The Crown Prince's daughter?
While eating, Xiu'er bit her chopsticks and said, "How come I remember the Crown Princess only gave birth to two sons, and were they this big?"
"The Crown Prince's adopted daughter." Song Jingyang carefully placed the deboned fish meat into Xiu'er's bowl, "Eat more fish."
"Who knows if she's a real goddaughter or not," Xiu'er scoffed. "Maybe she's the goddaughter you roll around in bed with."
Song Jingyang blushed when he heard the phrase "rolling around on the same bed".
They're getting married soon!
He needs to perform well, or he'll get kicked off the stage by Xiu'er, which would be embarrassing.
"Who cares about them? The Eastern Palace only has two stone lions, that's enough," Song Jingyang said. "Have a chicken leg."
"It's greasy, but you can eat it," Xiu'er said. "Let me tell you, you have to be careful when choosing a woman; this kind is definitely not good."
"I don't need to choose anymore, you can teach our son from now on," Song Jingyang chuckled. "Drink the mutton soup, it'll be piping hot. I'll add extra salt for you, I know you like it salty."
"I'm full." Xiu'er put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and then wrung out her handkerchief under the table.
"Have another bowl of soup, mutton is good," Song Jingyang said. "It's cold, mutton soup is warming and nourishing, and your hands are always cold during your period, right? Listen to me, can you have half a bowl?"
He placed the bowl in front of Xiu'er, and Xiu'er lowered her head, and with a "plop," a tear fell into the bowl.
Song Jingyang was so frightened that he didn't know what to do.
"If you don't want to drink anymore, then you don't have to. Xiu'er, I wasn't being mean to you, it's my fault, it's my fault for speaking so harshly."
Xiu'er's tears flowed even faster.
She silently berated herself, wondering how she could be so spineless.
He promised to control the whole thing, but ended up being controlled by a bowl of mutton soup. How embarrassing!
"Xiu'er, don't cry, don't cry. If you cry, I'll panic."
Song Jingyang hastily picked up his sleeve to wipe her tears.
Xiu'er sniffled, choking back tears, and said, "Song Jingyang, don't fall for the Crown Prince's goddaughter. Women like that are unacceptable!"
"I don't like it, I don't like it. I don't even like the most beautiful celestial maiden, let alone you."
"I'm serious, you need to be more discerning when choosing a woman."
"What's wrong with you today? What kind of woman did I choose? If I did something wrong, just tell me. I'm so stupid, I wouldn't be able to guess."
"Song Jingyang, I can't go to Qingzhou with you."
Song Jingyang was struck dumb, frozen in place with his arm still raised, as if he had been immobilized.
After a long pause, he sat down, forcing an awkward smile, "Let's see. The Prince will be alright. Xiu'er, you..."
Xiu'er bit her lip and said, "I've made up my mind. I'll stay with Your Majesty. Song Jingyang, I'm so sorry."
They promised to hold hands and grow old together, but she was the one who let go first.
But once you get started, it's not so difficult anymore.
She repeated what she Nanxing had said to Song Jingyang.
Finally, Xiu'er said, "You hate me, don't you? I deserve it. I know I have no right to tell you what to do in the future, but I truly, truly hope you can live a good life."
"Xiu'er, why are you so silly?" Song Jingyang squatted down in front of her and awkwardly reached out to wipe away her tears.
Xiu'er burst into tears.
She didn't think about him at all, yet he was still willing to speak to her so calmly.
He was already a high-ranking official of the second rank, yet he squatted on the ground wiping away the tears of a maid.
Xiu'er told herself it was worth it, really worth it.
"Don't cry, it's nothing." Song Jingyang sat down next to her and hugged her. "Have you been holding it in these past few days? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Let me tell you, so you'll suffer a few days sooner!" Xiu'er retorted even while crying.
"Fool, once we've talked it out, you won't feel so bad. It's not a big deal. You stay with Her Majesty, I'll wait for you."
"I don't need you to wait. I can shamelessly keep you waiting, but how could I have the nerve to keep Nanny Jing?"
"What I mean is what my mother means," Song Jingyang said. "You may be reluctant to part with the Princess Consort, but I'm even more reluctant to part with the Prince! Do you think I'll never see the Prince again?"
Xiu'er was stunned.
She wasn't surprised that Song Jingyang wouldn't agree to break up, but she didn't expect Song Jingyang to be so nonchalant about it.
"I was so busy before, I didn't expect you to be so reluctant to leave Her Majesty."
"It's not too late to know now," Xiu'er said in a muffled voice.
"It was my fault," Song Jingyang said. "I went to Qingzhou to fight them anyway, and it's inconvenient to bring my family. Perfect timing, my mother is going with the Prince, so please take care of her for me and fulfill my filial duty!"
Xiu'er: "That's not how it's said..."
The prince wouldn't ignore Nanny Jing, so why would he need her?
"A woman follows her husband wherever she goes, no, she follows her husband after marriage. You'll listen to me, that's how I'm going to arrange things for you!"
I'm not married to you yet!
"With all the proper betrothal gifts and betrothal rites, she's mine. If you don't believe me, go ask your mother!" Song Jingyang declared confidently.
Xiu'er: "..."
Despite her sharp tongue, she couldn't out-argue Song Jingyang?
And how come something this big isn't a big deal to him?
"I've lived without a woman for over twenty years, what's a couple more years?" Song Jingyang said. "Just stay with the Empress and wait for my return."
He suddenly became worried. "Xiu'er, you have to wait for me, don't go with anyone else! No, we have to get married first before you leave!"
Xiu'er: How did things turn out like this? It's out of control!
"Are you full? Let's go give the jewelry we bought to your mother!"
Song Jingyang was meticulous; although it was Nanny Jing's birthday, he also chose a gold hairpin for Old Madam He.
He also understood the mindset of middle-aged and elderly women, and didn't choose a flashy or overly ornate style.
--Heavy enough!
"Send it over, and we can discuss the wedding arrangements then," Song Jingyang said. "Don't say anything, I'll do the talking."
"Song Jingyang, calm down, that's unrealistic."
"How is it unrealistic? It's just a few years apart, right? We're still young, aren't we? Are the decades to come longer, or are these few years longer?"
Why do you have to endure it?
"What have I done wrong? I can't bring my wife on official business without you! And speaking of others, even Lord Tang left his wife in the countryside, didn't he?"
There are far too many cases like this in the imperial court!
"Lord Tang, you're fine. I'm not lacking anything!" Song Jingyang said.
"Let's go, let's go! We still have to go back to serve Her Majesty! Don't upset her, we're doing fine!"
Song Jingyang was heartbroken; he even wanted to hug Xiu'er and cry his heart out.
Who wants to break up?
But he couldn't.
He can't handle it, so why should Xiu'er?
Would he still be considered a man then?
This is a difficult hurdle; it's difficult for them all.
But no matter how difficult it is, he must first pull Xiu'er out of her pain.
Song Jingyang chuckled and said, "Are you silly? It's such a trivial matter... I know, you can't live without me, can you?"
Xiu'er pinched his waist hard. "You're getting too big for your britches!"
"I was wrong, Xiu'er, wife, I was wrong!"