The old matriarch, observing the varied expressions on everyone's faces, waited a moment longer as the time for the meal approached.
She made a swift decision, not waiting any further.
Someone had sent word today, saying they wanted to rush back to share the Dragon Boat Festival meal with them.
But now the appointed time had passed, and they still hadn't seen the person arrive.
It was likely that something had happened on the journey. They couldn't let such a large family wait for just one person.
And there was no guarantee they would even come.
The old matriarch was the first to pick up her chopsticks and pick up some food, signaling to everyone that it was time to eat.
Because they were all family and had close relationships, and the Duke of Yu's mansion was always different from others.
Therefore, there were no separate tables for men and women.
Everyone gathered around a round table to eat, making for a very lively atmosphere.
After the meal, Su Xiaoqi checked the old matriarch's health and found her condition to be very good, offering praise.
The old matriarch patted her hand and said proudly, "Xiaoqi, I've been doing the fitness exercises you taught me.
Alas, your aunt watches me like a hawk every day, terrified I might skip a session.
After doing them, I truly do feel much more relaxed."
So, she had initially been constantly urged by Madam Wen to do them.
Later, however, she saw the benefits herself and started doing them voluntarily.
The family sat together, drinking tea, eating snacks, sipping realgar wine, giving out sachets, and bathing in mugwort water, before scattering five-colored threads and completing the Dragon Boat Festival rituals before returning to their respective homes.
By this time, the sky had already darkened. Su Xiaoqi stayed behind to help the old matriarch see everyone off.
Only then did she return with Shen Yun.
The old matriarch glanced out the door again, a subtle hint of loneliness in her eyes.
Seeing her like that, Su Xiaoqi was certain that the old matriarch had been waiting for someone today.
But the person she waited for had never come.
Finally, the old matriarch's heart grew weary from waiting.
She tentatively asked, "Grandmother, who are you waiting for?"
The old matriarch looked at her, hesitating, "No one..."
She decided it was pointless to tell Su Xiaoqi, lest it give her false hope.
If the person had come, there would be no need for her to tell Su Xiaoqi; she would have known herself!
Su Xiaoqi winked at the old mammy serving the old matriarch, and under the pretense of having the mammy escort her out, she quietly instructed her for a moment:
"Grandmother's spirits seem a bit off today. Please prepare her medication.
If she feels unwell during the night, remember to give her the medicine promptly."
The old mammy nodded in agreement.
As Su Xiaoqi exited the second gate, she vaguely saw a figure hurrying towards them.
However, the sky was already dim at that time, and it wasn't yet time to light the lamps, so she could only make out that the person was a woman with a graceful figure.
She was dressed all in black, with her hair styled as a married woman, and she walked with great speed, as if in a hurry.
Therefore, Su Xiaoqi didn't get a clear look at her face.
She quickly entered the second gate, and Su Xiaoqi faintly heard the old mammy who had just escorted her out cry out in shock, seeming to utter a "three," which was quickly cut off.
The group quickly went inside.
Su Xiaoqi suppressed her various speculations and, with Shen Yun, helped Madam Zhao into the carriage.
Having enjoyed a day of carefree celebration, and feeling relaxed, Su Xiaoqi was very tired and went to sleep early.
Meanwhile, at the Duke of Yu's mansion, the entire household was sleepless because of the person who had arrived in the evening.
The three-tiered candelabrum, carved with auspicious beasts, remained lit throughout the entire night.
The next day, Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi became busy again.
Because today was the day Shen Yun was to return to the Ning King's mansion.
For this occasion, Emperor Yongxing had even granted Shen Yun a day off.
He stated that acknowledging one's ancestors was a significant matter that could not be delayed.
However, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Mingzhu were not part of the original plan.
Therefore, Shen Yun went alone.
Su Xiaoqi and Shen Mingzhu stayed with Madam Zhao, comforting her as she worried.
"Will they treat Yun Ge'er well?" Madam Zhao felt a pang of sadness.
She felt as though she was losing her son.
If she could, she would rather they had stayed in their mountain village of Zhao Family Village forever.
But that was impossible.
Especially now, when the vast Ning King's mansion had only one disabled heir.
Moreover, the extent of his disability meant he couldn't inherit the title.
This compelled Shen Yun, a bloodline of the royal family living in exile, to step forward.
