The Yanbei Prince's Mansion sent a carriage to fetch them precisely at the hour of Chen. Ren Yaoqi boarded Xiao Jinglin's carriage.
Seeing Ren Yaoqi get on, Xiao Jinglin's eyes lit up, and she praised generously, "Yaoqi, you look very beautiful today."
Ren Yaoqi was wearing the peach-red short jacket with white piping and peach blossom branch patterns, along with the white silk skirt that the Yun Family had gifted her last time. The originally somewhat frivolous and alluring colors only made her appear gentle, lovely, and charming. The headpiece she wore was the set of jadeite and pearls sent by the Princess Consort of Yanbei last time—understated yet elegant.
Ren Yaoqi smiled faintly and looked Xiao Jinglin up and down. "Likewise."
Xiao Jinglin had also dressed up elaborately today. She wore a lake-green long jacket with a golden border and flying phoenix embroidery, paired with a pleated skirt of the same color. A jadeite and gold tassel hairpin hung from her forehead, covering her thick, dark sword-like eyebrows and giving her a touch of gentleness rarely seen in her usual demeanor.
Xiao Jinglin usually paid little attention to her appearance. That morning, she had been forced to dress up under the watchful eye of the Princess Consort, but now, hearing Ren Yaoqi's words, she felt somewhat pleased. After all, with her beautiful and striking friend by her side, she couldn't afford to look too shabby.
Xiao Jinglin's carriage had taken a shortcut to pick up Ren Yaoqi, and upon reaching the main road, it joined the carriages of the Princess Consort and the others. The Yanbei Prince's Mansion's procession was quite grand, yet it moved with minimal commotion. Carriages from other families immediately made way upon seeing the Yanbei Prince's Mansion's insignia. However, many onlookers stood by the roadside, subdued by the solemn and dignified atmosphere of the procession. No one dared to make a sound, all standing quietly with bowed heads and hands clasped, only daring to look up after the procession had passed.
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but recall a time in her previous life in the capital when she encountered the Empress Dowager's procession leaving the palace. The imperial guards had been dispatched almost entirely, and the crowds of onlookers pushed and shoved incessantly, creating a chaotic scene. An elderly woman was pushed out of the crowd and fell onto the imperial road, only to be immediately impaled by the guards' spears and tossed aside. The panicked crowd then triggered a stampede, and it was said that several people died.
As they passed through the main road of Guidongfang, Ren Yaoqi spotted the Ren Family's carriage waiting in a nearby alley for the Yanbei Prince's Mansion's procession to pass first. The Ren Family's villa was located not far from Guidongfang. It seemed Ren Yaoqi would arrive at the hot spring villa before the rest of the Ren Family.
In contrast, the Yun Family had arrived earlier than the Yanbei Prince's Mansion's procession, likely having come ahead to make arrangements.
When Ren Yaoqi alighted from the carriage with Xiao Jinglin, she saw Old Madam Yun standing at a distance with the other women of the Yun Family, welcoming the Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort. Since Xiao Jinglin's carriage was at the rear of the procession, they were quite far from the group.
Xiao Jinglin did not hurry to catch up with them, instead leisurely walking alongside Ren Yaoqi. Ren Yaoqi had no desire to draw attention by moving forward, so Xiao Jinglin's approach suited her perfectly. She casually asked, "Did the Yun Grand Madam not come today?"
Ren Yaoqi was referring to the Prince's concubine, Xiao Jinglin's paternal grandmother.
Come to think of it, despite having visited the Yanbei Prince's Mansion so many times, Ren Yaoqi had never once encountered this Yun Grand Madam.Xiao Jinglin said, "Grandmother rarely goes out and generally doesn't attend the Thousand Gold Banquet." After a pause, she added softly, "Wherever Old Princess Consort is, Grandmother usually doesn't appear. She spends most of her time away from the mansion, either guarding Grandfather's tomb or recuperating at the estate. Even when she occasionally returns to the mansion for a short stay, she seldom meets outsiders."
