Liu Wan asked Pan Chun to bring little Wanwan over. The moment little Wanwan saw the beautiful, splendidly dressed Fifth Princess, she could not tear her eyes away.
The Fifth Princess smiled, taking little Wanwan into her arms and playing with her. Inwardly, she marveled at how beautiful the baby was.
[This is my aunt! As expected of a princess, she looks so regal.]
[Later, Aunt and Uncle had a little girl. She was beautiful and lively, but unfortunately, the male lead took a fancy to her and seized her by force, becoming Brother Zi Xing's rival in love. The male lead was such a scumbag, aaah...]
[To get my little cousin, the male lead killed Aunt and pinned it on Grandpa's family. The emperor flew into a rage and had Grandpa's entire household wiped out, boohoo... Aunt is so pretty. Wanwan doesn't want her to die, boohoo.]
The string of babyish thoughts echoed in Liu Wan's ears, and her fists tightened.
Little Wanwan gazed at the Fifth Princess with pity. An uneasiness stirred in the princess's heart. "Why isn't little Wanwan smiling anymore?"
Liu Wan took the baby back and answered, "Perhaps she's hungry. Pan Chun, bring some milk."
But little Wanwan looked at Liu Wan with tear-filled eyes. [Mother... Aunt is such a tragic woman. Just now, I saw that the space between her brows was dark and damp-a sign of disaster by water. Mother, save Aunt...]
Liu Wan's heart pounded with dread, and even her fingertips trembled.
If anything happened to the Fifth Princess in their residence, it would be disastrous.
[Tell Aunt... not to go near the water. What a shame.]
Little Wanwan babbled frantically, her gums turning red.
Ah, if only I could speak.
Only then did Liu Wan collect herself and offer Wanwan her little finger to play with.
Liu Wan's parents asked, "Wan'er, it's almost time. Why haven't we seen the baby's father? Where has Jin'an gone?"
"Indeed, so many people are bustling about. Why haven't we seen Marquis Jing'an's heir?" The Fifth Princess turned to ask Liu Ye.
Though they were not yet married, warmth already filled their eyes when they looked at each other.
The old madam's heart gave a jolt. She hurriedly said, "Jin'an is preparing a surprise. There's no need to wait for him."
Liu Wan took out a silver longevity lock. "That's right, there's no need to wait for Father. Mother will put your longevity lock on you now, Wanwan."
At the sight of it, the old madam hurried forward to stop her. "Since the princess is here, let her wear the one the princess gave her. That way, Wanwan can share in the imperial family's blessings."
The Fifth Princess replied courteously, "I am an outsider, after all. Just follow your usual customs."
Liu Wan looked at the old madam, then at the Fifth Princess. "Isn't it easy enough to share in the imperial family's blessings? We can simply ask the Fifth Princess to put the longevity lock on Wanwan."
The Fifth Princess agreed with a smile.
But the moment she took the longevity lock, her smile froze.
The silver was of such ordinary quality that even her personal palace maid would turn up her nose at it. What was more, the words "Bring a younger brother" were engraved on it.
She asked, "'Bring a younger brother'! Well, that certainly is an auspicious wish. A humble gift, but rich in sentiment. Which elder from the countryside gave this?"
At those words, everyone from the Marquis's Residence fell silent.
Pan Chun stepped forward to answer. "Your Highness, it was a gift from the old madam."
It was also the thing she had just fished out from under the bed that morning.
The old madam's face turned green, then purple. She looked even worse than if someone had slapped her in public.
The princess had given gold and jade on her very first meeting with the baby, yet she, the child's great-grandmother, had given this silver "Bring a younger brother" lock. It truly was too shabby to show in respectable company.
She had clearly given other things as well. Why had Liu Wan brought this one out to put on the baby in front of everyone?
With so many guests watching, how was she supposed to smooth this over?
The old madam secretly gritted her teeth. She knew perfectly well that Liu Wan had done it deliberately, but there was nothing she could do.
