Chapter 74

Recording one's genealogy is already a tedious task, especially for the royal family. The young couple got up early in the morning, donned the cumbersome and heavy court attire, and took a sedan chair to the palace.

Song Dingxiang felt that if she could return to modern society one day, she could completely write a record of ancient palace life.

All day long, she felt dizzy and overwhelmed with anxiety, fearing that she would make a mistake, causing her clothes to become soaked with nervous sweat.

After the solemn and serious procedures were completed, there was a palace banquet. The emperor was so emotional holding onto his little brother, looking as though he was even more excited than the prince and princess.

If he had known this young general was his cousin, he would not have agreed to let him guard the northern border.

Wouldn't it be better to stay together in the capital?

Unfortunately, there was no way to know in advance about such matters, as his ears were already filled with nagging from the prince because of this issue.

"Yu Jin, if you want to come back, just tell me directly, and I will immediately arrange for you to return to be with your family." The emperor smiled kindly, growing fonder of this cousin the more he looked at him.

This was a great general who had made his own way through his talents, a rarity in their royal family. Although their ancestors had once conquered the world on horseback, in recent generations, they had not produced such a smart and powerful descendant.

Zhou Yinuo felt a chill down his spine, but smiled and said, "I believe that safeguarding the nation's affairs is my top priority. I will not let the emperor down, please rest assured."

Emperor: ???

"No, that's not what I meant." The emperor was irritated by the sharp look from his consort, "I just want you all to be reunited."

After all, it was his fault that this cousin had been away from his family for twenty-one years, and he wanted to make amends.

"I am already reunited with my family, and I am very happy. But national affairs are more important than personal matters... Could it be that the emperor does not trust me?" Zhou Yinuo looked at the emperor with a look of disappointment, "Have I done something wrong?"

Emperor: ???

Goodness, is this cousin unwilling to stay in the capital, or is he unwilling to stay in the capital?

However, it's understandable that the cousin and sister-in-law grew up in the countryside, probably accustomed to a carefree life. In the bustling city, there is no one easy to deal with, and if they were to be offended, it would only become their own problem.

"Alright, I'll entrust the northern border to you, cousin." The emperor made up his mind, and then engaged in some casual conversation with Song Dingxiang. The family banquet lasted until late into the night, ending in a joyous atmosphere.

*

"I'm still hungry..." Song Dingxiang slumped in the carriage, holding her stomach and sighing, "I didn't dare to eat much, just took a few bites."

"We have a small kitchen in our courtyard, we can cook some noodles when we get back at night." Zhou Yinuo also hadn't eaten much and ended up a bit intoxicated, leaning against the carriage wall, exhaling the smell of alcohol.

"We have to stay in the capital for the New Year..." Song Dingxiang felt overwhelmed, the more she looked at Zhou Yinuo, the more irritating he became, "Go away, move over there, you're suffocating me."

Zhou Yinuo chuckled and nestled into his wife's arms, "I have a headache, could you massage it for me?"

Song Dingxiang had no choice but to lazily pat his big head in her arms, "We're home, hurry up and get up, don't let our parents see you like this."

The princess got off the carriage, looking at her eldest son swaying from the drunkenness, "You two go home and rest quickly, the palace has prepared sobering soup, which will be delivered to your courtyard. You probably haven't eaten enough, there are some snacks to fill your stomach. Don't eat too much at night, be careful of indigestion..."

She rambled on, instructing the servants to support the young master well, until the couple entered their courtyard, then she walked back.

Zhou Yinuo was given a bowl of sour sobering soup, and some dumplings to eat. Later, he was assisted by the servants to freshen up a bit, finally exhausting all his willpower, he collapsed on the bed snoring loudly.

Song Dingxiang, with a throbbing head from the noise, adjusted the head of the man several times to silence his snoring. She sighed and sprawled out, thinking when would this day come to an end.

Everyone wanted to climb into the royal family one by one, but even if they succeeded, it seemed that they might not be able to bear the luxury and wealth.

Just as she was feeling troubled, a caravan carrying wool arrived at the county town.

Zhang shi and Fang shi unloaded the wool skins in the workshop. This time, there was a lot of wool - the first batch arrived in fifteen carts, followed by more than ten carts a few days later, filling the workshop to the brim.

The merchant mentioned that after the New Year, there would be more wool coming over, indicating that most of the wool from the northern region would likely be transported here.

