A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace-Chapter 593: Let’s Have a Few Kids Ourselves
Little Bun was not shy. With tear-filled big eyes, he looked over the two ’strangers’ before him and then forgot to cry.
Lady Ni took out a jade pendant of excellent quality from her bosom. It was a Jade Guanyin, vibrant green, glossy and translucent, exuding a soft, gentle luster, like a clear spring in the deep mountains.
"This was prayed for in a temple; it has been blessed to protect the Little Prince for a lifetime of peace!" she said. "Although I dare not call myself his aunt, this represents my heartfelt sentiment! The gift may not be much, Your Ladyship, please do not disdain it!"
Xia Ruqing smiled. "Sister-in-law, you are too modest. By relation, you are his aunt; as long as we both know that, it is enough!"
No sooner had she spoken than Little Bun wriggled free from Xia Ruqing’s arms. He then wobbled forward, stretching out his chubby little hands to reach for the jade pendant. Being too short to grasp it, he turned his watery big eyes towards Lady Ni. That adorable look of his could melt anyone’s heart.
Lady Ni then took the jade pendant, secured it with a red string, and tied it around his neck. "Does the Little Prince like it?"
Little Bun’s gaze shifted to his own neck, and his plump little hands grasped the jade pendant.
"HEE HEE..." He smiled with squinted eyes, drool dribbling down his chin.
Xia Ruqing felt a vein throb on her forehead.
Son, can’t you show a little more promise?!
Little Bun proudly held the jade pendant aloft in front of Xia Ruqing.
What’s promise? Can you eat it?!
Xia Ruqing was at a loss for words.
After playing for a while, Little Bun was carried away by his Wetnurse Sister. Xia Caiying was also called by Zi Su and Zi Ning to play. Only the two sisters-in-law remained in the inner chamber.
Xia Ruqing had Zi Yue bring out an exquisitely crafted box. "This, too, is a token of my goodwill! I couldn’t attend when you married into the family, so let this make up for it!"
Lady Ni looked at the exquisite box before her. Inside was a complete set of Pure Gold Inlaid with Ruby Headdress. It included a grand Peony Crown, a set of four Begonia Hairpins, six pairs of Butterfly Rui Hairpins, six pairs of Gold Tassel Hairpins, and twelve Southern Red Agate Hair Flowers of various designs. There were also twelve pairs of Ruby Inlaid with South Sea Pearl Earrings, twelve pairs of Coral Bead Bracelets, and twelve East Sea Pearl Inlaid with Silver Flower Necklaces. Lastly, it contained rings, floral forehead ornaments, and other small items. The box had three layers, each meticulously lined with deep red velvet, and the jewelry within was arranged neatly.
Lady Ni’s heart pounded at the sight. "Consort Xian Pin, this is... too valuable! I dare not accept it!"
Not coming from a high-ranking family, Lady Ni had indeed never seen such fine things. This entire set must be worth a fortune.
Xia Ruqing closed the box and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, as the principal wife and Lady Hou, every lady in the Capital City tends to look down on others! Even if not for yourself, you must consider the reputation of the Marquis’s estate. How can you manage without a few fine items in hand?! These are all fashionable designs from outside; you can wear all of them. There’s no need to keep them locked away at the bottom of a chest!"
After listening carefully, Lady Ni’s eyes reddened. Consort Xian Pin was doing this to bolster her standing. This set would likely cost no less than three thousand taels of silver. Her own dowry was only worth five thousand silver taels; when would she ever possess such items? Perhaps she might never wear them in her entire life.
"I humbly thank Consort Xian Pin for this generous gift!" Lady Ni rose and performed a deep obeisance, kneeling.
Xia Ruqing quickly helped her up personally. "This is not a reward; this is a gift from me to you!"
"Your Ladyship!" Lady Ni’s eyes grew even redder.
Xia Ruqing didn’t dare keep her for too long. After chatting for a while, she had someone see Lady Ni out.
Zi Yue escorted her all the way to a side gate of the Harem before returning. Before leaving, Lady Ni insisted on stuffing a bag of Silver Tokens into her hands. Zi Yue weighed it; it felt like more than ten taels of silver, which was half a year’s allowance for her.
TSK TSK, this Madam is indeed kindhearted and generous. She remembered that when Lady Yao visited last time, she hadn’t even given an empty purse. The contrast made the difference obvious. Sighing with this thought, Zi Yue hurried back to Qingya Residence.
By the time Lady Ni returned to the estate by carriage, the sky had already darkened.
Upon entering the main courtyard, she saw Xia Tingfeng standing under the veranda, fiddling with a sword.
"Marquis!"
"You’re back?!" Seeing her return, Xia Tingfeng put down his sword and walked over. Once inside the room, he personally helped her remove her cloak.
Lady Ni’s face turned red. "Let me do it. The servants are still here!"
"Hmm?" Xia Tingfeng coldly glanced at the maids following behind them. The maids were so frightened they immediately shrank back, wishing they could disappear on the spot.
Lady Ni was speechless and chided playfully, "Marquis!"
Xia Tingfeng coughed lightly and quickly averted his gaze. Only then did Lady Ni smile.
"Please sit down, Marquis." She gently pulled him to sit on the kang bed and personally handed him a cup of tea.
Then, she began to speak of matters in the palace. She smiled and said, "Her Ladyship is doing well. She’s even filled out a bit more since last summer, looking quite plump and rosy! The Little Prince is also well; he can already walk and is so clever and adorable! The moment I saw him, my heart nearly melted. I wanted to hold him, but I was afraid of scaring him." She added, almost to herself, "Some children are afraid of strangers."
Xia Tingfeng sipped his tea, listening as she spoke gently about her visit, saying how well everyone was doing. Watching the tenderness that seemed to overflow from her eyes as she spoke of the child, a wide smile spread across his face.
"If you like them so much, we can have a few of our own! Boys and girls, we’ll want them all!"
At his words, Lady Ni’s face turned completely red. "Marquis! I am discussing serious matters with you!"
Xia Tingfeng smiled faintly. "Alright, you were saying?"
Lady Ni patted her hot cheeks and hurriedly changed the subject. "Your Second Sister will be living with us from now on. She’s grown up and should learn to read and write. I was thinking, after the New Year, we should hire a governess for her. If she learns more, she’ll be better able to hold her own in her future husband’s family. Also, we need to buy a few more maids for her; she has too few attendants. She’ll be a young lady of status in the future, and it wouldn’t do for her to appear ill-provided for. And about Mother’s courtyard... even though Mother refuses to stay in our estate, we still need to keep her courtyard well-maintained and have someone clean it regularly."
Lady Ni continued with this string of suggestions.
Xia Tingfeng supported himself with one hand on the kang table, squinting at her. The dim yellow lamplight cast on her flushed face, her delicate features, fair skin, hair piled high like dark clouds, and her eyes, soft as water—all of it stirred his heart.
But then he said, "Madam, you’ve shown concern for my sister the Consort, our little nephew, my younger sister Caiying, and Mother. How is it that you’ve completely forgotten about your husband, me?"
"Huh?" Lady Ni’s eyes widened, somewhat puzzled.
Xia Tingfeng smirked slyly, slowly reaching out to twirl a strand of her hair around his finger.
Lady Ni’s face instantly flushed red. "Marquis, you..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Xia Tingfeng stood up like a gust of wind and swept her into his arms. By the time she registered what was happening, the curtains of the inner chamber bed had already been drawn.
In the Marriage-Bond Tent, a moment of a spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
