Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 562

Chapter 562: A Good Thing

When Pei Que returned in the evening, An Zhi regretfully told him that her cousin from the Qian family hadn’t taken a liking to Pei Xuan.

“If you ask me, Qian Jinyu just hasn’t met a girl he likes,” Pei Que said with a smile, taking off his cloak. “If he had, he certainly wouldn’t be such a blockhead. Like me, aren’t I the same?”

When talking about other men, Pei Que always made sure to praise himself.

An Zhi ignored Pei Que’s question and went straight to Qian Jinyu’s affairs. “Cousin Qian spends most of his time in the western military camp. He hasn’t had much contact with women growing up, so he probably hasn’t met anyone he likes. Let’s just wait and see; it’s none of our business anyway.”

Pei Que picked up the children’s clothes in the bamboo basket and looked at them. Each piece was exquisite and adorable. “That’s not necessarily true. Didn’t Madam Qian say she wants Qian Jinyu to stay in the capital and develop his career?”

If Qian Jinyu were to work in the capital, he would inevitably have to deal with the Pei family.

Hearing this, An Zhi nodded. “That’s true. The Qian family doesn’t have many relatives in the capital, and we’re considered close, so naturally we keep in touch. I just don’t know if Aunt Qian can persuade her son to stay. If she can, that would be good. Like me, when my brother was in the Northwest, I was always worried, but then I thought, even if he didn’t go, someone else’s son would have to go. Every child is a life; it’s just that the borderlands are always embroiled in war.”

Since becoming pregnant, An Zhi had become more sentimental. And because she spent most of her time indoors, she thought about things more.

Pei Que had seen An Zhi lost in thought several times. “My brother-in-law is a pillar of society. If you don’t let him go to the battlefield, it will drive him crazy.”

“Yes, that’s why every time my brother goes to the Northwest, I don’t ask if he can stay. I just want him to be careful.” An Zhi understood her brother’s feelings and aspirations, so while she was worried, she also supported him.

Her brother, full of passion, was willing to sacrifice his life to defend the land; An Zhi’s heart was set on her family. Each had their own wishes, but they understood each other and tried their best to make the other’s life better.

Speaking of An Xu, Pei Que had visited the An Mansion today. “I saw your brother today; he plans to attend the year-end palace banquet.”

“How is his recovery?” An Zhi asked.

“It’s good; he’s almost as agile as you were at the beginning,” Pei Que smiled. “The year-end palace banquet is the busiest time; we can see how others react then.”

An Zhi frowned. “It is indeed possible, but I think it’s a bit too fast. Brother wants to attend the palace banquet because he’s planning to go to the Northwest after spring, right?”

“Yes.” Pei Que helped An Zhi to the bedside. After An Zhi lay down, he got into bed himself. “There’s a lot of gossip in the palace. Whether you’ve given birth or not, I’ll help you cancel your attendance at the palace banquet.”

An Zhi didn’t want to attend the palace banquet either. After Pei Que embraced her, she closed her eyes and said, “I really hope they catch the person who harmed brother soon; otherwise, my heart will always be pounding.”

The couple chatted for a while, and before they knew it, they had fallen asleep.

The next day, when An Zhi woke up, Pei Que had already gone to court. She was now quite far along in her pregnancy and needed Binglu’s help to get up.

As Binglu helped her young madam dress, she said, “Before leaving this morning, the master personally went to the small kitchen. He’s really good to you.”

An Zhi smiled and said, “A while ago, didn’t Shunzi send you a small box? If I remember correctly, it contained all his monthly allowance, right?”

Speaking of Shunzi, Binglu blushed. “He did send those things, but who wanted them?” She just wanted Shunzi to come back. After he left, she felt that it was best for the two of them to be together, but it was too late to turn back.

An Zhi smiled, not revealing Binglu’s hidden thoughts.

“By the way, Madam, the other day, the master dealt with two maids in the front courtyard. I inquired about it, and it seems those two maids were being disobedient and were trying to climb into the master’s bed,” Binglu said this with some worry. Although the master was good to her young madam, such goodness was too rare. Every time she heard about such things, she was afraid that they might come true one day. “These days, you’ve been taking care of your pregnancy. In a couple of days, you should really put an end to those little maids’ thoughts; otherwise, some of them will inevitably be disobedient.”

“That’s true,” An Zhi nodded. “There are so many people coming and going in the manor; it’s good to teach the newcomers to be afraid.”

After breakfast, An Zhi wanted to check the account books, but the nanny outside came to report that her sister-in-law had arrived.

As soon as the nanny finished speaking, Huiping lifted the curtain and came in.

Huiping was wearing a green robe today, with only two jade hairpins in her hair, very elegant.

“The other day you sent me a lot of fabric, and yesterday I got some good furs, so I was thinking of giving them to you to make winter clothes.” Huiping never stood on ceremony when she came to An Zhi’s place and sat down immediately. “Take a look and see if you like them. I also specially brought some for your father-in-law.”

Huiping had a fiefdom, and her furs were among the best. An Zhi could tell at a glance that Huiping had carefully selected them.

“Thank you so much, sister-in-law. I really like it. I’ve been feeling quite cold lately.” After watching Binglu pour the tea, An Zhi confirmed her brother’s situation with her sister-in-law. “He’s still so impatient.”

“There’s nothing I can do. I can’t persuade him.” Huiping was already indifferent to the matter. Knowing An Xu as she did, she had long expected this outcome. “Let’s not talk about him anymore. You’ve lived with your brother for many years; you must know his temperament. I came today to tell you some good news.”

Huiping smiled mysteriously, stood up, and walked to An Zhi’s side, smiling sweetly. “Guess what the good news is?”

“Is it that sister-in-law is going to the Northwest with Brother?” An Zhi guessed.

Huiping shook her head, sighed, and whispered in An Zhi’s ear, “It’s not that I’m going to the Northwest; it’s that I’m pregnant again! I just found out yesterday, and I was so happy I barely slept all night!”