He was tiny, clenching his little fists to encourage himself. Lin Zhen smiled at the sight, feeling all her pent-up frustration melt away.
After returning from the palace, she had spent half the day reviewing account books, and in the evening, she shared dinner with Ping'an and A'Yu, who had come to pay her respects.
She was busy all day, but if you asked Lin Zhen herself, compared to her former days of scraping by in the marketplace, carefully budgeting every penny for living expenses, this now truly counted as a life of the immortals.
By the next day, the concubines of Prince Fu's household came to pay their respects to her.
They were all beauties like flowers—each with her own charm, like orchids, plums, bamboos, and chrysanthemums, each exquisite in her own way, more lovely than the blossoms themselves. They clustered around her in a flurry. Lin Zhen spent a good while comforting the beauties.
She was gentle in temperament and had not changed her attitude after Prince Fu's passing, and all the beauties were greatly relieved.
They were all clever people, knowing that since they would have to live under Lin Zhen's care from now on, the only course was to flatter her all the more.
The main hall was filled with harmony, and Lin Zhen, surrounded and fawned over by the beauties, felt quite pleased.
But she had no intention of imposing strict rules on them, and she knew they were anxious about their uncertain futures. She only said gently, "Whatever it was like when the Prince was alive, that's how it will be here with me now. Whatever you want, whatever you wish to do, just come and tell me. No need to hold back."
She paused, then continued as the beauties gradually relaxed, "Before he passed, the Prince also said that if you wish to remain in the household, I will naturally look after you. And if any of you already have someone in your hearts, there's no need to remain chaste for his sake. A woman's youth is precious. If you wish to remarry, come tell me, and if I think the man is a worthy match, I will surely agree. Your dowries will come from the household as well. From now on, this household will be your natal family. If you suffer any grievance, come back, and I will see justice done for you. There's no need to worry about anything."
These words were the instructions Prince Fu had given her on his deathbed.
It wasn't that he insisted his concubines remarry.
Those who wished to stay in the household and live a comfortable life were perfectly welcome.
He simply hoped they could live a life of their own choosing.
Whatever choice they made, the Prince Fu household would be their safety net.
They were free to take on the challenges of life.
These words were truly spoken for the beauties' benefit, and the main hall fell silent for a moment. Then a lovely beauty with apricot eyes and rosy cheeks said, "Your Highness, I don't wish to remarry."
She broke the silence, and immediately the beauties began chattering away.
Not a single one wanted to remarry now.
Of course.
Lin Zhen smiled and took a sip of tea, thinking to herself, who would be willing to remarry?
Living freely in this household, safe and secure, with no worries about food, clothing, or expenses, protected by the household's shelter—leisurely and carefree. Wasn't that far better than marrying out and having to watch a husband's moods?
Even Lin Zhen herself felt that being a widow was quite fine.
She had never once considered "remarrying."
After a moment's thought, she casually gave them some fine, brightly colored brocades… even if they couldn't make clothes from them, they could at least pile them up in their rooms to admire.
The beauties clustered around Lin Zhen even more eagerly.
Until Jiaoyue hurried in. Seeing her expression, the beauties tactfully took their leave.
Lin Zhen also told them they needn't come every day to observe formalities before her.
"What's the matter?" she asked Jiaoyue with a smile, while beckoning the secretly lingering A'Yu to come forward.
"Someone has come from the Earl Dongyang household."
"Who came?"
"Lady Dongyang and the heir of the earl's household."
A'Yu was honest and could never push her way to the front even when vying for favor. Just moments ago, she had been anxiously fretting. Now that she was finally the only one left, she had hurried over, feeling perfectly content, wanting to say some shamelessly affectionate things to Lin Zhen—when she suddenly heard "Earl Dongyang" and was startled half out of her wits.
She was a concubine's daughter of the Earl Dongyang household and knew well Lady Dongyang's methods. Hearing that her legitimate mother had come in person, she naturally worried for Lin Zhen.
But Lin Zhen was not particularly concerned. She continued asking calmly, "Did they send a visiting card beforehand?"
Coming unannounced was the mark of an unwelcome guest.
"No."
"Then let them wait outside." Since there was no visiting card, it meant they weren't on the hostess's schedule. Who had the leisure to receive them just because they showed up?
Jiaoyue nodded. A'Yu hesitated for a long moment, then advised worriedly, "If you make them wait outside the household, I'm afraid they'll make a scene."
Her legitimate mother was no easy person to deal with. If the household refused her entry, she would surely raise a tremendous fuss, which would certainly harm Lin Zhen's reputation.
At the very least, accusations of slighting an elder, being discourteous to nobility, and so on…
"What elder is she to me?" Lin Zhen saw A'Yu worrying on her behalf and explained, "She's a noble, but I'm a daughter-in-law of the imperial family… She didn't even send a visiting card—that's the real discourtesy."
Moreover, even if Lady Dongyang made a scene, so what?
Lin Zhen's reputation… she had never had much of one to begin with. Ever since she married Prince Fu, there had been no end of gossip about her in the capital. And besides, embarrassment wasn't one-sided.
If Lady Dongyang was refused entry and ignored by the Prince Fu household, was that really so glorious for her?
Let her make all the fuss she wanted.
A'Yu was used to seeing Lady Dongyang's quarrels always bringing shame to people, and had never imagined there could be such a way of handling things. She couldn't help but open her eyes wide.
"Make them wait half an hour, then let them in." Lin Zhen still had some matters to settle with the Dongyang estate, and said to A'Yu, "You go back first. Otherwise, I'm afraid it won't be good for you."
She was a princess consort with a distinguished and noble status, naturally unafraid of Lady Dongyang.
