The early summer days saw sunlight fall softly and thinly upon the small courtyard.
Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi were already dressed.
The two went to the back courtyard to fetch Madam Zhao and Shen Mingzhu.
Together, they boarded the carriage and headed towards the Jiuhua Hall in the palace.
Just as they entered the palace gates, Shen Yun, who was sitting on the carriage shaft, suddenly instructed Zhang Lei, "Take another road."
Su Xiaoqi couldn't see the situation outside the carriage, but hearing Shen Yun speak like this, she felt something was amiss and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
On the road they had previously bypassed, a remarkably luxurious carriage was approaching.
The carriage was inlaid with many pearly white pearls and shells, which shimmered dazzlingly in the sunlight.
This distinctive carriage flashed in Su Xiaoqi's mind, and a name leaped out from her thoughts.
Could it be her?
But the carriage had already veered off, and Su Xiaoqi only managed to catch a glimpse of a head peeking out from inside.
Just as she was about to tell Zhang Lei to stop, wanting to get a closer look, Shen Yun stopped her with a dry chuckle.
"Wife, you are delicate and weak, be careful not to catch a chill."
Su Xiaoqi blinked. How was she delicate and weak?
But then she remembered something.
Last night, this fellow had been like a cat that could never be satisfied.
He had hugged her waist and said how delicate and weak she was, making him reluctant to be rough with her.
Her face flushed. Turning her back to Madam Zhao and Shen Mingzhu, she spat at him and quickly retreated into the carriage.
Upon reaching the inner city palace gate, they disembarked and walked all the way to Jiuhua Hall.
The grand hall was specifically designed for banquets for civil and military officials, occupying a vast area.
The hall was magnificent, with red carpets laid on the ground and rows of small tables set up.
At first glance, it was densely packed, giving a sense of countless attendees.
Shen Yun's official rank was not low, a full third rank, and he was seated in the center of the main hall's side section.
To his left sat Du Wenqian with his family of three.
To his right were Wang Chengyi and his wife, along with siblings Wang Enze and Wang Meng'er.
Wang Chengyi's wife, Madam Jing, surprisingly found much to talk about with Madam Zhao.
The two sat close together at the back, quietly discussing embroidery before the banquet began, finding each other very congenial.
Su Xiaoqi glanced over and felt relieved.
She knew that Madam Jing had also come from a family of minor officials back then. Her father was a Ministry of Revenue official of the fifth rank.
She married Wang Chengyi, who was then just a new Jinshi graduate.
She accompanied him all the way, from the lowest-ranking official to his current position.
During this time, they had also navigated through two succession disputes.
He had managed to pass through them safely.
Until now, he had become a Minister of the second rank and a Grand Scholar of the Cabinet.
As the old saying goes, behind every successful man is a virtuous wife.
Madam Jing was such a woman!
During this period, she gave birth to children for Wang Chengyi, helped raise them, and managed the Wang family's inner household with peace and order.
Of course, such a good Wang family was not without its underlying issues.
Wang family's legitimate second son, Wang Enze, was intelligent and sharp, able to assess situations. He rose to the position of Assistant Minister of the third rank through his family's influence and his own capabilities.
However, his elder brother, Wang Chenglu, was a complete blockhead.
Not only was he greedy, but he was also lecherous.
The Rouge Alley in the capital was his usual haunt.
He frequented any occasion where a courtesan made a debut.
And he was always present when any reputable maiden was seeking to sell herself.
Having reached the age of thirty, he was still a commoner.
He didn't even possess an official position.
In daily life, he relied solely on the prestige of his father and brother.
Wang Chengyi was always ashamed of him and was reluctant to bring him along when going out, fearing embarrassment.
Therefore, Wang Enlu did not have a particularly good relationship with his family.
He also resented Madam Jing's decision back then.
Su Xiaoqi considered herself an outsider.
When she heard this news, she felt that Madam Jing could not be blamed.
