Chapter 713 - 260: Chaoyang
Chapter 713: Chapter 260: Chaoyang
Chen Wanqing slept soundly, resting straight from childbirth until high noon.
When she woke up, she heard light movements and soft whispers coming from the outer room. She rang the bell, and the people outside, hearing it, walked in quickly.
Seeing her awake, Xu Su Ying breathed a sigh of relief. She stepped forward to feel her daughter’s forehead, and finding her temperature normal, she asked, "Are you hungry? I had them prepare some food for you. It’s been keeping warm on the stove. Shall I have them bring it over now?"
Chen Wanqing nodded, joking, "I feel like I’m hungry enough to swallow a whole cow right now."
Hearing this, Xu Su Ying quickly said, "You can’t go hungry, or you’ll develop postpartum ailments later on. You were just too exhausted today, so I didn’t let anyone disturb you, but from now on, you have to eat at regular times."
A maid, having heard the exchange, had already gone to fetch the food. She soon returned with a bowl of bird’s nest and millet porridge, a bowl of skimmed clear chicken broth, and a cup of brown sugar and longan water.
The portions were small, but they looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. Chen Wanqing was indeed famished and actually finished all three small bowls.
Once she regained some strength and her hands stopped trembling, she asked her mother, "Are Grandmother and Aunt in the outer room?"
"They sure are. They’re looking at the baby right now, staring without blinking. They absolutely adore him."
The little guy was blessed with good looks; even just after being born, one could tell he would definitely grow up to be exceptionally handsome. His facial features resembled Zhao Jing, while his brows and eyes carried traces of Qing’er. The shape of his eyes was straight and long; even with them closed, it was obvious he would have big eyes in the future.
Not only did he have good looks, but he also knew how to pick a good family to be born into. The Xu family didn’t have a great-grandson yet, making him the very first. The old madam cherished him so much that if it weren’t for her lack of energy, she would have wanted to take him to her own courtyard to raise him.
As they spoke, Mrs. Guo came in holding the swaddled baby.
"This child is just too adorable. Qing’er, later, when your sister-in-law’s mourning period is over, give me a few of his baby clothes so I can put them under her pillow for good luck."
Mrs. Guo was considered an open-minded mother-in-law. Also, because the Xu family had a history of having children late, she had never rushed them to get pregnant before. But that was no longer the case; seeing this baby made her crave a grandchild of her own. Just looking at this little thing—unable to speak and eyes still closed, yet so soft and milky—even when he just yawned or fed, watching him from the side made her heart feel as if it were resting on soft cotton.
Chen Wanqing leaned against the large welcome pillow and received the swaddled baby from Mrs. Guo with both hands. She shifted her body slightly inward to make room for her grandmother to sit by the edge of the bed. She looked down at her son. Her heart swelled with warmth, and her eyes stung with unshed tears.
He looked too much like Jing.
Perhaps it was the telepathic connection between mother and son, but the little infant, who hadn’t opened his eyes since birth, suddenly opened them. His eyes actually resembled Zhao Jing’s as well. His pupils were pitch-black, and his eyes were big and bright. Even though he clearly couldn’t see anything yet, he kept staring fixedly at the shadow in front of him.
Chen Wanqing lowered her head and gently pressed her cheek against the baby’s small face. Not daring to shed tears during her confinement period, she quickly looked toward her grandmother. "Why did you trouble yourself to come over in person? Your leg pain hasn’t even fully healed yet..."
Upon seeing the little guy open his eyes, the old madam became even more energetic, her face blossoming into a radiant smile. "What leg pain? I can walk two laps around the estate every day. My legs don’t hurt at all." She then looked longingly at the small bundle in Chen Wanqing’s arms. "Don’t hold him too often during your confinement. You need to focus on recovering your own health first."
She actually wanted to hold the baby herself, but alas, she was getting on in years and her limbs lacked strength. She was terrified of making a mistake and dropping him. Seeing her grandmother’s eager gaze, Chen Wanqing handed the baby over, letting her rest him on her lap for a brief cuddle. "Unable to refuse" her, the old madam could only hold the baby on her lap with the help of a maid, doting on him affectionately for a while.
After all, Chen Wanqing had suffered a heavy toll on her vitality. It was only the first day after giving birth, and her mental exhaustion was severe. Before long, she began yawning constantly, her eyes too heavy to keep open. Seeing this, the old madam, Mrs. Guo, and the others didn’t stay long. After instructing her to rest well for her confinement, they left together.
Once everyone was gone, Chen Wanqing closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep again.
Not long after she drifted off, Mrs. Zhao came over.
Xu Su Ying said softly, "You’ve come at a bad time. She just fell asleep."
"It’s no bother at all. Qing’er is just too exhausted," Mrs. Zhao said. She then asked Xu Su Ying if Chen Wanqing had eaten, whether she was in a lot of pain, and how her spirits were.
Xu Su Ying answered each question one by one, finally adding, "She seems to be doing alright. She has a smile on her face. But she keeps her thoughts hidden now; even if something is bothering her, she won’t show it because she’s afraid we’ll worry... Forget it, let’s not talk about it. If she doesn’t want us to worry, we’ll just stay cheerful for her."