Even though Lady Yun was a concubine officially recognized by the imperial court, her position before Old Princess Consort was somewhat awkward, especially since she was the Prince of Yanbei's birth mother. Although Old Princess Consort couldn't assert her status as the principal wife before Lady Yun, Lady Yun also preferred not to appear in public alongside Old Princess Consort.
Ren Yaoqi had only asked casually, and hearing Xiao Jinglin's explanation, she felt it inappropriate to inquire further. Princess Consort didn't summon Xiao Jinglin but instead sent her maid Qiluo to call her over.
Ren Yaoqi was wondering whether she should wait for the Ren Family to arrive and follow them, now that they had entered the estate. This hot spring villa was a subsidiary estate of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Princess Consort and Xiao Jinglin would settle in the main courtyard, while the others would be accommodated in guest courtyards. Ren Yaoqi couldn't very well follow Xiao Jinglin.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Jinglin spoke first, "There are quite a few people attending the Thousand Gold Banquet this year. It's inconvenient for everyone to crowd together. Why don't you stay with me? My courtyard is large and quite empty."
Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to decline, Qiluo smiled and said, "Miss Ren, Princess Consort said you should stay with the Commandery Princess. It'll be good for both of you to have company."
Xiao Jinglin had never formally attended the Thousand Gold Banquet before. Princess Consort was worried that Xiao Jinglin might grow impatient with such an environment and leave at the last minute, so she wanted Ren Yaoqi to accompany her. At least when Ren Yaoqi was present, Princess Xiao's patience and temper improved considerably.
Ren Yaoqi could no longer refuse and allowed Xiao Jinglin to lead her away.
The hot spring villa was vast. If not for the scattered rooftops and courtyard walls faintly visible throughout the estate, Ren Yaoqi would hardly have realized they had already entered the villa grounds. The scenery within the villa was exceptionally beautiful, appearing almost untouched by human hands on the surface, yet the layout and subtle details revealed exquisite craftsmanship and ingenuity.
The main courtyard of the villa was a slightly expansive complex of buildings, situated on higher ground. A row of blue-brick high walls with glazed tiles looked imposing from a distance. Up close, one could see three layers of heavily guarded soldiers stationed inside and out.
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin obediently followed behind Princess Consort.
Madam Wu, Xiao Wei, and Wu Yiyu supported Old Princess Consort on either side as they walked ahead. A woman in her thirties, accompanied by a girl of twelve or thirteen, followed not far behind Old Princess Consort. They were likely Second Madam Su Shi and her daughter, Xiao Jingyuan. Second Madam Su hailed from the Su Family and was the niece of Old Master Su. Petite and delicate, she gave off the impression of a refined young lady from a modest family. Xiao Jingyuan took after her mother in stature, not as tall as Xiao Jinglin or Wu Yiyu, but her features were quite elegant.
Xiao Wei suddenly stopped and looked around, exclaiming in surprise, "Mother, have we taken the wrong path? I remember Moon Embracing Pavilion is to the right, isn't it?"
Xiao Wei's voice was loud, yet after she spoke, an eerie silence fell over the surroundings.
An elderly maid behind Old Princess Consort hurriedly leaned close to Xiao Wei's ear and said, "Commandery Princess, Moon Embracing Pavilion is where Princess Consort resides. Old Princess Consort has been arranged to stay at Snow-Cutting Pavilion." Her voice, however, was loud enough for everyone present to hear.Xiao Wei turned her head to look at the Princess Consort upon hearing this: "The Moon Embracing Pavilion is the largest, and there's even a Moonlight Spring inside. I thought..." At this point, she smiled, "Please forgive me, Princess Consort. Before I married, I always lived in the Moon Embracing Pavilion with my mother. I didn’t expect the rules to have changed now, so I’m just a bit unaccustomed."
