was married, and she was preparing to be a grandmother, yet she was suddenly told she was pregnant?
This was even more astonishing than an old clam giving birth to a pearl.
The household physician had no objections to this. It was best to have more people confirm such a matter.
Princess Wenyi was too shocked to speak, her hands clasped over her lower abdomen, wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin.
Bai Siruo found the situation somewhat amusing.
Madam Lin glared at her, "Speak, did you have something to do with this?"
"Aunt, you are wrongly accusing me. Isn't my mother's pregnancy a great joy? Why are you blaming me! It seems my younger siblings don't like me. When I was at home, there was no movement. I've only just gotten married, and now they've arrived. They really don't give me, their elder sister, any face!"
Madam Lin was rendered speechless by her words, caught between tears and laughter.
"You, you are truly... truly a troublemaker!"
Everyone present laughed at her words.
By the time Bai Silang heard the news and rushed home, it was already late at night.
However, Princess Wenyi had not slept. Hearing the commotion, she got up and asked,
"You're back?"
Her tone was still filled with a hint of surprise. Bai Silang immediately had candles lit and walked to Princess Wenyi's side, too excited to speak.
"You could have come back tomorrow. It's so late, aren't you afraid of the dark on the road?"
"I wanted to see you sooner."
He then took her hand, just as he had when they were newly married.
Looking at her still-flat abdomen, Bai Silang, usually eloquent, seemed to have lost his voice.
"What is going on? There has been no news for so many years, how can you suddenly be pregnant?"
"You say that. It's all because of Siruo, that girl. The medicine she gave me to nourish my body last time was a pregnancy-supporting medicine prescribed by Physician Zhang. When I gave birth to her, I had a lingering illness. I had been undergoing warm tonifying and conditioning, but it was ineffective. Instead, this potent medicine prescribed by Physician Zhang cleared the blood stasis in my abdomen. A few days ago, I thought it was my period, but I didn't expect it to be the blood stasis being expelled, which is why we have another child."
Bai Silang suddenly understood. For so many years, her health had been managed by imperial physicians.
Perhaps accustomed to serving nobility, the medicines from the Imperial Medical Academy were always mild, not causing any harm, but making complete recovery difficult.
He never expected such great fortune this time. However, both the household physician and the external doctors had said that she was an elderly primigravida and must rest in bed. For at least the first three months, she shouldn't expect any strenuous activities.
"Is there anything you want to eat? I'll go find it for you."
He had heard on his way that Princess Wenyi had a poor appetite this time and vomited upon smelling milk cake, so he guessed she wouldn't be able to eat much.
She thought for a moment, feeling a little embarrassed.
"I want to eat the baked pancakes from Guo Ji in the east of the city, but it's too late now."
"Don't worry, as long as you want to eat it, I will find it for you!"
After saying that, he comforted her to go to sleep quickly.
Perhaps because her husband had returned, Princess Wenyi slept soundly.
When she woke up, the baked pancakes she had wanted last night were already in front of her.