Song Jingyang's shameless antics finally made Xiu'er unable to hold back anymore.
"Stop overthinking," Song Jingyang said.
Xiu'er: "Let me think about it properly, don't just gloss over it like that."
She had clearly thought things through and was very decisive, but after his outburst, her Zidu with bubbles, and even a feeling of happiness.
That won't do.
Song Jingyang hugged her tightly and said with a grin, "Are you full? If you're full, we'll go see your mother."
Xiu'er was dragged back to the Tang Family by him without her even realizing it.
Old Madam He was extremely satisfied with her son-in-law, Song Jingyang. When he arrived, she greeted him warmly, inviting him to sit down and drink tea, keeping herself very busy.
"Auntie, you don't need to bother."
Song Jingyang smiled and presented the gift, "I didn't know what you liked, so I just bought a hairpin. Please don't criticize it if it's not good."
Could a gold hairpin weighing two ounces, enough to tilt a head, possibly make a mistake?
cannot.
Old Madam He beamed from ear to ear. "You silly child, you've gone to so much trouble!"
Xiu'er pouted, "That's to buy your daughter!"
Old Madam He glared at her. "That's still too much!"
Xiu'er: "..."
Her mother is so easily bought off by money.
Song Jingyang rubbed his hands and said, "Auntie, don't say that. There's something I really feel bad about towards Xiu'er..."
Old Madam He was stunned. She put down the gold hairpin and said seriously, "Speak."
His expression changed instantly and without any politeness.
Xiu'er tugged at Old Madam He's sleeve. "Mother, nothing of the sort is true, don't listen to his nonsense."
"Shut up, I didn't tell you to speak."
Old Madam He He's serious expression was also quite frightening.
Song Jingyang seemed to understand who Xiu'er resembled—quiet and formidable.
"Here's the thing," he said hastily, not daring to be negligent, "I originally wanted to take Xiu'er with me to Qingzhou to take up my post, but my mother insisted on going with the Prince. She's not in good health, as you know, she fell ill on the way to the capital and missed the Prince and Empress's wedding..."
"So what?"
"So I thought I'd have Xiu'er help me take care of my mother."
As expected, Song Jingyang took all the blame upon himself.
"Auntie, I know I'm very sorry to Xiu'er for putting such a heavy burden on her, but..."
"When do you plan to get married?" Old Madam He asked.
Song Jingyang said cautiously, "That's up to you, sir. I naturally think the sooner the better."
"Then have your mother bring the matchmaker, and we'll get the wedding done in the next few days," Old Madam He said decisively.
Her attitude was clear: marrying you and becoming a daughter-in-law of the Song Family, serving her mother-in-law was only natural.
But since I haven't married you and have no official status, don't even think about stringing me along and using me for free.
Song Jingyang: "That's wonderful! My aunt loves me the most, she's so good to me!"
Old Madam He's expression softened, and she picked up the hairpin again, inserting it into her hair. She turned to Xiu'er and asked, "Does it look good?"
"It looks great!" Xiu'er said with a nasal tone, "Even if it's just a lump of gold, two taels of gold would look good on you."
Old Madam He pinched her. "Can't you speak properly!"
Feeling he'd passed the test, Song Jingyang chuckled and said, "Auntie, it's a bit cold in here! I'll go out and get you a brazier."
As he spoke, he secretly winked at Xiu'er, and then went out.
He wanted to give the mother and daughter some space to talk.
"What exactly happened?" Old Madam He pulled the hairpin out and put it back in the brocade box, frowning as she asked Xiu'er.
Xiu'er mumbled, "Didn't Song Jingyang explain that to you?"
Old Madam He pretended to reach for the feather duster. "What, you think you're all grown up now?"
Xiu'er: "Mother!"
"Do you think your mother's gone senile? Tell me honestly, what's going on between you and Song Jingyang?"
"What? What happened?"
"His mother used to live so far away, and he never mentioned her often. Why is he suddenly so filial now?"
Xiu'er didn't like hearing that. "Mother, you can't say things like that, it makes it sound like Song Jingyang is unfilial. Why would he mention it to you! He hasn't neglected anything he's supposed to do."
"Tell me the truth, don't give me any nonsense."
Before he had even succeeded, Song Jingyang was already thinking of getting rid of the person, but that didn't seem right at all.
Xiu'er: "... It's just that I can't bear to part with Your Majesty either, so..."
"So what!" Old Madam He raised the feather duster and gave her a light tap behind her back. "Are you confused?!"
"Mother, one must have a conscience. If it weren't for the Tang Family..."
"You're saying your mother has no conscience?" Old Madam He slapped her angrily.
Xiu'er: "If you hit me again, I'll call Song Jingyang."
Old Madam He: "... You're not married to her yet, how can I possibly control you!"
Xiu'er pouted and sat down. "Mom, I feel terrible, please don't make things worse."
Old Madam He. He scolded, "You always seemed so clever, but it was all a lie."
"We mustn't forget our roots; you must follow the Empress. Jingyang's future cannot be jeopardized..."
"Then what do you think I can do?" Xiu'er cried, burying her face in her hands on the table.
After being slapped twice by her mother, she finally had a reason to cry, even though it didn't hurt at all.
"Hurry up!" Old Madam He said, "Go back tonight... Get pregnant a few days early so no one knows. The wedding will be in three days, a proper marriage is enough, nothing else matters."
Xiu'er was stunned by her mother's fierceness.
Before even getting married, consummating the marriage?
Even if it's a day in advance, it still doesn't make sense!
Old Madam He. He slapped her on the back, exasperated. "I told you you're not smart enough! What's the most important thing? Hurry up and have a baby! Then take good care of your mother-in-law, and who will be able to surpass you in the future?"
Xiu'er said in a muffled voice, "It's not like that between me and Song Jingyang."
She felt that even having such thoughts was a betrayal of Song Jingyang's deep affection.
"If he isn't, that's for the best. But if he is, then your time with him won't have been in vain." Old Madam He tapped her forehead. "What's the point of stopping the rain here?"
Pack your things and hurry back to have the baby.
"Let me tell you, having a baby is both easy and difficult, so don't waste my time."
Hurry up and get it done!
"Have your mother-in-law bring the matchmaker tomorrow. Don't be so fixated on your grand wedding; substance is more important than appearances."
This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to defy fate, and it's rare that the other party is so foolish as to be controlled by her silly daughter.
If you miss such an opportunity, you'd be struck by lightning.
Old Madam He muttered to herself, "No, I'll go burn some incense and ask for a Child-Giving Guanyin to grant me a child."
Xiu'er didn't want to talk.
Song Jingyang accompanied her as she left home, cautiously asking, "Xiu'er, didn't your mother agree to move the marriage forward? Are you scared or do you have other concerns?"
Xiu'er blurted out, "What if I can't give birth?"
This is absolutely driving me crazy!