Chapter 233 Strange Fragrance

When Ye Jiayao and Xia Chunyu returned to the Marquis' Mansion, it was already time for dinner. They changed their clothes and went to their rooms.

Because both Qiao and Liuli were pregnant, they could not come to eat, so there was only Ye Jiayao, a daughter-in-law, at the dinner table, along with four people including father and son, and two mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law.

Youshi seemed to be in a bad mood. She endured for a long time before asking, "Jinxuan, have you been to see Liuli?"

Ye Jiayao said embarrassedly: "Not yet, it was already late yesterday, and I didn't want to disturb my third brother's wife's rest, so I accompanied A Ruan to the Helian Palace early this morning..."

"It's just a matter of looking at one person. It won't take much time." Yu said unhappily.

Chunyu Ziran spoke up for his wife: "Mother, I made an appointment with Princess Aruan yesterday, and I didn't know that my third sister-in-law was unwell at that time."

You glared at Chunyu. She jumped out so anxiously. Was she afraid that her daughter-in-law would be wronged? Was she wrong? Since Liuli got pregnant, how many times had Jinxuan been there? Every time she asked, Jinxuan went, as if she forced her to go. When she knew that Qiao was pregnant, she went to see her as soon as possible. She did this because she hoped that Jinxuan and Liuli could improve their relationship. People are all made of flesh and blood. If you treat each other sincerely, there will always be rewards. Jinxuan is a sister-in-law, so she should act like a sister-in-law. What's wrong with her lowering her head first?
Seeing that Youshi looked unhappy, Ye Jiayao quickly gave Chunyu a look, asking him to stop talking. She smiled and said, "Mother, after dinner, Chunyu and I will go to see my brother and sister-in-law."

No matter what, she wanted to take Chunyu with her. There were two pregnant women at home, and she couldn't afford to offend either of them. If something went wrong, Master Jiren's words would come true.

Chunfeng said, "Mother, you don't have to be so nervous. Liuli is not seriously ill. I think he looks much better today."

"Besides, my second sister-in-law is busy too."

"A woman's job is to take care of her husband and children. Don't put the cart before the horse." Yushi said in a rather harsh tone.

When Xia Chunyu heard the word "son", his heart ached. What did his mother mean? She knew that Yaoyao had a difficult physique to conceive, but she still said this. Wasn't she afraid that Yaoyao would feel uncomfortable? Until now, he had kept it a secret from Yaoyao and deliberately avoided this topic. But his mother said this in front of everyone. Among the three daughters-in-law, only Yaoyao didn't have a child. What would Yaoyao think?
He couldn't help but want to speak again, but saw Yaoyao silently shaking her head at him with pleading in her eyes, which made his heart ache.

The old marquis spoke up, saying casually, "Don't talk while eating and don't talk while sleeping. Just eat, why are you talking so much?"

It wasn't directed at Youshi, but it was Youshi who brought up the topic today, so she naturally knew he was talking about her. She immediately put down her bowl and said, "You guys eat, I'm full."

Full of anger.

Seeing Youshi walk away with a cold face, Ye Jiayao wanted to follow her to persuade her, but the old marquis stopped her: "Eat, eat."

Ye Jiayao picked up the rice from the bowl, but she couldn't eat. She understood Youshi's intention. Youshi had always hoped that she could get closer to Liuli. She also wanted to, but Liuli...

The more gentle and virtuous Liuli behaves, the more fake she feels, and the more she has to be on guard. This is a very subtle feeling that is difficult for others to understand.

Xia Chunyu looked at Ye Jiayao distressedly and put the peeled shrimp meat into her bowl: "Eat first, and I'll go with you after you finish eating."

Chunfeng smiled and said, "Second brother, there's no need to be so particular. Mother is just making a fuss."

The old marquis's eyes became stern, Chunfeng shut up and lowered his head to eat.

After dinner, the three of them went to the glass room together. However, it was not convenient for men to enter a woman's bedroom, so Chunfeng accompanied Ye Jiayao in.

As soon as Ye Jiayao entered the room, she smelled a very special fragrance. Her sense of smell has always been more sensitive than others, but she couldn't remember what the fragrance was.

Liuli leaned on the bed, her complexion was indeed not good, her lips were pale, and her eyes were not as bright as before, she seemed to be in a daze.

"Liuli, your second sister-in-law is here to see you." Chunfeng said.

Liuli saw Ye Jiayao in the blink of an eye, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Second sister-in-law is here! Xiaoya, move the stool quickly."

Xiaoya moved the embroidered cushion and placed it in front of the bed.

Ye Jiayao sat down and asked softly, "I heard you weren't feeling well. Are you feeling better?"

Liuli smiled and said, "It's nothing serious. I just got bored staying in the house. You know my temper. I like to go out. In previous years, I would go out to play when the spring came. But this year, I can't go anywhere because I'm pregnant."

Ye Jiayao said: "Of course the child is more important. After the child is born and you have recovered, let Chunfeng take you out to play."

"Yes, you should just focus on taking care of your pregnancy first. I will take you to travel in the future. We can go wherever you want to go." Chunfeng said.

Liuli smiled bitterly: "That's a matter for the future. Right now, it's hard to find someone to talk to me. Chunfeng is busy with official duties. Third Aunt used to come often, but now Third Uncle is the Left Vice Minister, Third Aunt has more social engagements. I heard that my eldest sister-in-law is pregnant too. Alas... I have no one to talk to now."

It was the first time that Ye Jiayao heard her say such sentimental words, and she almost began to sympathize with her.

