Chapter 1041 - 1049: The Daily Life of the Ladies_2

Before she could finish talking, Han Anniang quickly covered Yi Shiyin's mouth with her hand, her face so hot it could fry an egg. She shoved Yi Shiyin: "Xiaolu, what nonsense are you babbling? Since you're awake, go back to your room and sleep."

"No way, I'm too sleepy." Xiaolu rubbed her butt and fell asleep again.

...

Daybreak had just arrived.

"Oh no, oh no..."

Upon waking and glancing outside at the sky, Xiaolu hurriedly cried out anxiously and rushed out of bed to put on her shoes.

Han Anniang was awakened by Yi Shiyin's noise. She had only just started feeling sleepy in the second half of the night and hadn't slept for long. This was the time when she was the most tired, and upon being woken up, she said rather irritably: "Xiaolu, what's all the yelling about early in the morning?"

"I'm all muddled from sleep; at this hour, Nian Mo must be awake. If she doesn't see me, she'll cry." Xiaolu said as she finished putting on her embroidered shoes and dashed anxiously outside.

"Who told you not to go back last night?" Han Anniang couldn't help but say with a hint of schadenfreude, but Xiaolu was already out of sight, it seemed she was really in a hurry.

...

Sure enough, when Xiaolu returned to the children's room, Chen Nian Mo was sitting in her cradle bed wailing.

The nanny who was taking care of her couldn't calm her down. Just as she was about to unclasp her attire to feed her, Yi Shiyin pushed the door open and walked in.

"Madam, you're finally here. Ever since the young lady woke up, she's been crying for you and wouldn't stop no matter what we did." The nanny sighed with relief upon seeing Yi Shiyin.

"Nian Mo, mommy's here. Don't cry, don't cry..." Yi Shiyin came over and picked up Chen Nian Mo, but just as the nanny was about to warn her, Yi Shiyin realized the problem quickly and glanced at the cradle bed: "Wet the bed again?"

The nanny nodded with a wry smile: "Yes, madam, I haven't had a chance to clean up yet."

"Has she been fed?"

Yi Shiyin deftly took off Chen Nian Mo's pants and went to the wardrobe, took out a dry towel, and wrapped her in it temporarily.

"Not yet." The nanny hesitated but considering Yi Shiyin's usual nature, she spoke up: "Madam, if I may be frank, the young miss is of an age to be weaned."

Chen Nian Mo was already nearing three years old but still hadn't been weaned, and they had changed several wet nurses already.

Yi Shiyin paused for a moment and then said: "If she's not nursed, what will Nian Mo eat?"

Yi Shiyin was somewhat lacking in childcare knowledge.

The nanny began to explain slowly.

...

Compared to Yi Shiyin's situation.

Over at Xia Zhiqing and Xia Zhining's place, it was already pandemonium.

The sisters lived in the same courtyard, with their rooms next to each other.

At daybreak, several children started creating a ruckus in the courtyard.

Each of the sisters had given birth to twins, and Xia Zhiqing's two kids, Chen Nuo and Chen You, were already over five years old, almost six, the age when they were endearingly annoying.

Over here in River Sea, they weren't as strictly managed as in the Capital, plus Chen Mo was away, so they grew a bit wild at heart.

Leading their two sisters, they played hide and seek in the courtyard.

Xia Zhiqing was still asleep—one kid burrowed into her blanket, another hid under the bed, and some even hid in the wardrobe.

The banging noises were giving Xia Zhiqing a headache.

Xia Zhining didn't have it any better.

These little troublemakers, after hiding in Xia Zhiqing's room, went to hide in Xia Zhining's room.

Soon, the sisters, who were both in bed, could no longer tolerate it, letting out angry roars.

"Chen Nuo!"

"Chen You!"

"Chen Li..."

"Slap slap!"

"Waa waa waa..."

"Crying, I'll let you cry, crying only counts down the time, still want to mess around..."

...

Over at Wu Mi's place.

Chen Jia, who had woken up early, washed and dressed before coming to Wu Mi's chamber.

"Your son is here to pay respects to Mother Empress!"

"Come in."

After the greetings, Chen Jia then presented yesterday's coursework to Wu Mi for inspection.

During this, Wu Mi would pick out a few things they learned yesterday and ask Chen Jia to recite them.

