The good news had not yet been delivered to her husband when she heard him relay not-so-good news.
Fan Zehao’s head was bowed low, tinged with helplessness. "Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law has decided to marry Xueyao to Yan Luo. As soon as Xueyao reaches her coming-of-age, she will be wed."
Compared to Fan Zehao's shock, Zhao Jiaqi had foreseen this. She just hadn't expected it to happen so quickly, so suddenly.
"That was decided too fast. Did Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law try to persuade them otherwise?"
He shook his head, his head so low it almost disappeared into his crotch, utterly ashamed. "It seems... they'd already consummated their relationship. That's why... they agreed."
"Besides, Xueyao's temper is as stubborn as a mule. Who could possibly persuade her?"
Zhao Jiaqi: .....
The gossip had landed right in her own household. Without another word, she hurried out of the room, not even bothering to put on her cloak.
This display stunned her attending maid. Exchanging a glance with Fan Zehao, he immediately yelled at her, "What are you looking at me for? Hurry and take a cloak to the Princess."
Xiao Mi hastily grabbed a fluffy fox fur cloak and chased after the Princess.
Seeing this, Fan Zehao shook his head. Once Su Ya was married, he would need to find a new, capable, and sharp maid for his wife.
Someone as clueless as this should stay and guard the house.
Ai Meng Yuan.
Inside, Yu Meng was rummaging through chests and cabinets, looking for gifts to add to Xueyao’s dowry. Unexpectedly, her mother burst in.
Mother and daughter exchanged a look. Zhao Jiaqi realized she couldn't tell everything truthfully. But could Yu Meng understand if she spoke indirectly?
For a moment, an awkward silence fell.
Yu Meng, curious about her mother’s pale face that then flushed red, thought, even a color-changing bird wasn't as quick as her mother’s complexion.
"Mother, what's wrong? Do you have a fever?" She reached out to touch her forehead.
It was cool to the touch, showing no signs of fever.
Faced with her child's confused and concerned gaze, Zhao Jiaqi didn't know how to begin. She turned her head, noticing the mess in the room, and asked, "What are you doing?"
Yu Meng glanced at the disheveled items on the dressing table and smiled shyly, "I wanted to prepare some dowry gifts for Sister Xueyao, but I found that my jewelry box only has a few hairpins, and not even a single beautiful or expensive hairpin."
Zhao Jiaqi understood her intention. She smiled, playfully poking her head. "You usually don't like to dress up. If I gave you a hairpin, you said it would make you dizzy and was too heavy to wear while fighting, making it hard to move freely."
At the mention of this, Yu Meng recalled that it was indeed true. Sticking out her tongue, quite embarrassed, she tugged at her mother's sleeve and pouted, "Mother, can you find me some beautiful hair ornaments? I can pay for them."
Money?
Zhao Jiaqi let out a soft huff. "Pay for them? It's just moving from one hand to the other. What's the difference between giving them and not?"
Although she said that, Zhao Jiaqi didn't hinder the girls' sisterly bond from strengthening through the act of preparing gifts for Xueyao.
She pulled Yu Meng to the mansion's treasury. As the heavy treasury doors opened, dust billowed out, indicating they hadn't visited this place in a long time.
Inside were the gold and silver earned over the years, as well as rare treasures collected from confiscated households. There were even items bestowed by the late emperor.
There were also gifts from various countries, including many precious jewels and ornaments, as well as raw materials.
Over the years as Prince and Princess, they had received gifts from wealthy merchants during festivals. She had stored all these items in this treasury, adding to it annually but never taking anything out.
To house all this wealth, the treasury had been constructed with the finest iron, and it had taken over a hundred people half a month of continuous work to complete.
Yu Meng had never seen so many treasures before. Her eyes were filled with sparkle and gleam. She had thought her family was somewhat wealthy from their business, but she had never seen her mother live a life of luxury.
She had never believed their family was that rich, and her mother had always warned them not to waste food. She never expected they were this wealthy.
"Mother, can I choose some hairpins and ornaments from here?"
Yu Meng blinked her curious, big eyes, asking her mother.
These were her parents' possessions. To take someone else's things, one must clearly ask the owner of those things.
Seeing her mother nod in permission, she happily ran to the pile of treasures and began to choose carefully.
She shook her head and directly refused anything too valuable, and she also discarded anything too extravagant. She feared that if the gift was too good, Xueyao might think she was showing off and upset her. Therefore, she chose items that were inconspicuous yet quite valuable.
A pair of ruby earrings, a butterfly-and-flower hairpin, and a necklace, placed in a brocade box. She believed her sister would like such a gift.
Happily, she handed the chosen items to her mother and asked with a beaming smile, "Mother, what do you think of these few gifts?"
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the items. They weren't overly expensive, but they were very exquisite. Yet, there were many more exquisite items. She asked, "Why did you choose these inconspicuous items?"
Yu Meng lowered her head in thought. When she looked up again, her eyes held a hint of confusion. "I feel Sister Xueyao is sometimes insecure. She envies me because I can ride horses, shoot arrows, and lead troops. She particularly envies me."
She tilted her head, thinking for a moment, and said, "I think she sometimes overthinks things, always saying things like 'I'm better than her.' I'm afraid if I give her something too expensive, she'll think I'm flaunting my wealth. So, it's better to give her relatively ordinary things, so she won't think too much."
Learning Xueyao's disposition from Yu Meng's words was completely different from what she had observed. Zhao Jiaqi couldn't help but sigh, realizing that people, regardless of age, wear many faces.
She gently squeezed the flesh on Yu Meng's cheek, smiling tenderly. Her child had grown up and was now considering others. Zhao Jiaqi felt that Yu Meng would have a certain degree of self-control in some matters.
She had intended to advise Yu Meng to cherish her reputation, but instead, she had been taught a lesson by her child.
It seemed that in the future, when giving advice, she couldn't be too direct. She would have to find another way, perhaps by telling stories to remind her child. This might be more effective than speaking plainly.
Mother and daughter were very harmonious. They walked hand in hand back to the main courtyard. Yu Meng was eager to give her gifts to Xueyao. Although it wasn't wedding time yet, she wanted to give her sister the good things. Her carefree demeanor made Zhao Jiaqi shake her head.
Returning to the room, Fan Zehao saw the broad smile on his wife's face and knew she was in a very good mood. He sidled up to her and asked, "Did you educate Yu Meng today? Did she not talk back to you?"
Although it was a question, it was phrased as a statement of certainty.
He was inwardly delighted. The sun must have risen in the west. Ever since their daughter was born, apart from gurgling milk, she rarely spent any time without talking back. Today, she was surprisingly obedient. It seemed the child had also grown up.