Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade

Princess Ning did not put on any airs, making Lady Wu and her companions feel especially cordial. They talked about amusing rural anecdotes, in which Lady Jin and her daughters had no chance to interject. The mother and her two daughters were somewhat annoyed at being neglected for so long, and Sun Xiaochen, the youngest of them, could not hold back any longer as she blurted out, "Big sister, no wonder everyone says you’re kind-hearted. I don’t even understand the words of these rural people, yet you chat with them so merrily."

Princess Ning’s face fell at once, and she said coldly, "They are benefactors of Prince Ning Mansion, honored guests; how can you be so disrespectful? Both the Prince and I aren’t ungrateful. We will forever hold in our hearts those who have been kind to us. You are my sister and should not embarrass me or tarnish my reputation. Apologize, right now."

Lady Jin was three years younger than Princess Ning. She was a concubine’s daughter from the declining household of Lord Xi Qin and was somewhat attractive. With little discipline at home and being spoiled rotten by her much older husband, she kept her distance from Prince Ning’s family when they were under house arrest. As soon as Prince Ning rose in favor again, she drew close.

At first, she simply wanted to bask in their reflected glory. However, as the year went on and her daughters grew older, with her own poor reputation among the nobility making it difficult for her daughters to marry well and seeing Princess Ning’s health deteriorating, she began to entertain some insidious thoughts.

These thoughts, of course, could not be voiced. She maintained the pretense that Princess Ning might be lonely at home and that she brought her daughters to keep the Princess company and cheer her up.

Aside from the eldest, Prince Ning’s other three daughters were born to concubines. Prince Ning felt that Princess Ning had suffered enough following him, without her son by her side and her eldest daughter marrying away to a distant place, rarely enjoying familial love. Plus, since the Princess could not go out due to her poor health, he welcomed Lady Jin and her daughters. Especially when he was off to war, he worried about the Princess being lonely and even arranged for more visits from her natal family to keep her company.