"I’m fine." Xiao Chunyu was startled by Jian Lan’s crying and snapped back to her senses: "Nanny Zhou, do I still have medicine? Also, I’m hungry, bring me some food."
"Alright, this old servant will have someone bring it right away."
As long as she can take the medicine and eat, it’s still okay.
"According to this old servant, the second young mistress should really take good care of her body. When your body recovers, the little girl will have a good life."
Xiao Chunyu lowered her head. Yes, the child is what she exchanged her life for and cannot be abandoned.
However, wanting to live well in the Wu family is likely extremely difficult.
Fortunately, there have been precedents for separation in the Great Xia Dynasty.
Without her Xiao family’s support, Xiao Chunyu must uphold the Xiao family’s dignity.
If she’s pushed around and doesn’t know how to fight back, do they think she’s dead?
For now, the most important thing is to take good care of her body, as she is still in confinement and can’t do anything at the moment. However, there is a long future ahead, and she will do what needs to be done, and do it well.
"Molan, when you have time, go and take a look at the estate that came with my dowry." Xiao Chunyu said blandly: "Once confinement is over and the weather gets hot, I will take the child to the estate to stay for a while."
"Jian Lan, tomorrow, go and take a look at the two shops that were part of my dowry. Have the shopkeeper give you the ledgers and bring them back for me to review."
"Yes, Miss."
It’s truly wonderful; Miss has finally come back to life. Molan and Jian Lan exchanged a glance and felt relieved.
As for not being able to review ledgers or read during confinement, they didn’t mention it. It’s good that Miss has something to occupy her mind with, so she won’t overthink things.
Just then, the nurse brought the child back.
"The little girl ate quite a bit today." The nurse smiled and said, "She’s grown a bit, how wonderful."
"Yes, it’s truly wonderful." Xiao Chunyu held her daughter in her arms, gazing at her small, tender face, and suddenly realized her precious one still didn’t have a name.
Wu Yuanping really is a worthless person!
Since that day when he brought Xiao Lan to demand her status and received no response from her, he hasn’t visited the back courtyard even once, not even to see his own biological daughter, let alone give her a name.
"What shall we name you?" Xiao Chunyu kissed her daughter on the forehead, "Let’s call you Panpan. In life, there must always be something to hope for. Together with your mother, we’ll hope for the Xiao family’s reunion, hope that your mom can watch you grow up and protect you always..."
Once a person has motivation, they are filled with energy!
Xiao Chunyu remembered the Eight Pieces of Brocade exercise that Nuannuan had taught her, saying it could strengthen the body. Every morning she would rise early to practice, even pulling her sisters at home to join in the training.
Then let’s practice it!
Xiao Chunyu devised a new plan and routine: drink medicine, eat well, rise early to practice the Eight Pieces of Brocade, and nurture a strong and healthy body.
After all, there are greater matters awaiting her in the future; she needs to conserve her energy for them.
Qiu Yan returned to the Qiu Mansion and heard from the servants that a letter had arrived from Shu City.
"It’s from Nuannuan, it must be a letter from Nuannuan."
Qiu Yan eagerly tore it open and read it; indeed, it was from Nuannuan.
"Mother, Nuannuan and the others have returned to Shu City and are doing well."
After reading the letter, Qiu Yan still felt uneasy.
"Why did Nuannuan write so little? Not mentioning the journey, nor how they’ve settled in Shu City, their living conditions, the living conditions of the Shu City’s clan members, not a word about any of them; she didn’t even send me any delicacies from Shu City..."
"You silly girl, Nuannuan was sent back to Shu City; the Xiao family went to take refuge, not to play!" Mrs. Qiu was truly caught between laughter and tears.
"Oh, I got it wrong."
But still, it felt off.
"Given Nuannuan’s nature, she would have at least mentioned a little something, wouldn’t she?" Looking it over again, no extra word gave anything away: "She didn’t even elaborate, only asking me to help look out for Sister Yu, but the suffering and grievances Yu has endured, I can’t write that in a letter to her either."
"Isn’t it possible that Nuannuan is also suffering and working hard in Shu City and just doesn’t want you to worry? Doesn’t want Xiao family’s eldest lady to worry?"
"Mother, you’re right, that’s definitely the case."
Qiu Yan said, "There’s a saying that poor mountains and bad waters produce mischievous people, who knows how cunning the people of Shu City might be? Nuannuan and the others went back for refuge; those clan members might be avoiding them like the plague. Mother, what should we do?"
"Just don’t add to their worry." Mrs. Qiu felt her daughter was finally a little smarter: "Nuannuan didn’t say anything, so neither should you. If the Xiao family’s eldest won’t let it be spoken of, you also shouldn’t write it to Nuannuan."
"The main thing is keeping both sides in the dark, huh?" Qiu Yan understood, "They are really pitiful."
"You silly thing!"
In life, never let others say you’re pitiful.
The girls of the Xiao family should never let anyone down.
"Mother, will I see Nuannuan again in the future? Will she return to the Capital?"
"I don’t know." Mrs. Qiu was straightforward, "Just look at yourself, go wash up and change your clothes."
"Oh, alright."
Qiu Yan remained restless, unsure of how to respond to Nuannuan’s letter.
Sigh, I guess I’ll write a few lighthearted words as Sister Yu and Mother suggested.
Right, what was the child’s name again?
See, I even forgot to ask about that.
Xiao Chunnuan received Qiu Yan’s letter a month later.
By this time, the Xiao family’s situation had significantly improved. The Pinellia she prepared for the Hundred Herbs Hall was praised. Several diagnosing doctors of the Zhao family spoke highly of it, noting its quality far superior to the ready-made Pinellia on the market.
Subsequently, they sent Chun Nuan more valuable medicinal materials for her to prepare.
Chun Nuan did exceptionally well, and naturally she also sent in some of her own prepared Mugwort, Houttuynia, and Plantain—all modestly valued herbs—to the Hundred Herbs Hall. In the eyes of others, these herbs might be of little value, but to the Xiao family, even a penny counts.
"Grandmother, eldest sister had a daughter who is very clever, and she is doing well."
Chun Nuan dared not show Qiu Yan’s letter to the elders.
Given Qiu Yan’s normally chattering, loud personality, she’d usually write several long paragraphs in a letter. However, her letter was very sparse, especially glossing over the matter of her eldest sister having a daughter.
She even mentioned attending the baby’s bathing ceremony with Mrs. Qiu, yet not a word about what it was like.
Not mentioning it, there’s only one possibility: it was unbearable.
The Wu family! Chun Nuan made a mental note.
"As long as your eldest sister is fine, we can rest assured." The old lady sighed, "Thinking back, we somewhat regret it. Her wedding was rushed, and her dowry was scant. If we had known things would go wrong, we would have given her everything the Xiao family owned. Even though we are not in the Capital, with those possessions, we wouldn’t have to worry about her being bullied."
So many precious things, and they ended up feeding the dogs, it truly breaks the heart.
"Mother, don’t worry, Yu’er may be gentle, but she is not foolish." No one knows a daughter better than her mother, and Mrs. Xu believed her daughter would surely live well.
"Indeed, not a single child of the Xiao family is lacking."
This was something the old lady firmly believed.
Especially Chun Nuan. She used to seem too quiet to be likable, but it turns out I misjudged; this child is exceptional!