Just when it seemed there was no hope for Song Yumei anymore, I found out I was pregnant. Even if I gave birth to a daughter at best, I'd finally be on equal footing with her... But then *she* got pregnant too! Qingshan doted on her like she was some fragile porcelain doll now, barely sparing me the time of day when he came around these days. What's so great about being pregnant anyway? *I'm* pregnant too!

He even coddled me like I'd break if I fidgeted in my sleep—"Oh dear, your sleeping position might hurt the baby!" As if moving differently would make any difference to the child. Just because my belly is getting big and inconvenient doesn't mean hers suddenly turned into a nimble thing! It was maddening.

These past few years I'd tried every trick in the book to bring her down. Even when she was framed for causing my last miscarriage, there was something suspicious about it. The day that happened, I was walking through our courtyard when I slipped on some water and fell badly. No one came to help despite my screaming for ages until Yumei returned from outside and finally summoned assistance. When the child died with me near deathbed, I was certain she'd deliberately placed that puddle there.

After all, who else could it be? With Qingshan away and Xiao Maoo too young, only Yumei had walked our halls constantly during those days—always leering at my stomach and muttering her venom. But without proof, what could I do? I convinced myself she was the culprit anyway. I expected this revelation to finally make Qingshan and Mother-in-law expel her at least. Instead they barely questioned anything, let it slide entirely, and for years since then Yumei has tormented me in our home while Qingshan turned a blind eye unless things got truly unbearable.

Now with my new pregnancy, I was certain victory would be mine... until *this* happened. The audacity of it! I didn't know what cursed magic she used to re-capture Qingshan's favor like this, but I wouldn't let it stand. No mercy for either her or me—there can only be one left standing in the end. Either Yumei leaves... or dies. With that thought, my eyes narrowed into a venomous glare aimed at her chamber.

No sooner had my child taken root than another shockwave hit—Yumei's second pregnancy news spread through our clan like wildfire. That very day after dinner, Aunt Zhao led Mother Zhou and several others to Lin He's home, demanding Aunty Huang take young Lin He along for a visit to congratulate my mother-in-law on her two pregnant daughters-in-law.

Mother-in-law sat in the courtyard brooding over her daughter Yu'er's recent troubles. After returning from her three-day post-wedding visit home, Yu' had tearfully revealed how her dowry was seized by the grandmother-in-law under the guise of "safekeeping." Then came news that even all the silver and jewelry from her wedding gifts had vanished—left with nothing but empty hands, she'd argued furiously only to be slapped down with cold words. "Those were your family's things now when you married into us!" Yu'er's brother Zhao Yu had merely shrugged it off, insisting his mother would keep them safe anyway.

But how could a newlywed bride survive without silver? Every request for supplies would become an interrogation under her mother-in-law's watchful eye—absolute imprisonment! When even her own husband took his mother's side in this matter, Yu' had returned home in tears to my mother-in-law. Though Mother-in-law comforted her with promises about dowry retrieval and advised against returning to the marital home for disputes, she still gave Yu'er some loose silver coins before sending her back.

As Mother-in-law brooded over these family troubles when Aunt Zhao's entourage arrived, Lin He noticed how warmly they were greeted—probably due to our generous dowry given during Yu'er's marriage.

Aunt Zhao beamed at Yumei and me, clapping her hands excitedly. "First daughter is truly blessed! When the time comes, whoever bears a son first will be honored as Lin family patriarch's grandson with rich rewards!"

Lin He caught herself holding back a grimace. Childbirth wasn't something to gamble over like that—such careless talk might provoke dangerous games.

"Mother-in-law, what exactly are these rewards?" Mother-in-law's eyes lit up at the mention of riches.

Aunt Zhao glanced slyly at her daughter. "Don't you worry about it. This is for my great-grandson after all—whoever gives me a grandson gets it."

"Don't talk nonsense now," Redyun interjected smoothly, sensing her mother's tone was too coarse. "As long as they deliver safely, who cares if it's boy or girl? Qingshan and both of them are still young—Grandma will have dozens to hold in time!"

Aunt Zhao chuckled at this diplomatic deflection, contenting herself with a smug grin that showed no signs of regretting her words.