If they refused, the Ning King's mansion would never give up.
Considering these thoughts, Madam Zhao couldn't help but worry about the fates of Su Xiaoqi and Shen Mingzhu.
"Xiaoqi, what if the old King Ning doesn't allow you into the mansion?
And Mingzhu, the old King Ning greatly favors sons over daughters; his eyes are only for the heir to the throne, and everyone else is invisible.
Don't argue with him then; he is old, lest you upset him and harm his health."
Madam Zhao was excessively kind, still concerned about the old King Ning's health at this moment.
Su Xiaoqi hadn't interacted much with the old King Ning.
However, his attitude towards their family had always been that he only wanted Shen Yun, and no one else.
Perhaps some people would find it strange.
Who would dislike having more children?
And with the status of a royal mansion, there would be no shortage of means to support them.
But the old King Ning truly disliked them.
It wasn't that he disliked having many children, but rather that they had grown up in the wilderness and had not systematically learned the rules of the royal mansion.
He worried that they would embarrass the mansion upon arrival.
Furthermore, although the Ning King's mansion didn't have many sons, it had two daughters, so they certainly didn't lack for county princesses.
With Su Xiaoqi added to the mix, the old King Ning wanted her even less.
A granddaughter-in-law who came from a beggar's den—let alone accompanying Shen Yun back to the mansion—even hearing about her soiled his ears.
That was why he had agreed to the Ning King Consort's suggestion to find a new heir's wife for Shen Yun.
Su Xiaoqi understood all of this, but she wasn't worried at all.
Because no matter the outcome, it wouldn't make a fundamental difference to her.
She believed Shen Yun would give her the answer she desired.
She told Madam Zhao, "Mother, we should trust him. Although this process will be troublesome, he will surely be able to accomplish it."
She trusted Shen Yun, because he was worthy of it.
And the Ning King's mansion was as Su Xiaoqi had said.
Shen Yun insisted that Shen Mingzhu and Su Xiaoqi return to the Ning King's mansion with him.
However, the old King Ning flatly refused.
King Ning had obeyed his father for decades.
But now, caught between his son and his father, he fell silent.
The eunuch from the palace had already announced his title as the heir of the Ning King's mansion.
If King Ning couldn't fulfill the promise he had made earlier, then he would leave now.
There was nothing good about living in the Ning King's mansion.
"It's fine if you want Mingzhu to be a county princess, but the Su woman absolutely cannot return with you," the old King Ning had his bottom line.
How could the heir's wife of his Ning King's mansion possibly be an ignorant, uncultured country woman.
"Then there's nothing more to discuss," Shen Yun said, looking disappointedly at Shen Zhongwen.
Clearly, these conditions had been agreed upon long ago.
At first, he had agreed to everything, so why was it that now he was a fake king who couldn't make decisions.
It turned out that the ultimate authority in the mansion still rested with this old king.
Shen Yun immediately declared that he didn't care about being the heir of the Ning King's mansion if that was the case.
But he absolutely would not abandon his wife.
"Good, good you, Shen Xuzi. You are truly like your father..." The old King Ning, mid-curse, shifted his anger to King Ning, Shen Zhongwen.
He recalled how his son had been when he was found, stubbornly declaring to his face that he would never marry anyone but Zhao Shi.
What good was such a resolute attitude? In the end, he was defeated by him.
He had obediently married the royal consort his father had arranged for him.
If he could handle the father, then the son was no different; at worst, another bowl of Forget Worry Grass would suffice.
The old King Ning was very confident and signaled for Shen Yun to calm down first.
Shen Yun, however, spread his hands and said that he had never been agitated.
Only then did the old King Ning realize that he was the only one who had been excited from beginning to end.
His good grandson, Shen Yun, had a faint, mocking smile on his lips the entire time.
Indeed, he had not misjudged; Shen Yun was laughing at them.
"You..." From this smile that made him uncomfortable, the old King Ning suddenly understood something.
It was likely that Shen Yun's intention at this moment was that no matter what he said or did, his mind was solely focused on achieving his goal.
Regardless of what others thought, he would steadfastly pursue his intended objective.
Continuing to walk, he would eventually reach his destination.
And Shen Zhongwen, who had always obeyed him, now frowned deeply, his face filled with displeasure.
A sense of discomfort flashed through the old King Ning's mind. He realized that he might be losing something!