Chapter 331: Xia Mei, Come Quickly
Qin Luoxia had thought her Princess Mother-in-law would be very difficult to serve.
After all, when they were in Ming County, Old Madam Jiang was a very fastidious person.
Every time she looked at her, she acted as if she were dirty.
She was picky from head to toe.
Moreover, she basically never spoke to her; it was as if speaking to her would lower her own status.
It was always the old nanny beside Old Madam Jiang who spoke.
But now…
The old nanny was dead.
Old Madam Jiang was also dead.
Therefore, no matter what you do, you must first survive; surviving is better than anything else.
If a fallen lady who had been exiled could be so arrogant, then a real princess’s eyes must be fixed on the ceiling beams.
The result was unexpected.
Qin Luoxia had even worried that her Princess Mother-in-law would look down on her for not being of noble birth and would appoint a girl from a noble family as a concubine or something similar.
Qin Luoxia had heard that the Emperor had bestowed a secondary consort upon the Seventh Prince.
You have to say, they are all getting on in years, yet the Emperor still bestows women upon them; it’s truly terrifying.
At first, Qin Luoxia thought that perhaps her Princess Mother-in-law wanted to appear close to her in front of her husband.
After all, there are many ways for Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law to get along in the village.
Some Mothers-in-law appear incredibly loving in front of their sons and outsiders, but when they are in front of their daughters-in-law, they are all frowns and glares—two faces for one person.
But then, her husband went to the study.
The Princess Mother-in-law, who had just been looking at her with reserved affection, suddenly threw herself into her arms and began to weep while holding her.
Princess Huiyun kept saying, “You have worked hard; these years have truly been bitter for you.”
With her husband not present, Qin Luoxia didn’t want to engage in this superficiality.
She asked, “Mother, you won’t look down on my poor background and try to stuff people into my husband’s life, right?”
This question stunned Princess Huiyun.
“Stuff what people?”
Qin Luoxia told Princess Huiyun the news she had heard today about the Emperor bestowing a secondary consort upon the Seventh Prince.
Princess Huiyun actually hadn’t fully adapted to the role of a Mother-in-law; it was like Bai Suzhen, who gave birth to a child, and when she saw him again, the child had grown up, made his own way, and even become a grandfather.
She didn’t know how to get along, and even less did she think about putting on airs as a Mother-in-law.
She just wanted to give countless treasures to make up for all the years of neglect.
But among them, there was really no option to send beauties.
After all, Princess Huiyun herself was a very proud beauty and simply disdained doing such things.
“The Emperor is old and muddled; we won’t concern ourselves with their affairs. Little Qin, don’t let those ladies and the like brainwash you the moment you enter the capital. They talk about sending concubines to one’s husband to appear as a virtuous wife and Mother, while privately fighting with the concubines until life is in chaos. Some do it because they have no children to inherit the family business and have no choice but to take people in. Others are just because the men are greedy for wealth and lust, and they make excuses that it’s the wife’s virtue. In reality, that’s not the case at all. People are inherently selfish; they aren’t willing to give good things to others, let alone their own men.”
Qin Luoxia felt a bit embarrassed by what her Princess Mother-in-law said.
Then she hugged Princess Huiyun tightly: “Mother, you are so good. My own Mother passed away when I was very young, and there were no elders at home to teach me. I don’t understand anything and am always afraid of being ridiculed. From now on, I have a Mother again, and I won’t be afraid anymore. Thank you, Mother, for teaching me these things. In the future, if anyone says that I don’t take in concubines, I will tell them that this is what my Princess Mother taught me.”
Princess Huiyun felt that these words were a little strange.
But it was probably the same thing.
She just felt that her daughter-in-law was truly not having an easy time. Having no one to teach her since childhood, yet still being able to take such good care of her husband and children, she was a good girl, a good child.
“Mhm, when you go out, just say it was I who taught you. We aren’t afraid. Whoever dares to bully you or speak ill of you, tell Mother, and Mother will stand up for you.”
After Princess Huiyun finished speaking, she saw her daughter-in-law nodding incessantly.
She was still worried about her being bullied in the capital circles.
Princess Huiyun then detailed ways to conduct oneself to her honest daughter-in-law.
“When you meet people with ulterior motives, just keep a straight face; you don’t need to be pleasant. If you don’t want to talk, just smile casually to brush them off. When you meet those who are truly talkative and you can’t avoid them, you don’t even need to reply; just stare at her for a while, and she will naturally stop. On the surface, people generally flatter the high and trample the low, so they usually won’t deliberately make things difficult for you. If you encounter someone who does, don’t worry—if you want to scold them, scold them back; if you want to hit them, hit them back. Mother will back you up. If you can’t hit back at the time, it doesn’t matter; come back and complain to Mother, and Mother will help you hit them back.”
Qin Luoxia:…
Why does it feel like the more the Princess Mother-in-law talks, the more outrageous she becomes?
Is it okay to teach a child like this?
She turned her head and saw Mianmian listening very intently from the side.
Qin Luoxia felt that her own daughter was already quite lawless.
