After speaking, Prince Jing looked at Ye Jiu and spoke again, "The Princess Consort is not an outsider, you girl should just act as usual, there’s no need for all these formalities, as if I don’t know what you are like!"
"Exactly, exactly, the Prince is right. Ye, you shouldn’t regard us as the Prince and Princess Consort, just interact with us as you normally do," said the Princess Consort of Prince Jing. As she looked at Ye Jiu’s face, the more she gazed, the more she felt Ye Jiu bore a growing resemblance to her own husband, and her gaze became increasingly affectionate, "Your name is Ye Jiu, right? Can I call you Jiujiu?"
Ye Jiu looked at the Princess Consort of Prince Jing with a puzzled expression, truly unable to fathom what this woman was thinking!
"Of course you can, Your Highness is too polite." Given the vast difference in their status, if she wanted to call her by a certain name, did Ye Jiu even have the choice to object?
"Then I shall call you Jiujiu from now on." The Princess Consort’s eyes glistened with tears as she took something out from her sleeve and handed it to Ye Jiu, "Jiujiu, you really do look so much like my husband. I came in such a hurry and didn’t bring any valuable gifts. This little item is for you, Jiujiu—please don’t disdain it."
Ye Jiu was just about to refuse when the Princess Consort already took her hand and placed the item into it.
The moment she touched it, a warm sensation spread from the palm of her hand, slowly encompassing her entire body, providing a cozy warmth amidst the cold weather.
Then came the voice of Prince Jing, clearly also filled with surprise, "The Princess Consort is really quite fond of this girl. This Warm Jade is part of your dowry, and you even hesitated to give it to Zhouzhou, yet today, you actually gave it to this girl."
"Seeing Jiujiu today, I immediately felt a deep connection in my heart. Besides, Zhouzhou, as a boy, doesn’t need such a thing. It is most fitting for a girl like Jiujiu to wear Warm Jade," the Princess Consort spoke slowly.
Only then did Ye Jiu understand the preciousness of the item in her hand and immediately refused, "Since it is the Princess Consort’s dowry and such a treasure, Ye Jiu really can’t accept something meant for others, please take it back."
As she spoke, Ye Jiu tried to return the Warm Jade, but the Princess Consort’s expression became very flustered, "No, I am already of this old age, and this jade is not much use to me anymore. Jiujiu, please accept it. Wearing it regularly is the best for nurturing a young lady’s health."
Ye Jiu wasn’t certain if there was something wrong with her perception, but she thought she saw a pleading look in the eyes of the Princess Consort!
She had only heard of people begging to receive things from others, she had never heard of anyone begging others to accept a gift.
What on earth was the Princess Consort up to?
And to make things worse, Prince Jing chimed in, "Since the Princess Consort has given it to you, just accept it. Why be so polite with me?"
Having said that, Prince Jing walked past Ye Jiu into the hall, commanding the servants there without any restraint, "Hurry up with the tea, I’ve been running all the way here, my mouth is practically smoking."
Without needing Ye Jiu’s orders and knowing the identity of Prince Jing, naturally, no one dared to neglect him.
Ye Jiu, feeling quite helpless, could only invite the Princess Consort inside, "Princess Consort, please come in."
"Alright, alright..." As she moved, the Princess Consort’s eyes still never left Ye Jiu, which confused her greatly.
Once they were all seated and the tea had been served, Prince Jing finally began discussing serious matters, "Girl, the sweet potatoes you mentioned in your letter, can they really yield such a high quantity? This is a significant matter. If it’s not true, you mustn’t make false reports because if it’s proved otherwise later on, I’m afraid even I won’t be able to protect you."