CHAPTER 1546: CHAPTER 1546 THOUGHTS

Zhou Shuren straightened up, "Fourth Uncle, go ahead."

Zhulan also perked up her ears; Fourth Uncle rarely had such a serious expression, and she was curious about the matter.

Rong Yushang coughed, "They say sour for boys, spicy for girls. Ming Teng’s wife really can eat spicy food. I’m not saying daughters are bad, it’s just that I’m of an age where I don’t know when I’ll be gone, nor if I’ll see a boy born. My heart isn’t settled."

Zhou Shuren understood, the Retired Emperor’s illness also affected Fourth Uncle, whose utmost concern was the lineage. The Rong family valued their legacy above all, and Fourth Uncle was fixated on having a son.

Seeing Shuren silent, Rong Yushang continued, "I carry the burden of the Rong family in this life. I can’t die without seeing Ming Teng’s son, I fear I won’t have the face to meet our ancestors."

Zhou Shuren leaned back into the pillow, "Fourth Uncle, I understand your pressure, but do you want an illegitimate son and a legitimate son to compete? Do you want an illegitimate son to inherit the Rong family?"

Rong Yushang’s face stiffened, "No, there’s you."

Zhou Shuren pointed to his hair, "Fourth Uncle, I’m not young either. I exert my heart and mind daily for the Imperial court. I don’t know how long I’ll live, you shouldn’t count on me overseeing it. Ming Teng is adopted into the Rong lineage; once I’m gone, the eldest can’t intervene either."

Rong Yushang was still unwilling to give up, Zhou Shuren added, "My family has no illegitimate sons, and I won’t teach one. Fourth Uncle, what you want is a legitimate son, a legitimate son is the true successor."

Moreover, an illegitimate son isn’t a cat or dog, they’re people with their own emotions and thoughts. Without a legitimate son, an illegitimate son is fine; with a legitimate son, an illegitimate son is nothing, ha.

Rong Yushang thought about leaving the mother and keeping the child, then register it under Ming Teng’s legitimate wife, but facing Shuren’s gaze, he couldn’t say it aloud.

Zhulan interjected, "Fourth Uncle, your health is fine, and Lau Jia hasn’t given birth yet, how do you know it’s not a son?"

Rong Yushang sighed, "I’m just too anxious. When Ming Teng wasn’t married, I didn’t feel it, but once he married, I’ve been fixated on the offspring, somewhat obsessed."

Zhou Shuren laughed, "They’re a young couple; there will be no shortage of children in the future. Take good care of your health, you will surely see it."

Rong Yushang tugged at his mouth, Qing Xue came in to say the meal was ready, conveniently ending the topic as they all went to eat.

Once Fourth Uncle left, Zhulan said, "Lau Jia has pressure for a reason."

"Fourth Uncle is old and impatient now."

Zhulan, "It’s good he’s discussing with you, and not directly sending people to Ming Teng."

Zhou Shuren, "I’ll talk to Ming Teng, let him spend more time talking to Fourth Uncle."

Zhulan, "I’ll leave it to you then."

After a few days, still no news from the palace, and what Zhou Shuren doesn’t want to say, no one can pry it out.

After the morning court, Zhou Shuren, accustomed for days, followed his usual routine, leaving the court with his expression unchanged, accompanied by Master Yu and Wong Ju.

Old Master Wen thought about the news concerning his daughter, all for the Crown Prince, yes, everything for the Crown Prince, "How is Marquis Zhou these days?"

Zhou Shuren, "!!"

Accustomed to the old master’s sarcastic tone, today’s enthusiasm was out of norm.

Old Master Wen’s heart raged, seeing Marquis Zhou’s ghost-like expression made him want to leave with a flick of his sleeve; remembering his daughter’s words, he held back forcefully, "I have tea here; if Marquis Zhou isn’t too busy, join me for a few cups?"

