Days as a Wet Nurse in the Jiang Mansion

Chapter 211

Ye Yunniang looked at her mouth in the bronze mirror; it was red, swollen, and the skin was even broken.She glared fiercely at Jiang Mingzhe.

How was she supposed to see anyone like this?

"My wife is too delicious, I just couldn't hold back." Jiang Mingzhe's words made Ye Yunniang glare at him again, urging him to think of a solution. "You made it swell, you figure out a way to fix it."

Jiang Mingzhe called for the carriage to stop.

"What are you getting out for?" Ye Yunniang was puzzled.

Jiang Mingzhe quickly came back in holding a snowball.

"It's cold, throw it away quickly," Ye Yunniang said, handing the hand warmer beside her to Jiang Mingzhe.

Don't let your hands freeze.

Jiang Mingzhe didn't take it; instead, he brought the snowball close to Ye Yunniang's mouth.

"Hiss—" Ye Yunniang dodged backward, it was too icy.

"To reduce the swelling," Jiang Mingzhe explained.

Ye Yunniang looked at the snowball, then raised the mirror to look at her mouth again.

Enduring the cold, she pouted and leaned her head toward the snowball.

As her slightly swollen, moist red lips got closer and closer, Jiang Mingzhe tightened his grip on the snowball.

What her lips touched wasn't ice, but skin.

"You... mm..."

The carriage hanging the Jiang family plaque stopped at the palace gates. Jiang Mingzhe got out first, stood firm, and then helped Ye Yunniang down.

Ye Yunniang kept a straight face and pursed her lips tightly.

She didn't want to make eye contact with anyone.

"Wife, you'll attract more attention like this."

"It's all your fault." He had said he would use snow to reduce the swelling, but he ended up crushing it all.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's my fault." Jiang Mingzhe held Ye Yunniang's hand.

Ye Yunniang felt a chill.

"Qiushuang, bring the hand warmer."

Qiushuang, who was in the carriage, quickly handed out the hand warmer.

Ye Yunniang took it and handed it to Jiang Mingzhe.

"I'm not cold." Jiang Mingzhe didn't take it.

Ye Yunniang stuffed the hand warmer into Jiang Mingzhe's hands.

"Hold it properly," Ye Yunniang instructed. "If you catch a cold, I will be angry."

"Alright, I'll listen to my wife."

Ye Yunniang then stuffed another one to Nanny Lu, as older people are afraid of the cold.

Qiushuang had internal energy to protect her body and didn't need one.

They lined up to be inspected before entering the palace.

Upon entering the palace gates, male and female family members had to separate.

Ye Yunniang took Nanny Lu and Qiushuang, following the leading eunuch into the inner palace.

She was very curious about the imperial palace, but Ye Yunniang didn't dare to look around wildly, keeping her eyes fixed three inches ahead.

Her ears, however, were perked up high, listening to the sounds around her.

It was very quiet, with only the slight, faint sound of footsteps stepping on the floorboards.

The eunuch led them to a very large courtyard, where the sounds of stringed and woodwind instruments and people talking could be heard from inside.

As they got closer, they felt the heat flowing out from the room.

The warmth inside made them involuntarily quicken their pace.

When closer, Ye Yunniang smelled a rich fragrance.

It instantly reminded Ye Yunniang of the rich, nose-tickling scent in Old Madam Jiang's room at the Jiang household.

Ye Yunniang held her breath and slowed down, adapting to the fragrance to avoid her nose itching and sneezing.

Entering the main hall, her whole body warmed up.

Ye Yunniang unfastened her cloak and handed it to Qiushuang.

The important figures hadn't arrived yet, and the female guests who had arrived were walking around and talking.

As Ye Yunniang was looking for a corner to sit in.

Zhong Zhaoli walked over, "Sister Yun is here. My mother is inside, I'll take you to her."

After the Jiang family and the Prince Jing's Mansion officially recognized each other as adopted relatives, Zhong Zhaoli changed her address and called Ye Yunniang "Sister Yun".

Ye Yunniang followed Zhong Zhaoli to the area where the female members of the Duke Zhong's Mansion were seated.

"Mother, I brought Sister Yun."

Ye Yunniang bowed as a junior.

"Don't stand on ceremony, come sit."

"Thank you, Madam."

"You and Zhaoli have an unusual relationship, just call me Auntie."

"Auntie," Ye Yunniang corrected herself.

"Ah, have a seat," Chu Yuling greeted Ye Yunniang, having her sit beside her.

"Alright," Ye Yunniang sat down.

Zhong Zhaoli also naturally sat beside her and noticed Ye Yunniang's swollen mouth up close.

"Sister Yun, why is your mouth swollen?"

"Is it?" Ye Yunniang feigned confusion, feeling panicked inside about how to explain it.

"She caught a chill from the wind. Have a cup of hot tea to warm up," Chu Yuling spoke up, easing Ye Yunniang's awkwardness.

