“Madam, why have you only just returned?” Shi Lang asked with concern, looking at Xiao Min Shi who had only come back at dusk.
Xiao Min Shi’s lips could not suppress their upward curve. “My Lord, His Majesty has conferred upon me the title of Marchioness An, and I expect the imperial decree will arrive shortly.”
Shi Lang shuddered. It was usually he who petitioned for his wife to receive noble titles; it was rare for her to be directly enfeoffed by the Emperor.
“Madam, what did you do to receive an imperial enfeoffment?” Shi Lang could not help but ask.
Xiao Min Shi smiled and said, “His Majesty asked me to be the godmother of Princess Xingyue. He said that if the godmother’s status was too low, it might diminish the Princess’s honor, so he conferred upon me the third-rank title of Marchioness An.”
As soon as Xiao Min Shi finished speaking, someone hurried in from outside. “My Lord, Madam, the imperial decree has arrived.”
Shi Lang felt as if he were dreaming. His wife had become Marchioness An, a title higher than his own official rank.
Xiao Min Shi was even more overjoyed, and those who knew the news came to offer their congratulations.
Madam Zhou was the first to arrive. She was genuinely happy for Xiao Min Shi. Others might think Xiao Min Shi had merely seized an opportunity to treat the Princess as her own daughter, but only Madam Zhou knew that Xiao Min Shi truly loved Princess Xingyue.
This maternal love was entirely genuine. Now that Xiao Min Shi could openly visit Princess Xingyue, Madam Zhou was truly happy for her.
Of course, there was also jealousy. Some insinuated that Xiao Min Shi was a sycophant, and since Shi Lang had served the Empress diligently in the past, his wife naturally followed Princess Xingyue’s lead.
All of this vanished with the arrival of Xue Xingyue.
Who else could be like Xiao Min Shi, whom the Princess herself personally visited and, in front of everyone, called her godmother?
What immense honor this was! Ordinary people could never experience such a thing.
Xiao Min Shi was so happy that her mouth could not be closed. This was perhaps the happiest moment of her life.
She had a loving husband. Although they had been married for many years without children, she now had the most noble Princess Xingyue of Changlong Kingdom as her child. What more could she ask for?
The lively scene continued for a long time. Everyone expected Princess Xingyue to leave shortly, but they never imagined that Princess Xingyue, cradled in Xiao Min Shi’s arms, would not leave at all.
Xiao Min Shi smiled, never having felt so content as she did today.
When everything settled down, looking at the sleeping child in her arms, Xiao Min Shi felt that even if her life were demanded of her now, she would willingly give it.
“Imperial Female Official Feng, the Princess has fallen asleep. May I ask if she can remain here until she wakes?” Xiao Min Shi said, unable to bear to part with the sleeping child in her arms.
Feng Linger nodded. “Yes.”
Xiao Min Shi breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought the Female Official Feng might not agree.
By the time Xue Zining arrived to pick up the child, it was already getting light.
Feng Linger, holding the child, asked, “Your Majesty, doing this, do you feel any sense of loss?”
Xue Zining looked at Feng Linger and smiled. “Why would I feel a sense of loss? There is nothing to feel a sense of loss about. Is it not good for another person to love the child?”
“It is good, but do you not feel that something of yours has been taken away?”
“No, Madam Shi truly loves Xingyue. It is a good thing for another person to love her so much,” Xue Zining said.
Feng Linger spread her hands. “Alright, whatever you say goes.”
“Are you bored?” Xue Zining asked.
Feng Linger sighed. “Indeed. Without Wen Yuxi to bicker with, I am extremely bored.”
“I will grant you leave. Go and play with him.”
Feng Linger was taken aback. She looked at Xue Zining and frowned. “You would be so kind? I don’t believe it.”
“You haven’t transmitted any messages to me for several days. Go and see what has happened to him.”
Feng Linger said, “Now that you say that, I feel much more normal. If you want me to gather information, just say so. You speak so much, making it sound like you’re taking care of me, but in reality, you’re just being cunning.”
Xue Zining smiled. Besides Wen Yuxi, Xue Yan had also not sent her any messages for a long time. She was anxious, not knowing how they were doing.
“I will depart today. Don’t worry, I will definitely pass the message to you,” Feng Linger vowed.
“Be careful. Anyone who can keep Wen Yuxi is not an ordinary person,” Xue Zining cautioned.
Feng Linger patted her chest. “Don’t you trust me to do my job?”
Xue Zining smiled. “I trust you.”
“Just set your mind at ease, be the Empress, and don’t worry about anything else.”
“Alright, pack your things and set off!” Xue Zining said.
Feng Linger nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m even more eager to return than you are.”
After Feng Linger left, Xue Zining felt a long-lost sense of quiet. “Your Majesty, the Princess visits the Vice Minister’s manor every day. Don’t you feel uncomfortable about it?”
Xue Zining looked at Female Official Li. “No, I am happy that another person loves Xingyue.”
In the Shi manor, Xiao Min Shi also asked Xue Xingyue, “Princess, you come here every day. His Majesty might be displeased if she knew. You should consider His Majesty’s feelings.”
Xue Xingyue heard this, hugged Madam Shi’s arm, and smiled. “Godmother worries too much. My Imperial Mother is a very kind, rational, and intelligent woman. My Imperial Mother even advised me to come and spend more time with my godmother. My Imperial Mother said she hopes I can have more people who love me.”
Xiao Min Shi felt a sense of admiration. If she had a child, she probably wouldn’t want them to be shared.
“Madam, Miss Yu wishes to see you.”
Xiao Min Shi was startled. It took her a while to remember who the “Miss Yu” mentioned by the servant was; it was Yu Xiaoyu, the child of her sister.
“Does Godmother have guests? I’ll go play in the courtyard by myself.” Saying this, Xue Xingyue got down from Xiao Min Shi’s embrace and walked out with her short legs.
Xiao Min Shi could not help but shake her head with a smile. She raised her head, and her smile vanished. “Bring her in, and don’t let anyone else see her.”
Soon, Yu Xiaoyu was brought in by a servant. Xiao Min Shi looked at Yu Xiaoyu with a cold expression. “Do you have something to say?”
“Aunt, why are you so distant with me?” Yu Xiaoyu asked.
“You should know what you have done. Do I need to remind you?”
Yu Xiaoyu smiled upon hearing this. “No matter what I have done before, Aunt has finally achieved her wish, isn’t that enough?”
“Are you asking for money? I don’t have much, only five hundred taels of silver,” Xiao Min Shi said, refusing preemptively.
“Aunt, please don’t be angry. I’m not here to ask for money.”
“Then what do you want?” Xiao Min Shi asked, word by word, coldly.
“Aunt can disown me, but you cannot disown your own sister, can you?”
“What exactly do you want?” Xiao Min Shi asked coldly.
“What I want is very simple: Aunt, please lend Princess Xingyue to me for a while.”