Gong You’s wife, Jiang Shi, was in her early forties—a tall, full-figured middle-aged woman who still retained her charm. However, despite retaining her charm, Jiang Shi’s age was obviously much greater than Gong You’s at first glance.

Gong You had no sons, only three daughters. His eldest and second daughters had already married and left home. Jiang Shi lived in the rear quarters with Gong You’s youngest daughter, Gong Miao, and mother and daughter together cared for Old Madam Gong.

Pang Xiao and Gong You were discussing in the office what they should do next.

Qin Yining brought Bingtang and Ji Yun and followed Jiang Shi into the rear quarters.

“The princess consort has endured the hardships of travel, which must have been truly exhausting. In a moment, this humble wife will have people prepare hot water for the princess consort to wash up, so you can relax a bit.”

Qin Yining smiled and shook her head, saying, “Madam Gong, please don’t be so courteous. Now is a time of disaster, and the earth dragon’s turning will certainly have made the well water turbid. The water that can be settled clear should be kept for drinking. As for bathing and washing up, those aren’t urgent.”

Jiang Shi was quite surprised upon hearing this.

In her lifetime, she had never seen a girl as exquisitely beautiful as Qin Yining. She had originally thought that with her beauty, she must have been arrogant before marriage, and now as a princess consort, her arrogance would be doubled, making her even more difficult to serve. Who knew her judgment would be so wrong.

Qin Yining continued, “I heard that the old madam is also in the rear quarters. Please, madam, introduce me to her. I would like to go and pay my respects to the old madam.”

Jiang Shi became even more surprised upon hearing this. “The princess consort has such noble status—it should be us coming to pay our respects to the princess consort.”

“What are you saying, madam? I am young and a junior, so naturally I should greet my elders. Should I really have the elderly come to greet me? That would be too much for me to bear. Moreover, Lord Gong has steadfastly defended the old capital—both the prince and I greatly admire him. The old madam who raised such a loyal and virtuous minister as Lord Gong deserves great credit. Both publicly and privately, it should be me going to pay my respects to the old madam.”

Jiang Shi felt both comforted and moved upon hearing this.

She had originally worried about serving such a difficult master, but it turned out to be such an understanding person—this was truly an unexpected joy for her.

“Since the princess consort puts it this way, if I obstinately refuse, it would seem distant instead.”

“Exactly so. In the future, the prince and I will inevitably impose upon you for some time. If Madam Gong remains so courteous, we won’t feel comfortable living here either. The prince and Lord Gong fight side by side—they are colleagues and friends. Since they are so close, we naturally shouldn’t be distant either.”

“The princess consort speaks truly.”

Jiang Shi smiled and said, “My daughter Miao’er is currently keeping her grandmother company. If the princess consort doesn’t mind, shall we go together?”

“I’m grateful for your trouble, madam.”

Jiang Shi then led Qin Yining around a corner, walking toward the main house of the rear courtyard’s cross-courtyard.

As they walked, she introduced, “This is the place. Usually the lord and I live in the side rooms, and my mother-in-law lives in the main room. My mother-in-law comes from a scholarly farming family and is very reasonable and understanding. She treats me like her own daughter. I’m worthless—I only bore the lord three daughters. My mother-in-law never pressured the lord to take concubines because she wanted grandsons. After giving birth in my youth, I gained weight and became quite unsightly. My mother feared the lord would despise me, so she sent two slender courtesans. But the lord immediately had them sold off, saying the family was poor and couldn’t afford to support extra people.”

At this point, Jiang Shi suddenly came to her senses. While she was chatting familiarly to show closeness, she didn’t know whether Prince Zhongshun had any concubines. If Prince Zhongshun had a bunch of wives, yet she was showing off in front of the princess consort about how faithful her husband was and how good her in-laws were, wouldn’t that be slapping the princess consort in the face?

Jiang Shi secretly hated herself for speaking so directly—this habit of speaking without consideration hadn’t changed in all these years.

