Chapter 5: Jing-er Truly Has Fate

"This Jing-er is quite obedient, looking around with those big, bright eyes."

The women gathered around looked and saw that it was indeed so.

Bai Shi, looking at Xu Xu Zaijing in the wet nurse's arms, was also very happy; after all, he was a baby carved like powder and jade, with spirited eyes.

Xu Xu Zaijing also saw in his field of vision a young woman whose clothing was clearly much more luxurious, conversing with his own mother; her brows and eyes bore some resemblance to the celebrity Zhao Liying from his previous life, and dimples appeared on her face as she talked and laughed.

Her entire demeanor was gentle and clear-beautiful.

In this otherworldly realm, having someone with even a tiny connection to his past life made Xu Xu Zaijing feel a sense of closeness.

"Ah~"

Xu Xu Zaijing let out a cry toward this young woman.

This sound made the women surrounding them all laugh.

When the wet nurse carried him closer to Bai Shi, Xu Xu Zaijing smiled, stretched out his short little hands, and cried out to Bai Shi again,

while his two short little legs kicked a few times inside the wet nurse's embrace.

"Ah ah~"

Such behavior struck the noble ladies and official wives around them as amusing, and they laughed again.

"This Jing-er only looks at clothes, not at faces," Wu Da Da Niangzi laughed.

This remark set the women in the courtyard laughing once more.

"Bai Wu Da Da Niangzi and Sun Wu Da Da Niangzi do indeed wear somewhat similar colors; both are bamboo green."

The wet nurse intended to continue carrying Xu Xu Zaijing forward, but he struggled, reaching his hands toward Bai Shi.

"Oh my, this Jing-er truly has strength."

Bai Shi glanced at Sun Shi, whose face showed surprise, and said softly with a smile, "Sister, may I hold him for a moment?"

"Of course you may; this boy never acts like this in the rear courtyard," Sun Shi said with a laugh.

Bai Shi took Xu Xu Zaijing from the wet nurse's hands; looking into his pitch-black eyes, she said with a face full of smiles, "Jing-er?"

"Ah~"

"Jing-er?"

"Ah~"

Mama Chang, standing aside, was also watching with delight and said to Sun Shi, "Da Da Niangzi, Jing-er likes our Da Da Niangzi. Oh my, those dimples."

As she spoke, Xu Xu Zaijing's small hand had already climbed up to Bai Shi's face, and his little mouth was preparing to press against it.

"Oh my, little ancestor, my young miss has applied quite a lot of face powder today."

Mama Chang said this,

and the women laughed again.

Bai Shi's features were clear and beautiful; although she was dressed up, she was nowhere near covered in face powder as Mama Chang claimed.

Looking at Xu Xu Zaijing, whose eyes were wide, whose face showed dimples, and who was clean and pink-tender, joy rose in Bai Shi's heart; she deftly slipped a jade bracelet of exquisite quality off her wrist and said, "Little Jing-er, keep this for your future wife."

Upon seeing this, Sun Shi hastily said, "Da Da Niangzi, this won't do; this is far too precious."

The other official wives also showed expressions of surprise and envy.

This jade bracelet was made of jade of extremely fine quality; it was carved with characters for auspiciousness, fortune, and longevity, and the engraved letters were inlaid with gold so tightly that not a gap remained.

To say it was priceless might be an exaggeration, but one could not buy it without spending around a thousand taels of silver.

Yet the bracelet was already gripped in Xu Xu Zaijing's hand.

Bai Shi laughed and said, "This is not a first-birthday gift for Jing-er; it is from me personally, so do not refuse, Sister."

"In that case, thank you, Da Da Niangzi," Sun Shi said, rising to bow.

"Sister, there is no need for such politeness. Little Jing-er~"

"Ah~"

Wu Da Da Niangzi, standing nearby, spoke forthrightly: "This little Jing-er is quite the little money-miser."

"Hahahaha!"

The women all covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and laughed.

"Da Da Niangzi, the banquet is ready; we may begin," the maid Xiao Ju said.

"Very well, sisters and younger sisters, let us take our seats."

The wet nurse hurriedly reached out and took Xu Xu Zaijing back from Bai Shi's hands.

