Bai Suihe also received the news and suspected that Xu Yulan might be pretending to be ill.

With a soft laugh, she said, "You can protect them for a while, but not for a lifetime. It’s a pity, really."

Dong Mei didn’t understand why Ms. Bai said this, but her hands kept working.

The young lady instructed them to start making cotton-padded clothes today. They looked very warm, though the style was a bit strange.

"Dong Mei and Chun Xiang, you’re both about the right age for marriage. Have you taken a fancy to anyone?" Bai Suihe asked thoughtfully.

"Miss, the servant wishes to stay by your side and serve you forever," Chun Xiang said seriously, looking up at Bai Suihe.

"Silly girl, there’s no such thing as staying by my side for a lifetime," Bai Suihe planned to arrange things for them in the next few days, "You two grew up with me, although as master and servant, I regard you as sisters and wish for you to have a bright future.

Your families have also helped me a lot, and I wish to return your contracts of servitude, so you can go back to your hometown and buy some good farmland, and live your own lives."

"Miss, but is there something wrong with me and Chun Xiang?" Dong Mei and Chun Xiang immediately put down their work, standing there nervously.

"Both of you are great, and your families are loyal," Bai Suihe said sincerely, "It’s precisely because of this that I want you to have a good future.

Do you want your future children to follow in your footsteps and be part of the servant class?"

Dong Mei and Chun Xiang fell silent. They could serve the young lady, but they couldn’t speak for their entire families.

No one wants their descendants to remain servants for generations. If this news reached home, their families wouldn’t know how to celebrate.

"This isn’t a decision you can make on your own. You should send a message home and let your families decide.

Of course, the young lady won’t treat you unfairly. When you leave, you’ll also be provided with a dowry."

"Miss, even if my parents agree, I can still serve you," Dong Mei quickly said, "You can help arrange a marriage for me, and I can become your housekeeper nanny in the future."

"I can do it too," Chun Xiang quickly added, "I’ll also be your housekeeper nanny."

Bai Suihe sighed. The determination in these two girls’ eyes couldn’t lie; they were sincere in making such a decision.

The book didn’t detail the fate of these maids, only mentioning that they were resold by the authorities.

"I have a bad premonition. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone out to make those preparations.

I just wanted to arrange things for you so that I can be at peace." Bai Suihe could only reveal a bit, "If there’s trouble in the Gu Mansion, I might still need your support in the future." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Dong Mei and Chun Xiang exchanged glances, "Miss, isn’t this just an illusion?"

"Your husband hurriedly returned this time and shared his suspicions with me." Bai Suihe brought the scapegoat out again. "You know that, after he returned, we talked for a while."

Chun Xiang’s face darkened. These maids were also well-informed. Occasionally, families in the capital would be raided and banished. The master of the house, as the Minister of War and an Imperial Minister...

As the saying goes, being close to the emperor is like being close to a tiger; hopefully, it won’t bring disaster to the family?

"But Miss, you’re still pregnant. We can’t leave now."

"I just fear that, when the time comes, I won’t be able to decide. Are you considering being taken away with it?"

"We’ll follow your arrangements," the two considered the possibility and decided not to consult their families. If things turned out as the young lady said, they would find ways to navigate the situation.

"That’s settled," Bai Suihe felt there was no time to delay. She and Gu Kaiyuan had been reborn here, unsure if there would be more changes.

The three of them chatted for a while until Gu Kaiyuan returned.

Dong Mei and Chun Xiang immediately took the other maids and left the room, leaving the space for the couple.

Bai Suihe noticed the books in his hand. Although written in traditional characters, she recognized them: "The Rich Lady Just Won’t Leave Me," "A Red Sleeved Beauty on the Imperial Exam Road," "The Struggling Scholar’s Examination Journey."

Seeing his wife staring at the books in his hand, Gu Kaiyuan looked a bit embarrassed. He had grabbed a few books on a whim, preoccupied with his thoughts, not realizing he brought them back.

"So, my husband enjoys reading this kind of literature," Bai Suihe gave him an enigmatic look, finding his taste quite unique.

"I brought these for someone else," Gu Kaiyuan tossed the books onto the table, "I’ll have Lin Wei deliver them later."

"Your ’friend’ has quite the taste," Bai Suihe said, pouring him a cup of tea herself. She instructed Dong Mei to notify the kitchen of Gu Kaiyuan’s addition, hence requiring more food.

"What are you doing?" Gu Kaiyuan walked over to see the stacks of cotton and fabric. "Making cotton clothes?" though the shape was a bit ugly.

"Better safe than sorry. It’s already autumn; we might not withstand the cold later." Bai Suihe kept glancing at the books, contemplating whether to read them tonight to see how ancient tales were.

Gu Kaiyuan immediately saw through her thoughts and quickly organized the books. "I’ll have Lin Wei deliver them right away."

These romantic tales were not to corrupt his wife, lest they mislead the child.

Before Bai Suihe could retract her hand, Gu Kaiyuan had already vanished.

"Ah, so long a night, so hard to endure..."

Gu Kaiyuan staggered outside the courtyard. What kind of audacious words were those?

How did she become so bold just days after his leave?

Finding Lin Wei, "Quickly get rid of these books."

"Third Young Master, how should I handle them?"

"Handle them however you like, give them away or burn them." Gu Kaiyuan left without looking back.

Holding the three books, Lin Wei scratched his head, wondering what was wrong with his master.

As far as he could tell, these three books were popular at the bookstores, earning the master quite a bit of silver.

Destroying them seemed a waste, so he decided to keep them, in case the master changed his mind someday.

Bai Suihe looked somewhat disappointed as he entered empty-handed, expecting her pastimes to disappear today. It could have been her mental nourishment!

"Those books have already been sent away," Gu Kaiyuan said, his smile a bit awkward, realizing he had neglected his wife for a long time. "Tonight I’ll accompany my wife..."

Bai Suihe, "..."

The two exchanged glances, then immediately shifted their eyes awkwardly.

Bai Suihe, not opposing the development of a relationship, felt the pace was too fast.

Gu Kaiyuan, even though she was his wife, felt a certain unfamiliarity as they hadn’t seen each other for years.

"Father, Mother, I’m here too, I’m here too."

The voice brought Bai Suihe a sigh of relief. It wasn’t for nothing her little sweetheart had such perfect timing.

"The baby is awake," Bai Suihe patted her belly, soothingly, "Both your father and mother will be with you."

At this moment, Gu Kaiyuan’s eyes were red with emotion. This was his unborn child, whom he had missed in the previous life; he was determined to protect his wife and daughter safely this time.