Han You was dissatisfied with Han Yunqian's perfunctory attitude and, unusually, revealed a childish expression, pouting her lips: "Don't try to fool me. I know you don't like her. You like..."
Before Han You could finish, Han Yunqian interrupted her, the smile on his face gradually fading as he looked at her with a stern gaze: "Xiao You, do I still need to teach you what should and shouldn't be said?"
Han You lowered her head somewhat aggrievedly, her eyes reddening: "I'm sorry, brother. I just... I just feel sad for you."
Han Yunqian gently patted Han You's head and curved the corners of his mouth: "I'm fine, not as sad as you think. As a man, romantic feelings aren't the most important thing to me. Can Xiao You promise me one thing?"
Han You quickly nodded: "Tell me, brother."
Han Yunqian said: "This is the last time we talk about this matter. From now on, don't mention her in front of me again, okay?"
Han You bit her lip and finally nodded: "I understand, brother. I won't mention her in front of you again."
Only then did Han Yunqian smile with satisfaction: "Good girl, go back now."
Han You smiled at Han Yunqian, turned, and walked away.
Han Yunqian watched as Han You's two maidservants ran over to support her and walked far away together before he turned and headed toward his own courtyard.
His expression remained steady, his gaze cool, no different from usual.
Recalling Han You's words just now, Han Yunqian pursed his lips.
No one knew that the reason he had taken the initiative to move the wedding date forward was because he had once seen her and Xiao Jingxi coming out of that mansion together. Unconsciously, he had stood in the shadows for a long time. What he had thought about at the time was now forgotten.
That night, after returning, he had a dream. In the dream, he stood in his place beside her, carefully helping her into the carriage. The events of the dream were already forgotten, but the unprecedented feeling of wanting to cherish someone in the dream made him break out in a cold sweat upon waking.
He thought about it all morning, then went to the Yun Family to request moving the wedding date forward.
He had known from the beginning that it was absolutely impossible between them, so he had always restrained himself from thinking too much and kept his distance. He thought he had succeeded, but he hadn't expected that with just a slight relaxation, she had entered his dreams.
Han Yunqian thought, just as he had told Han You, this would be the last time he remembered her. From today onward, there would be another woman by his side—the wife he had married.
The next day, when Han Yunqian returned from outside, he found his newlywed wife sitting on the southern kang in the bedroom, happily playing with something. He glanced casually and saw it was a pair of very fine agate ornaments.
Seeing Han Yunqian return, Yun Qiuping quickly put down the ornament in her hands, blushing as she stood up to greet him.
Han Yunqian nodded and casually asked: "What are you doing?"
Hearing this, Yun Qiuping quickly brought the ornament she had been playing with for Han Yunqian to see, smiling as she said: "Husband, isn't this beautiful? It was gifted to us by the second young master and young madam of Yanbei Prince's Mansion."
Han Yunqian paused for a moment, glancing at the ornament in Yun Qiuping's hands. The red agate was carved into crystal-clear pomegranate seeds, excellent in both material and craftsmanship, with auspicious symbolism.Yun Qiuping blushed, speaking somewhat shyly, "Husband, my mother said we should place a few auspicious items by the bedside for good fortune. Shall we put this on the bedroom cabinet?"
Han Yunqian lowered his gaze and remained silent.
Yun Qiuping waited for a long time without a response and grew puzzled, calling out again, "Husband? Did you hear me? Is it alright?"
Han Yunqian curved the corners of his lips slightly and said softly, "As you wish."
Upon hearing this, Yun Qiuping immediately went joyfully to arrange her feng shui ornament.
In truth, although the garnet ornament Ren Yaoqi had sent was quite nice, the Han Family was not without better ones. The reason Yun Qiuping specifically chose to display this one in her room was simply because it was a congratulatory gift from the Yanbei Prince's Mansion.
Second Miss Yun thought to herself that she was not only a young lady of the Yun Family, but Second Young Master Xiao and the young mistress could also be considered her cousin and cousin-in-law. With this connection, the Han Family would surely not dare to neglect her.
