Ning Zixuan watched Aunt Lin's performance with a cold eye.
"No matter what, Aunt Lin shouldn't treat guests like this. If word gets out, what will people say about the Jing Prince's Mansion?"
As he spoke, Ning Zixuan stepped forward again, staring at Aunt Lin, and said, enunciating each word clearly:
“Even though you’re just a concubine, you should still have some self-respect.”
Having said that, he ignored Aunt Lin, whose face was flushed with anger, and turned directly to Jiang Yuwei, saying:
“Madam Jiang, I just happened to be going to your courtyard to chat with General Ning. Let’s go together.”
Jiang Yuwei smiled and nodded, then followed Ning Zixuan toward Jinglan Pavilion.
The two remained silent on the way to Jinglan Pavilion. Jiang Yuwei asked Ning Zixuan to sit down in the front hall and have some tea with Ning Huaizhi, while she went inside to check on Ning Wan's condition.
"Wan'er, how are you feeling today? Let me come and see you."
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei sat down beside Ning Wan's bed and carefully lifted the blanket to check on Ning Wan's wound healing. With the blessing of her spiritual spring water and the secret wound medicine made by the miraculous healer Zhu, Ning Wan's wound was healing exceptionally quickly.
"Mother, I'm not in pain anymore, you don't need to worry about Wan'er."
Jiang Yuwei nodded.
"Hmm, I think your wound should be fine to get out of bed in a few days. I'm just worried that it might leave scars on your body. Oh well, let's not think about that now. I'm going to make you some food."
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei stood up and said to Ning Zhao:
"Zhao'er, you've been working hard all day. Go back to your room and get some sleep. Let your father take care of Wan'er."
Ning Zhao also got up, stretched, and laughed:
"Okay, then I'll go inside and sleep for a while. Mom will call me when she's ready to eat."
Jiang Yuwei got up and went to the kitchen to call Tiezhu to help start the fire. She was a little tired after a busy day and didn't plan to cook too much food; she just wanted to make something simple for the family.
Who knew that Ning Zixuan would come and then refuse to leave? Jiang Yuwei didn't want to kick him out, and since he was probably going to stay for dinner, she had no choice but to make braised noodles with green beans, stir-fried eggs with scallions and Kung Pao chicken, stewed fish and minced meat tofu.
Only then did Tie Zhu bring the food to the table.
The family sat together, and Ning Zixuan spoke first:
"Now that you've all settled down in the capital, Ning Zhao can't just stay at home studying all the time; she still needs to go to the academy."
Jiang Yuwei first served Ning Zixuan a bowl of braised noodles with green beans and handed it to him, then served Ning Huaizhi noodles as well.
"Yes, I haven't had time to take care of Ning Zhao's studies lately. I was thinking of sending Ning Zhao to school after Wan'er's injuries healed. The two maids I just bought can also help me. The head maid said they would be trained and sent to my courtyard in three days. Then, Ning Zhao won't be needed in the courtyard anymore."
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei handed the bowl of noodles to Ning Huaizhi.
Ning Huaizhi took the noodles and asked casually:
"I am currently unfamiliar with the academies in the capital. Does Your Highness know which academy in the capital is the best?"
Ning Zixuan put down his chopsticks, looked at Ning Zhao, and said:
"There are quite a few academies in the capital, but only a few can be considered top-notch. The best one is Hongle Academy, but Hongle is not a place that children from ordinary official families can enter."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei paused in her chopsticks, then put them down and looked at Ning Zixuan, saying:
"I have confidence in Zhao'er's learning ability, but when it comes to family background, our family is..."
Ning Zixuan waved his hand and said:
"It's alright. If Ning Zhao wants to go, I'll send him in. Hongle Academy was originally established for the children of the royal family and the children of officials of the first and second ranks. The teachers there are all handpicked."
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhao quickly put down her chopsticks and said with a serious expression:
"Master, if I go to study at Hongle Academy, will it cause you any trouble?"
Ning Zixuan smiled.
“What trouble is there? At least we have some vacancies in our Prince’s Mansion right now. If you want to go, I’ll go and meet with the headmaster of the academy tomorrow and tell him that you are a student recommended by our Prince Jing’s Mansion. But no one can take the entrance exam for you. You still need to review your lessons carefully these next few days.”
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhao clapped her hands happily and said:
"Yes, Master, I understand. I will definitely not let you down."
Seeing Ning Zhao happy made Jiang Yuwei very happy too, so she quickly picked up Ning Zixuan's empty bowl and filled it with noodles for him.
"Your Highness, please eat more. We are entrusting Zhao'er's studies to you."
Ning Zixuan took the bowl of noodles and started eating. For some reason, whenever he sat at the same table with Jiang Yuwei and the others, he felt comfortable and could even eat a few more bowls of rice. It seemed that he would have to stay at Jinglan Pavilion for meals more often in the future.
After the group finished eating, as usual, Ning Huaizhi went out to see Ning Zixuan off. Jiang Yuwei told Ning Zhao not to worry about Ning Wan's injury these few days, and just to focus on his studies.
Ning Wan is now almost fully recovered and can manage her daily tasks, such as drinking water, eating, and using the toilet, which gives Jiang Yuwei more time to manage the affairs of the Prince's Mansion.
next day
Jiang Yuwei still got up early to make a simple breakfast, then washed Ning Wan's wounds, changed her dressings, and fed her some spiritual spring water. After eating a few bites of breakfast, she left Jinglan Pavilion and headed to Diancui Courtyard.
As soon as Jiang Yuwei entered the courtyard, she saw dozens of stewards and housekeepers waiting in the front hall. She quickly went forward and sat down in the main seat.
"Hey, who's this? They look unfamiliar."
"It seems to be the general's wife who is temporarily staying in our compound."
"This is so disrespectful! How could she sit in the princess's seat?"
"That's right, people from humble backgrounds really can't be presented to the public."
Jiang Yuwei raised an eyebrow and glanced at the few old women below who were talking the loudest, then clapped her hands vigorously to attract everyone's attention.
"I'm sure many of you here know me. I am General Ning's wife. Now that the Princess Consort is seriously ill and needs to rest, she cannot meet with outsiders. So I will take care of her personally. From now on, you will all come to this courtyard every morning to report family matters to me. I will then relay the information to the Princess Consort. As for the outcome, I will also convey it to you on behalf of the Princess Consort."
As soon as Jiang Yuwei finished speaking, she noticed that everyone standing below looked surprised.
"How could I allow an outsider like you to know about the affairs of my Prince Jing's mansion?"
"Yes, is this what the princess really meant?"
"We want to see the Princess!"
"Yes, if the Princess Consort doesn't speak, we can't listen to your one-sided story. After all, you're just an outsider. How dare you presume to interfere in the affairs of our Prince Jing's residence?"
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