"Alright, I'll have some tea," Ye Yunniang lowered her head to drink tea, avoiding Chu Yuling's knowing gaze.

Chu Yuling used her eyes to stop Zhong Zhaoli from asking further, but secretly sighed in her heart at how good the relationship was between Ye Yunniang and Jiang Mingzhe.

The reason Chu Yuling had Zhong Zhaoli call Ye Yunniang over to her side was that Jiang Mingzhe had sent a generous gift to the Duke Zhong's Mansion, requesting Chu Yuling to look after his wife a little at the palace banquet.

Having accepted the generous gift, Chu Yuling naturally had to do the job.

Chu Yuling took the initiative to introduce Ye Yunniang to the backgrounds of the female guests at the banquet, briefly mentioning the political views of their husbands and sons in the royal court.

Ye Yunniang listened attentively, comparing it with what she already knew.

Ye Yunniang's earnest attitude toward learning made Chu Yuling very satisfied, so she explained a bit more.

As they were talking, Tong Tiemei walked over and also spoke to Ye Yunniang.

The Duchess of Zhong and the Princess Consort of Jing both treated an unfamiliar lady so well. Many people at the banquet were curious about who Ye Yunniang was.

Someone introduced her, and soon the whole capital knew who Ye Yunniang was.

The gazes evaluating her contained both curiosity and disdain.

"Don't mind these looks. When I married Xiao Luo's father, the way they looked at me was like looking at the mud on the ground," Tong Tiemei used herself to comfort Ye Yunniang.

"I don't mind."

Ye Yunniang always remembered Cai Damei's words: she, Ye Yunniang, wasn't gold, and couldn't be liked by everyone.

Just remember those who like you. As for those who don't, treat them like bugs on the ground.

Normally, there's no need to pay attention to them. But once they don't know what's good for them, just crush them to death.

Ye Yunniang felt this made a lot of sense and had always acted this way.

After hearing this, Tong Tiemei once again felt pity for Bao Min.

Cai Damei was a good woman, but Bao Min failed to hold onto her.

"Before Xiao Min left, he left a New Year's gift for Shushu."

"I'll tell Mother when I go back."

"The Empress Dowager has arrived—"

"The Empress has arrived—"

The eunuch's unique sharp voice made everyone in the room quickly put away their smiles and return to their seats.

Ye Yunniang returned to the seat of the Earl Su Yan's Mansion and bowed to welcome them like the other female guests.

Ye Yunniang bowed down, waiting for the noble ladies to enter the room and take their seats.

Then she heard a "Dispense with the formalities."

Ye Yunniang slowly stood up with the others and sat down.

Nanny Lu and Qiushuang stood diagonally behind Ye Yunniang.

Ye Yunniang's seat was a little toward the front in the middle of the hall.

She heard the Empress speak, summarizing the hard work of the past year and looking forward to the coming year...

After the Empress finished speaking, the banquet began.

First came the song and dance performances by the Music Bureau.

Then came the talent displays of the young ladies from various families.

Ye Yunniang enjoyed the performances and tasted the delicacies. Ye Yunniang felt that the information she had gathered was a bit off.

The food wasn't cold.

Except for the side dishes and cold foods, every hot dish was kept warm by charcoal fire.

Ye Yunniang could enjoy the food with peace of mind.

The imperial chefs' skills were truly excellent, and Ye Yunniang ate with great satisfaction.

When the performances ended, it was almost midnight.

The Emperor arrived with his ministers.

Jiang Mingzhe walked over to Ye Yunniang, sat down beside her, and carefully looked her over.

"No one bullied me."

"Did you eat?" Ye Yunniang held Jiang Mingzhe's hand; it was a bit cold.

Looking again, the hand warmer was gone.

"Where is the hand warmer?"

"I gave it to Prince Jing." Jiang Mingzhe wasn't cold. He had run into Prince Jing on the way.

He gave the hand warmer he was holding to Prince Jing.

Ye Yunniang stuffed the hand warmer from her embrace into Jiang Mingzhe's hands.

"Hold it properly, don't give it to anyone else again."

"Alright, I'll listen to my wife," Jiang Mingzhe agreed.

"The dishes are quite good," Ye Yunniang said to Jiang Mingzhe, pointing out which one was her favorite.

Jiang Mingzhe listened earnestly, picking up his chopsticks to taste the dish Ye Yunniang had mentioned. The flavor was indeed wonderful.

The couple leaned against each other, chatting softly about the fine food.

This continued until the midnight bell tolled.

Jiang Mingzhe and Ye Yunniang left the imperial palace, riding a horse-drawn carriage back to the Earl of Suyan's Estate.

Cai Damei was waiting for them.

After ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‍a brief exchange of words, Cai Damei went back to her room to rest.

Ye Yunniang and Jiang Mingzhe also returned to their own courtyard and went their separate ways to wash up.

After finishing her routine, Ye Yunniang returned to the bedroom.

Jiang Mingzhe was drinking chicken soup.