Lu Chen held Qiao Jinniang’s hand and comforted her. “Why bother with them? They are just jealous of Mother-in-law giving birth to a daughter in her middle ages.”


  Qiao Jinniang nodded slightly, but she was still worried. Anyway, she couldn’t stop people from gossiping about it.

  Especially the people of the Earl Cheng’en Mansion. They were the Empress Dowager’s natal family, and there was indeed such a saying among the folks, so she couldn’t make them keep their mouths shut.

  After the dragon boat race, Qiao Jinniang and Lu Chen took Xi’er to the Duke Anyuan Mansion.

  If they took their guards of honor, the Duke Mansion would have to receive them with complicated procedures, so they simply disguised themselves and entered the Duke Mansion through the side door.

  Hearing that Lu Chen came in through the side door, Duke Anyuan had a big headache and hurriedly knelt down to them and apologized.

  Qiao Jinniang said, “Father, you don’t need to be so polite. If we walk through the front door, you’ll have to go through tedious procedures. Mother has just given birth and can’t stand any toss, so why bother with these red tapes…”


  Before she finished speaking, Duke Anyuan knelt on the ground and said, “No, no, how can the etiquette between monarchs and ministers be red tapes?”


  Duke Anyuan never dared to show any disrespect to the royal family members.

  Lu Chen said to Duke Anyuan, “Father-in-law, I have something to talk to you about. Let’s talk in the front yard.”


  When Qiao Jinniang entered Zheng Xiao’s room, she found that Zheng Xiao looked very well even though she had just given birth. The Duke Mansion must have taken a very good care of her.

  Second Madam said on the side, “It’s a pity that this child was born on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival! Those born on such a ominous day are usually jinxes!”


  When Qiao Jinniang heard this, she frowned and said, “Second Aunt, what are you talking about? As Father’s daughter and my sister, she must be well-blessed!”


  Zheng Xiao hugged her little daughter feebly, and when she saw Qiao Jinniang coming over, she held her hand and said, “Jinniang, I’m sorry.”


  The birth of this daughter reminded Zheng Xiao of what Jinniang looked like when she was just born twenty years ago.

  Jinniang was different from other children at birth. She had seen her once, but after Jinniang was swapped, she, as her mother, didn’t discover it at all.

  Qiao Jinniang also held Zheng Xiao’s hand and said, “Mother, it’s all over. In fact, God has been treating me very well. My adoptive mother loved me very much since I was a child. Just when I thought my father and mother were gone, God gave me a new pair of father and mother.”


  Zheng Xiao shed a drop of tears.

  Qiao Jinniang said, “Mother, you can’t cry within a month after you gave birth to a child.”


  Seeing them so affectionate, Second Madam couldn’t help thinking of her own daughters, so she simply shut up.

  Qiao Jinniang picked up her little sister. She looked more like Duke Anyuan.

  “Girls are soft and fragrant. Look how beautiful she is.” Seeing the little baby open her eyes, Qiao Jinniang smiled gently.

  Seeing Qiao Jinniang holding another child, Lu Xi was slightly jealous, but still stood on tiptoe and looked at the baby. “Mother, is this my sister?”


  “No, she is your little aunt.” Qiao Jinniang smiled.

  Little Lu Xi lowered his head and said, “What about my sister? Dad told me that as long as I don’t come to find you at night, I’ll have a sister soon!”


  Qiao Jinniang blushed. How could Lu Chen say these words to a child?!

  Zheng Xiao also asked: “Jinniang, are you pregnant again?”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “Mother, I have only been married to the East Palace for about a month. How can I be pregnant so soon?”


  Besides, Qiao Jinniang was not in a hurry to have another child, so she said to little Lu Xi, “If Xi’er is more sensible, when your sister sees such a good brother, she will want to come to the world.”


  Zheng Xiao said, “Your eldest sister should have arrived in the South. I don’t know what the situation in the South is. Hope she can have a child during this trip to the South.”


