Song Yi's mouth corners twitched, but her cheeks quickly flushed with a red glow, she lowered her eyelids and sleeves, looking like she was shy.

  A moment later, she raised her head again. As expected, Yuan Xue and others, including Jin Xun, had tactfully retreated, while Jian Xu Bai, who was three steps away from her, also collected his affectionate expression and smiled: "Not a slow reaction!"

  "You're too kind!" Song Yi smiled nervously, unsure if he had come to ask for the jade pendant back. She composed herself before asking, "I don't know why you've summoned me, sir. What are your orders?"

  "It just so happens that I'm free today, come with me to the Hou Mansion's garden and take a stroll." Jian Yu said with a wave of his sleeve, "After all, I swore to be sincere in my affection for you. Even though the imperial edict for our marriage hasn't arrived yet, shouldn't we at least try to find ways to meet up, talk, and walk together? That's what makes it believable, isn't it?"

  Song Yi smiled: "......"

  She followed him for a few steps before asking, "Does the Empress Dowager dislike me?"

  "Your great-grandmother has never even seen you, how can she like or dislike you?" Jian Yu Bai smiled and said, "However, the old lady has always doted on me. Since I say I want to marry you, she will not object!"

  "What is the imperial edict of marriage?"

  Is there someone else obstructing in between?

  Song Yi Xiao's thoughts were not yet finished when Jian Yu Bai suddenly laughed and said: "Isn't it because of your complicated family background? You are a member of the Song family, but you live in the Wang mansion. Your elder sister doesn't know which side to take - the Empress Dowager had an idea, letting the Crown Prince's consort convey a message to the Song family, asking them to secretly discuss with the Hengshan King's mansion a result that would not bring shame to you, and so it was delayed?"

  "No wonder Madam Huang accompanied my stepmother to visit me earlier! Song Yi smiled, suddenly realizing, but also felt very puzzled: "That mother should have already known about this matter, why didn't she mention it to me at all? And today, she doesn't even want me to come over here?"

  Thinking of Wei Mengying's methods, she couldn't help but have a sudden realization, "Mother wouldn't be angry anymore, planning to take me in?"

  Just as I was getting anxious, Jian Xuwu said: "But it won't be delayed for more than a few days. My third brother also wants to ask the Empress Dowager to grant him marriage, but since he doesn't have a title, he's been put after me. Once my matter is settled, it'll be his turn. My father has always doted on him and didn't want to help me, but now he can't do otherwise."

  He now mentions Jian Shu Ma in a very calm tone, as if talking about someone unrelated. Song Yi Xiang recalls the image of this person from back then, who was eager to please his father, and feels a sense of melancholy, but also no surprise, for she is like that, still full of vigilance towards her parents even after being hurt repeatedly.

  What's more, Jian Yu was deeply loved by his parents from a young age.

  Jian's favoritism towards his eldest son was bound to lead to a rift with his younger son sooner or later.

  But for Song Yixiao, what's most important right now is still confirming the marriage, otherwise whether the Jian family father and son get along or not has nothing to do with her.

  "Doesn't his tone imply that he doesn't want to cancel the engagement?" She thought to herself, and then tentatively asked: "Didn't Master previously say that he was afraid of trouble?"

  Now you're making trouble for me, why don't you just let it go?

  She asked this, not expecting to hear any sweet words, but the marriage had come suddenly and her current situation was precarious, so she didn't dare ignore any details.

  Jian Yu Bai heard the words and didn't hide, saying: "I'm afraid of getting myself into trouble - but whether it's the engagement or the wedding, there will always be others to take care of it for me. Even if it is troublesome, I don't need to worry about it, why do I have to change?"

  He thought Song Yi still had a mind to refuse marriage, and warned her with a glance, "You'd better give up that idea of yours!"

  Song Yi smiled: "......"

  Sorry, I'm now relying on you, this golden son-in-law, to get me out of this predicament!

  "Turn back, you have to embroider something for me, something that can be seen by others when I go out, such as a purse or a sachet." She fell silent, but Jian Yu Bai continued to instruct her on her own, "Embroider it with care...by the way, how's your embroidery skills? If they're too poor, even if I'm not afraid of losing face, when we take it to Empress Dowager, she might have a bad impression of you!"

  Song Yi Xiao's face turned black as he said, "Don't you know that the birthday gift I prepared for the imperial consort is an embroidered piece?"

