Chapter 4: The Palace Has Sent Someone

Xiaoyue had a general idea now. Her daughter from her past life was an extraordinary expert named Ruo Xi, and she also had a master.

Her daughter came with the memories of her past life, possessing boundless abilities and knowledge of both ancient and modern times.

"Your Highness, there's another piece of good news!" Hongmei teased.

"Hmm? What else could it be?" Xiaoyue looked up at Hongmei, smiled, and asked.

"Hmm, Mother is indeed a great beauty; her smile is truly captivating!" Ruo Xi thought as she woke up and saw her mother's stunning face. Even looking up from below, she was amazed. However, she furrowed her tiny brows: "I wonder what that scoundrel father looks like? Is he worth Mother's love?"

Scoundrel father?

Xiaoyue remembered what Dong Ju had told her recently. These days, the general would go out every night and often not return until morning.

Because she was pregnant, Shangguan Jinghong said he was afraid of disturbing her at night, so they had been sleeping in separate rooms for months.

"Princess!" Just as Xiaoyue was deep in thought, a familiar voice made her tremble.

"Jin Mama?" Xiaoyue reached out to lift the blanket and get out of bed.

"Oh no, my princess, please don't move, don't move!" Jin Mama hurried forward, bent down, and pressed Xiaoyue back down, saying, "The Empress Dowager heard you gave birth and got so excited that she spilled her tea!"

"I..." Xiaoyue's tears fell uncontrollably again.

"Now, Your Highness, let's not talk about anything else. Look how thin you've become. This old servant will make sure to nourish you well. After your confinement period, we'll go to the palace and the Empress Dowager will be delighted to see you." Jin Mama gently patted Xiaoyue's hand and spoke softly.

Ruo Xi observed Jin Mama. She wasn't very old, probably around forty, with a clean and kind face. Being someone from the palace and close to the Empress Dowager, even dressed in ordinary clothes and plain attire, one could sense her elegance and nobility.

"Seeing this Mama's face, she seems quite decisive. Good, now she can protect Mother. With Mother safe, perhaps she can help Uncle Emperor too. After all, there are still three years left, no rush!" Ruo Xi hummed contentedly.

Xiaoyue heard her daughter praise Jin Mama and looked down at her with a smile on her lips: her daughter was indeed wise, able to discern Jin Mama's qualities at a glance.

"This must be the little county princess. She looks just like the princess when she was young, so beautiful!" Jin Mama picked up Ruo Xi and couldn't help but praise her.

Even a great demoness loves compliments.

Ruo Xi felt pleased and grinned at Jin Mama.

"Oh, the little county princess smiled at this old servant! How wonderful, how wonderful!" Jin Mama hugged the little county princess, feeling overjoyed.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

A coughing sound came from nearby.

"Hmm?" Jin Mama turned and saw a little boy crawling down from a chair, pale-faced and listless, staggering as he walked. She put down the little county princess and asked, "Princess, is this... the little marquis?"

She had long heard that the little marquis was premature, unable to speak or cry since birth, and didn't even know how to relieve himself. The Empress Dowager often sent people to the general's residence to inquire, but they never saw the little marquis, nor did they know if the medicines brought were effective.

"Lin'er, come here!" Xiaoyue waved her son over.

Xiao Ruilin stood still, shrinking his neck.

"Come on, dear, come to Mother!" Jin Mama stepped forward and picked up the little marquis, carrying him to the bed.

Seeing her son's pale lips, Xiaoyue's eyes brightened.

"Lin'er, come, play with your sister a bit more." Xiaoyue held her son's hand, her face filled with hope: "Look, isn't your sister adorable?"

Xiao Ruilin stared at his sister, his eyes blank.

"Long-term poisoning cannot be cured overnight. We'll take it slowly. At least Mother seems to have gained some skills and might be able to protect Brother." With these thoughts, the newborn baby nestled deeper into her swaddling and continued sleeping.

"Princess, are you nursing personally?" Seeing the scene in the room, Jin Mama asked, her expression turning cold.

"Yes, I plan to nurse Xi'er myself." Xiaoyue nodded.

"Hongmei, Dong Ju, has someone come from the palace?" A voice called out from outside. Hongmei opened the door and heard the person scolding, "Why didn't the visitors pass through the front hall first? They should inform the matriarch! This is unacceptable!"

"Hmph, I didn't know that even before the princess, someone would dare to set rules!" Jin Mama rose and walked out.

Baby Ruo Xi, who had almost fallen asleep, suddenly felt a pinch on her small hand, which woke her up in pain.

She saw Xiao Ruilin's handsome little face, but his face was full of panic and fear. If not for that, Ruo Xi might have thought her elixir had worked and he had recovered.

"Lin'er, what's wrong?" Xiaoyue immediately grabbed her son's shoulders and frowned, "Are you afraid of the steward?"

"It seems this steward is no good. He must have hurt Brother. Sigh, if only I still had my powers, I would teach him a lesson." Baby Ruo Xi clenched her tiny fists.

Xiaoyue tightly embraced her son, biting her lip and making a silent vow: No matter what, she would protect her children!

Even her little daughter knew to protect her brother, yet she, as a mother, had allowed this to continue for so long. She truly shouldn't have!

Outside, the steward Lai Fu's voice sounded again.

"May I ask which palace nanny you are? Our matriarch invites you for tea!" Lai Fu's tone was neither respectful nor sincere, even somewhat sarcastic.

"Hmph, does the matriarch know that the one who just gave birth is the current Princess Royal? Why doesn't she come to personally care for her? There's not even a wet nurse, yet she wants to maintain her airs and have me go to her for greetings?" Jin Mama's voice rose sharply, filled with stern rebuke.

She was furious. She had heard that the princess lived poorly in the general's residence, but whenever the Empress Dowager summoned General Shangguan, he always claimed everything was fine.

Even Shangguan Jinghong's demeanor was disliked by the Empress Dowager, who considered him a sycophant.

"I didn't mean it that way, Mama. You misunderstood." Seeing Jin Mama's sternness, Lai Fu became uneasy and smiled faintly, saying, "Regardless, the matriarch is a first-class lady. As a nanny, it's proper for you to greet her."