It was because when the two got married and had their first child, the family was not well-off.
They could only rent a house in the capital.
Madam Jing, unable to raise the child, entrusted the child to Wang Chengyi to be sent back to their hometown to be looked after by his farming parents.
As a result, the child grew up spoiled.
The second son, Wang Enze, was much luckier. At that time, the conditions had improved, and he could be raised at home.
Therefore, compared to Wang Enlu, Wang Enze was like heaven and earth, apart from looking somewhat alike.
Su Xiaoqi looked at Madam Jing, seeing her speak gently and generously, with an air of profound cultivation.
She wondered if Madam Jing regretted her decision back then.
As Su Xiaoqi was lost in thought, Shen Mingzhu gently nudged her elbow and said,
"Sister-in-law, look, that person in front seems to be looking at you."
Su Xiaoqi looked up and followed the direction Shen Mingzhu pointed.
She saw that the spot was now empty.
Shen Mingzhu was also a bit taken aback.
She said she had just seen a woman sitting there.
Su Xiaoqi shook her head and didn't dwell on it.
At a banquet, there were many people.
Familiar or unfamiliar, it wasn't impossible for them to steal a glance out of curiosity.
She turned back to chat with Shen Mingzhu and Du Yiyi.
The host, Emperor Yongxing, had not yet arrived, so he wasn't paying attention to them.
As they chatted, it felt like a family gathering, free and easy.
Instantly, everyone's formality disappeared.
Du Yiyi was the most well-informed.
She told Su Xiaoqi that the direction Shen Mingzhu had pointed was where the envoys from various countries were seated that day.
She speculated that if anyone was interested in Su Xiaoqi, it might be Princess Yijiang of Southern Yue.
Su Xiaoqi's brow twitched slightly.
She had thought the same thing.
Besides her, she couldn't think of anyone else who would be paying attention to her.
Of course, Northern Chu was also a possibility, but they hadn't arrived.
And given Chu Lege's arrogant nature, he wouldn't be watching secretly.
"Who is Princess Yijiang?" Shen Mingzhu asked, not understanding.
Du Yiyi glanced at Su Xiaoqi, seeing no curiosity on her face, and thought that she was well-informed and might already know of her existence.
She quickly organized her thoughts to tell Su Xiaoqi about Princess Yijiang.
This Princess Yijiang was the most beloved daughter of the King of Southern Yue.
But she also had another identity.
Her mother was Princess Xianglan of the Daliang imperial family.
Therefore, her lineage was undeniably noble, spanning both the Daliang and Southern Yue imperial families.
However, Du Yiyi didn't know much about her.
What she knew were only superficial details gathered by the servants in her household.
She didn't understand anything more profound.
Soon, Du Yiyi saw Princess Huian and waved at her.
Princess Huian also walked over.
Du Yiyi leaned closer to her and said somewhat mysteriously, "Have you met the Princess of Southern Yue before? What is she like?"
Princess Huian had indeed met her.
After returning from Su Xiaoqi's place yesterday, she happened to encounter Yijiang going to the Grand Princess's mansion to pay her respects to her mother.
By seniority, Yijiang's mother, Princess Xianglan, was the Grand Princess's maternal cousin. They had been close in their youth and often played together.
Therefore, when Yijiang accompanied the Southern Yue envoy to the capital of Daliang, after meeting the Emperor, she first paid her respects to the Grand Princess.
"Princess Yijiang is fifteen this year. Her skin is a bit dark, but she is very beautiful and talented. Her dancing is excellent.
She is also proficient in archery and horse riding. She is also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting…"
Princess Huian's evaluation of Yijiang was very high.
Moreover, Su Xiaoqi could tell that she liked her very much.
Her tone was completely different from when she had mentioned Yijiang to her yesterday.
Su Xiaoqi subtly furrowed her brows.
It seemed this Yijiang was indeed an extraordinary person.