Tickled by how adorable his wife was, Pang Xiao laughed heartily. “Oh my dear, how do you manage to be so cute?”
He planted a noisy smack on her cheek, then picked up a brow pencil to draw in her eyebrows. Used to wielding swords and slay enemies, his newest weapon of choice was now a skinny brow pencil. Meticulously silhouetting and shading in her eyebrows, the result was unexpectedly dainty with just the right consistency.
Qin Yining checked her face in the mirror and smiled. “Not too shabby at all. You could make a career out of painting eyebrows if you stop being a prince.”
She turned back from the mirror and stroked Pang Xiao’s chin. “Such a handsome face you’ve been blessed with. If you really took up drawing eyebrows, I bet that maidens and young brides would beat down your door!”
“Hey now, you wicked vixen! Joking at my expense now, aren’t you?” Pang Xiao chortled while reaching over to tickle his wife.
Qin Yining’s tiny waist was a taboo zone of nerves. She started giggling as soon as her husband’s large hands reached her. She tittered while trying to dodge. “Stop it! I’ve just gotten my hair done!”
Her pleas didn’t stop Pang Xiao. He swept his wife up and carried her to the formal bed, tickling her with both of his hands and blowing warm air into the nape of her neck and earlobes.
Qin Yining laughed so hard that she ran out of breath. She was no match for her adroit husband, and was unable to push him off nor escape his advances. She could only breathlessly beg for mercy.
Mi-mama, née Ma’s most capable confidante, stopped by the Park of Resplendent Radiance and saw the maids chatting in the courtyard. A woman’s laughter travelled faintly from the main house.
Mi-mama chuckled at the peals of laughter.
“You’ve arrived, mama.” Jiyun was the first to curtsy to the granny servant.
Xianyun, Bingtang, and Qiulu also followed suit.
“I’m here to see if the prince and the princess consort has risen.” Mi-mama smiled in greeting.
“In response to the mama, the prince and the princess consort rose long ago. They’ve just gotten dressed. They’re waiting to pay their respects to the grand-lord, grand-madame and old madame.” Bingtang was well-versed in the customs of aristocratic houses and naturally responded in a manner that was favorable for her mistress.
Mi-mama smiled amiably. “Very well then, I’ll wait right here.”
“This servant will inform the prince and the princess consort of your arrival.” The quick-witted Bingtang curtsied readily and turned back to the main house.
Pang Xiao heard Mi-mama’s voice as soon as she arrived. The approaching footsteps also forced him to stop the teasing. He helped Qin Yining to her feet, righting a hairpin that was just about to slip from her hair.
The fit of laughter left Qin Yining’s eyes glistening with tears, her face flushing radiantly. She glared hard at Pang Xiao after the giggles passed, then picked up a comb to put his hair up.
Bingtang stood by the door. “Your Highnesses, Mi-mama is here.”
Pang Xiao knew full-well that Mi-mama had come to retrieve the maidenhood handkerchief. “Have her come in.”
Qin Yining worked nimbly to comb Pang Xiao’s hair and style it into a topknot. She was midway when Mi-mama stepped over the door. The princess consort smiled and nodded in greeting, “Greetings to the mama.”
“Ai, Your Highness need not stand on ceremony. This servant greets the princess consort.” Mi-mama watched as Qin Yining personally combed Pang Xiao’s hair and recalled the laughter she’d just heard. Her heart swelled with joy.
Qin Yining smiled congenially. “You’ve been at grandmother’s side for a very long time. Of course a greeting is only fitting.” [1]
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Mi-mama strolled about the room. She spotted a delicate wooden case when circling past the bed and stuffed it into her sleeve.
Qin Yining took everything in, but it was still a beat before realization finally dawned. Her face flamed right away. She lowered her chin, feeling flustered.
Mi-mama smiled and took her leave. “This servant will now return to Pinecrane Hall.”
Pang Xiao smiled easily as well. “Be safe, Mi-mama.”
