"Do you have nothing to say, nothing to ask?" Prince Chen took a deep breath. This was his future wife, different from others. He needed to be patient.
"What should I say?" Listening to the chime of the bell under the eaves, Jiuzhu smiled. "The late autumn is cold. Please take care of yourself, Your Highness, and remember to eat on time."
"Fine." Prince Chen waved his hand to summon the shopkeeper. "Pack all these up and send them to Minister Ming's residence."
"Your Highness..."
Prince Chen placed his hand behind Jiuzhu's back. "Prince Qi gave his fiancée a hairpin. If you don't accept mine, people will say I'm stingy."
"But this is too much," Jiuzhu muttered softly. "I really can't wear all of it."
"It's fine." He flicked the golden butterfly hairpin with his finger, unbothered. "The Chen Prince's Mansion is not short on money."
With that, he took the opportunity to poke Jiuzhu's cheek and left with a laugh.
Holding the spot where he had poked her, Jiuzhu turned to look at Chunfen.
Chunfen reassured her, "Don't worry, Miss. Prince Chen truly is wealthy."
Jiuzhu carefully held her cloak and sighed, looking up.
"Miss, Prince Chen has always been capricious in his actions. If you don't like it, we can have someone return the jewelry to the Chen Prince's Mansion..."
"Capricious?" Jiuzhu denied it. "His Highness is just generous."
"Chunfen," she tugged at Chunfen's arm gently. "Please don't speak of Prince Chen that way in the future, alright?"
Who could resist such an adorable demeanor?
Chunfen nodded silently. "You're right, Miss. Prince Chen is generous, forthright, and a rare talent."
It was just a matter of saying a few insincere words.
As long as it made the young lady happy, it wasn't a difficult task.
"Miss, who would have thought that someone as refined as Prince Qi would specially pick out these hairpins and ornaments that women love?" The maid opened the jewelry box and exclaimed, "The craftsmanship is exquisite, and the materials are of the finest quality. His Highness truly cares for you."
Sun Caiyao's cheeks flushed as she closed all the jewelry boxes. "You all are clearly teasing me."
"Miss, your wedding is approaching. We're just speaking the truth. How is that teasing?" The maids laughed. "We haven't even had a good look at such beautiful jewelry. Why did you close them so quickly?"
"I think those phoenix hairpins would suit you perfectly, Miss."
Phoenix hairpins...
Sun Caiyao opened the box containing the phoenix hairpins, her smile stiffening slightly. She quickly closed the box, as if looking at it any longer would make her uncomfortable.
The maids noticed her change in expression and quieted down.
"All of you, leave." Her trembling fingers lightly touched the box of phoenix hairpins. Her voice grew calmer. "I want to be alone for a while."
"Phoenix..."
She opened the jewelry box and, facing the bronze mirror, placed the phoenix hairpin in her hair.
Studying her reflection, she smiled. "Who wouldn't want to be a phoenix soaring through the heavens?"
After tidying her appearance, she stood and walked toward the door. "Prepare the sedan. I want to go out for a walk."
Not long after leaving, Sun Caiyao saw more than a dozen women dressed in the uniforms of the jewelry shop's staff, carrying jewelry boxes and walking in an orderly line toward the same direction.
"Are those people from the Miao Jin Pavilion?" she casually asked.
"Yes, Miss. It's said that Prince Chen spent lavishly and bought dozens of pieces of jewelry, sending them all to the Ming Family residence."
The maid whispered, "The Ming Family is a scholarly household. They probably don't appreciate Prince Chen's extravagant behavior."
Giving a woman a few pieces of jewelry is considered thoughtful and considerate. But sending dozens at once? Is he implying that the Ming Family's daughter dresses poorly and embarrasses him?
Scholars value integrity highly. The Ming Family is no humble household unfamiliar with fine things. Prince Chen's actions won't win over his future in-laws; instead, they will only deepen the Ming Family's displeasure.
Poor Miss Ming, who grew up away from her parents. Who knows how close she is to them? With Prince Chen acting this way, once she marries him, she might be disowned by the Ming Family.
Touching the golden phoenix hairpin at her temple, Sun Caiyao lowered the sedan curtain and closed her eyes gently.
