Chapter 79
**Chapter 79: Exercising During Pregnancy**
Liu Ru Yan thought of her parents. Back in the day, when her mother was pregnant, her father had declined official duties to stay home with her. Even when criticized by his colleagues, he never wavered.
With such loving parents as an example, Liu Ru Yan had always hoped to marry a man who would love her wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, not every man was as devoted as her father...
With a deep sigh, Liu Ru Yan closed her eyes, feeling a pang of sadness: "Old things are not as good as new."
Xue Mei silently watched for a while, then swatted a mosquito that had landed on her arm. She asked again, "My lady, shall we rest some more?"
A tear slipped from the corner of Liu Ru Yan's eye: "The deeper the night, the heavier the dew, making it hard to sleep. Xue Mei, light another lamp. I want to read a little longer."
Xue Mei numbly replied, "...Alright."
When would these long nights of forced overtime come to an end?
...
While Liu Ru Yan struggled to sleep, the Ming Yue Courtyard next door was brightly lit. Liu Qiao Er, the side consort, was fanning her two sleeping children by the bedside.
The night was stifling, filled with the buzzing of mosquitoes.
Liu Qiao Er gently waved the fan, her gaze filled with love as she looked at her two children, who were sleeping soundly. Their tiny faces were round and adorable, and the more she looked, the more she cherished them.
In her past life, she had been blinded by power, even using her children to vie for favor. In the end, it led to the family's collapse and the loss of her children.
She would not make the same mistakes again; she would not stand by and watch her children perish.
"My lady, there's news from outside that the one from Liu Li Ge is pregnant, and even the Empress has sent her gifts," a maid reported softly.
Liu Qiao Er paused her fanning.
"Pregnant?" Liu Qiao Er mused, recalling that in her past life, Shen Wei had only enjoyed a month of favor before falling out of grace completely. Yet now, Shen Wei seemed to be thriving more each day.
Liu Qiao Er couldn't help but wonder if her decision not to compete with Shen Wei had inadvertently changed Shen Wei's fate.
As for the Empress bestowing gifts upon Shen Wei, Liu Qiao Er was not surprised. The Princess and the Empress were at odds, and Shen Wei had unwittingly reaped the benefits.
Liu Qiao Er felt a twinge of pity: "Shen Wei has no idea of the Princess's schemes."
Though the Princess spent her days in prayer and paid little attention to the inner court's struggles, Liu Qiao Er knew deep down that the Princess harbored jealousy for every new favorite of the Yan Wang.
When Liu Qiao Er was pregnant, the Princess had deliberately brought in several beautiful concubines to share the favor, causing Liu Qiao Er great distress during her pregnancy, leading to a difficult childbirth.
Liu Qiao Er scoffed, "Shen Wei may seem to be flourishing, but every step she takes is on the edge of a cliff."
The maid, glancing at the two sleeping children, kindly suggested, "My lady, since Shen Wei is pregnant and unable to serve the Wang Ye, why not visit him more often? Perhaps he will remember the old days and restore our share."
Now, although Liu Qiao Er was a side consort, the Yan Wang had not set foot in the Ming Yue Courtyard for a long time.
Her share had also been reduced.
Liu Qiao Er replied coolly, "I don't want to fall back into the cage of vying for favor. With children by my side, a stable family, and a peaceful life, that is already a blessing. Don't be fooled by Shen Wei's apparent success; in the end, she will lose everything."
In her past life, no woman who entered the palace was her match. Even the duplicitous Princess had nearly been pulled down from her position by that woman.
Shen Wei's apparent glory in the Wang Fu was merely because she had not encountered a truly formidable opponent. Once she entered the palace, as a farmer's daughter without any backing, she would be crushed by that woman.
...
The next morning, Shen Wei had breakfast with the Yan Wang. In the sweltering summer heat, she drank half a cup of iced milk every morning. As she held the porcelain bowl to drink, the Yan Wang watched her intently from across the table.
