Chapter 257 - 258: The Blue Door

Chapter 257: Chapter 258: The Blue Door

Gu Wenheng took a bite and nodded. "This is actually a bit sweeter than last year’s."

"They looked good to me, so I had some sent to Fu County to be shared with the tutors, as well as our relatives and friends." Jin Qianqian wasn’t too concerned with such things these days. With her businesses constantly expanding, the storehouses were often too full to hold all the gifts they received, so she had no choice but to use them as favors to nurture her connections.

Gu Wenheng said, "You can decide what to do with them. What did Nanny Duan say today?"

Duan Yufang quickly stepped forward and curtsied. "Madam’s pulse is stable today, and her body shows no abnormalities."

"I’ll have to trouble you all for a while longer. Once Madam delivers the baby safely, I will reward you generously."

In the past two years, between the profits from the glass-making and Jin Qianqian’s exclusive soap factory, the couple had accumulated a fortune that was second to none in Dao City.

Furthermore, over the past two years, Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian had deliberately cultivated and recruited talented individuals. They now had a number of loyal servants and guards in their employ, so even though he was only a scholar, no one dared to underestimate him when he went out.

Curtsying, Duan Yufang retreated to the side. She and the other servants felt an increasing sense of belonging to the Gu Mansion. Although they were indentured, the Master and Madam had established a set of rules the likes of which were unheard of anywhere else in the country.

If a servant did not wish to remain one for life, as long as they were diligent and loyal, their indenture would be returned to them after twenty years of service.

If they wished to serve the family for their entire lives, arrangements would be made for their care in their old age.

As personal attendants, Nanny Duan and the others knew this best of all, because Jin Qianqian had already set aside two large manors to serve as their retirement estates.

She had seen the plans for the manors. Leaving aside the beautiful scenery, the listed provisions and amenities alone were unlike anything she had ever witnessed.

She could even imagine that living there in her old age would be far better than buying her freedom and leaving the mansion.

Once everyone had left and Gu Benluo had been taken to the small adjacent courtyard, Jin Qianqian finally brought Gu Wenheng into the space.

Taking a deep breath of the herbal fragrance in the medicinal garden, Jin Qianqian smiled in satisfaction. "It’s so nice that it’s like spring all year round here."

But Gu Wenheng was already urging her, "Go check the apothecary first. See if there are any formulas specifically for childbirth."

Jin Qianqian replied, "I’ve already gone through everything twice. There are no formulas of that kind."

After she gave birth to her first child, the blue door had become accessible. Unfortunately, the room inside was empty, save for an alchemical furnace in the center and a few medicinal texts.

Over the past two years, Jin Qianqian had looked through them out of curiosity, but unfortunately, she wasn’t familiar with medicinal ingredients. Even with the formulas, she was unable to compound the potent remedies described.

There was another strange aspect to it: the formulas couldn’t be taken out of the room at all. She would have to memorize them and then copy them down from memory outside.

Gu Wenheng tried to persuade her further, but Jin Qianqian stopped him. "Even if we did find a formula, who between us knows how to concoct medicine?"

"Those formulas are for refining elixirs. You can’t enter that room, and I can’t figure it out on my own. We shouldn’t pin our hopes on it."

"Besides, I know my own body. I’m sure there won’t be any problems this time."

The blue door really felt rather useless. In all this time, it hadn’t been of any help to them at all.

It might have other hidden functions, but if so, they had yet to discover them.

Gu Wenheng helped her over to a soft couch. "Why don’t we go to Shangjing? Bai Jinglie is in the capital right now to report on his duties. With how many Silver Taels we’ve helped him earn over the years, he should have enough influence to get an Imperial Physician for us."

Jin Qianqian shot him a sidelong glance. "Are you sure it wasn’t him who helped *us* earn all that Silver?"

Gu Wenheng rubbed his nose. "It amounts to the same thing. If I hadn’t been the one to come up with that glass formula, he couldn’t possibly have accumulated such a massive fortune so quickly."

"They say that now he’s back in Shangjing, he’s being treated like a true lord. Even his stepmother, who has always been his adversary, has to fawn over him."

"Even so, his stepmother can’t possibly be treating him with any genuine kindness. It’s all for the sake of profit, nothing more."

"He’s in a difficult enough position as it is. We shouldn’t go over there and cause more trouble for him."

Jin Qianqian had no desire to keep moving all over the place. Shuttling between Dao City and Fu County was already exhausting enough. If they now moved to Shangjing just for her to give birth, the ladies she knew would surely have more to gossip about behind her back.

"Besides, our mansion in Shangjing is all set up according to your specifications. Are you sure you don’t want to go and take a look?"

Jin Qianqian suppressed her own eager impulse. "Don’t even start. We’re going to live in that mansion sooner or later, there’s no rush to do it right now."

According to their original plan, they were supposed to move to Shangjing at the start of spring so Gu Wenheng could prepare for his exams. The special imperial examination recently announced by the Holy Emperor was scheduled for May, and Gu Wenheng was determined to place in the top three this time.

"And another thing, you’re far too stern with Luo Luo. He’s just a toddler; it’s perfectly normal for him to want to be held. You scared him today." Jin Qianqian still couldn’t forget Luo Luo’s aggrieved little face, and she pinched her husband’s arm.

Gu Wenheng yelped in pain and jumped up, clutching his arm. "Hey, you’re playing favorites again! I’m trying to teach that little brat not to be so clingy all the time."

Jin Qianqian huffed. "Worry about yourself first. He’s only a little over a year old, what does he know?"

"Don’t be so strict with him. Be careful, or you’ll turn him into a little old man, and then you’ll be sorry."

Gu Wenheng waved his hand dismissively. "You think too highly of your own son. The boy can’t sit still from morning till night. We’ll be lucky if he doesn’t turn into a little monkey, let alone a little old man."

"Don’t forget, in this world, ’all pursuits are lowly, only scholarship is noble.’ Even if he doesn’t pursue a career as an official, he needs to at least earn the title of scholar. If he’s this hyperactive, it’s going to be very difficult to discipline him later on."

Jin Qianqian shot him a fierce glare. "That sort of thing takes time. Have you ever seen a one-year-old who’s prim and proper?"

"Since you’ve never raised a child before, you should take some time to read those parenting books I gave you. Don’t just impose your own ideas on him."

’In that moment,’ Gu Wenheng thought, ’my standing in Jin Qianqian’s heart just dropped another notch. Once the baby in her belly is born, I’ll probably be left to go sulk in a corner.’

Seeing his pitiful expression, Jin Qianqian walked over and wrapped her arms affectionately around his waist. "Besides, even a grown-up like me enjoys a good hug, let alone a child. If you’re worried I’ll get tired from holding him, then you should be the one to spend more time with him on my behalf."

Gu Wenheng pulled her into his embrace and mumbled, "I’m just worried the boy is too rough. He doesn’t stay still when you hold him, always squirming around like a little eel. It would be terrible if he accidentally hurt your belly."