Gong You's wife, Jiang shi, was in her early forties. She was a tall, plump, and charming middle-aged woman. However, although she still retained her charm, Jiang Shi's age was clearly much older than Gong You's.
Gong You had no children, only three daughters. The eldest and second daughters were already married. Jiang shi lived with Gong You's youngest daughter, Gong Miao, in the back yamen. The mother and daughter took care of Old Madame Gong together.
Pang Xiao and Gong You were discussing what to do next in the servant quarters.
Qin Yining took Bing Tang and Ji Yun and followed Jiang shi into the back yamen.
"Wang Fei, you must be tired from the journey. Later, this concubine will order someone to prepare hot water for Wang Fei to wash up. You will feel more relaxed."
Qin Yining smiled and shook his head, saying: "Gong furen, please don't be so courteous. Now is the time of the disaster. The water in the well will be muddy. You should save the water that can be used to wash up. There's no rush."
Jiang shi was surprised to hear this.
She had never seen a girl as beautiful and exquisite as Qin Yining in her life. She had thought that with her beauty, she would be arrogant before she was married. Now that she was a wangfei, her arrogance would multiply. She would be harder to serve. Who knew that she had misjudged.
Qin Yining continued: "I heard that Old Madame is also in the back yamen. Could Furen please introduce me to her? I want to pay respects to Old Madame."
Jiang shi was even more surprised when she heard this, "Wang Fei's status is noble. We should be the ones paying respects to Wang Fei."
"Furen, what are you saying? I am young and a junior. Naturally, I have to pay respects to the elders. Do I need the elders to pay respects to me? That would be too much for me. Besides, Gong daren has defended the old capital. Wang Ye and I admire him very much. Old Madame has contributed greatly to teaching such a loyal and virtuous official like Gong daren. Whether it's for public or private reasons, I should be the one paying respects to Old Madame. "
Jiang shi was touched and moved when she heard this.
She had been worried that the mistress who would not be easy to serve was such a transparent person. This was a pleasant surprise for her.
"Since Wang Fei has said so, if I stop you, it will seem distant."
"That's right. In the future, Wang Ye and I will have to disturb you for a period of time. If Gong furen is always so polite, then we will feel uncomfortable living here. His Highness and Official Gong have fought side by side. They are colleagues and friends. Since the two of them are so close, we naturally should not be estranged. "
"Wang Fei is right."
Jiang shi smiled and said, "My daughter Miao 'er is accompanying her grandmother right now. If Wangfei doesn't mind, would you like to come with me?"
"Thank you, Madam."
Jiang shi led Qin Yining around a corner and walked towards the main room in the back courtyard.
As she walked, she introduced, "This is it. Usually, Daren and I live in the side room. My mother-in-law lives in the main room. Mother-in-law comes from a family of farmers and scholars and is very reasonable. She treats me like her own daughter. I am disappointing and only gave birth to three daughters for Daren. My mother-in-law did not force Daren to take a concubine because she wanted a grandson. When I was young, after giving birth, I became fat and ugly. My mother was afraid that Daren would not like me and sent two skinny women. In the end, Daren sold them, saying that the family was too poor to support extra people."
Speaking of this, Jiang shi suddenly realized. She was chatting about daily life to show intimacy, but she did not know if Prince Zhongshun had a concubine. If Prince Zhongshun had a bunch of concubines and she showed off how loyal her husband was in front of Wang Fei and how good her in-laws were, wouldn't that be slapping Wang Fei's face?
Jiang shi hated herself for speaking so bluntly. She had not changed her bad habit of speaking without thinking for many years.
Who knew that Qin Yining smiled and said, "As expected, birds of a feather flock together. No wonder Wang Ye and Gong Daren hit it off. My mother-in-law and great-mother-in-law also treat me like their own daughter. Wang Ye is even more unwilling to get involved with other women. However, my great-mother-in-law is very powerful. If Wang Ye really did that, perhaps even my great-mother-in-law would beat him. "
"Really? There is such a powerful old person? "
"Yes."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Jiang shi's heart relaxed greatly. Her impression of Pang Xiao and Qin Yining improved because Jiang shi felt that a person who was filial to the elderly would not have a bad character. Even though Prince Zhong Shun was infamous, how could one believe all the rumors that came from outside?
When the two reached the top of the stairs, Jiang shi brought Qin Yining into the room. "Mother, Prince Zhongshun's consort is here."
Qin Yining followed closely behind. When he saw the half-new tables, chairs, and simple decorations in the room, he gained a better understanding of Gong You's honesty.
On the couch next to the window in the room, an old woman in her seventies with white hair was taking off her shoes. A little girl who looked to be around ten years old was helping the old woman put on her shoes.
Old Madame Gong's hair was simply tied up in a bun with a silver comb. She wore a sky-blue cotton dress, and her appearance was rather plain. She was even dressed worse than some of the servants of the wealthy families in the capital.
However, on her thin face, there was a loving smile. At a glance, one would think that this old woman was a kind and benevolent old woman.
Qin Yining did not wait for the old woman to bow and bowed first: "Greetings, Old Madame Gong."
"Aiyoyo, quickly get up, quickly get up. How can I accept this? How can this old woman accept the princess consort's bow? "
"Old Madame, you are too polite. You are an elder. As a junior, I should greet you. "
"Please get up. Third daughter-in-law, quickly help her up."
"Yes!" Jiang shi took Qin Yining's arm to help her up. She then helped her mother-in-law sit down and smiled: "Mother, the princess consort is not that kind of person. You can rest assured."
Old Madame Gong smiled as she looked at Qin Yining. In her heart, she praised the young lady. However, on second thought, if she was not beautiful, how could she be the princess consort?
Because Qin Yining's age was the same as Old Madame Gong's granddaughter's age, Qin Yining was polite and did not put on airs. Moreover, she was patient with the old woman and knew how to make the old woman happy. Therefore, after chatting for a while, Old Madame Gong became very close to Qin Yining.
Old Madame Gong then introduced the girl beside her to Qin Yining: "This is my granddaughter, Miao 'er."
Gong Miao was very thin. When she looked at people, her eyes were timid. She was somewhat afraid of strangers. However, she still gave a curious and friendly smile. She bowed and greeted: "Princess consort."
Qin Yining then put a mutton-fat jade bracelet on Gong Miao's wrist: "This is not something good. Miao 'er, take it and play with it."
During this period of time, she had been living in the yamen and would disturb the host's family. It was reasonable for her to give Gong Miao a greeting gift.
Old Madame Gong and Jiang shi repeatedly declined. However, in the end, under Qin Yining's kind words, they still could not refuse.
"Princess consort."
At this time, Ji Yun's voice came from outside the door.
Qin Yining smiled and said: "What is it?"
"Wang Ye invites the princess consort to the front for a chat."
"Understood." Qin Yining then stood up and bid farewell: "I will go first. I will disturb you again when I am free."
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