Ch 120 (Extra 2): Reborn to Raise My Husband

That summer was oppressively hot.

Xiao Yuanbao received a letter from Jiang Tangtuan saying he was with child. If there were time, he hoped Xiao Yuanbao could come to Jinling for a visit.

After finishing the letter, Xiao Yuanbao looked at Qi Jingzhe crawling about on a large bamboo mat. The boy had picked up a jade linked ring and was stuffing it into his mouth, smacking his lips. The drool bib around his neck was soaked halfway through in no time.

“You little glutton,” Xiao Yuanbao said fondly. “As if we don’t feed you enough—anything you see, you want to gnaw on.”

The wet nurse laughed. “Young Master is teething. He’s looking for something to grind his gums.”

Xiao Yuanbao pinched the baby’s soft white cheek, so tender one could not resist kissing it twice.

Seeing him, the little fellow burst into giggles, revealing two tiny front teeth that had just come in.

The child had already begun biting. Xiao Yuanbao had not been bitten yet, but Qi Beinan had suffered it several times.

Just the other day, the boy had lain across Qi Beinan’s arm, making little kissing sounds. Qi Beinan had proudly called Xiao Yuanbao over, saying how much their son adored him. Before he could laugh twice, the boy opened his mouth wide and bit him.

Xiao Yuanbao had laughed until he nearly bent double. He suspected the child had once seen dogs fighting outside while being carried outdoors—baring teeth and snapping—and had learned to bite that way while teething.

Holding the chubby child, Xiao Yuanbao felt a trace of reluctance. He did not want to leave this plump little one behind.

But the trip to Jinling had to be made. First, he had promised long ago that when Jiang Tangtuan became pregnant, he would visit. Second, the bond between them deserved such care.

When Qi Beinan returned from work, Xiao Yuanbao told him of it.

Qi Beinan held the heavy Jingzhe in his arms. “They’ve been married two years now. It’s right that you go. If not for official duties tying me down, I would go myself.”

“You’re handling the salt matters—you can’t leave,” Xiao Yuanbao replied. “It’ll be Teacher and me.”

He glanced at Jingzhe in Qi Beinan’s arms. “But the child is still small. The journey to Jinling takes at least three to five days. In this heat, I’m afraid he wouldn’t bear it well.”

“Jingzhe is sturdy, but long travel is taxing. A tender baby can easily suffer heatstroke.”

“You can be gone ten days or half a month without worry,” Qi Beinan said. “When I’m off duty, I can care for him. And he has the wet nurse.”

Xiao Yuanbao knew the child would not lack care. Still, he found it hard to part with him.

Yet he also understood—today he might say the child was too small; tomorrow, he might say studies kept him from traveling.

“Then I’ll go and return quickly.”

Once the trip was decided, Xiao Yuanbao began preparing gifts.

Food, fabrics, daily goods… When Bai Qiaogui learned he was going to see Jiang Tangtuan, though she was busy opening her new medical clinic, she still sent a chest of items to be delivered along.

In mid-July, Xiao Yuanbao set out with a cart full of gifts, accompanied by Jiang Fulang.

After four days of travel, they arrived in Jinling on the morning of the fifth day.

Jiang Tangtuan came personally to meet them at the city gate.

The moment he saw Xiao Yuanbao, his nose tingled. He rushed forward and embraced him.

“Since parting in the capital, who would have thought two or three years would pass? Time spent apart has grown longer than the days we shared.”

Xiao Yuanbao held him tightly, overjoyed to see his friend. “Though we lived in separate places, knowing through letters that you were well—that was already the best thing.”

“Now that we’ve finally met again, this should be a happy occasion. Why let it make you melancholy?”

Jiang Tangtuan wiped his eyes. “Perhaps it’s the pregnancy—my moods are unsteady. And you laugh at me.”

“I’m not laughing. In such heat, you still came to the city gate. Aren’t you afraid of sunstroke?”

“I’m not so delicate. It’s just past four months—steady now. If I can’t even go out at this stage, how would I manage in the seventh or eighth month?”

