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Chapter 145.2
Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 145 Pt. 2
Translated by gingercat
Edited by gingercat
The next day, Jin Wang went to the Ministry of Works, while Yaoniang went to Duke Zhenguo Manor.
Qiao-shi lived in Xianruo Pavilion, a courtyard with two entrances. This was also the residence of the one and only Shizi. The front entrance led to the Shizi’s study along with the parlour used to receive guests and the back entrance led to the rooms where they lived.
Yaoniang got off the soft sedan chair and saw Qiao-shi and Xiao Yueyue coming out to greet them at the door.
“You’re too courteous. There’s no need to welcome me like this.”
“This is what it should be. As long as side consort doesn’t think I’m rude.”
The pair walked into the house together. The decorations were all luxurious, but low-key, making the interior appear very elegant. It could also be seen that Qiao-shi was a very talented woman. Under the window were a qin and a chessboard. Behind the screen, there was a large table for painting with various thick and thin brushes on it. There were also many rolled-up scrolls inserted in large bins.
One could also see that the paintings and calligraphy hanging on the wall were done by a woman’s hand. At first glance, Yaoniang could tell that they were all her masterpieces.
Seeing Yaoniang’s gaze on the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, Qiao-shi smiled, “I’ve let you see a joke. I didn’t want to hang them up, lest others mock them but the Shizi insisted on hanging them on the wall.”
Yaoniang retracted her gaze. With admiration, she said to her: “How can someone laugh at them? With one look, people would be able to tell that Madam is a learned and talented person. Qin, chess, calligraphy and painting all cultivate one’s temperament and are great skills to learn. It’s just that I came from a small family, and only learned a few words. Even if I wanted to learn all this I couldn’t.”
Yaoniang’s words were very sincere. She didn’t shy away from her background at all. And indeed, the reality was exactly like so. Su Xiucai was a pedantic scholar who disagreed with the idea of women studying. He believed that a woman’s lack of talent was a virtue. If it weren’t because it would be shameful for a daughter of a Xiucai to be illiterate, Yaoniang would never have gotten the chance to learn to read.
Of the two daughters of the Su Family, Huiniang only learned a few words and wasn’t willing to learn anymore. Yaoniang enjoyed learning, but after studying with Su Xiucai for two years, Su Xiucai was unwilling to teach her anymore after seeing that she was literate. After that, Yaoniang could only learn more by secretly reading Su Xiucai’s books.
Qiao-shi did not expect that this woman, who looked a little too coquettish and had a bad reputation outside, had such a personality.
To be honest, the only reason why she sent an invitation to Yaoniang was because of what she had said the other day. She had only planned to go through the motions and didn’t intend to form a deep friendship. But now, she realized that this Side Consort Su didn’t seem to be like what the rumours say, she was both a frank and open person.
Thinking of this, Qiao-shi laughed in spite of herself. She had become the kind of person she hated. The rumours outside didn’t portray herself as the greatest either, and she was also not at all like what the rumours say.
“If side consort doesn’t dislike it, I can teach you.”
“Really?” Yaoniang looked at Qiao-shi with bright eyes.
Qiao-shi was amused by her. “Of course. Actually, if side consort wants to learn, you can invite a female teacher to your house.” There was no need to be so stirred up.
Although Qiao-shi knew that this adjective wasn’t exactly the most accurate, Yaoniang did give her this feeling.
Yaoniang was a little surprised. “Ah? One can do that? I didn’t know. In the past, I’ve only heard of the rich and honourable people inviting a female teacher to teach them. I didn’t expect…”
As she spoke, she started to blush and eventually her words died out. Now, she could also be considered a rich and honourable person. To put it bluntly, she still hadn’t changed her way of thinking.
Both of them understood this meaning, and when they looked at each other and smiled, they couldn’t help but feel closer.
And while Yaoniang and Qiao-shi were chatting, the two little ones also talked.
Upon entering the house, Xiaobao threw away Yuchan’s hand and moved towards Xiao Yueyue.
