Phi-Fic Chapter 1028 Such Mystery!
Chapter 1028 Such Mystery!
As the morning light streamed into the inner room through the carved window lattice, Ouyang Yunyao and Chu Chenjing had already finished washing and dressing.
Chu Chenjing rubbed Ouyang Yunyao's head and said, "Yaoyao, let Xiaocui and Xia Fei help you with your makeup first. I'm going to the study to take care of some things, and I'll come back to have breakfast with you in a bit."
"Go quickly! Go quickly!" Ouyang Yunyao nodded and smiled as she pushed Chu Chenjing out the door.
She then sat down in front of the dressing table and had Xiao Cui and Xia Fei style her hair.
Having transmigrated to this ancient era, Ouyang Yunyao was not used to being waited on and took care of herself. However, she was completely at a loss when it came to the complicated hairstyle.
She gazed at the busy figures of Xiao Cui and Xia Fei reflected in the bronze mirror, a relieved smile spreading across her lips, and casually asked, "Did Yan'er go to school?"
“Yes, Your Highness!” Xia Fei said as he placed a hair ornament inlaid with emeralds into her hair. “My sister went there just as dawn was breaking. She told me to take good care of Your Highness.”
Ouyang Yunyao raised an eyebrow and teased with a smile, "Well, you two will be coming back to the General's Mansion with me today. Fei'er, you must protect me well!"
"Your Highness, you're laughing at me again," Xia Fei said coquettishly, blushing. The princess didn't need their protection; her abilities far surpassed theirs.
Upon hearing that they had gone to the General's Mansion that day, Xiao Cui paused in her hand holding the jade comb, her eyes instantly lighting up. "Your Highness, is the eldest young mistress about to give birth? Shall we go back to see her?"
"Xiao Cui, you're getting smarter and smarter, you even guessed that." Ouyang Yunyao teased her with a smile.
"Your Highness, when I went back a while ago, I saw that the eldest young mistress was very pregnant."
Ouyang Yunyao smiled faintly, "Yes! Counting the days, my sister-in-law's due date is in about ten days."
"More than ten days left? Your Highness, shall we go to the border town to bring Madam back to the capital?" Xia Fei asked anxiously as she deftly tied up the last strand of hair.
“Hmm, it seems we should go pick up my mother the day after tomorrow.” Thinking of her mother’s fiery temper, Ouyang Yunyao couldn’t help but smile. “If we don’t go pick her up soon, she’ll probably go berserk and come back with her sword.”
"Yes, Your Highness, if we don't go to fetch Madam soon, she'll get angry." Xiao Cui had been by Ouyang Yunyao's side since she was a child, so she knew Yan Yuxin's temper.
As she spoke, a dignified and elegant flying bun was neatly styled, making Ouyang Yunyao look even more beautiful.
After having breakfast with Chu Chenjing, she boarded a carriage that had been prepared beforehand at the gate of the mansion. Steward Li had already filled the carriage with gifts as instructed by Prince Jing.
Chu Feng and Wei Lei accompanied them, while Xiao Cui and Xia Fei sat in the carriage carrying the gifts as it headed towards the General's Mansion.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the carriage came to a smooth stop in front of the vermilion gate of the General's Mansion. As soon as she lifted the curtain, Ouyang Yunyao saw her second aunt, Madam Qin, leading the steward and a group of servants waiting at the gate.
"Second Aunt!" Ouyang Yunyao called out with a smile, stepping off the carriage bench first. Chu Chenjing followed closely behind, also calling out "Second Aunt" in a gentle voice.
Qin hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "This humble woman greets His Highness Prince Jing and His Highness the Princess."
“We’re all family, no need for such formalities.” Ouyang Yunyao quickly stepped forward and took her arm, touching her slightly cool hand. “Second Aunt, it’s so cold, there’s no need to wait at the door.”
"We can't be careless about etiquette." Madam Qin patted the back of her hand and explained with a smile, "Your sister-in-law has difficulty moving around, so I didn't let her come out and get cold. The old lady is waiting for you all inside."