Li shi was worried that her daughters-in-law might not understand, so she came out again, this time bringing her granddaughter-in-law Jin Qiao'er and her two sisters-in-law to recruit workers according to Song Dingxiang's instructions. This recruitment process was different from before - there was no division of responsibilities, but rather, after signing a one-year contract, the workers would directly enter the training class.

Fang shi and Zhang shi taught how to sort and process wool, while Sixth Grandaunt taught how to spin wool into yarn. Fifth Grandaunt and Jin Qiao'er taught how to weave gloves and knit scarves.

They taught for free, and if the students performed well, they would be paid according to their monthly wages.

Learning a craft was appealing to many women, and even the men were interested. While they might not spin yarn or knit gloves, they could certainly learn how to process wool and skins, which were physically demanding tasks that even men could handle.

Song Xingyi was pleased to see the bustling workshop and immediately wrote a letter to Song Dingxiang upon returning home.

By the time Song Dingxiang received the letter, the new year was approaching.

The New Year was a big event, and the festivities in the capital were much livelier than in a small county. Caravans from all directions poured into the city, bringing various goods for sale.

Finally having a daughter-in-law to accompany her in shopping for the New Year, the princess first activity every morning was to browse through various shops for new items. While some merchant caravans would deliver goods to the palace in advance for selection, nothing compared to the excitement of personally experiencing the bustling atmosphere.

Women generally enjoyed shopping, and Song Dingxiang accompanied the princess to select jewelry from the silver shop, browse through the fur and fabric store, visit the cosmetics shop, and explore the general store run by the imperial merchants in the capital.

Song Dingxiang speculated that she might not be a typical woman. Why else would the princess, who was over forty, still be enthusiastically active while she herself felt tired and exhausted?

"Recently, I gave the jeweler at the silver shop two boxes of gemstones to make some jewelry, and they said it would be ready in a couple of days. I realized that some of my old jewelry had become dull due to long-term storage and needed re-polishing. As for you, you're in your twenties and dress more simply than an old woman like me. How could that be? I specifically had them make a set of pearl and ruby jewelry for you to wear during the New Year," said the princess.

The Jiangnan textile factory delivered more than twenty new bolts of silk, and the princess selected several pieces of beautiful brocade to have the embroiderers quickly make some new clothes for the General's wife to wear during the New Year.

Song Dingxiang chuckled, "I haven't bothered to dress up because there's no occasion for it."

The Princess replied, "No one dresses like that regularly, but this is for the New Year. You may not know this in our county, but in the capital, every unmarried girl and young bride dresses up in fine jewelry. On the other hand, you just wear a silver hairpin every day. Be careful not to be outdone by others."

Song Dingxiang touched the silver hairpin on her head, saying, "This was bought for me by my husband Zhou Ge with the money earned from selling tigers before he joined the military. I've worn it for years and haven't found anything else that compares."

Looking at the hairpin on Song Dingxiang's head, the princess remarked, "You know what, even though this hairpin is simple, upon closer inspection, it is quite elegant. Shen'er has good taste, whether in choosing jewelry or choosing wife, he's much better than his brother. Oh, by the way, the eldest princess is hosting a plum blossom banquet for the Lunar New Year, and many unmarried girls will attend. You should come with me and help Lin'er find a suitable wife."

Song Dingxiang laughed, "I really don't know if I can do that. I'm afraid I'll be blinded by all the beauty. I'll just observe from a distance and see how things go."

The princess waved her hand as the silk was removed, and servants brought over many precious gems like jade, stones, and pearls.

"In the past, when I helped you choose your servants, it was all out of kindness. But living here for so long, I can't always discern true intentions. You immediately see through the facade and have saved face for me as your mother-in-law. I knew you were capable of managing the household and the people, which is why I had slave marriage contract brought to you. I may not believe in much, but I trust your keen eye for people. Don't decline the task - as the elder sister-in-law, if you don't help your younger brother pick a wife, who else will care enough?"

The princess, being familiar with Song Dingxiang, chattered on and on, leaving Song Dingxiang speechless and only able to respond with a forced smile.

*

The eldest princess had a plum garden, which had recently bloomed beautifully after a heavy snowfall. The garden featured white and red plum blossoms, emitting a delicate and charming fragrance even before entering.

Centered around the plum garden, male and female guests were separated. Song Dingxiang wore the gold phoenix hairpin with seven delicate threads given to her by the princess, with a round pearl the size of a thumb nail dangling from the phoenix's beak, gently swaying on her forehead.

