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.
"What's wrong with a daughter? A daughter is a mother's warm little cotton-padded jacket. At worst, we can find a husband for her." Rong Zhen said it very easily, and he said nonchalantly, "Don't worry about it!"
After a long while, Mingwei finally responded softly.
She rested her head against Rong Zhen's chest again, listening to his strong heartbeat and feeling his warm and refreshing breath, feeling both sweet and heartbroken.
Can she really believe in promises of a lifetime together?
******
Peaceful days always pass quickly, and before they knew it, it was time for the banquet at Prince Yu's residence.
The guest list was prepared by Rong Zhen's study and affairs office. The opera troupe invited was the famous Qingyun Troupe. The selection of the banquet venue and the furnishings were all discussed by the stewards sent from the three princes' mansions. Ming Wei was the most relaxed one, and in the end, she just made the final decision.
To keep the people from those three princely residences in check, Mingwei had each of them come up with a set of suggestions, and then chose the best one. As a result, all three groups put in their best effort, using every trick in the book to showcase themselves. Consequently, every detail of the banquet was executed flawlessly.
Mingwei did not rely solely on people from any particular prince's mansion. In the end, the management resulted in them checking and balancing each other, allowing each to have their own strengths.
The main courtyard of the Prince's Mansion.
As dawn broke, Mingwei had already gotten up and washed. Rongzhen had also changed early into a dark purple prince's everyday robe with cloud patterns and fastened the jade crown that signified his princely status. After washing up in the washroom, he repeatedly instructed Biyun and the others to take good care of the princess before going to the outer study.
Dongyue brought out all the jewelry and clothes she had chosen long ago.
On the same day, Mingwei was dressed as radiantly as ever, with an added touch of luxury.
This time, she chose a bright red jacket with a pattern of butterflies and flowers, covered in gold, and paired it with a vest with a subtle gold peony pattern. Because of her pregnancy, she didn't dare to choose a flamboyant and beautiful floor-length skirt, for fear of tripping over it and losing more than she gained. She only wore a sixteen-panel Xiang skirt with a brocade pattern of shimmering waves, tied with a blue-gold and green double-ringed ruyi sash, which looked quite eye-catching.
Today, Yue Lin styled her hair into a high bun as usual.
A large peony flower inlaid with red gold and rubies was tucked diagonally into her cloud-like hair, which was tied up like a waterfall of black silk. Two red gold filigree hairpins with rubies were inserted on the other side. Behind her hair, she wore a red gold phoenix knot with four bright jewels in its beak. Although all the jewelry was red gold, Mingwei did not look vulgar at all. Instead, she looked even more elegant.
Two bright pearl earrings shone brightly and flawlessly, radiating a warm glow. A brand-new red gold dragon-shaped necklace was worn outside her jacket. On Mingwei's fair wrist, she wore only a red gold nine-turn beaded bracelet, which made her skin appear even whiter than the first snow.
The beads on the gold-thread embroidered double-petaled lotus shoes were all carefully selected pearls from the East China Sea. Even for ordinary noblewomen, it was extremely rare to obtain them, let alone use them to make hairpins.
Despite the simplified procedures, Mingwei allowed them to "manipulate" her for nearly an hour before finally yawning and seeing her radiant reflection in the full-length mirror. There was no other way; today was a contest of presence between the four princesses, and she wasn't about to be outdone.
“Your Highness, it’s still early. Would you like to relax for a while?” Biyun asked. “You’ve been so busy all day.”
Mingwei hesitated for a moment, but only sat on the chair for a short while. Her outfit was messed up, and it wasn't something that could be fixed in a short time.
"Your Highness, please have your medicinal meal." While Mingwei was resting with her eyes closed, Tangli brought over a set of sweet white porcelain bowls and plates. "You must eat it while it's hot; if it gets cold, the medicinal taste will be stronger."
From initially having to pinch her nose to finish the drink, to now being able to calmly drink a whole bowl without blinking, Mingwei couldn't help but admire her own adaptability and marvel at the greatness of maternal love.
"Your Highness, would you like to have some tea leaves to chew later?" Biyun and the others had all consulted Doctor Zhang about how to care for Mingwei. There would certainly be quite a few people coming today, and Mingwei might not be able to handle it. Fortunately, Mingwei's morning sickness was not obvious at the moment; apart from the fright she experienced in the carriage last time, she had not had any severe reactions.
Mingwei shook her head and said, "No need. There are too many people today, and I don't want anyone to notice anything amiss. Apart from the matriarchs of a few families, the three princesses, and the two princesses, whom I need to personally pick up, the others are fine."
The first quarter of Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
Although it was still early, Mingwei, along with Biyun, Dongyue, and four maids, took a sedan chair tour around the mansion.
Looking at the newly renovated and thriving Prince Yu's mansion, Mingwei couldn't help but feel a little smug. For no apparent reason, Mingwei suddenly remembered that trash is a resource in the wrong place.
So what if those people were sent by the Prince's Mansion? With some reformation, they can still be used by them. Entice them with great rewards, and when they are immersed in pride and self-satisfaction, threaten them with a little violence. Use the carrot and stick approach, and I don't believe they won't completely turn against us.
By gradually transforming and observing, selecting truly useful people and then placing them among the people Rong Zhen had left in the shadows... Prince Yu's mansion can eventually become an impregnable fortress!