Seeing this, Yue Qingxin, who had just been considering whether to stand up and pay her respects, immediately dismissed the thought.
"What business does the Grand Princess have with Yue Qingxin? Please speak directly, Grand Princess."
Grand Princess Zande looked at Yue Qingxin for a while longer. Seeing that Yue Qingxin remained calm, she stopped looking at her.
If she could remain this composed under her gaze, further scrutiny would be useless.
"This princess was thinking that your child with Ah Han is almost a year old, yet this princess has not yet seen them. This is truly unacceptable, so I specifically made time to visit today."
Grand Princess Zande's words successfully changed Yue Qingxin's expression.
This was perhaps a common weakness of all mothers.
They could tolerate anyone's sarcasm, or various pressures and threats.
But as long as it concerned their children, all their strength would instantly crumble.
Yue Qingxin tried her best to control her emotions, feigning calmness as she smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Grand Princess. The child is still young and not brought out, lest they become noisy and disturb the Grand Princess."
Grand Princess Zande looked at Yue Qingxin reproachfully upon hearing this, smiling, "What's there to disturb? Ziyun was the most troublesome when she was little. I've never seen a child more bothersome than her."
"But..."
Yue Qingxin wanted to say something more to refuse, but Grand Princess Zande interrupted her.
"What? You don't want this princess to see them? Don't forget, this princess is also Sima Han's aunt, and the Grand Princess of this Great Chu."
As Grand Princess Zande spoke, her aura suddenly intensified.
This sudden change in atmosphere made Yue Qingxin abruptly realize that the person before her was no ordinary individual, but indeed a Grand Princess.
Seeing that Yue Qingxin was already wavering, Grand Princess Zande felt pleased.
Shen Xiaoyan, however, looked coolly at Grand Princess Zande, "Since the Grand Princess likes children so much, why not stay? Coincidentally, the children have been a bit picky about their food lately. Perhaps if the Grand Princess stays, they might have a change of taste."
Upon hearing Shen Xiaoyan's words, Lin Xiaowei looked at her in surprise.
Did Shen Xiaoyan want the Grand Princess to stay so that her cook could prepare food for the children?
She really was thinking beautifully.
Lin Xiaowei looked at Grand Princess Zande again, only to see her face turn purple, looking as though she was angry but dared not speak.
This discovery made Lin Xiaowei even more astonished.
Even if the Grand Princess didn't want to stay, she didn't need to have such an expression.
"Madam Zheng, you jest. This princess has too many matters, how could I possibly stay? Since the children are mischievous, it's fine to see them when they grow up and become sensible."
Grand Princess Zande's words were spoken through gritted teeth, yet she had no choice.
In the face of absolute martial power, all status was meaningless.
Yue Qingxin saw that Grand Princess Zande had so easily given up the idea of seeing the child, and her heart relaxed considerably.
Indeed, she also realized that she was still too soft.
She knew that Grand Princess Zande's desire to see Sima Shuairong definitely had ill intentions, yet she dared not refuse outright due to the other party's status.
Looking at Shen Xiaoyan, who always spoke her mind, Yue Qingxin felt for the first time that she was an incompetent mother.
Yue Qingxin secretly resolved within herself that from now on, she would be her son's safe harbor, resolutely keeping any danger away from her son.
Shen Xiaoyan, on the other side, had already made a polite request for departure.
"Grand Princess, if you have no business here in the future, please do not come again. After all, we are a humble household and cannot entertain the Grand Princess."
After speaking, Shen Xiaoyan stood up, took Yue Qingxin's hand, and walked towards the outside.
"Ah, you..."
Lin Xiaowei watched Shen Xiaoyan's retreating figure in surprise, completely unable to understand why Shen Xiaoyan had left like this.
It wasn't until the curtain fell again, and only the three of them remained in the room, that Lin Xiaowei came to her senses and looked at Grand Princess Zande in confusion.
"Grand Princess, why is Shen Xiaoyan so audacious? Why didn't you punish her? This is insubordination."
"This matter does not concern you," Grand Princess Zande said coolly, then suddenly stood up and left with a flick of her sleeve.
Lin Xiaowei was utterly bewildered. Had she said something wrong?
She was clearly stating a fact.
"Miss, did I say something wrong?" Lin Xiaowei asked, looking somewhat dejected at Baili Ziyun.
As soon as she spoke, Lin Xiaowei suddenly realized another issue.
Baili Ziyun had not looked up since Shen Xiaoyan entered, nor had she said a word.
Why, upon entering this residence, did everyone become so strange?
The Grand Princess lacked the demeanor of a Grand Princess, and Miss lacked the presence of a Miss.
A farmer's wife and the mother of a deposed prince were both devoid of any fear.
What had happened to the world?
Why was it so different from the novels and TV dramas she had seen before?
She had been asking for half a day, yet Baili Ziyun still hadn't said anything. Even after Grand Princess Zande had left a long time ago, she showed no reaction.
Lin Xiaowei stood up curiously, walked to Baili Ziyun's side, tilted her head, and looked at her face.
Only then did she realize that Baili Ziyun had actually fallen asleep.
And judging by the depth of her sleep, she had been asleep for quite some time and was sleeping soundly.
Lin Xiaowei cursed her own mother in her heart, but softly said, "Miss, we should leave. The Grand Princess has already been gone for a while."
After saying it twice, Baili Ziyun still showed no reaction.
Lin Xiaowei became a little annoyed. Was she a pig, to be able to sleep so deeply?
She reached out and nudged Baili Ziyun.
After shaking her several times, Baili Ziyun slowly woke up.
"What is it?"
Her voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up, and her vision was a little blurry as she looked at Lin Xiaowei.
"Miss, the Grand Princess left a long time ago. We should go too," Lin Xiaowei said with a smile.
Baili Ziyun stared blankly for a second before reacting to what Lin Xiaowei had said.
It took another few seconds for her to remember where she was.
"Where is Shen Xiaoyan?"
Baili Ziyun shot up, her first question being about Shen Xiaoyan.
"She left." Lin Xiaowei briefly recounted the events, finally saying, "Let's go too."
After speaking, she seemed to be propelled by the wind and rushed outside.
Lin Xiaowei wanted to ask Grand Princess Zande why she had acted that way earlier, but then she thought that Baili Ziyun would definitely not tell her such things, so she obediently closed her mouth and followed Baili Ziyun out of the room.
Stepping out of the room, Lin Xiaowei discovered that the entire courtyard was actually empty.
She sighed inwardly, thinking that Shen Xiaoyan was truly careless. If someone came to move her house away, she probably wouldn't even know.