Li Wuyu was the first to snap back to reality, caught between difficulty and respect as she said, "Princess, Wuyu can’t do this."
"It’s quite simple; you watch me do it, ..." An Jing continued hoeing, teaching Li Wuyu how to ridge.
Li Wuyu learned with utmost seriousness. Although her actions and style were not like those of a woman, she also knew her place: An Jing was noble, whereas she was lowly; whatever the Princess, An Jing, asked her to do, she would naturally do it.
But Princess Linghe was still staring at the hoe in her hand, unable to snap out of it. This was seriously beyond her acceptance. She was a Commandery Princess... a Commandery Princess... a Commandery Princess...
Having taught Li Wuyu, An Jing saw that Linghe, dressed in exceptionally bright colors, was still staring at the hoe as if struck by thunder. An Jing chuckled secretly, but outwardly she pretended to be displeased and said, "Commandery Princess, why are you still standing there? Are you unwilling to help me and my husband make ridges?"
Only then did Princess Linghe snap out of it, hurriedly shaking her head, "No, no, no, it’s not that Linghe doesn’t want to help, it’s that Linghe doesn’t know how." She was a Commandery Princess! She had never done such labor!
But she couldn’t just not help; if she admitted her unwillingness, that would be showing disrespect to the King of Eternal Victory and the Changsheng Princess!
She, a mere Commandery Princess, how could she dare to disrespect the King of Eternal Victory and the Changsheng Princess?
Princess Linghe felt angry and aggrieved.
"You don’t know how? Then let Wuyu teach you." An Jing feigned ignorance of Linghe’s frustration and turned to Li Wuyu to instruct Linghe.
Li Wuyu, who had just learned herself and was still not very skilled with the hoe, was now to teach someone else? And that someone was Princess Linghe? Li Wuyu’s face showed a hint of difficulty, but there was nothing she could do; the Princess ranked above the Commandery Princess, so she would definitely listen to the Princess.
So, Li Wuyu obediently taught Linghe, but because Linghe was, after all, a Commandery Princess and more noble than her, she was extremely polite and respectful in her teaching.
Having never engaged in such labor, Linghe had no idea how to use a hoe. After a good while, she finally learned how to use it, but by then, she was covered in dirt and no longer had her earlier radiant appearance.
Her beautiful clothes and shoes were very dirty.
Looking at the hoe in her hand and then at her dirty shoes and clothes, Princess Linghe was on the verge of tears.
An Jing, seeing Linghe’s look of wanting to cry but being unable to, rejoiced inwardly.
Her gaze shifted to Li Wuyu, and seeing Li Wuyu sincerely helping her make ridges, sweating profusely without any sign of complaint, An Jing’s fondness for Li Wuyu increased by another notch.
Xiao Changyi, who had been plowing halfway, walked over to An Jing.
Seeing Xiao Changyi approaching, Linghe immediately perked up, intending to show off her best, but Xiao Changyi didn’t even spare her a glance; instead, he poured a bowl of water from the pottery jar and brought it to An Jing to drink.
Although An Jing was sweating, she was not very thirsty; after just two sips, she gave the water back to Xiao Changyi.
As usual, Xiao Changyi naturally finished the remaining water in the bowl.
Seeing An Jing and Xiao Changyi share a bowl of water, Princess Linghe’s eyes reddened with jealousy.
"My lord, please take a rest, look at how you’re sweating," An Jing said, wiping her hands on her clothes before taking out a handkerchief from her bosom to wipe the sweat from Xiao Changyi’s forehead.
"Mm," Xiao Changyi nodded, poured some water from the pottery jar to wash his hands, and then led An Jing to rest under the shade of a tree.
Li Wuyu continued making ridges.
Princess Linghe, unwilling to just make ridges, put down her hoe and also walked to the shade of the tree; then, with a polite smile to Xiao Changyi, she said, "Prince, why should you toil so hard? Even if you want to farm, you could have others do it; there’s no need for you to exert yourself personally."