Qin Yining couldn’t help but smile charmingly at his words, saying playfully, “That won’t do. If your hair is arranged poorly, at most people will say the prince is rough and straightforward, not caring about such details, that you’re forthright and generous. But if my eyebrows are drawn crooked, I’ll become a laughingstock, and won’t that embarrass you?”
“Embarrass me? I’d rather hide you away completely so no one can look at you.” His large hand encircled her slender waist, gently caressing as he whispered in her ear, “You didn’t see – yesterday those people’s eyes went straight looking at you. I wanted to gouge out their eyes.”
Qin Yining chided, “Look at you, first wanting to lock me up, then wanting to gouge out people’s eyes. I’m getting scared just listening.” She put on a somewhat frightened expression.
Seeing her so adorable, Pang Xiao couldn’t help laughing heartily, “Yining, how can you be so cute!”
After placing a loud kiss on her cheek, Pang Xiao took the eyebrow makeup and carefully drew her eyebrows. This hand that could wield a blade and kill enemies on the battlefield now held the fine eyebrow makeup, carefully and cautiously sketching. He actually drew them with appropriate shading, quite beautifully.
Qin Yining looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, “Not bad skills. If you ever stop being a prince, you could specialize in drawing eyebrows for people.”
She turned around and touched Pang Xiao’s chin, “With such a handsome face, if you were willing to draw eyebrows for people, wouldn’t all the young ladies and young wives compete to come?”
“Hey! You little minx, actually teasing me now.” Pang Xiao laughingly went to tickle Qin Yining.
Qin Yining was most sensitive at her waist – as soon as Pang Xiao’s large hand touched her, she couldn’t help laughing, laughing while dodging, “Stop fooling around, I just had my hair done!”
But Pang Xiao wouldn’t give up, scooping her up onto the step-bed, not only using both hands but also constantly blowing warm breath on her neck and earlobes.
Qin Yining laughed until she was breathless, unable to push him away or escape, only able to gasp and beg for mercy.
Nanny Mi, Madam Ma’s most capable assistant, arrived at Jinhua Courtyard to see the maids all standing in the courtyard chatting, with the faint sound of a woman’s laughter coming from the main room.
Nanny Mi couldn’t help smiling as well.
“Nanny has arrived.” Ji Yun was first to bow.
Xian Yun, Bingtang, and Qiu Lu also followed with bows.
Nanny Mi smiled, “I came to see if the prince and princess consort have risen.”
Bingtang smiled, “Replying to Nanny, the prince and princess consort rose early, just finished dressing properly, and are waiting to go pay respects and serve tea to the old master, grand madam, and old madam.”
Bingtang naturally knew the rules of great households, and naturally said whatever would benefit Qin Yining.
Nanny Mi then smiled, “Then I’ll wait here for a moment.”
“This servant will go inform the prince and princess consort.” Bingtang cleverly bowed and turned to walk toward the main room.
As soon as Nanny Mi spoke outside, Pang Xiao had already heard, and hearing footsteps approaching, he had to stop and help Qin Yining up, straightening the hairpin that was about to slip.
Qin Yining’s eyes sparkled with tears from laughing, her face flushed with rosy clouds. Finally stopping her laughter, she glared at him and took the comb to arrange his hair.
Bingtang spoke at the door, “Your Highness, Princess Consort, Nanny Mi has arrived.”
Pang Xiao naturally knew Nanny Mi had come to collect the maiden’s proof, so he smiled, “Please let her in.”
Qin Yining skillfully arranged and bound Pang Xiao’s hair. As Nanny Mi entered, unable to pause her task, she smiled and nodded in greeting, “Good day, Nanny.”
“Oh, Princess Consort must not be so formal. This old servant pays respects to the Princess Consort.” Seeing Qin Yining personally arranging Pang Xiao’s hair, combined with the earlier laughter from the room, Nanny Mi was delighted beyond measure.
Qin Yining smiled, “You are grandmother’s old nanny – you certainly deserve such respect.”
Nanny Mi smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Qin Yining, then wandered around the room. When she reached the step-bed, seeing a small wooden box, she picked it up and tucked it into her sleeve.
Qin Yining saw this and finally realized what it was, her face immediately turning completely red as she lowered her head, not knowing what to do.
Nanny Mi smiled, “This old servant will return to Songhe Hall first.”
Pang Xiao generously smiled, “Nanny Mi, please go slowly.”
Watching Nanny Mi leave with that small box tucked away, Qin Yining coughed once before saying, “We should also hurry, don’t be too late and keep mother, grandfather, and grandmother waiting.”
“I’ll listen to you.” Pang Xiao stood up, straightening his outer robe, then added, “Anyway, we can continue playing when we get back.”
Qin Yining speechlessly pinched his arm, then instructed the maids to bring the three pairs of shoes she had prepared in advance, leaving Jinhua Courtyard with Pang Xiao to walk to Songhe Hall.
The two didn’t walk quickly. Along the way, Pang Xiao introduced the mansion’s layout to Qin Yining, “When you stayed here briefly before, it wasn’t convenient for you to move around. Now, taking advantage of the wedding renovations, I’ve also removed some of the planted spies in the mansion. It’s relatively safer now, so you can live more peacefully.”
Qin Yining smiled and nodded, asking, “Did His Majesty get drunk yesterday? When did he leave?”
“When I went out to toast, His Majesty had already left hurriedly. My people said His Majesty received a secret report and left in haste, his expression very poor when departing.”
Qin Yining became somewhat worried, “I hope it’s not related to you. I was hoping we could have more peaceful days.”
Pang Xiao smiled, “Don’t worry. Whether it’s related to me or not doesn’t matter. Your man isn’t someone who can be kneaded and shaped by just anyone. When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will cover it. I always have ways to deal with things. You just need to peacefully enjoy your blessings at home. No need to work as hard as before.”
That phrase “your man” made Qin Yining feel both shy and warm inside.
She had always been busy taking care of everyone else. This was the first time someone promised her that she didn’t need to work so hard – that he would handle everything.
Qin Yining smiled, “Then from now on I’ll just be completely lazy. You can’t blame me.”
“How could I? If you’re willing to be truly lazy, I’ll even have rewards. How about that?”
While the two chatted and laughed, they had already arrived at Songhe Hall.
As soon as they entered the courtyard gate, Bai Tao hurried inside to report.
The married couple entered the main room with their servants, walked around the newly placed “Joy Upon the Brows” large screen, and came to the inner room.
Yao Chenggu, Madam Ma, and Yao Shi were all present, everyone’s faces showing joy.
Nanny Mi instructed Cui Tao and Bai Tao to set out brocade cushions.
Pang Xiao and Qin Yining knelt side by side and performed the grand ceremony.
“Good, good, quickly get up, Yining girl, quickly get up.” Madam Ma was so delighted her eyes almost disappeared from smiling, repeatedly telling Qin Yining to rise.
Qin Yining smiled and knelt before Yao Chenggu and Madam Ma, taking two cups of tea from Ji Yun’s tray to offer to the two elders respectively.
“Grandson’s wife pays respects to the two elders.”
“Oh my, good, good, good, quickly get up.”
“Yes, quickly get up, be careful of your knees hurting.”
Both elders placed thick red envelopes into the tray.
Qin Yining then rose and presented the two pairs of shoes she had made, “Grandson’s wife’s craftsmanship is crude – please don’t disdain them, elders.”
“What are you saying? Having this thoughtfulness is already very good.” Madam Ma smiled as she picked up the embroidered shoes. The fabric was good fabric, and the embroidery was neat and orderly. Now seeing Qin Yining, she truly found her more pleasing to look at the more she saw her.