After exchanging a few more words and greetings with Jiang Fulang, Jiang Tangtuan led them toward the Jiang residence.

The Jiang family doted on him dearly. Though he had married nearby, they frequently sent carriages to bring him back for visits.

This time, because he was pregnant and floods had struck Feng County, with Zhao Guangzong busy managing relief efforts, the family had brought him home to rest and protect the pregnancy.

Thus both sides were reassured.

Hearing that Jiang Tangtuan had already been in Jinling for two months, Xiao Yuanbao teased softly, “Don’t you miss Lord Zhao at all?”

Jiang Tangtuan flushed faintly. “When did you become so fond of teasing?”

Then in a lower voice, he added, “The floods in Feng County have been brought under control. But my family worries about me traveling while pregnant and won’t let me return yet. Now that you and Uncle have come, if we go to Feng County to see Guangzong, the elders can hardly forbid me from going.”

“So you’re quietly using me,” Xiao Yuanbao said with mock indignation. “How will you thank me?”

“However you wish.”

Jiang Tangtuan laughed. “When we go to the county in a few days and see your Third Brother Zhao, we’ll have him prepare the finest dishes for you.”

Xiao Yuanbao agreed with a smile.

Though Old Master Jiang was originally from Jiangzhou, he had served most of his official career in Jinling.

The Jiang residence in Jinling was even larger than their home in the capital—a three-courtyard estate.

After settling in, Xiao Yuanbao accompanied Jiang Tangtuan to greet the elders.

Madam Jiang and Old Master Jiang were well aware of the younger generation’s friendship and received him warmly. They spoke together at length.

“At home we often hear A Tuan speak of how good you are,” Madam Jiang said. “Even in A Yuan’s letters he often mentions you and Lord Qi. Today we finally meet you in person. You are indeed most agreeable.”

Xiao Yuanbao replied modestly, “In the capital we benefited greatly from Young Master Jiang’s guidance. Our family came from the provinces—without his patient instruction and help, we might have stumbled down many foolish paths.”

Madam Jiang, already kind of face, smiled even more warmly at his words.

“It is we who should thank you and Lord Qi. Yet you turn it into thanking us. Your words are sweet as honey—no wonder A Tuan praises you so. Now that I’ve met you, I like you greatly as well.”

She drew him closer and patted his hand. “It was no small thing to leave your little child at home to visit A Tuan. You must stay and dine in my garden this evening.”

“If Madam invites me to dine, then I am most fortunate.”

Madam Jiang called over her senior maid and instructed her to see to the kitchen personally.

“By good fortune, the estate just sent over fresh large green prawns today. Have the kitchen prepare them.”

The maid smiled and courteously said to Xiao Yuanbao, “Please sit and speak with our old madam a while. She hasn’t been this happy in days.”

With that, she went to the kitchen.

The Jiang household employed many servants; four or five cooks worked in the kitchen alone.

That afternoon, the kitchen staff had been dozing idly. When they suddenly saw the senior maid from Madam’s side appear, they sprang up at once, greeting her respectfully and stepping forward to attend her orders.

“Today the old madam is hosting honored guests. Pick out the best of the green prawns from the estate and make two dishes. Prepare three or four of our Jinling specialties as well. Chef Wang, you make two of your signature dishes. The rest of the small plates you may arrange yourselves.”

Chef Wang quickly agreed and called the kitchen women, maids, and young attendants to get busy.

The senior maid gave a few more instructions before returning.

“What sort of person is this,” one of the kitchen maids muttered as she peeled scallions, leaning closer to gossip, “that even Qiu Mama came personally to order such an elaborate meal? Steward Wang, have you heard what kind of guest Madam is entertaining?”

“I heard they’re visitors from the capital,” Chef Wang replied. “Our Young Master Tuan is with child, and they’ve come especially to see him.”

“It’s said they’re Young Master Tuan’s closest friends from the capital. After paying respects to Madam, she was so pleased she insisted they stay for dinner.”

“They must be important figures. Even Young Master Tuan’s friends from Jinling don’t always get invited to dine in the garden.”