Han Yunqian sat in the room for a while before rising and leaving.
Yun Qiuping's head maid quickly asked, "Young Master, it's almost mealtime. Where are you going?"
Han Yunqian nodded, "You serve the young mistress first. No need to wait for me. I'm going to the study to handle some matters and will return later."
The head maid couldn't very well stop him, so she returned to the room and said to Yun Qiuping, "Miss, the young master just left, saying he was going to the study to handle some matters and would return later."
Yun Qiuping didn't mind upon hearing this, nodding, "Oh, my husband is always very busy."
The head maid looked at Yun Qiuping, hesitating to speak.
Seeing this, Yun Qiuping couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"
Noticing there were no outsiders in the room, the head maid whispered, "Miss, do you know who manages the inner household in our mansion?"
Yun Qiuping replied, "Grandfather and grandmother live at the estate, and my father and mother don't often stay in Yunyang City, so I should be the one managing affairs in this mansion from now on."
The head maid sighed and reminded her, "Miss, the matters in this mansion are all trivial and can be managed by the steward. What I'm talking about is the overall authority over the inner household of the entire Han Family."
Yun Qiuping understood then, thought for a moment, and said, "I heard it used to be managed by grandmother, but now that grandmother is taking care of grandfather, it's mother who manages the accounts."
Han Yunqian's branch of the family had only one male heir per generation up to now, so there was no issue of dividing the family. However, since Han Yunqian currently didn't live with the elder generation, the "mistress of the household" was also different.
Just like now, the true mistress of the Yun Family, the one who held the financial authority over the entire Han Family's inner household, was Han Yunqian's stepmother, Madam Jiang.
The head maid said, "Miss, I've heard that the master doesn't involve himself much in management, and the young master is the true head of the Han Family. So, the inner household should eventually be handed over to you. Madam is only the master's second wife, not the young master's birth mother. There will always be a distance. If she has a son in the future, she will surely try every means to plan for him."
Yun Qiuping was still immersed in the joy of marrying her ideal husband and naturally hadn't had the spare time to consider these matters. Hearing the head maid's reminder, she nodded, "I understand. I'll mention it to my husband after a while. My husband has a good temper; he will surely agree."Yun Qiuping thought that although Han Yunqian appeared quite aloof on the surface, he was actually very considerate and attentive to her needs, which made her feel increasingly delighted.
While Yun Qiuping was discussing matters of authority within the inner courtyard with her maidservant, Madam Jiang took the initiative to bring the account books to Han Yunqian.
Han Yunqian treated Madam Jiang with great respect, as she was very capable and had recently been of considerable help to him.
"Young Master, these are the account books I have been temporarily managing. Now that the young mistress has entered the household, it is only right that she takes charge of the household affairs," Madam Jiang offered proactively.
Han Yunqian picked up one of the account books and flipped through it casually, noticing that Madam Jiang’s records were meticulous and clear. Although she had not been managing the household for long, everything was handled in an orderly manner.
After a moment of contemplation, Han Yunqian said to Madam Jiang, "Mother, please continue managing these accounts for now. Madam Yun has just entered the household and is still unfamiliar with many things. Let her first oversee the daily affairs of the household to gain experience."
Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang said nothing further and took the account books back. After a moment of thought, she suggested, "How about I assign some smaller account books to the young mistress first? This way, she can gradually familiarize herself with the household’s situation. If there’s anything she doesn’t understand, she can always ask me."
Han Yunqian nodded. "That would be good. Thank you for your trouble, Mother."
Madam Jiang smiled. "We’re family—no need for such formalities. Alright, I’ll go speak with her about this in a few days. By the way, there’s another matter. Weren’t you previously asking me to keep an eye out for suitable families for Xiaoyou? I’ve actually taken a liking to one, but I’m not sure if you’ll be satisfied."
Hearing that it concerned his younger sister’s lifelong matter, Han Yunqian looked up and asked, "Which family is it?"