Who knew that Qin Yining would smile at this moment and say, “Indeed, birds of a feather flock together—no wonder the prince and Lord Gong get along so well. My mother-in-law and great-mother-in-law also treat me like their own daughter. The prince absolutely refuses to touch even half a flower in any garden. Though my great-mother-in-law is quite formidable—if the prince really acted that way, my great-mother-in-law might even beat him up.”

“Really? There’s such a formidable elderly person?”

“Indeed.”

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Jiang Shi felt much more at ease in her heart, and her impression of the couple Pang Xiao and Qin Yining improved further, because Jiang Shi felt that people who were filial to their elders couldn’t have too poor character. Although Prince Zhongshun had a fierce reputation outside, how could all the rumors from outside be believed?

The two ascended the steps, and Jiang Shi led Qin Yining into the room. “Mother, Princess Consort Zhongshun has come.”

Qin Yining followed closely behind, taking in all the somewhat old but not worn tables and chairs and simple furnishings in the room, gaining further understanding of Gong You’s integrity.

On a daybed positioned by the window in the room, an elderly woman about seventy with graying hair was putting on her shoes to get down from the bed, with a girl who looked about ten years old helping the old lady put on her shoes.

Old Madam Gong’s hair was simply secured in a bun with a silver comb, and she wore a azure-colored fine cotton long dress. Her appearance was quite plain—even less adorned than some favored servants in wealthy households in the capital.

However, on her thin face hung a kind smile that immediately made people feel this old lady must be a good-hearted and benevolent elder.

Qin Yining didn’t wait for the old woman to bow and curtsied first: “I greet Old Madam Gong.”

“Oh my, get up quickly, get up quickly. How can this be proper? This old woman cannot bear the princess consort’s courtesy.”

“Old madam, you are too polite. You are an elder, and as a junior imposing upon an elder, I should naturally bow to you.”

“Please rise quickly. Third daughter-in-law, help her up quickly.”

“Yes!” Jiang Shi took Qin Yining’s arm to help her rise, then turned to support her mother-in-law to sit down, smiling. “Mother, the princess consort isn’t that kind of person. You can be at ease.”

Old Madam Gong smiled as she looked at Qin Yining, secretly praising what a lovely girl, but then thought again—if she weren’t lovely, how could she become a princess consort?

Since Qin Yining’s age was exactly that of Old Madam Gong’s granddaughter, and Qin Yining was modest, courteous, and didn’t put on airs, plus she was patient with elderly people and knew how to make them comfortable, after just a brief chat, Old Madam Gong became particularly fond of Qin Yining.

Old Madam Gong also introduced the girl beside her to Qin Yining: “This is my youngest granddaughter, Miao’er.”

Gong Miao was quite thin, and when looking at people her eyes were timid and somewhat shy of strangers, but she still offered a curious yet friendly smile, curtsied, and called out “Princess Consort.”

Qin Yining then placed a white jade bracelet on Gong Miao’s wrist. “It’s nothing precious—Miao’er can play with it.”

During this period of staying at the government office, she would inevitably impose upon the host family, so by both sentiment and reason she should give Gong Miao a meeting gift.

Both Old Madam Gong and Jiang Shi repeatedly declined, but in the end, under Qin Yining’s gentle reassurance, they found the kindness too difficult to refuse.

“Princess Consort.”

At this moment, Ji Yun’s voice came from outside the door.

Qin Yining smiled and asked, “What is it?”

“The prince requests the princess consort to come to the front for a discussion.”

“I understand.” Qin Yining then rose to take her leave. “I’ll go first. When I have leisure, I’ll come disturb you again.”

Old Madam Gong and Jiang Shi now looked upon Qin Yining with even greater admiration, because for such serious matters, the prince would actually allow a woman to participate—this meant either he doted on her extremely, or she had exceptional talent and could earn the prince’s respect and reliance.