After strolling through the entire snack street, Lu Nianfu patted her slightly full belly, feeling content and thinking it was time to head back.
But Situ Yan said, "It's a shame to go back just like this when we've come out. Since it's still early, why not stroll a bit more? Look, there's a jade ornament shop over there, how about we take a look?"
He put on a show of being wealthy, saying, "If you like anything, I'll buy it all for you."
Lu Nianfu glanced at the money pouch at his waist, reminding him, "Your Highness, gold has a price, but jade is priceless."
"Then you pick something cheaper, then." A gift is about the thought behind it, Situ Yan didn't feel there was anything wrong with his royal consort wearing jewelry under a hundred taels. He took Lu Nianfu's hand and walked towards the jade ornament shop.
The shopkeeper's face creased with smiles upon seeing their attire and immediately brought out their most prized possessions for them to choose from.
Each set was worth at least five thousand taels.
Situ Yan didn't flinch at the price. He held the items up to Lu Nianfu's body, examining them for a long time, and felt they were all quite similar.
Lu Nianfu stifled a laugh and turned to look at the small accessories displayed outside the counter.
The shopkeeper hurried to say, "Madam, these are carved from scraps, just for fun, not valuable."
"It's precisely this fun that I'm interested in. This jade rabbit pounding medicine hairpin looks nice, may I take it down to have a look?" Her delicate hand lifted slightly, her sleeve slipping down to reveal a white mutton-fat jade bracelet. Against her fair skin and white wrist, it glowed with a moist radiance, clearly indicating its considerable value.
Seeing that she wasn't someone who couldn't afford high-end goods, the shopkeeper didn't dare to slack off. He quickly took down the hairpin and asked, "Madam, this is a set. Look at these earrings and pendant, do they catch your eye?"
The posture of the rabbit pounding medicine was different, but the carving skill was equally stunning.
And the jade quality was quite good.
Lu Nianfu thought to herself that if she wore such cute items, she'd likely be ridiculed for trying to act young. But it would be a good choice to keep for her daughter to play with. "They are all good, please pack them up."
Situ Yan happily paid twenty taels of silver, then whispered that he still had money left and asked Lu Nianfu to pick out one more thing.
Lu Nianfu said, "You should save that money for wine. The next time you get money will be the Lantern Festival."
Situ Yan calculated the date and covered his money pouch.
Having eaten her fill, drunk her fill, and received a gift, Lu Nianfu took Situ Yan's hand and headed back home. After all, she was a pregnant woman, and it wasn't safe to be wandering the streets too late. As they stepped out, they saw two figures enter a restaurant, one after the other.
Lu Nianfu only recognized Ji Jin, while Situ Yan stroked his chin and said, "Is Ah Jin trying to win over his future brother-in-law?"
It turned out that the person next to Ji Jin was Feng Zhangning, or perhaps Feng Qinghua now.
He had now pledged allegiance to Situ Yan, and outwardly served as Meng Changdong's servant. In reality, Meng Changdong had taken a liking to him, thinking he had a sharp mind and could become not just a military general, but also a scholar-general in the future. Therefore, he kept him by his side to personally mentor him. Of course, his martial arts training could not be neglected either. Situ Yan had arranged for a martial arts instructor for him, a guard who had returned from Yangzhou with them, teaching him moves for survival and combat on the battlefield.
After Situ Jue's death, Feng Qinghua had intended to return to pay respects to his parents.
With his great revenge achieved, he naturally wished to appease the spirits of his mother and father in heaven. But Sheng Ge insisted on going with him, so he postponed their departure until after the spring.
Otherwise, he feared his sister's body might not be able to handle it.
Lu Nianfu whispered, "Sheng Ge visited a few days ago, and I noticed a trace of worry in his eyes. Have things still not worked out between them?"
"Who knows what Ah Jin is dawdling about? If you ask me, a life-saving debt should be repaid with a lifetime of devotion. Ah Jin avenged her father's murder, isn't that a greater debt than a life-saving one? He should just use it to his advantage."
It had a strong flavor of forceful possession.
Lu Nianfu pinched him hard, "Do you think everyone is like you?"
"I've been wronged, my dear. I didn't do that to you back then."
"Hmph, you tricked and deceived me, using the excuse of helping me guard our family business, but in the end..."
Situ Yan laughed, "Black cat, white cat, any cat that can catch a wife is a good cat. No, I have to have a good talk with Ah Jin tomorrow."
"Talk about what?"
"Naturally, the secrets to pursuing a wife?"
"Are you sure it's 'pursuing' and not 'snatching'?"
"My lady, seeing through something but not saying it aloud is a form of cultivation."