Mingxi also realized the seriousness of the matter and solemnly said, "I understand, so don't worry."
“A few days ago, my eldest sister came back to her parents’ home with her two children from her first marriage. She seems to be doing quite well.” Mingxi didn’t want Mingwei to worry anymore, so she changed the subject and said, “Now that my eldest sister is more at ease, she’s also a bit more plump than before. It’s clear that life is something you have to live, and it’s best that my eldest sister understands this.”
Mingwei recalled Mingrui, who had been crying and begging the second wife just a few months ago. Perhaps she had already become an elegant and composed woman. While feeling sorry for her, she also felt a pang of heartache.
They were all girls as beautiful as flowers, yet they had to endure so much pain. She could have lived a much easier and happier life, but unfortunately, she was ruined by the second master's indifference, by the second wife's manipulation, and by her aunt's greed...
"Alright, it's getting late. The messenger should go back and report. Grandmother brought you some medicinal herbs to help you recover. Now that I see you have a good doctor here, you should consult the doctor before using them." Mingxi stood up, her gaze falling on Mingwei's lower abdomen. "You should take good care of yourself."
She had only been there for less than an hour, and now she had to leave. Mingwei felt a little reluctant to part with her. "It's still early. Second Sister, you can have lunch here before you go."
Mingxi was about to politely decline when she heard footsteps outside, which gradually became clearer.
Then the ginger-yellow brocade curtain at the entrance was lifted, revealing a handsome face. His warm smile made him appear gentle and refined, with an air of elegance.
"Second sister, please stay for a simple meal, otherwise Awei will cry." Rong Zhen smiled and said, "After lunch, I will have someone send you back."
"Greetings, Your Highness." The two were startled by Rong Zhen's sudden appearance. Ming Qian quickly stood up and bowed. Ming Wei also jumped up from her chair.
Rong Zhen said, "We're all family, Second Sister, no need for such formalities." He then quickly stepped forward and stopped Ming Wei, saying, "Don't get up so suddenly. Didn't Doctor Zhang tell you not to move too quickly?"
"Your Highness!" Ming Wei blushed and said, "How could I be so delicate?" when she looked up and met Ming Qian's teasing gaze.
"Yes, yes, you're not delicate, but you have to think about the little one in your belly." Rong Zhen said with a mix of helplessness and doting: "Just think of it as being for his sake."
Mingxi felt a pang of envy at the intimate and warm atmosphere between the two.
"I've already ordered a simple meal to be prepared. Second Sister, please eat before you go." Rong Zhen said to Ming Qian, "Although Awei didn't say it, she's been thinking about you all. Since you're here, it won't hurt to stay a little longer."
Mingxi was also a straightforward person. Seeing that the couple had put it this way, she no longer refused and said with a smile, "Then I'll gladly accept your offer."
******
It wasn't until early afternoon that Mingxi boarded the car and left, leaving the two sisters with another wave of reluctance.
"We'll see each other again in a few days." Rong Zhen saw Mingwei looking at the rumbling carriage with a hint of reluctance in her eyes, so he couldn't help but comfort her, "After a while, we'll invite Second Sister to our residence more often." He helped Mingwei straighten the fur on her cloak before taking her hand and walking inside.
After seeing Mingxi off, Mingwei's sadness subsided slightly, and she then realized something was amiss. It wasn't even winter yet, and she was being dressed in a cloak trimmed with snow fox fur. She chuckled and tugged at the pure white fur, saying, "Your Highness, don't you think it's a bit too early to wear this?"
“You can’t stand the cold these days.” Rong Zhen didn’t seem to care at all: “It’s always good to dress warmly.”
Unable to resist, Mingwei could only smile bitterly, wrapped in an early winter cloak, and walk silently into the late autumn afternoon.
After returning to the main courtyard, they dismissed Biyun and the others, and the couple sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window and began to talk.
"You went to the flower hall again today?" Rong Zhen's eyes showed a hint of pity. He said softly, "You should take good care of your health now. Just tell Biyun and the others to do things for you. Don't worry, they are all being watched. I don't think they can cause any trouble."
"Now that Prince Yu's mansion is full of delicious food and drink, do they really want to go back and be suppressed by others?"
Mingwei nodded and smiled, "I just heard some nice things at the palace banquet. It would be a waste not to tell them. It's the former master's heartfelt concern! Ultimately, the choice is up to them."