In addition to the hairpin, she wore six hairpins adorned with rubies. Her large gold earrings also featured gemstones and pearls, making her feel like a living jewelry exhibit.

After meeting the eldest princess and hearing compliments, Song Dingxiang, with a fake smile, followed the princess out of the flower hall and sat in the pavilion near the plum garden. Holding a small hand warmer, she shivered beside the fire basin, peering through the pavilion window at the group of teenage girls outside.

Throughout history, teenage girls have always loved to flaunt their beauty by wearing thin clothes in winter. Upon removing their cloaks, their skirts would flutter in the wind, some adorned with silver bells that jingled with every step or breeze.

Those who recognized the bells hanging from the skirts knew it was a fashion choice, while others thought there might be a small dog hidden inside.

"I'm going over there to sit for a while. Don't wander off here, after all, this is the eldest princess's residence. No one dares to cause trouble, but who knows if someone might have ulterior motives," the princess cautioned Song Dingxiang.

Although she knew her daughter-in-law was scheming, who in the capital wasn't?

Even a young girl could navigate a labyrinth of deceit. Yet, being raised in the countryside, her daughter-in-law might seem clever, but if she got hurt, it would reflect badly on her.

"Don't worry, Mother. I'll stay here by the fire and not move. Besides, I have Zhenshu with me. If you don't trust me, do you trust her?" Song Dingxiang thought to herself, feeling frozen.

How could she possibly go out into the snowy wilderness to admire the plum blossoms?

While the plum blossoms were indeed beautiful, wasn't the warmth of the fire in the snowy landscape more inviting?

The princess left with her personal maid. Social gatherings were segregated into circles, and if she kept Song Dingxiang by her side the whole time, it might not bode well for her daughter-in-law, making her appear insignificant.

If she could calmly stay at the plum banquet from start to finish, others wouldn't have anything negative to say about her in the future.

The ways of the world were such that even if one didn't like it, they had no choice but to reluctantly endure it.

As soon as the princess left, the lingering gazes around fell upon Song Dingxiang. Ignoring them, Song Dingxiang pretended to admire the plum blossoms and avoided delving into whose eyes they were.

"Dear Sister Zhenshu," a young maid rushed over, bowed to Song Dingxiang, and said with a smile, "Madam, Sister Zhenshu, I stumbled earlier and wet my skirt. Could you accompany me to change it?"

"Who asked you to come here?" Zhenshu chuckled. "Sit by the fire here, and your skirt will dry."

"But if the young lady calls for me, it's not nice to be in a wet skirt. Zhenshu sister..." The girl looked sweet and her coquetry was equally sweet.

Song Dingxiang replied, "It's just changing a skirt, Zhenshu, you go ahead. I'll stay here and not go anywhere."

After hesitating for a moment, Zhenshu followed the young maid.

As soon as they left, someone else arrived.

"Oh, isn't this the wife of General Xuanwei?" A round-faced girl approached and sat gracefully in front of Song Dingxiang. "Why sit here alone, why not go admire the plum blossoms with the sisters?"

"It's too cold, I'm afraid of freezing," Song Dingxiang replied.

She looked at the girl and thought she looked even more like a jewelry display, with probably over twenty pieces on her head. She wondered if her thin neck could withstand the weight without causing cervical issues.

The girl said, "Indeed, during the plum blossom viewing, sisters enjoy reciting poems and painting. Sisters like you, who grew up in the countryside, might not be familiar with these things, right?"

Unperturbed, Song Dingxiang nodded and said, "Yes, I indeed am not familiar."

The girl was surprised at her calm response and stiffened her expression.

After a moment, she asked, "Do you think you are worthy of General Xuanwei, worthy of being the eldest daughter-in-law of the Eighth Prince's family?"

Surprised, Song Dingxiang looked at her and said, "Miss, are you not married? Speaking such words in broad daylight, isn't that shameful? Even though I was raised in the countryside, I know unmarried women should not casually utter such words."

The girl paused, then sneered, "To a rustic woman like you, what do manners matter? Do you even understand what I'm saying?"

Song Dingxiang smiled, "Regardless of whether I understand manners or not, I hope you do. I am currently the eldest daughter-in-law of the Eighth Prince's residence and also an Imperial-ranked second-class county princess. I hope you can think carefully before speaking and not come here to stir up trouble."

"You!" The round-faced girl blushed, her prepared words caught in her throat, unable to be spoken.

Sighing deeply, Song Dingxiang felt this was the reason she did not want to stay in the capital city. The people here seemed to have been raised on hormones, looking exquisite on the outside but inside, like a bunch of hay bags.

