Embroidered Phoenix Chronicle

Fengxian took the opportunity to pay her respects and had Yumei help her to the back. Her mother-in-law, Madam Xu, scolded, "Didn't I tell you to take good care of yourself during your pregnancy? Why are you running around like that? What if you upset the baby?" As she spoke, she had Yumei help her sit on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"It's nothing, moving around makes me feel a bit better. Liang'er, Xiangmei must have made things difficult for you yesterday! That girl, I've always told her not to overstep her bounds, but she just won't change!..."

"Alright, alright! Stop showing off your maids!" Liangjie retorted. "Yesterday, Fu Hui wasn't feeling well, so Mother was in charge of putting things out. Your sister was there too, so she gave you an extra box of dried longan. As for the ginseng, it's Mother's personal property, not public property. I'm not interested in that. When I'm pregnant, don't argue with Mother when she gives me her personal things! That's fine! I'll have Qingxing take my box of dried longan to you later. I don't like it; it's too sweet, and I don't dare let the children eat it. It would be too much for those maids!" Fengxian smiled and agreed, but her heart grew colder and colder.

The old lady smiled, her eyes crinkling at the sight of the two sisters-in-law's harmonious relationship. In a family, harmonious brothers are certainly important, but outward strength is not as important as inner strength; the affection between sisters-in-law is actually even more crucial!

The old lady was very satisfied with Ms. Xu's performance this time; she acted like a proper mother-in-law.

“Fengxian, if you need anything, just ask your mother-in-law. Do you think she'd try to squeeze you out of yourself? If you want to eat something, just tell the kitchen to make it. Don't worry about portions. That's your problem, you're too stubborn! Every pregnant woman needs to eat well, and it's not like we can't afford it!”

"Grandmother, I really can't eat greasy food. I can eat a little bit of plain food. My sister always eats plain food, and her cooking suits my taste perfectly. Anyway, she's always being mischievous and doesn't like doing needlework, so let her cook for me! It saves the kitchen from having to make something special for me, which is too much trouble! If I want something that's not in my rations, I'll ask Mother for it!" Fengxian's words sounded nice, but the old lady wasn't stupid and naturally understood her intention in asking Liuye'er to cook!

"It's too cheap for the kitchen! You're worried about causing them trouble! Tell the kitchen staff to kowtow to the eldest young mistress. Fengxian, good people can't just do things quietly like this! Liang'er, then let's increase your sister-in-law's allowance a bit more, and send some firewood, charcoal, rice, and flour as well. Xiuluan often goes over to freeload meals, so it's not right to let our daughter-in-law give us money!"

“Mother, let Fengxian have double portions then! Fengxian, just tell me what you want to eat in advance, and I’ll have the purchasing agent buy it for you!” Madam Xu said eagerly, confident in her ability to do so. Old Qian, who was in charge of purchasing daily groceries and firewood, had a wife named Qian Ma, who was the head housekeeper in Madam Xu’s household, even more respected than Wu Ma and Zhou Ma. However, the true confidante was Zhou Ma, who, although only in charge of needlework, was Madam Xu’s trusted advisor behind the scenes.

"Alright, remember to tell the steward. Several times Fengxian's allowance hasn't been delivered; we've been eating our in-laws' food. I wouldn't have known if Xiuluan hadn't told me! We can't let people laugh at our family for lacking manners!" The old lady ignored Xu's eagerness and reprimanded her. This woman has always been fond of petty women and likes to take advantage of them.

Madam Xu blushed and nodded in agreement. Liang Jie lowered her head, examining her ring without saying a word.

The group chatted with the old lady for a while before dispersing. Liangjie, arm in arm with Fengxian, whispered a few words to her, but Fengxian was too lazy to respond, only saying that she wasn't feeling well. Liangjie scolded her a few times for making a fuss, and ordered her maid to send word to call a doctor, saying, "You, I don't know what you're thinking, always trying to save trouble! Now we can't be careless at all!" She personally escorted Fengxian back to her room, giving her many instructions before leaving.

Liu Lian brought over a bowl of fish ball and sour bamboo shoot soup, along with two small yam cakes, and placed them in front of Feng Xian, urging her to eat some. "I added some pepper; eat this to warm yourself up. You only had a bowl of porridge this morning, what good will that do?" Feng Xian did as she was told and ate the cakes as well, nodding in approval. "Is there any more yam? Steam some yam puree, but don't add lard, just sugar."

After a moment of silence, Fengxian said, "Xiaoqi, find a way to get me some abortifacient medicine. Xiangmei can't be kept alive! Be very discreet! Go to several pharmacies and get the medicine separately."

Liu Lian thought for a moment, "Going to Shiqiao now would be too conspicuous, and if we go elsewhere..." Reputable pharmacies in ancient times didn't offer abortions. Liu Lian pondered briefly, "Let Xiangmei brew the medicine. I can smell it; my godfather taught me." Fengxian nodded, "I'll take a nap first; you go eat!"

Liulian returned to his room and instructed Cuicui, "Go tell Zhao Ma that the eldest young mistress isn't feeling well, but it's nothing serious. She just had a bowl of fish ball and bamboo shoot soup, ate two yam cakes, and went to sleep. The second young mistress sent word to call a doctor, but the eldest young master isn't home. I don't know who to send with the doctor." Cuicui agreed, but hesitated to move, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Just let it out! Holding it in will make your stomach bloat!"

"Miss, why call a doctor? Miss has had several miscarriages before. Who knows if that doctor is incompetent? Even if he is, he's still a quack if he can't save the pregnancy. It would be safer to have the young master accompany Miss to the clinic for a checkup."

It was a bit of a surprise that this little girl was so knowledgeable. Actually, Cui Cui had lived in the house of the matchmaker for three years. That matchmaker also worked as a broker and a midwife, and secretly sold abortion pills. She had witnessed many of these dirty transactions, which is why she seemed so knowledgeable.

"Just do as I say. Have you remembered everything I said?"

Cui Cui repeated what Liu Lian had said.

"Alright! Go and come back quickly. If the old lady gives you some snacks, take them! If not, that's fine too. Come back as soon as you're done, don't stand there waiting to ask for a reward, understand?"

Cui Cui solemnly replied, "I understand! I'm not shameless like the new guy!"

"Alright! Go quickly! Come back early so we can eat!" After saying this, Liulian sent Cuicui to the back to relay the message, and went to the annex to prepare for lunch—Liulian disliked eating in the bedroom, so she ate in the annex instead. The annex had two bright rooms and one dark room; Cuicui lived in the west room, and the two rooms on the east side were connected. Platforms were built along the east and south walls, connecting to the stove. Because it burned charcoal, the stove was low. A large cupboard was placed on the north side, and the dining table was placed next to the stove. These past few days, Zhao Ma had been busy training the new maids, and Cuicui had gone along to learn as well, rushing back every day at noon to cook. Today at noon, Liulian had prepared the rice, fish ball, tofu, and sauerkraut soup, and pork rib stew with radish. Cuicui had cut a small dish of salted radish shreds and mixed a small piece of tofu with chive blossoms, placing them on the table while the soup and vegetables simmered on the fire. The house was spotless. Since no firewood was burned, there was little smoke. The fire had died down, but the house was still warm. Sitting down there, I felt like I was waiting for my child to come home from school for dinner.