Translator’s notes:
Thank you to Anon for the donation, and for binging the chapters :p
*****
Xiao-Shi’s dad also cherished his daughter, and couldn’t feel satisfied no matter how he reasoned it. He still went and asked the second lord to write a letter to the Jing Prince.
Since she was a daughter of the Xiao clan, and he was also her father in name, the Xiao clan’s second lord still wrote a letter with a flourish of his mighty brush, and gave it to Xiao-Shi’s father to send to the Jing Province along with her mom’s letter.
Since the letters came from the Jing Duke Estate, they naturally couldn’t be delivered in private. They were sent directly to the Jing Prince Estate.
One for the Jing Prince and one for the Jing Consort.
The Jing Prince didn’t overthink things and thought they were ordinary letters. He sent the consort’s letter to the Changchun Pavilion while opening up the one addressed to him.
After reading, his expression turned ugly on the spot.
As mentioned previously, the Second Lord Xiao was a military man, and his words were never restrained. Anyone else would have implied their meaning with a few words, letting the recipient understand. Instead, he casually said everything on his mind, saying how a small concubine could be favored but the main wife’s face still needed to be considered. Also, the matter of offspring needed to be considered as well.
Such an attitude could be said to be unrestrained with his words, but from another perspective it was clear that the Xiao clan’s second lord had no respect for the Jing Prince.
The Jing Prince didn’t bicker with others, but this was the first time since coming to the Jing Province that someone was riding on his head.
The Jing Consort received her mom’s letter on the other side. She figured that since the letter was openly delivered, there was definitely one for the Jing Prince as well.
The Jing Consort put her letter away and waited for the Jing Prince to come “make up” with her. She was prepared to flatter her husband a little more and give birth to children earlier. After all, her letter had mentioned that the Xiao clan’s second lord had sent the Jing Prince a letter.
But to her disappointment, the Jing Prince hadn’t come even after night had fallen.
“Chun Xiang, go see if his highness has come yet.” Only after she spoke did she remember the old Chun Xiang was no longer with her.
A timid voice sounded from her side, “Consort, we aren’t allowed to leave the pavilion without permission.”
Hearing this voice, the Jing Consort remembered she had a new Chun Xiang. This one had helped her send word last time, and the letter home was also sent out by her.
“This consort remembers that you were able to send word out last time. Can you help me do so once again? Ask when his highness is coming.”
Chun Xiang backed away repeatedly out of fear, and waved her hands, “Consort, it was different last time, Chun Xiang can’t….”
“What was different?” The Jing Consort spaced out before understanding, “Is it because this consort isn’t ill? Don’t worry, just say this consort is ill. I’ll go lie in bed first.”
After speaking, the Jing Consort walked towards the bed.
Chun Xiang fell to her knees in fright, “Consort, this really isn’t possible….”
Xia Xiang came over and pulled Chun Xiang up, giving her a pinch. She raised her voice and said: “Consort, don’t make things hard for us servants. We really can’t do it.”
The Jing Consort turned her head, her expression fierce and eyebrows raised, “Ah? Are you guys looking down on this consort as well? Are you?”
As she spoke, she picked up the things next to her and started smashing them. The more she saw the sky darken, the more ruthlessly she smashed. The sounds of shattering rang out.
Why did he refuse to come? Why didn’t he come!?
Xia Xiang and the rest were used to such a scene, and stood there with solemn faces. Chun Xiang wanted to go stop her but was pulled away by Xia Xiang. Xia Xiang also signaled Qiu Xiang and Dong Xiang to keep watching.
“Chun Xiang, if you keep this up, I’ll report it to Auntie Qi. I don’t want you dragging the three of us down!”
“I, I……”
Right as they were speaking in the hallway, a middle aged palace maid came in from the front door.
“Auntie Li.”
This Auntie Li was a managing auntie under Auntie Qi. The palace maids serving in the Changchun Pavilion were managed by her.
“Chun Xiang, come with me.”
Hearing these words and remembering what she did, Chun Xiang’s face paled.
“Auntie—”
After Chun Xiang left with Auntie Li, she never returned. Another palace maid took on the name “Chun Xiang”.
***
The Jing Prince’s expression wasn’t too good when he returned.
It didn’t look much different, but Xiao Hua could tell he seemed to be angry.
Who had upset him?
Xiao Hua only thought about it but didn’t ask.
The two of them ate, bathed and went to bed.
After getting into the palanquin bed, the Jing Prince pressed over. The normally quite gentle person seemed inexplicably fierce today.
