Chapter 179 Pregnant?

At this time, Lin Daiyu’s side was very lively.

In the absence of Li Hu, all matters concerning the project fell upon Lin Daiyu. Either Li San came in person to report, or the officials of the Ministry of Works in charge of planning and scheduling wrote a brief summary.

Nanny Wang came back again, and the wood and stone materials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had arrived.

Lin Daiyu just ordered someone to go to the garden to invite Li San to take over, and then someone came back to say that the project was waiting for gauze and silk for pasting things, and asked Lin Daiyu to get the key to open the warehouse to pick up the gauze and silk. Also, a housekeeper’s wife came to get a pass and went to the accounting office to withdraw money to buy things.

It took a while before things quieted down.

Only after the housekeeper’s wife handed over the pair of cards did Lin Daiyu go back to the warm room and sit on the kang.

Zijuan wrung out a hot face towel and handed it over.

Lin Daiyu took the towel and wiped her face, saying, “I’m a little hungry. Give me something to eat if you have anything.”

Zijuan: “We’re getting ready.” She called out to the outside world: “Xueyan.”

Xueyan responded, then called a few little girls to come in with food boxes.

A small dish of winter bamboo shoots and fern, a bowl of eight-treasure rabbit cubes, a dish of pickled rouge goose breast, a dish of four cream-filled puff pastry rolls, and a large bowl of hot red rice porridge were placed on the kang table in front of Lin Daiyu.

Xueyan handed a pair of chopsticks to Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu picked up a roll and took a small bite, then picked up a piece of goose breast and tasted it. Then she picked up the spoon and scooped half a spoonful of porridge into her mouth.

While they were eating, Qingwen came in excitedly and said with a smile, “Miss, that Ni’er is here.”

Lin Daiyu didn’t react for a moment: “What a nonsense, which girl is here?” Then she took a little more of the eight-treasure rabbit cubes and tasted it.

Qingwen: “That’s the Ni’er that Second Master was talking about.”

Lin Daiyu remembered that it was Ni Er’s daughter, Ni Ni.

Qingwen seemed to have just realized that Lin Daiyu was eating, and said hesitantly, “Miss, eat now. I’ll take her to the side room to wait.”

Lin Daiyu: “No, please come in.”

Qingwen: “Yes.” She answered and walked out.

Lin Daiyu quickly ate half a bowl of porridge and a roll of pastry before putting down her chopsticks.

Zijuan had already wrung out a hot face towel and handed it over.

Lin Daiyu wiped her mouth and said to Xueyan, “You eat.”

Xueyan responded cheerfully and hurriedly asked the maids to take the food away.

After a while, Qingwen came in with a maid who was about fourteen or fifteen years old.

Lin Daiyu looked at the girl carefully. She was wearing some half-new clothes. She had black hair, a long face, and a slim figure, and was very pretty and clean.

Looking at the fairy-like Lin Daiyu, Ni’er stood there in a daze, wondering how could there be such a beautiful woman in the world.

Seeing Ni’er in a daze, Qingwen quickly pushed her.

Nier came back to her senses, her face immediately turned red, she stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Hello, young lady.”

Lin Daiyu smiled slightly and said, “Please sit on the kang.” She then ordered Qingwen to serve tea.

Ni’er quickly shook her hands and said, “No, no, I’ll just stand.”

Lin Daiyu looked at her and smiled, then ordered Zijuan to bring a low stool for her to sit on.

Nier bowed hurriedly and then sat down at the edge of the stool.

At this time, Qingwen came in with a bowl of tea on a small tea tray.

Nier quickly stood up, thanked him, then took the tea bowl with both hands, took a sip, and then sat down again.

Zijuan and Qingwen smiled at each other.

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, “Your father has told you everything, right?”

Nier stood up again and replied, “My father told me to work hard for you and serve you wholeheartedly.” At this point, her face turned red, “.Learn the skills of a housekeeper.”

Qingwen burst out laughing, but quickly held it back.

Zijuan hurriedly pushed her out.

Lin Daiyu smiled and asked, “Have you ever read a book?”

“I haven’t read it, but my father taught me a little. I can recognize a few words.” Ni’er thought about her father Ni Er’s instructions and answered carefully.

