The conversation turned, and Pingting brought up the marriage of her elder brother's family.
"Eldest sister-in-law sent me wedding candies, saying that Xueyao will be married after the first lunar month. She's marrying the imperial physician's beloved disciple, named Yan Luo."
She had met that Yan Luo before and knew him. How could such a young girl as Xueyao marry someone who was well over thirty?
She didn't voice these thoughts, but as they were close friends, they both understood what was left unsaid.
Zhao Jiaqi offered a brief explanation: "Yan Luo is older, but he's a honest man, skilled in medicine, and treats Xueyao well. After they get married, he'll open a pharmacy in the city."
Pingting nodded slightly, "Eldest sister-in-law, I'm not saying the marriage is bad, I just feel a bit regretful for Xueyao. I watched her grow up."
"But then again, an older husband and a younger wife know how to dote on each other. Perhaps they'll be happier than us."
Happiness or not, only one truly knows. Others can hardly comprehend it.
She ate melon seeds and drank tea, shaking her head with a 'tsk tsk tsk': "How many more of these melon seeds do you have? They're too delicious, I must take some back."
Putting down her teacup, she began to issue her next command. She was so at ease here, completely informal. "The New Year is fast approaching. I won't prepare any dried fruits or dishes for myself. My whole family will be coming to the mansion to celebrate the New Year. If you have nothing else to do, have the servants tidy up the rooms. In a day or two, I'll have the children come over to stay, so the little ones can foster their bonds."
Time flew by so quickly. In the blink of an eye, the children had grown considerably. In the future, they would all marry and be busy with their own affairs. If the children didn't stay in touch, they might become strangers who wouldn't even speak to each other upon meeting.
When Zhao Jiaqi heard that her family's five children were coming, her head buzzed. The happiest of all was Yumeng.
"Auntie, I'll have people tidy up the rooms tonight. You can have your younger sisters and brothers come tomorrow, and I'll take them to play and eat delicious food."
Pingting ruffled her hair, giggling, her eyes full of affection. "You're the eldest among them. Your aunt can rest assured leaving your younger sisters and brothers to you. I'll have them come tomorrow."
Good heavens, one mischievous child, plus a bunch of little ones. For the next half a month, if they didn't manage to blow the roof off the prince's mansion, Zhao Jiaqi would be offering sacrifices.
After Pingting left, Zhao Jiaqi immediately summoned guards to clear away all dangerous areas in the mansion. If it weren't for the koi in the lotus pond, she would have wanted to drain the pond dry right then.
Finally, fearing the children might fall into the pond, she had it sealed overnight. Anything that could endanger the children's lives was prohibited.
Fan Zehao looked at the yard, blocked here and there, as if the once fine prince's mansion was being torn apart.
"Wife, aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill? It's not necessary, the children are all grown up."
Zhao Jiaqi shook her head, disagreeing. "Seven or eight years old is precisely the age for mischief and troublemaking, when even dogs find them annoying. How could they play quietly?"
"Besides, Xu Dong's son, Pingting had him after one child after another, tirelessly. She dotes on him like his eyeballs, so we have to be careful!"
Fan Zehao chuckled. "Isn't every family raising their legitimate son with utmost care? Who else is like you, letting the children run wild? If I didn't know you were their biological mother, I'd suspect our children were foundlings."
In wealthy families, the legitimate son was particularly valued. They weren't trained as heirs apparent, but it wasn't far off.
Their family was the complete opposite of others. If word got out, people would look at them strangely.
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at him, too lazy to argue. "Don't say useless things. Every parent loves their own child. As long as my daughter is happy, that's all that matters."
"And what's wrong with letting them run wild? I haven't raised my children badly, have I? They're quite outstanding now. Do you want our children to lose a complete childhood? Like you, burdened with responsibilities they shouldn't have to bear so early?"
Seeing his wife agitated, Fan Zehao quickly shook his head. "No, no. You've raised them very well. I'm very happy you've raised our children so excellently. I support it with all my heart."
These words were a bit off the mark. Others might think it was she, Zhao Jiaqi, who raised the children well, but in reality, these children had been close to him since they were young.
To say she raised them was less accurate than saying their father grew up with the children. They were like good friends, much closer to him than to her.
Thinking of this, Zhao Jiaqi sighed heavily again.
Fan Zehao put his arm around his wife's shoulder and smiled. "You're not old yet, but you sigh so much. It's not good for you, it'll make you age faster. Come, let's get some beauty sleep, and tomorrow will be a bright sunny day."
His playful demeanor amused her. They said old people could be like children; he wasn't old, but he was quite like one.
Whether the next day would be sunny was uncertain, but that night, the temperature in the room was like a bright, scorching sun, rising rapidly. Xiao Mi, serving in the outer room, only knew that the Prince had asked for water three times that night.
The next day, both husband and wife overslept. If it weren't for the children making a fuss to see them, they would have slept until dawn tomorrow.
In the afternoon, Helian Jinli arrived with gifts.
This time, Fan Zehao directly pulled Zhao Jiaqi to meet the future emperor of Dingbei Liao.
As they walked, he praised the man. "He's not old, but he's cunning and very patient. However, his methods are sometimes too inappropriate. Otherwise, I truly wish..."
Zhao Jiaqi squinted at him. "Wish what?"
"Of course, I wish to be friends with him. What else could I wish for!"
His matter-of-fact reply stunned Zhao Jiaqi. Seeing that he didn't intend to marry his daughter to this man, she relaxed.
She remembered how he had kidnapped her daughter and poisoned her mother-in-law, forcing her husband to travel thousands of miles to find the ice silkworm for an antidote. She remembered all these things.
If she didn't seek revenge now, she would eventually do so.
Soon, they reached the front hall.
Upon entering the front hall and seeing the person, Zhao Jiaqi's eyes lit up. She couldn't even move her gaze from Helian Jinli.
Fan Zehao felt a bit jealous. He knew Jinli was handsome, but he hadn't expected him to captivate his well-traveled wife.
"Ahem, wife, this is Helian Jinli, the Crown Prince of Dingbei Liao, whom I told you about."
Zhao Jiaqi blinked a couple of times. If her husband hadn't called him Helian Jinli, she would have thought he was a young heartthrob from modern times.
Mainly, he resembled her idol. However, she couldn't tell her husband about her idol, or the vinegar barrel of jealousy would surely overflow.
She withdrew her gaze and let out a long "Oh," with no further words. Then, she walked straight to the armchair and sat down, picking up her tea and drinking it herself.
Fan Zehao and Helian Jinli were both taken aback, not quite understanding the meaning of her actions.
Fan Zehao mused, "What's gotten into my wife? What is she thinking?"
Helian Jinli was inwardly flustered, thinking to himself, "What does this Princess Consort mean? Does she dislike me? Or does she like me! If she likes me, that would be great. It would make marrying her daughter much smoother. If she dislikes me, then I'll have to take a longer route?"