Watching Mi-mama walk off with the wooden box, Qin Yining cleared her throat with a cough. “We should hurry as well, lest we should keep mother, grandfather and grandmother waiting.”
“As you wish.” Pang Xiao rose to his feet and neatened his robe. “We can just continue where we left off after coming back.”
Qin Yining pinched his arm wordlessly, and asked the maids to bring the three pairs of shoes she’d prepared beforehand. Together with Pang Xiao, she left the Park of Resplendent Radiance and headed for Pinecrane Hall.
The couple’s gait was leisurely, giving Pang Xiao time to properly introduce the features and decorations throughout the manor. “You stayed here for a short before, but weren’t free to walk about. I made use of the wedding to conduct some renovations and removed some unsavory characters in the household. It’s relatively safer now, and you can live here with more peace of mind.”
Qin Yining nodded cheerfully. “Did His Majesty have too much to drink yesterday? When did he leave?”
“His Majesty had already taken off by the time I went out to make my toasts. My people say that the emperor hurried off after receiving a tip. There was no mistaking the grim look on his face.”
Qin Yining began to worry. “Hopefully it has nothing to do with you. I was hoping for a bit more peace and quiet.”
Pang Xiao laughed. “Relax. It doesn’t matter whether it has to do with me or not. Your man is no pushover. I’ll roll with the punches and find ways to deal with whatever comes. You just relax at home and enjoy life. The trials and tribulations of your past are no more.”
That declaration of “your man” left Qin Yining feeling both bashful and warm all over.
She’d always been the one to look after others. This was the first time in her life to have a shoulder to lean on. Her husband was now her rock.
“In that case, you can’t disapprove if I just laze around all day, hmm?”
“How could I disapprove? In fact, I’ll have rewards for you should you keep your word and laze around all day. How does that sound?”
The couple made their way to Pinecrane Hall amidst happy chatter.
Baitao rushed back into the house to notify her masters as soon as the couple entered the yard. The newlyweds and their entourage of servants entered the main house, rounded the newly installed, large divider of magpies alighting on plum blossoms to arrive at the inner room.
Yao Chenggu, née Ma, and née Yao were all present, their faces radiating joy.
Mi-mama had Tsuitao and Baitao lay out brocade cushions.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining knelt down side by side to deliver grand gestures of greeting.
“Good, wonderful! Hurry and get up now, lass Yi, get on up.” An overjoyed Née Ma grinned from ear to ear, prodding Qin Yining to get up.
A merry Qin Yining approached Yao Chenggu and née Ma to kneel at their feet. She took two cups of tea from the tray in Jiyun’s hands and presented the tea to the elderly couple.
“This granddaughter-in-law greets my elders.”
“Aiya, very well. Hurry and rise!”
“Indeed, do get up. Be careful that you don’t hurt your knees!”
The elderly couple placed a thick red envelope in the tray.
The new princess consort rose and presented two pairs of shoes she’d embroidered. “This granddaughter-in-law is clumsy in her skills. I pray that you won’t find them too unsightly.”
“Nothing at all! It’s the thought that counts!” Née Ma picked up the embroidered shoes for a closer look. The fabric was of a high quality, the embroidery neat and solid. Eyeing the girl in front of her, née Ma grew more content by the second.
* * *
1. Having married into the Pangs, Qin Yining needs to adopt Pang Xiao’s terms of address for hew
new family.
Chapter 420.1: Mother and Daughter-in-Law
Unexpectedly touched, Qin Yining knew that née Ma was doing this because the older woman genuinely liked her. Her grandmother-in-law wasn’t a picky person and cared more about the thought behind a gift than actual skill, but the new princess consort was well aware of the level of her own embroidery skills. The shoes couldn’t really be described as delicate, but they were quite soundly made.
“Mom, please have a cup of tea.” Qin Yining knelt in front of née Yao after taking a teacup from a servant.
Née Yao accepted the cup with a smile and took a sip, returning a heavy red envelope and an intricately carved wooden box.
Qin Yining made a happy bow. “Thank you, mom.” She indicated Bingtang to take the items from her and offered a pair of shoes with both hands.