Ming Jingzhou returned from the Ministry of Rites and saw the main courtyard filled with various jewelry boxes. He cautiously looked at Lady Shen, who was sitting in a chair. "Are you in a good mood today, my dear?"
If she wasn't in a good mood, why would she spend so much money on jewelry? But her expression didn't seem particularly cheerful.
"These are all fine pieces from the Miao Jin Pavilion." Lady Shen beckoned to a maid. "Go and fetch Miss Jiuzhu."
"So they're all for Jiuzhu." Ming Jingzhou finally understood. No wonder his wife was willing to spend so much on jewelry for their daughter at the Miao Jin Pavilion.
"Indeed, they're all for Jiuzhu." Lady Shen's expression was odd. "But I'm not the one who paid for them."
"That's impossible." Ming Jingzhou opened the nearest box. Inside was a gold necklace with a dragon and phoenix motif, adorned with a high-quality mutton-fat jade pendant. "Where would our family find such a wealthy relative?"
"Who says we don't have one?" Lady Shen raised an eyebrow. "Think carefully, and you might figure it out."
"Such good fortune can't just appear by thinking about it, can it?" Ming Jingzhou was now certain his wife was in a bad mood. He quickly walked behind her and began massaging her shoulders. "My dear, please tell me."
"Why should I? Are you planning to return them?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Ming Jingzhou puffed out his chest. "Unless it's a gift from the palace, I, Old Ming, dare to refuse anything else."
"Father, Mother." Jiuzhu walked in and saw the room filled with jewelry boxes. "They arrived so quickly?"
"Daughter, do you know who sent these?" Ming Jingzhou, seeing Jiuzhu's expression, guessed that she likely knew the sender.
"Yes, I do." Jiuzhu smiled sheepishly. "It was Prince Chen."
"Who?!" Ming Jingzhou thought he had misheard.
"Prince Chen." Jiuzhu blinked, looking at Ming Jingzhou with her sparkling eyes.
"Hmph." Lady Shen chuckled. "Husband, are you going to return them?"
Ming Jingzhou: "..."
He really didn't dare to return them.
"Why would we return them?" Jiuzhu looked at her parents in confusion. "Is there something wrong with these items?"
"No, no." Seeing the light in his daughter's eyes dim, Ming Jingzhou quickly explained. "I was just curious about who sent them. If you like them, Jiuzhu, we'll keep them."
"Mm!" Jiuzhu nodded vigorously and walked over to Lady Shen, hugging her arm and snuggling close. "I didn't want His Highness to send these things either, but he said that since Prince Qi could send jewelry to Miss Sun, if he didn't send any, people would call him stingy."
Ming Jingzhou looked at the room full of jewelry boxes. But sending so many? That's just having too much money to spend.
What's going on with Consort Su and her son? When Jiuzhu entered the palace, Consort Su sent her a pile of gold and silver jewelry. When Jiuzhu went out shopping, Prince Chen sent her another pile of gold and silver jewelry.
Are they suspecting that the Ming Family is too stingy to buy jewelry for their daughter?
Ming Jingzhou looked at Lady Shen in confusion. Lady Shen shook her head slightly and instructed the servants to move all the jewelry to Jiuzhu's courtyard.
Just as they finished clearing the jewelry boxes from the main courtyard, the family received an invitation from the Pingyuan Marquisate.
"The Dowager of the Pingyuan Marquisate is celebrating her birthday and has invited us to the banquet." Lady Shen handed the invitation to Ming Jingzhou. "The Zheng Family has never been particularly close to the Ming Family. This time, they sent the invitation early, with such earnest and warm wording, which makes me feel a bit uneasy."
Ming Jingzhou glanced at his obedient daughter and remained silent.
After a long pause, he set the invitation aside. "The Ministry of Rites is busy these days preparing for Consort Su's birthday banquet. I won't be able to attend the Pingyuan Marquisate's event. I'll have to trouble you, my dear."
"I understand your intentions, Husband."
Jiuzhu looked at her father, then at her mother, her small head filled with big questions.
What did Father say, and what did Mother understand?
