Thе sауing "а mоther's status is elеvаted by hеr son" was vividlу dеmоnstrаtеd in thе Zhuang residеnce. Concubine Меi, relуing on thе сhild in hеr wоmb, had hеr stаtus trаnsfоrmеd from а lowly Hu соurtesаn into a future quаsi-madamе. Conсubinе Меi аnd Маdam Zhou сhаtted аnd lаughеd merrilу, and Zhuаng Shiуang, seеing thе harmоnious atmosрhere amоng his соncubinеs, naturally fеlt immеnsеly рrоud. Grаnd Тutоr Zhаng was unехpеctеdly amоng the guеsts, сlаiming he hаd соmе to see his уounger sister-in-law. On suсh an ocсasion, Zhuаngshan nаturаlly hаd to return. Wei Rufeng, as the esteemed son-in-law of the Zhuang family, was also invited, and Prince Wei and the Seventh Prince had arrived as well. For a time, the Zhuang residence was bustling with an unprecedented liveliness. Strangely enough, Zhuang Shiyang was merely a fifth-rank official, yet every guest who came was a high-ranking one. The underlying intrigue, however, remained unknown.
In the Clear Autumn Courtyard, Ji Lan was combing Han Yan's hair. Hearing the maids gossiping outside, she couldn't help but wonder, "They say all the high officials and nobles have come, so why hasn't the Prince arrived?"
Han Yan was taken aback. It had been quite some time since she last saw Fu Yunxi. He hadn't even sent anyone to deliver a message. At this thought, a faint emotion stirred within her—some dissatisfaction, some confusion, and a touch of longing. They say that a day apart feels like three years, but Han Yan didn't believe she liked Fu Yunxi that much. Yet, deep down, there was still a trace of yearning.
What kind of person was Fu Yunxi? After spending these days together, Han Yan had come to understand him a little. Though he appeared cold on the surface, he was actually very considerate. His absence these past days was likely due to him being busy with his own affairs. If he had encountered some trouble... Han Yan paused, surprised at her own thoughts, and couldn't help but break into a smile. If he truly had encountered trouble, given Fu Yunxi's capabilities, he could probably handle it himself.
Ji Lan was still chattering away, "I heard that since the Second Young Miss returned, she's been acting all high and mighty. All the maids are talking about how much the Wei heir dotes on her. They just haven't seen how the Prince pampers you, Young Miss. The Prince's status is far above the Wei heir's—what a bunch of blind fools."
Han Yan chuckled, "So young, yet so vain? Let them compete among themselves. There's no need to pay them any mind."
Even the usually silent Shu Hong couldn't help but speak up, "How could the Wei heir compare to the Prince? It's like comparing a precious jade to a mere stone—utterly ignorant of their own insignificance."
Han Yan was startled, not expecting Shu Hong to think the same way. She suddenly realized that she had indeed been somewhat indifferent toward matters concerning Fu Yunxi. While everyone else believed she had stumbled upon a great fortune by marrying such an excellent husband as Fu Yunxi, she hadn't considered that Fu Yunxi himself was something to be proud of. She could use the title of Xuan Qing Prince Consort to intimidate, threaten, or even gain advantages, but all of this was because of Fu Yunxi himself.
Fu Yunxi himself was a resource—a far more illustrious one than "a thousand acres of fertile land and countless gold and silver." All women harbor some vanity, and once Han Yan understood this, she smiled faintly. "Since you both hold the Prince in such high regard, it would be a shame not to make use of his name for a little fun. It would hardly do justice to my status as the Prince Consort."Ji Lan and Shu Hong were taken aback, both raising their heads to look at Han Yan with great confusion.
Han Yan patted her skirt and stood up. "With such liveliness today, wouldn't it be considered impolite if the future Princess Consort of Xuan Qing Prince's Mansion didn't join in the excitement? Let's go." Her smile darkened. "After all, we'll meet sooner or later."
