Chapter 248

Gu Jiu Ling's gaze fell silently onto Madam Zhao's hand holding Jinzhi; it looked as if Jinzhi was helping Madam Zhao walk in, but actually Madam Zhao was holding Jinzhi's hand, and only after sitting down did she unconsciously let go.

Her heart stirred slightly, and her expression softened a bit.

Perhaps Jinzhi marrying into the Zhao family isn't so bad; I just don't know whether Zhao Lang is bullying her now, making her embarrassed.

But Madam Zhao, as a mother-in-law, was fiercely protecting her daughter-in-law; the old lady looked kind and benevolent, not pretending.

After all, one's mental state shows; Jinzhi looked relaxed and her complexion was fine.

Madam Zhao, after sitting down, smiled at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "I have long wanted to visit the residence to see the Princess Consort, but the Princess Consort is about to give birth, and I, being a coarse woman, fear I might offend her."

Her words were indeed true; everyone in Shang Jing knew that Xiao Yin was a formidable figure and that he protected his wife extremely.

Ordinary people avoid touching Xiao Yin's bad luck and dare not see the Princess Consort, lest something happen that would be hard to explain later.

Moreover, Gu Jiu Ling is not the type who enjoys bustling gatherings, so in Shang Jing, apart from the Lin family women, she has virtually no close acquaintances.

Earlier, the dispute between Rui Wangfu and the Zhao family had become quite unsightly, and Madam Zhao did not wish to go.

After all, her son had taken a beating, and as his mother she felt pain.

This visit to see Gu Jiu Ling was entirely because of Jinzhi; she adored that girl Jinzhi.

Not only is she gentle in temperament, but her needlework is also top‑notch.

She gives her embroidered handkerchiefs, makes jackets, embroidered headscarves; though she cannot speak, she quietly holds the embroidered pieces and sits obediently by her side.

She chats to Jinzhi about old tales of jianghu lovers; Jinzhi listens with a calm smile while continuing her embroidery.

Madam Zhao had previously given birth to Zhao Lang, a brat who was irritable from childhood; as he grew up, he rarely sat with his mother, even to chat or hear his old mother's nagging.

Later Zhao Lang entered the army and seldom returned, leaving Madam Zhao with a sense of loneliness.

This time she does not want her son to bring home such a pleasing person to stay by her side, fitting in everywhere.

In her natal family she had seven older brothers; she was the only girl, and they were rather boisterous.

Later she bore a son, and all the brothers also had sons; now a well‑behaved young lady suddenly appears beside her, and Madam Zhao feels as happy as if a huge pie had struck her head.

She doesn't know how to hold this daughter‑in‑law tenderly, how to love her enough to get through.

After all, Jinzhi came from the side of the Princess Consort of Rui, so for Jinzhi's face, she must pay a visit.

Since Gu Jiu Ling is at the Princess's residence, Madam Zhao need not go to Rui Wangfu and feel awkward.

She took out a velvet box.

The velvet box's exterior was intricately patterned, outlined with fine gold and silver threads, very beautiful.

Madam Zhao smiled, opened the box, and revealed a pair of small tigers made of pure gold.

Two little tigers. They look endearingly clumsy, lifelike; the craftsman who made them displayed extraordinary skill, and remarkably, both tigers are forged from pure gold.

Gu Jiu Ling took the little tigers, pressed them onto her palm, feeling their weight; her heart couldn't help but grow more fond of Madam Zhao.

After she became pregnant, the nobles in Shang Jing, in order to curry favor with Xiao Yin, also presented many gifts, many of which were more valuable than Madam Zhao's.

She didn't expect this pair of tigers would win her heart; the child is due next spring, which is the Year of the Tiger.

Gu Jiu Ling, who likes such simple, bold gifts, smiled and accepted, "Madam Zhao, you are thoughtful; thank you for your gift, I truly like it."

At first Madam Zhao's expression was rather uneasy; she is usually straightforward, but the noblewomen of Shang Jing looked down on her.

A woman from the countryside, and her background is an escort bureau— isn't that just because she gave birth to a capable son?

Now, thanks to her son's prestige, she has risen to prominence.

Madam Zhao understood that those people looked down on her; she is straightforward and does not like mingling with them, so when preparing a gift for Gu Jiu Ling, she didn't know what to choose.

She thought only something made of gold, with its noble aura, would suit Gu Jiu Ling, who carries the young Heir Apparent and young Commandery Princess.

Seeing that Gu Jiu Ling truly liked it, Madam Zhao felt a weight lift from her heart; shortly after, Gu Jiu Ling had Jiu Yue bring her favorite snack.

Madam Zhao also liked sweets; she hadn't expected the snack's preparation to be so unusual—neither in Shang Jing nor in their countryside had she seen anything like it.

For a while the guests chatted merrily, barely an hour passing, when Madam Zhao noticed a hint of fatigue on Gu Jiu Ling's face and realized she needed a rest.

After all, carrying twins makes even a short sit tiring; Madam Zhao rose, bid Gu Jiu Ling farewell, and left Gu Jiu Ling's courtyard with Jinzhi.

The mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law walked through the Princess's corridor toward the plum forest; they were just looking for a moment to go visit the Princess Consort of Rui.

After returning for a while, the banquet would be over.

From the carved corridor, a small path leads to the plum forest; one must follow the lakeshore northward, pass through a moon‑shaped gate, and arrive at the plum forest.

Madam Zhao feared that staying away from the banquet with her daughter‑in‑law too long would give the noblewomen of Shang Jing something to gossip about.

She was already old, which was fine, but her daughter‑in‑law would eventually have to move within this circle of noble ladies; any mistake would invite ridicule.

To save time, she led Jinzhi straight along the lakeside trail.

The harsh winter had passed, and the Origin Festival was approaching.

The scent of spring arrived; the lake's ice had melted considerably, forming a spectacular display of ice flowers.

Madam Zhao hurriedly stopped, grasped Jinzhi's hand, and pointed at the lake, laughing.

"This is exactly the kind of scenery Shang Jing has at this time."

"When things settle down, I'll take you out of the capital to the frontier; the ice flowers on the rivers for thousands of miles are far more spectacular, and I'll also take you horseback across the grasslands to enjoy the scenery…"

Madam Zhao suddenly fell silent, a hint of melancholy appearing in her eyes.

She actually didn't like life in Shang Jing much; it's just that her son has become a Grand General, and the emperor himself granted a residence in Shang Jing.

If she and her old husband stayed hidden in the countryside, it would put her son in a difficult position; besides, her son is now of marriageable age, and he cannot spend his whole life hidden in the countryside enjoying leisure—he must come to Shang Jing at least once.

But now, after only a few short months, she has been desperately yearning for the scenery of the borderlands, their customs, and the animals she raises, not knowing how they are faring.

Jinzhi seemed to sense her mother‑in‑law's disappointment; she lifted her hand, gently clasped Madam Zhao's, and Madam Zhao promptly smiled.

"Look at my temperament—saying I wanted to take you out to see the world, but I ended up making a fool of you. Never mind, let's go back to the banquet ahead."

"That brat Zhao Lang is meeting with the Crown Prince; he probably rushed to the banquet as well, and then the two of us mothers can have him escort us back."

Jinzhi nodded, obediently following behind Madam Zhao; after a few steps, a series of laughing voices drifted from a secluded forest.

The mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law originally did not intend to eavesdrop, but because the conversation touched on both of them, they couldn't help but stop.