TRBDM -Chapter 55 Is Shen Zhizhi Pregnant?

In the Moyun Courtyard, laughter echoed through the halls.

“Big sister, you’re back! Yesterday I wasn’t feeling well, so I didn’t come to see you—please don’t be mad at me.”

Shen Zhizhi’s laughter was sweet and crisp, showing not a hint of illness.

“Zhizhi, where were you feeling unwell?” Xie Wanrou didn’t mind Shen Zhizhi’s slight neglect from yesterday; hearing that she was unwell, she immediately grew concerned.

Shen Zhizhi tucked a few stray strands behind her ear, her voice tinged with shyness: “Just… a little uncomfortable. I’m not sure if it’s…”

“Pregnant?” Xie Wanrou asked in surprise.

“No, no… it’s just some vague discomfort. But, if you count the days… it might… be possible.”

Last night, the bed in Quyang Courtyard had been restless, but even if an intimate encounter occurred, Shen Zhizhi wouldn’t feel anything immediately.

She just wanted to create the impression that she might be expecting.

Now that the Hou Mansion had undergone a shift in power, and the second branch’s influence was waning, a child had become the best leverage for the second branch.

Moreover, Shen Zhizhi was confident—both she and her husband were healthy, with no underlying issues. Having a child was merely a matter of time.

“Wonderful, Zhizhi! Finally, the Xie family will have a little one. By the way, I’ll have the mansion physician come to check on you. If you really are expecting, we’ll need to pay close attention—your meals will need to change, and the maids and attendants assigned to you will need to be switched.”

Xie Wanrou loved children dearly. As the eldest aunt, she had long been eager to personally sew little clothes for her future nieces and nephews; the fabrics were already prepared.

Shen Zhizhi accepted her blessings and arrangements with ease but declined the physician’s examination: “Big sister, my fate isn’t set yet—let’s not call the physician. If the physician finds out, mother will too. What if it turns out I’m not actually pregnant?”

Xie Wanrou smiled gently: “Alright, alright, I’ll keep it a secret for you. But this is such a joyous occasion—you can’t hide it forever.”

When she had been expecting, she, too, had similar worries. One only informs the matriarch after confirmation; otherwise, it’s just an empty joy and might even draw annoyance.

“I think it’s almost certain, Zhizhi. You mustn’t move around too much—just lie in Quyang Courtyard if there’s nothing pressing.”

“I can’t! Third brother’s birthday banquet is coming soon, and I have to help big sister-in-law. I used to handle all these affairs myself. This is her first time taking over; she’ll probably be flustered. How could I just lounge around in the courtyard? Don’t you agree?”

Xie Wanrou smiled but didn’t respond to that remark.

She was gentle and kind, but not naive.

The first and second branches had never been close. Previously, their mother favored the second branch, leaving the household affairs in Shen Zhizhi’s hands.

But now that Xie Wanrou had returned, she clearly felt a change in her mother.

Their mother intended to groom Dou Shuyao as the future mistress of the house.

Xie Wanrou did not take sides between her two younger brothers; she would support whichever one her mother chose.

Thus, Shen Zhizhi’s subtle probing was easily brushed aside by Xie Wanrou, who gave nothing in return.

Shen Zhizhi hadn’t expected that Xie Wanrou wouldn’t fall for it, and her expression darkened slightly.

“Big sister, I’m feeling unwell again. I’ll take my leave first.”

“Alright, take care. Once you’re back, remember to walk less. Lie down whenever you can, and have the maids handle anything necessary.”

Shen Zhizhi murmured an indifferent “Mm” and walked away.

Judging by her agile and nimble steps, there was not a trace of illness, let alone any sign of pregnancy.

“Miss, it’s time for your medicine,” Xiao Die said.

“Mm.” Xie Wanrou withdrew her gaze and returned to her room.

In the front courtyard, Dou Shuyao was directing the servants in moving folding screens.

The birthday banquet would be held in the front courtyard. Since the Hou Mansion was still observing the mourning period, red was not chosen for the decorations; instead, they opted for a refreshing pale cyan.

Folding screens adorned either side of the main seat, and their selection was deliberate—landscapes of high mountains and flowing waters, inked with the search for kindred spirits, captured on paper, reflecting Xie Lan’s refined literary temperament.

“Sister-in-law, busy, are we?”

Shen Zhizhi swayed her slender waist and smiled as she stepped forward to greet her.

Dou Shuyao replied without changing her expression, “Not busy, just some trivial things.”

“Ah, sister-in-law, your sleeve is dirty.”

Dou Shuyao looked down and indeed saw a large stain on her sleeve, probably from brushing against something while directing the screen earlier.

“Sister-in-law is personally helping with Third Young Master’s birthday banquet. I’m sure Third Young Master will be grateful.”

“We’re family; no need for formalities.”

“Yes, no need for formalities among family.” Shen Zhizhi lazily watched the busy Dou Shuyao, her tone betraying a hint of pride: “Seeing you work so hard, I feel guilty just standing around. But… my health isn’t convenient, so I hope sister-in-law will forgive me.”

The second wife’s words were always circuitous. Dou Shuyao, straightforward by nature, didn’t immediately grasp Shen Zhizhi’s meaning.

After a moment, she suddenly looked at Shen Zhizhi.

“Sister-in-law, why are you staring at me like that?” Shen Zhizhi’s eyes widened, looking startled.

But in her heart, she was extremely eager: Ask! Hurry and ask. Say it!

“Move, you’re blocking the way.”

“……”

Reluctantly, Shen Zhizhi stepped back two paces as Dou Shuyao walked out of the main hall, head held high, eyes straight ahead.

“Hmph, wooden-headed. No wonder the eldest brother doesn’t like you. Always wearing that deadpan face—anyone looking at it would feel nauseous.”

Shen Zhizhi stomped in frustration.

That evening, Wei Zhaorong had Dou Shuyao join her for dinner.

She had wanted to invite Xie Lan and Xie Wanrou as well, but the siblings were already eating in the small kitchen of the Lan Courtyard, so it was just the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

“Madam Dou, what’s wrong today? You’re talking less than usual.”

Dou Shuyao was naturally a person of few words, but Wei Zhaorong still keenly noticed her low spirits.

“Mother, I’m fine. Maybe I’m just tired. A good night’s sleep will help.”

Wei Zhaorong felt it wasn’t that simple.

“Did Chuan’er make you angry? Don’t keep it inside. Tell me, and I’ll deal with him—give him a beating until he submits.”

Dou Shuyao couldn’t help but smile. Xie Chuan had a bad character, so it was easy to blame him for anything, and it would always seem reasonable.

“It’s not him. He’s been behaving well recently, taking his medicine on time and not fussing about going out.”

“Then why are you unhappy?”

Dou Shuyao put down her chopsticks, realizing she couldn’t hide it from her mother-in-law.

“No one upset me; it’s my own petty feelings. It seems that my younger brother’s wife might be pregnant, and I don’t know when I’ll have a child of my own. Thinking about this makes me a little sad.”

Dou Shuyao’s heartache ultimately revolved around children.

“Madam Shen is pregnant? Who said that?” Wei Zhaorong asked.

In her previous life, the second wife only had a child after the branch family split. How did it suddenly happen earlier this time?

“Mother, you didn’t know?”

Dou Shuyao had assumed Wei Zhaorong already knew and was just keeping it from her, but her reaction suggested otherwise.

Wei Zhaorong shook her head, “I didn’t know. Madam Dou, don’t be sad. After dinner, I’ll have the family physician check—it’ll all be clear.”

After finishing dinner, the family physician arrived.