Chapter 13: Chapter 13

On the full moon celebration day, the little bun Yuanbao not only received a full treasury that even his dumpling mother An Ning envied, but also officially got his own name after his dumpling father nearly wore out his copy of "Songs of Chu" from flipping through it so much.

Aisin-Gioro Mingyu, as explained by his father, carried the meaning of the rising sun, brilliant and glorious.

The little one in her arms didn't disappoint his old father's expectations either. After his first birthday, his already delicate features became even more beautiful. He looked like an angel baby straight out of a New Year painting, perfectly combining the best features of both parents.

Not only did the maids like Wanqing in the courtyard adore him immensely, but even when An Ning occasionally took him out, the probability of running into the prince's consorts who usually stayed indoors increased significantly.

Even the usually stern princess consort would smile more at the child. As for his old father? He would always come see his precious son the moment he returned from his official duties.

Manchus only dote on grandsons not sons? That didn't exist here.

An Ning sometimes couldn't help but wonder if the aptitude optimization mentioned in the intermediate birthing pill description was all concentrated on appearance.

Today was unusually sunny.

The child was already bulky from winter clothing, and seeing him barely able to walk steadily, the maids and matrons nearby were half scared to death. In contrast, his mother seemed completely unfazed, simply waiting for the child to come to her on his own.

This was exactly the scene Matron Wuha from the main courtyard saw when she arrived, her thick brows unconsciously furrowing with disapproval. But considering the person's status before her, she ultimately said nothing.

An Ning pretended not to notice, catching the little one who threw himself at her before turning to the visitor: "Matron coming at this hour, does the princess consort have any instructions?"

"Reporting to the Side Consort," the matron replied, "the princess consort sent this servant to inform you that the palace's annual banquet is in a few days. All the noble consorts from various households will attend. The Empress Dowager specifically mentioned recently that she wants to see our Eldest Young Master!"

Meaning this banquet was unavoidable.

"Thank you for making the trip, Matron."

An Ning nodded indifferently to acknowledge the message, continuing to play with the little bun in her arms. Before leaving, Matron Wuha couldn't help adding:

"Side Consort, if this old servant may say, although the weather is nice today, it's still winter and quite cold. The young master shouldn't stay outside too long."

"If you know it's unnecessary to say, then shouldn't you not say it?"

Holding the little one, An Ning replied without looking up.

Having long been accustomed to running things in the household without opposition, Matron Wuda seemed to want to say something but ultimately closed her mouth and left resentfully, her steps noticeably quicker.

"What nerve!" The moment she left, Wanqing immediately put her hands on her hips and complained: "You're the young master's birth mother! Her tone made it sound like she was afraid we'd mistreat him!"

"Besides, everyone in the household knows our young master is the healthiest - we hardly ever need to call the imperial physician. Unlike that one in the main courtyard..."

As if she didn't know - the eldest young miss had already called for the physician several times this month! With that record, how dare they criticize us?

In Xitara Wanqing's view, although she didn't always agree with her companion's behavior, especially how she liked to tease the young master, it wasn't some matron from the main courtyard's place to comment.

But... thinking of that person's expression earlier, Wanqing couldn't help worrying: "Judging from her expression just now, wouldn't she go back and exaggerate things to the princess consort?"

After all, it was the princess consort, and they'd always maintained peaceful coexistence with the main courtyard. Wanqing feared ruining their current peaceful life.

Seeing the rare worried looks on her maids' faces, An Ning couldn't help laughing, restraining the wriggling little one in her arms: "Don't worry, what's the worst the princess consort can do? Make me stand on ceremony?"

Doing that would mean tearing all pretense.

Even for the sake of future quality of life, the other party wouldn't go that far.

Besides, even if relations soured, she didn't regret her earlier response. There were no real sisters in the inner courtyard - retreat one step today and you'll have to retreat countless steps tomorrow.

She hadn't come this far just to let some matron dictate to her.

After playing with the little one a while longer, An Ning leisurely returned to the western courtyard with her entourage.

As expected, the moment Matron Wuda returned, she immediately complained to her mistress:

"Princess consort, you wouldn't believe how arrogant that one from the western courtyard has become. This servant merely offered some well-meaning advice earlier, and she didn't show the slightest courtesy! Clearly having the young master has gone to her head."

"And princess consort knows best - since that woman entered the household, His Highness hasn't summoned anyone else. Princess consort must be careful..."

In all these years, their prince had never favored anyone before. Now...

"If only princess consort had listened to this servant earlier and taken the young master to raise in the main courtyard. How can someone of her servant origins properly raise the household's only young master? Princess consort didn't see it earlier - in the middle of winter, that western courtyard woman actually let the young master stay outside in the cold!"

"When this servant arrived, the young master nearly fell! What kind of mother would..."

"Enough! Don't speak of this again."

"Princess consort..."

Thinking of that child from the western courtyard, Borjigit's expression darkened unconsciously, her Buddhist scriptures crumpling in her hands. Who wouldn't love such an adorable, well-behaved child?

It wasn't that she'd never considered taking him.

But she knew the prince would never agree. From the moment he couldn't wait to petition for the Side Consort title after the young master's birth, his intentions were clear.

Moreover, she'd heard how attached the child was to his mother at such a young age. Even if she managed to take him, wouldn't it just breed resentment later?

Although His Highness had never said anything about the eldest young miss's health these years, he must have thoughts about it.

Thinking of her grandaunt in the palace whose situation had worsened these past two years, Borjigit suppressed her rising emotions with a sigh.

Forget it. Hadn't all the Mongol women in the Forbidden City endured similarly? At least she had the status of legal mother - better than having an outsider adopted later.

Borjigit understood clearly - as an old aristocratic prince household passed down for generations, the Prince Zhuang lineage had always been sparse in descendants. Their accumulated wealth was considerable, and they were an iron-cap prince with perpetual inheritance.

Of course the one above wouldn't let such benefits go elsewhere.

Better this child from their own household than some real imperial prince with close ties to the throne.

At least they knew his background. Sighing, the princess consort ordered:

"Suoma, take the pearl headdress bestowed by the Empress Dowager the other day to the Side Consort. Tell her Matron Wuda spoke out of turn and has been punished!"

"Princess consort..." Matron Wuda wanted to say more but fell silent upon seeing her mistress's expression.

"Yes, princess consort. This servant will go immediately."