Today, Yun Shen left the yamen early. When he passed by Zhuque Street, he saw Cheng Ji's shop selling freshly baked white sugar cakes. He couldn't help but pull on the reins and stop his horse.
This is a snack that Third Sister really likes to eat. I remember when we were newlyweds, he would buy her a hot white sugar cake every day after he finished his work, and sometimes he would even have to wait in line for a while. He never used a servant; he did everything himself.
The image of Third Sister's bright smile seems to be right before my eyes, but in retrospect, they have been treating each other with cold indifference for many days.
Yun Shen sighed, dismounted, and went to buy a steaming hot white sugar cake to take away.
He didn't want to continue the cold war with San Niang. San Niang had done so much for him, and he loved her in his heart. But Li Shi and Dong Ge'er were already there. If San Niang could accept them, they could go back to how things were before.
He wronged Third Sister first, and he will make it up to her!
Yun Shen, lost in thought, rode back to the Prince's mansion. Once inside, he was about to take the white sugar cakes to Third Sister's courtyard when he saw two maids walking along the path, their backs to him, laughing and talking.
"I just came out of Aunt Li's place, and the young master happened to be awake. He even smiled at me. He's so adorable!" a little maid in pink said with a smile.
Another maid in blue chimed in, "That's right, young master is so adorable, his smile melts your heart."
Yun Shen hadn't paid any attention at first, but when the two mentioned Dong Ge'er, his heart stirred.
He paused as he was about to step into the courtyard. He handed the pastries he was carrying to the servant Mo Song behind him and said in a low voice, "Take these pastries to the Princess Consort. I'll go to Aunt Li's place first and come back in a bit."
Mo Song responded, took the pastries, and went to the main courtyard.
Luoyue Pavilion.
After feeding the boy in her arms, Madam Li was humming a gentle tune, patting his back softly, and coaxing him to play.
Newborn babies are sleepy and rarely wake up for even a short time during the day. Li would take advantage of these rare moments to play with the baby.
When Yun Shen arrived at Luo Yue Pavilion, only two young maids were busy hanging clothes in the courtyard. An old woman, who looked rather old and not very capable, was also standing on the veranda. Yun Shen frowned upon seeing her.
"How is Dong-ge'er today?" Yun Shen didn't ask anyone to announce her arrival and entered by lifting the curtain himself.
In the end, Yun Shen compromised with San Niang and only named his eldest son "Dong Ge'er".
Inside the inner room, there was only Li Shi and two wet nurses.
Upon seeing Yun Shen enter, Madam Li hurriedly tried to stand up and perform a curtsy, but Yun Shen quickly stepped forward and pressed her down.
"Master, you've arrived!" A smile bloomed on Madam Li's beautiful face, her eyes brimming with joy. "The young master has just finished eating, and I'm currently playing with him."
Yun Shen leaned closer to look at the son in Li's arms.
Dongge'er was very cooperative and stayed awake. When Yun Shen reached out and poked his soft, tender cheek, Dongge'er even made a couple of cooing sounds.
Yun Shen was overjoyed to see this.
"Dong'er is so happy to know that his father is here!" Li said softly from the side. "You little ungrateful child, I tried to make you laugh for so long but you wouldn't. Now that your father is here, you're overjoyed!"
Hearing her words, Yun Shen was even happier.
How could such a young child know what happiness or unhappiness is? At most, they know to cry when they're hungry.
Yun Shen carefully took the child from Li Shi's hands and carried the child around the room several times.
"Our Dong-ge'er is such a good boy!"
Seeing that the child was sleepy, Yun Shen reluctantly handed the child over to the wet nurse.
The wet nurse, understanding the situation, took the child to sleep in the next room.
"When I came in just now, I saw that you only had two young maids working in your courtyard, and a useless old woman." Yun Shen sat down in the armchair, frowning slightly, and asked, "Do you have enough people here?"
Madam Li quickly smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern, sir! I only have two people here, Dong-ge'er and I, which is enough. There are other maids, but you haven't seen them yet! Madam is considerate of me and has already assigned the servants over here."
Yun Shen, however, still did not stretch out.
Even their clothes were washed by the young maids; two more wouldn't be enough. Besides, Lady Li had just given birth and needed care. One old woman and two wet nurses were hardly sufficient.
But the management of the inner courtyard is the mistress's business...
"My lord, I am content as long as you care about my son and me!" Madam Li gently advised, "Back when we were outside, a servant woman and a maid were enough! Why did we need to go through all that trouble?"
"Besides, if something really happens, Madam will send someone to help!"
Yun Shen frowned more and more deeply, remained silent for a moment, and finally just hummed in agreement, without saying anything else.
Li's smile deepened.
******
By the time Third Sister saw the package of white sugar cakes, they had already gone cold.
"This was sent by Mo Song. He said that the young master specially went to Cheng Ji's to buy it for you!" Hua Ping said happily from the side, "It's clear that the young master still cares about you!"
"Yes, Princess Consort, you should reconcile with the Prince!" Yinping also advised from the side.
Third Sister smiled slightly, a hint of coldness in her eyes.
She picked up the bag of cold white sugar cakes and asked in a calm, even voice, "Since the young master bought them, where is he?"
Speechless.
When Mo Song brought the white sugar cake back, she did ask one more question. Mo Song only said that the young master had gone to Aunt Li's place and would be back in a while. But half a day had passed, and the young master still hadn't arrived.
"Perhaps he went out on some important business!" Yinping quickly added from the side.
Third Sister's smile grew increasingly cold.