"Wei Wei, don’t indulge in the cold," the Yan Wang said, his brows furrowed.
Shen Wei silently set down the iced milk.
Was he trying to be her mother?
Seeing Shen Wei obediently comply, the Yan Wang felt quite pleased.
He disliked being lectured by others; when the Princess pointed fingers at him, he found it annoying. Yet, unbeknownst to him, he quite enjoyed lecturing others.
People often choose to overlook their own flaws.
After breakfast, the Yan Wang went to court. Before leaving, he remembered Shen Wei's fondness for cold treats and specifically instructed Mama Rong from Liu Li Ge to take good care of Shen Wei, ensuring she didn’t overindulge.
As soon as the Yan Wang left, Shen Wei leisurely strolled in the courtyard, practicing Tai Chi for a while and then jogging a bit.
Pregnant women also need exercise; it has numerous benefits. It strengthens the abdominal and pelvic muscles, alleviates swelling, and aids in future childbirth. Moderate exercise can also help restore one’s figure more quickly after giving birth.
Moms who exercise regularly tend to have livelier and healthier children.
After her workout, Shen Wei took the towel from Cai Ping to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Cai Ping lowered her voice and said, "My lady, Mama Rong asked me to tell you that the carriage is ready."
Shen Wei wiped her forehead: "Keep it low-key; just say I’m going out to visit family."
Today, Shen Wei was going to meet Ye Qiu Shuang to discuss the expansion plans for their dessert shop. The weather was hot, and she wore a long white veil hat to shield her face, taking a discreet carriage to an inn in Yan Jing.
Upon entering the private room, Ye Qiu Shuang and Boss Zhang were already waiting.
Boss Zhang was the owner of "Zhang Fu Ji," who later collaborated with Ye Qiu Shuang to prepare the desserts for Princess Zhao Yang's birthday banquet.
The staff at Boss Zhang's shop were experienced and maintained a steady demeanor even for grand occasions like the princess's birthday. The desserts were flawlessly made and served.
What Boss Zhang hadn’t anticipated was that the Emperor and Empress of Da Qing would personally attend and taste the desserts from "Wei Xue Bing Cheng"! The astute Boss Zhang realized this was a tremendous business opportunity, and he was more than willing to collaborate with Ye Qiu Shuang.
Ye Qiu Shuang stood up and introduced Shen Wei to Boss Zhang: "This is the mastermind behind our shop."
Boss Zhang quickly bowed and greeted, "Greetings, my lady."
The white veil hat obscured Shen Wei's face, but her expensive attire and exquisite jewelry spoke volumes. Boss Zhang secretly speculated that she must be a lady from a prominent family.
Feeling the pressure, Boss Zhang was even more diligent. A wealthy patron was a solid backing for the shop.
The three took their seats.
Boss Zhang wasted no time and got straight to the point: "My lady, your shop's reputation has skyrocketed, and now is the perfect time for expansion. I’m willing to change the storefront of 'Zhang Fu Ji' and merge it with yours."
Shen Wei had the same intention.
Having operated for many years, Boss Zhang was seasoned, and his staff were skilled. If the two shops could collaborate, their visibility would undoubtedly soar.
Shen Wei nodded: "That works."
Ye Qiu Shuang took out the pre-prepared partnership contract and handed it to Shen Wei: "My lady, please take a look and see if there are any modifications needed."
Shen Wei took the contract and quickly scanned it, analyzing the distribution of profits, employee management, and branch stores in her mind.
The contract was comprehensive, with almost no omissions, but Shen Wei pointed out a few things: "You both should plan the shop expansion together. One thing, though: all future branches must have uniform decor, and the staff's uniforms must be standardized."
For a chain dessert shop, maintaining a consistent style is crucial to enhance public recognition.
Ye Qiu Shuang and Boss Zhang nodded in agreement.
Boss Zhang then made another suggestion: "My lady, the name 'Wei Xue Bing Cheng' is quite hard to remember and not very catchy. How about we change it to something simpler?"
Table of Contents
