"Sigh, blame it on our family's incompetence. Your grandfather and father have been honest and uncorrupted officials all their lives, but now I can't even produce a decent set of jewelry for my wonderful eldest girl," Mrs. Gu said, comforting Gu Antong. Despite her gentle words, her eyes stared viciously at Bai Suihe.
Bai Suihe was acting very out of character today. Shouldn't she have offered the items up with fear and trepidation? To think she would actually lay a trap for them.
"Suihe, look how angry you've made Mother," Xu Yulan, who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, finally spoke up. "It's just a set of jewelry. We're only borrowing it for our niece to wear, not asking to keep it. Why say such things and break your family's heart?"
"Yu Lan," Bai Suihe replied, "I didn't say anything out of line. I just think borrowing my jewelry is a bit inappropriate. The Bai Family painstakingly prepared my dowry, and everyone still remembers many of the items. I haven't been married into this family for very long—not even two years—yet my jewelry is already being worn by my niece. How do you think those who know the truth will judge our family?"
At these words, First young madam Liu Yun's expression changed drastically. She had been so focused on dressing up her daughter beautifully that she had completely forgotten about this issue. Back when Suihe's dowry was revealed, everyone had been in absolute awe. The streets had buzzed with discussions about it for days, and even she could list the items by heart. Her daughter truly shouldn't wear it out, or she would inevitably earn a bad reputation for the family.
"This is all a misunderstanding. Little girls just love to look pretty and act on whims. Later, I'll take her to a jewelry shop outside to look around. We'll definitely find something suitable." Liu Yun hurriedly gave Gu Antong a subtle shake of her head; they really couldn't go through with this. Feigning a reprimand, she continued, "Don't worry. Even if Mother has to sell everything we own, I will make sure you are dressed beautifully. We absolutely cannot let the Gu Family lose face at the Princess's estate."
Mrs. Gu also realized what was happening. Her third daughter-in-law was acting very different today. After being suppressed for so long, was she still refusing to be obedient? Moreover, the woman from the Liu Family was a fool. Spooked by Ms. Bai like this, couldn't she use her brain? There were weddings in the capital every single day, and plenty of brides had dowries far richer than Ms. Bai's. At most, people would marvel at how much the Bai Family doted on their daughter. Who would actually remember exactly how many dowry items she had?
Now that the conversation had reached this point, Mrs. Gu found it difficult to say anything further. She feigned a headache and dismissed them all.
Xu Yulan knew she wouldn't gain any advantages today, so she turned and left without hesitation. After all, with her aunt here, their branch of the family would never be left out.
Bai Suihe didn't want to stay and be an eyesore either. Supporting her pregnant belly, she headed straight back to the backyard under the attentive care of her maids and old female servants. From the looks of it, strictly adhering to rules was a double-edged sword. Mrs. Gu at least had to maintain some face and wouldn't dare go too far for the time being. Otherwise, having been married into the family for over a year, she would have lost her dowry a long time ago.
In the past, they had only dropped indirect hints, but to think they would outright demand it today. It seemed the Gu Family was losing their patience. It was only because the original owner of this body had a soft personality that she had been manipulated for so long.
Xu Yulan watched them leave before turning back to reenter the main courtyard. "Aunt, the Xu family is still waiting for the money to renovate the ancestral hall. What do you think..."
"Sigh, that Silver I sent back with you previously was the last of my savings. Your father-in-law now hands the monthly household allowance directly to the eldest branch, so I truly cannot spare any more.
"Go back and tell your father and the others that repairing the ancestral hall is a matter for the men of the Xu family. As daughters who have married out, we shouldn't get in the way of their filial piety."
Xu Yulan frowned slightly. "That's all we can do for now."
Once Xu Yulan left, Mrs. Gu rubbed her forehead. "Nanny Zhou, do you feel that Ms. Bai has changed quite a bit today?"
Nanny Zhou hurriedly stepped forward to massage her forehead for her. "I didn't notice much. Perhaps the Third Young Madam still hasn't fully recovered. When one is sick, it's inevitable to have a bit of a temper. She'll probably be fine in a few days."
"I hope so. Send someone to keep watch at the front. If Mr. Gu returns, remember to come and notify me." After speaking, Mrs. Gu closed her eyes to rest. As for whether she actually fell asleep, only she knew.
Back in her own courtyard, Bai Suihe couldn't help but massage her lower back. She was hungry again. Lunch had been rather lavish, but it was also very greasy, consisting entirely of heavy meats and fish.
"Third Young Madam, how about I send someone out to our family's restaurant to fetch some food?" Dongmei asked in a low voice, seeing her set down her bowl and chopsticks.
"Forget it. I'm mostly full. Just bring some fruit."
After eating a small pear, Bai Suihe dismissed the maids.
Standing outside the door, Dongmei looked somewhat worried. "Chunxiang, don't you think our lady is acting a bit strangely today?"
"A little bit. It might have to do with yesterday. Mrs. Gu went way too far. Our lady is just heartbroken."
They didn't dare say much more on the topic, afraid that if someone overheard, it would put their lady in a difficult position.
While the two maids ached for her outside, Bai Suihe was already sprawled on her bed. She wondered, "When will these days ever end?" She needed to figure out how to protect the child in her womb and safely survive the impending exile. Caressing her pregnant belly, she murmured, "Oh, baby, your mother's abilities are truly limited. In just half a month, you'll have to suffer alongside me, and I'm so afraid I won't be able to keep you safe."
Just as she was thinking about the original owner's daily life with her villainous husband, worrying she might expose her true identity, the fetus in her womb suddenly moved again.
"Mother..."
Bai Suihe hastily sat up and searched the room. She hadn't misheard that just now, right? Could a child have run into her room? However, this voice did not belong to the two little boys from the first and second branches. It sounded far too tender and immature.
"Mother..."
Bai Suihe was absolutely certain she hadn't misheard. Someone was calling out. The voice was soft and sweet, instantly melting her heart.
"Who is calling?" Bai Suihe nearly crawled under the bed, checking everywhere inside and out. Finding nothing, she could only support her belly and return to the bed. "Could it be that instead of gaining a perk after transmigrating, I've developed a mental illness?" she muttered to herself.
"Mother..."
The calling continued. Bai Suihe took a deep breath and shouted into the empty space, "Alright, stop calling! Where are you?"
"Mother, your daughter is in your womb."
Frightened, Bai Suihe shot to her feet, her pupils dilated as she stared down at her abdomen. "You... you... you're my daughter?"
Was it really not a hallucination? Since when was the world this heaven-defying, that even a fetus could talk? Good heavens! If a baby spoke the moment they were born, everyone would find it bizarre, let alone speaking from inside the womb.
"Mother, it's me. I've been talking to you before, but you never paid me any mind. Today, it seems you can finally hear me," the sweet, childish voice echoed as if right beside her ear.
"Call me one more time," Bai Suihe said to her belly while covering her ears. She had a suspicion she needed to verify first.
"Mother..."
Sure enough, she still heard it. The voice wasn't transmitting from her abdomen but echoing directly inside her own mind. That was wonderful. If the fetus in her womb could actually produce sound out loud, and someone else heard it, the two of them would definitely not meet a good end.
"Good daughter," Bai Suihe accepted it gracefully. Since she could fall asleep and wake up in this alternate historical era, having a magical daughter was entirely acceptable.