"Second sister-in-law, can you come and talk to me more often in the future?" Liuli looked at Ye Jiayao with expectant eyes.

Ye Jiayao almost blurted out "OK", then remembered Master Jiren's warning, and said, "I'll be busy these two days, and I'll come to accompany you when I'm free."

Seeing that Liuli was not in good spirits, Ye Jiayao chatted with her for a few words before leaving.

Chunfeng sent them to the gate of the courtyard. Chunyu told him to take good care of Liuli and the others, and told everyone to leave.

"How is Liuli?" Chunyu asked. Ye Jiayao shook her head absentmindedly: "She doesn't look very well. She said she was bored."

Xia Chunyu sneered: "It's hard for her. With her lively personality, it's really not easy for her to stay in the house for half a year."

But Ye Jiayao always felt something was wrong.

"It should be fine. If there was a problem, Imperial Physician Li would have reported it to the Queen Mother long ago." Seeing that she was worried, Xia Chunyu reached out and touched her slightly frowned brows, and comforted her.

I hope so!
I returned to the courtyard and walked to the door, and saw Xiangtao coming from the other direction with a stack of papers in her hand.

"Master, Second Young Madam." Xiangtao bowed quickly.

Ye Jiayao asked: "What are you holding in your hand?"

Xiang Tao smiled and said, "I borrowed the pattern from the needlework room. The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon, and I want to embroider purses for the young master and the second young lady!"

Ye Jiayao suddenly had an idea: Dragon Boat Festival, sachet, mugwort...

Yes, it’s the fragrance of mugwort.

The smell is very faint, hidden in the thick ambergris. If you don't smell it carefully, it is difficult to detect it.

Mugwort can invigorate blood circulation and promote the flow of qi. Could it be that... there is something wrong with the fetus in Liuli's belly?

Ye Jiayao became more and more certain that what Master Jiren said would most likely bring disaster upon Liuli.

In any case, she has been determined not to go to Liuli's place recently, and she also doesn't allow people from her yard to set foot there.

"What are you thinking about? Go back to your room." Xia Chunyu saw her standing there in a daze, smiled and took her hand.

Ye Jiayao came back to her senses and said awkwardly, "Chun Yu, I should have done this myself. I have never embroidered a purse or fan bag for you, nor have I sewed clothes for you."

Xia Chunyu burst out laughing. It turned out that this was what she was thinking about.

"I... I'm not very good at needlework." Ye Jiayao said embarrassedly. She knew that in ancient times, needlework was one of the important criteria for evaluating whether a woman was capable, but the original owner was not good at it, and she was even worse. It was okay for her to carve radish flowers, but it would be really difficult for her to embroider with an embroidery needle.

"Silly boy, Qiao Xi and Xiang Tao are responsible for these matters. You don't know how to do needlework, but you can cook. Whose daughter-in-law is as capable as you? I am already very satisfied." Xia Chunyu said.

But, she wanted to do more for him. Ahem, when she was in college, she had a crush on a senior and on a whim, she knitted a scarf for him, but ended up knitting a belt. In the end, she was too embarrassed to give it away. But no matter what, that scarf was knitted for another man, so she had to make something for Chunyu!

With this in mind, Ye Jiayao planned to ask Qiao Xi someday to help her choose the simplest and most beautiful pattern. She would also embroider a sachet for Chunyu as a surprise, and she would insist that Chunyu wear it with him and not take it off.

While Chunyu was taking a bath, Ye Jiayao called Qiao Xi and Xiang Tao over.

"Tomorrow the prince and I are going to stay at the manor for a few days. Xiangtao, you take Yingtao and Xueye with me."

Qiao Xi couldn't help but reveal a look of disappointment. Didn't the Second Young Madam always take her with her when she went out? Did she do something wrong?

Xiangtao nodded excitedly. She was so happy that the Second Young Madam was going to take her out for the first time.

Ye Jiayao noticed Qiao Xi's reaction and asked Xiang Tao to go downstairs to prepare, leaving Qiao Xi alone.

"Qiao Xi, do you know why I didn't take you with me this time?"

Qiao Xi shook her head.

"Because I have something more important to tell you. I don't trust anyone else except you."

The spirit instantly returned to Qiao Xi's eyes, and she looked at the Second Young Lady quietly.

Ye Jiayao said, "When I went up the mountain yesterday, Master Jiren read my fortune and said that I would be in trouble recently. Just now, when I went to Third Young Lady's room, I faintly smelled the scent of mugwort after fumigation..."

Qiao Xi's face changed slightly. She understood what the Second Young Madam meant. The Second Young Madam went out to avoid disaster. In the eyes of the people of Jinling and even Huaisong, Master Jiren was a god-like existence. Since Master Jiren said so, it must be true.

"So, I want you to stay and help me watch over the people in the yard. These few days, you are not allowed to go out unless necessary, and you are not allowed to set foot in Third Young Madam's place. You are not allowed to interfere in anything related to Third Young Madam. Even if it is Madam's order, just pretend to be sick. Anyway, no matter what method you use, refuse it, so as not to bring trouble upon yourself."

"You are the most reliable and have stayed in the courtyard the longest. Only you can convince others. Qiao Xi, do you understand what I say?"

Qiao Xi nodded solemnly: "Second Young Madam, I understand. I will definitely follow your instructions and keep the people in the yard in check."

She understood the seriousness of the situation. If something bad really happened and involved the child in the Third Young Lady's belly, it would mean death. She had no choice but to take it seriously.

(End of this chapter)