"We'll talk about the serious stuff later!" The Queen Mother clapped her hands, and the maids behind her immediately brought up several red lacquer and gilded boxes. "I have prepared some gifts for the Crown Prince."
When the box was opened, there was a dazzling golden light inside - there was a longevity lock made of pure gold, engraved with "happiness, longevity, health and peace", and the lock piece was as big as a palm; there were small shoes made of mutton-fat jade, and the toes were decorated with oriental pearls as big as rice grains; there was also a whole box of new tribute brocade from the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau, with various patterns and colors ranging from moon white to stone blue.
"Empress Dowager, you are too extravagant." Su Jinli looked at these priceless gifts, feeling both moved and frightened.
"What are you talking about!" the Queen Mother laughed, "This is my grandson, of course I have to love him well! Unlike some people..." She looked at the Emperor meaningfully.
The emperor immediately straightened his back and signaled the eunuch to bring up a wooden box half the height of a person: "Jinli, this is my gift to the baby!"
Su Jinli opened the box in confusion, and was immediately at a loss for words - it was filled with all kinds of peppers: bunches of dried peppers were hung on the wall of the box, red peppers with oil were filled in a celadon jar, and there were also dried and ground pepper powder, wrapped in a dozen small packages with kraft paper.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing..."
"Stock up for the baby!" The emperor rubbed his hands proudly. "I heard you've been enjoying this since you got pregnant, and I think the baby will follow your lead too! From now on, have the imperial kitchen come up with different ways to make chili dishes. I guarantee the child will be plump and healthy!"
Jiang Yan bowed beside him: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
By the time the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had departed, the sun was nearing noon. The Prime Minister's residence was still bustling with activity: Prime Minister Su personally oversaw the kitchen's preparation of bird's nest stew, demanding that it be made with spring water from Yuquan Mountain. Young Marquis Su, carrying an axe, headed to the backyard to chop down a tree, claiming he was going to make a wooden horse for his baby. Su Qingyao, hidden in the embroidery room, microscope in hand, researched a new rouge formula, hoping to create a "crying-proof" powder for her baby.
Su Jinli leaned against the window, watching her family bustle about in the courtyard. She clutched the longevity locket the Empress Dowager had gifted her. The golden locket was heavy, yet it felt warm, like a little sun within her. She recalled the days of fear and trepidation in her stepmother's care in her past life, when no one even remembered her birthday. Now, she was held in the palms of so many hands.
"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Yan came in with a bowl of rock sugar and snow pears. The hot steam from the porcelain bowl misted over his lenses.
"I'm wondering," Su Jinli took the bowl, her fingertips touching the slightly cool glaze, "will our baby be spoiled by them after it's born?"
Jiang Yan sat beside her and gathered her shawl. "Let him spoil you," he said softly, looking into her eyes. "Of course we have to spoil our baby. Let him make up for all the suffering you went through as a child."
Su Jinli's heart felt like it was soaked in warm water, and her eyes felt slightly warm. She nodded, leaning on Jiang Yan's shoulder, listening to her brother chopping trees and her sister humming as she mixed spices outside the window. She felt that the present world was stable and the years were peaceful.
In the dead of night, Jiang Yan couldn't help but put his hand on her belly. "Madam, who do you think the baby will look like?"
"Looks like you," Su Jinli yawned, "like you, smart, wears glasses, and is very refined."
"That won't do," Jiang Yan shook his head and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "I want to be like you, as beautiful as you, as courageous as you, the one who dared to overturn the teacup at the coming-of-age banquet, the one who dared to defend the princess in the palace..."
Su Jinli laughed and gradually fell asleep. In her dream, she saw a chubby white child wearing a bright red bellyband, holding a string of red peppers in his hand. He staggered into her arms and giggled at her and Jiang Yan. The laughter was like pearls scattered on a jade plate, crisp and sweet.
The moonlight outside the window had softened at some point, filtering through the curtains onto the bed, casting a silver edge on the two people sleeping in each other's arms. Su Jinli knew that their happy life had just begun, and that this upcoming little life would be the sweetest piece of honey in their future years.
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