A Willing Mistake, My Lady – Chapter 87

Grafting Flowers onto Another Tree

Getting the Child Registered

Jiang Chenyu returned to Shen Manor as if in a dream. Ever since learning that the two of them could never have a child, she had grown indifferent to the matter—not quite fond of it, yet not quite averse to it either.

            

She hadn’t been able to refuse the matter to Princess Shunhe’s face, and besides, it wasn’t as though she had gone seeking her father out—nor was it certain this child would have existed otherwise.

She gritted her teeth and accepted it. But after returning, she mulled it over for a long time, and the more she thought about it, the clearer her mind became. A child—handed to her for nothing! It’d be a waste not to take her!

If a long time passed and they still had no child, people outside would gossip. That would reflect poorly on Ah Tang, and might even affect her prestige in the public eye.

            

Besides, this child shared a blood relation with her. She was family, in a sense! Why not raise her first? The likelihood of Princess Shunhe wanting the child back was slim. At most, she could let the Princess see the child when she wished—that wouldn’t affect anything. Most importantly, it gave Ah Tang an explanation and an excuse for the outside world.

This way, whether Ah Tang had a child or not, no one would think too much about it!

It was the same principle as when Madam Shen had performed the washing of the third day¹ for Xianggui’s child all those years ago. That was why she said Ah Tang was so good-looking yet no one ever suspected her—turns out Madam Shen had brought out a boy and paraded him around several times under everyone’s watchful eyes.

            

Everyone who needed to see had seen. After that, even if the child grew up looking like a flower, it would be hard to overturn that first impression!

After thinking it over for several days and finally working it through, she decided to lay her cards on the table with Madam Shen.

But the timing wasn’t right yet—she had to wait a little longer. This sudden bombshell had consumed the past two or three months, leaving her no room to think about Ah Tang at the border. Instead, she had been busy with this matter the whole time.

            

Finally, when the Princess was five months along, she felt the timing was right.

“Mother, I grew up at my grandfather’s side. Now there’s a child back in my hometown with no one to care for her—she wasn’t even full-term when her mother went into early labor, gave birth, and passed away.” Jiang Chenyu spoke with heartfelt sincerity, a glint of tears in her eyes.

“Oh dear, who’s taking care of the child now?” Madam Shen’s eyes lit up at the mention of a child, clearly very interested.

            

“Sigh, right now she’s with an old man—my maternal grandfather’s elder brother. There’s no one else in the household. They want to find a well-off family to adopt the child.”

Hearing this, Madam Shen caught the implication and asked, “So you want to adopt this child?”

“I won’t hide it from you, Mother—Chenyu does have this intention. I wonder if you could agree?” Jiang Chenyu looked at Madam Shen with a well-behaved expression.

            

Since there would be no legitimate son born to Shen Manor now, adopting one was perfectly acceptable. Besides, having a child in the household would make the entire estate appear more stable in the eyes of outsiders.

“Since you want to, then go ahead. Bring her back and say you gave birth to her. Tomorrow I’ll invite a doctor to go through the motions, have him prescribe some fertility pills, and spread the news.” Madam Shen grew more excited as she spoke, as if the household were about to welcome a new addition.

“Mother, let’s take it slowly. The child was born at seven months. The messenger said she weighed only about three jin, smaller than a kitten. She needs to be nursed along before she can be brought here, but there’s nothing seriously wrong with her.” Jiang Chenyu felt her ability to spin lies was getting smoother by the day.

            

“Fine, then. You prepare over these next few months. When the time comes, have the child sent over—that way the months will match up. Tomorrow I’ll have the doctor put out the word that you’re already four months along.” This baby-swapping business—she was familiar with it.

“Mother, this concerns Ah Tang’s identity. Is that doctor reliable?” Jiang Chenyu hesitated.

“Ah Shu knows a female doctor, a close friend. We’ll just say we want to adopt a child and that’s why we’re taking this approach. She surely won’t gossip.” Madam Shen recalled how Shen Yunshu had recently brought that woman home as a guest—wasn’t that a ready-made doctor? Perfect timing.

            

“Mm, if my jiejie introduced her, then she must be reliable.” Jiang Chenyu agreed.

The two of them three down, five remove two²—and just like that, the child’s affairs were settled. Shen Hetang, far away at the border, still had no idea she was about to gain a child…!

The next day, after sending off the doctor and a dumbfounded Shen Yunshu, the entire household erupted in celebration. The servants were happy to share in the good fortune, and everyone received celebration money³.

            

In less than a month, she had stuffed a pillow under her robes. Worried she didn’t look convincing enough, Madam Shen even told her to walk more slowly.

The Princess was already over six months along, so she would need to keep the pillow strapped on for another two months or so.

During this time, she could prepare small clothes and supplies for the child. Though the Princess wouldn’t lack such things, it would be inconvenient for her to send them. Better to have everything ready early.

            

Aside from Madam Shen, Shen Yunshu, and the female doctor, she hadn’t told anyone else—not even Chuntao. Fewer troubles are better than more.

Chuntao was constantly busy running errands outside, and Cuiwan was careless and inattentive. So under Madam Shen’s cover, the charade was maintained perfectly all the way to September.

Watching Madam Shen count the baby’s months on her fingers, Jiang Chenyu felt guilty and could only say the child was growing slowly. Even after four or five months, she still hadn’t reached ten jin.

            

Madam Shen reassured her, saying it was fine—small children had bones to grow into. Once she came to Shen Manor, she would grow plump.