The princess even wanted to choose a daughter-in-law from this group of girls, which was too difficult for her.

"Miss Shu seems to be in good spirits, not joining us to admire the plum blossoms, and instead coming here to warm by the fire," a tall and elegant girl walked over.

Song Dingxiang glanced over and felt that this older girl was truly beautiful, ranking among the top in this group of girls.

"Sister Fei," the round-faced girl stood up, pouted at Song Dingxiang, and said, "I just wanted to warm myself by the fire, but the county princess claimed this spot as hers and scolded me."

"Is this true?" Fei Li was surprised, looking at Song Dingxiang. "Isn't the county princess too authoritarian?"

Song Dingxiang had a splitting headache. She looked at the two girls and almost burst out laughing from their antics.

"You, lying will get you struck by lightning," she leaned back in her chair, nonchalantly saying, "Just say what you want to say directly, beating around the bush is pointless. After all, I was raised in the countryside, so I really don't understand what you're trying to convey with your indirect remarks."

"You really are a country bumpkin, and Sister Fei is the foremost talented woman in the capital city. Even the emperor has praised her. How can you claim not to understand her words?" The round-faced girl seemed to have been raised in indulgence, lacking in wit and only concerned with arrogance.

And the person she was using as a tool was probably this top talented woman in the capital.

Song Dingxiang retorted, "And how does that concern me? Oh...I get it now, you came up here to say I'm not worthy of the Eighth Prince's residence, not worthy of General Zhou, and tried to belittle me. Did you perhaps think this Sister Fei here is more deserving?"

"Of course...Oh, Sister Fei, why, why are you pinching me?" Li Yushu rubbed her arm, looking incredulously at Fei Li.

Fei Li appeared on the verge of collapse, tears welling up in her eyes, "Why would the county princess say such things? I have the utmost respect for General Zhou, why would I ever...you, you mustn't make baseless accusations."

Song Dingxiang nodded and said to Li Yushu, "Did you hear that? Do not speak harmful words about others without thought, or someone might mistakenly believe you have ill intentions. I am unfamiliar with the people and surroundings here, if I were to be bullied, it would be truly tragic."

Li Yushu, wanting to turn the tables, found herself the target. She had never encountered someone so manipulative and was frustrated enough to stomp her feet, "You, you have no shame!"

"Impudent! Who do you think you are? Do you not understand decorum? This is Eldest Princess Chang's Manor, and you show such disrespect to the county princess personally appointed by the emperor, is this what you call manners?"

Song Dingxiang stood up abruptly, full of righteousness, "Or is this the custom in the capital city? Are you bullying me, an outsider, for not understanding? I will go ask Eldest Princess Chang what this custom really entails!"

Li Yushu turned pale in an instant, looking visibly shaken.

Fei Li had never expected this person in front of her to be so brazen, but she was, after all, the daughter of a high-ranking official and the top talented woman in the capital. If she were to back down now, she feared she would never be able to hold her head up high again.

"County Princess, you really like to assert your authority, treating us two young girls this way?"

"Is there a distinction of rank even under imperial authority? Could it be that this girl insults me and you didn't hear? I am curious to know where this girl gets her audacity, disregarding even the county princess! Doesn't this mean she also looks down on the Eight Prince's residence, and even the emperor?" Song Dingxiang did not back down, despite being smaller in stature than the girl, her spirit was unwavering.

"I didn't!" Li Yushu was terrified and instantly dropped to her knees, trembling, "I, I didn't mean it, please forgive me, County Princess."

Her father was only a fourth-ranked official in the capital city, and even though civil officials were ranked higher than military officials of the same grade, the girl in front of her was a second-ranked official, far surpassing her.

How did she believe this person, who she thought was just a clueless country bumpkin, could easily intimidate and assert dominance?

Song Dingxiang sneered, "I believe you don't have the courage to speak ill of me. I just advise you, sometimes don't let your emotions get the best of you and be used as a pawn by others. Be careful not to end up in a pitiful state in the end, as delicate as a fragile flower."

With that, she sat back leisurely, comfortably leaning back, "It's alright, why crying? I'm not petty. Where is your maid? Get her to take you downstairs to wash your face, beware of getting chapped by the cold wind and losing your beauty."

Li Yushu couldn't understand what kind of medicine Song Dingxiang was peddling, but she still had her maid help her up and left without looking back.

