Chapter 396: Between Husband and Wife

In high-society families, maintaining a respectable image is absolutely essential. It's not exactly unheard of for a legitimate wife to have an illegitimate child before entering the household, though it’s certainly rare. However, having three or five attendants hanging around is pretty standard practice. In this day and age, if a man entered marriage with only a maid by his side, he might actually be viewed as a decent, virtuous guy. But it’s precisely because he had such a spotless reputation that he unknowingly craved more.

Hua Zhi could empathize with Hua Qin’s unease. With her modern mindset, she wasn’t quite sure how to advise her on whether to accept or resist the situation. If she accepted it, she'd likely feel suffocated; yet resisting—how could anyone really defy the customs of an entire era?

Wasn’t she, in a sense, planning to be the model wife when she agreed to marry Shen Qi?

Of course, that was only assuming she didn’t harbor any romantic feelings for him. If Yan Xi ever decided to take a concubine in the future… well, that might just be the end between them.

The thought of that man brought Hua Zhi’s mind to wander. Was he like other men, thinking that taking concubines was just another part of life’s normal course?

"Eldest sister, what should I do?"

Snapped out of her reverie by the murmurs in her ear, Hua Zhi remained silent for a moment before saying, "Ask your husband how he feels. If he truly cares for you, how could he have other thoughts when you're struggling during your pregnancy? If he already has such thoughts, stopping him today won't prevent it in the future. It's not worth becoming distressed for him. Of course, if you want to be a virtuous wife, I will support you."

Hua Qin sat up and stared at her eldest sister, expecting anger or indignation.

Hua Zhi smiled. "There are many things in this world that are within our control, but some things even the most capable people can't do. For example, making two people love each other or ensuring one person's absolute loyalty to another. We can only control our own hearts. When someone is willing to give you their heart, it's yours. If they decide to take it back one day, you can't stop them. However, there is one thing we can always do."

Brushing her cousin's hair, Hua Zhi spoke gently, "We can love ourselves a bit more. Only with self-love can we have the strength to love others and withstand hurt."

Hua Qin's eyes lit up. "If loving myself means I won't take a concubine for him."

"Then don't."

"But my mother-in-law will say I'm jealous, that I'm not virtuous. It will be difficult for me in the Cai family."

"So what? Which woman can honestly say she's not jealous? Who doesn't want their husband's love all to themselves? If you're facing difficulties because of this, it only shows that your man doesn't value you. If he truly cared for you, he would refuse to take concubines. How could the blame fall on you in the Cai family? If he expects you to bear this burden alone, it means he wants a concubine. If a man desires more, can you stop it? It's inevitable, so why bother resisting? It's better to accommodate him and release yourself."

Hua Qin stared at her elder sister, feeling that her words made sense but also seemed like clever excuses. She lowered her head, touching her still-hidden pregnant belly. "I have a child..."

"Yes, you have a child."

"With a child, my position is unshakable."

"...Yes."

"I can have more children..." Tears streamed down Hua Qin's face, and she raised her head. "But a child is a child, not my husband."

Hua Zhi sighed, embraced her, and patted her gently. She couldn't say more. She had already intervened quite a bit, and she couldn't dictate Hua Qin's decisions. This was her life, and she needed to make her own choices to avoid regret.

Tears soaked their clothes, and the warmth on her shoulder wasn't comfortable. Hua Zhi couldn't let the pregnant woman be overly distressed, so she brought up a topic that Hua Qin couldn't ignore, "Fourth Aunt's midwife was very good during her childbirth. I'll send someone to fetch her. It would be best if she can be with you now. If not, we'll need to schedule a time. And a wet nurse, I'll have someone find one later. Is the woman in your husband's household trustworthy?"

Hua Qin's crying gradually subsided, but her voice still choked up as she said, "I don't care about those small thoughts."

"What about the other people in the Cai family?"

"It's inevitable that there will always be some."

Hua Zhi nodded, not surprised. "Have Qing Xiang go back and ask your mother or grandmother for two trustworthy midwives. With your twin pregnancy, you can be too cautious. The Cai family can't say anything about you. If you have minor illnesses, try not to take medicine as it's harmful to the child. I'll have Shao Yao come to check on you periodically."

Hua Qin nodded repeatedly. She hadn't met Shao Yao, but the name was well-known in the Hua family as a highly skilled female physician.

Hua Zhi gave some more detailed instructions, gradually easing Hua Qin's inner anxieties with this series of arrangements. Her emotions settled down.

It was getting late, and the rain showed no sign of stopping. Hua Zhi couldn't stay any longer. She stood up and said, "If you need anything, send someone to find me at any time. Don't panic. For the sake of the child, you need to be more open-minded. Only when you're well can your child be well."

"Yes, I understand."

"I'll go now. Lie down, you don't need to see me off."

About to lift the blanket and get out of bed, Hua Qin obediently put her feet back where they were. "Eldest sister, take care."

Hua Zhi nodded and walked towards the door. Nian Qiu opened the door, with Qing Xiang waiting outside while the others retreated far away.

"Eldest sister."

Hua Zhi turned around.

"I'll think carefully about what you said." Hua Qin forced a smile. "I know Eldest sister wouldn't harm me. What you said must be reasonable."

Hua Zhi's heart softened. "It's good as long as you can accept it."

After saying her goodbyes to Lady Cai, Hua Zhi didn’t expect to be left alone for long. It wasn’t long before Cai Zhiming caught up with her. She hadn’t seen much of him, but after just a few encounters, she had a pretty clear sense of who he was. The guy wasn’t exactly the bookish, introspective type.

“It’s still early. There’s no need for you to walk me out, brother-in-law,” she said, a hint of amusement in her tone.

Cai Zhiming forced a smile, trying to hide his nervousness. “Eldest sister knows my intentions,” he muttered, as if offering an explanation that didn’t quite hold up.

“I don’t know about that,” Hua Zhi replied with a light, almost playful smile, her eyes as serene as ever, giving nothing away. “Brother-in-law, you might as well just be upfront with me.”

Cai Zhiming didn’t know how to react. It wasn’t that he was afraid of her—he wasn’t exactly scared of his sister-in-law—but there was something about her that made him watch his words more carefully. He had a feeling she wasn’t the type to be easily swayed by a flimsy excuse. His mother-in-law might turn a blind eye, but Hua Zhi was a different story.

“Ah Qin… she doesn’t trust me,” he blurted out, and once he started, the words tumbled out almost involuntarily. “I remember when her period was coming up, so when she started feeling off during those days, I already had a sense of what was going on, I just wasn’t sure…”

Hua Zhi arched an eyebrow, cutting him off before he could go further. “Why doesn’t she trust you?” she asked, her voice flat, though her gaze was sharp.

Cai Zhiming fell silent, looking like he was struggling to find the right words. “She’s just overthinking things…”

“No,” Hua Zhi interjected, her tone sharper now, “It’s because you haven’t given her the security she needs. She’s instinctively wary of you.”

Cai Zhiming blinked, caught off guard by her directness. He opened his mouth, but she wasn’t done.

“I’m not here to play middleman between you and Hua Qin. Your issues as husband and wife are for you two to sort out. But just a little advice—keep your relationship respectful and loving. That’s how you make it last. The rest is up to you,” she added, her expression unreadable.

With that, she shifted her weight slightly, preparing to leave. “Goodbye,” she said, her voice light, and with that, she turned to walk away.