  Qiao Jinniang also hoped that Ruoyun could live an easier life. Her adoptive parents were so nice to her, and she did hope that their biological daughter could live a care-free life.

  But just like her adoptive mother, Qiao Ruoyun was too weak and forbearing…


  Everyone said that Qin Shu was a good husband, and sometimes Qiao Jinniang thought the same.

  But if he was really a good husband, why did Qiao Ruoyun always look so unhappy and preoccupied?

  It was a little strange that Prince Huai picked Qin Shu to go to the South with him and protect him. How could Fourth Miss Qin, a concubine-born daughter, compare to Qiao Ruoyun, the next Duke Qin’s wife?

  Qiao Jinniang somehow felt something was wrong, but she didn’t tell Zheng Xiao for fear that she would be worried……

  After returning to the imperial palace, Qiao Jinniang went to the Queen’s palace first. The Queen heard that Zheng Xiao had given birth to a daughter and gave her a lot of rewards.

  “My biggest regret in this life is not being able to give birth to a daughter.”


  Qiao Jinniang said, “Mother, you’re still young, not a few years older than my mother. If you take good care of yourself, you can also have a daughter.”


  Queen Zhou chuckled. “Silly child, I can’t have a baby anymore, so I hope to have a little granddaughter to relieve my boredom. Don’t think that you are still young and are not in a hurry to have another child. It is extremely important to grow more branches and leaves for the tree of the royal family.”


  Qiao Jinniang nodded obediently. It seemed that every mother-in-law in the world wanted their daughters-in-law to give birth to more children.

  Besides, Qiao Jinniang also knew that in order to relieve the pressure of the public opinion, she had to have another child……

  After the Dragon Boat Festival, there was a rumor in Chang’an that the floods in the South had flooded many towns.

  Fortunately, the court sent rescue in time, although many people’s homes were flooded, the loss of life was not large.

  In a teahouse in Chang’an, a woman of the Miao nationality from the Southwest said, “The flood in the South is due to the arrival of a jinx, and this jinx was born in a distinguished family whose ancestors came from the Southwest.

  “That jinx is the reincarnation of the witch of the Miao people in the Southwest.

  “If the jinx is not eliminated, the floods in the South will not stop, and will even spread to Chang’an. By then, there will be floods all over Datang, and the people will have nowhere to go.”


  Some people in the teahouse were a little scared. “Then what should we do?”


  “To break the flood disaster caused by this jinx, we need to bury the jinx alive under a willow tree…” The Miao woman said, “And then seal it with a magic matrix!”


  Hearing her words, Junior Duke Rong, who brought Samo’er to the teahouse, frowned. Isn’t this jinx referring to the Crown Princess’ little sister who was just born?

  Who did this baby offend?

  Why was this woman so cruel as to try to murder a baby?

  Samo’er looked at the Miao woman below and frowned.

  “Who is she?”


  “The State Preceptor of Xiliang,” Samo’er said.

  Junior Duke Rong immediately figured it out. Xiliang and the Qiao family had a bloody feud! He had to go back and report this matter to His Majesty.

  But before he could go downstairs.

  He saw the people of Chang’an catch the woman who was wearing the Miao-style clothes.

  One of the old ladies hit the Miao woman hard with her cane. “If you’re really a Miao woman, even if that girl is really the so-called jinx, you wouldn’t have been so ungrateful as to say these words!

  “Twenty years ago, how many Miao people were killed by Xiliang? It was Duke Anyuan who bravely rescued the Miao people and defended the peace in the Southwest! How dare you slander his little daughter ungratefully?”


  “That’s right! Tell us, who sent you over? Do you think we are stupid? Duke Anyuan is a big hero. How can you slander his newborn daughter so viciously?!”


  “Hurry up, let’s send her to the Chang’an Government Office, and let Lord Prefect interrogate her!”


  Junior Duke Rong: “…”


  Why were the people of Chang’an so smart?

  He had thought he finally had a chance to make a contribution for the Crown Princess and ask her for some little scones.