Song Yixiao returned to the embroidery building when Yuan Xueying had just gotten up and saw her coming from outside, so she naturally asked.

  "Jin Xun couldn't sit still, so I took her to the apricot blossom forest for a stroll. Who knew that Jian Gong Ye had arrived first and returned already?" Song Yi smiled lightly as she recounted what happened, but omitted the part about the person in the pavilion. "We didn't even get to sit down properly on our way there or back, and it was all a bother for Mei Yan and Qing Ruobai."

  "What's the hurry? You're really too polite." Yuan Xue didn't have much city manners, and upon hearing this, she wasn't suspicious at all. She scolded her a few times, and then they were led to other topics.

  But that night, when Song Yixiao was bathing and being attended by Jin Xun, Qing Ruo asked to see Yuan Xueyu through Meishan and reported: "Today, when Miss Song went to the apricot flower forest, Master Jian asked us servants to withdraw and had a conversation with Miss Song alone."

  "After Master Jian left, I and Jin Xun entered the cool pavilion to wait on you, and saw that Miss Song's face looked very bad."

  "On the way back, Miss Song suddenly stopped in a daze!"

  "The young mistress had instructed us servants to treat Miss Song with the same respect as you, so I dare not conceal this matter!"

  Yuan Xueying was shocked: "What does this Jian surname mean? At first, scolding me is fine, I really didn't live up to expectations. But what's wrong with Song sister?"

  Mei Ping reminded Qingruo not to talk nonsense and let her go down. Then she suggested, "Ask Miss Song later?"

  "But she didn't tell me, would she feel embarrassed and not want me to know?" Yuan Xueyu hesitated, "When I was scolded at first, although it was my own fault, there were also a few days when I felt too ashamed to see people."

  Mei Ping reminded: "But Miss Song came to our house for you, now she has suffered grievances, no matter if it's because of our family members or not, you don't know and that's fine, but since you do know and yet remain silent, later on when Qing Yu thinks back to the time when she was also present, there's absolutely no reason why she wouldn't tell you, fearing that discord will arise!"

  This remark convinced Yuan Xueying. When Song Yiliao came out of the bathroom, she dismissed her attendants and asked: "Did Master Jian bully you today?"

  "Sister, don't misunderstand, it's just Lord Jian being kind and telling me some family matters." Song Yi was thinking of finding an opportunity to leave the Hou Mansion, but upon hearing this, her heart skipped a beat, and she revealed a worried expression. "It's been some days since I haven't gone out, if not for Lord Jian informing me, I really wouldn't have known..."

  He stopped talking here and let out a faint sigh.

  Yuan Xueyun anxiously asked: "What exactly happened? Is there a need for me?"

  "It's not that I'm estranged from my sister, but after all, he is my father, and I really don't know what to say." Song Yi smiled and lowered her head to wipe away tears, putting on a worried look. "I can only turn back and probe my mother's attitude now."

  "Is it a very important matter?" As the daughter, she couldn't say that her father was wrong. Yuan Xue'er had "You'd better tell me if you're going to treat me like an older sister" on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it back in an instant. "If you're not at ease, why don't we go back to the Wang Fu tomorrow and ask Aunt about it? After all, Aunt is in charge of the inner courtyard of the Wang Fu and has keen ears and eyes!"

  Song Yi just wanted her to say this sentence!

  However, her face showed a difficult expression: "But sister, your body..."

  "I'm fine now?" Yuan Xue said hastily, "You can rest assured and go back!"

  Song Yi laughed and hesitated again, until she almost had to personally help with the luggage before reluctantly nodding - in order to prevent Yuan Xue from turning back to ask Jian Yu Bai about it and exposing the lie, before leaving the Bo Ling Hou Fu, she specifically instructed: "I promised Lord Jian that he told me something and I won't tell anyone. Sister, you mustn't say that I spilled the beans to you! Otherwise, I'll be in trouble seeing him later!"

  Yuan Xue'e solemnly stated that she would not reveal a single detail to Jian Yu Bai, and only then did Song Yi Xiao feel at ease as he boarded the horse carriage.

  Although this girl is a bit weak and simple-minded, her character can still be trusted.

  "We can finally breathe a sigh of relief!" Back at the Hengshan Wang Fu, Song Yi truly let out a long breath, but then immediately perked up and prepared to face the whirlpool of competition for the position of Crown Prince.

  Just as she arrived in front of Wei Mengying, the mother and daughter had not yet had time to chat privately when Yaoyin entered to report: "The Fourth Young Mistress requests an audience!"

  Although Wei Mengying has secured her position as the Princess of Hengshan with a son and a daughter, the Empress Dowager is still alive, and the King of Hengshan favors his second wife but not his stepfather, so she does not dare to treat the non-biological children of the royal family poorly.

  Especially the fourth county master Lu Kui'er is the original legitimate wife, looks beautiful and lively in temperament, has always been favored, Wei Mengying treats her naturally also wants to be extra considerate.

  Now hearing she had come, he didn't bother to ask his own daughter, and hastily ordered: "Quickly let her in!"

  After a moment, Lu Ke'er in her purple skirt and pink dress came forward to pay respects, and Wei Mengying supported her with one hand, scolding: "You child, why be so formal with your own family?"

