Chapter 7: The Daughter-in-Law of the Duke of Qi State's Household

Smelling the blended fragrance of tea and ingredients in the teacup, the woman delayed drinking it.

This made the maids serving beside her hold their breath; they feared the tea did not suit the Princess's taste and dreaded punishment.

The Princess managed her household strictly, being rigorous with others and even more so with herself.

She would not tolerate servants' mistakes, punishing them severely according to family law; selling them off or beating them with planks was common.

Outside the tent,

Sun Shi and her group, needing to pass before the Duke of Qi State's tent to reach the Marquis Marquis Yongyi Fu tent, were walking this way.

Through the light gauze curtain, the Princess's long-serving personal nursemaid saw this group; she walked to the woman's side and whispered in her ear,

"Princess, Sun Da Da Niangzi from the Marquis Marquis Yongyi Xu family is approaching; her maternal grandfather had an old connection with the Third Master of the Imperial Uncle's family. She has three sons and two daughters; the one in her arms is the Xu family's Third Lang, named Xu Zaijing."

Hearing the personal nursemaid's words, especially 'three sons and two daughters,' a flash of light appeared in the Princess's eyes, and she said softly,

"If she has leisure, please invite this Da Da Niangzi up for a chat."

Sun Shi and her group, walking along the edge of the grounds, naturally knew nothing of the events inside this tent.

Just as they were walking,

Xu Xu Zaijing saw a middle-aged female official emerge from the large tent, her demeanor quite proper.

Little Ju beside them said, "Da Da Niangzi, it is someone from the Duke of Qi State's household."

Sun Shi realized this was the Duke of Qi State's tent; since a Duke's rank is one level higher than a Marquis's, stopping to pay respects while passing was necessary.

Xu Xu Zaijing was placed on the ground; just as Sun Shi was about to bow outside the tent to the Duke's household, the female official quickly stepped to Sun Shi's side and supported her.

"Da Da Niangzi, please do not be so polite; the Princess was raised before the Empress since childhood and is also close to the Imperial Uncle's family. If Da Da Niangzi has leisure, could you enter the tent for a chat?"

A flash of surprise passed through Sun Shi's eyes; she smiled and nodded, saying, "Certainly, there is no objection."

After speaking, she glanced at Little Zhu, who returned a look with her eyes.

The female official turned sideways and performed a deep bow of invitation with full propriety.

Little Ju beside them wanted to pick up Xu Xu Zaijing, but Xu Xu Zaijing shook his head.

The group was led into the tent; Little Zhu did not follow, instead walking toward the Marquis Marquis Yongyi Fu direction.

Inside the tent, the Princess politely rose; she saw that at the front of this group was a boy carved like jade, his hair black and dense, tied into several braids, his obsidian-like eyes full of curiosity, yet showing no fear upon seeing strangers.

The boy wore a dark cyan silk outer robe embroidered with a cute qilin pattern.

Everyone took their seats.

Glancing back at the mother behind him, Xu Xu Zaijing properly bowed and paid respects to Princess Princess Pingning.

Seeing this adorable boy, Princess Princess Pingning, who was usually stern and rarely smiled, revealed a smile on her face, her eyes full of affection.

The nursemaid beside them, knowing her mistress spoke little, hurriedly said, "Third Lang is truly thorough in his propriety."

In Xu Xu Zaijing's eyes, this large tent seemed similar to the one at Lady Ningyuan, yet it gave people a feeling of understated luxury.

Hearing someone in the tent offer praise, Xu Xu Zaijing feigned youthfulness and said in a childish voice, "Thank you, Cui Cui Mama, for the praise."

This demeanor made the smile on Princess Princess Pingning's face grow even brighter.

This smile relieved the female attendants and maids serving in the tent; their faces relaxed from their stern expressions, and the atmosphere became much more easeful.

"I pay my respects to Her Highness the Princess. May Her Highness have peace this spring."

"May Da Da Niangzi have peace this spring; please sit."

Sun Shi had rarely interacted with Princess Princess Pingning; the most recent time was when she went to offer congratulations and gifts for the Princess's marriage to the Duke of Qi State.

The invitation into the tent happened suddenly; in the few steps taken, Sun Shi had not been quick-witted enough to prepare a topic for conversation.

The female official waited for her mistress to speak.

Thus, there was this moment.

