Chapter 77 077 A Few Old Children's Clothes
With the new crown prince in place, apart from a few people like the Prince of Qi who were disappointed and resentful, almost all the officials and common people in the capital breathed a sigh of relief.
The ministers no longer needed to worry about the elderly emperor suddenly passing away and the court descending into chaos due to the uncertainty of the heir apparent. The people believed that the emperor had finally emerged from the grief of the former crown prince's passing. With the emperor resuming his normal life, the common people could resume their businesses and celebrations as before, without worrying about accidentally breaking any taboos.
Among the officials' families, the happiest were probably Luo Fu and Deng Shi, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The former crown prince, whom their husbands and sons had offended, was dead, and the Prince Qi, whom they had impeached, was not selected for the Eastern Palace. Their family had no grudges against the new crown prince and had even formed two good relationships with him. They no longer had to fear that the Marquis's mansion would suffer retaliation from the new emperor in the future, and they could finally relax and live a carefree life!
Overjoyed, Madam Deng sent several bolts of silk and satin to her youngest daughter-in-law. The brightly colored ones were reserved for her to make new clothes for next spring and summer, while the festive, soft, and comfortable ones were kept for her new grandson or granddaughter to make baby clothes.
There were only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the room. While spreading out the fabric for her younger daughter-in-law to see, Deng whispered to her younger daughter-in-law's belly, "This child really knows how to pick a day. He came just when our bad luck was over. He will definitely be a blessed child in the future."
Luo Fu: "...Mother, please don't say that. Your son is the least able to resist praise."
Deng: "..."
Having learned her lesson twice, Deng deeply agreed with her youngest daughter-in-law's words. That evening, when Xiao Yu returned, Deng called her youngest son to her side and gave him a long, stern lecture, warning him not to cause trouble for the next few months. It was impossible for him to never cause trouble again, but at least she had to ensure that her youngest daughter-in-law could have a smooth pregnancy and postpartum period.
Xiao Yu simply smiled and said, "Mother, rest assured, His Majesty is wise, and there are no major events in the court these days."
Previously, he had worried that the emperor would become senile and lose his integrity as he grew older, like some emperors of the past. Now, the emperor had even deposed the cruel and inhumane former crown prince and chosen the Prince of Fu, who had the most potential to be a wise ruler, from the remaining three princes to make him the new crown prince. Every move he made was for the peace and prosperity of the Great Zhou Dynasty. With a group of virtuous ministers and generals assisting him, why should he, a mere fifth-rank censor, have to worry about everything?
Xiao Yu was determined to serve his country, but he was not arrogant and did not meddle in national affairs, big or small.
After bidding farewell to his mother, Xiao Yu returned to Shensi Hall.
As the weather grew colder, Luo Fu became increasingly reluctant to move around. However, staying indoors all day was not an option. Both the doctor who examined her pulse and her sisters-in-law who had experience giving birth reminded her to take a few walks in the garden every day so that she could give birth more easily in the future.
When Xiao Yu was on duty, he had no choice but to ask his mother and sisters-in-law to accompany his wife. But whenever he had a day off, he would personally accompany her for a walk in their garden. If she got tired, he would immediately find a place to help her sit down. If she complained that her legs were sore, he would skillfully massage them for her, regardless of whether there were maids present. If she complained of the cold wind, he would shield her from it. If she complained of the sun shining in her eyes, he would shade her from the sun...
Occasionally, when they bump into the Xiao family or the Xiao family visiting the garden, Luo Fu would stop them in time to save Xiao Yu's face and ask him to sit down to the side. However, Xiao Yu didn't care and continued doing what he was doing.
Xiao Hu wanted to make a few jokes about his third brother, but Yang Yanzhen, on the grounds that he didn't want to disturb the young couple, led the three of them away on another route.
Li Huaiyun dared not make decisions for Xiao Lin, and had no choice but to follow Xiao Lin and his two children to the front.
Xiao Lin feigned surprise: "So it's Third Brother. I couldn't see clearly from a distance just now. I thought it was some maidservant serving Third Brother's wife."
