The Shangguan family lived in the old streets south of the city, while the An family's home was in the northern part of the capital. The two places were very far apart.
After Shangguan Rui went to the academy, An Jinxiu made lunch with Zi Yuan, and ate together with Shangguan Ning and the wet nurse.
After the wet nurse brought Shangguan Ning away from the door, she went back home and closed the door. Seeing that Shangguan Ning's lips were pursed up because she didn't bring Ah Jin, she laughed and coaxed, "Third Miss, what do you want to eat? I'll do it for you. "
It hadn't been long since they finished lunch, but Shangguan Ning was still hungry. She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "I want to eat fried rice balls!"
Seeing Shangguan Ning's reaction, the nurse laughed and said with a smile, "Third Miss, if the madam sees you like this, then you would be a greedy cat again."
Shangguan Ning thought about the fried rice balls she would get later, and she accepted the food too. The little girl skipped over to the wet nurse's side, making a face at Ping An in her arms.
Ping An looked at his little aunt, not at all interested in Shangguan Ning's face. He yawned, closed his eyes and fell asleep in the nurse's arms.
The nanny looked at the two kids and shook her head. Shangguan family was not a wealthy family, but it was not bad to continue living like this. There were so many people who couldn't even ask for a nice and peaceful life.
When An Jinxiu and Zi Yuan arrived at the An clan's home in the North City, the Qin clan had already arrived.
Zi Yuan got off the carriage and looked at the carriage parked in front of the entrance to the shrine. She then whispered to An Jinxiu, "Miss, the Crown Prince's consort has arrived as well."
An Jinxiu looked at the carriages and horses. Most of them were in the palace. An Jin frowned and was puzzled. It was not the day of the 15th day of the first month when you would worship Buddha, so why would An Jinyan come as well? Did she come with the Qin family to relax?
As An Jinxiu was contemplating, the two women from the Residence of Tranquil East walked up to her with the words' Second Miss 'in their mouths.
"The imperial concubine has called second Miss quite a few times already," one of the palace maid smiled at her. "The mistress was afraid that you wouldn't come anymore. Now that's good. Second Miss is here."
An Jinxiu felt that today's matter was abnormal, so how could An Jinyan still remember her? Since when did she have such a good relationship with An Jinyan?
The two women went to the main hall to have An Jin as they said, "Second Miss, quickly go in"
An Jinxiu asked, "Has Aunt Xiu come?"
A granny hurriedly said, "Aunt came along with Madam and is currently waiting for Second Miss inside."
"Miss," the Zi Yuan called her from behind. The two women smiled too warmly at her, causing Zi Yuan to feel a little scared.
"Let's go in," An Jinxiu said. No matter what would happen today, Madam Qin and An Jinyan would not take her life.
At this time, Madam Qin and An Jinyan were sitting in a quiet room in the Enchantment Hall. When she saw An Jinxiu come in, Madam Qin smiled and said, " We've been waiting for you here for a long time. "
An Jin glanced at the servants standing behind Madam Qin and greeted them respectfully. "Imperial Consort, please forgive us. I didn't know that you would be here today."
An Jinyan smiled and let An Jinxiu sit down. "Don't listen to mother. We agreed to come in the afternoon. It's afternoon now, so it's not too late for you."
When Madam Qin heard this, she also laughed and said: "Ah Jin, look. Our Crown Princess is speaking up for you now."
An Jin smiled but didn't say anything. She didn't understand the attitudes of An Jinyan and Madam Qin today, so it was better to say less.
"I also want to see your precious son, Ping An," An Jinyan said, "Next time you have a chance, make sure you let the Ah Jin bring Ping An. "Ah Jin, is Ping the child's great name?"
An Jinxiu replied, "To reply you, Your Highness, Ping is a nickname. We'll wait for General Shangguan to bestow the official name when he returns."
An Jinyan looked at An Jinxiu and said with a sigh, "If the war hadn't been so urgent, General Shangguan wouldn't have gone to war on the second day of the wedding. I've heard that General Shangguan has a younger brother and sister?"
"His brother is the same age as Yuan Zhi, so he's studying at the Southern Abyss Academy. His sister is seven years old this year," An Jinxiu said.
Madam Qin said: "I didn't agree to this Ah Jin marriage at the time, it's just that there's no other way. How can I persuade you guys regarding the matter set by your father?"
Before An Jinxiu could say anything, An Jinyan said, "Mom, don't talk about this anymore. Jinxiu and General Shangguan are already married and have children, can we go back? Besides, although General Shangguan's rank today is not that high, how would Mother know that he won't be able to be a wife and child in the future? "
"Yes, I said the wrong thing," Madam Qin smiled bitterly. "Ah Jin, please forgive me this time."
An Jinxiu quickly said, "Daughter doesn't dare." An Jinyan could sit and accept Madam Qin's apology. She, An Jinxiu, did not have the life to do so. It would be fine if this news was not spread out, but if it was spread out, then she, as a concubine, would be disrespectful to her mother.
