A life of ups and downs is pure joy

It snowed heavily on the night of New Year's Eve in Jinhan City. Lin Qinghuan packed up warmly and went to the main hall with Xiao Yi. As they were afraid of the slippery ground, Xiao Yi almost hugged his little wife.

"Husband, don't be so nervous about me. Huan'er feels like a waste since she got pregnant." Lin Qinghuan said as she patted Xiao Yi's arm that was trying to hug her.

"So what if I'm useless? I wasn't very smart anyway." Xiao Yi let the woman slap him and still picked her up.

"Husband, Huan'er wants to walk by herself." Lin Qinghuan said coquettishly.

"Be good and listen. The road is too slippery. I'll put it down for you when we get to the front hall door so that the elders won't see us." Xiao Yi said softly. Lin Qinghuan smiled and hugged Xiao Yi's neck tightly.

Chuxia and Yunxiang followed behind the two of them, looked at each other, lowered their heads and smiled faintly. The two maids holding lanterns in front of them walked carefully, for fear of slipping and falling.

The front hall was brightly lit, decorated with lights and colorful lanterns, and big red lanterns were hung all over the yard.

"It's so bright." Lin Qinghuan was put down by Xiao Yi, and the two walked into the courtyard of the front hall hand in hand.

"These lanterns are very beautiful, and they come in various shapes." Lin Qinghuan said as he walked.

"Dad and mom seem to have arrived." Xiao Yi looked at the lively and bustling room filled with laughter.

"Husband, it seems like every time I'm too slow, I'm always the last one to come." Lin Qinghuan said apologetically.

"It's okay. It's normal for you to feel a little unwell. I remember you were sitting there alone very early in the past two years." Xiao Yi said as he helped Lin Qinghuan up the stairs.

Lin Qinghuan looked at him, nodded and smiled.

She vaguely remembered the New Year's Eve of the year when she first married into the Xiao family. If Yun hadn't wanted to take her with her, she wouldn't even know where the main hall was, so she packed up and came early. It was snowing at the time, but she had no mood to appreciate the snow scenery along the way. She just treated it as a family dinner that she didn't want to attend.

"Huan'er, come in quickly, it's freezing outside." When Liu Ji saw the young couple, she immediately greeted Lin Qinghuan with a smile.

The couple went to kowtow to Grandmother Lin first, and the old ancestor smiled and gave each of them a lucky bag.

"Thank you grandma."

Then he kowtowed to Xiao Bowen and Liu Ji, the couple sitting next to him. Liu Ji happily handed the big New Year's gift bag in her hand to Lin Qinghuan, and took out a smaller one from the side and gave it to Xiao Yi.

"Why is mine different from Huan'er's?" Xiao Yi asked curiously, holding the red envelope in his hand.

"Of course it's different. How can you be the same as Huan'er now?" Liu Ji said as she stretched out her hand to help her pregnant daughter-in-law.

"Look at your mother." Xiao Bowen looked helplessly at Liu Ji, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Now in this mansion, except for my sister-in-law, none of us can enter my mother's heart." Xiao Qiannan said yin-yangly while standing aside.

"Do you still want the New Year's gift that your sister-in-law prepared for you?" Lin Qinghuan asked Xiao Qiannan.

"Of course I want it." Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiannan quickly reached out to Lin Qinghuan to ask for it.

Xiao Yi gave the lucky money bag he had prepared in advance to Xiao Qiannan, and handed another to Xiao Zuo next to him.

"Thank you, big brother and sister-in-law." Xiao Zuo bowed to the two of them very politely.

Then the couple gave New Year's gifts to Xiao Fan's children, and the children happily ran to the yard to play in the snow.

Xiao Yi helped Lin Qinghuan to sit down beside him. Li Jiaxin stepped forward and saluted Xiao Yi, then stood beside Lin Qinghuan. The two began to chat. In the distance, Xiao Qiannan snatched Xiao Zuo's New Year's bag, wanting to see what the difference was between the two.

"Young Madam, you are wearing too little. It's quite cold outside." Michelle Reis said to Lin Qinghuan.

"I'm very angry right now. Look, my hands and face are hot." Lin Qinghuan said.

"It must be because of the baby in my belly. I felt the same way when I was pregnant. I felt too hot even when I shared a quilt with my husband at night." Xiao Fan's wife Zhang Lijun said.

"That should be it. I never went out in winter before. If I went out, I would definitely catch a cold." Lin Qinghuan could smell the taste of Chinese medicine soup in his mouth whenever he thought of the past.

"So that's how it is. I was thinking that these maids weren't serving the young lady attentively enough, and that made her feel awkward." Michelle Reis said with a faint smile.

"The lanterns outside are all made by such skillful hands. Each one is lifelike. It's really lively." Lin Qinghuan's mind was still in the yard outside.

"These were made by Old Zhang, a lantern craftsman in the east of the city. I go there every year. Two years ago, my eldest brother and his wife got married, and the lanterns that year were so beautiful. Has your sister-in-law forgotten?" asked Zhang Lijun.