Fei Li tightly pursed her lips, realizing that the county princess had only glanced at her initially and hadn't looked at her directly from start to finish. It seemed she was insignificant in her eyes.

This made her feel frustrated, suffocated, and above all, ashamed.

"Sister Fei, why are you hiding in the pavilion? Why not come out and enjoy the plum blossoms and snow?" Finally, someone came to Fei Li's rescue. Fei Li hurriedly bowed and ran out along the steps.

This small commotion quickly reached the ears of the Eighth Prince and Eldest Princess, and of course, Eldest Princess Chang knew about it too, laughing, "Little Wan'er, your eldest daughter-in-law, are truly extraordinary."

The princess said, "You're amusing Eldest Princess Chang, she really knows nothing, barely ever leaves the house in the capital city. But the one good thing is that she treats my son well and respects me as her mother-in-law. I'm over forty now, what more could I ask for? With these two things, I am content."

A woman nearby chuckled, "With those two things, Eight Princess, you will surely enjoy great fortune in the future. However... the county princess has gone for so many years without any results, perhaps it's time to take a closer look? If necessary, even bringing in another woman into the household might be a good idea."

Eldest Princess Chang nodded, "Indeed, they've been married... for about six years, right?"

The eight princess expression was somewhat grim, "Yes, it has been six years, but my eldest son has had a tough life. He just got married and had to go to the northern territories, only recently returning. Now that the young couple are as happy as can be, and my daughter-in-law is robust, I'm afraid it won't be long before I receive some good news."

The woman glanced at Eldest Princess Chang, who gave a slight nod and said, "But it's important for a man to establish his career after marriage, and also important to have offspring. As a mother, you must be mindful of this. Pick a few suitable candidates and send them over to save the county princess from too much stress."

The princess lowered her eyes to hide the coldness within them as she softly replied, "Eldest Princess Chang is right, I have indeed overlooked this matter. I will ask my son what he likes and carefully choose for him. I wonder if Lady Rongfu has any recommended candidates?"

Lady Rongfu covered her mouth and smiled, "I do have someone in mind, well-regarded by everyone in the capital city, and definitely more than qualified to be matched with General Xuanwei. I'm sure Eighth Princess has heard of her, she is the legitimate daughter of the Shangshu Mansion, not only beautiful and intelligent but also the top talented woman in the capital. Once the General sets eyes on her, he will surely be delighted."

Eighth Princess smirked, "The top talented woman in the capital, I have indeed heard of her. Rumor has it that she is pursued by many prestigious young men in the city, why would she agree to be a concubine?"

At the mention of 'concubine,' Lady Rongfu's eyes flickered, "Well, I've only heard hearsay. Apparently, the girl has been quite taken by General Zhou ever since meeting him, saying she admires his heroic qualities. And doesn't the princess already have a beloved daughter-in-law by her side? While the county princess may be good, she is ultimately from the countryside, not comparable to our city girls."

Eldest Princess Chang added, "As you say, I also think this girl is quite impressive. However, it's a bit unfair to make her a concubine. Why not inquire at a more suitable time?"

The eight princess said, "Eldest Princess Chang also knows that my eldest son and I have not seen each other for twenty-one years. We only spent one New Year together. For a mother to force a concubine into his room, what kind of situation is this? I believe it should be his choice."

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Yinuo was almost infuriated, "Mother, what do you mean? I absolutely will not take a concubine! Even my father does not take concubines, what kind of son would I be if I did? Moreover, I am devoted to Dingxiang, she loves and respects me, and I would bring in a concubine to disgust her? Would that not make me heartless and cruel?"

The princess sighed in frustration, "Why are you yelling? I've just realized you have the temper of a dog, pretending to be calm on ordinary days."

Zhou Yinnuo's face darkened as he said, "I will never take a concubine, this matter is not up for discussion!"

The princess coldly snorted, "What's the use of shouting at me? What if Eldest Princess Chang convinces the emperor to place someone in your room? Will you defy the decree?"

Zhou Yinnuo hung his head, and after a long while, he said, "If it really comes to that, I will give all my belongings to Dingxiang and then part ways, rather leaving the position of legitimate wife empty and never marrying again. Even if Dingxiang is without me, finding someone dear to her would surely not be a problem."

"You!" The princess was surprised by Zhou Yinuo's response, feeling both angry and a bit smug.

Indeed, he was her son! Devoted and faithful, truly remarkable.

——— Author's Note:

In a transitional period in the capital, just one or two more chapters before heading home!