Chapter 5: Favoritism

Late spring and early summer painted a picturesque scene. The pavilions and towers were half-hidden among lush green branches. The garden was fragrant with pomegranate and osmanthus blooms, while clusters of jasmine and hibiscus blossomed. Koi swam leisurely in the pond, and lotus leaves spread a verdant carpet.

However, the serene beauty of Qing Garden contrasted sharply with the bustling activity within. Second Madam Li Jiaoying, known for her delicate temperament, was wailing to the point of hoarseness. Qin-shi and Tong Mingyu busied themselves with comforting her, their efforts leaving them drenched in sweat. Tong Mingyu thought to herself that even giving birth to twins hadn’t been this exhausting. Finally, at noon, Li Jiaoying gave birth to an eight-pound baby boy—the sixth young master of the Xiao family.

“Waa, waa…” The cries of a newborn emanated from the birthing room.

“Why is she still crying when the child has already been born?” Only Qin-shi’s patience could withstand such a situation. In any other household, a daughter-in-law wouldn’t dare act this way, let alone have her mother-in-law coax her. Xiao Jingtai glanced awkwardly at his wife and said, “I’ll go take a look.”

Inside, Li Jiaoying’s wet nurse was pacing anxiously. When she saw the young master enter, she breathed a sigh of relief but didn’t know what to say.

“You all can leave now.” Xiao Jingtai dismissed the attendants, then sat by the bedside and spoke softly, “Don’t overthink it. Get some proper rest and stop crying. Our son is absolutely adorable. If he knew you cried after giving birth to him, he’d surely feel sad.”

“I… I’m not crying because of him. I’m sad for A-Lang,” Li Jiaoying stammered. Of course, she loved her newborn son, but what about her other child?

“Trust me, I won’t let A-Lang marry the girl from the Fang family. Be a good girl and rest now.”

“Promise me, A-Lang mustn’t marry Miss Fang,” Li Jiaoying murmured softly, worried that her mother-in-law might overhear and be displeased.

“I promise. Don’t worry.” Xiao Jingtai wiped the sweat from her brow with gentle care.

“Well, alright then. You’ve promised. Don’t forget. I’m tired; I’ll sleep now,” she said, closing her eyes.

Although Li Jiaoying could be willful, she always listened to her husband. Xiao Jingtai, a military general frequently exposed to life-and-death dangers, valued the harmony of his household. He desired a compliant and understanding wife who could alleviate his tension upon his return home. With her charming beauty and affectionate demeanor, Li Jiaoying perfectly matched his expectations. For over a decade, their love remained as strong as ever. Despite having only one son, Xiao Lang, he never took concubines or maidservants.

When General Xiao returned to the manor, he learned of the new addition to the family. After some thought, he headed to the main hall, where Qin-shi was seated on a chaise longue, savoring her tea.

“Second son’s wife has given birth.”

“She has! Our little sixth—so fair, plump, and utterly lovable!” Qin-shi beamed with joy.

“You’ve had so many grandchildren, and you’re still this excited. How many would it take for you to be satisfied?” Xiao chuckled.

“Why would I ever think there are too many? The more, the better! It’d be wonderful if even the third son’s wife could bring some news. It’s been years,” Qin-shi murmured, her thoughts wandering.

“I have two matters to discuss with you,” General Xiao interjected, cutting off her musings. If they delved into the topic of grandchildren, she’d talk all night.

“Speak, my lord.”

“First, the Emperor has decreed that I must return to the northern frontier in ten days. However, he has promised that after my sixtieth birthday next year, I will no longer be required to return to the north and may stay in the capital permanently.”

“My lord…” Qin-shi’s voice trembled with emotion. She had long awaited this day. The harsh conditions of the northern frontier had always worried her deeply. Though it was still a year away, the prospect of her husband’s return brought her immense relief.

Living together for decades, General Xiao understood his wife’s unspoken anxieties. Over the years, as his rank rose, her insecurities as a merchant’s daughter only deepened. She had deliberately stepped back from household management, leaving the reins to their socially prominent eldest daughter-in-law. This strategy kept the family harmonious and free from strife.

“Second, regarding the betrothal to the Fang family, we’ll discuss it upon my return next year. The grandsons are still young, and waiting another year or two won’t hurt.”

“This matter was my decision alone, and I…” Qin-shi faltered, her voice filled with regret. Who could have foreseen that the once-obscure military man would rise to the rank of a second-tier general, or that their sons would excel in court?

“There will be a Xiao family member marrying a Fang girl. Rest assured, you won’t be put in a difficult position,” General Xiao stated coldly, a glint of frost in his eyes. Fang Yufu, if you’re so determined to form ties with my family, I’ll oblige. But the choice of who to marry is mine to decide.

Ten days later, the Xiao family hosted a banquet to bid farewell to General Xiao. The lively celebrations continued into the evening with a family feast. The dining hall was divided into separate tables for men and women, with even the youngest grandchildren in attendance.

The little ones provided plenty of entertainment. Xiao Jun, unable to roll over yet, lifted his head with curiosity, while Xiao Yao’s bright, lively eyes darted around in search of voices. Meanwhile, the youngest, Xiao Qi, slept soundly.

Tong Mingyu had the wet nurses place the children apart—Xiao Yao and Xiao Qi together, and Xiao Jun a little farther away.

“Why are the siblings separated, aunt?” Xiao Rui asked curiously.

Tong Mingyu, smiling, placed food on his plate. “Because Xiao Jun is quite strong and might accidentally hurt his younger siblings.”

“I see. In that case, the wet nurses should watch more carefully. We wouldn’t want little Ping’an getting hurt. That rascal is quite strong. When he’s three or four, we should start teaching him martial arts so he doesn’t bully Ping’an,” Xiao Rui replied, earning laughter from those around him.

“You’re so biased, Father. If you’re that worried, why not take Ping’an with you? That way, you can watch over her all the time,” Xiao Jingtai teased.

“I would, but Ping’an is too young, and the northern frontier too harsh,” General Xiao lamented. Turning to his eldest daughter-in-law, he said, “I’ll return in a year. Make sure little Ping’an grows plump and healthy. If she’s still so thin, I’ll take over her care myself.”

“Yes,” Tong Mingyu replied, kneeling gracefully with a smile.

“What about the grandsons? Won’t you give them some instructions too?” Xiao Jingtai protested on behalf of his son and Xiao Jun, who had both been overshadowed by the special treatment of Ping’an.

“Just take good care of them all,” General Xiao said dismissively with a wave of his hand.

Xiao Yao chuckled softly. “Grandfather, you’re not a little biased—you’re very biased. But I like it.”

“Listen, my little Ping’an is laughing! Such a sweet sound. Come, laugh again for me. So clever, truly clever!” General Xiao exclaimed, brimming with joy.

For everyone present, it was their first time hearing Xiao Yao’s laughter. They gathered around to entertain her, but surprisingly, she only reserved her genuine smiles for her grandfather and parents, offering mere politeness to others.

General Xiao left for the northern frontier amidst the reluctant farewells of his family.

Life gradually returned to normal. The only noticeable change was Tong Mingyu’s heightened attentiveness to her children. Her father-in-law had explicitly instructed her not to let Xiao Yao grow thin, and she was determined to comply.

Xiao Jun thrived, inheriting the robust constitution of the Xiao men. Xiao Qi also gained weight steadily. Xiao Yao, however, grew at a modest pace of just over a pound per month, making her three-month-old self lighter than her barely one-month-old brother. Tong Mingyu sighed, resigned to her best efforts.