Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine

   “I don’t know what’s wrong with this child but he doesn’t want to drink milk.
If he gets hungry, could you make some gruel to feed him?”

   Yu Chan nodded, but Yaoniang, who had been frowning, suddenly said, “Nevermind.
The weather isn’t as hot as before.
I will squeeze some milk out for him.
If he is hungry, feed him the milk.
How can the gruel be nourishing?” Once she finished her words, she hurried back and returned to her room.

  In the middle of her shift, Yaoniang came back and saw that Xiaobao had drunk the milk that she squeezed out.

   She breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as he was willing to drink it, everything was fine.
In fact, this saved Yaoniang a lot of worries.
Otherwise, she would be afraid that Xiaobao doesn’t have any food to eat while she works.
Going back and forth would also attract too much unwanted attention.
After all, she was working as the little princess’s nurse.

   Xiaobao knew nothing about her complicated thoughts.
He was forced to compromise because babies at his age mostly drank milk.
Xiaobao was very protective of his current small body.
He must not become a sick man in this life.

   In the afternoon, people from Siyi Courtyard came.
Consort Jin had heard that Yaoniang was back and had brought her son into the mansion.
She then sent her people to invite Yaoniang to come over and talk.

   Yaoniang took Xiaobao and went.

   When she arrived at Siyi Courtyard, Consort Jin was sitting on the bed, pruning a pot of begonia on the bedside table.

   Dressed in an autumn-coloured coat she looked slim with elegant and graceful temperament.

   It was inconvenient for Yaoniang to perform the usual greetings.
She could only hold Xiaobao and bow.
Then she stood to the side.

   Consort Jin was thoroughly preoccupied.
Her small pruning shears shuttled a few times among the lush foliage, and the flower branches continued to fall.
A basin of begonia, which originally had no shape, gradually appeared to be well arranged with her movements.

   She looked at it carefully before nodding in satisfaction.
After she put down the pair of pruning shears, she had Zi Yan and others clean her hands.
Then, she looked at Yaoniang and said, “This consort heard that you just came back.
You have led a tragic life.
Since your child is here, live well in the residence.
You mother and son will not be mistreated.”

    Consort Jin’s attitude towards Yaoniang had changed ever since that incident.
Even though she was facing Side Consort Hu’s threats, Yaoniang hadn’t betrayed her.
After that incident, Yaoniang only saw Consort Jin twice.
The first time was when Consort Jin bestowed her rewards and the second time was today.
Consort Jin looked very amiable both these two times.

   Yaoniang did not dare to be neglectful.
She had interacted with Consort Jin too much in her previous life.
She knew that the other party was a person who always had a purpose when doing things.

   “Thanking Consort for her grace.”

   Consort Jin nodded.
She looked at the Xiaobao in her arms, smiled and said, “This is your child? What a white and lovely baby.” She glanced at Zi Han, who immediately understood.
She took out a golden necklace, walked up and handed it to Yaoniang.
“This is the consort’s reward for the child.”

   Mini-theatre:

   Xiaobao: (sorrowful face) Dad, what are you doing? Why did I become the son of a street vendor?!

   Jin Wang: (facing the wind in three feet of tears) I became a peddler somehow… I am also desperate…