Chapter 801: 336 Guest
Yueyao finished her practice and took the handkerchief Xi Yu handed over to wipe the sweat from her forehead and neck. It was a hot day, and even the early morning was very warm.
After washing up and having breakfast, Xi Yu brought over a Crescent White dress. Yueyao looked at it and shook her head, “When visiting, how can one wear something so plain?” It was fine to dress simply at home, but when going out to visit, even if Mingzhu didn’t mind, there were still the Niu Family people to consider!
When Yueyao stepped out, the sun was already hanging high. Passing through the bustling street, Yueyao sighed softly.
Xiang Wei quickly asked, “Miss, what’s wrong?”
Yueyao didn’t respond to her question, instead, she said, “Xiang Wei, tell the coachman to take a detour to the Jiangnan pastry shop.” Mingzhu loved all kinds of pastries, especially those from the shop in Jiangnan which were her favorites.
Xiang Wei chuckled, “Miss, why bother buying yourself? Didn’t you see in Mingzhu’s letter that the Eldest Young Master of the Niu Family buys her pastries every day?” Mingzhu’s letters to Yueyao were always twenty pages long, scribbling every trivial matter.
Yueyao also smiled, “Just buying a little is fine.” Pregnant women shouldn’t eat too many pastries, but having a little to satisfy a craving was ok.
Upon arriving at the Niu Mansion, Yueyao saw Mingzhu quickly walking over.
Mingzhu looked Yueyao up and down, smiling, “Three months without seeing you, not only have you grown taller, but you’ve also become more beautiful, I don’t know how you do it.”
Yueyao was wearing a Consort Xiang color Moon-blue silk skirt with entwined happy flowers, her hair done in a Crescent Moon Hairbun, adorned with a gold-plated crystal butterfly hairpin inlaid with gems, and several Red Gold bead flowers with pearls and gemstones. She wore a blue floral-shaped earring and a jade bracelet on her wrist. It wasn’t particularly extravagant, but it matched Yueyao’s temperament perfectly.
Yueyao smiled and said, “You’ve become prettier too.”
Mingzhu was wearing a silk orchid-patterned chemise with eight close-fitting sleeves. Due to her pregnancy, she wasn’t wearing makeup or elaborate hairstyles, just a simple hair bun adorned with a silk flower produced by the palace, without any pearls or jade. Compared to before, this attire was really simple for Mingzhu.
Mingzhu shot Yueyao a look, “What do you mean I’ve also become prettier? It doesn’t even sound teasing.”
Yueyao, holding Mingzhu’s hand, laughed, “A mother-to-be is naturally the most beautiful, incomparable to anyone.” Mingzhu used to be somewhat impetuous, but now she seemed much steadier.
Mingzhu asked with a face full of surprise, “Oh my, how has your mouth become so sweet in these three months? You could sweet-talk someone to death.”
The two walked into the house and Zhi Qin fetched a fan to provide a breeze. Mingzhu explained while laughing, “There’s something about being pregnant that makes you sweat easily.” In reality, it was because the place she was now living wasn’t as cool as before, and with the pregnancy, she felt irritable and generally hotter.
Yueyao reminded her, “Fanning yourself is fine, but you shouldn’t have anything too chilled.” Yueyao knew very well that Mingzhu liked to eat chilled fruits in the summer; she wouldn’t touch stuff that wasn’t chilled.
Mingzhu’s face suddenly turned bitter, “Being pregnant is like torture. I wish I’d never gone through with it.” She was truly suffering through a tough summer.
Yueyao jokingly scolded, “Nonsense, others aren’t even that lucky! Look around Capital City, see how many women are unable to conceive and have to take medicine and pray to the Bodhisattva. You don’t recognize the blessings you have.” Others aside, just the Lady of Marquis Jingning had been terribly upset about needing an heir.
Mingzhu held Yueyao’s hand, laughing sweetly, “It’s all thanks to your blessings and the Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children. I told my husband, I’m definitely having two within three years.”
Yueyao laughed, “Now you’re really talking nonsense. Let’s drop this subject and talk about something else. Did you say your mother-in-law went to Hualin Temple?” Yueyao didn’t want to keep on discussing the Picture of Guanyin for Blessing with Children; speaking more about it made her embarrassed.
Mingzhu nodded, “Hmm, that Madam Liu is a troublemaker. My mother-in-law got fed up, so she went to Hualin Temple.”
Yueyao smiled.
Mingzhu glanced around, and as the maids and the old nanny cleared out, leaving them alone, she then lowered her voice, “Actually, my mother-in-law couldn’t stand Madam Liu’s schemes, and simply went off to Hualin Temple. Yueyao, I really don’t understand. With my support and my husband’s backing, how could she still be afraid of a concubine?” Mingzhu was genuinely puzzled. If a husband favored a concubine over his wife, having no children might make one fearful of the concubine. However, her father-in-law, though he doted on the concubine, never dared to undermine his wife and she, as his daughter-in-law, was also supportive. Why then would her mother-in-law be afraid of a concubine? Mingzhu couldn’t figure out what her mother-in-law was thinking.