The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 1899 - 1874: Compromise

When Mingda woke up, she saw her sister gazing intently outside with a happy expression on her face, though she didn’t know what she was thinking.

Mingda turned and glanced at Manbao, then reached out to give her a push, hoping to wake her up. Instead, Manbao turned over, her back toward Mingda, and continued sleeping soundly.

Changyu turned her head and said, "Don’t bother waking her. With all the birds chirping outside, she didn’t get disturbed. She’s definitely not going to wake up."

Mingda decided not to wake her either and joined Changyu at the window sill to look outside.

Breathed a sigh from the depths of her heart, she felt completely relaxed.

Even though it was within the walls, and the Little Manor was far smaller than the Taiji Palace, the feeling it gave was bright, lively, and relaxed.

Mingda leaned on her arm, feeling happy just staring at a small weed under the window sill and said, "The outside really is different."

Changyu nodded, feeling for once hopeful about the future, "If the Princess’s residence is also free and relaxed like this, then leaving the imperial palace wouldn’t be so bad."

Mingda said, "You overthink things, sister, and you’re a bit homesick. As for me, I see nothing bad about getting married. After marriage, you can go wherever you want, isn’t that freeing?"

Changyu laughed, "You just want to go out and play, don’t you?"

Mingda chuckled without responding and only said, "When you get married, make sure to take me out of the palace often to have fun."

In recent years, the sisters rarely went out of the palace. It was only when Prince Gong stayed in the capital instead of going to his domain that he would often take them out.

Since last year, if they wanted to go out, they had to find excuses with Zhou Man.

Mingda genuinely envied Manbao, while Changyu was quite indifferent. Although she liked horse riding and playing polo, and had a lively and cheerful personality, she never considered leaving the capital, never going far from the palace.

Strange places and unfamiliar people didn’t excite her but filled her with anxiety and helplessness.

Mingda was quite the opposite; perhaps because she was often unwell as a child, she had always been curious about the outside world since she was young.

When the Emperor went to Yongzhou, she wanted to tag along; when he went to Jinyang, she also wanted to go; she threw tantrums to go to Taiyuan too, even if it meant being sick for several months afterwards.

The sisters, each with their own thoughts, leaned on the window sill in a daze looking outside. Manbao felt a bit hot, turned over, and kicked off the little blanket covering her stomach, stretching out her arms and legs to continue sleeping.

Hearing the movement, Mingda and Changyu turned to look at her. After a moment of watching, they exchanged glances and went back to the window sill, ignoring her.

Manbao had a good sleep. When she woke up, she habitually yawned and then stretched her body with eyes closed, feeling relaxed before opening her eyes to get up.

She sat up and saw Mingda and Changyu sitting by the window, looking back at her. She crawled over to sit between them and glanced outside, asking, "What are you looking at?"

Changyu teased, "Looking at you."

Mingda laughed and asked, "Did you sleep well?"

Manbao nodded and, sitting between them, stared at the flowers and grasses outside in a daze, "Seems like it’s a bit hot, the sun too strong. I initially wanted to take you to the ditch to fish, but it seems unlikely now, too sunny by the water."

She said, "We should go into the woods instead. I’ll take you to pick wild fruits and flowers."

Mingda and Changyu had no objections and happily agreed.

But they were still lazily unmoving for a while before finally getting up.

The palace maids waiting outside heard the movement and entered one by one, bringing basins to wash their faces and clean their hands.

Usually, Manbao would do these things herself, sometimes asking the maids just to bring water. Now, with maids stopping her every move as if her hands-on involvement was harmful to them, Manbao dared not move too much.

Palace maids opened the copper mirror and grooming box to comb the hair of both princesses, and incidentally, they got hold of Manbao up front too.

Changyu started chatting with Manbao, "I just saw your eldest brother and Fifth Brother, but why haven’t I seen your fourth brother?"

Manbao knew she was eager to earn money unscrupulously, and replied, "My fourth brother is on the steppe."

Changyu asked about her second niece instead, "What about your second niece?"

Manbao laughed, "She went to the steppe too. This time, my fourth brother took my eldest nephew and second niece with him."

Remembering that her fourth brother also had a sneaky mind and courage, Manbao continued, "He’s planning to bring back some pearls this time. When he returns, I’ll ask him to save some for you if you want them, you can buy from him. I’ll make sure he gives you a discount."

Changyu replied, "My jewelry is always gifted. I’ve rarely paid for it."

Manbao said, "You can start getting used to it. Once you’re married, jewelry won’t be provided by the palace anymore, you’ll surely have to buy it."

Changyu: "... You’re just trying to earn money from me without helping me earn any."

Manbao squinted at her. If it weren’t for being careful of the maids wiping her hair, she’d definitely shake her head.

Mingda, nearby, laughed and said, "Sister, she’s giving you a chance."

Changyu quickly turned her head, catching the maid unawares, who tugged her hair and promptly knelt in fright.

Changyu waved her hand, dismissively asking the maid to rise while she turned to Manbao, "Is it really?"

The palace maid breathed a sigh of relief, cautiously continued doing Changyu’s hair.

Manbao said, "My fourth brother is stubborn. Although we disagreed with him getting involved in something as big as pearl trading, he insists on doing it. We didn’t give him money, so he borrowed it from my fourth sister-in-law. Instead of blocking him, we provided him the funds."

"I don’t know whether this is a good or bad thing, whether I am right or he’s right. It will only be clear once he goes through with it." Manbao said, "I’m determined to stay on the sidelines, but since you both have an interest, I can’t hinder his opportunity. Whether it ends in loss or gain depends on your actions."

Manbao said, "I’ll give you the ugly truth first; you can do business, but you must know business carries risks. There may be gains or losses, and if you lose, do not act angrily and irrationally."

Changyu saw Manbao finally opening up, got excited and insisted, "Am I that kind of person?"

Manbao glanced at her and said it all without saying it.

Changyu returned her a playful glare and patted her.

Mingda reminded, "Sister, you’re not married yet."

"It’s okay, let’s just be friends first."

Mingda and Manbao exchanged knowing smiles.

After they finished doing their hair, Manbao invited them to go out together.

They didn’t need to exit through the front, they just went out the side door which led to a small wooden bridge to the foot of the opposite mountain.

This small wooden bridge was obviously built for the convenience of the people on the estate, so there was no railing, just a few planks laid across.

Changyu lifted her skirt, walking wobblingly, full of fear. Once she reached the other side, she patted her chest, saying, "Why isn’t the bridge built sturdier?"

Manbao replied, "It’s just a few of us using it, building a bridge costs money, as long as we can cross it, it’s fine."

Changyu: "... You seem like someone short on money, but you’re not eager to earn more."