It was a custom to pay a New Year’s call to seniors in the first lunar month. Regardless of the resentment for this distant uncle, a visit to him was unavoidable. However, before going to the Qiu Family’s mansion, Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao had to deal with the Qianqiu Festival first.
Empress Su was from an influential family, but she practiced frugality. Besides, her birthday happened to be the most leisure and yet busiest time in a year. Therefore, she never agreed to celebrate for it in a high-profile manner. Instead, she only set up a small feast of several tables in the Palace of Weiyang.
Although not many guests were invited, it was not peaceful anyway. Soon after the feast started, Daiguo Grand Princess kept mentioning that Prince of Zhao would work in court after the Spring Festival. “Your Majesty, why don’t you ask Prince of Wei to help share your burden? His pedigree is not as noble as that of Prince of Zhao, but he is older anyway. Besides, he is
That a princess of Wuhuan was sent into the imperial palace of the Great Rui was heard by Song Yixiao in the present life and her previous life. However, she didn’t know what the princess went through afterwards.If it were not for Jian Xubai, she wouldn’t have known that Lady Nuan, who was unknown in the palace, used to be Princess Feinuan of Wuhuan.“He sounds like being pitiful for Lady Nuan?” Song Yixiao didn’t care that Lady Nuan had been a princess of Wuhuan before, but when Jian Xubai talked of her, his facial expression seemed really weird, “He was held as hostage in Wuhuan for several years. Maybe he was not insulted there given his identity. And it was the Su Family who made him captured. By reason, he should have held grudge against Wuhuan.”Under this circumstance, Jian Xubai still showed sympathy for the daughter of the king of Wuhuan. How could his wife not think much?Nonetheless, it was improper to get him to talk,
After hearing her daughter’s suggestion, Jinguo Grand Princess looked displeased. And not until a long time later did she reply, “Elder Lady Duanmu will be in the imperial capital soon after the Spring Festival and your Uncle Limiao is now in a state of nervousness. It’s not a good idea to bother him during this period, is it?”Song Yixiao heard the clear resistance and even some hidden scruples in her mother-in-law’s voice, feeling shocked. When she was still confused, she heard the explanation of her sister-in-law, “You’ve watched Yourui grow up from childhood, so how could she not understand that you invite her to the imperial capital is to sincerely help her? That she is unwilling to be here is most probably feeling embarrassed. So no matter what we do, I’m afraid she will still be in a dilemma!”“But your uncle Limiao is from the Jian Family, too!” Jinguo Grand Princess frowned, “Can Yourui accept his invitation while refuses mine?”Findin
Song Yixiao didn’t beat around the bush with him, either, “I asked my mother that day, but she just said that since my brother had no hope of becoming the heir of the prince, she would like to find a daughter-in-law who can get along with her!”Yuan Xuepei thought, “Get along with her? It’s because my sister is easy to bully, ok?”But he was asking for information from Wei Mengying’s own daughter, so naturally he couldn’t say anything wrong about Wei Mengying in front of her.Pondering for a while, he finally said, “Lu Guanlun was engaged to your cousin, the Seventh Miss Wei earlier, but he broke off the engagement shortly afterwards. During that time, the Seventh Miss Wei seemed to have been staying at the Duke of Yan’s mansion for a few days. In my opinion, you know the inside story of their broken engagement, right?”Song Yixiao closed her lips slightly for a while before she replied, “I can’t tell you about this!”