Madam Jiang replied, "I was thinking that we shouldn’t marry Xiaoyou too far away. Her temperament is too gentle, and if she were to be bullied, we, as her maternal family, might not be able to support her from a distance. So, I only considered families in Yan Prefecture, thinking it would be easier for you siblings to look out for each other in the future. A while ago, when I took Xiaoyou and a few other ladies to burn incense, I met Third Madam Bai from the Bai family in White Stone Town. I found her disposition to be quite pleasant, so I chatted with her a bit more and learned that she has two sons. The eldest married last year, while the younger son is just a year older than Xiaoyou and is still unmarried. I noticed that Third Madam Bai seemed to like Xiaoyou very much, so I kept it in mind. Today, when I went out, I happened to run into Third Madam Bai again, and both of her sons were with her. I observed her younger son—he has a dignified appearance and carries himself with good manners. I thought his character must be decent as well, so I came to mention it to you. You probably know people from White Stone Town, so you could ask someone to inquire about them."
White Stone Town was not far from White Crane Town and Yunyang City. Han Yunqian also knew a few merchants from White Stone Town, so he began to think carefully about whether he knew a family with the surname Bai.
Seeing Han Yunqian remain silent, Madam Jiang assumed he looked down on the Bai family, as a wealthy family from a town like theirs was still somewhat inferior to the current Han Family.
Madam Jiang smiled and said, "I was just mentioning it casually. If you’re not satisfied, I’ll keep an eye out for other families next time. However, you shouldn’t set your standards too high. When it comes to marriage, what matters most is the man’s character and the temperament of his elders."
Realizing that Madam Jiang had misunderstood, Han Yunqian said, "What you say makes sense, Mother. From what you’ve described, this Bai family seems quite suitable. I’ll ask someone I know in White Stone Town to inquire about them tomorrow."Seeing that Han Yunqian was willing to listen to her, Madam Jiang was very pleased: "There's no need to decide in a hurry; we can still look around more. We mustn't let Xiao You suffer any grievances. I'll ask someone to inquire further and see if there are other suitable candidates."
Han Yunqian nodded in agreement.
Having finished discussing the important matter, Madam Jiang did not linger and turned to leave.
A few days later, Madam Jiang indeed brought some account books to Yun Qiuping. At first, Yun Qiuping was quite happy, but later, seeing that they were only minor accounts, she lost some interest. Fortunately, she was not a particularly ambitious person, so when Han Yunqian told her to first learn from Madam Jiang, she agreed.
Thus, even though Han Yunqian had already married, the mistress of the Han Family remained his father's stepmother, Madam Jiang.
Later, on one occasion, Yun Qiuping heard that Han Yunqian had asked Madam Jiang to find a match for Han You. Yun Qiuping thought that as Han You's sister-in-law, she naturally could not ignore this matter. Moreover, in her opinion, the Bai family that Madam Jiang had found was too ordinary in terms of social status, so she wanted to find a family of equal standing for Han You.
Neither Han Yunqian nor Madam Jiang knew what Yun Qiuping was thinking. When Yun Qiuping was a young lady in the Yun Family, she rarely spoke. After marrying into the Han Family, although she became more talkative due to her cheerful mood, she was still not very skilled at communicating with others.
One day, while Ren Yaoqi was reviewing past gift lists in the side hall of the Princess Consort's Jiuyang Hall, Pingguo came in to report that the Han Family's young mistress had come to see her.
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment before realizing that the "Han Family's young mistress" Pingguo mentioned was Yun Qiuping, who had just married Han Yunqian. However, she had no particular friendship with Yun Qiuping. Why would Yun Qiuping come to the Yanbei Prince's Mansion to see her instead of requesting an audience with Consort Dowager Yun or the Princess Consort?
Though somewhat puzzled, out of respect for Consort Dowager Yun and the Princess Consort, Ren Yaoqi immediately had Yun Qiuping invited in.
Yun Qiuping had always been good-looking, and now her complexion was even rosier than when she was a young lady, indicating that her married life was going quite smoothly. She even spoke more boldly now.
