After hearing my inner thoughts, the ancestors in the Dream of the Red Chamber went berserk.

After the meal, everyone dispersed. Jia Zhu and Jia Zhen were too excited in the morning, but being children, they were too tired to continue and needed to go to sleep.

Jia Hu originally wanted to take a nap, but then he remembered the things his maternal grandparents had sent and decided to ask his mother about them.

Let the two little ones go to sleep first, and go to Zhang's courtyard to find their mother.

Zhang Shi's pregnancy has been quite invasive lately, and she was leaning wearily against a recliner. She was delighted to see Jia Hu arrive and asked:

"Why are you here now? Have you eaten?"

She then instructed the maids and servants to bring fruit syrup and other snacks that Jia Hu liked.

Jia Hu, sitting next to Zhang Shi, replied:

"It was used at my grandparents' house."

Seeing that her mother's expression was not good, she asked:

"Is the baby being naughty and fussy again?"

Zhang smiled and lovingly patted her belly, saying:

"I don't know what's wrong with me lately, I've been unusually restless. Come to think of it, timing is a real handful."

Jia Hu thought for a moment and realized that his younger brother must be Jia Lian, the philandering Second Master Lian.

Just as he thought of this, Jia Hu immediately interrupted his thoughts. His younger brother wasn't even born yet, so he couldn't make any judgments about him now. He could always discipline him three times a day after he was born and see if he dared to go astray.

Poor little Jia Lian has no idea what he will encounter after he is born. He is still being naughty in his mother's belly, and his brother has already given him another lesson.

Jia Hu looked at his mother's belly. Zhang Shi, seeing him looking at her belly, assumed he also wanted to be close to the baby, so she took his little hand and placed it on her belly, saying:

"Come say hello to the baby."

He patted his belly again and said, "It's my brother!"

Jia Hu's small hand was pulled over, and she was suddenly stunned, feeling her hand being touched.

Jia Hu was shocked by the touch.

Zhang said with delight:

“At this time of day, he’s usually too lazy to move. Today, he must know that his brother is here, and he likes his brother, so he’s greeting you.” Jia Hu felt this wonderful feeling and couldn’t help but say softly, “Little baby, be good and don’t bother your mother. When we come out, your brother will take you to play and buy you delicious food.”

And the baby seemed to be responding to itself, moving again.

Jia Hu excitedly raised his little face and looked at Zhang Shi, saying:

"Mother, the baby answered me."

Zhang looked at Jia Hu, whose eyes were sparkling, and said:

"The baby must like his older brother to respond like that. Our Hu'er is a good older brother."

Jia Hu then remembered his younger brother's mischievousness and said:

"Baby, you have to be good and not bother your mother, otherwise your brother will spank your bottom when you come out."

The baby in her belly seemed to hear her older brother about to spank her, and kicked twice forcefully, startling Zhang.

Zhang quickly patted her belly reassuringly and said:

"This is because your unhappy brother said he's going to spank your little bottom."

Jia Hu quickly added, "Baby, be good. If you listen to me, I won't hit you. I love you the most."

Zhang watched Jia Hu and the baby interact with tenderness, wondering whether the baby was a boy or a girl, but she was glad it was either.

After playing for a while, Jia Hu noticed that the baby in her belly was no longer moving, and looked up at Zhang Shi in confusion.

Zhang smiled and said, "You must be tired."

Jia Hu blushed, somewhat embarrassed, for he had acted so childishly.

Seeing his embarrassment, Zhang smiled and said:

"Try this fruit syrup."

Jia Hu took a large gulp of fruit syrup to cover up his flushed face and said:

"I came to see my mother to ask about my maternal grandparents' family."

Zhang was surprised.

Why did you suddenly decide to ask about your maternal grandparents' family?

Jia Hu:

“I received gifts from my maternal grandfather and uncle yesterday.”

Zhang smiled and patted his head, saying:

"Hu'er loves the gift your maternal grandfather and uncle gave you. Your maternal grandfather and uncle both like you very much."

Seeing Jia Hu's questioning gaze, and fearing that Hu'er might feel sad that no one from his maternal grandparents' family had come to visit him while he was sick, she quickly said:

“Your maternal grandfather, maternal uncle, and aunt all doted on you. When you fell ill, they were very worried and sent you a lot of precious medicinal herbs.”

Jia Hu asked in confusion:

"Then why didn't I see my maternal grandfather? Why did my uncle ask me to go to my maternal grandfather's house?"

He noticed that Jia Zhu and Jia Zhen would sometimes visit his maternal grandfather's house, while he himself had never been invited by his maternal grandfather's house.

Madam Zhang affectionately patted Jia Hu's puffed-up little face, then dismissed everyone except her own dowry maids. After they had all left, she said:

“You’re older now, so I can tell you these things now. The situation is different. Your maternal grandfather’s family and our family can’t get too close, at least not openly.”

Jia Hu looked up in confusion and asked:

"Why? Aren't we in-laws? Why can't we get too close?"

Zhang said with some pride:

“Your maternal grandfather was the Crown Prince’s tutor, and your uncle was once the Crown Prince’s study companion. He also passed the imperial examination with top honors and is now a high-ranking official of the third rank. Even your uncle’s cousin is now the Crown Prince’s son’s study companion.”

Jia Hu truly hadn't expected his maternal grandparents' family to be so powerful, and he said in surprise, cupping his face in his hands:

"My maternal grandparents' family is so powerful! But what does that have to do with our family?"

Jia Hu had already guessed that the close relationship between civil and military officials might arouse the emperor's suspicion.

Zhang's family:

"The more powerful they are, the less you should get too close to them, even if they are in-laws. Our Jia family follows the tradition of serving loyal officials, while your maternal family follows the Crown Prince. If you get too close, it will arouse suspicion and give people an excuse to say that the Crown Prince is associating with powerful officials."

Zhang sighed, and couldn't help but think of the time when she and Jia She were going to discuss marriage, but her parents did not agree to her marrying into the Jia family.

Because her family was already tied to the Crown Prince, if she were to marry into a powerful and influential family like the Jia family, it would likely arouse the Emperor's suspicion, which would be bad for both the Crown Prince and her family. Her marriage had always been a heavy burden on her parents' hearts.

Many people thought they would be assigned to the Crown Prince's residence, after all, their fathers were the Crown Prince's teachers, and the Crown Prince would certainly not mistreat them. However, they did not like the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince and his wife were deeply in love. Their fathers were even less willing to let their daughters go into that corrupting influence.

Her own family didn't want her to marry into the royal family; they only wanted her to find a good husband and live happily ever after.

Ideally, they should come from a respectable family with a simple background.