Chapter 113.2: Showing off the Dowry

“What are you talking about?” As soon as Luo Jing De returned, he heard the servant girls grumbling and slightly frowned.

The servant girls were startled, hurriedly bowing to him, “Eldest young master.”

“Go on with your work, what are you all circling around here and chatting for.”

“Yes.” The servant girls hurriedly scattered.

Luo Jing De entered the room, seeing his six month pregnant wife leaning a large cushion, somewhat dispirited, “What’s wrong?” Walking forward, he sat down next to her, carefully rubbing her stomach, “Is the child bothering you again?”

“No……..” Little Wang-shi also had the matter of her not getting any rouge and powder recounted.

“You still lack those things?” Luo Jing De was rather speechless.

“Is this the problem of ‘just a bit of things’?” Little Wang-shi’s voice raised slightly, “Aside from the young ones, only fourth younger sister and I didn’t get any. Could it be that I’m the same as fourth sister, incurring her disdain? Who knows how the servants will gossip about me, saying that I definitely must have done something bad to have offended her. This kind of reputation, I don’t want to bear.”

“Don’t get work up, don’t get worked up.” Luo Jing De hurriedly soothed her. It seems this matter was indeed not like how he’d thought, something completely needless to care about. “Third younger sister’s character, I still understand a little. Aside from fourth younger sister, never seen her target anyone before. You have been raising the fetus this whole time, and haven’t even seen her more than a few times, so naturally there can’t be any grudges. Perhaps there’s some misunderstanding in the middle, or some reason we don’t know about. For now, don’t fret, I’ll go ask and figure out clearly what happened.”

“Ask? How are you going to ask? If you go look for her, perhaps it’ll make others think I’m short-sighted, just eyeing those things of hers.”

“Silly, I’m naturally going to have third brother go ask, how can I go myself.”

“Forget it, third brother will be getting married the day after tomorrow, and is currently busy. How can we go trouble him for this bit of matter. This matter, you don’t need to bother with anymore, I’ll think of a way to get to the bottom of this myself.”

“Fine, fine, all according to you. Just, you also be careful some, don’t get worked up, what will you do if you injure the child.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not really angry.”

The husband and wife pair talked about some other things, and the atmosphere very quickly eased down.

Thus, this matter, probably aside from the people of the second branch, the others all knew.

After Luo Old Madam heard, “Wan Wan has always been meticulous and attentive when handling matters and won’t make a stupid mistake on this matter. She definitely must have her reason. Tomorrow, during the morning greetings, I’ll ask her and we’ll know. Pass on the word, strictly prohibit spreading this matter anymore, whoever dares to gossip will be severely punished.”

With the old madam issuing the order, naturally no one dared to say anymore. However, quite a few people all muttered in their hearts, as expected, the old madam will shield third miss on anything.

Thus, the next day, when Jing Wan went to go give her morning greetings, she surprisingly saw her eldest tang sister-in-law. It seems her stomach has gotten a little bigger again. Although Jing Wan knew her situation wasn’t too good, appearing somewhat scared, but having a small life, this kind of thing, was still worth being happy over. Jing Wan couldn’t help but smile, directly going forward, and carefully asking a few words.

Little Wang-shi was puzzled inside. This doesn’t seem like she has any complaints towards her. There is the so called, ‘one doesn’t hit a smiling face’. Even if little Wang-shi still had a knot in her heart, this while, whatever Jing Wan asked, she for the most part all answered.

In reality, regarding this matter, majority of the people were all puzzled.

Luo Old Madam had Jing Wan called to her side and said a few words. Afterwards, she directly opened her mouth and asked, “Yesterday, you sent things everywhere, but how come your eldest sister-in-law didn’t get any?”

“Isn’t eldest sister-in-law pregnant with a child?” Jing Wan directly blurted out without even thinking.

Luo Old Madam’s bluntness surprised the others, and Jing Wan’s reply further shocked them. What did this have to do with being pregnant?”

“What’s wrong with being pregnant? Pregnant people don’t need to wear makeup?”

Pregnant people can’t wear makeup, this was common sense! Alright, Jing Wan suddenly realized this was general knowledge from her past life, and not general knowledge here in this place. She also finally understood why when she came in, her eldest sister-in-law’s gaze towards her was off. Jing Wan wanted to facepalm. It seems she has accidentally made a low level mistake. How come Gong mama didn’t remind her either? However, because it wasn’t good to explain, Jing Wan decided to fill in the hole by pretending to be naive. “Isn’t it that pregnant people can’t put on makeup?” She puzzlingly asked back.