You Qingchun said after hearing that, “Madam, I am so grateful for your taking me in, and I feel unworthy of the simple errand you arranged. Therefore, when I had time, I thought of giving a hand. But unexpectedly, I neglected my son, which offended His Highness. Please forgive me!”Song Yixiao said, “That’s your fault, Qingchun! There are only two masters in this house nowadays, and how much work is there? Since there are already people on duty everywhere, what will they do if you do their work? Did I buy them to watch you work?”“Madam, it’s all my fault!” Ms. Zhao was already ashamed when she heard this, mumbling, “I didn’t teach her clearly to follow the rules…”“Anyway, from now on, you just do your share of the errand and don’t do other things!” Song Yixiao waved her hand, signaling to Ms. Zhao to be quiet, and said to You Qingchun, “If they are really too busy, told me, and I’ll buy other servants to share the burden. You have only one c
“Lady of Yan!” Lady Nuan gave a salute to Song Yixiao and Nie Wuying, speaking gently, “Two days ago, the Empress sent many things to me, and a few of my favorites were said to be from you. I can’t thank you enough!”She spoke Great Rui dialect. Her voice was as clear and sweet as herself, gladdening the heart and refreshing the mind, but there was a foreign accent between the words.Although Song Yixiao never regarded herself as the most beautiful woman in the world, she felt she was equal to lilies and roses. However, she was slightly overshadowed by Lady Nuan’s beauty!“Luckily, I’ve already made it clear to Jian Xubai before. Otherwise, how could I not be suspicious of him after I saw such a stunning beauty here?” She pondered in her mind, pinched her palm without others noticing and smiling, “You’re welcome. Actually, you don’t need to be so polite for some small gifts!”Seeing her sickly appearance, Song Yixiao couldn’t help
Qinye bowed her head very quickly, which made Song Yixiao and Jinxun thought that she was humble. Instead of being suspicious of her, Jinxun took a pouch to her as a thank you, “Thank you! But this dress doesn’t seem to be the one Madam brought into the palace?”“The maid sent by Commandery Princess Qingjiang said that the side halls of Palace of Mingguang are now crowded with people who are grooming, and Commandery Princess Qingjiang couldn’t find Madam Song’s clothes at the moment.” Qinye steadied herself and said, “She was afraid that you’re waiting anxiously here, so she sent her own spare clothes over first. She asked you to make do with it, Madam!”On hearing this, Song Yixiao and her maid were relieved.After Qinye thanked Yixiao for the reward and then left, Jinxun served Song Yixiao to get dressed and went to thank Lady Nuan.Lady Nuan smiled and was about to say something but was interrupted by the maid sent by Commandery
The next morning, the Su sisters indeed brought generous gifts to Duke of Yan’s mansion to make amends. Among the Su Family, only Duke of Ji, Su Shaoge, Su Shaomo and Su Shaoling were in Imperial Capital at present. The others, such as Lady of Ji and First Young Master Su, were not here. The former had already passed away, while the latter was in his hometown Qingzhou.Although Duke of Ji was out of work and free, he was a senior both in status and age. Therefore, it was not possible for him to make an apology personally just because of a trifle made by his daughter.However, Su Shaoge was still in Zhanchun Venue for quiet and peace. So under such circumstances, only Su Shaoling escorted her sister to the mansion, “We’re so sorry, Madam Song! My sister…”“Miss Shaomo didn’t do it on purpose!” Song Yixiao had had no intention of bothering about this matter, and now that the Su sisters had come here to make apologies, which preserved the decency
Song Yixiao was ashamed and angry, saying without hesitation, “Who is more like the wood? You’ve stared at me for such a long time, doing nothing at all!”Jian Xubai was slightly surprised and then put down the curtain laughingly, “Since you are so frank, how can I let you down?”The curtain dropped, which covered the amazing scene on bed.The bed exquisitely made with padauk by the craftsmen was slightly shaking while Song Yixiao in the curtain felt as if being in the stormy waves.After doing for a few times, she became completely faint and dizzy. Extremely tired, holding her husband’s shoulders, she begged her husband to stop, but Jian Xubai just lowered his head to press his forehead against hers, saying smilingly, “Do you remember what I said to you the other day? I’ve told you not to feel remorseful, haven’t I?”Song Yixiao recalled that in a trance, embarrassed and angry. She pushed him weakly. However, he kisse