During this period, Wang Xiuxiu lived a very comfortable life.
Unlike other concubines, she didn't need to get up early to serve Lu Jingze and the Princess Consort.
Every morning, I can sleep until I naturally wake up and then leisurely have a brunch.
The chefs in the Prince's mansion were extremely skilled; even simple porridge and side dishes could satisfy her completely.
After breakfast, Wang Xiuxiu would usually rest for a while before going to the Princess's main courtyard to play for a bit.
Although the princess was of noble status, she was gentle in nature and never put on airs with Wang Xiuxiu.
The two chatted and laughed, then did some small crafts together to pass the time.
There are many kinds of handicrafts, not limited to making knots, but also including origami, flower arranging, and paper cutting.
These are all skills that Wang Xiuxiu learned in handicraft classes when she was a child. Now they are finally coming in handy, and not a single bit of them have been wasted!
Princess Wang is what modern people often call "clumsy with her hands." Often, the patterns that Wang Xiuxiu can easily make require Princess Wang a lot of time to learn.
Wang Xiuxiu never urged him on; she simply sat quietly to the side, drinking tea and eating fruit, occasionally offering some guidance.
"Sister, you need to fold it like this, just align it and press it down gently." Wang Xiuxiu said as she demonstrated to the princess.
Su Yingxue followed along earnestly, her movements clumsy but her face full of smiles: "Xiuxiu, you're so skillful! How come I can't learn like this?"
"Sister, don't rush, take your time. Crafts are all about having fun."
The two chatted as they did crafts, and time flew by.
At noon, Su Yingxue would invite Wang Xiuxiu to have lunch together.
The lunch at the main courtyard was naturally far superior to that at Lanyue Pavilion, and Wang Xiuxiu was always able to enjoy a hearty meal, secretly rejoicing that she had found the right patron.
After lunch, Wang Xiuxiu and the princess took a walk in the courtyard to digest their food, and then returned to her own Lanyue Pavilion to take a nice afternoon nap.
---
In the early morning, sunlight streamed through the window into the room, illuminating Wang Xiuxiu's busy figure.
After tidying up for a while, Wang Xiuxiu packed everything into a box, then carried it and headed towards Qixia Courtyard.
Standing at the entrance of Qixia Courtyard, Granny Li spotted Wang Xiuxiu's figure in the distance, and a smile immediately appeared on her face.
She reached out and personally lifted the curtain for Wang Xiuxiu.
The young maids sweeping at the entrance all stared in shock at this scene.
It should be noted that in the Prince's mansion, Granny Li only personally served the Prince and the Heir Apparent when they visited.
"Madam, you've arrived very early today!"
Wang Xiuxiu smiled and said, "Good morning, Granny Li! I made something new today, let's play together in a bit!"
Having spent time together, Granny Li knew Wang Xiuxiu's personality, so she didn't refuse her invitation; instead, she happily accepted.
As Wang Xiuxiu entered the room, she immediately saw Su Yingxue sitting at the table reading a book.
Seeing Wang Xiuxiu come in, she gently put down the book in her hand, her eyes full of smiles, and teased, "You got up really early today."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu said reproachfully, "I'm very upset that you're laughing at me like that, but I'll have to go back and stay for another hour before coming back."
Hearing her blatant threat, Su Yingxue not only wasn't angry, but instead covered her handkerchief and laughed.
Wang Xiuxiu was a little embarrassed, but fortunately, Granny Li was a little angel and helped her out of the predicament.
"Your Highness, please stop teasing Madam Wang. Madam has prepared some fine things to bring. If Madam Wang gets angry and won't let you play with them, what will you do?"
Granny Li was the most capable wet nurse by the princess's side, and only she dared to say such joking things.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuxiu also took advantage of the situation and chimed in, "That's right, that's right."
"Hahaha, don't worry, Granny. Our Xiuxiu is the most magnanimous person I can be. She definitely won't hold a grudge against me, right?"
Hearing the princess's praise, Wang Xiuxiu was secretly pleased, and a smile appeared on her face. If she had a tail, it would be wagging very high.
When he saw the master and servant smirking, he realized that he had been tricked.
She pouted, pretending to be angry, "You guys are so mean!"
Seeing this, the master and servant began to flatter her, offering her snacks and sweet drinks as if they were coaxing a child.
Finally, after all that coaxing, Wang Xiuxiu was in a great mood and slowly took out her little craft for the day.
"What is this?" Su Yingxue looked at the colorful tufts of fur in front of her with a surprised expression.