(T/N: I did look into this a little on chinese forums, but in china, some women do believe that wearing makeup while pregnant is bad for the baby. There was even the saying going around that the baby will end up ugly if you wear makeup while pregnant. Chinese forums is an interesting place hehe. While I do know that most makeup are generally considered safe, but certain chemicals and products should be avoided during pregnancy.)

This time, the ones that were concerned with her words weren’t just one. “Wan Wan, pregnant people can’t wear makeup, who did you hear this from?”

Jing Wan furrowed her brows and contemplated, “Seems I didn’t hear it from someone, but rather saw in a book somewhere? Could it be that this isn’t the case? I thought everyone all knew this?”

“Wan Wan, tell grandmother, where did you see this, what book was it?”

“Grandmother, this is too difficult to answer for me. You also know, a few years ago, when we were still in Qi’an Fu, the books I’ve read were numerous, and also very varied. Some things, I thought were known by everyone and just took a glance, so how can I still remember what book it was. And I don’t remember when I saw it either.”

“You are right.” When they were still in Qi’an Fu, aside from those books that were absolutely prohibited for young ladies, the rest, she really never restricted Jing Wan from. “Then Wan Wan, do you still remember why pregnant people can’t wear makeup?”

Have to say, the one in little Wang-shi’s stomach was her great grandchild, so naturally Luo Old Madam cared very much. As for Wang-shi and little Wang-shi, needless to say, they were both very concerned for this child, and both couldn’t help but look towards Jing Wan.

“Seems it was mainly about how some things in the makeup powder weren’t too good for people. For normal people it was still okay, but if pregnant people come in contact with it too much, it might affect the child in the stomach. As for the other things, I don’t know if they also similarly have an affect. That’s why I didn’t dare send any to eldest sister-in-law.” Jing Wan looked to little Wang-shi, who was somewhat alarmingly using her hand to cover her face. “I just assumed eldest sister-in-law only put on a bit of makeup when going out, and immediately washing it off after coming back. Previously, whenever I would occasionally see eldest sister-in-law, I didn’t pay too close of attention either.” Then looking towards Luo Old Madam again, “Grandmother, was I over thinking too much?”

“No, Wan Wan, this is the so called, ‘rather to be safe, than to be sorry’. Perhaps there really is such a thing. ———–Someone come, quickly draw water for eldest young madam to wash her face.”

Little Wang-shi herself also hurriedly got up, while Wang-shi subconsciously reached out to support her. This time, she really was anxious, and couldn’t bother with that much, personally supporting little Wang-shi to go wash her face.

(T/N: Slightly subtle in the line above, but in ancient etiquette, it’s considered improper for an elder to support/hold someone of the younger generation, that’s usually the servant’s work.)

By the time little Wang-shi came back from washing her face, Luo Old Madam’s face was somewhat dark, “Jing De’s wife, how much powder do you usually apply on normal days?” Little Wang-shi previously had applied makeup, so her complexion appeared quite good, but in reality, after washing it off, that face was deathly pale, without a drop of blood.

Never mind Luo Old Madam, even Wang-shi, who saw her daughter-in-law everyday, also just thought her complexion was pretty good. But now, thinking back, afraid she just had makeup on at any given times. And if it’s really as third girl says, then wouldn’t it…………

“Grandmother, grandmother, I……….” Little Wang-shi nearly cried out. Prior to getting pregnant, she was already using heavy amounts of powder, and after getting pregnant, because her situation wasn’t too good, her complexion just got worse. She just thought, if she’s like this everyday, who knows whether she’ll receive other’s pity, or meet with their disdain. Her husband although was her older cousin, but at his side everyday followed beautiful tongfang servant girls who attentively serve him, while this appearance of hers………….Thus, this powder was piled on even more. Aside from when sleeping at night, her face never lacked it at any given time. Could it be that because of this, it instead harmed the child in her stomach.

T/N: Don’t remember whether I’ve translated that author’s note or not, but in an earlier chapter the author mentioned how she’s bad at writing ‘backyard fights’ and didn’t really like them either. Which I’m sorta glad because I’m not too fond of them either, I personally like peaceful family settings, and the political entanglements more.