Chapter 41: Playing Weak
At this moment, Consort Song was not napping. She had been waking up very late these past two days and felt sleepy even before naptime. After dozing for over half an hour, she woke up just in time for lunch.
She was now reclining on the couch, leaning against a soft pillow, with Hua Hong fanning her. A small table beside her was laden with food.
Granny Yang, with an exceptionally solicitous expression, said to Consort Song in a hushed, deferential tone, “Our Little Madam is truly blessed! She is destined to be the bane of that one surnamed Wen!
Now that she is with child, the Master’s heart will naturally be with you. You don’t have to worry about him favoring anyone else!”
“Alas, perhaps this child has come at the wrong time,” Consort Song said with a touch of affectation. “It’s not that, but it will rather drain my energy.”
“Little Madam worries too much. We all know how much the Master dotes on his children,” Granny Yang said. “He will naturally dote on you even more.”
“Hmph, if that one finds out, she’ll burst with anger,” Consort Song said triumphantly, glancing towards the east.
“What good is bursting with anger?! Her belly will never swell again!” Granny Yang said fiercely. “The Master has long since completely tired of her!”
“Don’t speak too soon,” Consort Song said, shaking her head. “Things change. Wen Mingqian now is very different from before.
Besides, men are fickle creatures; it’s hard for them not to love someone new. Now that I’m pregnant, I can’t serve the Master as I used to, so it’s inevitable that someone will try to take advantage of the situation!”
As Consort Song spoke, she winked at Granny Yang, who then signaled Hua Hong to withdraw.
“Little Madam is right. We cannot let our guard down,” Granny Yang said. “Ultimately, it’s best to get rid of that jinx as soon as possible.”
“Until that mother and son are gone, my heart will never be at peace,” Consort Song said. “However, this time we must be even more cautious, and absolutely do not let them catch us like they did the last two times.”
The mistress and her servant, in their endless chatter, began plotting harm once more.
In the afternoon, Gong Xu returned. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Granny Yang rushed to greet him, saying, “Congratulations, Master! Congratulations!”
“What good news?” Gong Xu asked. “How is the Little Madam? Is she feeling better?”
“Indeed, the Little Madam is with child!” Granny Yang exclaimed, as if presenting a treasure. “The doctor we called this morning confirmed it’s a pregnancy pulse, over a month along.”
Gong Xu was indeed delighted to hear this. He walked quickly into the room, where Consort Song was also rising from the couch.
Gong Xu immediately stepped forward and held her down, saying, “Sit down quickly, don’t get up.”
“Master is too cautious. It’s not my first pregnancy,” Consort Song said with a smile. “Besides, it’s still early days! There’s no need to be so careful.”
“The first three months of pregnancy require extreme caution. You must be very careful,” Gong Xu said, his face beaming with joy. “This is truly wonderful!”
“Master, I don’t know why, but I feel uneasy,” Consort Song said, placing her hand on her lower abdomen and speaking to Gong Xu with a worried expression.
“Pregnant women are prone to emotional fluctuations. Don’t be afraid,” Gong Xu said, pulling her into his embrace and gently comforting her.
“Master, this time you will protect us mother and child, won’t you?” Consort Song’s tears began to flow. “I truly cannot bear the pain of losing another child.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t happen. I will ensure you are both safe and sound,” Gong Xu promised. “Your heartache is also my heartache, is it not?”
His words were sincere and heartfelt, but he failed to see the utter ruthlessness gleaming in Consort Song’s tear-filled eyes.
“Master…” Consort Song sobbed. “I… can only… rely on your protection…”
Gong Xu was most susceptible to her appeals, and thus Consort Song had mastered the art of acting charming and playing the damsel in distress.
He had once wished for Wen Mingqian to be as delicate and dependent, allowing him to offer her the steadfast protection of a towering pine.
Later, he realized he could not melt the pride and stubbornness within Wen Mingqian. She was like a cat that wouldn’t be tamed, elegant and dignified, yet distant and unapproachable.
She never asked him for help. Things that could have been resolved with a couple of tears, a moment of weakness, or a bit of coaxing, she stubbornly refused to do.
Women are of Yin nature and should serve their husbands with gentleness, not cling to their damnable pride!
For this reason alone, Gong Xu felt he had ample justification to dislike Wen Mingqian.
Moreover, she had committed such a wicked deed.
Although Consort Song’s tears and laments never explicitly mentioned Wen Mingqian, every word clearly pointed to her.
Gong Xu then recalled his original plan: “Don’t worry. In a few more days, the Old Madam will return. I will inform Mother then, and she will arrange for her to leave here as soon as possible.”
“Master, will doing this make things too difficult for you? And won’t it be too… too heartless?” Consort Song asked, sobbing.
Gong Xu cupped her face as if holding a white lotus, saying with pity, “You must not have such thoughts. It is all her own doing. How could it make things difficult for me? I am meant to protect you completely!
Alright, stop crying. You are pregnant now, and sadness is most detrimental. Wipe your tears, and let’s have dinner together!
Bao’er will be back soon too. Don’t let him see you crying, or he’ll worry too.”
“Mm,” Consort Song said, wiping her tears and nodding obediently. “It’s all my fault, I’m always so suspicious.”
“I have the day off tomorrow. I’ll take you out for a change of scenery,” Gong Xu said. “It’s been a while since I bought you any new jewelry. Tomorrow, we’ll visit a few jewelry shops and pick out some things you like.”
“Master, you truly care for me,” Consort Song said, her face full of emotion. “I often think that if there were a next life, I would still want to be by your side. Even if I couldn’t be human, it would be fine to be a cat or a dog.”
“Silly girl, in the next life, we’ll be husband and wife again, the main couple,” Gong Xu said. “I don’t want you to be a cat or a dog.”
“But I’ve already enjoyed so much fortune in this life. Master is so good to me, I always feel I don’t deserve it. How could I dare to have such extravagant hopes in the next life?” Consort Song always humbled herself greatly while elevating Gong Xu exceptionally high, which was hard for him not to enjoy.
After all, men are inherently arrogant creatures.
Afterward, Gong Bao’an returned from school, and the family of three was harmonious.
“Master, Little Madam, Fourth Young Master has come to pay his respects,” Liuyun announced as she entered.
In large households, it was customary to pay morning and evening greetings. Gong Changan was supposed to pay his respects to Gong Xu every morning and evening.
To prevent Consort Song from becoming upset, Gong Xu instructed, “Tell him not to come to the Little Madam’s courtyard anymore, and to dispense with the morning and evening greetings! There’s no need for such empty courtesy.”
The father-son relationship, which had seemed to be gradually mending, reverted to its initial state of not seeing each other due to Consort Song’s pregnancy.
“Fourth Young Master, the Master said you don’t need to come to this courtyard anymore, nor do you need to pay morning and evening respects,” Liuyun relayed Gong Xu’s words to Gong Changan after leaving.
Gong Changan actually didn’t care at all, but he still put on a disappointed expression, nodded, and turned away dejectedly.
