Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 807: Chapter 807: Thirteenth Luo’s Little Scheme
 

Liu Sisi pondered briefly and, instead of taking up the topic, she diverted the conversation.

“Is that so? Then, who is the miss that follows close beside your lady wife at home?”

Today, there were several people accompanying Princess Consort Luo, including Thirteenth Luo, and also a woman who was said to be the Eleventh Miss. This stirred up a bit of curiosity in Liu Sisi.

Thirteenth Luo curled her lips: “Her? She is simply my Eleventh Elder Sister. Our Luo family doesn’t have many legitimate children, but there are plenty of concubines and their children. I’m the thirteenth in the order of birth, and the youngest sister is ranked eighteenth. I was granted the title of Prefecture Princess because my mother was my father king’s succeeding wife. My mother died due to complications during the birth of my eighth brother. Before she passed away, she beseeched His Majesty to bestow upon me the title of Prefecture Princess…”

A faint sadness could be seen in Thirteenth Luo’s eyes, which was a stark contrast to her usual gentle and tender smile.

“Eighth brother? Why have I never heard you mention him before?”

“My mother passed not long afterward, and he died shortly after birth, so naturally, nobody talks about him.”

Thirteenth Luo gradually regained her usual noble gentleness and smiled lightly: “The current wife is my father king’s fourth succeeding wife, and my birth mother was the second. Lu Taiwan is the son of the first wife, and his mother and mine were blood sisters. The ten elder sisters ahead of the Eleventh have all been married off; our family is indeed very complicated.”

Liu Sisi nodded in understanding, agreeing that it was indeed complex. With eighteen daughters and over ten sons, each child growing up and getting married one after the other, managing a household was no small task. It is indeed rare that Princess Consort Luo could manage Prince Luo’s Mansion so neatly.

In the evening, Liu Sisi was still pondering over this matter.

Ms. Gao helped Liu Sisi to remove her bead ornaments and was slowly unraveling her hair when Di Yelei returned, his cheeks flushed.

“Your Honor is back, have all the gentlemen returned to the mansion?” While speaking, she hurriedly went to meet him.

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Di Yelei lowered his head to look at Liu Sisi, noting the gentleness in her eyes and brows, which made him smile.

“They’ve all left, but Big Brother Zuo had a few words he wanted to say to me, so he stayed a while longer.”

Liu Sisi raised an eyebrow upon hearing that Zuo Xingyu had something to tell Di Yelei. She was tempted to ask more, but seeing Di Yelei head into the bathroom on his own, she swallowed her imminent question.

After washing up, Di Yelei came out of the bathroom with his robe partly open, wiping his wet hair and saw that the servants like Ms. Gao had already left the room. Only Liu Sisi was casually combing her hair, and the bedding was neatly spread at the head of the bed.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

“I am about to; I was just getting ready for bed.”

Though Liu Sisi spoke, her seated figure did not move an inch.

Even though Liu Sisi had been married to Di Yelei for some years, his absence had stretched close to five years. She hadn’t felt it so much while fleeing for her life, and last night he was so drunk he was like a dead pig, so naturally, Liu Sisi didn’t feel any psychological pressure. As for feeling estranged, the two had been intimate the previous day, but that sense of awkwardness was still quietly spreading.

Di Yelei looked at her and, instead, sat down boldly on the stool in front of her, and began wringing out his hair on his own.

“Was anything interesting happening on the ladies’ side during the daytime?”

“You wouldn’t believe it, but there actually was. Today at noon, Prefecture Princess Luo mentioned that Madam of Gan Family talked to her about Xuan’er…”

Once the floodgates of conversation opened, Liu Sisi felt less awkward and recounted the events of today.

“I noticed Thirteen’s expression was quite unusual, and considering that Xuan’er has been in the capital for nearly five years, even though he stayed in Prince Luo’s Mansion for less than a year before moving to Elder Di’s Residence, and then to Assistant Minister Di’s Residence after Eldest Uncle’s arrival, there was still a significant amount of time from Macheng County to the capital, and then living in Luo’s residence,” she said.

Di Yelei paused in drying his hair, “What are you trying to say?” he asked, his eyebrows involuntarily raising.

“It’s just that every time Thirteen mentions Xuan’er, her expression changes from the norm. I don’t know if Thirteen has taken a liking to Xuan’er. But I couldn’t bring myself to ask Thirteen directly. Besides, I heard a few days ago that Xuan’er plans to attend the imperial examination this year, and I was worried that bringing up this matter might affect his official career, especially at such a critical time, since Your Honor has returned to the capital…”

Liu Sisi began to speak more smoothly, as if the words she had been holding back in her heart came tumbling out all at once.

After contemplating with knitted brows for a while, Di Yelei looked up and asked, “I remember Thirteen seems to be older than Xuan’er, isn’t she? Is it possible she was already betrothed, as it’s common for these royal relatives and nobles to engage their children at a young age and marry after three or five years.”

“Thirteen is two and a half years older than Xuan’er. There’s a saying that ‘a woman three years older is like a golden brick,’ if they are truly in love, I was thinking of perhaps sounding out Princess Consort Luo’s intentions. But Xuan’er is, after all, your eldest son, and it’s only right and proper that I inform you of this first.”

“We’ve been husband and wife for more than a day or two, why are you suddenly so distant with me? Hmm!”

Di Yelei suddenly let out a light laugh, stretched out his iron arm and pulled Liu Sisi into his embrace, startling her with a yelp, which in turn caused him to laugh heartily several times. His bear-like paw then reached into her collar.

“Your Honor, don’t…”

Liu Sisi’s face flushed red, her struggles proved futile against his strength. Di Yelei pressed her onto his thigh and ravished her with vigor; by the time he let her go, she was already gasping for breath.

“This is your punishment. Let’s see if you dare to address me so coldly next time,” Di Yelei’s throat rumbled with muffled laughter.

Liu Sisi, with her face still a rosy shade, glared at him, finally managing to steady her breathing while slumped in the crook of his arm.

“What do you think about that matter? Should we draw up a plan?” She still couldn’t let go of the matter concerning Di Xuan.

Di Yelei, however, seemed indifferent, “You decide. Even if the two of them are indeed interested in each other, it won’t be easy to bring this to fruition. If our two families were to form a marriage alliance now, not to mention outsiders, I’m afraid it won’t be easy with His Majesty either.”

One was a prince of separate descent, and the other a newly-titled marquis. A marriage alliance between the two families would definitely require the grace and permission of His Majesty or the Empress to proceed. With this in mind, the marriage wouldn’t be easy to arrange.

“So Your Honor means to wait for a more opportune moment to mention it?”

Di Yelei shook his head, “I’m afraid that while we can wait, the Prefecture Princess cannot. For now, sound out Xuan’er’s feelings and see what Prince Luo thinks. A marriage alliance with Prince Luo would indeed be a magnificent affair if it could be achieved.”

Yet good things often come with challenges!

“That’s good. However, the Gan Family has also brought their daughter to the capital, it seems they too intend on a marriage alliance. I’ll first sound out Xuan’er’s thoughts…” she murmured.

The matter was thus settled. Di Yelei could wait no longer. He rose to his full height, scooped up Liu Sisi in his arms, and strode towards the prepared bed, all the while silencing her still chattering little mouth.

The fire was lit, and soon the room was brimming with the fervor of spring!