Chapter 233: Leave Your Daddy Some Face
As they drew closer and closer to the Capital City, it occurred to Mei Wanying that the letter she had sent would soon be in Pei Yan’s hands.
’He’s no fool. How could he not notice something was amiss?’
But he hadn’t asked a thing.
’Something’s not right.’
Pei Yan was holding his cards close, probably toying with her, pretending he hadn’t noticed anything.
’That scoundrel is full of wicked schemes. It’s entirely possible!’
Annoyed, Mei Wanying pinched Ling’s little cheek. "When you see your daddy, you have to give him a hard time, see if he still dares to hold back his mischief!"
Ling widened her innocent eyes. "Mama, I’m a good girl. Good girls don’t give people a hard time."
"Grandma said I’m very good. I just eat and sleep, and sleep and eat, and never cause any trouble."
"She said raising me is a blessing."
Just as Mei Wanying was wondering how to coax the little one, she saw Ling make a small fist.
She declared, "A good girl must listen to her mama. I will give Daddy a hard time!"
Whatever Mama said, she would do.
She was the bestest, most well-behaved child!
Mei Wanying, filled with affection, pressed her cheek against her daughter’s chubby little face and reminded her, "No scratching. You have to leave your daddy some dignity."
Ling looked at her little "paws," her nails trimmed neatly.
’It doesn’t look like I can scratch anyone...’
Nestled in Mei Wanying’s arms, Ling said, "I won’t scratch. I just won’t let Daddy hug Mama."
She loved her mama so much.
She loved being held by her mama.
Daddy probably liked it too. If she didn’t let him hug Mama, Daddy would surely cry.
Ling looked smug. "I’m going to guard Mama!"
Mei Wanying couldn’t help but smile. "Then you’d better guard me well. Your daddy is full of tricks."
Ling snuggled deeper into Mei Wanying’s embrace, hugging her tightly and grinning, revealing her tiny, rice-like teeth. "I’ll guard you well!"
Ding Xiang knew better than anyone just how clingy Pei Yan was with Mei Wanying.
Sometimes, after being kicked out the door by her mistress, that man would shamelessly climb through the window.
Not letting the Emperor get close to their mistress, not letting him hug or kiss her... wouldn’t that drive a man mad?
She quietly gave a thumbs-up and said to Mei Wanying, "Mistress, is this a connection of blood? The Little Prince has grasped the Emperor’s greatest weakness right away..."
Meeting Ding Xiang’s teasing gaze, Miss Mei’s cheeks grew hot. "Children say the darndest things. You’re just encouraging her nonsense."
Knowing her mistress was thin-skinned, Ding Xiang quickly shut her mouth.
She was afraid her mistress would turn the tables and tease her about finding a husband.
Ding Xiang had spent her life by Mei Wanying’s side and had met very few men from outside the household.
As for those Noble Children, she was not their equal and wouldn’t dare to dream of it. That would only bring her trouble.
She couldn’t possibly become someone’s concubine or bed-servant; that would be too undignified.
If those were her only options, she would rather never marry and stay by her mistress’s side for the rest of her life.
Influenced by Mei Wanying, Ding Xiang also had a preference for handsome gentlemen.
’In the future,’ she thought, ’my husband must be good-looking, and skilled in both literary and martial arts. My standards aren’t high; he just needs to be a little better than the average person.’
’His family background doesn’t need to be illustrious. I have no intention of marrying up; someone of a similar social standing would be fine.’
Ding Xiang knew that with her mistress as her backer, marrying a gentleman from a good family was not entirely impossible.
But what would happen if she did?
She would be looked down upon.
People would use her, trying to curry favor with her mistress through their connection, all to gain benefits from the Emperor.
If it truly came to that, the bond between her and her mistress would come to an end.
She wouldn’t do something so foolish.
She had no great ambitions; she just wanted to marry an ordinary man and live a good life.
’Once I meet a gentleman I like, and he likes me back, I’ll ask my mistress to arrange the marriage for me.’
"What are you thinking about? Your face is so red?"
