"Madam, the Commandery Princess has arrived."
Song Ci was learning to mix scents with Lin Qing when she heard the maid’s announcement. She immediately smiled and said, "Please, let her in."
Niu Pan’er walked in and greeted Song Ci with a bow, "Mother." She spared Lin Qing from the formal greeting.
Song Ci smiled and motioned her to skip the formalities, asking, "Weren’t you and Sir Lang off to see your father off? Why are you back so soon?"
"Yes, we set off early since the sky was clear, so we didn’t delay." Niu Pan’er sat down, looking at the table full of spices, and said, "Am I interrupting your pastime?"
"Not at all, I’ve nothing much to do, so I’ve been learning scent mixing with her. Otherwise, with this cold weather, they wouldn’t allow me to wander aimlessly in the garden." Song Ci said with a hint of melancholy, "This old body of mine is only fit to stay indoors."
Lin Qing teasingly said, "The weather will only get colder, even more so than last year. I reckon the first snow in the capital will come earlier this year. Your health is weak, you need to keep warm to avoid catching a chill, otherwise, when the time comes to take medicine, you won’t be willing, right?"
"You are the Doctor, how can I argue with you?" Song Ci rubbed her slightly stiff fingers and said, "It’s indeed a bit cold. Pan’er, on your father’s journey, he might encounter snow and wind."
"It’s inevitable to encounter such weather. As long as it’s not continuous blizzards blocking the mountain roads, he should arrive safely." Niu Pan’er took the spatula from her hand to help with portioning, though her words carried a hint of worry.
Song Ci quickly said, "Your father is still strong despite his age, surely he will arrive safely."
Song Ci eyed her face, raised an eyebrow, and with a smile, touched her face, saying, "Since coming home, you’ve become more vibrant. This harmony of yin and yang is truly more effective than any jade cream!"
Niu Pan’er’s face turned red, a bit shy.
Lin Qing trembled, ruining the freshly mixed scent. She looked at Song Ci, amused and helpless. Official source is novel·fire.net
"To tease a daughter-in-law , you’re certainly the first, Madam. Just look at that mischievous smile, tsk."
Song Ci was entirely unaware of her daughter-in-law’s shyness and asked, "I won’t ask whether you’re getting along well or not; looking at your complexion tells it all."
"Mother..." Niu Pan’er was quite embarrassed. It was one thing to discuss such private matters, but Lin Qing was also present.
"It’s just us here, no need to worry. Previously, your health wasn’t great, and Lin Qing has been treating you for some time. Since she’s here again today, why not let her check your pulse?"
Niu Pan’er assumed she was checking if she was pregnant and said, "Mother, Sir Lang and I have just been married a few days, it’s not so soon to have good news."
"I know, I’m just checking if you’ve improved. During this month at the mansion, let Lin Qing give you acupuncture a few more times to restore your health to its best condition." Song Ci patted her hand and continued, "I’m not in a rush for grandchildren; it doesn’t matter when you have them. But considering the circumstances, it’s better for you to conceive sooner rather than later."
From Song Ci’s modern perspective, she didn’t think women should have children early.
But given Niu Pan’er’s status and the situation at Prince Dingbei’s Mansion, having a child earlier would be beneficial, ensuring someone to succeed the line and stabilize the military’s morale.
Niu Pan’er then realized her misunderstanding and said, "So that’s how it is. I’ve been following Doctor Lin’s prescription for quite some time now, and I’ve improved a lot. At least my menstrual pains have lessened, and the chill has reduced somewhat. However, I still request Doctor Lin’s help to check again."
She understood the importance of bearing a child.