Nothing else happened on the way then. They three arrived at Jinguo Grand Princessâs mansion. Although the notice of the birthday feast cancellation was sent out to the guests and the Grand Princess also stopped receiving visitors, the guests still sent the gifts to the mansion.
âHere Yixiao comes?â Guests were not received in the Grand Princessâs mansion, but the Grand Princessâs son, daughter-in-law and legitimate nephew were the exceptions. When they arrived at the back hall, Commandery Princess Qingjiang had been there. Not as enthusiastic as before, she only greeted Song Yixiao indifferently and yet, talked Xu Xishi warmly, âXishi, it has been some time since we havenât met! I heard that you have been transferred from Ministry of Personnel to Ministry of War at the end of last year. Are you used to it?â
Song Yixiao was always regarded as one of their own, now she was slightly startled to be cold-shouldered. Hence, she had to think about whether she had offended the Commandery Princess by chance before?
Amidst thinking, Nie Wuying came over and linked her arm through Song Yixiaoâs, saying in high spirits, âYixiao, Mother is talking with Aunt Daiguo inside the room and she wonât come out for the moment. Why donât you stay at my place for a while?â
Then she whispered, âIâve been practicing the movements you taught me last time. How about checking my progress?â
Song Yixiao could only put aside her elder sister-in-law and dealt with the younger sister-in-law first, âOkay!â
They came to the Mingzhu Villa. Nie Wuying took off her fur coat, put on her dancing dress showed her progress to Song Yixiao in the drawing room. Song Yixiao found her performance barely satisfactory but she still tried to praise her in order not to have her spirits dampened.
Nie Wuying changed back her clothes happily and intended to speak when a servant addressed her in the yard. Song Yixiao and Nie Wuying thought that the two grand princesses had finished talking and been to the back hall, so the servant was sent to beckon them over. Naturally, they didnât dare to delay.
Unexpectedly, they hurriedly put on the fur coat and went to the yard only to find that someone wanted to borrow the boat tied to the small wharf before the Mingzhu Villa.
The boat was placed in the Grand Princessâs mansion exclusively for Nie Wuying. The guarding woman didnât dare to make the decision rashly and had to ask for permission.
âIt is so cold today. Who wants to borrow the boat?â Nie Wuying was rather surprised, asking and walking outside. Unexpectedly, she happened to meet Prince of Zhao and couldnât help blushing!
âCousin Wuying!â Prince of Zhao nodded at her decently and greeted Song Yixiao behind, saying with a grin, âWe are here to congratulate on Auntâs birthday. Yet, Hexuan insists on taking a ride by boat. I fail to stop him so I have no other choice but to bring him here and plead with Cousin Wuying!â
Then Nie Wuying and Song Yixiao finally saw a boy wearing a white fur coat on the snowfield nearby. The fur coat was pure white, which was almost integrated into the snow. They didnât find him at first.
The fifth eldest prince, Prince of Shu was eight years old only, but given his origin of the imperial family, he couldnât be compared with an ordinary kid. At the moment, without being reminded by Prince of Zhao, he came to greet them in the family ritual, saying bashfully, âIâm Hexuan, nice to meet you, Yixiao and Wuying!â
They hastened to greet back with the state ritual. Then they saw Prince of Zhao winking at them behind Prince of Shu not to respond.
Yet, Song Yixiao asked, âYour Highness, why do you want to take a ride by boat? Itâs so cold today.â
Prince of Shu looked as if he was about to cry, saying, âI havenât been out for several months. It was last summer that I went for a row last time!â
While whining, he raised his hand to wipe his tears. Nie Wuying and Song Yixiao hurriedly comforted him. However, Prince of Shu insisted on having a trip by boat and kept crying!
Nie Wuying twitched her mouth and then turned to Prince of Zhao, âAfter all, it is the lake in the mansion, which is not rough. There should be no problem if we ask a few guards who can swim to row the boat.â
Prince of Shu immediately put down his hand and looked at them with a tremendous air of expectancy, regardless of the tears on his eyelashes.
Prince of Zhao glanced at Nie Wuying speechlessly. Just because Prince of Shu made such a serious fuss that he couldnât handle, he had no other choice but to bring this brother over, hoping that Nie Wuying could perish his thought. However, now Nie Wuying was talking for Prince of Shu instead. What should he do then?
After the stalemate lasted for a while, Prince of Shu was about to cry again. The others had to follow Nie Wuyingâs suggestion resignedly and beckoned a few guards who could swim to row the boat.
Song Yixiao also urged the one who went to beck the guards to ask young masters like Jian Xubai to come over. After all, Prince of Zhao was 13 years old and Prince of Shu was 8 years old, neither of whom were adults. They couldnât have a ride by boat with the guards only. Anyway, at least one of the people of the Grand Princess must accompany them to the ride.
