Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 33 Night Detective
In the main hall of the eldest son's residence, Yu Xinglong and Suo Hong sat upright.

They slowly turned the teacups in their hands, their thoughts completely undisguised.

Master Su was busy taking over the business route that the Yu family had transferred.

He wanted to establish business channels for the Suo family within the Yu family's territory, thereby expanding the Suo family's business empire.

Among the eight powerful families, the Suo family's "business" was unique.

Whether Suo Chanzhi is pregnant or not is too important to the Suo family, so he must be present.

Of the three gynecological experts invited today, one of them was found by Master Suo.

"Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! Our young mistress is pregnant!"

While the three doctors were still exchanging opinions, a nanny had already run over to report the good news to the clan leader.

Upon hearing her say "Congratulations," Master Suo's eyes immediately lit up.

Yu Xinglong's expression, however, was somewhat indescribable.

The old woman who brought the news had no idea that her husband was in such a complicated mood, and she knelt down with a thud.

The old woman kowtowed heavily to the ground, beaming with joy, and said, "Master, Second Master Suo, our young mistress is pregnant."

Yu Xinglong's fingers trembled slightly, and the scalding hot tea spilled onto his fingers.

But his hand only trembled slightly, and he still held the teacup steadily, seemingly without feeling any pain.

Finally, the first shoe dropped: the daughter-in-law... is pregnant.

But is this child really my son's flesh and blood?

Once suspicion takes hold, it's like a venomous snake dwelling in his heart, ready to pounce and bite him from time to time.

But he had no way to prove it.

In this day and age, there is no technological means to make a reliable judgment on this matter.

This is one of the reasons why high-ranking officials, emperors, and generals kept a close watch on the inner palace.

However, if we go back from the time when Suo Chanzhi became pregnant, she did indeed conceive on the way to the Yu family's wedding.

At that time, she was in the wedding procession, right under the noses of so many people from the Yu and Su families, living happily with her son. How could there possibly be another man?

So, this child must be my son's flesh and blood, right?

But... my son had already decided to die, and he really couldn't hold back?

Yu Xinglong's lips twitched slightly, trying to appear happy, but he couldn't quite manage to make the corresponding expression.

Master Suo was already laughing loudly, "Hahaha, good, good indeed."

Although Chengye is gone, it is a blessing from heaven that he has been given a son!
"Good, excellent, hahaha..."

"Brother Yu, congratulations, congratulations!" Master Suo turned to Yu Xinglong with a smile.

Yu Xinglong suppressed the conflicting thoughts in his heart and forced a smile: "Same to you, same to you. Ha, hahaha..."

Yu Xinglong's smile was uglier than his tears.

However, Suo Lao Er didn't find anything strange. The clan leader was clearly crying tears of joy, which was perfectly normal.

Master Suo touched his balding head and looked at the smiling messenger:

"I have taken charge on behalf of the Yu family patriarch, and everyone in the eldest branch of the family has been rewarded."

"You clever old woman, you've brought me the good news I've been longing to hear. I'll reward you with one hundred taels of silver."

The messenger was overjoyed; her hard work running all that way hadn't been in vain. She was almost out of breath.

The head maid immediately kowtowed and thanked the master, saying, "This servant thanks Second Master Suo for the reward."

Yu Xinglong composed himself, cleared his throat, and said, "My son has just passed away, so it is naturally inappropriate to hold a grand funeral."

However, the fact that my son left behind his bloodline is a great joy for the Yu family.

How about this, the young mistress's household allowance will be doubled starting today.

All the servants of the eldest son's family will have their monthly allowance doubled this month.

Those of the rank of manager or above will each be granted a banquet as a special treat.

The head maid happily kowtowed to Xinglong again:
"This servant thanks the master for his reward on behalf of everyone. This servant will go and tell everyone the good news right away."

The head maid ran off in a flurry.

Yu Xinglong was still struggling with the question in his heart: was the child in his daughter-in-law's womb really of the Yu family bloodline? Was it really not?

The messenger, a woman as light as a swallow, ran to the hanging flower gate connecting the inner and outer courtyards. She stood on the steps, chest out and belly protruding, looking radiant.

"Great news for the master! The young mistress is pregnant!"
The master ordered that the monthly salary of all the servants in the eldest branch of the family be doubled this month.

Those of managerial rank and above will each be granted a banquet as a special treat!

The former stewards, who were making excuses to loiter in the various outbuildings nearby, rushed out upon hearing the news.

With the young mistress pregnant, the eldest son's position is secure!
Well, to be precise, it's stable for at least the next nine months.

In any case, the chance of winning was only one in four, which was very slim.

Now the probability has changed from one in four to one in half, which gives me the advantage.

"Haha, the host is blessed, we are also sharing in the joy!"

"Yes, yes, great joy, great joy!"

The managers were all beaming with joy.

Of course, they cannot share in the joy; this is a joyous occasion for the host's family, and they are not entitled to "share in the joy."

……

Even as night deepened, the atmosphere inside and outside the main house remained joyous.