The gift was merrily received. “Many thanks, do get up.”
“That’s right, come sit with your grandmother.” Née Ma enthusiastically tugged on Qin Yining’s hands and had the girl sit right next to her. No matter how the matriarch assessed her, her granddaughter-in-law was pleasing to the eye.
“Good child, we’ve wished and hoped, and wished and hoped some more. You’ve finally joined our household. Dafu has someone to take care of him now that you’re here. We have more servants than masters and mistresses in the manor, and neither I nor your mother-in-law know how to manage all this. We’ll turn all this over to you.”
“I understand grandmother’s good intentions, but I’m still young and unlearned in the ways of the world. I’m afraid that I’ll lose face for us if I don’t do well.”
It wasn’t that Qin Yining really didn’t know how to keep a house in order. She’d been head of the inner household back in Great Yan. She just felt that it’d be highly unbecoming to, in a way, usurp her mother-in-law’s authority as soon as she married into the family.
Née Yao smiled. “You’re a smart child and will be more familiar with the household affairs the more you run them. You can come to me if you have any questions. You’ll know what to do after I guide you a few times. I’m old now and only look forward to when I can dote on my grandsons. I don’t have the effort to spare for anything else.”
A red flush exploded across Qin Yining’s face. She stammered, “Un-understood. I’ll come ask mom if there’s anything I don’t understand.”
Her mother-in-law nodded gaily. “I’ll have Zhao Kunjia’s wife bring over her verification tokens [1] to your Park of Resplendent Radiance.”
The girl thought for a moment, then asked with a smile, “Mom, your daughter has a favor to ask. Could you lend me Missus Zhao for a while? I don’t need her to wait on me in the house. It’s just that I’m young and inexperienced, and there’s much about the manor that I still don’t know about. Missus Zhao will be able to help me pick things up, and if there are any messages that need to be delivered, she will lend more gravity to the task.”
Née Yao couldn’t help but look meaningfully at the girl. The look in her daughter-in-law’s eyes was sincere without the slightest hint of reluctance.
What a smart girl!
Rather than wait for her mother-in-law to plant a pair of eyes and ears amongst her staff, taking the initiative was a much better way to handle the matter beautifully. Zhao Kunjia’s wife was also a respectable woman, so the girl could use the senior servant to establish her own footing in the household.
Asking of her own volition like this meant that Missus Zhao could come to and fro in the daytime, but it wouldn’t be seemly for her to stay the night. This meant that the newlyweds’ routine wouldn’t be disturbed. This killed many birds with one stone.
Truth be told, a mix of emotions currently assailed née Yao.
She was happy for her son that he had such a smart wife. This was a great boon, and at least the girl would know the appropriate action for any situation.
On the flip side, she was worried about having such a sharp individual by her side. It was one thing if the two of them remained on good terms, but if any friction developed and they fought, née Yao wouldn’t necessarily come out on the winning side.
Pang Xiao grew more anxious the longer his mother remained silent. He often heard stories of how difficult life became when mothers and daughters-in-law didn’t get along. But if he appeared too protective of Qin Yining in front of his mother, that would also elicit jealousy. Trouble would still fall on his wife’s head when he wasn’t at home. He could only stand there mutely, valiantly trying to guess what was on his mother’s mind.
Née Ma hated to see things drag out. “Dafu’s wife is talking to you, where’s your mind gone off to? If you can’t spare Missus Zhao, I’ll send one of my own.”
“Mom, I think it’s a very good idea to send Zhao Kunjia’s wife. I was just wondering if one person was enough. I need to summon everyone in the household and thoroughly reorganize them all.”
Qin Yining could vaguely guess at what her mother-in-law had been musing over. She gave thanks with a smile; there wasn’t much disappointment in her heart.
Strictly speaking, she wasn’t close to Pang Xiao’s family yet. A grandmother-in-law’s attitude towards a junior would naturally be different from a mother-in-law’s. Her own mother hadn’t been that good to her when she’d first returned home, but see how close they were now after a prolonged period of time?