Bai Shi, wearing a smile, waved her hand toward Xu Xu Zaijing in the wet nurse's arms,

saying, "Jing-er, I'm leaving now."

Xu Xu Zaijing looked at her and cried "ah ah" twice.

This provoked another round of laughter.

Everyone rose and proceeded to the banquet.

During the meal, Sun Shi's six sisters-in-law from her natal family did not sit at the same table as Bai Shi.

Throughout the banquet, Wu Da Da Niangzi spoke in a forthright and humorous manner; the wives of the military officials were not reserved, and laughter frequently rang out.

The sun slanted westward.

It was already afternoon.

At the Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu first-birthday banquet, host and guests alike enjoyed themselves; by late afternoon, once the family members had finished their tea, they departed one after another.

Wu Da Da Niangzi, holding Sun Shi's hand, said, "Younger sister, come to my family's hunting park to play polo when you have time; it has been long since I last saw you."

"Very well, my elder sister; must I not look after the child? Also, you have worked hard today."

"Hey, why mention such things! That Jing-er of yours, I daresay, is a little clever sprite; he only draws close to the best-looking and wealthiest people."

Behind them, Bai Shi was waiting to bid farewell to Wu Da Da Niangzi; she glanced at Mama Chang beside her, her face breaking into a smile.

Wu Da Da Niangzi boarded her own carriage.

Watching the carriage of the Yongchang Marquis Manor depart, the carriage of the Lady Ningyuan Marquis Manor arrived at the gate; Sun Shi, with some apology in her manner, took Bai Shi's hand.

"Younger sister, today that rascal Jing-ge'er has caused you unnecessary expense."

"Da Da Niangzi, please do not speak so; my Da Da Niangzi was truly happy today."

Sun Shi could hear the genuine joy in Chang Mama's words.

Bai Shi smiled and said gently, "Older sister, I only hope we did not spoil your mood."

Sun Shi understood; Bai Shi meant that she hoped Sun Shi would not be unhappy because her own son favored a woman of merchant birth, and looking at Bai Shi with sincere eyes, she said:

"Younger sister, do not take everything to heart. Our family comes from a military background; many matters within the fu have been talked about behind our backs countless times. That you came personally, I understand it all."

Bai Shi firmly squeezed Sun Shi's hands, knowing she had made a friend.

"Older sister, then I shall return to the fu."

Watching the carriage disappear from sight, Sun Shi, accompanied by her female attendants, returned to the fu.

Inside the carriage, Chang Mama withdrew her gaze.

"Miss, this Sun Da Da Niangzi is not one for empty pretenses."

"Mm, I too was very happy at this banquet."

"This Jing-ge'er truly seems destined to meet Da Da Niangzi."

Hearing this, Bai Shi smiled and said, "Truly? Most likely Jing-ge'er mistook me for Sister Sun. After all, Sister Sun and I wore clothes of similar color."

Seeing Chang Mama look thoughtful, Bai Shi laughed and said, "With such a small child, whatever anyone tells him, he does; he was still in his wet nurse's arms."

"Yes, when Ye-ge'er was in his wet nurse's arms, Miss, if you did not call him, he would ignore everyone else."

"Make the carriage go faster; I miss Yu-ge'er and Ye-ge'er."

"Yes, Miss."

"Sigh, a child without a mother; whenever I see Yu-ge'er, I am reminded of those days after Mother passed away."

"Good Miss, do not let your thoughts wander so; you have Ye-ge'er, and in the future there will be many more ge'er and Hua Jie'er."

Time flew like an arrow,

and Xu Xu Zaijing had already been in this world for three years.

As a child who had just learned to walk, Xu Xu Zaijing's range of activity was pitifully small; on the few occasions he went out, it was mostly inside a carriage.

He had visited his maternal grandmother's home in Bianjing and, held by his own mother, attended several banquets.

During festivals and holidays, his cheap father Xu Minghua sometimes returned in person, sometimes sent gifts back, and meanwhile had transitioned from a deputy position to a formal one, becoming a commander with real authority.

If there are any typos, or any passages that are awkward and affect reading, please do not hesitate to point them out, many thanks, many thanks!

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(End of Chapter)