A new day.
Today, Qin Luoxia had to visit relatives again.
She was going to visit the Dong Family today.
Because of yesterday's earthquake.
By custom, Feng, as the future son-in-law, should visit his future father-in-law's home.
But since Feng wasn't in the Capital City, Qin Luoxia should go instead.
After all, they would be family soon.
Besides, with the New Year approaching, she needed to deliver New Year's gifts.
Qin Luoxia felt it would be better to go in person.
However, there was still the Princess, Mother-in-law at home.
She should consult the elder before taking action.
But the Princess, Mother-in-law wouldn't even get up for breakfast...
Truly befitting of royal family members.
She had heard that the Emperor disliked morning court sessions because he didn't want to wake up early for breakfast.
This was something Qin Luoxia couldn't quite understand.
Not getting up in the morning meant missing a meal - what a waste.
Qin Luoxia learned that her daughter had slept with the Princess, Mother-in-law, and quietly asked her what was wrong with the Princess? Was something not to her satisfaction, making her unhappy?
Mianmian, who had slept soundly, was an energetic young girl with a bright smile, well-fed and content.
"Grandmother Princess said she didn't sleep well, kept dreaming about falling off cliffs at midnight, so she needs to catch up on sleep."
Qin Luoxia felt a bit guilty, wondering if it was because yesterday when the Princess, Mother-in-law asked her where she got the snake gallbladder, and she mentioned it was from below a cliff, causing the Princess, Mother-in-law to dream about it.
Never mind, let Mother-in-law continue sleeping.
She couldn't worry about Mother-in-law now, so she had the servants prepare the food.
Today she would take Mianmian to visit relatives, letting Cong Brother stay at home.
Cong Brother expressed his happiness about this, as he didn't like visiting relatives.
Sitting there quietly listening to adults chat was boring, and when the conversation turned to him, he had to respond with a smile.
But Mianmian loved visiting relatives.
She couldn't wait to gossip with the adults.
After happily finishing breakfast, she dressed up festively and went with her mother to visit relatives.
Qin Luoxia prepared generous gifts, bringing her little daughter along hoping Mianmian could get familiar with Miss Dong, having heard that Miss Dong was gentle and graceful - something Mianmian could learn from.
Upon arriving at the Dong Mansion.
Madam Dong received them.
Last time she didn't know they were royal family members, but fortunately hadn't been negligent.
This time, knowing they were royal family members, Madam Dong was a bit nervous.
Just as common people view the wealthy with a filter, the wealthy also view the royal family through a filter.
The class distinctions were clear.
Qin Luoxia practiced formal greetings like other noble ladies.
Then Dong E took Mianmian away to play.
Madam Dong happily engaged in private conversation with Mrs. Jiang.
Madam Dong was very straightforward.
Qin Luoxia enjoyed interacting with such direct people.
Conversation flowed without pressure.
Qin Luoxia explained she came late because Princess, Mother-in-law was at home last night.
Madam Dong was very curious about Eldest Princess Huiyun.
Basically, people of Madam Dong's generation grew up hearing tales about Princess Huiyun from their parents.
"I heard Princess Huiyun is very proud, keeps people at a distance, and rarely acknowledges others. Won't she be difficult to serve?"
Qin Luoxia thought about how the Princess, Mother-in-law would fall into her arms crying when her husband wasn't around... distant? Ignoring people?
Not at all.
"No, Mother is very friendly and doesn't need people to serve her."
Madam Dong nodded, with an expression of understanding.
Her mother-in-law also appeared friendly on the surface and didn't need her service, just complained about her clumsiness.
Fortunately, when her mother-in-law was around, they didn't live together.
Every family has its own difficulties.
Madam Dong worried that since Mrs. Jiang was from Jingzhou, she wouldn't understand the complexities of the Capital City. The in-law clearly had a bold, heroic style and probably wouldn't understand these things.
As Madam Dong came from a noble family, she really liked her in-law and was prepared to share her experience in household politics wholeheartedly.
The old nanny behind Madam Dong looked up at the ceiling, admiring its decorative patterns.
"Madam, you don't need to teach her, really. The Jiang family's daughter Jiang Yu, her every move is a template for Capital City household politics. Many of her old friends have earned their retirement money by analyzing Young Madam Meng's actions and teaching others.
How could the mother of such a daughter not understand everything?
You're the one who doesn't understand."
Inside the old nanny's body, one part of her was writhing and shouting, then was knocked unconscious by another part.
Madam Dong spoke very seriously. To be honest, she had never taught anyone before, and usually wouldn't teach others, but she felt a connection with Mrs. Jiang.
"First courtesy then strategy... the trouble-making method... blah blah blah..." When Madam Dong first married, her husband Minister Dong gave her a book summarizing methods to deal with his mother. Madam Dong had never memorized any book in her life except this one, and today, under her in-law's admiring gaze, she recited it to her.
Aliali: 67413bd3c4f3f33ac4135f05
Passing on the torch.
Qin Luoxia listened and nodded, thinking how impressive Capital City people were. The Capital City women couldn't be underestimated, they were hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Even the matters between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law in the inner chambers had been turned into military strategy. Impressive, impressive.
She wondered if her future daughter-in-law Dong E was as capable.
In the courtyard, Dong E led Mianmian up a small ladder from the back courtyard onto the wall, where they were breaking off icicles from the roof.
Dong E held up a cluster of icicles against the clean blue sky above and asked Mianmian: "Look, I'm holding a cloud in my hand."
Mianmian happened to be looking down at an angle, and sure enough, the ice in the sunlight looked like clouds in the sky.
"Sister-in-law, I have one too," she held up a long icicle and said to her sister-in-law, "This is a sword that kills invisibly, because it melts away after the deed is done."
Dong E looked amazed, thinking how clever her sister-in-law was.
"Then I could hide poison in an ice cube, and when someone eats it, it would also be untraceable."
"Sister-in-law, you don't need ice for poisoning, water would do just fine. Actually, clear water or soup broths like bird's nest soup would work even better."