Zhou Shuren glanced around, "Ah, no need for tea, this marquis is quite busy, I’ll be on my way first."

With that, he quickly slipped away.

The Zhou family and the Wen family would never reconcile, the Wen family somewhat imagined things too easily, while the Zhou family’s stance was firm. However, Zhou Shuren thought of the Empress, alas, the Empress understood her own lifespan; a mother planned for her son, he understood, but he wouldn’t accept manipulation.

Marquis Zhou had an expression as if avoiding snakes and scorpions, Old Master Wen’s face turned cold, thoughts of how the Marquis was favored by the Emperor, of how the Marquis could influence the Emperor’s ideas, all swept from his mind. Zhou Shuren was an old fox, hard to win over, Old Master Wen held his anger, snorted as he flicked his sleeve and left.

At the Zhou household, Zhulan set down the account book, "This year’s household expenses are well managed by you."

"That’s thanks to mother’s good guidance."

Zhulan was genuinely satisfied with Lady Li managing the household, given Ran Wan’s shortcomings, she could now rest assured, "In the future, the household will be handed over to you."

Lady Li was about to reply when a maid entered saying Lau Jia had some fetal movements and a doctor had been summoned.

Zhulan and Lady Li quickly stood up, Lady Li said, "Mother, the road outside is slippery, I’ll go by myself, you shouldn’t go out."

Zhulan was concerned about Lau Jia, and having just suppressed Fourth Uncle’s intentions, if Lau Jia had another issue, Fourth Uncle’s thoughts would rise again, "I’ll go with you."

Lady Li couldn’t change her mother-in-law’s decision and could only assist her carefully, "Mother, don’t worry, Lau Jia has good health; she and the child will be fine."

Zhulan learned upon arriving at Ming Teng’s courtyard that Lau Jia was already lying in bed, her forehead drenched in sweat. Zhulan was anxious but mindful of her own chilliness, not rushing forward, asking the maid, "How did this happen?"

The maid dared not reply, surprised by the presence of the matriarch, keeping her head down and silent.

Zhulan sensed there was a problem, her face turned cold but didn’t rush to scold. She recalled Lau Jia’s situation; this maid was part of the dowry, so nothing should agitate Lau Jia now. Gesturing for the maid to rise, feeling her chill had diminished, she walked a few steps inside.

Lau Jia, "Grandmother."

Without saying anything to worry her, just holding her stomach, Zhulan noticed her grievance.

Lady Li was truly anxious, "We had breakfast together, and then I left for merely an hour, how did it come to this fetal movement? Did anything bump her?"

Lau Jia couldn’t hold back, her tears flowed silently, refraining from speaking, a visible air of grievance enveloping her.

Zhulan scanned the maids and servants in the room, aware that Ming Teng’s courtyard included not only Lau Jia’s dowry but also attendants from Fourth Uncle. After all, Ming Teng carried the Rong surname!

She didn’t believe Fourth Uncle said something to Lau Jia, nor would Fourth Uncle share his thoughts in front of Lau Jia, especially with a child on the way. Despite his desire for a son, Fourth Uncle wouldn’t express dissatisfaction with Lau Jia at this juncture.

That made things interesting; scanning the maids, she also glanced at Lau Jia. Zhulan sat silently but her gaze was authoritative, causing the maids to hang their heads.

The doctor arrived swiftly; after diagnosis said, "Anger affecting the heart, the emotions of the pregnant woman fluctuated; the princely heir’s wife needs to calm down."

Lady Li furrowed her brows, someone had angered her daughter-in-law, "Is my daughter-in-law and the child alright?"

The doctor smiled, "They’re fine, a few doses of fetus-preserving medicine will suffice, she needs to rest lately."

The doctor was practically a household doctor for the Zhou family, quickly wrote a prescription, and didn’t linger long before leaving.

Zhulan stood up, "It’s up to you now, I only care about the outcome."

Lady Li was bewildered, "Mother?"