The Old Princess Consort said calmly, "Why so much talk? Ever since your father passed away, I have lived in the Snow-Cutting Pavilion. What’s so surprising about that?"
Xiao Wei glanced at the Old Princess Consort, seeming to hesitate, her eyes slightly reddening. It was as if the Old Princess Consort had suffered some great injustice.
No one present dared to speak, and the atmosphere grew strangely tense.
Xiao Jinglin suddenly said, "Grandmother, there’s no need to blame Aunt. It’s understandable that she’s forgotten the rules of our Yanbei Prince’s Mansion after being married away for over a decade."
Then, looking at Xiao Wei with seriousness, Xiao Jinglin continued, "Aunt, you must remember this time: the Moon Embracing Pavilion, like the Nine Sun Hall of the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, is the residence of successive Princes of Yanbei. This rule was set by our great-grandfather. How could you suggest that Grandmother and my father live together? If Grandfather were still alive, he’d be furious at your words."
After an eerie silence...
"Pfft—" Xiao Jingyuan couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Madam Xiao Er tugged hard on her sleeve and glared at her, causing Xiao Jingyuan to immediately bite her lip and lower her head.
Xiao Wei’s face flushed red and then paled, looking as if she might choke on her words.
The Old Princess Consort, however, twitched her face, pointed at Xiao Jinglin, trembling with anger, and finally snapped sharply at the Princess Consort, "Is this the fine daughter you’ve raised? What nonsense is she speaking!"
The Princess Consort bowed her head without pressure and admitted fault: "It was my failure in discipline." Then, turning to Xiao Jinglin, she frowned and scolded, "Who are you, a child, to comment on the rights and wrongs of your elders? Go back and copy the Xiao Family rules ten times, and hand them to me tomorrow."
Xiao Jinglin lowered her head respectfully and said, "Yes, Mother." Then, turning to Xiao Wei with sincerity, she added, "Please forgive me, Aunt. Next time, I’ll be more tactful and won’t lecture you directly again."
"Very well! You’re all very well!" the Old Princess Consort sneered, then turned and left in a huff.
Xiao Wei hurried after her, while Wu Yiyu cast a cold glance at Xiao Jinglin before leaving as well.
The Princess Consort’s expression remained unchanged as she maintained a respectful, bowed posture.
Madam Xiao Er quickly said, "Princess Consort, I’ll take Yuan’er to the Frost Pavilion now."
The Princess Consort straightened up, smiled gently, and nodded. "Go ahead."
After they had all left, only the Princess Consort’s people remained. Hongying, standing behind Xiao Jinglin, couldn’t help but laugh, and her laughter spread, causing the other maids and matrons to suppress smiles.
The Princess Consort swept a calm glance over those present. Though her gaze was not fierce, it made everyone rein in their smiles and lower their heads, including Xiao Jinglin, who fell silent.
The Princess Consort’s gaze lingered on Xiao Jinglin for a moment before she sighed softly and walked away.
The entourage hurriedly followed.
Xiao Jinglin stuck her tongue out at Ren Yaoqi and pulled her along as they left.
The Prince of Yanbei did not come. The Princess Consort took Xiao Jinglin to stay in the Moon Embracing Pavilion, while Ren Yaoqi stayed with Xiao Jinglin.
Ren Yaoqi examined the Moon Embracing Pavilion, the source of the earlier dispute. Aside from its exquisite craftsmanship, she couldn’t see anything particularly special about it, nor did she spot the legendary Moonlight Spring.Ren Yaoqi followed Xiao Jinglin to the west courtyard of the Moon Embracing Pavilion. The west courtyard was not large, with only three rooms, the northernmost of which was a bedroom.
Xiao Jinglin led Ren Yaoqi around for a quick look. "Do you have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds? Is it alright to share a room with me? If you're not used to it, you can take the bed and I'll sleep on the daybed." Xiao Jinglin had never put on airs as a Commandery Princess, and when she was with Ren Yaoqi, she habitually looked after her.
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