Hearing her mistress’s voice out of the blue, Ding Xiang jumped.
Perhaps out of guilt, her face turned even redder.
She stammered, "I-I wasn’t thinking about anything..."
She couldn’t possibly admit she was thinking about getting married.
That would be too embarrassing.
Even though her mistress wouldn’t look down on her, she still felt shy.
Mei Wanying smiled. "If you’ve taken a liking to some gentleman, just tell me. I’ll act as your matchmaker."
When they were in the Capital City, they lived in the inner quarters and rarely went out, so there was no opportunity to meet men.
After returning to Jiangnan, whenever she went out on business, Ding Xiang would accompany her.
They had met a few gentlemen of a similar age.
Some had even wanted to propose marriage to Ding Xiang.
But Ding Xiang wasn’t interested, so Mei Wanying had turned them down on her behalf.
She had said she wanted to keep Ding Xiang with her for a few more years.
Ding Xiang had been with her for a long time, and Mei Wanying wasn’t sure she could get used to being served by someone else.
But Ding Xiang was no longer young, and Mei Wanying wanted her to live the peaceful life of an ordinary person.
Whether she wanted to marry or leave the Mei family to reunite with her relatives back home, Mei Wanying would agree.
She would also give Ding Xiang a sum of Silver to honor the bond they shared as mistress and maid.
"Aiya!" Ding Xiang exclaimed. "There’s no gentleman I’ve taken a liking to. Mistress, please stop teasing me."
She fanned her face with her hand to cool her flushed cheeks.
Mei Wanying said, "I’ve already prepared your dowry. When will it finally be put to use?"
Ling was small but already knew how to join in the fun. She opened her little mouth and chimed in, "Get married, be a bride..."
Ding Xiang: "..."
Laughter drifted out from the carriage, and Wei Jue grew curious about what they were discussing.
’Why are they so happy?’
’Could it be because they’re about to see the Emperor?’
Wei Jue made this guess, silently committing the detail to memory.
If he told the Emperor about this later, wouldn’t His Majesty be dizzy with joy?
Traveling with Ling meant they couldn’t rush. They had to stop and rest at every post station.
This was Ling’s first long journey, and she found everything new and exciting.
Even as they neared the Capital City, her energy was still boundless, and she didn’t find the carriage ride tiring at all.
In this, Mei Wanying thought she took after Pei Yan.
Pei Yan was also incredibly energetic. He could sleep for just two hours a night and still be full of vigor during the day.
Mei Wanying couldn’t help but be impressed.
After a journey of starts and stops that took quite some time, they finally arrived at the Capital City.
Staring at the familiar city gates, Mei Wanying felt as if a lifetime had passed.
When she left, she had been utterly exhausted in body and soul, feeling it was a cage she was desperate to escape.
She had never thought she would return.
And she certainly never expected it would be for... Pei Yan.
Her slender hand resting on the carriage curtain, Mei Wanying lifted her eyes to the gatehouse. Her stunning, flower-like face was revealed, leaving passersby dumbstruck.
The weather was cold. The woman in the carriage wore a white fox-fur scarf around her neck, which made her skin seem fairer than snow. Her eyes shimmered, and a simple, faint glance was enough to make one involuntarily hold their breath.
For fear of disturbing the celestial beauty.
Mei Wanying had been away for so long. Her disposition had changed, as had her style of dress, making her look very different from before.
She was a noble lady raised in the inner quarters. Her name was famous, and all under heaven knew she was a peerless beauty, but very few had ever seen her in person.
For the moment, no one recognized her.
The people waiting to enter the city whispered among themselves, "Which family’s daughter is that? To be so beautiful... even a beauty that could topple nations would be no more than this, right?"
"She wears her hair in a married woman’s style. I wonder which fortunate Noble has been so lucky as to win such a beauty."
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from within the city, followed by the sound of orderly footsteps.
CLANG CLANG. An austere and commanding presence washed over them.
Everyone looked over in unison. It was the Imperial Guard, clearing the way!