"Hehe, Father, none of that matters." Chu Lange immediately laughed it off, then affectionately took Cui Zhao'an's arm. "It's so cold out. Let's hurry inside. We can't let Mother or the baby in her belly catch a chill."
"True. Let's go inside first, then."
The moment he heard that his wife and baby might catch a chill, Chu Wenzong was wrapped around her finger. He decided not to dwell on the plaque for now.
But as he walked through the Princess's Residence, he grew increasingly bewildered.
Granted, the scenery at grand residences was always somewhat drabber in winter than in spring, summer, or autumn, but...
This dignified Princess's Residence was taking drabness a little too far.
"I remember that the lanterns beneath Ge'er's eaves were all glazed glass lamps. Back then, the Empress even personally ordered quite a few wind chimes made to hang on either side. Now... why has everything changed?"
As Chu Wenzong began to doubt his own eyes, Chu Lange smiled eagerly, her brows curving:
"Father, I know you like to be frugal, so I'm learning from you.
Look at those lanterns. I had the servants buy the materials and make them. Each one cost less than a single copper coin. Aren't I amazing?"
Seeing Chu Lange's little display of pride, Chu Wenzong felt he had been too sensitive and studied her intently for a long while.
Could his daughter truly have inherited his fine virtue of thrift in managing a household?
"It's a good thing that you've learned to be frugal. It brings me great comfort. Keep up the good work, Ge'er."
With that said...
For the rest of the walk, Chu Wenzong reminded himself that his daughter learning to manage her household thriftily was a good thing, and ultimately stopped dwelling on anything else.
Only...