The year Pei Shuangshuang was born, the frost arrived particularly early.
According to Mother, around late August, while the chrysanthemums in the garden were still in full bloom and the faint scent of osmanthus lingered around the courtyard, the early frost had already crept up the base of the walls.
She was born on August 25th, the day after her uncle’s birthday. Her father and mother went back to Grandmother’s house to celebrate her uncle’s birthday, and she began to kick inside Mother. Everyone said that she must be a boy because she was so mischievous.
Grandmother, worried about Mother, and Uncle, insisting they stay, so Mother and Father decided to stay at Grandmother’s house.
That morning, Mother also woke up unusually early, as Aunt Zi Yan and Aunt Jin Zhu were collecting the frost flowers from the dried leaves and flowers under the wall. They had heard the chef at Wanbin Building say that gathering these frost flowers to make tea, brew wine, or cook other delicacies was as good as using snow from the flowers and leaves.
During those days, Mother, who wasn’t particularly keen on tea, had developed a love for the tea ceremony thanks to the guidance of the Empress. Aunt Zi Yan and the others noted this and had prepared dried petals under the wall in anticipation of the weather.
By morning, a thick layer of frost flowers had covered the petals.
Mother, influenced by their enthusiasm, joined the activity. But before she could gather much, Pei Shuangshuang started kicking Mother’s belly again.
This ti, she kicked a bit harder because she could no longer wait to co out!
Mother started to feel labor pains. With Doctor Lu by her side, she knew, even though she had never given birth before, that it was about ti.
So she hurriedly inford Grandmother and Father.
Everyone rushed over.
Grandmother and Uncle, concerned about Mother’s safety, insisted she give birth at the Ning Family’s ho. However, all the preparations that Mother and Father had made for Pei Shuangshuang were at the General’s Mansion, and it was too late to prepare things anew.
Father made a prompt decision and arranged for a carriage to imdiately take Mother back to the mansion.
On the other side, Grandfather and Grandmother, who had already heard the news, promptly invited the Imperial Physician to the ho.
And then, Pei Shuangshuang was born!
The birth was smooth, taking less than two hours, and mother and daughter were both safe.
After Mother gathered herself, she realized she was still holding a few petals in her hand, and thus she nad her Shuangshuang.
Of course, Pei Shuangshuang’s official na wasn’t that; it was Pei Ning. Everyone told her it was because she was born in the 23rd year of Shengyuan, a ti of peace and prosperity—a year signified by "Ning" for tranquility and well-being.
But every ti her full na was ntioned, she would notice a particular tenderness in Father’s eyes.
As it happened often, she beca curious.
Unable to resist her persistent queries, Father eventually told her that he once knew a very, very wonderful girl nad "Ning."
Shuangshuang couldn’t imagine what kind of wonderful girl, besides Mother, Grandmother, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Aunt Yu from the Liang Family... beyond those she already knew, could be soone Father knew, but not her.
With this mystery, she sat with her cheeks in her hands daydreaming under the peach blossom tree.
But before she could figure it out, Brother Xuan and his mischievous friend quietly climbed the tree and surprised her with a jump, startling her and interrupting her train of thought.
"What are you thinking about?"
Liang Xuan bent down, curiously examining her face. "Oh wow, haven’t seen you in three days, and your face has grown rounder again."
Shuangshuang, irritated, pinched her chubby waist: "Look who’s talking! Mother says you were so chubby as a child, like a winter lon!"
Liang Xuan put on a stern face: "Why does Fifth Aunt have to reveal my embarrassing past? How can I find a wife in the future?"
"Shaless! You’re only twelve, and you’re already talking about getting married!" Shuangshuang crossed her arms and huffed heavily, "With such a thick skin, no one would marry you!"
Liang Xuan was embarrassed: "We’ve been like siblings since childhood, and I even helped fold your diapers. How can you belittle like this?"
Shuangshuang huffed again and sat back under the tree.
Liang Xuan followed her: "Why are you sitting here alone? Did soone bully you?"
Pei Shuangshuang sighed: "Father says he knew a very, very good girl who shares my na, but I don’t know her. I’m here thinking about who she could be."
"Shares your na?" Liang Xuan paused for a mont after hearing this, then suddenly realized. But rembering being called a winter lon by this little girl earlier, he stroked his chin and eyed her mischievously: "I know who it is."
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