Ren Yaoqi remembered that when Yun Qiuping had come with her grandmother and mother to see Consort Dowager Yun last time, she had not spoken a word from start to finish. Now, however, she took the initiative to thank Ren Yaoqi, saying she really liked the "Many Sons and Grandsons" ornament Ren Yaoqi had gifted her.
After some small talk, they got to the main topic. Yun Qiuping took a sip of tea and then asked, "Cousin-in-law, I heard that the Second Young Master Lei is not yet betrothed, is that true?"
Ren Yaoqi was taken aback upon hearing this, not expecting Yun Qiuping to come and discuss this with her. She smiled calmly and replied, "It's been a long time since I last saw my sister, so I'm not very clear about the affairs of the Lei Family."
Yun Qiuping thought for a moment and said confidently, "I inquired a bit earlier, and it seems the Second Young Master Lei hasn't been engaged yet."
Ren Yaoqi smiled but did not respond.
Yun Qiuping continued, "Actually, the reason I came today... is about my sister-in-law. I heard that the Second Young Master Lei is excellent in both character and appearance, and he would be a good match for the Han Family in terms of social standing. So I thought..." At this point, Yun Qiuping smiled somewhat sheepishly, "I thought it would be quite nice if this marriage could be arranged."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi's expression turned somewhat odd. She thought for a moment and then asked, "Is this your own idea, or did the Han Family send you to ask?"Yun Qiuping didn't quite understand Ren Yaoqi's meaning and said, "It was my own idea, but my husband has a very good temper. He usually listens to my opinions."
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Ren Yaoqi thought helplessly, even if your husband listens to you, would he really be so infatuated as to marry his own younger sister to the younger brother of an enemy? Also, just how deep is the grudge between you and your sister-in-law?
Seeing Ren Yaoqi remain silent, Yun Qiuping grew somewhat nervous and said, "Cousin-in-law? Could you help me inquire with the Lei Family's madam?"
Ren Yaoqi sighed inwardly and said to Yun Qiuping, "I can help you inquire, but it would be better for you to discuss this with the Han Family first. After all, this concerns Miss Han's marriage—a matter of great importance that cannot be taken lightly."
Seeing Ren Yaoqi agree, Yun Qiuping couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, looking very pleased. "Thank you, cousin-in-law."
Ren Yaoqi chatted with her casually for a few more sentences before excusing herself on the pretext of having matters to attend to and saw her guest out.
After Yun Qiuping returned, she brought up this matter when she and Han Yunqian were extinguishing the lamps to rest.
Second Miss Yun had learned from her mother's experience that the best time and place to discuss matters with one's husband was either before sleep or after engaging in a certain activity.
Han Yunqian did not seem to be a man of strong desires, and today he had no intention of performing the rites of Zhou Gong. So, Yun Qiuping brought up her visit to the Xiao Family's young madam that day just as he was extinguishing the lamps.
After listening, Han Yunqian remained silent for a long while.
Yun Qiuping spoke for quite some time, but hearing no response from beside her, she couldn't help but ask, "Husband, are you listening?"
After a long while, Han Yunqian finally let out an "Mm."
Yun Qiuping said happily, "Cousin-in-law has already agreed to help me ask."
Han Yunqian pressed his temples, then said calmly, "Second Young Master Lei is not suitable."
Yun Qiuping was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "Why isn't he suitable? I think Second Young Master Lei is quite good."
Han Yunqian patiently explained, "Good does not mean suitable."
Yun Qiuping fell silent for a moment, then said aggrievedly, "Then... then should I tell cousin-in-law to just forget about it?"
Han Yunqian remained silent even longer. "The Xiao Family's young madam is very busy. Don't trouble her with such trivial matters in the future."
"We're relatives, what does it matter?"
Perhaps because Han Yunqian's temper was too good, Yun Qiuping had grown bolder lately. She had even forgotten the eight-character mantra her grandmother had specially instructed her before her marriage: "Observe more, listen more, speak less, and do nothing." So, the words of elders should indeed be heeded, or one might truly suffer great losses.
