After traveling day and night, Wang Qingyao and her party finally arrived in Duanjing on December 26th.
Duanjing already had a festive New Year atmosphere. Stalls selling New Year goods lined the streets and alleys, with red decorations everywhere, creating a joyous scene.
The Ding'an Prince's mansion had received the news early and sent people to wait at the pier. As soon as the ship arrived, they escorted the party back to the mansion.
Xiao Yun changed his clothes upon returning home. He didn't even have time to pay respects to the Old Imperial Consort and Consort Fang before he rushed to the palace to report to the Emperor.
He remembered that he had used the Emperor's name to travel to Yun Gui, so he had to at least make a show of reporting back.
Furthermore, the matter of Feng Jiangduo temporarily residing at the Ding'an Prince's mansion could also be mentioned to the Emperor. If Xiao Mo and Feng Jiangduo were to truly end up together, it would be easier to seek a marriage decree from the Emperor or the Empress Dowager.
The Old Imperial Consort had already arranged accommodations for Feng Jiangduo early that morning, in the Warm Fragrance Pavilion.
In her letter to the Old Imperial Consort, Wang Qingyao had only mentioned that Feng Jiangduo was Xiao Mo's savior, and had not mentioned the developing feelings between them.
Therefore, the Warm Fragrance Pavilion arranged by the Old Imperial Consort was some distance from Xiao Mo's Jingqin Courtyard, but it was very close to the Old Imperial Consort's own residence.
The Old Imperial Consort was an old friend of the Dingnan Prince. She had always been fond of the Dingnan Prince's granddaughter, and even more so now that Feng Jiangduo had saved Xiao Mo. In her eyes, Feng Jiangduo was like a living embodiment of the Wugu Star from the heavens, if the Wugu Star had a daughter.
Upon arriving at the Ding'an Prince's mansion, Wang Qingyao first returned to Kangping Courtyard to bathe and change.
In Kangping Courtyard, Nanny Nian and her staff had already prepared everything. All the maids, along with the four concubines from the West Garden, knelt and kowtowed to Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun, welcoming the Prince and Princess home.
As Wang Qingyao bathed in the hot water, she felt the fatigue and dust of the journey vanish instantly.
"Home is truly the best!" she exclaimed comfortably, her wet arms resting on the edge of the bathtub.
Zhizi and Manao, who were attending to her bath, one scrubbing her body with bath beans and the other washing her hair with soapwort, allowed her to simply soak in the tub without lifting a finger.
She hadn't been this indulgent before, always bathing and washing her hair herself. But today, she was too tired, having endured a long and arduous journey, and truly didn't want to move a muscle.
Zhizi, who was usually taciturn, still showed her happiness on her face.
Manao, on the other hand, chattered away, telling Wang Qingyao about the events that had transpired in Duanjing during her absence.
First, the Second Prince had married the eldest daughter of the Wei family and had already moved out of the palace to reside in the Rong Prince's mansion.
Second, Wang Qingyao's eldest brother, Wang Zijing, had married the eldest daughter of the second branch of the Bai family. The Bai family's dowry was a staggering sixty-six loads.
Then, the Wang family's First Madam, Madam Bai, passed away from illness just four days after her son's wedding. Her legitimate eldest daughter, Wang Qinglin, upon hearing the news of her mother's death, was so grief-stricken that she starved herself for three days and also died.
Wang Qingyao was taken aback.
In fact, Xiao Yun's men had been sending news from Duanjing to Yun Gui and Nanzhou all along.
However, as they had been busy with Xiao Mo's affairs, Xiao Yun had not specifically relayed these less important matters to her.
Thus, this was the first time Wang Qingyao had heard of the deaths of Madam Bai and Wang Qinglin.
She had anticipated Madam Bai's death, but she hadn't expected Wang Qinglin to follow so soon.
After all, Wang Qinglin was disfigured and had a broken leg. Her biological father disdained her "sickly" mother. Living was perhaps more painful than dying for her.
Wang Qingyao thought, rather coldly.
Manao carefully observed Wang Qingyao's expression. She knew a little about the relationship between the Bai family and Wang Qingyao.
Seeing that Wang Qingyao did not appear particularly pleased upon hearing of their deaths, Manao became a little nervous and dared not speak further.
Wang Qingyao did not remain silent for long. She soon said indifferently, "It's a pity they passed away so young. I should return to my maiden home to offer incense to my aunt and cousin another day."
She paused, then looked at Manao and said as if nothing had happened, "Anything else? Continue."
Manao breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Less than a month after the Wang family's First Madam passed away, the Old Madam of the Wang family arranged another marriage for the Wang family's Eldest Master. It's with the seventh ranked illegitimate daughter of the Gu family from the Yongning Marquis's mansion. She is only a few years younger than the Wang family's Eldest Master. The betrothal gifts have already been exchanged, and she is expected to marry after the New Year."
After Wang Zijing got married, he had been upgraded from the Wang family's eldest son to the Wang family's Eldest Master.
Manao had switched terms quite naturally, while Wang Qingyao had to think for a moment before realizing she was referring to Wang Zijing.
A stepmother who was only a few years younger than him. Thinking about it, Wang Zijing and Bai Junya would likely find it quite awkward.
As for the Yongning Marquis's mansion, hmph, Old Madam Wang had truly outdone herself to secure a marriage alliance with a marquis's family.
Wang Qingyao recalled the Lotus Banquet hosted by Wei Qing in the summer. Due to the Second Prince's disruption, the pairings had been rearranged later.
At that time, the young lady paired with Xiao Yun was from the Yongning Marquis's mansion.
However, she was a legitimate daughter.
"The Yongning Marquis's mansion is a marquisate with a noble title. Why would they marry their daughter to someone as a replacement bride? And one so much older? Is it really necessary?"
Manao smiled and said, "Your Highness, you may not know, but the former Marquis of Yongning married a Grand Princess, which is how he was granted the title of Yongning Marquis by the late Emperor. However, later, the Yongning Marquis and the Princess had a poor relationship and he was lecherous and dissolute, causing the Princess to die of depression. The late Emperor intended to strip him of his title, but in consideration of the Princess's only son, he was allowed to keep it."
"Later, when the Old Marquis passed away, the Princess's son inherited the title. However, the new Yongning Marquis, although born to the Princess, inherited his father's disposition. He was lecherous and dissolute, with countless illegitimate sons and daughters. He was not favored by the current Emperor. Therefore, although the Yongning Marquis's mansion holds the title of Marquis, they are merely a peripheral noble family in Duanjing, and the truly influential nobles do not take them seriously."