After Jiang Zhaohua became pregnant, she felt as if the sky above her had grown higher and more expansive.
Her mother-in-law, who had previously opposed her at every turn, now indulged her in every matter.
Her husband’s attentiveness was beyond reproach. Having just passed the provincial examination as the top candidate, countless people invited him to banquets, yet he declined nearly all of them, staying home day after day to accompany her.
The maidservants cared for her with meticulous devotion, treating her as if she were a fragile porcelain doll—even walking required two attendants supporting her on either side.
What delighted Jiang Zhaohua most was that after her maternal family learned of her pregnancy, her mother, Lady Hou, immediately came to visit, bringing cartloads of nourishing delicacies and even staying at the Duan residence for a few days to keep her company!
The Duan household was small, so after Lady Hou arrived, Duan Jinxing voluntarily gave up his bedroom, moving to the study to sleep, allowing Jiang Zhaohua to share a bed with her mother every night.
Seeing her pampered daughter living in such cramped quarters naturally pained Lady Hou.
But such distress was fleeting, quickly overshadowed by the joy of two blessings arriving at once.
Duan Jinxing’s success in the provincial examination filled the Marquis and Lady Hou with immeasurable delight.
While achieving the top rank in the provincial exam was rare, it alone wouldn’t have stirred such excitement in the Marquis’s Mansion. What truly moved them was that Duan Jinxing’s triumph confirmed Jiang Zhaohua’s dream!
Jiang Zhaohua had dreamed that Duan Jinxing would achieve the rare feat of topping all three imperial examinations—and now he had indeed become the provincial champion.
If this part of the dream had come true, then the rest—becoming the top scholar in the palace exam, rising to the rank of prime minister, securing a first-rank noble title for her, and remaining devoted to her alone—must also be destined!
Thinking of the glorious future awaiting her daughter, Lady Hou dismissed the current hardships as trivial.
Gently stroking her daughter’s hair, she murmured, "Zhaozhao, you truly are blessed by heaven. Your fate is far better than mine."
Though Lady Hou held a lofty status, her days of marital bliss had lasted less than a year after the wedding. Soon after, the Marquis began bringing one woman after another into their home...
Jiang Zhaohua’s expression darkened with sympathy at her mother’s words. "Are the concubines at home behaving lately?" she asked with concern.
Lady Hou smiled and nodded. "Well enough."
"After Concubine Qiao fell gravely ill, she came to assist me. With her help, I’ve had much less to worry about."
At the mention of Concubine Qiao, Jiang Zhaohua immediately thought of her second sister, who had died as a sacrificial burial—a sister who had been closest to Concubine Qiao.
Her brow furrowed with displeasure. "Why must you associate with Concubine Qiao?"
Lady Hou chuckled. "She’s not the same person she used to be."
After her severe illness, Concubine Qiao had never fully recovered, her body now so emaciated it resembled a skeleton.
Even Lady Hou shuddered at the sight of her bony wrists peeking from her sleeves—let alone the Marquis, who couldn’t bear to look at her.
In her current state, Concubine Qiao stood no chance of regaining favor. With her closest ally, the second young mistress, gone, she had no one left to rely on—except Lady Hou.
Compared to the Marquis’s current favorites, all young and blooming, Lady Hou found Concubine Qiao far more agreeable. Moreover, Concubine Qiao proved genuinely useful.
With her counsel, Lady Hou effortlessly subdued the other concubines and maids in the mansion, all without lifting a finger.
"Concubine Qiao also prepares medicinal dishes—exceptionally flavorful. After a month of eating them, I feel healthier than ever."
"I used to toss and turn at night, but now I sleep soundly till dawn..."
Jiang Zhaohua’s eyes widened in astonishment. "Concubine Qiao has such skills? Why did we never know before?"
Now that her daughter was married, Lady Hou saw no need for delicacy. "As a trained courtesan, she mastered such arts early on. They’re taught from childhood to please men."
Had Concubine Qiao used these talents to charm the Marquis, Lady Hou would never have tolerated her. But since she now directed them solely toward Lady Hou, the latter found her quite agreeable.
Jiang Zhaohua, persuaded by her mother’s reasoning, also began to see Concubine Qiao in a better light—a woman with neither favor nor children, who had no choice but to cling to Lady Hou for survival.
During Lady Hou’s brief stay at the Duan residence, Jiang Zhaohua’s spirits soared. Even her morning sickness eased, and she ate heartily, her cheeks glowing with health.