After a while, Jian Xubai and Ji Zifu came over with the guards. After greeting each other, Jian Xubai stroked Prince of Shuâs head, saying with a smile, âI canât believe you want to take a boat trip on the lake on such a windy and cold day!â
âBrother, look. Cousin Xubai is bullying me again!â Prince of Shu pushed away his hand disgruntledly and turned around to complain to Prince of Zhao.
âIsnât a kidâs head for others to stroke?â Before Prince of Zhao replied, Ji Zifu also stroked his head and said laughingly, âHow can you say he is bullying you? You are almost 10 years old. Whenever you are in trouble, you can only complain to your brother. Shame on you!â
Prince of Zhao stared at his brother who blushed, saying resignedly, âCousin Zifu, you are old enough. Why do you still like to ridicule us so much?â
Song Yixiao heard that and instantly recalled the day when the troops were seen off seven years ago. Back then, Jian Xubai told her that Ji Zifu used to make Princess Changxing too embarrassed to cry for more than two hours. Even the Empress Dowager couldnât comfort her. Now Song Yixiao had to show sympathy for Prince of Shu.
As expected, Ji Zifu didnât care about being dissed by Prince of Zhao, saying smilingly, âIt is because I like you. Otherwise, why donât I tell jokes with the other kids?â
Then he flicked Prince of Shuâs forehead, âHowever, you just donât like hanging out with me, which makes me so sad!â
Prince of Zhao knew that it was difficult to argue against him, so he shook his head. Instead of refuting him, he only led Prince of Shu by the hand to stay away from Ji Zifu.
Song Yixiao and Nie Wuying intended to return to the Mingzhu Villa and have snacks over the talk. However, it suddenly occurred to Jian Xubai that he was always busy and never had a tour inside or outside the city. They didnât even tour around the garden in their mansion. Thus, Jian Xubai stopped them, âThere are no strangers here. Why donât you join us?â
Since he said so in public, Song Yixiao still agreed with a nod out of respect for her husband though she didnât want to stay in the wind.
Hence, after a while, they all boarded the boat. To be honest, it was not fun to take a boat trip on the lake on the cold and windy day. Looking far, both the boundless water area and the grey bank were bleak and chilly.
Several plum-blossom trees appeared in the scenery but they added coldness instead of liveliness to the view.
As it was a sudden arrangement, they didnât even prepare any food. Hence, at first, they would comment on the scenery and afterwards, only Prince of Shu leaned against the porthole and watched the scenery. Yet, it was rather unbelievable that he could spend an hour in watching the dull scenery without feeling bored.
While Song Yixiao was pondering, Prince of Shu suddenly stood up and said, âItâs not interesting to watch from inside. I may as well go and play on the deck!â
âNo!â The other people who were chatting casually hastened to stop him, âItâs windy on the deck. Besides, what if you fall into the lake by accident?â
Prince of Shu looked polite but as an eight-year-old boy, he was still inevitably mischievous. Stopped by his brothers, he gave a disappointed look and said, âOh!â
Then he pretended to return to his own seat but when the others all relaxed their vigilance, he suddenly ran away!
âHow dare you!â Prince of Zhao got anxious and hurriedly reached out his hand to stop him. The cabinet was narrow and Prince of Zhao was about to catch him. However, Prince of Shu was cunny though he was young, who had come up with a plan before running. He grabbed Nie Wuying off guard and pushed her towards Prince of Zhao while he himself took the opportunity to run onto the deck and burst out laughing complacently!
He was glad to have his way while Prince of Zhao and Nie Wuying who hugged together were bashful with embarrassment!
âPrince of Zhao, do you collude with Prince of Shu to take advantage of Wuying? You know, Prince of Shu is not barbarian. Otherwise, why did he push Wuying all of a sudden?â Jian Xubai and his wife didnât know whether to cry or to laugh. They were about to lend a favor when Ji Zifu ridiculed, âMoreover, he just pushed Wuying into your arms. After all, she is the apple of Aunt Jinguoâs eye, who is kind of in your league. Since you have feelings for her, you should ask the seniors to discuss about it. Isnât doing so an offence to Wuying?â
Prince of Zhao was instantly annoyed to hear that. Before he fully got up, he said seriously, âIt is a matter of Wuyingâs reputation. Cousin Zifu, please mind your mouth! I am young and innocent, but I am not that despicable to use my eight-year-old brother to scheme against my auntâs beloved daughter! If you donât believe me, you can summon Hexuan back to confront me!â
He was a legitimate son of the empress anyway. The Su Family spent a lot of effort in fostering him as the candidate for the throne succession. Ji Zifuâs speculation was unexpected and vicious but Prince of Zhao still faced it steadily.
