The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

The Second Prince's Mansion.

The stove, made of blue bricks, steamed with the aroma of eight-treasure duck, while the official kiln porcelain bowls were stacked like a tower in the vermilion cabinet.

The eaves were hung with dried deer legs, smoked goose, cured meat...

The cooks shredded the prepared vegetables, their silver knives clattering on the cutting board.

Footsteps could be heard outside.

A maid with lightly powdered face, neatly combed hair, and a heavy gold bracelet on her wrist entered from outside.

The man glanced around, then, finding the kitchen too smoky, stopped at the doorway.

Upon seeing this, the cook quickly stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, "Miss Zijuan has arrived? What will the princess have for lunch?"

Zijuan raised her chin: "The princess has a poor appetite and has been eating little these past few days. She looks quite thin. It's all your fault, you servants, for your poor cooking skills."

This……

The cooks didn't dare to breathe loudly and all put down what they were doing.

Seeing their spineless appearance, Zijuan snorted, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and prepare some delicious dishes. If they still don't please the princess, I'll sell you all off."

With that, she spat and turned to leave.

For a while, the only sound in the kitchen was the bubbling of chicken soup that had been simmering all night.

After everyone had walked away, they looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What should I do?"

"If it were just a short stay, we could grit our teeth and endure it. But the Seventh Princess shows no sign of leaving. Could it be that she's going to settle down here?"

"Anyone who didn't know better would think this was a princess's residence."

The dark-faced cook in the corner stood there blankly for a moment, then suddenly slammed the cleaver into the cutting board, took off her apron, and walked out.

Some people guessed what she was going to do.

"Quick, stop her. Don't be foolish, and don't cause any more trouble."

"The mistress doesn't manage things much. Even if she wanted to help, she couldn't bear to, and she was powerless to do so. The Seventh Princess is the Second Prince's own sister, much closer than her, his wife."

The Second Prince's Consort is known for her elegant and noble appearance.

But everyone in the household knew that she was having a hard time.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Over here, Yao Ru was playing with the baby in the cradle, gently shaking a rattle drum in her hand.

The old woman behind her saw that her eyes were gentle, as if the gloom that had been suppressed for many years had dissipated, like a beautiful jade that had been covered in dust, and was able to see the light of day.

The old woman was extremely uneasy.

It should be noted that the mistress fainted upon learning of the death of Prince Yan.

When I woke up, no one was there.

It was as if they didn't even care about their most beloved young master, and wanted to go with Prince Yan.

Can……

That was also that day.

The mistress suddenly recovered without anyone noticing.

She was no longer distressed.

I ate half a bowl more rice than usual for dinner.

So much so that the old woman and the maids serving in the room all thought that Yao Ru was going crazy because she couldn't take the shock.

After observing for the past few days, the old woman felt it didn't seem like it.

She asked cautiously.

"What joyous occasion does the mistress have?"

"I've noticed that you look much more energetic these days."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ru merely raised her eyes slightly.

She smiled, no longer looking as gloomy as usual.

"Indeed... there is good news."

But she had no intention of mentioning anything more.

The old woman didn't want to get to the bottom of it.

Even after thinking it over, nothing unusual had happened in the past few days.

but.

When a person is relaxed and at ease, half of their mental health issues can be alleviated.

"Mistress".

The maid Xunzhu came in from outside: "Miss Yang is here again."

Yao Ru frowned.

She didn't really like Yang Jingshu.

Among unmarried noble ladies, Yang Jingshu was considered quite stable. But Yao Ru had seen far too many different kinds of people; in her eyes, Yang Jingshu was no match.

They are still young and don't know how to restrain themselves; their eyes are too full of utilitarianism.

Yang Jingshu had come several times, but she hadn't gotten any favors from her. However, she and the Seventh Princess got along well, sharing similar tastes.

"If she is looking for the Seventh Princess, she doesn't need to pay me a special visit. Just have your men take her there."

"It is to seek your Majesty."

Xunzhu: "General's wife, the second daughter of the Gu family has also arrived."

Yao Ru put down the rattle drum.

Her relationship with Gu Wu was nothing more than a nod when they met.

As for Yu Tingwan...

Her brows relaxed slightly: "Please come in quickly."

"Yes."

While waiting for her summons outside the Second Prince's residence, Yu Tingwan tiptoed and casually glanced at the house next door. Tsk.

They're really close together.

After Xunzhu respectfully came over to lead the way, she stepped into the Second Prince's residence.

Yu Tingwan did not look back or forth.

She's quite busy.

He started by talking to Xunzhu.

"Did your wife not have a proper postpartum recovery period? Did you have a doctor examine her?"

She was surprised that she would ask that question.

But thinking back to when the Crown Prince was being buried, it was the General's wife who couldn't bear to watch and had Tan Jiang, who was by her side, help the mistress walk.

Then it didn't seem strange anymore.

The general's wife is such a good person.

"Please."

"My health has improved a lot, but it's still not the same as before."

Standing for a long time makes me tired, and I often experience back pain and feel cold.

Yu Tingwan indicated that she understood.

She looked at Yang Jingshu.

"Miss Yang."

Yang Jingshu: ? ? ?

She was somewhat wary.

Yu Tingwan: "You're too close to me."

Yu Tingwan said innocently, "I'm afraid you're going to hurt me."

Gu Wu: ! !

She quickly stepped in and separated Yang Jingshu and Yu Tingwan.

His eyes were unfriendly, flashing with coldness.

She knew that the inner quarters of the Yang family were filthy.

"Yang Jingshu, I advise you not to have any improper thoughts."

Yang Jingshu?
She almost laughed in anger.

Why would I want to hurt her?

"You're poisonous."

"With so many of you, how can I..."

Gu Wu said impatiently, "Alright, who's going to listen to what you're saying?"

So much talk!

After saying that, she turned her head and looked at Yu Tingwan.

His tone softened immediately.

"Sister, don't be afraid."

Yang Jingshu's expression twisted for a moment.

The delicate Yu Tingwan nodded obediently, blinked her eyes, took out a walnut, and peeled the kernel as she walked.

It didn't take long.

"Miss Yang."

Yang Jingshu didn't want to pay any attention to her.

Yu Tingwan is such a troublemaker!
Yu Tingwan frowned: "You're too far away from me again."

Isn't this what you asked for?

Yu Tingwan said weakly, "That would make outsiders misunderstand me as difficult to get along with, isolate you, and dislike you."

She had a very good reason.

Gu Wu thought it made a lot of sense.

question.

"Yang Jingshu, are you deliberately trying to ruin my sister's reputation?"

"I don't expect you to be kind, but at least show some decency. What did my sister do to you?"

Yang Jingshu: ? ? ?

She's been provoking me!
Are you blind?!
Her hands were shaking.

She was so angry at these two scoundrels that she almost laughed.

Meanwhile, Yao Ru was already waiting in the courtyard.

She wasn't familiar with Yu Tingwan, but she remembered a favor she had done for her.

Hearing a noise outside, Yao Ru looked up.

But it wasn't Yu Tingwan and the others.

Instead, it was the cook in the kitchen who was stopped by the maid guarding the courtyard.

"Mother!"

"Let go, don't stop me!"

Two or three cooks chased after her and pulled her back.

“Zhang Gui’s wife, come back with me and don’t cause any more trouble. If the Seventh Master finds out you’ve caused trouble and says even a bad word about her, she won’t let you off the hook.”

The dark-faced woman wouldn't listen: "Let go!"

It was noisy and chaotic.

(End of this chapter)