In the mountains, cicada noise makes the forest seem quieter; here in the tent, however, the outside clamor made this place feel exceptionally quiet.

As the saying goes, nothing is feared more than the air suddenly turning silent.

The atmosphere became slightly awkward for a brief moment.

Sun Shi smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"The weather today is indeed quite nice, neither cold nor hot."

"Yes."

Princess Princess Pingning had only invited Sun Shi into the tent on a whim after hearing the Xu family had many descendants; she had not thought of any topic to discuss.

She had been married to the Duke of Qi State's legitimate second son for two years, yet still had no children; although her parents-in-law had not urged her, while others were not anxious, she felt somewhat depressed in her heart.

Having invited the person in, she could not simply start by asking the Xu family why they had so many children! The two families were not relatives and truly not close.

The female official beside them also felt somewhat anxious, but since the Princess was now conversing with Sun Shi, she dared not interrupt; she noticed that Xu Xu Zaijing beside Sun Shi looked full of curiosity, his target being the teacup on the table.

The female official had a sudden thought and looked toward the Princess.

Having lived together for over ten years, the moment the female official's gaze went over, the Princess received it; seeing the female official's line of sight, she understood in her heart.

The Princess smiled and looked at Xu Xu Zaijing, saying gently,

"Third Lang, what are you looking at?"

Xu Xu Zaijing had been attracted by the tea's fragrance, because it truly smelled quite aromatic.

Being small, he had eaten many pastries earlier under the tent at Lady Ningyuan Hou Fu, so he was now somewhat thirsty.

"Thirsty."

Princess Princess Pingning looked toward Sun Shi,

"This cup of tea was brewed by the female official; it is neither cold nor hot. Da Da Niangzi?"

"Thank you, Princess; this boy ate quite a few pastries in the tent over there."

The female official carried the teacup over, and Xu Xu Zaijing began drinking in large gulps.

"Slowly, slowly."

Sun Shi glanced somewhat embarrassedly at the Princess.

Princess Princess Pingning, watching Xu Xu Zaijing enjoying the food, smiled and signaled that it was fine.

After finishing his drink, Xu Xu Zaijing unsteadily rose, took a few steps with his short little legs, and actually intended to return the tea cup to the Princess's table himself.

"Young master, take it slow, take it slow."

The Princess's female official said with concern.

Xu Xu Zaijing, however, stood still; he turned his head to look at his own mother.

"Mother, when Cui Cui Mama said to take it slow, was it because Princess Auntie, like Auntie Wu and Auntie Gu, also has a baby?"

At these words, the several people inside the tent were all slightly stunned.

Sun Shi stood up and hurriedly said, "Princess, please do not take offense; though this boy is small, his strength is not small, and boys are somewhat mischievous.

The fifth eldest daughter and the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yongchang Marquis Manor are with child; I often visit them, so at home I have constantly instructed him to move slowly and not bump into them."

The female official hurriedly took the tea cup.

Xu Xu Zaijing returned to his mother's embrace.

Upon hearing this, the Princess showed no displeasure on her face, yet her expression darkened, nearly sighing aloud.

Through her son's actions and the Princess's reaction, Sun Shi formed some conjectures in her heart.

Once married, a woman's worries are either that her husband is philandering or that she herself has no heirs.

Sun Shi, looking at the son in her arms, said,

"Do not think bearing this one was a matter of course; carrying Duan-ge'er to term took tremendous effort."

Upon hearing this, Princess Princess Pingning's eyes gained a spark of life, yet she looked at Sun Shi with some embarrassment,

Sun Shi understood she had touched the Princess's heart.

"At that time, I owed much to my sister-in-law from my maiden family; she knew an auntie from the He family, who serves as the Chief of the Imperial Medical Bureau. She is the He family's daughter-in-law, surnamed Zhang in her maiden name; for three generations they have been imperial physicians, and she is most skilled in women's internal medicine, so we invited her to the home for an examination."

The Princess's eyes were full of inquiry as she opened her mouth to say,

"I wonder if that auntie is like Da Da Niangzi; I am being somewhat rude." To pry into another's privacy is indeed somewhat rude.

Sun Shi said, "Princess, you are too polite; we are all married Misses, so among women, how could we mind such things? That auntie said that after marriage, a woman must relax her heart; the better her mood, the faster she will conceive, but if depression accumulates in the heart, it is detrimental to having offspring."

(End of Chapter)