Xiao Yueyue still remembered Xiaobao. When the young master from Lu Wang Manor was pulling her hair, it was this little brother who saved her. In the little baby’s heart, you helped me, so now we’re good friends. After grabbing Xiaobao’s hand, she said she wanted to invite him to enjoy some pastries.
Yueyue saw that this was how her mother always treated the children, and she learned it from her.
The two adults were talking on the side, and Qiao-shi soon led Yaoniang to the study, and took out the scroll from the large bin and unfolded it to show her. Meanwhile, the two children sat on the big Kang together and enjoyed pastries together.
After greeting Xiaobao like an adult, Yueyue’s small chubby hand pushed the plate with the pastries to Xiaobao. “Little brother Xiaobao, you can try this osmanthus infused chestnut powder pastry. It was made by a cook brought from the south and is really delicious.” The last sentence expressed what she felt was the most important about snacks. It was also something Qiao-shi would never say directly to her guests.
Xiaobao was already eating a piece of pastry in his hand. Qiao-shi’s snacks were all distinctly Jiangnan-style, small, delicate and delicious. It wasn’t that Xiaobao had never eaten them in his last life, but he drank too much medicine and his sense of taste was never the same. Due to his weak health, many things were not suitable for him to eat. Despite his high status as the crown prince, he was unable to enjoy most of the delicacies in the world.
He acted all steady and dignified as he finished the pastry in his hand, before taking a piece of osmanthus-infused chestnut powder pastry. He thought his steady and calm behaviour would make him appear reserved and mature. What he didn’t realize was that because of his young age, people would only find him to be very cute. As a result, not only did Xiao Yueyue laugh but the two maids next to her also smiled.
Yueyue glared at the two maids. “Ru Meng, Ru Hua, you two are not allowed to laugh at little brother Xiaobao.” Then she said to Xiaobao, “Little brother Xiaobao, eat slowly, don’t worry.” In the end, she still couldn’t help letting out another chuckle upon seeing the crumbs left on Xiaobao’s chubby face.
“Don’t move, I’ll wipe it for you.”
Grabbing a small handkerchief, she approached Xiaobao and wiped his face. Her pinky slightly raised, she adopted a graceful posture as she wiped. Children of this age were very good at imitating others, especially those closest to them. It could be seen that Yueyue learned a lot from observing her mother.
But when Qiao-shi did it, she appeared elegant and appealing to the eye. When it was Yueyue’s turn, the scene appeared more comedic. It wasn’t that Yueyue wasn’t good-looking. According to Xiaobao, she looked good no matter what she did.
His heart started to race. He closed his eyes subconsciously, but before he could feel anything he heard Yueyue say she was done.
Seeing Xiaobao open his eyes, Yueyue said, “It’s gone now.”
Why was she so fast? Why don’t you wipe for another while?
It was a pity that no one could hear Xiaobao’s cry in his heart. He took a bite of the chestnut pastry and glanced at Yueyue. “Can you not call me little brother Xiaobao?”
Yueyue was an obedient little girl, so she asked, “Then what should I call you instead?”
“Anything is fine as long as it’s not little brother.”
“But you are younger than me. Mother said girls younger than me are called little sisters, and boys are little brothers.”
“I’m only a little younger than you. I’m almost two years old. You’re not yet three years old, which means you’re still two years old. See, we’re basically the same age.”
“But I’m almost three years old,” Yueyue remembered this was what her mother had told her.
“But that doesn’t count, it doesn’t count until it happens. Since we are both two years old, you should call me by my name in the future, and I’ll call you by your name.” Xiaobao was quite the eloquent child.
Yueyue didn’t know how to count, so she could only nod her head. “Okay. Then what should I call you in the future?”
“Xiaobao…” After speaking, Xiaobao shook his head. The name Xiaobao wasn’t powerful or domineering enough. How could his future wife call him by such a nickname? He thought about it for another while, then said solemnly, “My name is Zhao Chen. You can call me Chen Ge¹ in the future.”