But A'Yu was, after all, still a daughter of the earl's household. If Lady Dongyang saw her, it would be bad if she held a grudge in the future.
A'Yu, however, shook her head and said, "The Princess Consort has shown me great kindness. How could I abandon you at a time like this?"
The so-called great kindness was merely taking her in and not sending her back home.
Lin Zhen shook her head helplessly and coaxed her, saying, "I understand your feelings. You…"
The delicate and timid young woman shook her head again and said, "I will stay with the Princess Consort." She only knew that she wanted to stand on the Princess Consort's side.
"Then you go to the back first," Lin Zhen pointed to the rear of the main hall, letting A'Yu not show herself, but if Lady Dongyang went too far with her, she could come out at any time to defend her.
Only then did A'Yu respond and follow the two maidservants to the back.
Lin Zhen was even less in a hurry. She casually flipped through the estate's account books and played with the little one who had run off to the garden early in the morning.
The little fellow could run wild in the garden when it was cool in the morning. Now he was holding a beautiful flower and pattering over to Lin Zhen, raising the pretty flower high with both hands to offer it to her.
"For you! Mother!" He was clearly much happier than before.
"Is it for me?" Lin Zhen asked with a smile.
"Mm!" The little one's eyes sparkled as he tried his best to stand on tiptoe, holding up his flower.
Lin Zhen took it preciously and pinned it to the front of her robe.
Seeing that she liked it, the little one joyfully circled around her, spinning in circles like a puppy.
"Mother, many flowers." He wanted to tell Lin Zhen that there were many blooming flowers in the garden, so beautiful they were beyond words.
Lin Zhen also felt that the hundred flowers blooming in midsummer was indeed beautiful, and said with a smile, "Then tomorrow morning, shall Ping'an and I go admire the flowers together?"
That was naturally wonderful, and the little one nodded vigorously. Mother and child frolicked for a while before Lin Zhen remembered that there were still people waiting outside the estate.
"Let Lady Dongyang in."
Ah, it was still better to be in a deep mansion with large courtyards.
The Prince Fu estate was so vast, with layers upon layers of courtyards. Even if someone outside the main gate made a fuss that reached the heavens, she couldn't hear it, and remained peaceful and quiet.
As for someone who was willing to make a racket and shout until her voice went hoarse, that was her own throat hurting.
The Princess Consort Fu thought casually, but Lady Dongyang was already furious beyond measure.
She was a proper earl's wife, coming to her daughter and grandson's home, yet she was turned away at the door.
What was even more infuriating was that the estate servants who had once been so courteous to her now didn't give her a second glance, refusing her entry just like that.
When she tried to force her way in… the gatekeeper picked up a club, and several estate guards even drew their blades.
When she wanted to curse, a matron came over and said to her with a fake smile that she could shout all she wanted, since their Princess Consort couldn't hear her anyway. And if she made too much noise, this was a place where royalty and nobility gathered, and the shame would fall on the Dongyang estate.
Lady Dongyang had always been proud of her distinguished upbringing and was used to having her way. She had never seen such a low-class household, and was so angry she was half dead.
But angry as she was, she wouldn't leave.
Because today she had come to demand an explanation.
And to crush the arrogance of that fox spirit, so she wouldn't dare defy the Dongyang estate again.
What Princess Consort Fu… how dare she try to overpower her daughter.
Her daughter was Prince Fu's original wife!
Lady Dongyang had come in a fury today, but never imagined that even getting through the door of the Prince Fu estate would be this difficult. The fire in her heart surged higher and higher, making her all the more determined to see that smug little wretch who had gotten above herself.
She waited and waited. Finally, the side gate of the estate opened, and she charged in furiously, heading straight for the main hall she knew so well.
There she saw a scene of harmony inside—her grandson laughing with a face blooming like a flower, snuggling happily against a young beauty.
Seeing her grandson so close to that beauty, Lady Dongyang's eyes nearly split with rage.
An ungrateful wretch, an ungrateful wretch! His own mother had been dead for how long, and already he was treating his stepmother as his own?
"Ping'an! What are you doing!" Lady Dongyang let out a furious roar.
The little one who had been so happy was startled by the shout, flinching. He clung to Lin Zhen's hand, gathered his courage to look over, and glared at her.
"Guards." Lady Dongyang seemed to think she was in her own home, daring to act so presumptuously in the Prince Fu estate. Lin Zhen stroked the little one's back soothingly while lifting her chin.
Two sturdy, imposing estate guards stepped forward and immediately seized the Heir of Count Dongyang, who had been following behind Lady Dongyang to watch the commotion.
Another estate guard raised his hand and delivered two heavy slaps across the face of the utterly stunned Heir of Count Dongyang!
"Ah!" The guard was strong, and two slaps from his rough, large hand made the heir's fair face swell up.
"You, what are you doing!" In the blink of an eye her son had been struck, and Lady Dongyang was beside herself with rage, hopping mad.
"If you dare frighten my son again, don't blame me for returning the favor and giving your son a taste of his own medicine." Lin Zhen took pleasure in watching the well-preserved Heir of Count Dongyang cry out in pain after just two strikes, wailing for his mother and father.
She lowered her head and saw that her own little one, upon witnessing his maternal uncle being punished, showed no fear but instead craned his neck to watch the commotion. She smiled, then raised an eyebrow at the incredulous Lady Dongyang and said, "Moreover, when a mother behaves rudely and presumptuously before a royal consort, and her son fails to offer counsel but instead indulges her—such a person who knows neither rank nor propriety deserves a beating. Let this serve as a lesson to your entire household."
"You—!"