But Lady Hou couldn’t remain indefinitely. Seeing her daughter so content and her son-in-law so devoted, she eventually returned to the Marquis’s Mansion.
Duan Jinxing, too, was urged by Jiang Zhaohua to resume his studies. "I’m perfectly healthy—there’s no need for you to stay home every day," she insisted.
"After the provincial exams come the metropolitan ones. Return to the academy and focus on your studies. I’ll be waiting for you to sweep all three honors!"
In her past life, her husband had achieved the triple crown. She was certain he would do so again. She refused to let her pregnancy hinder his ambitions.
After several polite refusals, Duan Jinxing finally yielded and returned to his studies.
With both her mother and husband gone, only Jiang Zhaohua and Duan’s mother remained in the household.
Since Jiang Zhaohua’s pregnancy, Duan’s mother had showered her with attention—so much so that it began to grate.
After consulting physicians on the ideal diet for expectant mothers, Duan’s mother ordered the kitchen to prepare those specific dishes daily, delivering them to Jiang Zhaohua’s room and insisting she eat.
Jiang Zhaohua soon grew weary of the repetitive meals, yet Duan’s mother persisted, even watching her finish every bite.
Unable to defy her mother-in-law’s "concern," Jiang Zhaohua resorted to evasion.
By the third month, her pregnancy stabilized, and her nausea subsided.
To escape Duan’s mother, Jiang Zhaohua began socializing frequently—attending flower-viewing parties at the Zhangs one day, boating excursions with the Lis the next. These were noblewomen she’d befriended before marriage, and maintaining ties was essential.
Duan’s mother frowned upon her outings. "How can you gad about while carrying a child?"
Jiang Zhaohua had prepared her rebuttal: "Mother, once Jinxing ascends the ranks, he’ll need connections. I’m laying the groundwork now so he won’t lack allies later."
As expected, the mention of her son’s prospects silenced Duan’s mother.
Truthfully, Duan’s mother didn’t truly believe pregnancy warranted confinement. Jiang Zhaohua traveled by carriage, surrounded by attendants—how taxing could it be? In her day, she’d hauled laundry to the river and toiled in fields, even with a swollen belly...
Women these days were far too delicate.
For Jiang Zhaohua, these outings were pure indulgence.
Returning late after delightful days, she finally escaped the stifling confines of the Duan home and her mother-in-law’s endless nagging.
With her childhood friends, she sipped tea, composed poetry, admired scenery, and painted—reliving the carefree days before marriage.
Such joy belonged to her past life.
No, this was even better. Now, among married peers, they shared whispers too risqué for unmarried maidens.
As the last of her close circle to wed, Jiang Zhaohua had once been excluded from such conversations. Now, they spoke freely before her.
"Have you heard? That one is searching everywhere for chefs again, even the imperial cooks' skills don't meet her standards..."
"That's nothing. Don’t you know? Those southern fruits, branches and all, chopped down and packed with ice, rushed back by fast horses..."
"Pearls larger than thumbs, sent in chest after chest... But here’s the real question—can you guess where the biggest and finest pearls are destined?"
The women speculated eagerly: "Earrings, perhaps?"
"Surely hairpins."
The woman who posed the question shook her head mysteriously. "No."
"Wrong again."
After a flurry of incorrect guesses, the answer was finally revealed: "Those priceless pearls are to be sewn onto shoes!"
The women’s eyes widened slightly at this revelation.
Despite their noble upbringing and years of cultivated poise, their faces betrayed a mix of shock and disbelief.
A brief silence followed before someone murmured, "What a fox spirit..."
"Haven’t you heard the rumors in the capital? They say she truly is one. One stormy night, a flash of lightning lit up the palace, and a maid clearly saw a fox’s tail flickering behind her..."
A timid woman shuddered. "Enough! This is too frightening."
Jiang Zhaohua had been listening in confusion for some time.
The women huddled close, whispering into each other’s ears, their voices hushed and fragmented. Even now, Jiang Zhaohua couldn’t quite grasp who this mysterious woman was.
From their veiled hints, she understood the woman’s identity was too sensitive to mention openly...
She mentally ran through every prominent family in the capital but couldn’t fathom who possessed both the wealth and power to indulge a woman of such... questionable standing so lavishly.
Leaning toward her closest confidante, Jiang Zhaohua whispered, "Who exactly are you all talking about?"