"It's wool. I had Sakura find some wool from outside, washed it, scented it with perfume, and then dyed it with paint."
"I see! So how are we going to use this wool today?"
"Don't worry, look here! Ta-da!"
Wang Xiuxiu opened the box, took out a delicate little photo frame, and proudly showed it to Su Yingxue.
The framed picture contains a carefully framed wool perforated toy.
"This...this is also made of wool?" Su Yingxue's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.
“Yes, I tried it yesterday when I got back, and I got up early this morning to come find you. I’ve worked so hard, and you still tease me!” Wang Xiuxiu complained.
"Oh dear, you little rascal! Still bringing up past grievances! Granny Li, quickly bring her a plate of the pine nut and lily bulb pastries I got yesterday to appease her!"
A moment later, Granny Li brought over a plate of fragrant pine nut and lily bulb pastries.
Seeing this, Wang Xiuxiu stopped holding a grudge and happily ate her pastries, saying between bites, "It's still Princess Consort who loves me the most!"
After eating the pastries and expressing her affection, Wang Xiuxiu took out the materials and began to teach Su Yingxue how to make wool poker toys.
Granny Li also stood to one side. When Wang Xiuxiu saw this, she moved over and invited her to join in the fun.
At first, Granny Li hesitated, but Wang Xiuxiu winked at her, and Granny Lu seemed to understand something, so she stopped refusing and sat down to the side.
This clever little girl is afraid that the princess won't be able to learn after she leaves!
Having learned from yesterday's practice, Wang Xiuxiu demonstrated the movements to the two of them again today, and her skills were exceptionally proficient.
When the two saw it, they didn't think it was difficult at all. It wasn't until they tried it themselves that they realized they understood it with their eyes, but their hands hadn't learned it yet!
Su Yingxue needed guidance throughout the process, but Granny Li learned faster. With a little guidance from Wang Xiuxiu, she knew when and where to poke and patch things up.
After lunch, Wang Xiuxiu stayed for a while longer before going back to rest.
By this time, Granny Li was already able to poke out a complete apple pattern.
Wang Xiuxiu was very satisfied, so she entrusted the princess to Granny Li with peace of mind.
Su Yingxue studied with exceptional seriousness. Even when Wang Xiuxiu said she was leaving, she only slightly raised her head, instructed the maid to take a box of buttered snails to Wang Xiuxiu, and then continued to focus on her work.
When the young prince returned home from school, this was the scene of bustling activity he witnessed.
When he returned home, his mother and Granny Li would have already greeted him and brought him in.
For some reason, I couldn't see a single person today.
Xiao Nian pursed his lips and walked in, but his mother did not look up. She ignored him the whole time.
Having already been upset at school, Nian Ge'er, who was expecting a hug from his mother, felt even more aggrieved. He pouted and simply ignored his mother, sitting to the side sulking.
Su Yingxue continued poking and prodding, completely oblivious to Nian Ge'er's changing emotions.
Lu Yunian was still young and had limited patience. Before long, he couldn't suppress his curiosity and quietly went forward to see what his mother and Granny Li were doing.
Nian Ge'er's eyes lit up when he saw the apple that was about to be finished in Li Mama's hand.
Seeing the picture of a kitten playing with a ball left by Wang Xiuxiu on the table filled me with joy.
"Granny, what are you and Mother doing?"
Only then did Granny Li realize that the young master had already been home for quite some time.
She was so engrossed in playing with the princess that she didn't even notice him.
So, Granny Li hurriedly got off the ground and made room for Nian Ge'er.
"Young Master, please give it a try? My eyes are sore too, please help me out."
Lu Yunian was initially embarrassed, but when he heard that it was Granny Li's request, the little man immediately straightened his chest and readily agreed.
Granny Li took a piece of cloth that Wang Xiuxiu had prepared beforehand and began to teach him how to play.
Lu Yunian's hands-on skills were clearly better than his mother's, and he quickly grasped the essentials.
At this moment, Su Yingxue was immersed in her own world and had no idea that her son had surpassed her.
When she finally raised her head, ready to show off her work to Granny Li, she was surprised to find that her son's work was already taking shape!
Su Yingxue: How come this kid can do it faster than me? And it looks so much better!
But the little guy was really excited. After learning the basic design, he actually chose a complicated design that required mixing several colors together, saying that he wanted to make it and give it to his mother.
Su Yingxue could only watch with a mixture of relief and heartache as her son easily completed one artwork after another, then neatly arranged them on her dressing table.
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