  How could she be so confident to give such a gift? After all, it will be taken out for everyone to admire at the birthday banquet - even if people will say good things on the surface, but at the grand birthday celebration of the queen, who among the guests is not from a wealthy and noble family, with their vision placed there, it's really a craftsmanship that can't be put on stage, it's not expressing gratitude to the queen, but rather going out of her way to humiliate herself!

  "But Jian Yu Bai Zhen said with a smile: 'Didn't you say that you've been working hard behind closed doors these days? Who knows whether it was embroidered by yourself or someone beside you?'"

  Song Yi Xiao fell silent for a moment, her expressionless face picking off the sachet and tossing it over, "This sachet was made by me personally, stitch by stitch, I wonder if such standards can enter the eyes of Empress Dowager?"

  Jian Yu Bai didn't mince words and took it in his hands, carefully examining it for a while before nodding in satisfaction: "Not bad!"

  Then he naturally stuffed the sachet into his sleeve and apparently had no intention of returning it.

  Song Yi Xiao pulled up the corners of her mouth and reminded: "This color and pattern are all used by girls."

  Are you sure you can take it out?

  "You really don't know how to treat people!" Jian Yu Bai sneered, "You didn't think about it, the Empress Dowager hasn't seen you yet, but your birth has made things difficult for the originally simple Emperor, the Empress Dowager can't be too pleased in her heart! Now if we don't find a way to dispel her dislike of you, when you meet again later and encounter someone who provokes you, you'll have trouble!"

  She took out the sachet and waved it, "The Empress Dowager likes girls who are gentle and quiet, often saying that embroidery requires a calm mind to do well. I'll take this to the palace in two days and show it to her, you'll see the benefits for yourself!"

  Song Yixiao sharply grasped the key point: "Who will stir up trouble?"

  "The one who needs to be respected from a distance is Changxing." Jian Yu said calmly, "I saw her a lot when I was young, and she seems to have some misunderstanding. This time I said I liked you, she was very unhappy, and according to the people who followed the emperor's grandmother, the emperor's aunt privately explained to her several times, but she still didn't listen... You'd better be careful if you run into her in the future!"

  "After a moment of contemplation, he continued, 'Apart from Zhang Xing, others may be annoyed with you in their hearts, but they won't show it on their faces. You can just adapt to the situation when the time comes, I think you'll handle it fine!'"

  This situation Song Yixiao had long expected, and now listening to it didn't have any dissatisfaction. She thought of borrowing light, but how could she not pay the price? Besides, Jian Yu's reminder about these words, and also wanting to walk into the fragrant sachet, dispelled her long-held suspicion: that he would silence her because of that one glance in the apricot flower forest's pavilion.

  After all, for someone who is about to die soon, it's really not worth worrying so much.

  It's just that Princess Changxing is of a noble status, not comparable to ordinary people. She was about to probe into the princess's temperament and preferences when Jian Yu Bai suddenly stopped in his tracks, a hint of anger flashing across his phoenix-like eyes!

  Song Yi Xiao was confused and stopped in her tracks, subconsciously looking around, only to see a purple-clad youth with a somewhat familiar outline emerging from under the osmanthus tree not far away, his eyes gleaming with a sinister gaze.

  Jian Yu's eyes were also icy cold as he stared at him.

  The two of them locked eyes for a moment, and in the garden that was already showing signs of summer's arrival, there seemed to be an air of solemnity. The young man in purple finally spoke with a tone of playful curiosity: "Is this the girl you've been eyeing, Ah Xū?"

  He looked up and down at Song Yishiao, sneering with ill intent, "Not bad!"

  "Ji Biao's ability to judge people has never been good." Jian Yu Bai glanced at him with a calm and indifferent expression, but turned his head to smile at Song Yi, with a gentle and loving tone, "Don't bother arguing with him!"

  Song Yi smiled and pursed her lips, saying with a carefree tone: "I'm just a humble lotus, fortunate to have your favor!"

  Her words were humble, but her demeanor was elegant and refined. Her bright eyes were full of confidence and tolerance, which seemed to echo the phrase "not on the same level as you".

  Jian Yu Bai was very satisfied with her cooperation, and with a gentle attitude, she said to Ji Zi Fu: "How did Brother-in-law come here? Xue Pei's injury has not fully recovered, and it is inconvenient to receive external guests at present."

  Ji Zi floated up, took a few steps closer and said: "Although my relationship with Yuan is not deep, we have been together in Wuhuan for many years. Now thinking about it, coming to visit is also reasonable. Moreover, Yuan did not drive me away, what are you worried about?"

  "Since you're here to see Xue Pei, why are you running around in the garden?" Jian Yu Bai smiled slightly, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Especially since Big Brother saw us coming and didn't even try to avoid us."

