In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1003: Little Sugar Bean Can Crawl Now!

Chapter 1003: Chapter 1003: Little Sugar Bean Can Crawl Now!

Perhaps it was because Qin Yi had lost his composure in front of Su Pan’er that night, but for the next few days, he conspicuously avoided Su Pan’er. He spent several days dealing with court affairs and resting in the Wende Palace Hall, hardly ever setting foot in the Imperial Harem’s Palace.

Worried about the whereabouts of Bald Donkey Liao Jue, Su Pan’er tried multiple times to find Qin Yi, but to no avail.

Fortunately, Su Pan’er had also been busy lately!

She was preoccupied with selecting a suitable match for Qin Shuan’er, as she had promised Qin Yueshi and Qin Shuan’er that she would find a good husband for her, and she intended to fulfill that promise.

The national affairs are waiting to be revived. There was a major shake-up among the ministers at the Imperial Court. Some old aristocratic families perished amid the political upheaval of the dynastic change, while many new families filled the void, becoming the backbone of the Imperial Court.

As the saying goes, "With each new emperor comes a new set of courtiers."

The candidates Su Pan’er was looking at for Qin Shuan’er were precisely those recently promoted by His Majesty.

Among these people, some had gray hair, wise and reserved. Others reached middle age with numerous children at their knees. There were also those who, despite appearing young, had already been betrothed, simply waiting for the right moment to marry...

From so many people, it was truly difficult to sift through and find someone age-appropriate, with a good character, and well-matched for Qin Shuan’er!

Su Pan’er flipped through the list in her hands repeatedly, her brows almost knotted with concern.

Assisting her with the organization of the list was State Duke Rong.

State Duke Rong’s late mother had always been a staunch supporter of Qin Feimo. Not long after Qin Feimo was forced to abdicate and return to his position as a feudal lord, the old State Duke Rong who had supported Qin Feimo "accidentally" passed away, followed by the old lady of the State Duke Rong’s household who died of grief.

In an instant, State Duke Rong’s Mansion crumbled, and what was once a grand household ended with deaths and escapes. Eventually, only a legitimate grandson struggled to hold on, yet he still couldn’t escape the clutches of Qin Zitong’s Demon Claw, and ended up being imprisoned on trumped-up charges, living a life worse than death.

It wasn’t until Qin Yi successfully ascended the throne and began to reward those for their service that someone petitioned His Majesty to bring up the old State Duke Rong’s case again.

Qin Yi, remembering the old State Duke Rong and his wife’s kindness to himself and Pan’er, pardoned the grandson. He restored the grandson’s freedom and appointed him to the new State Duke Rong, and arranged for him to work at the Ministry of Rites. State Duke Rong went from hell back to the living world overnight, and became even more loyal to Qin Yi, never daring to be negligent.

State Duke Rong was a man who understood the situation. When Su Pan’er reached out to the Ministry of Rites, she naturally ended up speaking with State Duke Rong, who took this matter very seriously. He quickly compiled the list and personally delivered it into Su Pan’er’s hands at the palace.

"These gentlemen are currently the popular choices among the noble families in Shengjing for selecting a husband, not only for their outstanding character but also their illustrious family backgrounds. If Your Highness sees a suitable candidate, please inform this humble official, and I will make sure that the arrangements are perfect, with not a single mistake!"

State Duke Rong said earnestly.

Yet there wasn’t the slightest sign of Su Pan’er’s brows relaxing. Instead, she flipped through the candidates back and forth, finally closing the list with a snap.

"State Duke Rong, are all the eligible bachelors in Shengjing listed here?"

Each of these young men, either had illustrious and powerful family backgrounds or excelled in civil and military strategy, the pride of heavens. However, Qin Shuan’er was just a country girl, not the so-called mistress these families would want. To promise Shuang’er to any of these men would not be doing her a favor, but rather pushing her into a pit of fire!

Su Pan’er saw this clearly, and it was precisely because she saw this clearly that she was still unsatisfied with these candidates.