“Your Highness, that pastry shop…” Mingwei’s gaze fell on the plates of candied fruit on the kang table. She looked up and met Rong Zhen’s excited eyes. A complex and unfathomable look flashed in her eyes, and she swallowed the words she was about to say. She finally thanked him, “Thank you, I like it very much!”
Rong Zhen smiled slightly, both proud and satisfied. However, as if he could see what Ming Wei was thinking, he explained, "That shop will still operate as usual, but we will prioritize preparing food for our household. I have already sent two master chefs to learn how to cook there. In the future, if you want to eat something, you can have it cooked separately in our courtyard."
"Actually, I'm not that delicate, and I'm not that picky about food. I'm not a glutton at all!" Mingwei murmured to herself. "The chefs in our household are quite skilled."
Rong Zhen didn't try to gloss over it. Instead, he said seriously, "As the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise. Our cooks are first-rate when it comes to cooking, but they're not as good as the old shop when it comes to making candied fruit."
Mingwei was both amused and exasperated by Rong Zhen's absurd theory. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, saying, "Your Highness, you are indeed very learned. It turns out you use all your knowledge on this!"
"You flatter me, Your Highness." Rong Zhen didn't take it to heart at all, and instead accepted it with a smile.
"Then when will you not let anyone watch me drink medicinal tea or eat medicinal food?" Mingwei took the opportunity to make a coquettish request: "Even if I have to drink it, I should talk to Doctor Zhang and get something that tastes good!"
Seeing her innocent and charming appearance, Rong Zhen couldn't help but smile and said, "You think this is a gourmet meal? You even made some delicious food."
Before long, Rong Zhen noticed that Ming Wei looked tired, so he called Yue Lin and the others in to help her wash up and change into casual clothes. He also changed into casual clothes and stayed with her on the bed.
“Your Highness, I am not a child.” Mingwei knew that Rong Zhen had been busy lately. Although she was touched by his thoughtfulness, she did not want to delay his business. “You can go ahead and do what you need to do. I can relax by myself for a while.”
Rong Zhen insisted, so he took off his boots and climbed onto the canopy bed, turning to hold Ming Wei in his arms. "Be good, don't move. I want to rest with my son for a while too."
He still looks like a teenager, yet he speaks in such a pretentious way. If this were today, Rong Zhen would still be in high school, but now he's about to become a father.
Mingwei couldn't help but smile, choosing not to expose him. The two leaned against each other quietly, not uttering a word, yet both felt extremely comfortable in this warm and tranquil atmosphere.
"What if it's a daughter?" Mingwei, who had been pressed against Rong Zhen's chest, suddenly looked up and asked with some worry, "What if I can't have a son?"
It wasn't that Mingwei favored sons over daughters; it was just that Rong Zhen's status was different, and the status of the eldest son, born of the legitimate wife, was too important, so she couldn't help but worry. Given Rong Zhen's status as Prince Yu, it was impossible for him not to have a son. If she couldn't bear him a son, perhaps Rong Zhen would have to take concubines, secondary wives, and countless maids...
For example, isn't Bizhu a good example?
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were once deeply in love and treated each other with utmost respect. However, the Crown Princess remained childless for many years, and the Crown Prince still took in concubines and maids. Yet, by the time Crown Prince Mingde passed away, none of his concubines had borne him a child.
Even if there were any, Rong Duo probably dealt with them! Ming Wei sneered inwardly. He dared to lay a hand on even the Crown Prince Mingde, let alone a child.
Wait, she's got the wrong idea again.
Before she and Rong Zhen had confessed their feelings to each other, she really didn't care about the issue of Rong Zhen's concubines. She even thought that if the two of them maintained a cold and distant relationship, she could calmly choose a concubine for him. But now that she had fallen in love, Mingwei suddenly became anxious and insecure.
"You still say you're not a child, what nonsense are you spouting now?" Rong Zhen chuckled and tapped Ming Wei's forehead. He said gently, "I love both sons and daughters. As long as they are our children, I will love them all."
"Ah Wan, I'll only say this once." Rong Zhen looked at Ming Wei tenderly, his eyes overflowing with affection. "In this life, I only want you. There will be no one else but you."
"Whether it's a son or a daughter, I only want our child."
Mingwei felt as if she were melting under Rong Zhen's burning gaze, his tenderness almost drowning her.