Chapter 939: Chapter 935: A Year of Abundance (Part 5)

Sure, here’s the translation:

"Have you discussed this matter with Aunt?" Xiqiu didn’t answer but instead asked in return. Tong Quanzi shook his head and then nodded, saying, "As long as you agree, I will talk to Mother, and she will definitely agree."

Xiqiu didn’t respond but called Biwu inside and asked for her opinion. Biwu looked at Tong Quanzi and then at Xiqiu, nodding, "I am willing to follow Third Master to Liaodong."

Bihuai was anxious and red-eyed on the side; she never expected this girl would agree to become a concubine for Third Uncle, let alone be willing to go to Liaodong. She was eager to speak, but Biwu knelt down before Xiqiu, saying solemnly, "Madam, Third Uncle is alone in Liaodong without anyone to manage things. If I go, I can help handle some matters. But... I only want to go for three years. Can I return to Madam’s side after three years?"

Xiqiu found it both amusing and troubling—this girl clearly didn’t understand the true significance of going to Liaodong with Tong Quanzi. She glanced at Tong Quanzi, who also appeared somewhat stunned, evidently not expecting Biwu to have such plans.

"It’s up to you; your own matters are yours to decide. Life’s warmth is to be known through living it yourself, so I won’t interfere," Xiqiu said lightly, adding to Biwu, "We’ll talk about what comes after three years when the time comes!"

Biwu didn’t quite understand what living a life meant, but her heart couldn’t help feeling happy. She glanced at Tong Quanzi and kowtowed three times to Xiqiu.

A few days later was the day Tong Xiyan was getting married. Tong Mansion was lively as Tong Xiyan was married off. On that day, Tong Xiyan cried like a tearful person as she got in the bridal sedan, yet she looked like a shy daughter newly married during the third-day return visit.

She smiled and asked, "How is your husband treating you?"

"You’re teasing me again." Saying that, she ignored Xiqiu, but Xiqiu turned to ask Daiju, "How has it been in the Zhou family these two days?"

Daiju recounted everything: "Old Madam treats Madam very well. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are so close they’re like mother and daughter. Master respects Madam greatly. On the second morning, he accompanied Madam around the garden, even took Madam to climb East Mountain. When Madam couldn’t continue, he carried her down... In the evening, even when I brought water for Madam to bathe, it was Master who took it inside himself..." Speaking with a red face, considering Master’s love for Madam, although not as sticky as Master Jiang and Lady used to be daily, Master’s attention to detail in caring was thorough everywhere.

Xiqiu nodded with a smile, hoping Zhou Bohan lives up to expectations.

Before the year ended, Lord Zhang was stripped of his titles for eight counts of embezzlement and favoritism, demoted to a commoner, and banned for life from official duties—an amnesty granted considering his old age, knowing he wouldn’t survive months in prison, so the Emperor released him to retire to the countryside.

Jiang Shilin and five other officials faced demotions and fines. None escaped punishment. Jiang Shilin was relegated to the position of Shu County Magistrate, required to assume office within three months.

An aggressive impeachment led by the Imperial Censorate against Cabinet ministers and venerable court elders successfully concluded, marking a historic case in the Great Zhou’s annals.

Before the New Year, a heavy snow fell, and that day Xiao Yanzheng gave birth to a son. During the washing ceremony, Grand Dowager joyfully rode with Xiqiu to Pang Mansion. Pang Guibin busily managed everything, making Grand Dowager smile from her heart. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

After the New Year returning to Tong Mansion, Tong Xiyan surprisingly didn’t come back. Xiqiu then learned she was pregnant within three months of marriage.

Xiqiu and Madam Jiang were pleasantly surprised and delighted. Together, they visited Zhou Residence, where Madam Zhou gleefully welcomed them at the door, holding Madam Jiang’s hand and saying, "Thanks to your blessing..." Her words were somewhat incoherent.

Everyone believed Tong Xiyan was infertile, even she had decided to keep a maid by her side to preserve the Zhou family’s lineage, but unexpectedly she became pregnant. Zhou Bohan was overjoyed, inviting an Imperial Physician to the residence; everything the doctor advised for diet and precautions was meticulously recorded and instructed to the maids in detail.

Tong Xiyan, tearfully holding Xiqiu’s hand, said, "I never thought..."

She never thought she would get pregnant, nor did she expect Zhou Bohan to be so attentive and considerate. While it wasn’t the passionate love she envisaged, it was a warm and peaceful ordinary marital existence.

While here everything was peaceful and happy, the Jiang Family was in uproar. Old Madam Jiang, having heard somewhere that Tong Xiyan was pregnant, fainted in shock. A woman married into her family for two years without having a child and gets pregnant just months after marrying elsewhere—how could she handle such a blow?

She pointed at Old Madam Jiang, angrily asking, "Second Son has been resting in your room every day recently, why haven’t you any movements?" Madam Jiang defiantly replied, "Mother-in-law, you should not ask me this; you should ask Second Master. I’ve had doctors check my body, it’s perfectly fine. If there’s an issue, it may lie with Second Master."

Old Madam Jiang, seething, said, "Nonsense!" Standing up, she spat out angrily, "Second Son’s body is perfectly fine. Back then, Madam He was pregnant, the problem is obviously with you!"

"Ha," Madam Jiang coldly laughed, "You truly are befuddled, that Tong Family woman was here for two years without a child, yet immediately gets pregnant elsewhere. Why don’t you consider the reasons? Besides, in this mansion, not only I, but also all the concubines and chambermaids have no children—only Madam He had once. Why don’t you believe the reasons? And yet you have the face to question me?" Finishing, she swept her sleeves, "You needn’t worry; I’ve already called a doctor to examine my husband. Soon, you’ll understand where the problem really lies."

Old Madam Jiang was too furious to speak, only waiting for the doctor to come and examine Jiang Shilin. Jiang Shilin, having been bedridden for quite some time now, hadn’t paid much attention. Yet when the doctor examined his pulse and spoke, everyone was stunned, including him: "Lord Jiang suffered serious injuries in Fujian years ago, and after recovery didn’t receive proper care..." The doctor glanced at Old Madam and Madam Jiang, "While there’s no issue with conjugal relations, having children could be difficult."

"Rubbish!" Old Madam Jiang jumped and shouted, "My son’s health is exceptionally good; how could there be a problem?"

Madam Jiang’s face was also sour; she turned coldly to Old Madam Jiang and said, "He may not know other medical fields, but fertility has been passed down in his family for generations. If you don’t trust him, you can go inquire outside."

The doctor nodded furiously on the side.

This was like a bolt from the blue; Old Madam Jiang nearly fainted again, while Jiang Shilin lay wide-eyed, listening to the trio before his bed discussing his affairs as if performing a drama...

It was his body that was the issue, which explained the absence of heirs all these years—it wasn’t anyone else’s fault.

"Someone!" Old Madam Jiang summoned people to throw the doctor out, then called Madam He, angrily pointing at her, demanding, "You, tell me how you managed to get pregnant back then..."