(Due to another oversight by the author, there were two Chapter 455s. So until the title is corrected, there is no Chapter 456 in between—it's not that you missed a chapter...).
Around noon, Xiao Jingxi sent someone back to say he wouldn't be returning for lunch and would only be back in the evening. Coincidentally, the Princess Consort also sent someone to Xiao Jinglin’s place, saying that the Prince wouldn’t be dining at the mansion today either, and asked Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin to accompany her for a meal at Jiuyang Hall.
So Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin went together to Jiuyang Hall.
As soon as the Princess Consort saw Ren Yaoqi, she smiled and said, "He’s already so busy that he’s not coming home, right after you two got married? I’m sorry you have to put up with this."
Ren Yaoqi smiled and replied, "Please don’t say that, Mother. He’s busy with important matters."
The Princess Consort patted her hand with a smile. "Recently, both he and his father have been quite busy. When they’re not at the mansion, you and Jinglin should come and keep me company for meals."
Ren Yaoqi agreed.
As for why Xiao Jingxi and the Prince of Yanbei had been so busy lately, Ren Yaoqi had briefly discussed it with Xiao Jinglin earlier. It was mostly about the Liao people and the imperial court, along with the court’s urgent pressure on the Prince of Yanbei to appoint an heir. The Yanbei Prince’s Mansion also needed to make some preparations.
The Princess Consort herself was vegetarian. Even the crispy tripe strips she had for breakfast were specially prepared vegetarian dishes by the kitchen. So whenever they dined with the Princess Consort, their dishes were cooked separately. However, the kitchen at Jiuyang Hall was already accustomed to this, as the Prince was also someone who enjoyed meat, and even when he dined at the same table as the Princess Consort, it was the same.
True to the Princess Consort’s words, when it was just their own family dining together, there weren’t many formalities. The Princess Consort didn’t even have maids and servants standing behind them to serve dishes, as the Prince felt that would make the meal less enjoyable.
After accompanying the Princess Consort for the meal, they sat together and drank tea to aid digestion. The Princess Consort didn’t rush to send them away afterward. She had met with some external guests in the morning and still had some internal mansion affairs to handle in the afternoon, so she asked Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin to stay and watch as she and Nanny Xin dealt with the mansion’s internal affairs.
Xiao Jinglin had little interest in these matters and began to feel drowsy after watching for a while. The Princess Consort glared at her several times and scolded, "Pull yourself together! You’re full of energy when it comes to wielding swords and spears, but when it’s time to listen to serious matters, you’re listless! If you don’t learn these things now, when do you plan to learn them?"
Although Xiao Jinglin didn’t say anything, her expression clearly conveyed: I don’t want to learn them at any time.
The Princess Consort was almost at her wit’s end with her and instead spoke kindly to Ren Yaoqi, "You should also stay by my side and learn properly. I know you must have learned household management at home and done it well, but there are some things that people outside the prince’s mansion can’t teach you. It won’t hurt to learn more. From now on, set aside half an hour or an hour each morning and afternoon to come here. I heard you also go to the Dowager Consort in the afternoon? The Dowager Consort is used to taking a nap, so you can go to her Orchid Pavilion from here in the afternoon."
Ren Yaoqi obediently agreed. The Princess Consort was teaching her for her own good, and she naturally wouldn’t be ungrateful.
The Princess Consort was very pleased and then said sternly to Xiao Jinglin, "Whenever Yaoqi comes, you should accompany her. If you can’t absorb it the first time, listen a few more times—you’ll eventually learn something useful!"Xiao Jinglin looked at the Princess Consort, then at Ren Yaoqi, and finally nodded reluctantly.
The Princess Consort softened her tone again: "It's not that I want to force you to learn things you dislike. For things like embroidery that you don't enjoy, I haven't insisted you learn them. But managing a household is something you must learn. Otherwise, when you marry, who will handle these matters for you?"
Xiao Jinglin replied matter-of-factly: "You can prepare several capable stewards like Nanny Xin for me, or even capable maidservants..."
This made even Nanny Xin laugh: "Commandery Princess, we servants only carry out tasks according to our masters' instructions. We dare not and cannot make decisions ourselves. What you need to learn isn't how to run errands, but how to direct us servants to run errands for you. How could these be the same?"
The Princess Consort was both amused and exasperated, lightly tapping her forehead: "Nonsense. Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"
Xiao Jinglin didn't dare say more, though this was exactly what she had always thought.
As they were speaking, someone came in to report that Old Madam Yun and the Yun Family's Second Madam had arrived to pay respects to Consort Dowager Yun.
The Princess Consort thought for a moment: "I'm not sure if Her Highness is resting now. First send someone to Orchid Hall to check. If she's already asleep, have Old Madam Yun and Second Madam either come another day or wait in the side hall of Nine Suns Palace until Her Highness wakes before paying respects. If Her Highness isn't napping, then ask her."
The maid replied: "Her Highness knew Old Madam Yun was coming and had already sent someone to wait at the Inner Gate earlier. That's why Old Madam Yun and Second Madam Yun went directly to Orchid Hall first. Her Highness sent me to inform you."
The Princess Consort thought and asked: "Is it Second Madam Yun who came with Old Madam Yun? Did First Madam Yun come?"
The maid replied: "First Madam Yun didn't come. This time Old Madam Yun only brought Second Madam Yun and Second Miss Yun."
The Princess Consort nodded: "I understand. You may go."