Erlang and Yingjie laughed; the brother and sister had never seen their third uncle like this before.
Xiao Yu: "I deal with documents all day long, yet I can still recognize my second brother from afar. My second brother is only thirty years old, yet his eyesight has deteriorated to this extent?"
Xiao Lin: "..."
Erlang and Yingjie laughed even harder.
Luo Fu blushed slightly and explained to Xiao Lin and his wife, "It's the Third Master's first time being a father. He makes a big fuss about even the slightest discomfort I feel. Please forgive me, Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Yingjie looked up and asked her father, "Father, when Mother was pregnant with us, did you take care of her like this?"
Xiao Lin: "...Of course."
Glancing at Li Huaiyun, whose thin face was already flushed red, Xiao Lin didn't want his third brother to see him make a fool of himself, so he hurriedly took away the one adult and two children.
After they walked away, Luo Fu nudged Xiao Yu's shoulder and whispered, "There's something I've always been curious about, you know? Back when Second Brother won Second Sister-in-law's heart, was it for the power of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, or was he genuinely in love with Second Sister-in-law herself?"
Li Huaiyun was quiet and reserved. Even though she was familiar with her three sisters-in-law, she rarely talked about her private affairs. Most of the conversations were between her and her eldest sister-in-law.
Xiao Yu pondered for a moment and said, "I have no way of knowing how deep my second brother's feelings are for my second sister-in-law. However, after my second sister-in-law married into the family, my father once thought of asking the old Duke to help him transfer his position. He was too embarrassed to ask, so he tried to ask my second brother for help. My second brother refused directly, saying that he did not marry my second sister-in-law to ask the Li family for favors."
It was because of this incident that Xiao Yu realized that his second brother, despite not looking like a good person, was actually much more upright than his father.
Luo Fu heard about another embarrassing incident involving her father-in-law from years ago, and she laughed with great schadenfreude.
As Xiao Yu knelt down to massage his wife's legs, he looked at her beaming face and thought to himself, "I've caused two major troubles, yet my wife is still willing to stay by my side. She must truly love me. She might have wanted something else when she first married me, but now she must only love me for who I am."
.
The sixteenth day of the eleventh lunar month was an auspicious day, and the palace held a grand ceremony to confer the titles of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.
When Luo Fu and other ladies of official rank were to enter the palace to attend the ceremony, Empress Gao remembered that Luo Fu was heavily pregnant, so she specially ordered the palace servants to prepare prayer cushions for Luo Fu and several other pregnant ladies of official rank. When it was time to kneel and perform the grand ceremony, Luo Fu and the others could simply kneel down without having to bow their heads.
Although it was somewhat inconvenient, Luo Fu was quite happy to see her former mahjong partner and newly crown princess receiving the imperial edict alongside the crown prince from afar.
A few days after the ceremony, Princess Kangping personally visited the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence. She did not send any servants to inform Shensi Hall. After receiving greetings from Madam Deng, Yang Yanzhen, Li Huaiyun, and others, she explained, "I have come to visit the Third Madam. You ladies may go about your business."
Just as Madam Deng was about to arrange for the maidservant beside her to lead the way for the princess, Yang Yanzhen smiled and said, "If the princess doesn't mind, this humble woman will lead the way for her?"
Kang Ping smiled in response: "Then I'll have to trouble the Crown Prince's wife."
Deng: "..."
Luo Fu was still unaware of anything at Shensi Hall. Taking advantage of the bright sunshine, she was leisurely strolling in her small courtyard when she unexpectedly turned around and saw her sister-in-law bringing over a figure that shouldn't be there.
"Princess?" Rov quickened her pace in surprise. "What brings you here?"
Kang Ping told her not to move. After accepting Yang Yanzhen's farewell, she looked Luo Fu up and down and said, "I didn't want to come, but I was afraid that if I asked you to come to my residence, you might get hurt on the way by the bumpy carriage, and your Imperial Censor Xiao would impeach me. Now it's all over the streets and alleys of the capital that Xiao Yu specializes in impeaching imperial relatives. Anyone who is bullied by imperial relatives can just go to the Censorate and find Lord Xiao."
