This return journey was much more pleasant than the trip out. With no freezing weather and no bumpy carriage, Jin Qianqian felt she’d put on a little weight over the past half-month on the road.

Gu Wenheng took the opportunity to feel her waist under the cover of the blanket. "Fat? Where? You need to eat more. See, I can still feel your bones."

Jin Qianqian took a deep breath. "You don’t want to feel any bone? What do you want me to turn into, a sphere?"

Gu Wenheng gazed at her face, which had grown even more delicate and fair, almost perfectly matching the image of his junior from his past life. He couldn’t resist reaching out to caress it. "You could still be a little chubbier. When we stop for supplies at the next station, I’ll have the steward buy some more tasty things."

Jin Qianqian rolled her eyes at him. "All I’ve done this entire trip is eat and sleep. I’m practically spoiling myself rotten."

’On this journey home, I feel like I’m becoming completely useless. Sanqing has taken over all the chores, and a cook prepares all the meals. I’ve truly reached the point where my hands don’t even touch dishwater. Add my skincare routine on top of that, and of course my face is going to be delicate and fair.’

"Madam, Lady Song wishes to see you." The moment their carriage stopped, Qing Lan spoke softly from outside.

"Won’t I see her at dinner? Did she say what it’s about?" Ever since Gu Wenheng had thrown down the divorce papers, Song Xiuyang had become remarkably quiet. Aside from sticking close to Gu Lejia during rest stops, she was like a ghost, never showing her face to Gu Wenheng or her.

"No, she insists on telling you in person."

"I’ll go see what’s up." Jin Qianqian glanced at Gu Wenheng. Seeing his silent nod of approval, she lifted the curtain, and Qing Mei and Qing Lan helped her down from the carriage.

"Mrs. Gu," Song Xiuyang said with a slight curtsy, but Jin Qianqian could see the smugness in her eyes.

Jin Qianqian didn’t have to wonder for long. Song Xiuyang spoke again, "Could you arrange a separate carriage for me? I need my rest."

Jin Qianqian raised an eyebrow. "Are you not in a carriage already?"

Song Xiuyang stroked her abdomen smugly. "I’m carrying the Gu family’s flesh and blood. Even if you’ve never had a child, Miss Gu, you must know how important the first three months are."

Qing Mei and Qing Lan gritted their teeth. Young as they were, they could still detect the malice in her words.

But Jin Qianqian just smiled. "Have you seen a physician?"

Song Xiuyang’s expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered with a smile. "It’s all but certain. You know, a woman’s monthly visitor... mine is two days late. This concerns the Gu family’s bloodline, so it can’t be treated lightly."

Jin Qianqian rolled her eyes heavenward. ’...’ ’What the hell does this have to do with me? If she’s got the guts, she should go find the man himself.’

’Tch, she should go find Gu Lejia, the real culprit. Besides, nothing’s even confirmed yet. What’s the point of flaunting it in front of me?’

"Mrs. Gu, are you going to make the arrangements? It would be best to give me a separate carriage with Gu Lejia. That way, he can take better care of me." Seeing that Jin Qianqian hadn’t answered and was just staring into space, Song Xiuyang pressed her.

"Qing Lan, when we stop for the night, have the steward fetch a physician to check her pulse." With that, Jin Qianqian ignored the gloating woman and turned to head back to her carriage.

Song Xiuyang was stunned by Jin Qianqian’s attitude after everything she’d said. But with a glance toward the lead carriage, she ultimately didn’t dare to stop her.

Some people, however, weren’t so perceptive. A voice arrived before its owner did.

"Little Sister Gu, it’s a rare chance to get some fresh air. Why not stay out a little longer?" Mrs. Zhou Liu, cradling her belly, walked up with steps a bit quicker than usual, arriving before Jin Qianqian in just a moment.

Jin Qianqian pointed to the flags already fluttering ahead. "I’m afraid there’s no time to chat. The head of the column is already on the move."

Mrs. Zhou Liu was left speechless.

＆

The moment Jin Qianqian was back inside the carriage, her expression soured.

"What’s wrong? Is it Gu Lejia and the others stirring up trouble again?" Gu Wenheng had simply been resting with his eyes closed and hadn’t paid any attention to the conversation outside.

"Congratulations!" Jin Qianqian said acidly. "Your Gu family is expecting a new member."

Gu Wenheng touched her stomach in pleasant surprise. "Really?"

Jin Qianqian slapped his hand away. "Hmph. I’m not the only daughter-in-law in the Gu family. And it’s not even confirmed, yet she has the gall to flaunt it in my face."

Gu Wenheng understood immediately. "That doesn’t really have anything to do with us. Even if she really is pregnant, that’s a joyous event for my brother’s household. There’s no reason for us to get angry about it."

Jin Qianqian retorted, "I’m not angry! But think about it, how many people have been staring at my stomach this whole trip? I can let it slide with your master’s wife, but that Mrs. Zhou Liu is especially bad. Just now she came up cradling her belly, trying to show off. Isn’t she exhausted from all the effort?"

Gu Wenheng simply pulled her into his embrace. "Let’s not pay her any mind. Haven’t you noticed? Every time she sees our procession, her eyes practically spit fire. She’s just envious that you’re living a better life than she is."

"How do you notice all that?"

"The malice in her eyes is too obvious. There have been several times when Brother Zhou had to subtly warn her." Gu Wenheng hadn’t wanted to bring it up, but the woman was getting more and more outrageous, to the point of confronting them directly.

Hearing this, Jin Qianqian actually calmed down. "Fine, let’s not talk about them. Judging by the route we took on the way here, we should be able to find an inn for the night."

’Even though this carriage has been modified, it’s nowhere near as comfortable as lying on a proper, stable bed.’

＆

When Mrs. Zhou Liu heard that Jin Qianqian and her husband had once again rented an entire private courtyard, she looked down at the "Class C" room token in her hand and felt her spirits sink.

Cradling her five-months-pregnant belly, she carefully sat down beside Zhou Ping. "You and Gu Wenheng are martial brothers, aren’t you? Didn’t you ever ask how they struck it rich? How did they suddenly become so well-off?

"With such good fortune, you’d think he’d help out his senior brother a little."

Hearing his wife start in again, Zhou Ping’s face filled with exasperation. "I’ve told you already, it all comes from a secret recipe that was part of his wife’s dowry. If you’re that envious, go home and have your parents prepare one for you.

"You’re always comparing yourself to others. You should take a look at yourself and see if you even have the means to compete. Can you really measure up?"

(This was the official story Gu Wenheng told everyone. Throughout the journey, several of his martial brothers, and even their master, had subtly inquired about it. He didn’t hide the details, attributing the success of the soap workshop—which had recently taken the capital by storm—entirely to a secret recipe from Jin Qianqian’s dowry.)

"You... you’re looking down on me..."

Not wanting to cause a scene, Zhou Ping cut her off in a low voice. "Stop it. You’ve been trying to pick a fight with them this entire journey. If they weren’t showing me some respect, who do you think you are?

"If you can’t be a help to me, then at least don’t cause me trouble. I want to stay on good terms with Wenheng, so don’t you dare make an enemy out of him for me. Otherwise, when we get home, you can go back to learning your manners from my mother."

"...I didn’t even do anything."

Zhou Ping sighed. "...Let’s just eat. Don’t let my son go hungry."

Mrs. Zhou Liu fell silent.