Nanny Xin asked: "Could Old Madam Yun's visit to see Her Highness this time be about the Yun Family Eldest Miss again?" Last time, what happened between the Yun Family Eldest Miss and Yun Wenfang at the hot spring villa brought shame upon the entire Yun Family. If not for Consort Dowager Yun's presence, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion wouldn't have let the matter pass so lightly.
The Princess Consort shook her head: "Probably not. Otherwise, Old Madam Yun would have come alone or brought First Madam Yun."
When Old Madam Yun visited the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, she usually brought First Madam Yun. Second Madam Yun and Third Madam Yun came less frequently.
Nanny Xin thought for a moment: "Second Miss Yun came too. Could it be about Second Miss Yun's marriage? Second Madam and Second Miss are rather pitiful. Second Master Yun passed away early, and Second Madam only gave birth to Second Miss, with no sons. Fortunately, Old Madam Yun takes pity on the mother and daughter."
The Princess Consort nodded without saying anything.Compared to the Eldest and Third Branches of the Yun Family, the Second Branch was much more subdued, as aside from Second Mistress Yun and Second Miss Yun—the mother and daughter pair—there were no other members left. Old Madam Yun did not treat the Second Branch with any particular favoritism; she always valued the Eldest Branch the most. However, she still took care of Second Mistress Yun and her daughter, ensuring they lacked neither clothing nor food. Whatever the masters of the Yun Family had, they had as well. It was just that Second Mistress Yun and her daughter kept a low profile, almost invisible in the eyes of both the Yun Family and outsiders.
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin listened quietly as the Princess Consort and Nanny Xin chatted about matters concerning the Yun Family, not interrupting. Especially Ren Yaoqi, as what had happened at the Hot Spring Villa was somewhat connected to her, and she now felt somewhat uneasy around members of the Yun Family.
However, not long after, someone from Lanxi Hall came to invite the Princess Consort over. Hearing that Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin were also there, Consort Dowager Yun asked them to come along as well.
Since Consort Dowager Yun had extended the invitation, the Princess Consort tidied up slightly and brought her daughter-in-law and daughter along. The Yun Family was her maternal family, so there was no need for the formalities reserved for outsiders.
Consort Dowager Yun did not receive her guests in the main hall of Lanxi Hall but in the eastern warm chamber where she usually rested and drank tea. This showed her closeness to her maternal family.
When the Princess Consort entered with Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin, Old Madam Yun, who had been sitting on the southern kang chatting with Consort Dowager Yun, and Second Mistress Yun, seated on a nearby chair, quickly stood up to pay their respects to the Princess Consort. Consort Dowager Yun did not say anything further, nor did she make polite remarks such as "the Princess Consort is a junior and does not deserve such courtesy."
The Princess Consort stepped forward to support Old Madam Yun, smiling at her, and then led the two younger women in paying respects to Consort Dowager Yun. After rising, she personally helped Old Madam Yun sit back down on the southern kang.
Old Madam Yun refused to sit, wanting to give her seat to the Princess Consort. The Princess Consort said, "Please, you should sit. I will take a chair. After all, I am the one interrupting your conversation."
Consort Dowager Yun interjected, "Let her and the children sit elsewhere. We old folks are half in the grave already; there aren’t many chances left for us to act on seniority."
Only then did Old Madam Yun sit back down.
The Princess Consort had a few more chairs brought in and seated herself beside Consort Dowager Yun.
Consort Dowager Yun glanced at Ren Yaoqi. "Weren’t you supposed to come and help me copy Buddhist scriptures? I’ll chat with your mother and the others. You and Lin’er take Second Miss Yun to the outer room to write, and have some tea and snacks sent in."
Old Madam Yun and Second Mistress Yun both looked at Ren Yaoqi, while the Princess Consort smiled and nodded slightly at her. Ren Yaoqi quickly lowered her head in acknowledgment, then left with Xiao Jinglin and Second Miss Yun.
After Ren Yaoqi and the others had left, Old Madam Yun smiled and said, "It seems Her Highness is quite satisfied with this granddaughter-in-law."
Consort Dowager Yun replied calmly, "Satisfied? She’s rather foolish!" Then she glanced at the Princess Consort. "You’ll have to teach her properly in the future."
No woman in all of Yanbei would dare call Ren Yaoqi foolish, as no one would believe it. Thus, while Consort Dowager Yun’s words sounded like criticism, they were actually the kind of strictness an elder shows toward a junior they find worthy. Moreover, having her entertain Second Miss Yun was clearly a way for her to fulfill her duties as hostess.
So the Princess Consort smiled and agreed, while Old Madam Yun couldn’t help but ponder thoughtfully.The outer and inner chambers of the warm pavilion were separated only by a display shelf and a curtain, so the conversation inside could still be faintly heard by Ren Yaoqi and the others. Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but feel surprised by Consort Dowager Yun's attitude. Even now, she could sense that Consort Dowager Yun didn't truly like her, so she hadn't expected the dowager to stand up for her in front of the Yun Family.
Ren Yaoqi went to instruct the maids of the Lanxi Hall to serve tea and snacks. After the refreshments were brought, she realized there was no writing desk in the outer chamber of the warm pavilion, let alone brushes, ink, paper, or inkstones. Although Consort Dowager Yun might not have genuinely intended for them to come and practice calligraphy, the words had already been spoken. Ren Yaoqi had no choice but to order someone to bring over a temporary desk and several sets of writing materials.
Di Mou is featured on the homepage today with a major recommendation—adding an extra chapter to celebrate!
Isn't the big cover beautiful? o(∩_∩)o
Begging for all kinds of support with a cute plea~
Mei Xiaonan has been very well-behaved lately, right?
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