Han Yunqian's voice turned somewhat cold. "The Han Family and the Xiao Family are not relatives in the slightest. What exists between us is only a subordinate relationship. In the future, when you see the Xiao Family's young madam, you must address her as 'young madam,' not 'cousin-in-law.' Remember this."
Yun Qiuping was stunned upon hearing this. This was the first time Han Yunqian had spoken to her in such a cold and stern tone, and she found it difficult to adjust.
After saying this, Han Yunqian closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Yun Qiuping felt aggrieved but dared not wake Han Yunqian. In the end, she could only turn over and sleep by herself.
After Yun Qiuping fell asleep, Han Yunqian opened his eyes. He lay in bed for a moment before finally getting up and leaving the bedchamber. He did not disturb Yun Qiuping or the maid keeping watch in the outer room as he went out.Two more days passed, and Master Han and Madam Jiang dined with Han Yunqian, his wife, and Han You. Afterward, Madam Jiang found an excuse to send Han You away and discussed Han You’s marriage with Master Han and Han Yunqian. Yun Qiuping also stayed behind.
Yun Qiuping should be grateful she married at the right time. When Old Master Han was in charge, women were not allowed to be present when men discussed matters. Now that Han Yunqian was in charge, he didn’t adhere to such rules.
Han Yunqian said to Master Han, “I’ve already inquired about the Bai family. They are in the medicinal herb trade, and the pharmacies under their name have a very good reputation. The current head of the Bai family is a man of integrity. The young man Mother mentioned earlier is named Bai Haoran. He is the second son of the third branch, sixth in the family’s seniority. He is honest, filial, and though young, handles matters with composure.”
Master Han nodded. “You’ve always been reliable in your work. Since there are no issues with the Bai family, let’s settle on it. Your sister is not young anymore.”
Han Yunqian said, “It’s all thanks to Mother. Some of the information was gathered through her connections.”
Madam Jiang smiled. “No need to be so formal. Xiao You also calls me Mother. Besides, you trusted me enough to entrust this matter to me.”
Seeing the three of them getting along so well, Yun Qiuping felt that if she didn’t speak up, she would seem excluded. Summoning her courage, she interjected softly, “The Bai family’s financial standing is a bit weak, and they’re located in the town.”
Han Yunqian frowned but said nothing.
Madam Jiang smiled. “That’s true, so it wouldn’t hurt to wait a bit longer.”
Encouraged by Madam Jiang’s agreement, Yun Qiuping grew bolder. “Actually, I’ve also been making inquiries for Xiao You, but my husband said it wasn’t suitable and told me to stop.”
Madam Jiang was surprised to hear this. In her impression, although Han Yunqian was aloof, he had excellent manners and rarely outright dismissed others’ opinions without consideration.
“Which family did you have in mind?”
Han Yunqian wanted to stop her, but Yun Qiuping spoke too quickly. “It’s Second Young Master Lei. I heard he has good character and looks, so I thought he would be a good match for Xiao You.”
Everyone fell silent.
Han Yunqian said calmly, “It’s getting late. Let’s go back and rest.” With that, he stood up.
Yun Qiuping actually wanted to discuss Han You’s marriage further with Madam Jiang, but since Han Yunqian said they were leaving, she couldn’t stay behind alone and also stood up to bid farewell.
After they left, Master Han went to bathe. Madam Jiang sat for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly and shook her head.
Han Yunqian didn’t give Yun Qiuping a chance to meddle in Han You’s marriage. He was a decisive person, so after deciding that the Bai family was a suitable match, he had Madam Jiang contact the Bai family to facilitate the marriage.
Fortunately, the Bai family had already been considering it, so the discussions went smoothly. It was likely that the marriage would be settled before long.Yun Qiuping, however, felt somewhat disheartened. Regarding Han You's marriage arrangements, Han Yunqian had entrusted everything to his stepmother, Madam Jiang, leaving her completely sidelined. Occasionally, when she tried to inquire about the progress, Han Yunqian would say nothing. Yun Qiuping felt she was not valued enough in the Han Family—even Madam Jiang, as a stepmother, held a higher status than she did. Especially since she had been married into the Han Family for some time now, having learned all she needed to, yet all the account books and storeroom keys remained in Madam Jiang's hands. This gradually fueled Yun Qiuping's growing dissatisfaction.
