Chapter 19: The Difficulty of Dining

Page (1/3)

Meng Wenxuan noticed that Aunt Zhang tactfully sent the maids out, then moved to the bedside and held his wife close.

“As long as we have Yueya, that’s enough. The other children will come as they may. Even if we have a son in the future, it will only be to protect our daughter,” Meng Wenxuan said softly, gazing at their sleeping child.

Lin Yuntang seemed quite pleased with his answer. She nestled into his embrace, and the two of them watched their daughter sleep peacefully.

Meng Wenxuan then shared with his wife all that he had discovered about their daughter’s uniqueness today, including the secret signal they had agreed upon.

Lin Yuntang had already sensed something special about their daughter before, so she wasn’t surprised, but a hint of worry crept into her eyes.

“Husband, did that person know our daughter was special even before she was born?”

Otherwise, why would they want her life the moment she was born? It was clear that this had been planned long ago.

Meng Wenxuan’s tone grew serious. “It’s abnormal that the Meng family hasn’t had a girl born in hundreds of years. Her name was given by our ancestors, which only confirms something is amiss. Our daughter is extraordinary—she understood our words at birth and can discern friend from foe. The national diviner that person hired is reputed to be powerful; it wouldn’t surprise me if he knew something in advance. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted so quickly after our daughter’s birth. He knows that if he doesn’t act now, it will be much harder later. Our family clearly has some secret, something passed down orally from head to head. Even father doesn’t tell us seven brothers, which means it must not be spoken of.”

Lin Yuntang felt the weight of this hidden truth within the Meng family. Hearing her husband speak so gravely deepened her concern.

Meng Wenxuan gently patted her to soothe her. “Though father doesn’t tell us, the situation should still be under his control. Don’t worry, Yuntang. Take care of your health. We’ll take good care of our daughter and ensure she grows up safely. Nothing else matters.”

He wasn’t merely trying to comfort his wife. He himself wasn’t concerned about the family’s wealth or status. Being the youngest of seven brothers, the headship would never fall to him anyway. When his eldest brother had a grandson, that child would inherit the family leadership after their father’s passing, and the brothers would all be given their shares. Besides, he didn’t want to be burdened by such matters. He had even planned to take his wife and child to travel once the baby reached her first birthday.

But now, having a precious daughter, traveling anytime soon was impossible. Even if he wanted to, his father wouldn’t allow it.

Lin Yuntang looked at their daughter with determination. “Rest assured, I will watch over her carefully.”

“No need to worry too much. I’ve secretly arranged for people to watch over her. I’ve also told father, and he will surely assign guardians. Let Yueya grow up happily,” Meng Wenxuan reassured, sensing his wife’s tension.

Hearing this, Lin Yuntang visibly relaxed, her heart finally at ease.

Jiaoyue had fallen asleep and only woke in the middle of the night, her bladder urging her awake. She struggled for a long time but couldn’t free her hand from the blanket. Despite its size, no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t reach out.

What happened while she was sleeping? Why did she feel like she wasn’t wearing a belly wrap anymore, but little clothes and pants instead? She quite liked that.

Still, wasn’t the blanket a bit too large? She had struggled so fiercely but still couldn’t stretch out her hand.

Page (2/3)

No, if she didn’t solve this soon, she would wet the bed. Though she was a newborn, she couldn’t accept such a humiliating accident.

She immediately began crying out.

Not wanting to sleep in another room, yet worried that sharing the bed with his wife and child might disturb her rest and health, Meng Wenxuan had been sleeping on the window seat. As soon as his daughter cried out, he opened his eyes.

Hearing her cries, he came to the bedside. Seeing his wife sleeping soundly, he carefully lifted his struggling daughter out of the blanket.

Since the wet nurse was unavailable, Aunt Zhang was personally on night watch, concerned that the young maids lacked experience. Upon hearing the noise, she whispered, “Seventh Master, has Miss woken up?”

“Yes,” Meng Wenxuan replied as he brought his daughter out.

Aunt Zhang immediately took Jiaoyue to attend to her embarrassing needs.

When they returned, Jiaoyue was asleep again. Aunt Zhang, who had prepared warm goat’s milk, was helpless. Did Miss not want to eat at night?

Remembering how much she ate at once—more than a normal baby—she understood. This child would be easy to care for.

Meng Wenxuan didn’t put his daughter back to his wife’s bed, fearing it would disturb her rest. Instead, he placed Jiaoyue in the alcove bed where he had been sleeping and took the outer bed himself.

Thus, the next morning, Jiaoyue woke up in the alcove bed.

She had awakened very early, this time due to hunger.

Upon opening her eyes, she saw her handsome father and smiled happily. He was the only one who could communicate with her now. She tried hard to free her hand, but failed.

Only then did she realize the blanket was custom-made. The reason she couldn’t get her hand out was that it was shaped like a barrel, with only an opening for the head and a long opening at the bottom, long enough to last her until she was five or six years old.

This was Aunt Zhang’s special design because Jiaoyue disliked being restricted. She worried that if the child kicked off the blanket at night, she might catch a chill.

Yanzi was unhappy. She wanted to use her hands. Though the blanket was loose and comfortable, she couldn’t get her hand out.

Meng Wenxuan saw his daughter’s little hands struggling inside the blanket and immediately understood. He quickly lifted her out.

Once freed, Jiaoyue immediately pointed at the blanket and babbled.

Page (3/3)

Meng Wenxuan understood at once. “Father told Aunt Zhang to alter the blanket so Yueya could get her hands out.”

Jiaoyue instantly cried out “Ah!” with a radiant smile.

Father was so clever; with just one gesture and one sound, he understood her perfectly.

Then she pointed to her mouth and babbled again.

“Is Yueya hungry?” Meng Wenxuan smiled at his daughter.

“Ah,” Jiaoyue replied, feeling very wronged. She wasn’t just hungry—she was starving.

Lin Yuntang had also awoken and smiled. “What are you two talking about?”

Meng Wenxuan said, “Yueya didn’t like that she couldn’t get her hands out of the blanket, and she told me she was hungry.”

Lin Yuntang laughed. “The blanket can be fixed. Have Aunt Zhang make the change. The goat’s milk is ready and kept warm. Let’s get Yueya cleaned up and fed.”

Aunt Zhang and Qingguo entered with two maids to attend to mother and daughter.

After Jiaoyue was taken to have her diapers changed and given a fragrant bath, she came out fresh and clean to drink the goat’s milk.

Starving, Jiaoyue was eager to eat breakfast, but when she saw Aunt Zhang bring the goat’s milk, she immediately burst into tears. Her little hands pointed at the bowl, babbling anxiously.

Was there any justice? Was it really so difficult to get a meal? Yesterday it was the poisonous wet nurse, and today the goat’s milk was poison. It really seemed like they didn’t want her to survive!

“Daddy, maybe I should drink rice oil instead—at least that’s not poison!”