Luo Fu didn't know what Xiao Yu would think after hearing this, but she blushed with embarrassment: "...I can't control other things, but if he really dares to impeach the princess, no matter what, I will move out and live separately and not live with him anymore."
Kang Ping scoffed, "The baby's about to be born, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Love: "It's not like I can't take the kids with me."
Kangping finally smiled and pointed to the bundle in the maid's hand behind him, saying, "Fourth Sister-in-law now lives in the East Palace and it's inconvenient for her to leave the palace. She also can't ask us to come into the palace to play cards with her. Since you're about to give birth, she's gathered up some of the old clothes that Zhige'er wore back then and asked me to send them to you."
The former heir of the Prince of Fu's mansion, who is now the heir of the Eastern Palace, was nicknamed Zhi Ge'er.
Luo Fu was flattered. In folk tradition, newborn babies are very difficult to raise, so if a family has a strong and healthy child, the child's old clothes will be especially sought after by relatives and friends, because it is said that these old clothes also retain some good fortune, and other newborns who wear them will also grow up healthy and strong.
Just like setting off firecrackers and pasting Spring Festival couplets during the Lunar New Year, the intention is to convey auspicious and festive wishes.
Luo Fu had left her nephews' and nieces' old clothes in Guangling, but her two sisters-in-law had each given her a few pieces of their old clothes, which Luo Fu was already grateful for. She hadn't expected the esteemed Crown Princess to send a gift as well. That was the Crown Prince, the future heir apparent; the old clothes left behind weren't just a blessing, they were true dragon energy, capable of warding off any evil spirits!
"Please convey my gratitude to the Crown Princess on my behalf, Princess. Tell her that I was so happy that I was incoherent. After the baby is born, I will definitely go to the palace to kowtow to the Crown Princess a few more times," Luo Fu said excitedly.
Kang Ping: "...Who cares if you kowtow? Can you kowtow out silver or gold?"
Luo Fu: "..." She doesn't even care about shipping, isn't this all just empty talk!
.
In the Eastern Palace, the newly appointed Crown Prince is currently in high spirits. Although he appears calm and composed, just as humble and steady as when he was a prince, it seems as if a spring breeze is blowing in his heart every day. This breeze makes him spend some time alone in the Eastern Palace every day after returning home, releasing his joy before seeing his wives, concubines, and children.
The Crown Princess remained aloof as ever, while the Crown Prince preferred to visit his concubine, Li Huaixiu. Although Li Huaixiu was pregnant and unable to serve the Crown Prince, she was cheerful and talkative, and the Crown Prince found it pleasing to the eye just to look at her.
After lying down at night, Li Huaixiu took the Crown Prince's hand and placed it on her stomach, letting out a soft sigh.
Crown Prince: "What's wrong?"
Li Huaixiu: "I heard that you gave some of the young prince's old clothes to Madam Xiao today. I'm a little envious. The young prince is so handsome. I originally wanted to borrow a few of his old clothes from you to bring some good fortune to his younger siblings. But since he's still a long way from being born, I thought I'd wait a bit longer. Who would have thought..."
The Crown Prince laughed and said, "So that's what it is. It's just a few old clothes. Xiu'er, there's no need to worry. The young master is my child, and you are also my child this time. They are both very fortunate people, so there's no need to borrow from outside."
Li Huaixiu: "..."
What she really wanted to say was that the Crown Princess treated an outsider better than she did. Could it be that she disliked the Crown Prince's favor towards her? Why did the Crown Prince only listen to the child and the clothes?
Considering that speaking more bluntly might arouse the Crown Prince's suspicion and resentment, Li Huaixiu feigned agreement with a few words and changed the subject.
Never mind, the Crown Prince hasn't even sat on the throne yet. There's plenty of time. She doesn't need to rush.
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Author's note: Waaah, I always get envious of my friends and family who can rest on weekends, and then my mood goes downhill. Sorry for being so late!
100 small red envelopes, I'll update again around 9 PM tonight~
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