"I can't remember things. I'm very confused." Lin Qinghuan said somewhat embarrassedly.

Then she remembered that she had no time to go and see the lanterns that year. After eating the New Year's Eve dinner, she hurried back to Luoyi Pavilion to avoid the crowds. On the way back, she slipped and fell, caught a cold, and stayed in the yard for a month without going out.

"Oh, I remember that the young lady seemed to be ill and had not left the yard for a long time. At that time, my husband asked me to visit you more often." Li Jiaxin also remembered some past events and said.

Lin Qinghuan looked at her in surprise. She was very surprised that Xiao Yi would give such instructions that year. She thought he treated her as if she was dead. While chatting, Lin Qinghuan unconsciously turned her head to look at Xiao Yi, but saw that he was also talking seriously with Xiao Bowen and Xiao Fan.

Liu Ji and Aunt Chen were also chatting with Grandmother Xiao. Bai Zhi stood next to Grandmother Xiao and occasionally glanced at Lin Qinghuan who was sitting not far away.

After the crackling sound of firecrackers, everyone sat down and the lively New Year's Eve family dinner began. The gift dishes from the palace were now escorted by the imperial guards led by Jia Xu.

"By this time next year, my eldest grandson will also be learning to call me grandma." Liu Ji happily kept picking up food for Lin Qinghuan.

"Mother, according to the date, my sister-in-law should be in the summer. She will be only half a year old at this time next year. It will be too early to call her grandmother." Xiao Qiannan said seriously while counting the days.

"It's not too early. My Yi'er was the top scorer in the imperial examination at the age of fifteen. It's not surprising that my grandson can speak at the age of half a year." Liu Ji said happily.

"What my sister said is indeed possible. Yi'er and Huan'er are both extremely smart children. The baby in this belly will definitely surpass their parents in the future." Aunt Chen also echoed.

Lin Qinghuan lowered his head and raised his eyebrows, then found it a little funny. It was a very funny scene for a half-year-old child to call his grandmother. It would probably be a bit difficult for him to call her mother, as it was not as easy to pronounce as "mother".

"Cousin, drink this." Liu Xi took the cold pregnancy-maintaining medicine from the tray in the hands of the maid next to her and handed it to Lin Qinghuan.

"What is this?" Xiao Yi asked curiously as he looked at the black soup.

"It's a tonic, good for both the fetus and the mother." After Liu Xi finished speaking, Lin Qinghuan had already finished it in one gulp.

"Sister-in-law drinks the medicine so quickly. I've never seen anyone so decisive." Xiao Qiannan said to Lin Qinghuan in surprise, holding the bowl and dishes.

"I've been used to drinking medicine since I was a child. Now the medicine prepared by Xier tastes sweet." Lin Qinghuan wiped his mouth and said.

"I just can't stand the smell of the medicine soup." Xiao Qiannan shook her head and said.

"How has Nan'er been learning the rules in the palace these past few months?" Xiao Bowen looked at his daughter and asked Liu Ji.

"Madame Li said Nan'er is very outstanding and she is much more obedient this time than before." Liu Ji touched her daughter's head and said happily.

"Well, Nan'er is sixteen years old in the spring, and it's time for her to be promised to someone." After Xiao Bowen finished speaking, Liu Ji smiled gently, and Xiao Qiannan also lowered her head with a red face.

Seeing that this little girl would soon become his sister-in-law, Lin Qinghuan also became happy, and then smiled at Xiao Yi beside him.

"Eat some fish." Xiao Yi looked at Lin Qinghuan and nodded, then picked up some more food for her.

After the lively New Year's Eve dinner, Xiao Qiannan, Lin Qinghuan and Li Jiaxin went to the yard to admire the various lanterns. Xiao Bowen, Xiao Yi and Xiao Fan, father and son, went to the study to discuss things. Before leaving, Xiao Yi asked Lin Qinghuan to wait for him to return to the yard together.

"If you are tired after standing for a long time, please go inside and rest." Michelle Reis is a warm-hearted person and has always been concerned about Lin Qinghuan's health.

"It's nothing. It's only been more than five months. It's not that tiring." Lin Qinghuan said.

"Sister Jiaxin, I think mother wants to accompany grandmother back to the yard?" Xiao Qiannan said to Liu Ji who was walking out of the door.

"Then I'll accompany you there." Li Jiaxin looked over there and then instructed, "If you're tired, accompany the young lady to rest in the room. Your waist will hurt if you stand for too long."

"Okay, I'm here!" Xiao Qiannan said with a blink of her eyes.

"Did you deliberately send Sister Li away?" Lin Qinghuan said, knocking on Xiao Qiannan's forehead when he saw that there was no one around.

"Sister Li is a good person, but there are some things that she still can't hear." Xiao Qiannan said in a low voice.

"Dad meant today that we should consider your marriage with Ancai in the spring. It seems that our Nan'er is anxious." Lin Qinghuan said jokingly.

"Sister-in-law, do you know what Uncle Lin said?" Xiao Qiannan asked with a red face.

