Difficult Labor

Yiling: "..."

Chapter 283 Difficult Childbirth

"You're just making the decision for him? You should at least ask him! Maybe he'll agree."

"He won't agree," Gu Wanning said firmly.

The Grand Princess is quite old; if it weren't for the country's needs, Xu Weibei probably wouldn't have left the Capital.

He is a very sentimental person.

Although the incidents involving his grandmother and mother left him with a grudge against the Grand Princess, he restrained and endured it.

Most importantly, Xu Weibei grew up in the Central Plains and received his education Central Plains.

Going to Southern Border will probably require a complete reshaping of his worldview.

People from the Central Plains often harbor a sense of pride and xenophobia, as if they were part of a superior empire.

Xu Weibei was no exception.

Apart from the Central Plains, all the lands were barbarians; how could he possibly go to such desolate places on his own initiative?

He would likely not set foot there unless he were to conquer it.

Gu Wanning understands Xu Weibei.

"Although you are a great nation, being Marquis is nowhere near as good as being an emperor. He calls the shots!"

"He doesn't care." Gu Wanning patted her skirt and stood up. "You don't need to try to sweet-talk me. If you really have that idea, have your brother go talk to the Marquis and clear things up."

"My father said he shouldn't force him."

"That's good."

"But I think it's a good idea for you to go to Southern Border." Yiling pouted unhappily. "Are you going to Southern Border because you're afraid he'll bully you? Don't be afraid, I'll back you up."

Gu Wanning: "Thank you, but it's not necessary."

"We don't practice polygamy in our Southern Border," Yiling said, offering a tempting offer.

"The Marquis never considered having three wives and four concubines."

Yiling: "... Then how about this? Go to the Southern Border. If you die first, I'll watch over him and make sure he doesn't marry anyone else."

Everything will be arranged for you, both before and after your death!

Gu Wanning: "..."

Please shut up.

Even food can't shut your mouth.

Even after finishing her meal, Yiling refused to leave. She explored Gu Wanning's room, touching this and that, finding everything new and exciting.

She liked the lacquered box with duck egg powder, and she'd also try the Luozi Dai...

None of them were things she particularly cherished, but Gu Wanning gave them all to her.

Er Ya pouted and went outside, lest she say something that would damage relations between the two countries; she was afraid she couldn't bear the responsibility.

Without Er Ya's disapproving glare, Yiling became even more unrestrained, even lounging on the couch, touching the screen inlaid with red coral.

"Don't touch it and get it dirty," Gu Wanning said with concern, "It'll be hard to clean."

"Why did you use such broken coral?" Yiling asked with a look of disgust.

The screen is made of red coral in the shape of a flowering tree. It's actually quite beautiful, and Xu Weibei specially brought it back for Gu Wanning to enjoy.

Gu Wanning was being petty, worried that Yiling would take a liking to this and ask for it, but she didn't expect to be rejected.

"Look closely, although the coral isn't a whole piece, it consists of top-quality coral beads, which are very valuable."

"I may lack other things, but I can have as many of these as I want. I'll send you a big one another day so you can display it. You should put this away; it's too shabby."

Gu Wanning dismissed it as bragging and ignored her.

Yiling yawned. "I'm sleepy. I'll take a nap first. Wake me up when you're making dinner, and I'll cook with you."

Gu Wanning was speechless.

This little girl is really too forward; she even wants to freeload on dinner.

Yiling even wanted to become sworn sisters with her today, thankfully she didn't agree, otherwise, having a sister like that would surely lead to her being eaten out of house and home!

Yiling fell asleep as soon as she said she wanted to.

Looking at her unguarded sleeping face, Gu Wanning was very envious of her sleep quality.

Yiling must have grown up in a sweet, sheltered environment, lacking nothing, which probably explains her naive and innocent nature.

Gu Wanning was worried that she was cold, so she took a blanket and covered her with it.

Yiling was not woken up and continued to sleep.

Gu Wanning was about to put her hand under the blanket when she was blinded by the huge pearl in her hand.

The pearl was very large and was set into a ring.

Most importantly, it was a crimson pearl, one that Gu Wanning had never seen or even heard of before.

Or perhaps, it's not a pearl?

But it doesn't look like a ruby, it's not coral; that gentle luster really resembles a pearl.

Gu Wanning couldn't help but take a few more glances.

However, she was just curious and didn't think it was particularly beautiful.

She also took a short rest, then got up to make a sachet for Xu Weibei.

--As requested by someone.

Gu Wanning's needlework skills are getting better and better.

Seeing Yiling curled up in the quilt, Gu Wanning asked Er Ya to add two more braziers.

Er Ya muttered, "Food and lodging provided, and plenty of charcoal too, you're truly a living bodhisattva."

"A little food and drink, a few coins for charcoal," Gu Wanning laughed. "When she comes to our Central Plains, how much manpower and resources does the Central Plains have to spare to serve her properly? Her coming to eat my simple meals is like me saving the imperial court money."

She's nothing special, just has a high level of understanding.

"So you've learned good things from the master?"

Gu Wanning couldn't help but laugh.

Seeing her doing needlework, Er Ya also started doing needlework beside her.

"Are you going to make clothes for your sister-in-law again?" Gu Wanning teased her.

"No, the princess gave birth in the twelfth lunar month. I don't have anything good, so I made a pair of tiger-head shoes for the young master," Er Ya said.

Although she was of humble status, she always remembered her mother's teachings and made sure to contribute to the weddings and funerals of those around her.

It's never wrong to be overly polite.

People may not need it, or even find it unpleasant, but they won't forget her thoughtfulness.

Anyway, I won't tell her if I'm unhappy; she'll just do it herself and be happy about it.

"Isn't that only half a month left?" Gu Wanning said, "Tomorrow is the first day of the new year, isn't it?"

She had just discussed the Laba Festival porridge distribution with her Third Concubine yesterday, so she remembered it clearly.

"Yes." Er Ya nodded. "This child cares about his mother, letting the princess rest in the first month of the lunar year so she doesn't have to go to the palace to kowtow."