Hearing her son recite without a single mistake, a satisfied smile appeared on Wu Mi's face: "Jia'Er, are you tired?"

"Your son is not tired."

"Then sit here first; Mother Empress will personally make breakfast for you today."

"Thank you, Mother Empress."

...

Meanwhile, at Yang Qingqing's place.

Chen Zhong brought Chen Jin, accompanied by a maid, to the doorway of Yang Qingqing's chamber.

"Lady Zhao Fei, are you up?"

The two children spoke in childish voices.

Inside came the sound of a languid turn, followed by a voice: "Dabai is in the next room; you can take it out to play."

The two children lit up with joy, Chen Zhong smiled: "Thank you, Lady Zhao Fei. Dabai, we're coming..."

In the next room, the resting White Tiger Dabai scratched the ground lifelessly with its paw.

...

After the hour of Chen (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.), most of the women in the inner courtyard were awake.

The concubines with children promptly asked their maids about their children's whereabouts and then sent for the children to return for breakfast.

After breakfast, children of the right age were urged by their mothers to head off to lessons.

Like in Xia Zhiqing's place.

Chen Nuo and Chen You had just left crying.

Nangong Ru came: "Ms. Zhiqing, we're short one, want to join?"

"I'm in."

The four women formed a mahjong game, ending by lunchtime.

After lunch, some would continue playing while others would split into small groups to go shopping or to the beach.

This was their daily routine.

...

Chen Mo returned in early August.

In a viewing pavilion in the residence.

Xia Zhiqing was playing the zither behind her desk, raising her beautiful eyes that were as brilliant as water to look at Wu Mi and Nalan Yiren, who were conversing in front of her.

Nalan Yiren was more than three months pregnant, her belly showing a little. She wore a loose gown, with a hint of mature charm in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.

Wu Mi inquired if Nalan Yiren could withstand the bumpy travel.

"Empress, what's wrong?" Nalan Yiren, hearing the inquiry, knew something was up.

"Your Majesty has been away from the court for too long, and there have been many urges for his return. But now His Majesty has gone overseas with no set return, I'm worried it will cause unrest in the court. So I want to take the Crown Prince back first. With the Crown Prince and me holding down the fort, even if His Majesty doesn't return for a while, there won't be chaos." Wu Mi explained the reason and then added: "However, since River Sea is thousands of miles from the Capital, I'd like to invite Sister Yiren to accompany us for security."

Nalan Yiren thought it over and agreed.

Even though she had already sent word of her pregnancy back to the Capital, she still wanted to inform the Great Elder in person, fulfilling his hope.

"If we're returning, we should all go. He... His Majesty ordered me to protect you all before he left. If just the Empress and I return, it would be against His Majesty's wishes." Nalan Yiren said.

"But what if His Majesty returns?" Wu Mi was still considering leaving them to wait for His Majesty.

"We can just inform the Governor of River Sea. When His Majesty returns, he'll know we went back to the Capital." As her zither music paused, Xia Zhiqing said.

"That works too." Wu Mi thought for a moment and said: "Then let's inform everyone, pack today, and set off for the Capital tomorrow."

"Agreed." Xia Zhiqing and Nalan Yiren responded.

Just as they agreed, the sound of light footsteps came from the floor above, and Wu Mi's personal palace maid curtsied behind the screen, joy evident on her face: "Empress, His Majesty has returned and has already disembarked at the port."

The faces of the three women lit up with joy, Wu Mi said: "Quick, prepare the carriage."

"Empress, the carriage is ready."

"Hurry, summon the Crown Prince, let us go to welcome together."

"Yes."

...

On the way to the port, in the carriage.

Xia Zhining said to her sister: "Sis, do you think he might bring us back a new sister this time?"

"He probably... won't, right?" Hearing this, Xia Zhiqing was a bit worried too.

After all, there had been plenty of precedents.

"Sister, you'll see, this new sister might even have blonde hair and blue eyes." Xia Zhining said coldly.

Xia Zhiqing's mouth twitched slightly.

Upon arriving at the port.

Xia Zhining saw only Chen Mo and Yue Ruyan, and was momentarily surprised, then with everyone watching, she briskly headed towards the docked ship, going on board to search.