After dinner, the maid took Xiao Ming'er out, and Jiang Changning said, "My Lord, don't be too strict with your son. He is still young."
"Not young, three years old tells the whole story." Prince Jin smiled, "Princess, remember that loving mothers often spoil their children."
Jiang Changning curled his lips, "I know, I know. He's your own son after all, you can do whatever you want."
"Angry?"
Jiang Changning glanced at him, "Am I such a stingy person?"
"My princess is the most generous." Prince Jin said with a smile.
Jiang Changning shook his head. "I'm not generous. I'm petty and I hold grudges the most."
"So how does the princess plan to take revenge on me?"
"I haven't thought about it yet. I'll deal with you when I think about it."
"Then I will wash myself clean and wait for the princess."
Having been married for several years, Jiang Changning immediately realized that Prince Jin was teasing her, and said coquettishly, "Prince, you are becoming more and more indecent now."
"If I were to be serious with you, you would cry every night until dawn."
Jiang Changning wanted to say that she would not do that. Although she would not divorce him for the sake of her two children, it did not mean that she would be a good wife.
But let's not say that, let him misunderstand that she can't live without him.
The couple chatted for a while, and then Xiao Ming came in, greeted them, and went to take a bath and rest.
"It's getting late, let's take a shower and go to bed." Jiang Changning stood up and said.
"Princess, your belly is too big. After you give birth to the baby, I will come and serve you and take a bath together." Prince Jin said in a comforting tone.
Jiang Changning spat at him lightly, "Who said I want to take a shower with you? Although you are handsome, don't expect it to be too good."
After saying this, he ignored King Jin and went into the bathroom to take a bath.
"Slow down, don't walk so fast." Prince Jin thought his princess was truly amazing. Even with such a big belly, she was still so agile.
After taking a bath, the couple went to bed refreshed and had a good sleep all night.
The next morning, when Jiang Changning opened his eyes, what he saw was the handsome face of Prince Jin.
He lay beside her and said with a smile, "Ningning, good morning."
"Huh?" Jiang Changning was stunned for a moment, "Prince? Why are you still here?" He had a day off yesterday and should have attended the morning court today.
"Shouldn't I be here?" Prince Jin frowned, "Princess, this shows that you don't like me being here. I'll leave now."
As he said this, he lifted the thin quilt, got out of bed, put on his shoes, and was about to go out.
Jiang Changning quickly reached out and grabbed his robe, "What are you talking about, Your Majesty? Why wouldn't I like you being here? It's just a little strange. Don't you have to attend the morning court today?"
Of course, the Prince of Jin was not really going to leave, he was just teasing her. He reached out his hand to support her and said with a smile, "Your Majesty is not feeling well. The Queen Mother has ordered that you can skip the morning court for three days. You can still see me when you get up tomorrow."
"Oh, so that's it." Jiang Changning understood and lay back down.
King Jin asked with a smile, "You don't want to get up yet, do you want to go back to sleep?"
"I won't take a nap. Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month and I have to go pay my respects to my mother." Jiang Changning said as he sat up with difficulty.
Prince Jin squatted down and helped her put on her shoes. "Your feet look a little swollen. Ask Doctor Xue to come into the palace and take a look at you."
This was not the first time he helped her put on her shoes. Jiang Changning was used to it. "The other day, Doctor Xue came to take my pulse. I am in good health and the fetus is stable."
Prince Jin took the outer robe and put it on her. Jiang Changning rang the bell and called someone in to serve her.
Prince Jin, who did not have to attend court, stayed in the mansion to accompany Jiang Changning.
After paying their respects to the Concubine Dowager, the couple returned to Rujingyuan.
As soon as he entered the room, Jiang Changning lay on the kang and leaned lazily on the pillow.
Xiulan brought in a bowl of peeled and diced apples. Prince Jin poked a silver stick and passed it to her mouth, "You are getting lazier. Will you give birth to a lazy daughter in a few months?"
Jiang Changning opened his mouth and bit the apple, chewed it, swallowed it, and then said, "What's wrong with being a lazy girl? It belongs to the prince, can the prince dislike it?"
"I don't mind." Prince Jin smiled and continued to feed her apples. "As long as it's Ningning's child, whether it's a lazy daughter or a lazy son, I like them all."
Jiang Changning curled his lips and said, "It's okay for my daughter to be a little lazy, but would you allow your son to be lazy?"
"Men need to take on responsibilities and should not be overly pampered. The younger son does not need to be as strict as the eldest son. It is okay for him to be a little less capable."
"The prince is also the youngest son, but he is not inferior to anyone else. He is responsible, brave and powerful. He is a rare talent among men."
"Ningning's mouth is so sweet today."
"The apple is sweet, and your mouth will be sweet too." Jiang Changning also took a piece of apple and fed it to King Jin.
"It's really sweet." Prince Jin smiled.
The two fed each other apples, talked and laughed, and were affectionate, and a day passed.
When Xiao Ming came back from school, King Jin took him to play Cuju for a while.
The little guy was very happy, running until he was sweating, and full of energy.
The next day, although Prince Jin still had time to rest, he did not stay at home but went out early in the morning. Jiang Changning knew what he was busy with without him asking and did not ask too much.
Zhao and Song were looking for Qu Wenpo everywhere in the city. Although they didn't find her, they found out that Qu Wenpo's husband's family was from Shanghe Village outside the city.
It is very likely that Qu Wenpo and her family have gone back to hide in the village.
Both groups went to Shanghe Village. The Song family arrived first and asked the villagers, "There is a woman in your village who works as a midwife in the city. Has she returned to the village?"
"Who are you?" The villagers asked back alertly instead of answering their questions.
"We are government servants." The Song family members put on a tiger skin.
The villagers were afraid of seeing the officials, and they all said, "Mrs. Qu has not returned to the village."
"She hasn't been back since her mother-in-law died five years ago."
"No, her husband came back two years ago and sold the house and land."
"Your Excellency is asking about Mrs. Qu, not Wu Mazi."
The Song family did not get any useful information in Shanghe Village, so they returned along the same route.
Not long after walking, they met people from the Zhao family. They were all living in the city, so they knew each other and had some minor grudges against each other.
"The Zhao family's lackey."
"The lackey of the Song family."
The two groups of people started cursing each other at the same time, and started fighting after a disagreement.
The four Jinwangfu secret guards who followed the two groups met in the woods beside the road. "Can they really get things done in this state?"
"A mob."
The four hid in the trees and watched the two groups fighting.
Fortunately, they were out of the city to look for someone, and the capital had strict control over weapons. They didn't carry any sharp blades, and it would take only a few seconds for them to fight and no one would die.
A quarter of an hour later, the two groups no longer had the strength to fight. All of them had bruises on their faces and noses. Some of them even collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
This road leads to Shanghe Village, and not many people come and go. After a while, when they had enough strength, the Zhao family continued to go to Shanghe Village, while the Song family returned to the city.
Although I'm cured, I'm afraid of the sequelae, so I don't dare to take a shower. This year it's Chinese New Year, and I really don't want to spend the New Year dirty, so I took a shower, and now I feel uncomfortable and my whole body aches.
I bear the pain and wish you all a happy new year.
(End of this chapter)