Chapter 143: Daily Life (Part 2)

When they first arrived, it was mid-autumn. After more than a month of chaotic bustling about, early winter had now settled in.

Feng County was located far to the north, meaning early winter required slipping into thin, quilted cotton coats and lighting small charcoal stoves.

Bao Ning carried Yuanzi over to the bed. His tiny arms and legs were completely soft and radiated a comforting warmth. Bao Ning nestled her head right into the crook of his neck, while Yuanzi turned onto his side to hug her arm. Pulling the quilt right up to their chins, it wasn’t long before the two of them were sound asleep.

Because they had risen far too early that morning, this return nap was exceptionally deep. By the time Yuanzi finally blinked open his eyes, it was already close to noon. Bao Ning woke up even a bit later than him, still wrapped in a haze of drowsiness as she closed her eyes and let out a wide yawn.

Yuanzi mirrored her with a yawn of his own. Bao Ning let out a soft laugh, reaching her hand out to gently pat his little stomach. “Are you hungry?”

“Not hungry.” Yuanzi pressed a single finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture. “Auntie, listen. What is Nanny Liu talking about out there? It sounds like she’s planning to take A-Mian to Uncle Liu’s place over in the West Village for breeding… What does breeding mean?”

Bao Ning suddenly remembered. Nanny Liu had mentioned this to her just yesterday, noting that sheep were best bred during the ninth or tenth lunar months. That way, the ewes would drop their lambs around February or March of the following year when the weather was warm and pleasant, right as the first flush of spring grass began to sprout. This timing was immensely beneficial for both the ewe’s post-partum recovery and the lamb’s overall survival rate. However, the climate in Feng County couldn’t compare to the Central Plains; the warmth always arrived a bit later here, making the current timing an excellent window for breeding. It truly couldn’t be delayed any further.

Bao Ning rubbed her eyes, leaning in to offer a hushed explanation: “It means arranging a blind date for A-Mian. We’re going to find her a handsome little ram so they can make babies together.”

Yuanzi’s eyes widened to the size of saucers, full of pure curiosity. “Auntie, can I go watch?”

“People are having babies, what on earth are you going to watch?” Bao Ning’s immediate instinct was to refuse, thinking it wasn’t entirely proper.

Yuanzi was only five years old, after all. Taking him to witness a scene like that felt a bit too mature; if Pei Yuan ever found out, he would undoubtedly lecture her. But upon second thought, Bao Ning reasoned, What’s the big deal? Whether it was humans, kittens, puppies, sheep, or piglets, everything in nature had to go through this exact process. Learning about the birds and the bees a bit earlier or later didn’t make much of a difference. If the imagery turned out to be a bit too graphic, she could simply shield Yuanzi’s eyes with her hand… Besides, she had never seen it before either and was rather curious to watch.

“Actually, I suppose there’s no real harm in it.” Bao Ning tilted her head, playfully winking at Yuanzi. “Shall we get dressed and head out right now?”

Yuanzi nodded enthusiastically. “Yes!”

…

Seated inside the carriage bound for the West Village, Bao Ning felt a sudden wave of guilt. She squeezed Yuanzi’s small hand and pleaded, “You absolutely cannot breathe a single word of this to your uncle, or else he’ll never stop nagging me.”

Yuanzi gave his solemn promise. Bao Ning pondered for another moment before muttering under her breath, “Make sure to remind me to give Nanny Liu and the others a strict warning later as well. They absolutely cannot let it slip!”

Yuanzi promised at the top of his lungs, “Okay!”

Once they arrived at Uncle Liu’s sprawling sheep farm and laid eyes on the rows of sheep heads poking through the wooden fences to munch on grass, both Bao Ning and Yuanzi grew thoroughly excited. Only after speaking directly with Nanny Liu did Bao Ning realize the farm owner’s name was actually Liu Bobo—with ‘Bo’ being the character for silk, since he was the eldest son in his family. His name wasn’t actually the word for ‘Uncle.’

Bao Ning hid her laugh behind her sleeve. “He certainly picked a brilliant name for himself, taking administrative advantage over everyone who greets him. I think I’ll learn from his example. If I have a son in the future, I’ll name him Pei Bobo, and if I have a daughter, I’ll name her Pei Gugu.”

Nanny Liu cast a deliberate glance toward her belly, noting with absolute gravity, “If you truly were to become pregnant, that would be an absolute blessing.”

