When Liu Qingwu opened her eyes again, the glaring light filtering through her eyelids told her it was already the next day.
She reached out and touched the sheets beside her – they felt cold to the touch, indicating the person next to her must have gotten up some time ago.
Hearing the movement, Lianxin entered and lifted the curtain: “Madam, are you getting up now?”
“Where is my husband?”
Liu Qingwu rolled over and buried herself in the bedding, the fragrant warmth of the quilt making her reluctant to leave.
“The Shizi has gone to morning court.”
Liu Qingwu then remembered that the three-day wedding leave had ended. Jiang Yueheng needed to attend court duties, and from now on, she would rarely see him during the day except on rest days.
“Ah, I’m being held hostage by this soft, fragrant quilt!”
Liu Qingwu hugged the quilt and rolled around on the bed. Though completely awake, she simply didn’t want to get up.
Lianxin watched her mistress lounging in bed with an indulgent expression, softly asking: “Would you like to wash up first or have your meal?”
After some internal debate, Liu Qingwu struggled to get up. Now that it was mentioned, she was indeed feeling quite hungry, especially after expending considerable energy last night.
After washing up, Liu Qingwu sat cross-legged on the soft couch, eagerly awaiting her meal.
The dishes were arranged one by one on the table: sweet and soft pumpkin congee, steamed dumplings with thin skins and generous fillings that were delightfully chewy, and refreshingly sour and spicy side dishes – all perfectly suited to Liu Qingwu’s taste.
A beautiful day begins with a satisfying breakfast.
Maintaining her cheerful mood after breakfast, under Qingxing’s skilled hands, a gentle young lady wearing sky-blue robes and flower hairpins gradually appeared in the mirror.
What should she do this morning?
After pondering for a moment, Liu Qingwu had Fuling take Qingxing to clean out the east room for Hao Ge’er to live in.
She herself brought Lianxin and others to the Zheng courtyard to pay respects.
Since she was married into the family to care for the child, she should visit frequently to avoid appearing neglectful.
In the Zheng courtyard, the Hou Furen was listening to the steward’s reports while handling household affairs. Hearing of Liu Qingwu’s arrival, a flicker of surprise showed in her eyes.
“Have Third Sister wait in the hall first and serve some tea and snacks.”
Liu Qingwu obediently waited in the hall, quite content with sipping tea and nibbling snacks.
The Hou Furen hurried to finish her current tasks and, upon entering the hall, saw Liu Qingwu enjoying her snacks happily.
Seeing the Hou Furen enter, Liu Qingwu promptly set down her teacup and rose to perform a respectful greeting with impeccable grace: “Greetings, Mother.”
As for who had been eating so happily moments before – certainly not her!
The Hou Furen’s mouth twitched slightly, feeling she had glimpsed a genuine side of Liu Qingwu.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“Apologies for disturbing you, Mother. Your daughter-in-law thought to come pay respects and also check on Hao Ge’er.”
A sweet, gentle smile seemed permanently fixed on Liu Qingwu’s face.
The Hou Furen observed her obedient expression, feeling something wasn’t quite right but unable to pinpoint what. However, someone with such clear, bright eyes probably didn’t harbor ill intentions.
The Hou Furen took a sip of tea and gracefully rose: “Let’s go. I’ve just finished my tasks for now, we can go together.”
Perfect timing – Hao Ge’er was currently energetic, waving his arms and legs while lying in his small bed.
The moment he saw the Hou Furen, his little face instantly blossomed into a smile, tiny hands waving, his entire body spelling out “pick me up” in bold letters.
The Hou Furen smiled with deep affection – this chubby child so wholeheartedly seeking her embrace presented an utterly endearing scene.
Liu Qingwu also wore a doting smile. As long as it wasn’t her own child, other people’s children were quite adorable.
Hou Furen picked up Hao Ge’er and sat on the soft couch, subtly observing Liu Qingwu’s reactions while playing with the child. Seeing genuine affection on her face, she felt somewhat relieved.
“The Liu family must have mentioned this to you before—after you entered the household, Hao Ge’er would be entrusted to your care,” Hou Furen remarked casually.
“Yes, Mother.”
Liu Qingwu’s smile remained unchanged. This matter had long been agreed upon, so there was no reason for surprise.
“Is Hao Ge’er’s room ready?”
“I dare not hide it from you, Mother. My chief maid Fuling is currently overseeing the servants in tidying it up,” Liu Qingwu added with an apologetic expression. “I instructed them to prepare the east room for Hao Ge’er, as it’s closer and more convenient for daily care.”
Hou Furen was pleased upon hearing this and acknowledged, “You’ve been thoughtful.”
Liu Qingwu was glad her words had the desired effect. Though she was essentially fulfilling a paid duty, if one didn’t speak up, others wouldn’t know what efforts had been made.
With nothing more to say, Liu Qingwu stepped forward to join in playing with Hao Ge’er. The child’s chubby face was accentuated by large, striking eyes, and upon closer look, his long eyelashes seemed to naturally outline them like eyeliner.
The child was easily amused. A gentle poke on his tender chest made him giggle, clear drool trickling down his chin.
“Quick, wipe it.”
Hou Furen cheerfully handed over a handkerchief, signaling Liu Qingwu to wipe the drool promptly.
“This child doesn’t see many people often and usually won’t let strangers hold him. Yet he seems delighted to see you today.” Noticing how comfortably Hao Ge’er allowed Liu Qingwu to handle him, Hou Furen’s tone carried a hint of envy.
“It must be because you’re here, Mother, that Hao Ge’er feels secure enough to notice others.”
Liu Qingwu spoke with sincere conviction, her earnest gaze seeming to say: Believe me! These words come straight from the heart!
Hou Furen was amused and laughed. “That’s just as well. You should visit Zheng courtyard more often. Once you two are familiar with each other, Hao Ge’er can move to your courtyard.”
After a pause, she added, “Stay for lunch in Zheng courtyard.”
Since Houye and Shizi held official positions and usually dined at the office canteen during work hours, Hou Furen typically had lunch alone in Zheng courtyard. Today, with Liu Qingwu staying, she ordered a few extra dishes when placing the meal request.
By lunchtime, after the mother- and daughter-in-law washed their hands, the table was laden with an array of dishes.
No matter how many times she saw it, Liu Qingwu was still astonished by the meals in Zheng courtyard. As the Chang Princess of the Da Qin Dynasty, Hou Furen, raised in luxury, maintained an exceptional standard for dining.
Liu Qingwu vividly recalled her first lunch in Zheng courtyard after marriage: the table was filled with various exquisitely prepared dishes, each plate featuring minimal but refined portions, with presentation and flavor of the highest quality. It reminded her of modern private kitchens, where recipes were perfected through countless trials, offering an occasional feast that delighted the palate immensely.
“Let’s sit down and eat.”
With that, Hou Furen fell silent, parting her lips slightly to take small, delicate bites assisted by her maid.
Liu Qingwu inevitably put on a demure act, given their unfamiliarity. But the food was so delicious that the contents of her bowl disappeared rapidly.
Lianxin immediately began picking up food one chopstickful after another, swiftly serving her mistress.
Completely engrossed in their meal, neither mistress nor maid noticed the gaze of Hou Furen at the head of the table.
Watching this scene, the corner of her eye twitched repeatedly: Had this daughter-in-law gone eight lifetimes without eating?