In the main hall of the Zhuang residence, the Zhou sisters were chatting with Zhuangshan, while Zhuang Shiyang was fawning over Prince Wei and the Seventh Prince, along with Grand Tutor Zhang and others. The men were engaged in lofty discussions, and the women were laughing and talking merrily. An outsider seeing this would only think what a lively and harmonious family gathering it was, with no hint of the hidden tensions beneath the surface.
As soon as Han Yan entered the hall, the conversations among the crowd unconsciously quieted down.
This Fourth Miss of the Zhuang residence was now the person held dearest in the heart of the Xuan Qing Prince. It was said she had even saved the Crown Prince's life. In any case, she could no longer be regarded as an ordinary young lady from the inner chambers.
Today, Han Yan wore a light apricot-colored thin jacket, a heavenly fragrance-colored long coat, and underneath, an eight-treasure golden skirt scattered with butterflies. Her long hair was tied into two round buns, adorned with a blue jade fish-tail hairpin, and on her wrist was an emerald bracelet of excellent quality. Her skin was fair, her smile radiant, and her eyes curved like crescent moons, making anyone who saw her feel compelled to smile along. Her lips were slightly upturned as if in a smile, yet that smile carried a hint of mockery. Her dark eyes, like fine gemstones, held a penetrating light that seemed to see through everything. This was not an extravagant outfit; it could even be considered simple and plain. Yet even in such ordinary attire, it could not conceal her innate nobility. Standing among the crowd, she stood out like a crane among chickens, immediately overshadowing everyone else.
Zhuangshan watched Han Yan standing there, a flash of jealousy in her eyes. Deliberately leaning closer to Wei Rufeng, she said in a soft voice, "Why is Fourth Sister so late? I thought perhaps, now that you're the Xuan Qing Princess Consort, you no longer care for us sisters."
Han Yan smiled faintly but surprisingly did not refute her. She simply stared quietly at her. Zhuangshan's face gradually lost its composure, as she had not expected Han Yan to publicly embarrass her like this. In the past, although Han Yan had been at odds with her, they had always maintained appearances, at least never causing her trouble in front of so many people. But she failed to understand that after all that had happened, Han Yan's status had changed. What was once done out of necessity was no longer required. Now, with Fu Yunxi as her protector, she naturally had no reason to show her any leniency.
The atmosphere grew tense for a moment. Zhuangshan, feeling extremely awkward and harboring deep hatred for Han Yan, cast a pleading glance toward Wei Rufeng. However, one look at him left her stunned. Wei Rufeng was staring intently at Han Yan, his eyes holding no one else.Zhuangshan's heart was churning with unbearable anguish. Ever since she entered Prince Wei's residence, the prince had despised her lowly origins and never regarded her with any respect. Wei Rufeng only used her as a tool for his desires. Zhuangshan knew that the one in Wei Rufeng's heart was Han Yan. After her initial infatuation with Wei Rufeng, she gradually came to recognize the reality and no longer obsessed over him as before, merely seeing him as someone she needed to rely on to secure her position. Yet Wei Rufeng never gave her that chance. His eyes held no place for her, and having married into Prince Wei's residence, her life was no different from that of a living widow. What's more, she had to endure that the woman her husband admired was precisely the thorn in her own flesh.
Han Yan, however, was unaware of these many thoughts in her heart. She simply noticed the hostile gaze Zhuangshan directed at her and naturally understood that this elder sister harbored no good intentions.
From the moment Han Yan entered, Wei Rufeng's eyes never left her. For some reason, he always felt that this seemingly unremarkable woman appeared different each time they met. As she gradually grew older, she became more beautiful, more intelligent, and more irresistibly captivating. The noble air about her also became increasingly impossible to conceal, as if it were an innate elegance emanating from her very bones. Though she appeared to be an ordinary young girl, her every movement exuded the grace of an aristocrat, so strikingly similar to that person... that person.
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