"Madam, Madam Xianghua is pregnant, yet you seem worried. Is there something wrong with the fetus?" On the way back, the maid Hong Yan asked Lin Wanwan, puzzled.

"Ah, is my mood so obvious?" Lin Wanwan touched her face, a bit surprised.

"Yes, very obvious." Hong Yan nodded emphatically, "So is there really something wrong with Madam Xianghua’s fetus?"

As a maid from the Xiao Family, Hong Yan showed concern for Xiao Xianghua.

Lin Wanwan said, "No, the fetus is fine. It’s just that she’s only seventeen; early childbirth is not beneficial for a woman’s body."

"Ah!" Not only Hong Yan was shocked, but all the maids who heard it were astonished.

Is seventeen still early?

Many noble offspring get married at thirteen or fourteen and have children by fourteen or fifteen.

Looking at everyone’s expressions, Lin Wanwan thought this was a millennium gap.

In an era where women who are not married by twenty are considered old maids, talking to them about how early childbirth is harmful to health was truly untimely.

Upon returning to the manor, to soothe her mind, Lin Wanwan sat in front of the pharmacy, engrossed in preparing medicinal herbs.

Besides Lin Wanwan, Xiao Yixun and her herbal-savvy maid were also helping.

In the cold weather, the three of them were busily working up a sweat.

Today was the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month; every household performed winter sacrifices, thanking ancestors and deities, celebrating the year’s harvest.

However, since Lin Wanwan was in Xiaoxi Town, such matters were naturally hosted by the Lin Family Manor in Wanghai. The Clan Leader would lead her household in handling the rituals, saving her the hassle.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chong was at the Steel Refining Workshop watching craftsmen put pig iron, scrap steel, and other steel-refining materials into the open hearth to refine steel.

Today was the first batch since this workshop was established. Significant time and effort were spent on the pre-building of the open hearth and the manufacturing of steel-refining fuel coke.

Xiao Chong’s right-hand men Dugu Di and Xiao Ce had been busy with this for months, leaving them unable to assist Xiao Chong with routine administrative tasks, causing him to be overwhelmed at times.

Watching the rolling steel liquid, Xiao Ce excitedly grasped Xiao Chong’s shoulder.

"Zifang, we’ve succeeded!"

This was actually very disrespectful, as although he was Xiao Chong’s clan brother, he was also a retainer under Xiao Chong, his subordinate.

Pressing shoulders was clearly not suitable for a lower-ranked person to do to a higher-ranked one.

But at this moment, everyone was too thrilled, leading to such an overstepping action.

Xiao Chong also smiled faintly and said to everyone, "Everyone has worked hard these days, and I will ask the Emperor for merits on your behalf."

Upon hearing this, everyone expressed their disbelief; although they did the manual work, the whole direction and key design were entirely Xiao Chong’s, how could they dare claim the credit?

Dugu Di lightly said, "Zifang, the tutors of Le’an are really remarkable."

Xiao Chong smiled slightly, "Indeed. So, I will ask for merits for my cousin."

Dugu Di lowered the magnifying glass on his nose and said with relief, "Your vision is always so unique. Rejecting the girl from the Cui family, rejecting us the Dugu family, resolutely asking the Emperor to marry the Lin family, I now finally understand why."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing these words, Xiao Chong’s expression became more serene, as if he was a thousand-year-old Monk, sitting serenely on the Purple Golden Lotus, unmoved by even the strongest winds.

Dugu Di didn’t hear Xiao Chong respond, turned his head to look at him, and said, "Zifang, don’t trouble yourself with unnecessary worry. Although Le’an’s background is not as prestigious as the Cui family, she herself is worth more than the surname Cui. Don’t regret it."

Xiao Chong seemed to be stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "How could I regret it? It’s me who doesn’t deserve my cousin."

Dugu Di carefully scrutinized Xiao Chong’s expression, seeing he wasn’t pretending, and exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that Duke Song wants his granddaughter-in-law to convert to Buddhism?"

After all, Xiao Chong already had two aunts committed to the Buddha, and Lin Wanwan was the Heart Lamp Saintess of the Daxingshan Temple. In this case, it’s quite likely, which is why their marriage has been postponed without completing the six rites?

Xiao Chong did not respond but changed the subject, "With this steel refining technique, our Great Tang can flatten the various Western Regions and Goguryeo. All of you have made irreplaceable contributions. Brother Xiwen, keep working hard; I’m looking forward to the day we ride together on the battlefield."

Dugu Di chuckled but didn’t continue the topic.

But clearly, he had misunderstood.

In his heart, he had already settled on the previous reason because it indeed seemed like something Duke Song could achieve.

Xiao Chong clearly had no intention to dispel the misunderstanding. Initially, leaving a son in the Daxingshan Temple had this very purpose.

When he returned to the County Government, it was already late, and as customary, the royal presents for Twelfth Lunar Day had been distributed.

Among the gifts from the Emperor that day were the New Year’s calendar, lip balm, face balm, bathing beans (a few favored ministers even received soap, and Xiao Chong was among them), Purple Snow, Red Snow, and golden and silver combination.

No one was mistaken, there was indeed lip balm included, commonly known as lipstick.

It was normal for men of the Great Tang to wear makeup, even inserting flowers in their hair.

The Emperor giving these appearance-enhancing items on Twelfth Lunar Day illustrates the importance of appearance to the Great Tang Court, as everyone is indeed focused on looks!

In fact, not only in the Great Tang, but throughout ancient feudal dynasties it was similar.

If someone was born lacking in appearance, even with unparalleled talent, becoming an official was not easy, much harder compared to those with high attractiveness.

If someone suffered disfigurement, it was disastrous; even if they passed the grueling exams, the interview stage would likely be insurmountable.

Therefore, for someone like Xiao Chong, well-born and handsome, he was practically fed by heaven.

"Zifang, it’s Twelfth Lunar Day today, a rare occasion where Le’an is in Xiaoxi Town; let’s go find her to celebrate." After changing clothes, Dugu Di pulled Xiao Chong towards the neighboring yard.

Although Xiao Chong’s rational mind told him to refuse, not to easily disturb Lin Wanwan, his body was uncontrollably pulled along by Dugu Di.

Perhaps deep down, he also eagerly wanted to see Lin Wanwan.

After all, today marked the success of steel refining and coincided with such a auspicious day as Twelfth Lunar Day.

When the porter reported that Xiao Chong and Dugu Di were visiting, Lin Wanwan was quite surprised, as Xiao Chong wouldn’t easily come after the revelation.

If there were any lingering feelings for Xiao Chong, she believed there weren’t any.

But if they couldn’t be lovers, they were at least cousins, and since they were visiting, she naturally welcomed them.

The Great Tang hadn’t yet popularized Twelfth Lunar Day porridge, as the royal New Year’s gifts primarily reminded ministers to pay attention to their personal image.

But Lin Wanwan was from the modern era and liked to make Twelfth Lunar Day porridge on this day, she had long prepared the ingredients and instructed Hua Nong.

When Xiao Chong and Dugu Di arrived, the Twelfth Lunar Day porridge was still cooking in the pot.

During the wait for dinner, the silent and calm Xiao Chong wasn’t idle, busy with the entire tea ceremony.

Eventually, he handed Lin Wanwan a bowl of steaming red jujube tea.

Lin Wanwan took the ginger-flavored red jujube tea from his hand, a slight blush on her face, feeling as if Xiao Chong had noticed her physical discomfort.

Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental that it was specifically red jujube ginger tea?