She had heard that when officials in the imperial court impeached her husband and complained to the Emperor, one of the items was that her daughter had actually robbed the son of a Minister of money…
Although it was later proven to be all slander.
But deep down, Qin Luoxia was a little unsure; it was possible that her daughter had done it.
The little girl had always been a bit unprincipled.
From a very young age, Qin Luoxia felt that the little girl didn’t look like her, but rather like someone with a great background.
Now it was confirmed; a princess’s own granddaughter, that was certainly someone with a great background.
Now it seemed the reason for Mianmian’s arrogance and tendency to cause trouble had been found; the source was this Princess Mother-in-law right in front of her.
She was already arrogant enough; if this continued, and they got together, she didn’t dare to think about it, she didn’t dare to think about it.
Qin Luoxia glared at her daughter and said as lovingly as she could: “It’s getting late, Mianmian. Go to sleep; Mother will chat with your Princess Grandma for a while longer.”
Jiang Mianmian was very sensible; when Mother called her by her full name, she would behave a little better.
She left reluctantly.
She had originally wanted to hear more of Princess Grandma’s glorious past.
After sending the little daughter away, Qin Luoxia continued to look eager for knowledge and asked Princess Huiyun for advice.
Watching the little one’s reluctant gaze as she left, Princess Huiyun couldn’t help but shiver.
She recalled whether she had just said anything inappropriate.
Teaching a daughter-in-law and teaching a granddaughter should be different.
Princess Huiyun was now both proud that her granddaughter was like her and afraid that her granddaughter was like her.
With the daughter sent away, only Qin Luoxia, the daughter-in-law, and the Princess Mother-in-law remained.
Having been interrupted, Princess Huiyun didn’t know what else to teach.
But under the gaze of her daughter-in-law’s trusting and admiring eyes, she had to bite the bullet and continue teaching.
“You also cannot be too good, only considering your husband and children all day long. A woman must also take care of herself, pay attention to her appearance, and dress beautifully.”
As she spoke, Princess Huiyun couldn’t help but look her daughter-in-law up and down.
Come to think of it, her foundation was actually quite good.
A large oval face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, and she could be considered fair-skinned, with long legs and a slender waist. Princess Huiyun observed carefully, and the more she looked, well, she had to say, her daughter-in-law was actually quite beautiful, in a different kind of way.
It was different from the usual petite beauties, but she was definitely good-looking.
Her son’s taste was actually quite good.
After all, everyone has filters.
If the son of a princess had really found an ugly peasant woman, he wouldn’t be able to show her off or take her out, and she would inevitably be compared unfavorably.
Princess Huiyun stood at the pinnacle of this era’s aesthetics; it wasn’t just because she was beautiful and had high status, but also because she was naturally good at dressing.
Her daughter-in-law dressed a bit too dignified and plain.
Her daughter-in-law was not suited for plain colors; she needed something more vibrant.
Those legs were so long; although as the mistress of the house, she couldn’t wear skirts that exposed her legs, there were ways to accentuate the curves of her legs and waist.
There were also base leggings under the robes.
The Princess looked her daughter-in-law up and down, and in her mind, she had already envisioned sets of corresponding dresses and jewelry.
She would take care of it; she would dress her daughter-in-law up. Poor child, no one had loved her since she was small.
Princess Huiyun and her daughter-in-law chatted until the middle of the night, until her son came over, looking weak.
Jiang Changtian came over wrapped in a robe; perhaps because he caught a draft, he coughed twice upon entering.
Then he said to Princess Huiyun: “Mother, it is getting late; you should rest early.”
He turned to Qin Luoxia and said: “Xia Mei, it’s too cold. I need you to soak my feet for me; I haven’t soaked them today.”
Qin Luoxia stood up quickly: “Yes, yes, yes, I forgot. Come, I’ll go get the medicine for you.”
Even though he was her own son, Princess Huiyun at this moment felt a tiny bit of disdain for her son’s sickly appearance.
Having to take care of such a husband every day, her daughter-in-law really had it too hard.
He couldn’t find a servant to soak his feet; he had to have Little Qin do it.
As if hearing Princess Huiyun’s inner thoughts, Jiang Changtian weakly explained to Princess Huiyun: “Xia Mei knows the acupuncture points; she usually helps me press the points while soaking my feet, so I can sleep more soundly. Does Mother sleep well? How about letting Xia Mei give Mother a foot massage later as well?”
Princess Huiyun:… That’s going too far; after finishing pressing for you, you still want your wife to press your Mother’s feet.
Although Princess Huiyun didn’t have ideas of equality, she had just been chatting happily with her daughter-in-law and was on a united front, so being suddenly asked by her son to have someone serve her felt a bit off.
Even though he was her own son, Princess Huiyun felt a bit uncomfortable.
“I don’t need it. You go; rest early.” Princess Huiyun held back from lecturing her son, waiting to educate him when they were more familiar later.
Qin Luoxia didn’t dare to make a sound; what did she know about acupuncture points? It was always her husband who helped her wash her feet and press her acupuncture points.
She was worried that speaking would give the game away.
Qin Luoxia obediently followed her husband away.
Princess Huiyun sighed again at how hard it was for her daughter-in-law.
What a good girl.
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