Lin Daiyu asked a few more questions, then smiled and said, “Don’t be shy, just treat yourself as if you are at home. I don’t need you to serve me here, just follow Xueyan to learn how to read. Of course, if there is a suitable job, I will assign it to you.” Ni’er had already stood up, bowed slightly, and replied, “Yes.”

Lin Daiyu: “Normally you have to live in the mansion. If you have something to do, you can ask for leave.”

Nier: “Yes. My father said when I came here that I must abide by the rules of the mansion.”

Lin Daiyu nodded and called out, “Qingwen.”

Qingwen came in in response.

Lin Daiyu: “Take Ni’er downstairs to rest, and tell her about the taboos in the mansion.”

Qingwen: “Yes.”

Ni’er bowed slightly to Lin Daiyu again, then followed Qingwen out.

Looking at Ni’er’s disappearing back, Lin Daiyu smiled. Li Hu had seen this girl at Ni Er’s birthday party a few days ago and praised her casually. It must be said that Ni Er was very smart. He knew that ability alone was not enough, and he also had to make Li Hu feel at ease.

As for why Li Hu agreed, he discovered that there was something unusual between this girl and Jia Yun.

Just as I was thinking about it, the voice of the little maid came from the main hall: “The Second Master is here.”

The door curtain was lifted and Li Hu walked in.

Zijuan hurried forward and untied his cloak.

Li Hu sat down opposite Lin Daiyu and said, “I’m a little hungry. Give me something to eat if you have anything.”

The tone of her words was the same as Lin Daiyu’s. Zijuan suppressed her smile, glanced at Lin Daiyu, and turned to walk out.

Lin Daiyu glared at her, then looked at Li Hu: “Why did you come back so early today?”

Li Hu never hid the affairs of the court from Lin Daiyu, so he briefly told her about it.

Lin Daiyu was also surprised.

Li Hu looked at her: “How about it, do you think it’s too fake?”

Lin Daiyu nodded.

Li Hu was about to speak when Nanny Wang’s voice came from outside: “Second Master, the Lady of Rongguo Mansion sent someone to deliver a letter to the young lady.”

Lin Daiyu: “Bring it in.”

Nanny Wang came in with a letter, handed it to Lin Daiyu, and then left.

Lin Daiyu tore it open and looked at it. As she looked, her beautiful eyebrows frowned.

Li Hu: “What’s wrong?”

Lin Daiyu was silent for a moment, then answered, “The Empress in the palace sent out the eunuch in charge, gave me 120 taels of silver, and asked me to hold a three-day peace ceremony at Qingxu Temple from the 23rd to the 25th, with opera performances and offerings. The old lady asked me to go with her to join in the fun and watch the opera.”

A peace offering ceremony? Li Hu frowned. Someone in his previous life said that the Qingxu Temple held a ceremony to offer peace to Jia Yuanchun, but it was actually to propose marriage for a “golden jade match”. But this was not the original novel! What kind of peace offering was Jia Yuanchun holding at this moment?

Peaceful offering, also known as prayer for peace and purity offering, is the most popular type of offering. Its purpose is to thank the gods for their protection and pray for peace in the country; or to pray for peace.

Could it be because of what happened in Huai’an? No, as Consort De, Jia Yuanchun was overstepping her authority. It was the duty of the emperor and empress to pray for good weather, peace and prosperity for the country and the people.

Is Jia Yuanchun praying for herself?

Thinking of this, Li Hu suddenly had an idea. Jia Yuanchun was pregnant? Yes, she must be pregnant! She was hoping to pray for her child and ward off disasters by holding a peace offering ceremony!

Lin Daiyu spoke: “What’s wrong?”

Li Hu thought about it, then leaned over to her ear and whispered something.

Lin Daiyu was stunned for a moment, then looked at the letter in her hand and said, “Can I still go?”

Li Hu was silent.

Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment and said, “How about saying I’m sick?”

“Say ‘bah bah bah’!”

Li Hu held Lin Daiyu’s hand and knocked on the table three times, “Don’t say anything unlucky.”

Lin Daiyu was totally baffled, but she still said “Pooh” three times.

Li Hu thought for a moment and said, “It’s only the middle of the month, let’s talk about it in a few days.”

(End of this chapter)