  "You're not even married, and yet you're sneaking around with each other in private. You should be ashamed of yourselves!" Ji Zifu's lips were red and her teeth were white, her appearance was beautiful, but her words were extremely cutting, "And you have the nerve to tell me to walk around you?"

  Song Yi Xiao's face fell as she heard this, and Jian Yu Bai merely responded with a simple "Mm-hmm": "But there are only three people here."

  "What?" Ji Ziyu floated uncomprehendingly.

  "Except for you, Ke Shu-ge, who came running over here on purpose, this place was originally supposed to be just me and my fiancée." Jian Yu Bai let out a sigh, seemingly helpless, "So we've already tried our best to avoid people, but who knew you'd come to disturb us?"

  Song Yi smiled, her eyebrows relaxed and she pursed her lips, trying to look as demure and composed as possible, just managing to hold back a laugh - the garden was currently empty, of course, thanks to Yuan Xue's help in clearing the area.

  But Jian Yu Bai said that, and it turned out that Ji Zi Fu had a sinister intention, deliberately sneaking to a secluded place to spy on her brother and future sister-in-law's secret meeting!

  Although he had exchanged cold glances with Ji Zifu earlier, when he spoke up, he addressed him as "older cousin" in every sentence, appearing to be a model of propriety. But before anyone knew it, he had already slapped Ji Zifu with the label of being morally bankrupt and having a base character!

  She was enjoying the commotion, but didn't expect Ji Zi Fu to be scolded by her younger brother until she became furious. She glanced at her and said: "Isn't it because you heard that the garden is now empty, afraid that you will do something shameful and lose face?!"

  Song Yi laughed so hard she almost spat blood!

  Luckily, Jian Yu Bai wasn't a good person either. Upon hearing this, he burst out laughing: "According to brother's meaning, just because this bachelor and spinster are together, they must be doing something bad? But before Uncle got married to Auntie, I had met with Auntie from the Dai State many times in private. Brother's words, where do you place Auntie and Uncle?"

  This time it's Ji Ziyu's turn to vomit blood - who doesn't know that Fuyang Hou and the Princess of Dai Guo were love at first sight, and later married as they wished, respecting each other like guests for over 20 years?

  Such a beautiful story was reduced to "a lonely man and woman together" by Jian Yu Bai, and suddenly it became a frivolous act of the noble golden branch and jade leaf secretly marrying someone!

  It just so happens that this is true: In the past, in order to seize power, the Empress Dowager and Emperor Xian had intentionally arranged for Princess Dainan to meet with Marquis Fuyang. Otherwise, how could Princess Dainan, who was deeply confined within the palace, possibly have met Marquis Fuyang? If they couldn't even see each other, how could they talk about being in love?

  At that time, the Fuyang Marquis's family had considerable influence in the previous dynasty. Emperor Xian's half-brothers naturally wanted to obstruct it. In order to facilitate the marriage alliance, of course, they needed to win over Princess Dagu and Ji Youguang - could they not meet or be alone together? Ji Youguang's imperial edict was something he had obtained by going with his father to request from the previous emperor!

  It all boils down to paving the way for Emperor Xianjia, and with the added fact that the Crown Prince and Princess of Dai are particularly loving, so now no one dares to mention it. If someone else says it, even if it's unintentional, Ji Zifu can severely reprimand them!

  Afterwards, Emperor Xian of Jin would also praise him with a loud voice, saying "Well taught!"

  But Jian Yu Bai is different, for the sake of sacrificing his brothers and sisters, Dai Guo Zhang Gongzhu didn't suffer much, but Jin Guo Zhang Gongzhu was forced to change her temperament! Especially since she's not interested in court politics, taking advantage of this carefree attitude, she quarreled with Ji Zifu in front of the emperor, Emperor Xian Jia will definitely help the former with all his might——after all, today's matter was originally started by Ji Zifu!

  After seeing off the purple floating girl in silence, Song Yi Xian went away with a hint of displeasure on her face. She glanced at Jian Yu Bai, but saw him dusting his clothes calmly and smiling: "We've waited for so long, it's almost time, shall I send you back to Embroidery Building?"

  Song Yixiao had already achieved her purpose in coming, and she had also watched a good show, so she had no opinion - but the two of them hadn't walked far when Jin Xun suddenly came running up to them in a fluster, saw that they were walking shoulder to shoulder, hastily paid his respects, and then breathlessly reported: "Young... young miss, we have to hurry back! The Wang estate has sent someone to say that the Wang consort has suddenly fainted!"