“Where on earth would a pregnancy come from? The first stroke of the character hasn’t even been written yet.” Bao Ning laughed, playfully nudging her arm. “You elders truly have zero sense of humor.”

Nanny Liu burst into a hearty laugh as well, gently escorting Bao Ning toward a small, pre-arranged shed. A-Mian was already waiting inside, staring wide-eyed at her prospective new husband. Bao Ning assessed the ram for a couple of seconds, not looking entirely impressed as she evaluated, “He’s quite tall and sturdy, but he’s far too filthy. How old is he?”

Liu Bobo rushed forward to answer, “He’s three years old, Your Highness. He’s the absolute finest breeding ram in our entire district. Every single lamb he sires turns out exceptionally beautiful and healthy.”

Bao Ning noted, “You should find some time to give him a proper bath. This entire coating of mud splatters severely impacts his overall presentation.”

Knowing that the lady before him was the Princess of Jibei, Liu Bobo didn’t dare offer a single word of dissent, nodding his head in a rapid flurry of agreement.

“Well then, we’ll leave you to your business.” Bao Ning took hold of Yuanzi’s small hand, stating with a bright smile, “We’ll just stand off to the side and watch for a moment. That won’t be an issue, right?”

Liu Bobo replied, “Of course not, Your Highness.”

Bao Ning and Yuanzi walked over to the side with absolute satisfaction to observe the proceedings, their eyes filled with pure novelty. Nanny Liu simply shook her head with a smile, choosing to say nothing.

Inside the shed, A-Mian and the ram engaged in a back-and-forth round of sniffing each other’s rear ends. The ram appeared thoroughly satisfied, giving his tail a cheerful wag. A-Mian leaned closer to give him another sniff, prompting the ram to let out a loud bleat before spinning back around to sniff her in return, even opening his mouth to playfully nip at the wool on A-Mian’s backside.

Yuanzi let out a sharp, startled “Ah!” Bao Ning hadn’t anticipated this unfolding behavior either, watching the scene unfold in absolute, wide-eyed bewilderment.

With both hands tucked tightly inside his sleeves, Liu Bobo offered a helpful reminder: “They’re currently getting acquainted with one another. Once the familiarity is established, the real action will begin. Oh look, it’s starting!”

Right before their eyes, the ram let out a rapid, urgent bleat, rearing up on his hind legs to mount A-Mian’s back in a swift motion.

A-Mian’s cries sounded like a complex blend of pleasure and pain as the ram began to move. Because A-Mian was quite petite and the ram was far too massive, his footing proved unstable, causing him to slide right back down. However, the ram quickly adjusted his stance, launching himself upward to mount her once more. A-Mian’s legs buckled slightly, nearly causing her to lose her balance entirely.

Yuanzi let out a loud “Wow!”

Bao Ning squeezed her eyes shut, swiftly raising her hand to cover Yuanzi’s eyes. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s stop watching; there’s really nothing spectacular to see here.”

Yuanzi asked with clear reluctance, “Are we leaving already?”

Liu Bobo chimed in as well, “Leaving so soon, Your Highness? This is merely the first one. We have three more lined up behind him, all meticulously selected, robust rams. Fearing that a single attempt might not take, running the process a few more times ensures a ninety percent chance of her successfully conceiving a lamb.”

Bao Ning stated, “I appreciate your hard work.”

“It’s no hardship at all for me; I’m merely acting as the matchmaker,” Liu Bobo replied with a honest, simple laugh. “As long as Your Highness is satisfied.”

Bao Ning offered a thoroughly awkward laugh, a faint wave of regret bubbling up inside her chest. She honestly should have stayed far away from this place! With the vocalizations of the two sheep ringing distinctly in her ears, Bao Ning didn’t want to linger for another single second, dragging Yuanzi as she marched out. But children were naturally captivated by amusement; Yuanzi’s footsteps hesitated, his head continuously spinning around to sneak glances backward.

Bao Ning tugged tightly on his sleeve, coaxing him gently, “Stop looking. I’ll take you to buy some delicious food once we get back.”

Yuanzi asked, “What are we eating?”

Bao Ning replied, “Have you ever tried chive pockets before?”

Yuanzi searched his memory for a moment before shaking his head.

