The days passed quietly as the Prince of Jin, Prince of De, Prince of Yu, and Prince of Qing fought openly and secretly.
In the early morning of July 28th, the wife of Prince De was ten months pregnant and began to have labor pains. By the evening, she gave birth to a 5.72 kg boy.
Princess De finally got her grandson and was overjoyed. "We have to celebrate the third day bath, the full month, the hundredth day, and the first birthday with great fanfare."
"No, that's too ostentatious." Prince De disagreed.
Prince Qing and Prince Yu stared at him and Prince Jin like dogs staring at a bone, waiting to find something to hold against them so they could bite them to death.
"Mother, Kang'er is still young. He should not be in contact with too many people. He may get sick easily." Prince De was unwilling to hold a big banquet. "Why not wait until Kang'er is three years old and set up a hundred-table banquet?"
Princess De thought of her eldest daughter and second son who died young due to illness, so she no longer insisted on having a big banquet. "Then let's wait until Kang'er is three years old and have a banquet with a hundred tables."
Although the Prince De's mansion did not hold banquets, close relatives still sent gifts there.
On the day of the third bath, Jiang Changning, the aunt from the same clan, was asked to fill the basin.
After arriving at Prince De's mansion, she and Prince Changshan's wife went to the confinement room to see the mother and the baby.
The face of the Crown Princess of Prince De was very pale. She had a heavy bleeding that day, which was really frightening. In just three days, her complexion had not yet recovered.
"This kid looks like his mother." Wen Bingqing said as he picked up the baby.
Jiang Changning leaned over to take a look. Forgive her poor eyesight, but this little guy, who was only three days old, was still a little wrinkled, and the red color had not faded completely. She couldn't tell who he looked like.
Of course, this did not stop her from praising the little guy, "He is a handsome young man. When he grows up, I wonder how many girls he will charm."
"It's a pity that none of our families have suitable girls, otherwise we could arrange a baby marriage." Zeng Zhaofu said.
"You should hurry up and get pregnant. It will be just right if the baby is born in ten months." The Crown Princess of Changshan said with a wicked smile.
"That's right." The others echoed.
The wife of the Prince of De also smiled and said, "Mother-in-law, get pregnant soon."
Zeng Zhaofu waved his hand, "No way, everyone knows that sons take after their mothers and daughters take after their fathers. My husband is big and strong, and if I give birth to a daughter, she won't be as pretty as him, and she won't be worthy of such a handsome boy."
She rolled her eyes and said, "It would be great if Ningning gave birth to a baby. She is beautiful and the Prince of Jin is handsome. The baby she gives birth to will be stunningly beautiful."
Before Jiang Changning could say anything, Wen Bingqing spat at her, "What are you talking about? People with the same surname cannot marry each other, not to mention that the two families not only have the same surname, but also the same clan."
Zeng Zhaofu slapped his forehead and said, "I'm confused."
"But Ningning, our two families can get married." Wen Bingqing put the baby back into the cradle and took Jiang Changning's arm.
"Ningning, you can choose any of my three sons." Zeng Zhaofu hugged her other arm.
Jiang Changning's mouth twitched slightly. She didn't even know where her daughter was, but someone was already thinking about her. "I'm not even pregnant yet, why would you want to get married? Sui Yan already has a daughter. You're trying to please the wrong person."
"You're right. It's all your fault that we've been blessed with good fortune." Wen Bingqing let go of Jiang Changning and hugged the arm of Prince De's wife.
"Why are you blaming me for what I did?" Zeng Zhaofu looked confused.
No one explained her doubts to her. Wen Bingqing expressed her loyalty to the Princess of Dewang, "I absolutely love my daughter-in-law as much as I love my own daughter."
"Bao'er is still young. When he grows up a little, if the children like each other, we will become in-laws." The Princess Consort of Prince De was also willing to marry her daughter to a family they were familiar with.
"This is our agreement." Wen Bingqing said seriously.
"Do you want me to high-five you three times?" asked the Crown Princess of Prince De with a smile.
"Okay." Wen Bingqing raised his right hand, "You guys be witnesses."
"If you want us to be witnesses, you have to treat us to a meal." The Princess of Changshan said with a smile.
"No problem. When Sui Yan is out of confinement, I'll treat you to the newly opened Liuquanju for Huaiyang cuisine. How about that?"
"Keep your word."
At this time, Princess De came in to hold her little grandson. Except for Princess De and the Crown Prince's wife who were still in confinement, everyone else followed Princess De to the main hall at the entrance of the courtyard.
There is an incense table in the hall, enshrining thirteen statues of gods including Bixia Yuanjun, Qiongxiao Niangniang, Yunxiao Niangniang, Cuisheng Niangniang, Songzi Niangniang, Douhua Niangniang and Yanguang Niangniang.
The midwife bowed to Princess De before carefully taking the baby from her hands and tapping the golden basin with a mallet, and the third-day bath officially began.
Those who came to watch the ceremony, according to their status and age, added a small spoonful of clean water into the basin, and then put some gold and silver ingots and other things in it. This was called "adding water to the basin."
Jiang Changning added a palm-length silver-gilt Ruyi, the Changshan Prince's wife added a jade chain, and Wen Bingqing added a silver-inlaid jade ring.
The midwife Jixiang kept talking and her eyes were full of wrinkles from smiling.
According to the rules, all the things added to the basin are hers.
After the third day bath, Princess De said a few polite words and then invited everyone to move to the banquet hall for dinner.
While eating and washing three noodles, the Crown Prince's wife of Changshan shared another piece of gossip: "Song Yirou is going to marry for the second time."
Jiang Changning was surprised. "I thought she was going to hang herself on my prince's crooked tree. Why is she getting married again? Who is she going to marry? Is she willing to marry?"
Wen Bingqing chuckled and said, "Prince Jin is not a crooked tree."
The Changshan Prince's wife gestured at her belly and raised her eyebrows, "You know what I mean? She has to get married even if she doesn't want to."
"She is obsessed with Prince Jin while fooling around with other men. She is so shameless." Zeng Zhaofu cursed with contempt.
"Pregnant before marriage, the Song family's education is really a mess." Wen Bingqing said with disgust.
Zeng Zhaofu sneered, "Does the Song family have a tutor?"
Jiang Changning clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, my prince has finally escaped."
Song Yirou remarried, and Prince Jin had one less trouble, but Zhou Duxin was plunged into trouble.
After a period of treatment, Zheng Mingzhu's condition improved. Of course, it was impossible to recover to her original state. She forgot many things, but she only remembered Zhou Duxin.
Zhou Duxin was almost driven crazy by her. When Jiang Changning went to Prince De's mansion to attend the third-day bathing banquet, he asked to see Prince Jin.
"Your Majesty, can I be sent out?"
If you can't afford to provoke him, he can afford to hide. No matter what, the Zheng family will never send anyone to the place where he is exiled, right
"Are you sure?" King Jin asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, I am quite sure."
"What if I do not agree to your request?"
"I will obey your Majesty's orders."
"You don't complain?"
"No complaints."
The King of Jin smiled slightly, "There are bandits rampant along the coast of Fujian, some robbing homes, and some hijacking merchant ships. If we sit back and do nothing, I'm afraid there will be endless troubles in the long run. Do you dare to go and suppress the bandits?"
"I will do my best."
"The Ministry of Personnel will issue your appointment letter tomorrow."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhou Duxin bowed, "I will take my leave."
(End of this chapter)