By the seventh month, the Han Family and the Bai Family had grown familiar through constant interactions, and thus the marriage was formally settled.
Yun Qiuping believed that the Bai Family had a modest fortune, and since the sixth young master of the Bai Family was not the eldest son and could not inherit the family estate, the Han Family had not put enough effort into selecting a suitable husband for Han You.
In fact, quite the opposite was true. Han Yunqian genuinely cherished his younger sister, which was precisely why he did not treat her as a pawn for marriage alliances with families that had business dealings with the Han Family. Although the Bai Family was not considered a prominent aristocratic clan, their household upheld strict and proper values, with most members being upright and decent people. This made them particularly suitable for someone like Han You, who had a simple and straightforward nature. Moreover, with Han Yunqian watching over her from the side, he could at least ensure Han You a lifetime of prosperity and happiness.
It is difficult to have the best of both worlds in life. Han Yunqian had chosen a marriage alliance that benefited his family for his own marriage, so he could not complain about his wife’s shallow knowledge and narrow perspective. Whether it was good or bad, he had to accept it. Han Yunqian was well aware of this, so he could not say he was disappointed with his marriage, as this situation had been within his expectations when he made the decision.
However, when it came to his sister’s marriage, he set aside the priority of family interests and instead chose a family that, based on various objective factors, was suitable for Han You. Facts proved that Young Master Yun’s judgment was correct. After Han You married, she and her husband were harmonious and deeply affectionate. Her mother-in-law treated her well, and she got along smoothly with her sisters-in-law. For this reason, Han Yunqian had always been grateful to his stepmother, Madam Jiang.
In July, the weather in Yanbei also grew hot.
Ren Yaoqi disliked using ice basins. To accommodate her, Xiao Jingxi ordered that no ice basins be placed in the room. When it became unbearably hot, he would coax Ren Yaoqi into fanning him. Although Ren Yaoqi somewhat despised Xiao Jingxi’s young master demeanor, seeing him uncomfortable made her uneasy as well. So, every time Xiao Jingxi pretended to be pitiful and sweet-talked her, she would obediently fan him.
Just like at this moment, Xiao Jingxi sat at his desk reading official documents, while Ren Yaoqi sat beside him fanning him.
Second Young Master Xiao did not even look up. "The breeze is too weak."
Ren Yaoqi fanned harder.
Second Young Master Xiao frowned. "Too strong now, you’re blowing the documents away."
Ren Yaoqi fanned gently.
As Second Young Master Xiao read the documents, his gaze shifted to the person beside him. Propping his chin, he said, "Fanning should vary in speed and intensity, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes light, sometimes heavy—like a naturally blowing breeze. That’s what feels comfortable."
Ren Yaoqi smiled at him, then slapped the fan forcefully onto someone’s body and stood up to leave, only to be pulled back by Xiao Jingxi.
Second Young Master Xiao laughed. "What are you doing?"
Ren Yaoqi shot him a glare.
Xiao Jingxi nuzzled her cheek, his tone coaxing and pitiful. "When I said ‘sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes light, sometimes heavy,’ I didn’t mean for you to serve me like that. How about I fan you instead?"
With that, the noble and aloof Second Young Master Xiao indeed picked up the fan and began fanning Ren Yaoqi, asking with a smile, "How is it? Still hot?"
Ren Yaoqi said, "The breeze is too weak."
Xiao Jingxi then increased the effort without complaint.
Just as Ren Yaoqi was about to say the breeze was too strong again, someone came in to report that one of Xiao Jingxi’s subordinates had requested an audience, promptly rescuing Second Young Master Xiao.
Xiao Jingxi returned quickly. Seeing sweat on his forehead, Ren Yaoqi stopped teasing him and took the fan to cool him herself.
