Hongdi had long prepared a banquet to welcome and honor me, praising me lavishly before all the officials. Imperial Historian Liu Hua took the opportunity to suggest that His Majesty bestow an official title. Hongdi happily waved his imperial brush and conferred upon me the title of Yu Wang, putting me in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. Thereupon, the Gan Taizai faction submitted a petition, stating that Princess Jiang Yunqiao had diligently worked in the Ministry of Personnel for many years without an official title, which was unfair. Hongdi pondered briefly and then conferred the title of Ning Wang upon Jiang Yunqiao, which pleased everyone.
I gave Yunqiao a snow ferret I brought back from Xiliang.
As the climate in Nanrui was different from Xiliang and they didn’t have such animals, she held the cage, utterly fascinated. I also brought some mechanical toys, plum sugar, and tea cakes from Xiliang as gifts for her husband and A Fu.
A Fu was overjoyed, throwing himself into my arms and sweetly calling me “Auntie” several times, which made my heart bloom. I held his little face and gave him a big kiss. Yunqiao jokingly suggested adopting A Fu as my son. The moment these words were spoken, her husband’s expression stiffened, turning pale. I quickly changed the subject.
Before leaving, I entrusted Yuan Xiao and Xiao Huang to Jiang Yunqiao’s Beast Garden. In just over two months, Yuan Xiao had actually married a fox-dog in Yunqiao’s residence and had a litter of puppies. The new father Yuan Xiao was proud and spirited, his gait more nimble when coming to greet me. After my return, Yunqiao sent the fox-dog and puppies to my residence to prevent separation. Soon after moving back, Yuan Xiao carefully brought each puppy to my hand, and I understood, naming them in order: Yuan Da, Yuan Er, Yuan San…
Yuan Xiao and its fox-dog partner seemed quite satisfied with these names.
As for Xiao Huang, it remained obsessively in love with the white peacock, losing much of its feathers – a clear sign of lovesickness. I tried to bring it back, but it refused to eat, sighing constantly, and even learned a melancholic love poem, leading to rumors in the palace that Princess Zhao Hua was suffering from lovesickness. I was at a loss and had to send it back.