In the palace, Emperor Longfeng flipped through a memorial, seemingly casually summoning Prince Qi. "Fourth Son, I just remembered that today is your maternal grandmother's birthday. Have you gone to pay your respects?"
"Your Majesty, I was just about to go."
"It's nearly noon. Although you are a prince, you must not neglect your elders' birthdays." Emperor Longfeng had a servant bring out a gift box. "Take these gifts to the Pingyuan Marquisate on my behalf."
"I thank Your Majesty on behalf of my grandmother." Prince Qi bowed deeply.
"There's no need for such formality between father and son." Emperor Longfeng raised his hand. "Go on."
"Thank you, Father." Prince Qi glanced at the emperor, whose attention had already returned to the memorial, and silently withdrew.
"Today is the birthday of the Dowager Lady of the Pingyuan Marquisate. Which officials have gone to offer their congratulations?" Emperor Longfeng set down his memorial and asked his trusted eunuch.
The eunuch recited a list of names.
"Did the Ming Family not attend?"
"Your Majesty, two of the Ming Family's officials are not in the capital. Minister Ming is occupied with preparations for Consort Su's birthday banquet at the Ministry of Rites and has no time to spare." The eunuch thought for a moment. "The young master of the Ming Family's second branch has been studying at home recently and rarely goes out. Only Minister Ming's wife and beloved daughter went to offer their congratulations."
Emperor Longfeng chuckled upon hearing this. "Ming Jingzhou, this man, always sticks to his principles in everything he does. Having him prepare Consort Su's birthday banquet doesn't mean he can't take a break."
The eunuch smiled along. "This servant has noticed that all three officials of the Ming Family share this temperament."
"If I recall correctly, Ming Jingzhou's son is still serving in a remote post?" Emperor Longfeng pondered for a moment. "The marriage between the Ming Family's daughter and my son is approaching. How can the bride's brother not be in the capital? Go and summon the officials from the Ministry of Personnel. Let's see if there's a suitable vacancy in the capital to fill for my son's brother-in-law."
When mentioning "brother-in-law," Emperor Longfeng's tone carried an unmistakable sense of familiarity.
When Prince Qi arrived at the Pingyuan Marquisate, a stage had been set up in the courtyard, and a play about immortals offering birthday congratulations was being performed. His appearance caused everyone to lose interest in the play, and they all came forward to pay their respects.
The Zheng Family ushered Prince Qi to the seat of honor. After repeatedly declining, Prince Qi finally took his seat. His gaze swept over the officials who had come to flatter him, and he raised his teacup, offering them a faint smile.
As he sipped the mild tea, he noticed Sun Caiyao and the young lady of the Ming Family seated among the female guests.
"Your Highness," Zheng Wangnan whispered in his ear, "Miss Sun arrived very early today and has been getting along quite well with the Dowager Lady."
Prince Qi noticed that the golden butterfly hairpin in Ming Jiuzhu's hair was the same one Prince Chen had insisted on placing in her hair that day at the Miao Jin Pavilion.
"Miss Ming," Sun Caiyao, who had been sipping tea, suddenly turned to Ming Jiuzhu. "Miss Ming grew up in Lingzhou. Would you be willing to tell me about the local customs there?"
Ming Jiuzhu looked at Sun Caiyao in confusion. They were about to start eating, and now she was being asked to talk about local customs on an empty stomach?
Rubbing her slightly growling stomach, she blinked and shook her head.
Though she appeared delicate, she had quite the appetite and couldn't stand being hungry. Talking about local customs now would only slow down her chopsticks.
"Miss Sun, you're so kind and gentle. You wouldn't mind if I refused, would you?" Jiuzhu thought it best to confirm whether her refusal would upset the other party.
She was naturally kind-hearted and hated to make any girl upset.
"Of course not, how could I?" Sun Caiyao smiled. "You're so straightforward and adorable. How could I possibly be upset with you?"
"You're so kind, sister." Jiuzhu peeled an orange and handed it to her. "Would you like some, sister?"
"No, thank you," Sun Caiyao continued to smile.
Oranges could cause internal heat. She! Would! Not! Eat! It!
"Alright then." Jiuzhu popped the orange into her own mouth.
Hmm~
The orange was a bit sour, and the more she ate, the hungrier she felt.