Jiang Chenyu thought to herself that the child would need to stay at the Princess Mansion for a few more days before she could be brought over. Otherwise, a baby only two or three days old would be too conspicuous.

Before she could think much more, Princess Shunhe went into labor early. The Princess, no longer young, passed through the gates of hell.

            

It snuffed out any further thoughts of romance she might have had. After five shichen of agony, the little one was finally born smoothly. Jiang Chenyu had arrived at the Princess Mansion early to wait.

They agreed to let the child stay at the Princess Mansion for a few days first, then she would bring her over, so as not to raise Madam Shen’s suspicions. The Princess agreed—after all, she didn’t want anyone to guess the child’s true origins either.

She talked about teaching Official Hua a lesson, but in the end, she never told him she was carrying his child. Since she wanted the child raised at her sister’s place, there was no need to tell him!

            

“Chenyu, take this child to my villa,” Princess Shunhe said, her face pale and her voice weak.

“If she stays here, I’m afraid I won’t be able to bear letting her go!” she added after a pause.

“Rest assured, Princess. Leave everything to me.” She had already found a wet nurse. As long as the child was kept outside for ten days to half a month, the timing would make sense.

            

The Princess lay weakly in bed, her eyes holding both resolve and a trace of longing.

“Would the Princess like to see her?” Jiang Chenyu was holding a baby for the first time and didn’t know where to put her hands, terrified she might drop the child on the floor.

But she still bent down to let the Princess have a look.

            

It was a chubby baby weighing over seven jin, eyes closed, blowing little bubbles.

Princess Shunhe turned her head and studied her carefully.

The child seemed to sense something and actually opened her eyes. Beneath thick dark lashes was a pair of large, bright, sparkling eyes. Though her skin was still red, she was clearly a beauty in the making.

            

“She does look a bit like you—this must be fate!” The Princess’s expression was as ethereal as an immortal about to ascend, her tone light and breezy.

“She and I both take after Official Hua, so naturally we look alike,” Jiang Chenyu said, gazing at the eyes so similar to her own.

Fate was a strange thing. Official Hua’s two children at home both resembled Madam Hua more, yet this little creature had eyes and lip color just like hers.

            

The Princess’s heart was a jumble of emotions, but in the end, she gritted her teeth and let Jiang Chenyu take the child away. She couldn’t lose the bigger picture over sentiment.

“Princess, I’ll bring her to see you when there’s a chance. Don’t be too sad—taking care of your health is what matters most!” This chubby baby had taken half of Princess Shunhe’s life, and looking at her now, she was exceedingly weak.

Princess Shunhe said nothing more, simply waved her hand, and closed her eyes to rest.

            

The journey to the Villa took about two shichen by carriage—not too far.

She held the child with utmost care, riding in the Princess Mansion’s carriage to the suburban Villa, then sent the mansion’s driver to bring the wet nurse over.

By the time the wet nurse arrived at the Villa, it was already dark. Fortunately, Jiang Chenyu had let Madam Shen know before leaving, saying she was sending someone to fetch the child today and also needed to check on the shop, and would have the shop’s assistant bring her back in the evening.

            

Madam Shen figured this matter couldn’t be known to outsiders, and there was no help for it—she could only let Ah Yu handle it herself.

At first she was uneasy, but when she saw Jiang Chenyu in her disguise, she felt it was feasible.

The Villa already had the Princess Mansion’s guards and servants, so after giving repeated instructions, Jiang Chenyu left the Villa.

            

This child’s matter allowed no carelessness. Jiang Chenyu had investigated the wet nurse’s family situation early on, and had even arranged her husband and two sons at the shop, signing deeds of servitude⁴. She planned to let the wet nurse’s family leave once the child was older—she had no intention of keeping the wet nurse on permanently.

Since she was raising the child, she wouldn’t be doing it for someone else’s benefit.

Twenty days later, the child was changing day by day. Figuring the time was about right, she and Madam Shen staged a grand childbirth performance.

            

Only Madam Shen and the female doctor remained in the room. Jiang Chenyu had sent Chuntao and Cuiwan away early.

All she had to do now was go through the motions. The props needed for the room had all been gathered by Xianggui.

Jiang Chenyu thought: the days of keeping secrets from one side and deceiving the other were finally over!

            

She missed Ah Tang. It had been over half a year, and she had received only one letter. That liar. If it hadn’t been for this child’s matter keeping her overwhelmed, she dreaded to think how unbearable it would be, pining for news every day.

Time flew. In the blink of an eye, another month passed.

Jiang Ning came to Shen Manor to discuss the grain trade with her. It was autumn harvest season, and the tea they had purchased at the start of the year was now nearly gone. There was still a month or two before they needed to head south again.

            

She wanted to use this interval to trade grain. Jiang Chenyu thought it was entirely feasible—they needed to understand grain prices.

The two of them conversed in the side hall.

“Mm, Chuntao isn’t young anymore. I’m planning to find a good family for her. You know plenty of men—is there anyone with both good character and a decent family background?” Jiang Chenyu asked thoughtfully, testing the waters.

            

“Oh? She’s already reached marriageable age?” Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“You’re really something. It’s one thing if you don’t settle down yourself, but our Chuntao is a girl in the prime of her youth—why shouldn’t she get married?”

Jiang Chenyu had come down with the married woman’s affliction—eager to play matchmaker and push people into marriage!

            

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