Before long, Xiao Hua died a little once but he wasn’t done. She died a little a second time. As the third time approached, Xiao Hua couldn’t resist crying out for mercy while her entire body trembled and her eyes teared up.
He bit her earlobe, sucking and licking at it, saying in a low, hoarse voice, “…..Xiao Hua’er, endure a little longer, almost done……”
He had said these words many times already, and Xiao Hua didn’t dare believe them anymore. She could sense that he had some melancholy in his heart, but didn’t know why.
“Highness….highness, what’s wrong?” Her voice shook as she asked.
The Jing Prince didn’t respond, and only after several dozen times did he finally fall heavily onto her. He rolled over with her and held her in his arms, using his hand to wipe away her tears.
“I was a little stirred up today, don’t cry.”
“Highness, did something happen?”
The Jing Prince stroked her hair, saying: “Nothing.”
After resting for a while, the Jing Prince carried Xiao Hua to take a bath. After getting in bed, the two lay down. Xiao Hua’s mind was still a mess. She suddenly heard the Jing Prince say: “When Zhuo’er and Yi Yi are a little older, give birth to a few more children for this humble prince.”
After Xiao Hua gave birth to the two children, she started taking birth control medicine. The medicine was prescribed by Doctor Hu, and was very mild. It didn’t harm the body. The Jing Prince also knew that giving birth was damaging to the body, especially since she was still young and had given birth to twins. It was quite draining on the body. The Jing Prince had taken the initiative and asked Doctor Hu for the medicine.
Why did he suddenly bring this up?
“Sure.” Although she didn’t understand, Xiao Hua still agreed.
After having two little ones, Xiao Hua realized how much she liked children, especially ones she had with him.
“This humble prince will only have children with you.”
Hearing his tone, Xiao Hua still felt that he was acting up at someone.
“Sure.” She turned her eyes, “Then highness definitely has to remember his words.”
The Jing Prince didn’t speak, only patting her on the back a couple of times as though telling her that this humble prince would definitely keep his word.
The next day the Jing Prince was back to normal, as though the irregularity from last night never happened. Xiao Hua was curious however.
Just who on earth was it that upset him? Could it be lord uncle’s family?
Xiao Hua felt that it didn’t seem to be the case, mostly because they weren’t on the same level. Even after the Li family made a fuss, his highness’s response was only a little helplessness, but he didn’t take it to heart.
Only after asking Xiao Xia Zi did Xiao Hua get an inkling.
It was said that the Jing Consort’s family had sent letters over from the capital. There were two of them, one for the consort and one for the Jing Prince.
Based on his reaction last night, Xiao Hua guessed that the Jing Consort had complained to her family, and asked the Duke Jing Estate to reprimand the Jing Prince. It probably had something to do with children…..
Thinking of this, Xiao Hua didn’t think any further.
Apart from the saying “you reap what you sow”, there wasn’t any other way to describe the Jing Consort. It wasn’t because the two of them were at odds that she would think this way. It was mostly due to what Nana He had “mentioned” to her before New Year’s Eve last year about the Jing Prince and his consort. Therefore, Xiao Hua was extremely clear about her actions in the past.
Thinking of how this woman had looked down on him for not being able to speak in his youth, Xiao Hua had a bellyful of anger.
You reap what you saw! Don’t forget what you did!
Xiao Hua sneered in her heart, before no longer thinking about it. She called Ding Xiang to have the wet nurses bring the two children in. She decided to stop taking her birth control once Zhuo’er and Yi Yi were older. She would follow his highness’s wishes and give birth to a few more, angering the consort to death.
***
Li Miao Lian’s grand wedding day arrived very quickly.
The occasion couldn’t be said to be truly grand, but it was still rather spectacular. The bridal procession left from the Tiren Gates and circled around the city once before returning via the Zunyi1 Gates accompanied by the beating of gongs and drums. It was extremely lively.
This was the first wedding the Jing Prince Estate organized since its construction. The bride was also the Jing Prince’s cousin, so the venue would naturally not be small. Although they didn’t invite the officials under the Jing Prince’s jurisdiction, just the groom’s side alone had quite a few close friends and colleagues. Since it was to be held in the Jing Prince Estate, the Jing Prince decided they might as well hold it in the training grounds where the guards often trained their martial skills.
Several dozen tables filled the training grounds, and those who came to the wedding feast were mostly the guards who weren’t on duty that day. Such a large occasion was rare, and everyone was extremely excited.