"Your Highness jests. Shengjing is full of those with outstanding character. If Your Highness is not satisfied with these candidates, let this humble servant return and select more suitable options to present to Your Highness,"

State Duke Rong was not upset by this, instead his demeanor remained calm.

"It’s not that I’m unsatisfied, it’s just... too satisfied! So..."

Su Pan’er found it somewhat difficult to articulate.

State Duke Rong initially paused, then quickly seemed to think of something, the smile in his eyes growing broader.

"Empress, in a few more days, it will be the Imperial Examination. By that time, talented individuals from all over the Great Zhou Dynasty will gather in Shengjing. If you still haven’t found a suitable candidate in your heart, why not wait until after the Imperial Examination to decide?"

Years ago, the practice of ’choosing a husband on the scholar’s list’ was a common occurrence in Shengjing, and State Duke Rong, as the head of the Ministry of Rites, was naturally aware of this.

Seeing that the Empress could not make a decision, he took the initiative to mention this.

Su Pan’er’s eyes lit up!

Indeed, selecting from these men with good family backgrounds and appearances was certainly fine, but alas, they were not the right match for Qin Shuan’er. It was the tale of ’choosing a husband on the scholar’s list’ mentioned by State Duke Rong that truly captured her heart.

Moreover, among those who had traveled thousands of miles to take part in the Imperial Examination, there must be someone extraordinary, someone who would be the perfect match for Shuang’er!

With this thought in mind, Su Pan’er casually tossed the roster onto the desk.

"Alright! Let’s settle this matter for now and discuss it again after the Imperial Examination!"

After State Duke Rong withdrew as instructed, Su Pan’er squinted her eyes, intending to take a short nap.

However, the sound of Little Yanyan playing with Little Sugar Bean outside the window dispelled Su Pan’er’s sleepiness in an instant.

"Little Sugar Bean, come here! Come crawl over, and play with sister. Come on, come on!"

Little Yanyan’s laughter as she teased Little Sugar Bean continued unabated, drifting in through the open window.

Little Sugar Bean was almost eight months old now, and had grown two tiny front teeth in her mouth, but her development was a bit slower than her sister Little Yanyan’s. However, although her teeth took longer to arrive compared to her sister, her crawling speed was significantly faster than Little Yanyan’s!

At eight months old, Little Sugar Bean was no longer satisfied with just crawling and sitting, as if she was trying to rise up. Not only did she try to grab onto an adult’s hands or clothes to stand, but when she saw a toy she liked, she would make an effort to crawl towards it. Meanwhile, she would babble a string of incomprehensible words from her mouth.

Especially when Little Yanyan deliberately teased her, she never cried; instead, she smiled at Little Yanyan, revealing those two tiny front teeth, her entire face lighting up with a particularly radiant smile.

For these two daughters of hers, how could Su Pan’er possibly fall asleep?

She flipped over and leaped out from the windowsill.

"Little Sugar Bean!"

She called out to Little Sugar Bean.

As soon as Little Sugar Bean heard her mother’s voice, she twisted her body trying to get a clear view of Su Pan’er, but was scooped into her arms instead.

Little Sugar Bean giggled gleefully, and Su Pan’er hugged her and showered her with kisses.

"You little one, how come you never give me peace of mind? Look at you, crawling around and getting all dirty!"

Su Pan’er complained verbally but her eyes and brows were filled with tender loving smiles.

Although Little Sugar Bean had been crawling on the floor, the ground inside the hall was covered with straw mats, specially sought by Su Pan’er, to prevent Little Sugar Bean from getting hurt.

"Empress Mother, Little Sugar Bean can crawl now! She just crawled a long distance. You didn’t see it, Empress Mother, but she was amazing!"

Little Yanyan, with her excitement showing, tried to get Little Sugar Bean to continue her crawling: "Little Sugar Bean, come on, crawl for Empress Mother to see! Quickly, come on!"