Bai Suihe initially didn't understand, secretly wondering what these people were so happy about.
It wasn't until she entered the main courtyard and saw Mrs. Bai adorned in pearls and jewels, followed by two maidservants carrying trays, that she realized what was happening.
In ancient times, merchants were looked down upon, yet people loved the silver in their hands.
Mrs. Bai must have been distributing quite a bit since entering the residence, as even the usually stern-faced Nanny Zhou looked considerably gentler at this moment.
The old lady sat in the head seat, cheerfully calling them kin, and when Bai Suihe entered, she affectionately waved her over, "Look how quickly my third daughter-in-law has come over, clearly already expecting her family to arrive."
"I must thank the old lady for taking care of my daughter; she's quite spoiled at home and needs your indulgence."
"They are all good children, well-mannered too. I've always thought of her as my own daughter..."
Bai Suihe couldn't understand how these two could exchange such insincere words.
Mrs. Bai praised the old lady highly, never having seen her smile so broadly before.
Following them, Liu Yun and Xu Yulan barely had time to greet anyone before each of them was given an emerald bracelet.
Mrs. Bai praised them again, and they, forgetting what they came for, joined in with a few flattering words.
Finally, the old lady spoke, "It's been a while since you mother and daughter have seen each other. Let Ms. Bai take you to her courtyard to have a look. If anything seems out of place, feel free to mention it."
Mrs. Bai exchanged further pleasantries before leaving with her daughter.
Bai Suihe finally understood why the attitudes of the maidservants in the main courtyard were so good; Mrs. Bai had been distributing gifts like a god of wealth along the way. Even though they were just earrings and rings, their value exceeded a month's salary for them.
"Mother," in her memory, her original mother had nothing but kind words for her, even when the Gu Family was confiscated later. She endured the pressure and sent over her private savings.
Even during exile, she instructed Bai Suihe to send a message if she encountered difficulties, promising to find a way to help.
"You don't need to be so generous with them; these people won't remember the favor." Bai Suihe thought it wasn't worth spreading so many valuables.
The old lady was smiling so warmly just now, who knows how much she had gained.
"You're still the same as before," Mrs. Bai tapped Bai Suihe on the forehead with her finger, "Issues that can be resolved with money are not real issues.
Besides, the items are from our own shop, they're not that costly."
Mrs. Bai carefully observed Bai Suihe, "You're over five months pregnant now, is everything alright?"
"Not really," Bai Suihe felt this was the only advantage the Gu Mansion had. The household was relatively simple, without those trivial intrigues, and naturally, there was no need to guard against hidden schemes.
"Have you found a midwife and wet nurse yet? If not, our residence can send some over." Seeing the familiar maidservants, Mrs. Bai frowned. Shouldn't a large household make preparations earlier?
"Preparations can wait for a while," Bai Suihe had not thought about it before and would not again.
"You all follow Chunxiang and the others to take a rest, I need to have a good chat with your lady," Mrs. Bai felt some words were best said privately to her daughter and didn't need her confidants to know too much.
Bai Suihe intended the same, nodding to let Chunxiang and the others leave. Once they closed the door behind them, Mrs. Bai immediately asked eagerly, "Has something happened at the Gu Mansion? Why did you have Nanny Wu prepare so many things?"
So many and so varied, including everything needed for food, clothing, and accommodation.
If it were only to open a general store, such a large investment would not be necessary.
Having witnessed the rise and fall of many affluent families, Mrs. Bai's heart had been uneasy these past few days.
Bai Suihe didn't expect Mrs. Bai to be so keen, she quickly replied, "I've noticed something amiss. My father-in-law specifically instructed yesterday to avoid attending banquets and to keep a low profile these days."
"That's it?" Mrs. Bai wondered if her daughter was overreacting. Even though their family had no officials in court, they had extensive sources of information.
Bai Suihe pointed upwards with her finger, "Several princes have grown up; some can no longer restrain themselves, there might be a need to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys."
Mrs. Bai shivered slightly, "...It's only been a few peaceful years..."
If the regime couldn't transition smoothly, it would be bad news for people across the country.
Before this, the fight for that position could inevitably result in bloody strife, involving countless families.
She had agreed to her husband earlier, and the Gu Family's reputation convinced her to marry off her daughter, but now it seemed like a wrong decision.
"I may have harmed you," Mrs. Bai said with a complex expression. Even if her daughter's assumptions were off, given Vice Minister Gu's position, how could he possibly stay out of it?
The tragic history of imperial succession struggles, she dare not think deeply about it.
"Is this information reliable?" Mrs. Bai instantly grasped Bai Suihe's hand, "If worst comes to worst, we'll divorce."
Divorce, Bai Suihe initially considered this option, but how could it be easy?
Not to mention that Vice Minister Gu might not agree, her proposing a divorce without any apparent reason could provoke much speculation.
While she might escape the disaster, the innocent siblings of the Bai Family would suffer shame, affecting their marriage prospects.
"We are a merchant family, we don't care about these things," Mrs. Bai evidently noticed Bai Suihe's concerns, "It's just a few years in between; at most, we can move to Jiangnan, who would know about all this?"
At this moment, Mrs. Bai had a strong urge to take Bai Suihe away, but familiar with the storyline, Bai Suihe knew Mrs. Bai could not dictate the fate of the Bai Family.
Merchants profit from opportunities. Without Bai Suihe, the Bai Family's other daughters could find new connections to lean on.
Since she was now the Bai Suihe of this world, she felt she must repay this karmic debt.
Moreover, her husband's previous words left her in doubt, prompting a desire to investigate clearly.
"Mother, don't panic. Even if there are changes, given Vice Minister Gu's reputation, he wouldn't be sentenced to death, though he might suffer a bit."
Bai Suihe's words were vague, but Mrs. Bai believed them without digging deeper. Otherwise, why would a woman of the inner residence have such suspicions when the court appeared calm?
"Moreover, I'm just making preparations in advance, so as not to be caught off guard. If nothing happens, at worst, I'll open a few more shops; it won't be a loss."
"What He Er says makes sense," Mrs. Bai continued to frown, "But why are you preparing so many things? If something really happens, how will you take away so much food and goods?"
Bai Suihe whispered quietly into her ear, "My husband manages the household affairs and has his own channels. He will make arrangements for these things beforehand."