However, Nie Wuying, who was also 13 years old, was not that scheming. Actually, for a gracious girl like her, she felt rather ashamed to be pushed into her cousinâs arms and separated after a while!
What Ji Zifu said was targeted at Prince of Zhao and his brother, but it also indicated that Nie Wuying had been taken advantage of, which also ruined her reputation. On thinking of that, the girl felt ashamed, angry and grieved. Instantly, with her face turning red and pale, she shed tears at once!
âThe boat is too narrow and not as flat as the land. Tripping over happens. Isnât what you just said too inappropriate?â With a gloomy face, Song Yixiao held Nie Wuying into her arms and looked Ji Zifu in the eye, saying coldly, âAlthough your brother-in-law, His Highness Prince of Wei and His Highness Prince of Zhao are political rivals, today is my mother-in-lawâs birthday. We are here to celebrate on her birthday as juniors. All of us are related by blood. Regardless of gratitude, resentment or political views, shall we put it aside?â
How could she not see through Ji Zifuâs intention?
He was simply afraid that Prince of Zhao and Nie Wuying were really in love, which would be supported by Jinguo Grand Princess!
After all, that Nie Wuying ran away from the mansion in the twelfth month of the last lunar year had demonstrated her position in the eyes of her âfoster motherâ!
âHow strange! How did Ji Zifu know that Wuying met Prince of Zhao that time?â Song Yixiao was rather confused amidst reproaching Ji Zifu, âIt is because Wuying happened to expose herself and we used some tricks in the Zhanchun Venue that Qingjiang and I learnt about that. By reason, Iâve never spread it out and Qingjiang can never risk Wuyingâs reputation. If Prince of Zhao really wants to marry Wuying, he has no reason to leak it before he makes it!â
Even if Prince of Zhao didnât want to, he didnât have to disclose it! Otherwise, he would offend Jinguo Grand Princess!
Did anybody eavesdrop nearby while she talking with Commandery Princess Qingjiang on the night when Nie Wuying left angrily?
When Song Yixiao was speculating, Jian Xubai also said unhappily, âIf you didnât want to celebrate on my motherâs birthday, you could have made up an excuse and told her about your absence. Supposedly, she wouldnât mind it! Now that you are here, why do you have to utter such chill and hurtful words? You are not a child anymore. Why do you still annoy the younger peers and make them cry every time as you did when you were a child?â
Ji Zifu realized that he had aroused public wrath so he grinned with embarrassment and touched his nose, saying with joined hands in front of his chest, âFine, Iâm sorry. Cousin Wuying, please donât take it personally. I know you are a good girl. You will stop crying right away, wonât you?â
Nie Wuying didnât badger with him but she still leaned against Song Yixiaoâs shoulder and cried for a while before composing herself.
Despite that, after going ashore, she was not in a mood to go to the back hall anymore, âI got in a draught just now so I feel a bit dizzy. Yixiao, please express my apology to Mother! I must go back for a rest!â
Looking at her clearly swollen eyes, Song Yixiao knew that as a thin-skinned girl, her sister-in-law must be unwilling to show up in front of the public since her face was showing signs of crying. As such, Song Yixiao was really angry with Ji Zifu, âSuch a good day has been ruined by this man!â
With this thought, after sending Nie Wuying back to the Mingzhu Villa, she glared at Ji Zifu on the way to the back hall.
Ji Zifu noticed that and then turned around to smile at her, who looked very friendly.
Song Yixiao sneered at him in return.
When they entered the back hall, the two grand princesses had finished talking and come out, who were sitting in the seats of honor. Yet, they both looked disgruntled. Obviously, their conversation didnât go well.
Jian Xubai went forward and told that Nie Wuying wouldnât come. Jinguo Grand Princess frowned and ordered Jiayue to go to the Mingzhu Villa on behalf of her to see whether they needed to send for a doctor before saying, âIâve proposed not setting the feast today, but youâve come on such a cold day. I cannot let you have some tea only. Hence, letâs make do with an ordinary meal together!â
However, given the status of the Grand Princess, an ordinary meal was actually not different from a family feast.
Yet, the meal was not accompanied with music, singing or dancing, and the hostess had a gloomy face, which made the meal inevitably depressing.
During the meal, Song Yixiao felt for several times that Commandery Princess Qingjiang glanced at her and looked as if she had something to say, but given the current atmosphere, it was inconvenient for her to move to another table.
âIâll go to her when leaving!â She thought so in her mind, âQingjiangâs attitude towards me today is really weird. Even if she doesnât glance at me, I must talk to her then!â