“They are exceptionally delicious. There’s a stall right down the street from our manor that sells them.” Bao Ning tilted her head up to look at the sky, intentionally exaggerating her tone, “Oh dear, it’s already past noon! We truly need to hurry back. The business at that shop is obscenely popular; if we arrive too late, there won’t be a single one left!”

Hearing this, Yuanzi grew anxious as well, his pace quickening instantly. “Then let’s hurry up.”

Seeing that he had completely dropped the topic of staying behind, Bao Ning let out a sigh of relief. Stepping forward in a brisk flurry, she climbed into the carriage alongside Yuanzi.

As the carriage rattled along the road, the awkward embarrassment in Bao Ning’s chest gradually dissolved into nothing. Upon hearing the boisterous clamor of street vendors hawking their wares, she knew they had entered the marketplace district, reaching out to slide the window curtain aside to look out. The noon hour had already passed, meaning the vast majority of vendors had already packed up their stalls, leaving only a scattered handful of lingering customers. Splotches of darkened, stagnant water pooled across the cobblestones, emitting a slightly fishy odor left behind by the seafood stalls.

Bao Ning wrinkled her nose and covered it with her hand, yet she still couldn’t resist continuing to look out.

Feng County couldn’t match the grand luxury of the capital, nor did it possess the capital’s pristine cleanliness, but it seemed to hold a distinct, vibrant warmth—a raw, earthly pulse of human life.

Because it sat in close proximity to the borderlands, the local social customs were far more progressive, and the restrictions placed upon women were remarkably relaxed. Bao Ning frequently strolled down the streets without revealing her royal identity, thoroughly enjoying the simple luxury of casually purchasing items and dining at local shops.

The carriage rolled on for a bit longer until the massive iron skillet used for frying chive pockets right outside a shopfront came into view. Bao Ning’s eyes lit up instantly, and she called out to Chen Jia, “Stop the carriage.”

Stepping out of the vehicle with Yuanzi in tow, Bao Ning bent down to inspect the presentation of the pockets. Every single one was fried to a perfect, golden crisp, radiating an incredibly enticing aroma.

Like a child showing off a prize, she asked Yuanzi, “Doesn’t it smell incredible?”

Yuanzi nodded vigorously. “It smells amazing!”

Bao Ning turned directly to the female shopkeeper, stating, “I’ll take this entire batch. Select five of them to pack with extra chili sauce, and wrap those up separately.”

“Auntie is going to eat five? That is so many,” Yuanzi noted in surprise, before asking, “Are we bringing some back for Uncle?”

“Absolutely not,” Bao Ning replied as she fished for coins from her purse. “You know exactly how much of a nag he is. He’ll look perfectly happy while he’s actively eating them, but the moment he swallows the last bite, he’ll immediately start scolding you, lecturing about how street food is unhygienic and uses subpar ingredients. His endless chattering is thoroughly exhausting. We won’t bring him a single one. Why should we spend our own money just to receive a scolding? We’ll only bring them back for Nanny Liu and the others. Once they eat them, their mouths turn incredibly sweet, and they’ll shower us with compliments. Listening to praise is infinitely more comfortable.”

Yuanzi nodded in complete agreement. “That makes total sense.”

Bao Ning accepted the oil-paper bundles from the shopkeeper with absolute satisfaction, turning around to hand them over to Chen Jia before continuing her casual stroll down the street with Yuanzi.

Chen Jia could only follow behind them with a look of pure, helpless resignation.

As they passed a roast chicken establishment at the corner of the street, the mouth-watering aroma proved far too enticing for Bao Ning to resist. She dragged Yuanzi inside, purchasing three jin of spicy chicken feet and chicken wingtips, alongside a pair of whole roasted chickens. The moment they stepped back outside, her eyes immediately locked onto a roadside stall selling pears. The presentation of the fruit was simply magnificent, looking remarkably crisp and sweet. Unable to help herself, Bao Ning ordered another three jin.

Staring at the mountain of items accumulating inside the carriage cabin, Chen Jia opened his mouth as if to speak, hesitating for a long moment before finally offering a gentle piece of advice: “Wangfei, perhaps we should purchase a bit less. We’re already carrying five jin of fresh goat’s milk back from the sheep farm; we truly won’t be able to consume all of this.”

Bao Ning countered, “If we can’t finish it, we can simply distribute it to the staff. Do I look like someone who is hurting for cash?”