Seeing no one else in the room, Xiao Jingxi gently kissed Ren Yaoqi’s cheek before sitting down.
"How did you come back so quickly?" Ren Yaoqi asked casually.“I returned as there was nothing urgent. Miss Yan has arrived, and I’ve already sent word to Xiao Jingyue to have someone fetch her,” Xiao Jingxi said.
Ren Yaoqi paused. “When will she arrive?”
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment. “Based on the journey, she’ll likely arrive early tomorrow morning.”
As it turned out, even Second Young Master Xiao could miscalculate. Yan Ningshuang’s carriage arrived in the dead of night. Since the gates of Yunyang City were already closed, her entry still managed to stir the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion.
Yan Ningshuang had come to Yanbei for her wedding, so she arrived with over a dozen carriages in tow. It was said that some of the bulkier dowry items were still on their way, to be transported by water.
Yan Ningshuang and Xiao Jingyue’s wedding was scheduled for the twenty-first day of the seventh month. After arriving in Yunyang City, she still had three days to prepare.
Since she was to marry into the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion, she would temporarily stay in an outer courtyard residence upon arrival, only to be formally escorted into the mansion by Xiao Jingyue on the wedding day.
Yan Ningshuang also brought with her a decree from the Empress Dowager. Her Majesty expressed that after Yan Ningshuang’s wedding, those to whom she had previously bestowed marriages should also hold their weddings in succession, particularly mentioning the marriage of the Yun family’s eldest young master and Zhao Yingqiu.
Thus, although Yan Ningshuang had come to Yanbei for her wedding, few were pleased by her arrival.
On the second day of Yan Ningshuang’s stay in Yanbei, she came to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion to pay respects to the Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort. Coincidentally, she arrived just as Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi had finished paying their respects to the Princess Consort. Ren Yaoqi remained behind to assist with some matters, while Xiao Jingxi headed to the outer courtyard.
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Yan Ningshuang, then at Xiao Jingxi beside her.
Xiao Jingxi whispered discreetly into Ren Yaoqi’s ear, “Are you scheming again to arrange a mistress for your husband? I refuse to yield!” As he spoke, he deliberately blew a breath into her ear.
Ren Yaoqi wished she could stomp on his foot.
The two were mindful of their image in public, so their movements were subtle. To others, it would simply appear as if the couple were quietly discussing something, given their serious expressions.
Yet, Yan Ningshuang seemed to have eyes all over, immediately sensing the intimate atmosphere between them.
“What are you discussing so happily, Young Master Xiao and Madam? Why not share it so we can all enjoy it?” Yan Ningshuang said, looking at them.
The Yan Ningshuang before them now showed little resistance to her marriage with Xiao Jingyue, though there was also little joy on her face.
Ren Yaoqi felt somewhat impatient, but her good upbringing allowed her to smile and reply to Yan Ningshuang, “We were discussing when it might rain.”
The Princess Consort interjected with a smile, “You can predict the weather? I wasn’t aware of that. The day after tomorrow is Miss Yan’s wedding day. Why don’t you two fortune-tellers help predict whether it will rain that day?”
Ren Yaoqi replied with a smile, “No, the weather will be splendid that day. Miss Zhao is truly fortunate.”
Their exchange created a harmonious atmosphere, effectively isolating Yan Ningshuang.
Yan Ningshuang’s expression darkened. When Xiao Jingxi eventually took his leave, she also rose to bid farewell.Ren Yaoqi had long seen through her intentions, so she didn’t say anything upon witnessing this, only secretly rolling her eyes at Xiao Jingxi.
In the end, Yan Ningshuang still followed behind Xiao Jingxi as he left, but the Princess Consort sent her own maid to escort Yan Ningshuang to the Old Princess Consort, so Yan Ningshuang had no chance to be alone with Xiao Jingxi.
However, Yan Ningshuang couldn’t afford to dwell on that now.
As soon as they stepped out of Jiuyang Hall, Yan Ningshuang said softly with reddened eyes, “I’ve finally seen you again.”