"After that day, Daddy said that after Fourth Sister's wedding is over, he will ask the Queen to grant you a marriage with An Cai." Lin Qinghuan said.

"No wonder Daddy said that after the spring, I guessed it when Daddy sent me to the palace to learn etiquette a few months ago." Xiao Qiannan couldn't hide the smile on her face.

"I'll go back tonight and ask your elder brother what he has to say." Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Qiannan were holding each other affectionately, smiling and looking at the lanterns.

"Yeah, nowadays, big brother has the final say on all the important matters in the mansion. He will definitely be the one arranging my marriage with Brother Ancai." Xiao Qiannan's face flushed red, and she didn't know if it was because of the wind or because she was embarrassed.

"It's a bit cold outside. Let's go inside and warm up for a while. I just finished such a sumptuous dinner and I want to eat some cakes and fruits now." Lin Qinghuan said, touching his stomach.

"There must be a little glutton in my sister-in-law's belly." Xiao Qiannan also gently touched Lin Qinghuan's pregnant belly with her hand, and then helped her walk slowly into the house. The maids who had left came back and followed her into the house to serve her.

When Xiao Yi came out of the study, Lin Qinghuan and Xiao Qiannan had already finished the cakes and fruits in front of them, and Li Jiaxin had already returned from Anyou Hall to the main hall to chat with Lin Qinghuan.

Because their children were making a fuss, Zhang Lijun and Chen Suxiu returned to the second room early with Aunt Chen.

When Li Jiaxin saw Xiao Yi coming back, she left with Xiao Qiannan first, leaving the couple to watch the lights for a while before returning to Qingbo Courtyard.

"My dear, regarding Nan'er's marriage to my son Ancai, you and father can arrange whatever you want. Just tell us what kind of betrothal gift you want. Anything from our Lin family can be given to Nan'er." Lin Qinghuan sat back on her favorite couch as soon as she returned to the room.

"Nan'er..."

"Girl..." Chuxia knocked on the door and ran in hurriedly.

"What's wrong?" Lin Qinghuan looked at her strangely and asked.

"Li Xue came running here crying, saying... that the eldest girl slipped... and fell. The midwife and the birth attendant are both at home now, and she's bleeding a lot..." Chu Xia said anxiously while kneeling.

"Ah! Big sister." Lin Qinghuan held on to the table on the couch and almost fell down.

Xiao Yi hurried forward to support Lin Qinghuan, and said to Chu Xia, "Go to the next yard and ask Da Yuan to prepare the car."

Chuxia wiped away her tears and staggered out at a trot.

"Husband, what should I do with my elder sister? I'm so anxious, I'm so anxious." Lin Qinghuan stood up and took small steps anxiously on the spot.

"Yun Xiang, go call Liu Xi to come along." After they left Qingbo Courtyard, Xiao Yi gave another order.

"You go home first, I'll take Liuxi with me on horseback." Hong Qi stepped forward and said, then jumped up and flew onto the roof to Liuxi's yard.

As soon as Lin Qinghuan arrived at the Lin Mansion, Liuxi and Hongqi also rushed over with medicine boxes.

"Big sister..." Lin Qinghuan was anxious and tears kept flowing down her face as she hurried towards Qianyue Residence. She had never realized that the place was so far away.

As soon as I entered the yard, I saw Zheng Linfeng pacing anxiously at the door. Grandmother Lin and Lin Mutang were sitting in the main seats with heavy expressions on their faces. He Su kept asking the maid to bring in hot water.

"Liuxi is here, go in and take a look at the situation. Mo'er is also in there, as is the imperial physician." He Su saw Liuxi and Hongqi running in first, and urged them to go in quickly.

"Mother, how is my elder sister?" Lin Qinghuan shouted as she entered the yard with Xiao Yi's support.

"It's freezing cold, why did you come here? Come in quickly." He Su looked anxiously at the pregnant woman who came in.

"Why did you fall?" Lin Qinghuan asked when she came in, but she saw that the two personal maids serving Lin Qingyao were already kneeling at the door with red eyes crying.

"There is a patch of snow on the cobblestone. Your elder sister went to the plum garden after the New Year's Eve dinner, but she didn't expect that... Oh, it's all my fault. I should have gone with her." Zheng Linfeng said self-reproachfully.

"Why is there no sound inside?" Lin Qinghuan asked with tears streaming down her face after hearing what Zheng Linfeng said.

"Huan'er, don't worry. I just went in to check. Yao'er is about to give birth early. The imperial physician, several female doctors, and the midwife are all in there." He Su asked Xiao Yi to bring the anxious Lin Qinghuan back and sit her down.

"I'm scared." Lin Qinghuan looked up at Xiao Yi and said.

"All the doctors with good medical skills are in there. Your elder sister will be fine." Xiao Yi reached out and wiped the tears from Lin Qinghuan's little face and said.

Lin Qinghuan, like his grandmother and father, kept frowning and looking towards Lin Qingyao's inner room.