Chef Wang, eager to display his knowledge, added, “Important indeed. I hear the husband of this visiting fulang is a tanhua from the same examination cohort as our Young Master Yuan. And Young Master Yuan himself is so talented—yet he only placed in the second tier.”

“Oh!” a maid exclaimed. “I’ve heard that tanhua are not only brilliant scholars, but exceptionally handsome too. What a pity we were born in Jinling—if we were in the capital, we might have gone to see the jinshi parading through the streets.”

Another attendant laughed. “Then this guest who came to our residence must have an extraordinary background, to match with a tanhua.”

“Not necessarily,” Chef Wang said. “I heard from Cuihong in Young Master Tuan’s chambers that the tanhua came from a small province to sit the exams in the capital. And this fulang was betrothed to him since childhood.”

The maid’s eyes widened. “Such fortune! I ought to ask my mother to betroth me to a scholar too. Who knows? One day I might become an official’s wife.”

“You silly girl,” someone scolded, “instead of doing your work properly, you fill your head with fantasies.”

Another attendant nudged Chef Wang. “Never mind Xianghe. Tell us more about the guest.”

Chef Wang lowered his voice. “It’s impressive enough that someone from a small place could catch Madam’s eye.”

“From where exactly?”

Chef Wang frowned, thinking hard. “They said from Linzhou… from Ling County—yes, Ling County!”

The kitchen staff were listening eagerly, except for one young fire-tender who had remained silent, chopping wood and feeding it into the stove.

When he heard “Linzhou, Ling County,” his hands suddenly stilled.

“What is the guest’s surname? And what is his husband’s surname?”

The abrupt question drew everyone’s attention. They turned and then burst into laughter.

“Oh ho, Wang Chao, you were listening too? The husband isn’t even here. Don’t go getting ideas.”

The kitchen filled with laughter.

Wang Chao felt humiliation burn through him, but he could do nothing except endure it.

He had not meant to join their chatter. Yet hearing “Linzhou” and “Ling County,” two long-buried figures had surfaced in his mind.

Before he could stop himself, he had spoken.

“Come to think of it, Wang Chao is from Ling County too,” Chef Wang said.

“There are thousands of people in one county. Surely he doesn’t imagine he knows such a person.”

The maid snorted. “If he had that kind of connection, would he still be tending fires in the kitchen?”

“Xianghe, your tongue is too sharp,” Chef Wang chided. “We all work in the same place—why be so biting?”

Then he turned to Wang Chao. “The honored guest’s surname is Xiao—called Yuanbao. As for his husband’s surname, I don’t know. Do you know him?”

The three words fell into Wang Chao’s ears like thunder.

In an instant, his suspicions were confirmed.

A blurred face rose in his memory.

He had been only fourteen or fifteen then, still young.

Before leaving for Jinling, he had met that person once in Geshan Village.

“Even if your family’s changed from tenant to landholder, don’t get too proud. You’re still mud-legged peasants…”

“I won’t stay in this little village forever. Steward Zhu has already contacted a master for me. I’m going to Jinling!”

“The Jiang family of Jinling—Master Jiang is a fifth-rank official. And Young Master Jiang has passed the exams. The Jiang family is on the rise.”

“Jinling is prosperous beyond measure—food, goods, entertainments everywhere. Fine silks fill the streets. The perfumes and hairpins that Ling County struggles to obtain are nothing but outdated fashions there…”

“Don’t be content with small gains. If you ever have the chance, leave Ling County and see those flourishing places. Open your eyes. Don’t spend your life circling a stove, smoke and soot blackening what little color you have…”

Words he had once spoken, years ago, now rang in his mind with painful clarity.

His mouth opened, but no sound came out.

A flood of emotion surged through him, overwhelming and unstoppable, drowning him before he could react.

The others saw Wang Chao standing there as if his soul had left him.

“Look at that expression,” one muttered. “You’d think he really knows them.”

The maid rolled her eyes. “He’s good at pretending. Steward Wang, later have him deliver the dishes personally. Let’s see whether that honored guest so much as spares him a glance.”

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