Time revealed a person’s heart, and it wasn’t like she was scheming after something from the Pang’s. Née Yao would surely like her in the future.
Seeing that the conversation was about over, Pang Xiao suggested, “Mom, we need to head into the palace later to express gratitude for imperial favor. We may not make it back for lunch.”
Anything having to do with the palace made née Yao fret over her son. Thinking of Pang Xiao’s identity and how the family might be ‘invited’ into the palace for a ‘vacation’ whenever he set off to do battle, it truly was a good thing that she had such a smart daughter-in-law.
Née Yao’s eyes softened when she looked at Qin Yining. “Hurry and get yourselves ready. Don’t be late, or His Majesty will find fault with you then.”
“Understood.” Qin Yining rose to curtsey to Yao Chenggu, née Ma, and née Yao before leaving with Pang Xiao.
* * *
1. A set of two identical tokens.
Chapter 420.2: Mother and Daughter-in-Law
Née Ma’s expression fell as soon as the two left.
“Yuping, what did you mean by that just now?”
“What are you talking about, mom?” Née Yao looked at her mother with resignation.
“Lass Yi's just joined our family and politely offered you a cup of tea and shoes that she made herself. What kind of airs were you putting on just now? She’s the apple of her family’s eye, is she to speak softly and keep her eyes trained on the ground in front of you?”
“Why would I ever want that, mom? I can’t dote on her fast enough.”
“I bet you want her to! Lass Yi said that she’ll have questions for you and wants to borrow Missus Zhao—but that’s because she’s kindhearted and mature. She was afraid that you, her mother-in-law, would find it too embarrassing to send your people to your son’s household. That’s why she decided to ask for one herself.
“But just look at your reaction, putting on airs like that! You think no one knows what you’re thinking about? Are you afraid that your daughter-in-law will set herself on the opposite side of you?”
Her innermost thoughts revealed, née Yao was none too happy. “Mom, why would I be afraid of that? I’m just worried about her not being handle things properly, since she’s newly come and all.”
“Enough with that. I gave birth to you, so how would I not know what you’re thinking of? You’re afraid that if your daughter-in-law is too smart and takes control of the household, you won’t be able to keep her fully under your thumb if you two fight in the future.”
Née Ma’s rejoinder fully unveiled née Yao’s thoughts for what they were.
On the sidelines, Yao Chenggu puffed noncommittally on his pipe, oblivious to the conversation between mother and daughter.
“Mom, when getting to know someone, we only touch upon their exterior and not their heart. It’s not like I don’t like her, and I definitely don’t want to make things difficult for her. We just need to be on our guard a bit, that’s all.”
“Be on our guard?” sneered née Ma. “You have a crooked mind, that’s what. You’ve been touched by ugly habits after working in those large noble houses. It’s a display of skill to scheme against outsiders, but doing the same to your own family? Must you make life so difficult for yourself?
“What’s wrong with the child? I think she’s perfectly fine. She’s mature and knows when to retreat or advance. Do you think your little bit of plotting was well hidden? Even a straight shooter like your mother could tell, do you think someone as smart as the lass wouldn’t have been able to? It’s a mark of her good rearing that she didn’t say anything!”
Née Yao’s ears burned hotly from the criticism, but she still didn’t think there was anything wrong about her caution.
Her son was her only support, and he was currently frolicking in the honeymoon period. How could he possibly hold onto his bottom line in front of such a beauty? As his mother, she naturally had to keep an eye out for her son.
Née Ma snorted disdainfully when her daughter remained silent. “You don’t need to be stubborn about the situation. Though lass Yi had a hard childhood and didn’t enjoy the luxuries of home, the Qins were a great aristocratic house back in Great Yan. Her father personally taught her many things, so her character will naturally be a good one.
“I heard Dafu say that the lass was in charge of the inner residence even before she married out. If you really are afraid of your power being taken away, I have to say that everything we have now will belong to the children in the future. No matter how tightly you hold onto things, do you think you’ll be able to take it with you to the next life?”
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