Zheng Lin repeatedly expressed his hope to break the deadlock and start afresh. Yu Chan had been ignoring him for a year, and it seemed unreasonable for things to continue like this. She also couldn't bear to see this happen, as she still harbored feelings for Zheng Lin.
After much deliberation, Yu Chan finally said:
"I never asked you to forget my sister. Today, you promised yourself to let go of the past. I'll believe you one last time, but I hope you can keep your word. If you continue to be fickle in the future, I will never forgive you!"
With her consent, Zheng Lin's brows, which had been furrowed for a long time, finally relaxed. "Since I have promised you, I will not go back on my word. Rest assured, I will never let you down again."
The two finally reconciled, and Zheng Linxi couldn't help but embrace her. His promise, though soft, was unusually solemn.
Doubting someone is exhausting, and loving someone unconditionally is also tiring. Only when both parties are willing to give and receive, can a relationship last and remain stable.
Yu Chan had no intention of continuing the cold war, so she didn't push him away. She nestled in his arms, closed her eyes, and quietly savored this rare moment of peace.
The couple had already been completely open with each other. Meanwhile, on the way back to the mansion, Yu Shan, sitting in the carriage, kept observing Hong Li.
Upon seeing this, Hongli chuckled and teased, "Am I that good-looking?"
He was indeed handsome, but she didn't have time to admire his good looks right now. She was thinking about other things. "I was just thinking, how come you're so good at retorting? You can refute every single one of your sentences precisely."
Compared to herself, Yu Shan felt ashamed of her own shortcomings.
“Every time I get into an argument with someone, I just get angry but don’t know how to respond. By the time I finally think of something to say, the argument is over and I have no chance to do anything.”
Hongli guessed to himself, "That's because you had some reservations and didn't want to break off relations. You couldn't say many harsh words, or you felt wronged. When you felt wronged, you lost your rationality. By the time you finally regained your senses, the person was already gone."
Yu Shan, feeling touched by the comment, clapped her hands excitedly in agreement, "That's exactly right. She's been chattering away ever since she came in. I don't like her, but I forced a smile because she's a relative of the Zheng family. Who knew she would take advantage of that and try to morally blackmail me into helping her?"
"If you had followed your heart from the beginning and ignored her with a cold face, she wouldn't have dared to act recklessly."
This is easier said than done! "But I'm embarrassed! If I have a cold face, people will think I'm arrogant."
"Let her think whatever she wants, as long as you're happy. Don't worry about other people's feelings. I'll back you up, so you don't need to worry."
Hongli advised her not to put herself in shackles. Yushan felt it was difficult, but she was willing to try. "Okay! I will try to change my mindset and strive to stop being manipulated by others."
Holding her hand and stroking it gently, Hongli smiled and sighed, "That's right! Sometimes people should be a little selfish. If you're always generous and tolerant, you'll only suffer."
He brought Yu Shan here hoping she could get away from the manor and relax, but unexpectedly, this whole mess happened, causing her distress. It seems it's best to avoid attending these kinds of banquets to prevent some overconfident distant relatives from trying to use their connections to get things done.
As the saying goes, "a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit," Yu Shan will no longer easily attend banquets in the future, lest she cause trouble for herself.
Not long after the full moon celebration of Yu Chan's daughter, the sixth day of the second lunar month will be the first birthday celebration of Yu Shan's daughter, Tang Dou'er.
Previously, when the prince's residence hosted guests, Zheng Lin would only send gifts without actually attending. Now that he had let it go, and since the Fourth Prince had visited the Zheng family first, he had nothing to worry about, so he openly brought Yu Chan to the prince's residence to deliver gifts.
One custom at a first birthday celebration is the "grasping ceremony" or "selecting objects" (抓周).
Early in the morning, the servants set up a brocade mat in the hall, on which were placed a silver ingot, a copy of the Three Character Classic, an abacus, a piece of red thread, a spoon, a small bow, and a string of bells.
Then the nanny placed the little princess on the table, and everyone watched to see what she would choose.
When Yonghuang was born, he picked up a silver ingot. Yushan couldn't help but wonder what Tangdou would pick up next.
There were so many things around that Little Sugar Bean was overwhelmed. After some searching, she finally chose the little bow.
Seeing this, Yu Chan laughed and said, "How could a little girl like Tang Dou be interested in bows?"
Yu Shan was also surprised, as it's usually boys who choose the bow; she never expected her daughter to pick it. However, the first birthday celebration is just for good luck and doesn't determine the children's future.
Hongli found it strange and laughed heartily, "The women of our Great Qing are all skilled in riding and archery. Tangdou will surely be a heroine who is no less capable than any man in the future!"
When the young princesses of the Manchu nobility reached a certain age, in addition to their studies, they would also practice riding and archery. They didn't need to be experts, but they had to be able to, after all, they were a people raised on the grasslands, and this skill could not be lost.
Whether her daughter prefers needlework or horseback riding is not important to Yu Shan. She will not deliberately interfere in her daughter's affairs, as long as her child is happy.
In early summer, I had been having a poor appetite for a long time. It was only after taking my pulse that I realized I was pregnant, about two months along.
She believed that her pregnancy would not affect her and wanted to continue to stay in the mansion to serve Su Gege, but her mother-in-law and Yun Song did not want her to continue to work hard and wanted her to go home to rest during her pregnancy.
Su Yushan also advised her to go home and rest, saying, "Women tend to get sleepy when they are pregnant. It's good for you to stay home and rest whenever you want. After you give birth, if you want to stay home with your child, then stay home. If there is someone at home to take care of the child, you are welcome to come to the mansion anytime you wish."
Everyone advised against it, so Changyue had no choice but to return to her husband's family home to focus on her pregnancy.
In the months that followed, Yu Shan received a letter from Jia Feng, but when the war would end and when he would return remained unknown.
All the other relatives are doing well. Yu Chan and Zheng Lin have reconciled and no longer quarrel. Su Mingfeng is performing well in the Hanlin Academy. Hongli seized the opportunity and transferred him to the Ministry of Rites, making him a fifth-rank official.
Once you're part of the Six Ministries, you'll have plenty of opportunities for promotion.
Horses galloped past the window, another autumn and winter passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was the eleventh year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign.
During the lotus blooming season, ice blocks are placed inside the Huatang Pavilion, making it relatively cool.
At noon, the kitchen made roast duck and sent over half of it.
Yu Shan originally loved to eat sliced duck. She would pick up two slices of duck meat dipped in sauce, add some shredded scallions and cucumber, and then wrap them in a thin dough. After taking a bite, the duck skin was crispy and the duck meat was tender and fragrant, giving it a unique flavor.
She used to be able to eat three buns at once, but today she only ate one, and her stomach felt very uncomfortable as soon as it entered her mouth, so she vomited it up.
Seeing this, Yunfang couldn't help but wonder if her mistress was pregnant.
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