Chapter 339: Trouble (3)
“It was my husband who did it.” Su Yaoguang told Zhang Zhaodi about the grievances Zhou Wangshu had suffered over the years. “Though he has been with us all these years, he has never forgotten those hatreds. He has been building his own network, secretly investigating the crimes of Marquis Cheng’an over the years, just waiting to capture them all when he returns to the capital.”
“I didn’t expect him to have such a hard life too.” Zhang Zhaodi said, “His father doesn’t care for him, and we, we should care more for him.”
“Of course.”
“Although what Marquis Cheng’an did has nothing to do with him, outsiders see them as one. When something happens to Marquis Cheng’an, it directly affects the reputation of Cheng’an Hou Mansion. In the future, the Cheng’an Hou Mansion is likely to completely decline.” Zhang Zhaodi said.
“My husband is capable; he doesn’t need to rely on their ‘eastern wind’ of Marquis Cheng’an. Oh, it shouldn’t even be called an ‘eastern wind’; it’s just a pile of mud.”
Zhang Zhaodi and Su Yaoguang went to the kitchen to arrange the evening meal.
Now they don’t need to cook the meals themselves, they just need to instruct the cook on what dishes to make.
Nowadays, Zhang Zhaodi is dressed in fine silks and satin, adorned with gold and silver jewelry, exuding an aura of nobility. Her hands have been well maintained over the years, and her skin has become much more delicate. Her complexion and style of dressing don’t show any signs of her being a forty-year-old middle-aged woman. She and Su Rende have a relationship that’s as fresh as a newlywed couple, practically living a newlywed life.
When it was time for dinner, the guests in the study left, and the father-in-law and son-in-law came out.
During the meal, Zhang Zhaodi suddenly began to retch.
“Madam, are you alright?” Su Rende asked worriedly, “Someone, please get a doctor.”
“It’s just a bit of an upset stomach, maybe caught a cold, no need to call a doctor.” Zhang Zhaodi glared at Su Rende, “Our daughter and son-in-law have rarely come home, don’t dampen everyone’s spirits.”
Especially after hearing about Zhou Wangshu’s situation, Zhang Zhaodi was feeling sorry for him and wanted to take this chance to comfort him with Su Rende, not wanting to spoil the hard-earned family dinner.
“Mother, please let the doctor take a look!” Su Yaoguang said, “There should be a household doctor in our mansion, right?”
The General Mansion has so many servants who need a doctor. Besides, with so many soldiers around, fighting and all, injuries are inevitable, so there must be a household doctor.
“That’s right, let the household doctor come over to take a look.” Su Rende said again.
Soon after, the household doctor hurried over upon hearing the news.
The household doctor, upon learning that the General’s wife needed to be seen, barely had time to straighten his clothes, rushing over in haste.
He took Zhang Zhaodi’s pulse, and then…
He widened his eyes.
He switched to another hand and took the pulse again.
“Congratulations General, Madam is expecting.”
Everyone: “…”
The entire room fell silent.
The household doctor, seeing the odd atmosphere, looked at everyone and said, “Madam is… expecting. General, what are your thoughts?”
“How long has it been?” Zhang Zhaodi was the first to respond.
“Three months,” the household doctor said, “Has Madam been feeling more irritable, sleeping more, and more importantly, has her taste in food changed?”
“That’s right.” Su Rende held Zhang Zhaodi’s hand. “But Madam, at your age, can she still give birth?”
He knew that in rural areas there were cases of women giving birth at fifty, but it was very dangerous, and he didn’t want his wife to go through that.
If it were ten years ago, he would have been very happy, as the thirty-year-old Zhang Zhaodi was still at her best childbearing age. Now she was forty, already old enough to be a grandmother. Having a child at this age would be like an old clam producing a pearl. They weren’t the type to care about others’ opinions—what mattered was the safety issue.
“Madam’s health is still quite good; she can give birth, but it will certainly be more difficult than for a younger woman,” the household doctor said.
“Madam, what do you think about this child…” Su Rende asked tentatively.
Zhang Zhaodi looked at Su Yaoguang: “Yaoguang, do you want a little brother or sister?”
Su Yaoguang hesitated: “Mother, if it were a few years ago, I would definitely be very happy. But considering your age now, I’m worried!”
“You just need to answer my question. If Mother gives you a little brother or sister, would you mind?” Zhang Zhaodi looked at Su Yaoguang, “Mother cares most about your opinion. If you mind, Mother won’t hesitate and definitely won’t have the child. But if you don’t mind, Mother wants to give birth to him.”
“Mother…” Su Yaoguang hugged Zhang Zhaodi. “From an emotional standpoint, I would be very happy. Rationally, I’m worried about you.”