Jiang Changning took the gift list and said with a smile, "Thank you. I'll go make a copy right away."
"No need to copy it, I copied this one specially for you."
"Sui Yan, you are so kind. I love you."
The princess of Prince De smiled and said, "I dare not let you love me. I am afraid that my cousin Prince Jin will post a notice at the gate of the palace to forbid me to enter."
Jiang Changning smiled, "Stop talking bad about him. He won't do that."
"Oh my, you're already protecting me so tightly before I even say anything!"
The Princess of Prince De had lunch at the Prince of Jin's Mansion before leaving. "It's snowing, so don't come out."
"I'll take you to the gate." Jiang Changning put on a bright red feather cloak and a snow hat.
The Princess of De took her arm and said, "Thank you, Princess Jin."
Jiang Changning laughed and spat at her, "You just tease me when you have nothing to do."
The two sisters-in-law chatted and laughed as they walked towards the gate of the courtyard. There was a corridor all the way, so they didn't need to hold an umbrella.
That night, Jiang Changning was waiting for Prince Jin.
At 3:45 pm on the 11th hour of the first lunar month, the King of Jin returned and saw that Jiang Changning had not slept yet. "You just got better, why are you staying up late? Why don't you care about your body?"
"I slept too long in the afternoon and I can't sleep now. Besides, I haven't seen you for two days. I miss you." Jiang Changning said in a soft voice.
The corners of King Jin's lips slightly raised, he opened his arms and hugged the man into his arms, "Does the governor want to set fire again?"
"If you don't let go, just tease the people." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
"You little heartless girl." Prince Jin kissed her on the forehead.
Jiang Changning told her about the visit of the Crown Prince's wife, "When do you think I should go to the palace to pay my respects?"
King Jin thought for a moment and said, "Two days later."
"Okay." Jiang Changning didn't ask why.
The smile on Prince Jin's lips deepened. His little princess was so smart and obedient.
Two days later, Jiang Changning dressed in her proper attire and brought gifts for the imperial court. She stopped by Prince De's residence, picked up Prince De's princess, and went to the palace together.
When passing Chengtian Gate, Jiang Changning heard a noise. He opened the curtain and looked out. He saw a group of people wearing foreign costumes. "Which vassal state came here in the snow to pay tribute?"
"Xiao Ning, you are recuperating at home, and you really don't care about what is happening outside. The Sulu delegation has been in Beijing for four or five days. His Majesty summoned them today."
Jiang Changning's eyes moved slightly, and she knew why Prince Jin asked her to enter the palace today.
Prince Jin did not relax his guard against the Dog Emperor at all.
After entering the palace, he took a sedan chair to go to Pinghe Palace.
Although the enthronement ceremony had not yet been held, Concubine Wu had already moved to the palace and enjoyed the treatment of a virtuous concubine.
The emperor had been treating his illness for such a long time with no improvement. He actually knew in his heart that these might be the last two children he would have in his life.
Two sons and three daughters are not many, but at least there is bloodline inheritance and the family line is not extinct.
The two sisters-in-law entered the Pinghe Palace. Concubine Wu was very friendly and enthusiastic towards them. "Princess Jin, Concubine De, please stop being so polite. Please take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat." The two men bowed.
Although Jiang Changning and Concubine Wu were from the same class of concubines, they were not familiar with each other, and she had only met the Crown Princess of Prince De a few times.
But Concubine Wu was a smart person, and she chatted with them about makeup. "Princess Jin's lip balm is so pink and tender, it looks really good."
"This is Zhenji's new pink plum lip balm."
"It's from Zhenji. No wonder. Before I entered the palace, I used everything from Zhenji."
Jiang Changning smiled and didn't respond to her.
If Concubine Wu wanted to use Zhenji cosmetics, she could just give the eunuchs some money to buy them for her. But if she wanted her to give them to her, that was impossible.
"If your Majesty likes Zhenji's things, you can choose Zhenji when the palace selects and purchases again next year." The Princess Consort of Prince De gave advice.
"I'm not worthy of your thanks, it was just a casual chat." The Princess Consort of Prince De hurriedly distanced herself from the matter. She had never thought of getting involved in the palace's purchasing affairs.
At this time, the palace maid brought out the little prince.
Concubine Wu laughed and said, "When this kid was born, he weighed more than eight kilograms. I was really exhausted."
"Princess Jin and I have not experienced this yet, but we have heard people say that a son's birthday is a mother's hard day." Princess De said with a smile.
Jiang Changning smiled and said, "Your Majesty has worked so hard to give birth to the little prince. When the little prince grows up and becomes sensible, he will be filial to your Majesty."
"You two, hurry up and have a baby too." Concubine Wu signaled the maid to hand the little prince to Jiang Changning, "You can share in the good fortune, so that you can get pregnant soon and have a boy."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jiang Changning took the little prince.
But Jiang Changning, who hadn’t given birth yet, had never held this baby who was not even a month old.
As soon as the child was in her arms, she became completely motionless and her expression froze.
Seeing this, the Princess of De said, "I'm here to share in the Second Prince's joy, too."
Having said that, he took the baby over.
Jiang Changning let out a sigh and smiled gratefully at the Crown Princess of Prince De.
Although the Crown Princess of Prince De did not give birth to a child, she held her nephew in her arms and acted like a real baby, and even teased the baby.
The baby was only a few days old and there was no way he could respond to her.
"The little prince is so fair and tender, with a straight nose, long and narrow eyes, and two dimples." The Princess Consort of Prince De observed carefully.
After chatting about children for a few more sentences, Jiang Changning and Prince De’s wife stood up and said goodbye, “Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty. We have other things to do in the palace, so we won’t stay here for long.”
Concubine Wu smiled and said, "The weather is bad and it's going to snow again, so I won't keep you here."
She was still in confinement after giving birth, so she ordered the female official to send the two men out.
As soon as the sedan chair arrived at the palace gate, snow began to fall from the sky.
"It's snowing all day, I wonder how many people and livestock have frozen to death?" Jiang Changning said worriedly.
"Heaven is cruel and has no pity on the people." The Crown Princess of Prince De sighed.
As they talked, the two men walked out of the palace through the corridor and got on the carriage.
Jiang Changning first escorted the Dewang Princess back to the Dewang Mansion. When they got off the carriage at the Dewang Mansion, the Dewang Princess invited them, "Come in and have lunch before you go back."
"No need, it's still early. I'm going back now. You should go in quickly." Jiang Changning urged.
"I'll take you there."
"Okay, what are you sending me? You send me, I send you. Let's just go back and forth on the road today." Jiang Changning let go of the curtain, "I'm leaving."
"The roads are slippery when it snows, so drive slowly and be careful." The Crown Princess of Prince De instructed the driver.
"Understood, Princess." the coachman replied.
The carriage turned around, left Prince De's Palace and headed towards Prince Jin's Palace.
The two palaces are neighbors, but the prince's palace covers a large area, so there is some distance between them.
The carriage moved very slowly, and even if it stopped suddenly, the people inside were sitting firmly.
"Uncle Gui, why did you stop the car?" Xiulan asked as she opened the car door a crack.
"Someone fell in front of the cart." The driver Agui replied.
Some of the guards on the left and right sides had already stepped forward to check, and after a moment they came back to report, "Princess, it's a woman."
Jiang Changning curled her lips and smiled. It was a snowy day and a woman suddenly rushed out from the roadside and happened to fall in front of her car.
If there is nothing fishy about this, her name should be written backwards.