Chen Jia was left entirely speechless.

Yuanzi studied Bao Ning’s expression for a moment before tilting his head up to ask, “Auntie, why are you so incredibly happy today?”

Bao Ning pondered the question. In truth, she didn’t quite know the answer herself; she just felt an inexplicable surge of pure joy, as if some wonderful, celebratory event were right on the horizon. Recalling the events from that morning, she laughed, “Perhaps it’s because I got to see your uncle look so thoroughly thoroughly exasperated. He usually carries himself with such an imposing air, looking down his nose at everyone. Seeing him lose his temper and hurl curses today was truly a magnificent piece of entertainment.”

Yuanzi noted, “Ah, so that’s why.”

The Prince’s Manor was constructed in close proximity to the bustling commercial district, meaning a casual stroll back didn’t encompass a long distance. Knowing she had purchased far too many items, Bao Ning managed to exercise restraint throughout the remainder of the walk, only failing to control herself when they passed a roasted chestnut stall, where she promptly bought another three jin.

Holding Yuanzi’s hand with absolute fulfillment, her fingers laden with bundles of purchases, Bao Ning stepped through the front gates of the manor.

…

Pei Yuan was still actively tied up dealing with Su Wei.

Su Wei had traveled over a hundred li from Dai County, and given his critical status as a key garrison commander, it was naturally impossible to simply dismiss him after a brief conversation. Pei Yuan had extended an invitation for him to stay for lunch. Midway through the meal, a servant came forward to report that the Wangfei had returned, bringing back an immense haul of delicious food. Pei Yuan’s brows knitted together slightly, wondering to himself why her appetite had grown so obscenely large lately.

Hearing the exchange, Su Wei offered a smiling compliment: “Even the Wangfei’s departures and returns are reported with such precision. It appears Your Highness governs his household with absolute discipline; it truly serves as an exemplary model.”

Pei Yuan offered a noncommittal smile, choosing not to elaborate.

In reality, he was simply terrified that Bao Ning might manage to lose herself out in the city, which was why he required constant updates on her movements. Still, being paid that kind of compliment for the very first time—even if it came from a thoroughly unlikable individual—felt rather pleasant in his heart.

“General Su, let us drink.”

Pei Yuan raised his wine cup, offering a smiling toast.

…

Bao Ning and Yuanzi sat huddled right beside the charcoal stove, the tabletop before them absolutely overflowing with various foods. Both of them were dining with immense satisfaction.

After devouring three chive pockets, Bao Ning began to find the flavor a bit too heavy. She promptly devised a novel culinary method, pulling the tender meat off the roasted chicken wings, stuffing it directly inside the crispy dough skin of a pocket, and taking a massive bite out of the combination. The resulting flavor profile was a bit unusual, but it was remarkably good nonetheless. Yuanzi watched her with absolute astonishment, prompting Bao Ning to slide the plate of chicken wings closer to him. “It’s truly delicious; you should give it a try. Life is infinitely more fun when you explore new variations.”

Yuanzi replied, “Auntie, I don’t really eat chicken wings. They’re far too tough; I can’t bite through the meat.”

Bao Ning playfully teased him, “Yuanzi, your teeth must be far too weak! It’s one thing if you can’t chew through tough, aged meat, but you can’t even manage tender meat?”

She reached forward to pluck a few roasted chestnuts directly off the top of the stove, blowing on them until they cooled down before brandishing them in front of Yuanzi. “Allow me to show you what it truly means to crack a chestnut with bare teeth!”

Yuanzi watched intently as Bao Ning wiped a chestnut clean and popped it straight into her mouth. With a sharp crunch , the hard outer shell split cleanly down the middle, revealing the golden, sweet nut meat inside. Bao Ning popped the chestnut meat into her mouth with a blissful smile, savoring the rich, sugary flavor on the tip of her tongue. Yet, before she could even complete a couple of chews, her brows suddenly knitted together violently. A powerful wave of intense, sudden nausea surged straight up from the back of her throat.

The sweet chestnut meat instantly lost every ounce of its delicious appeal, turning remarkably greasy, foul-smelling, and utterly repulsive.

Bao Ning let out a sharp retch, leaping to her feet in a frantic rush to find the spittoon. Within a fraction of a second, every single item of food she had just consumed came violently rushing back up.

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