Minister Liu's wife was displeased. She took the item and handed it back to the old madam. "This is Wanwan's full-month banquet. Something this rough might hurt her skin. Let her wear the longevity lock the princess gave her instead."
Looking thoroughly embarrassed, the old madam took it and glanced down, then exclaimed as though realization had dawned on her, "Nanny Li, look at this! Hurry and fetch the full-month gift I prepared!"
Nanny Li knelt and took it from her. "Old Madam, this servant brought the wrong one. This was meant for a distant relative of mine. It's all my fault."
"Nonsense. It was sent to Madam a month ago."
Pan Chun muttered, but Liu Wan cut her off.
The Fifth Princess gave a meaningful smile and continued, "All right, all right. It's a small matter. Let's not miss the auspicious hour. Bring the longevity lock and pure gold bracelets I gave her. I'll put them on Wanwan myself."
Just as they were about to smooth things over, the Fifth Princess added, "Look, they all have Wanwan's name engraved on them. What a lovely name."
The old madam wished she could burrow into the ground.
The people from Liu Minister's Residence gave her peculiar looks.
The guests present were whispering among themselves all the more.
[Heeheehee, heeheehee! Aunt is mighty! Wanwan will raise a great banner for Aunt...]
Only when the banquet began did Xie Jin'an hurry over from the inner courtyard, still carrying a trace of the rank smell of a woman's breast milk.
Liu Wan frowned and stepped back slightly with her daughter in her arms.
"I was just in the inner courtyard preparing a surprise for Wanwan. She'll get to see it in a little while."
Xie Jin'an reached to take the baby from Liu Wan.
Liu Wan hesitated. [I want Daddy to hold me.]
In the end, she handed the baby over.
Little Wanwan took a deep sniff in her father's arms. [This smell-Daddy must have gone to keep his mistress company. Mother's milk doesn't smell so nasty. Mother, the mistress and her son are in the inner courtyard...]
Liu Wan had already been feeling dejected. At those words, her face darkened further, and she stared at Xie Jin'an with disappointment in her eyes.
Even at his daughter's full-month banquet, he had...
She clenched both fists tightly, doing her best not to explode. "May I ask what surprise you've prepared for Wanwan in the inner courtyard?"
"It's in the Lotus Pavilion. Come with me, my dear, and you'll see." Xie Jin'an's smile was gentle and considerate.
To outsiders, they were as harmonious as a zither and its companion strings, treating one another with the courtesy of honored guests-a match made in heaven.
Everyone in the capital praised the Liu Family's daughter for marrying such a good husband.
But only Liu Wan knew how much neglect she had endured, and how she had swallowed it for five years to earn that hollow reputation.
Thinking of the lotus pond, then of her sister-in-law falling into the water... Liu Wan instantly froze and looked at Xie Jin'an and the old madam in disbelief!
They actually dared to plot against the Fifth Princess!
Sure enough, the women present were already growing curious. The Fifth Princess looked at Liu Ye and said softly, "Don't you want to know what surprise your brother-in-law prepared for Wanwan?"
She was even a little envious of Liu Wan's happy family.
It would be perfect if the old madam could be plucked out of the Marquis's Residence.
Liu Ye pressed his lips tightly together. For some reason, he kept feeling that Xie Jin'an harbored a trace of ill intent.
"Remember to stay close to Wan'er."
The Fifth Princess smiled and followed Liu Wan into the inner courtyard.
The little one in Liu Wan's arms suddenly burst into loud wails, crying so hard she could barely catch her breath. She struggled so fiercely that Liu Wan could hardly hold on to her.
"Wanwan must be hungry. Please go ahead to the Warm Pavilion and wait a moment, ladies. I'll join you shortly."
The women present all understood the inconveniences of motherhood, so they went to the Warm Pavilion to wait for her with smiles.
As soon as Liu Wan entered the room, she summoned Pan Chun and whispered a few words in her ear. "...Make sure you emphasize that it was the heir who took a fancy to her."
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