The Jing Prince also showed up on the day, but he merely drank a cup of alcohol with everyone before leaving. Everyone knew his highness’s personality, and felt that what he did already exceeded expectations. After the Jing Prince left, the high ranking officers started giving speeches. His highness had said that the alcohol was on him today, so they should all drink their fill.
In the end, the supposed feast turned into the Jing Prince treating everyone to alcohol. Everyone drank until they were teetering and tottering, unable to walk. Of course, that was what happened afterwards.
Luckily the groom was well liked, and several of his bros were there to help cover him as he made his escape early. Otherwise he might not have been able to consummate his marriage that day. These people who trained in martial arts were no different from military men, and they were all drinking experts. Despite this, no one was left standing in the end.
Qi-Shi started crying when she saw her daughter being married off. Although they would remain close by, it was still digging a piece of her heart out. Li Xue Bing grew tired of her crying and long since hid in the study. Only her old opponent was left to accompany her.
Concubine He also couldn’t be bothered to console her. She curled her lips on the side, thinking how she needed to properly fawn on the lord’s nephew. If her own daughter could also be married off this way, she would praise her ancestors.
The Jing Prince Estate’s dowry for Li Miao Lian was already thirty two carriages worth, and there was even a box of silver as the capstone. The day before the marriage, the western pavilion represented his highness and sent the box of silver over, a total of two thousand taels.
Concubine He secretly calculated the combined value of the dowry, and realized it exceeded ten thousand taels.
Concubine He had never seen such a large dowry before. In their small county, a household was said to be rich if the dowry was several hundred taels. How could it be compared to the Jing Prince Estate? No wonder Concubine He’s eyes were incessantly red.
The Li family understood that Madam Hua really couldn’t be provoked. Marrying their daughter off was the correct decision.
This was because as each carriage of the dowry was brought into their pavilion, the people delivering things all mentioned how it was the madam’s arrangement. Furthermore, the final box of silver was sent over by the western pavilion’s people.
Looks like Madam Hua had control over the estate’s finances. No wonder the Jing Consort was so furious.
They had actually misunderstood. Li Miao Lian’s dowry wasn’t arranged by Xiao Hua, but by Auntie Qi. Xiao Hua merely followed the Jing Prince’s arrangements and forked out the silver.
Of course, if they really wanted to think that way, it was also fine. After all, the silver truly did come from Xiao Hua’s hands.
Author’s notes:
It’s said when a man wants to embellish his woman’s dignity, he has to go big, haha.
Macklemore, Cant Hold Us playing in the back ground 😳…..🎶Money…..🤑Style, stay in my passion, Hustling🎶
They spending in novel lmao Xua’er and Jing’er
Hahaha I somehow got a picture of Xiao Hua being a badass lady gangster boss shuffling money in her hands.
Anyway, yes you reap what you sow, Consort. She still expected things to go her way. After everything that she’s done, it is Prince King’s mercy that she still is there and living her life almost similar like before. And no repentence at all. Ugh.
Thanks for the translation!
Thanks for the new chapter!!! Getting one every day is amazing 😁
Thanks for the chapter!
It really is true “no one know what’s really happened between married couple, except for themselves.”
Prince Jing is so good for Xiao Hua. He’s attentive, considerate, compassionate, emphatic, and ofc loving and pampering her. He’s willing to work hard to change for the better for her and to protect her. She thought he’s as good to Xiao-shi before Xiao-shi humiliate him and they moved to Jing Province (before Xiao Hua came to their life).
How would she know he never liked Xiao-shi, much less love her? That he never even see her properly that he’s oblivious much about her, much less knowing her wishes? That he would rather repeat-ly give up all power and let her be blackmailed than actually put on fight “to protect her”? He didn’t even willing to communicate properly with her.
Xiao Hua can only depict how Prince Jing make all the good efforts (as good as he did for herself) to make his and Xiao-shi marriage work, but Xiao-shi ruined it all by herself and hurt Prince Jing.
On the author’s note. It make me remember a saying: “A married woman dignity/honor is as much her husband willing to give her.” Or something along that line.
As readers, we know that Xiao Hua didn’t asked for the authority in Prince Jing Estate, her big living quarter, or the tight security around her living quarter. It’s all Prince Jing’s doing. But, his other wives don’t know about it while he and the servants elevate Xiao Hua’s reputation as “domineering matron in charge” who trample all over the main wife. 😑😑😑
It’s not only about the authority inside their home. When the husband give the public “this wife is as such” impression, the wife can only change the impression if she worked hard for it in a long time out of their house (interacting directly with outside world).