“That’s right! People who are about to give birth can’t just go out casually; catching a cold is no small matter.” Ouyang Yunyao nodded repeatedly, her head spinning just thinking about the complicated ancient etiquette, but she understood the rules.
"Your Highness, Yao'er, please come inside." Madam Qin stepped aside to lead the way. After taking only two steps, Ouyang Yunyao's second brother came running in from outside, panting. "Little sister! Brother-in-law!"
"Second brother, where have you been? Why did you rush back?"
"Let's go to the shop!" Ouyang Yunxiang said with a smile as he walked to her side.
As they talked, they went to Xiangfu Courtyard to pay their respects to her grandmother. After chatting for a while, Ouyang Yunyao, remembering that she wanted to visit her sister-in-law, left Xiangfu Courtyard.
Since it was a matter concerning a woman's childbirth, Chu Chenjing could not go with her, so he went to the front hall with her second brother to talk.
On the way to her elder brother's courtyard, Qin Shi spoke to her in detail, "Yao'er, everything is ready for your sister-in-law's delivery."
I have hired two experienced midwives, who are staying in the side room of your eldest brother's courtyard, ready to be called upon at any time. The family physician also comes daily to check his pulse.
"Second Aunt, thank you so much for your hard work," Ouyang Yunyao said sincerely. She genuinely thought her second aunt was a good person.
She also felt very lucky to have transmigrated into a general's mansion without any power struggles or conflicts. Moreover, her father and her second uncle were both monogamous, and the whole family was very harmonious.
Neither her father nor her second uncle had concubines, which was quite rare in ancient society.
"What's the trouble?" Madam Qin gave her a reproachful look, her eyes full of affection. "Your sister-in-law usually helps out in the household, and now that she's pregnant, it's only right that I take on more responsibility."
"Second Aunt, when my mother comes back, let her take care of things a little more, and you'll be able to breathe a sigh of relief." Ouyang Yunyao took her arm.
“Your mother will probably be even busier when she comes back,” Qin Shi chuckled, amused. “All she’s thinking about is your second brother’s marriage. She’ll probably be dragging me into discussing it every day.”
The two chatted and laughed, and soon arrived at her elder brother's courtyard. Just as the maid at the gate was about to announce their arrival loudly, Ouyang Yunyao quickly waved her hand to stop her: "Keep it down, don't disturb my sister-in-law."
Lifting the curtain to enter the room, she saw her sister-in-law leaning against a soft couch covered with thick cushions, her lower abdomen protruding high, her face rosy and glowing.
"Yao'er is here!" As soon as her sister-in-law saw her, she immediately smiled and tried to get up, her eyes full of joy.
Ouyang Yunyao quickly stepped forward and pressed down on her shoulder, laughing as she said, "Sister-in-law, don't move! Don't move! You're the one who needs special protection right now, you're the boss!"
Her sister-in-law laughed at her playful words and told her and her second aunt to sit down quickly.
The three chatted about everyday things before Ouyang Yunyao finally changed the subject, "Sister-in-law, have Granny Wu and Liu Ya wait at the door. I'll give you a thorough check-up so you can have peace of mind."
Although the eldest sister-in-law was somewhat puzzled as to what kind of examination required dismissing the servants, she still instructed the two women serving her: "Grandma Wu, Liu Ya, you two follow the Princess's instructions and wait at the door."
"Yes." The two responded and withdrew, closing the door behind them. Xiao Cui and Xia Fei exchanged a glance; they knew what the princess was up to, so they also withdrew and stood guard outside the door.
Seeing that the old woman and maid had been sent out by Ouyang Yunyao, leaving only the three of them in the room, her sister-in-law and second aunt were very puzzled. Her sister-in-law finally couldn't help but ask, "Yao'er, what kind of examination are you going to have? Why are you being so mysterious!"
Her second aunt was also looking at her with great curiosity, waiting for her to speak.