"Ah Jin, it's been a long time since Aunt Xiu seen you." How could An Jinyan not see through her caution? She immediately smiled and said, "You two can go to the guest room to talk."
An Jinxiu stood up and thanked her.
Even though An Jinyan had spoken, Aunt Xiu still stood behind Madam Qin and didn't dare to leave. She raised her eyes to look at her.
Madam Qin turned her head to look at the Ah Jin biological mother and said in a considerate tone, "You can go. Don't worry about my place. Talk to Ah Jin."
Only then did Aunt Xiu thank An Jinyan and Madam Qin. She lowered her head and followed An Jinxiu out of the quiet room, her hands and feet tied together.
A nun in the main hall led the way, leading the two towards the guest room.
Madam Qin saw An Jin left and turned to An Jinyan, "Esteemed wangfei, have you really made up your plans? I still have no idea. "
"It's already decided. What else do you want to think about?" The smile on An Jinyan's face didn't waver as she whispered, "If mother is worried, then don't think about it."
MadamQin sat on the high-backed chair in the quiet room. She picked up the teacup beside her, put it by her mouth and put it back on the tea table. At this moment, she could not sit still.
An Jinyan had a bunch of buddhist beads in her hand. The sandalwood buddhist beads were already bronze in color, giving off a lustre that could only be found in jade.
"Does the Crown princess also worship Buddha?" Madam Qin had nothing to say.
As soon as the buddhist beads in An Jinyan's hand stopped spinning, she never believed in buddhas. In her eyes, there were no buddhas in this world. She was only using these buddhist beads to calm her heart. "I have always believed in the Buddha. Mother must remember this."
Madam Qin looked embarrassed and stopped talking. She was actually a powerful woman. However, when she faced An Jinyan, her aura was always a lot weaker.
After An Jinyan turned the bead around for a long time, she suddenly said to Madam Qin, "There is no woman in the palace who doesn't believe in buddhas."
At this time, Madam Qin finally understood An Jinyan's meaning. The ones who believed in Buddha were all kind people. No matter what the women in the palace truly thought in their hearts, no matter what position they were in, they had to let people know that they were kind people. Believing in Buddha was the easiest way for the women in the palace to prove their kindness.
"I copy Buddhist scriptures when I have nothing else to do," An Jinyan said to Madam Qin. "I will order someone to send some books to mother someday."
"Alright," Madam Qin was also at a loss for words. She already had no more energy left in her heart to find a topic to talk to this precious daughter of hers.
The mother and daughter pair sat across from each other in silence. In a small guest room in the main hall, An Jinxiu and Aunt Xiu sat side by side. After looking up and down An Jin for a long time, Aunt Xiu finally said, "You're not thin and your complexion looks good. It seems like Second Miss has had a good time these days. I'm relieved."
An Jinxiu held Aunt Yu's hand and said, "Mother, why do you call me Second Miss when no one else is around? I'm very good, Yuan Zhi should have already told you, right? I have a farm in my hands now, and I'm not short on money. "
Aunt Xiu nodded. "Yuan Zhi told me, he even said that Ping An looked very good, just like you. He look like her mother, and the old saying said that his son was like a mother. "When General Shangguan returns, your lives will definitely be better."
An Jinxiu said, "Mm. When he returns, our lives will definitely be better. I really want to brinf mother out of the mansion."
Aunt Xiu was shocked by An Jinxiu's words and quickly replied, "You can't say such words. You must not let Madam Qin know." Second Miss, did the Fifth Young Master leave today? "
An Jinxiu secretly shook her head. She thought that it would be difficult for her mother to address her as Jinxiu.
"Is the fifth young master alright?" It had been some time since Aunt Xiu had seen An Yuanzhi, and she was anxious to know more about him.
"He's fine," An Jinxiu said. "Two friends with very high martial arts skills followed him out. When they arrive at White Jade Mountain Pass, my family's general will take care of him. "Mother, don't worry. Yuan Zhi will definitely have a bright future. This daughter can't do anything for you. Once Yuan Zhi has a good future, we will definitely let you live a good life."
"My life is very good now, you have to send me money quite a few times," the woman said in a low voice. "In the future, don't give me any more money, I know that you have to give a lot of money to the servants in charge of my pavilion. Don't do stupid things like making other people rich, I'm not hungry and don't feel good, so I have no place to use money."
As someone who was a concubinein the inner chamber and had the money to reward her servants, she could always lead a better life. Listening to her rambling, but in truth, she didn't want to implicate herself. An Jinxiu forced a smile and said: "Mother, if you can't use that money, then save it for Yuan Zhi to get married."
When she talked about An Yuanzhi's marriage, Aunt Xiu smile disappeared. She then added, "We can't decide on his marriage."
"If you can't make the decision, you can still give the money. How can Madame still control the fact that you are giving Yuan Zhi money?" An Jinxiu said nonchalantly, "Mother, just believe my words. Yuan Zhi will definitely have great prospects in the future. You just need to enjoy his blessings."
The only thought she had was that her son and daughter were living a good life. "Go ahead and live your own life," the Aunt Xiu said softly to An Jin. "Don't worry about me."