In the kitchen, Li Da Mu, the accountant, received his reward of a banquet and invited all the managers to drink and celebrate together.

Li Youcai, the Grand Steward, naturally sat in the head seat, but Yang Can was nowhere to be seen in the second seat. Li Damu had also invited Yang Can, but Yang Can said he was feeling slightly unwell and needed to rest.

It's likely that he's feigning illness; the real reason is probably that Steward Yang, who has always been at odds with the Suo family, is unhappy to learn that the young mistress is pregnant.

Therefore, the understanding accountant Li did not insist on inviting him again.

Inside the inner courtyard, Suo Chanzhi sat languidly in front of the bronze mirror at her dressing table.

As the joy and excitement gradually fade, weariness inevitably sets in.

So she simply took a bath and then changed into a misty, silken bellyband.

The curves of her body, with their shapely contours, appear gentle and flowing beneath the light and soft silk robe.

Her hair, especially wet and shiny after a shower, cascaded over her fair shoulders.

Like the leaves of the yun flower, though they do not compete for color, they enhance the overall beauty.

The rosy face reflected in the bronze mirror appeared even more charming as a result.

Finally... we had a child. All the hard work and all that effort wasn't for nothing.

Thinking of all those "hardships," Suo Chanzhi suddenly felt a little itchy inside.

I'm actually starting to miss the feeling of being completely worn out; how crazy!
Suo Chanzhi spat inwardly and subconsciously stroked her lower abdomen.

It's amazing how, just like that, in that instant, a vibrant life was growing inside my belly.

But the gender of the child is still unknown at this moment... Nine months later, it will be another difficult hurdle for her.

If she doesn't give birth to a boy, I don't know if she'll be able to get through that hurdle.

Suo Chanzhi sighed softly, picked up an ivory comb, and began to comb her beautiful hair.

Whenever she feels agitated, she likes to use this gesture to calm herself down.

Her smooth, jet-black hair, like black silk, draped over her fair and delicate shoulders, making her skin appear even more translucent, like fine jade.

Suddenly, her delicate body trembled, and a cry of surprise almost escaped her lips.

But a large hand quickly covered her mouth.

Suo Chanzhi's beautiful eyes widened in shock, but she quickly regained her composure.

Because she saw Yang Can's face in that finely polished bronze mirror.

Yang Can released his grip, and Suo Chanzhi let out a deep breath, turning around from the brocade stool.

Yang Can, standing before me, was dressed in a long robe. He had not changed into his night clothes, nor was he wearing a mask.

It was a handsome face with sharp features, and his posture was particularly upright.

"Are you crazy? How dare you sneak into the inner quarters like this, and... dressed like this?"

Yang Can chuckled and said, "If you trespass into the inner quarters and aren't discovered, nothing will happen."

If I'm discovered, the more I disguise myself, the more difficult it will be to explain myself.

Suo Chanzhi said nervously, "What are you doing coming in? It's dangerous."

Yang Can said, "Isn't it because you're pregnant? I haven't even seen you once. How can that be justified?"

Yang Can sighed, "The child in your womb is also my flesh and blood."

Suo Chanzhi said irritably, "But if you are discovered... you shouldn't have come."

"But I'm already here."

After saying that, Yang Can had a strange feeling.

To avoid their conversation turning into a "Gu Long style" dialogue, Yang Can quickly changed the subject.

"Now that you have a child, we have no choice but to continue down the path that Granny Tu has planned."

Although it's following Granny Tu's plan, the two are quite different: originally, she was working for someone else, but now she's seeking her own IPO.

Yang Can said, "These days, many people are watching and waiting for the results before they can make a choice."

Me too. I need to wait for news from you before I can decide whether and how to fight for it.

Now, we're just one step away from making the final choice.

And this final step, we can also find a way to make it go the way we want.

Suo Chanzhi suddenly felt an impulse. She wanted to tell Yang Can that there was no need to try to control the eldest son's family, nor was there any need to prepare for the "transfer" nine months later.

Even if the child were a girl, she would accept it.

Even if it meant losing her position as the eldest son's wife, a woman with real power, and having to retire from public life, she accepted it.

As long as this child can grow up safely and happily.

But if a child loses everything they've worked so hard for, can they truly grow up safely and happily?

Even if they grow up successfully, will they also become victims of family interests like her?

Yang Can said, "Next, I'm going to do some things with a purpose."

I'll leave the inner quarters to you; I'll take care of the outer quarters.

In short, you have to remember one thing: always pretend to hate me, make things difficult for me, and resist me…

Suo Chanzhi rolled her eyes at him: "You really don't need to pretend."

Yang Can chuckled: "Alright, do you think I don't know whether you're stubborn or not?"

Suo Chanzhi's pretty face flushed red instantly, and she playfully raised her delicate, frosty little foot and kicked him in the shin.

My feet were pulled out of the soft-soled slippers; they were soft and harmless.

Yang Can said, "Nine months. Can you turn the inner quarters of the eldest son's family into an impenetrable fortress in just nine months?"

(End of this chapter)