Xiao Jingxi acted as if Yan Ningshuang were talking to herself and didn’t respond.
“I… I’m about to get married.” At this point, tears began to stream down Yan Ningshuang’s face, falling like rain, so profusely that even the maid by the Princess Consort’s side was stunned.
This time, Xiao Jingxi politely replied, “Congratulations.”
Yan Ningshuang’s eyes dimmed, and she bit her lip as she expressed her feelings to Xiao Jingxi: “Xiao Lang, no matter where I am, you must believe that my heart will always be with you. I will always stand by your side.”
Xiao Jingxi turned a deaf ear and walked away on his own.
Yan Ningshuang stared blankly as his figure disappeared from sight, finally covering her face and weeping.
The Princess Consort’s maid thought to herself:
Has this Miss Yan’s head been squeezed by a door?
Yan Ningshuang had come to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion that day precisely to seize this opportunity to speak these few words to Xiao Jingxi and declare her feelings. Unfortunately, Xiao Jingxi simply acted as if he hadn’t heard. The eavesdropping maid also thought Yan Ningshuang was not quite right in the head.
Yan Ningshuang didn’t stay long at the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion before the Princess Consort sent someone to escort her back to the villa. Her wedding day was approaching, and it wouldn’t do for her to linger outside for too long.
On the day of Xiao Jingyue’s wedding, the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion was also decorated with lanterns and colorful banners everywhere, a sight full of festive joy.
However, since Xiao Jingyue was not from the main branch of the prince’s mansion, his wedding was not as elaborate as Xiao Jingxi’s had been. It differed little from the ceremonies of ordinary wealthy families, and there was no need to pay respects to the ancestors in the ancestral hall on the wedding day itself—only the formal introduction to relatives the following day was required.
The Princess Consort also oversaw Xiao Jingyue and Yan Ningshuang’s wedding arrangements, though she merely delegated tasks to a few stewards and ceremonial officials without needing to handle everything personally.
Ren Yaoqi, being one step removed, had even less to do. She only needed to appear in formal attire when required, but she hadn’t expected that even this brief appearance would lead to trouble.
Xiao Jinglin had been away from the mansion recently, busy with who knows what. Ren Yaoqi attended the banquet with the Princess Consort. The Old Princess Consort was also present, but Consort Dowager Yun did not come.
Ren Yaoqi had been feeling unwell for the past few days and had little appetite, especially today. Perhaps because there were too many people in the banquet hall, the mingled scents of food, wine, and various cosmetics, hair oils, and perfumes made Ren Yaoqi feel extremely uncomfortable after just half a quarter of an hour.
The Princess Consort noticed Ren Yaoqi’s unusual state and asked her what was wrong and if she was feeling unwell.
Ren Yaoqi was just about to speak to the Princess Consort to see if she could temporarily excuse herself when someone happened to approach to offer a toast to the Princess Consort.The other party was of considerable seniority and status, so out of courtesy, Ren Yaoqi also raised her wine cup. She had no intention of drinking—it was merely for show. Unexpectedly, as the scent of the wine filled her nostrils, Ren Yaoqi suddenly couldn’t control herself. She hastily set down the cup, covered her mouth, and began retching, unable to stop.
At the main table, aside from Ren Yaoqi and the Princess Consort, there were only the Old Princess Consort and Su Shi. Hearing the commotion, they were all momentarily stunned.
Even the guests at the nearby tables paused their chopsticks and looked over. Silence can be contagious, and before long, the entire banquet hall fell completely silent.
(No extra charge for the following nonsense)
A little joke: The author was extremely sleepy while writing earlier and nearly dozed off. In a daze, I saw the line “biting her lip to express her feelings to Xiao Jingxi” and accidentally misread it as “biting Xiao Jingxi’s lip to express her feelings…”
I felt as if struck by a sudden thunderbolt—it jolted me awake instantly!
After taking a closer look and confirming that my male lead’s purity remained intact, I finally breathed a sigh of relief and dared not feel sleepy again.
〒_〒……
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