  She spoke warmly, but Lu Ke'er's attitude was somewhat lukewarm. After standing up, she didn't even acknowledge Wei Mengying's words about looking at the seat, and only said: "Mother, I'm not very good at a few embroidery techniques. Among my fellow students in the girls' school, Miss Song is the most skilled at embroidery. I don't know if it would be possible to invite her to sit for a while in my 'Shao Yin Ting' residence, so she can teach me a few techniques?"

  Wei Mengying couldn't help but feel that Lu Ke'er's request to learn embroidery skills was just an excuse, and she actually had other business with Song Yixiao. However, over the past six years, although the two girls were classmates, they rarely interacted with each other, and even going out together was a rare occurrence. They never had any open conflicts, but it was also impossible to describe their relationship as close.

  Suddenly wanting to invite Song Yixiao to her place, what does she want to do?

  Wei Mengying looked at her daughter with a suspicious gaze, but saw that Song Yi also had a bewildered expression. She was even more puzzled in her heart, but as Lu Ke'er's identity, it was not good to refuse such a trivial matter, so she still nodded: "You are of similar age, and should often socialize together. In the future, when you both get married, you can also make some lively gatherings."

  She said so, Song Yi Xiao could only agree.

  She followed Lu Qinger to Shaoyin Court, but didn't let anyone bring the female red up, instead she dismissed everyone and sent the senior maid Guizhi to guard the door. Only then did she smile at Song Yi, who was full of doubts: "You don't have to be afraid, I may not like you very much, but it's not to the point where I would harm you just because you've been freeloading in the Wang Manor for a few years."

  Relying on others for support, being fed by others makes one weak. For the past six years, Song Yixiao has indeed been supported by the Hengshan Wangfu with fine clothes and food. Now, although Lu Ke'er's words are unpleasant, she can't refute them. She asked in a low voice: "What instructions does the princess have for me to come over?"

  "I want you to give a letter to Jian Shu next time you visit Yuan Jie, can you do that?" Lu Qinger stared at her and said slowly, "With your relationship with Yuan Jie, this shouldn't be a difficult task, right?"

  Song Yixiao really wanted to cover her forehead and sigh - she was praying that Jian Xu Bai would not remember himself, especially not suspecting that he had seen something he shouldn't have. Now Lu Ke'er actually asked her for help delivering a message to Jian Xu Bai, what kind of thing was this?

  "This thing I can do, but I don't dare to do it." Song Yi smiled and thought for a moment, then firmly refused. "The princess also said that I am just a guest in the Wang Mansion. This matter of privately helping you, I really cannot do. Otherwise, if it gets out, everyone will say that I have repaid kindness with enmity."

  Lu Kui'er heard this but didn't get angry, instead she revealed a triumphant smile: "Since you don't dare to pass on my message, then next time the Yuan family invites you over, calling me along shouldn't be a problem, right? After all, I am also their legitimate cousin, even if I'm an uninvited guest, it's not like I'll be refused at the door, is it?"

  Song Yi Xiao: "......" How can I refuse?!

  Although she was forced to agree to the Yuan family's invitation again, Song Yixiao would definitely tell Lu Qinger about it. After returning to Huanxia Xiao Zhu, she immediately instructed Zhao Mama to arrange for someone to deliver a message to Bailing Houfu, telling Yuan Xueyu about Lu Qinger's plan: "......My mistress said that this matter involves the reputation of the princess, and it must not be leaked out. It's just that the princess wants to use the Houfu to achieve her goal, and my mistress can't stop her, so she can only agree on one hand and send a servant to remind her on the other."

  Yuan Xueyao has been well protected by her brother since childhood, and she is used to reporting everything to Yuan Xuepei and letting him handle it. However, Yuan Xuepei and Jian Yubai are busy with state affairs, who has the time to care about children's feelings?

  He only listened to a rough idea and directly told his sister: "Don't send anyone to invite Miss Song for the time being, let's talk about it later when we're free!"

  When this news reached Huanxia's residence, Song Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

  But then she was invited by Wei Mengying to come before her, and thought that she would persuade herself to flirt with Yuan Xueping again. Song Yixiao had prepared for the emotional turmoil, ready to deceive her way through once more. Who would have thought that after meeting, Wei Mengying's face looked not too good as she told her: "The Empress Dowager wants to see you, I don't know what it's about."

  Song Yi Xiao has lived in the Hengshan Wang Fu for six years, but so far she has only been to the Tai Fei's courtyard once - that was on the day she entered the mansion, and even then it was because of Yuan Xue Pei and her brother who came to visit on the same day.

  Afterwards, the Empress Dowager did not deliberately target her, but also did not pay attention to her again, as if she didn't know that such a person existed in the palace.

  At this moment, they were suddenly summoned, and Song Yi Xiao's mother and daughter were both caught off guard!

  Especially after paying respects in front of the imperial concubine, they did not receive permission to rise for a long time - after a while, the mother and daughter's legs were numb and their waists were sore, but the imperial concubine seemed to have not noticed, leisurely sipping tea, occasionally casting them an icy glance.

  In a moment of stunned silence, Wei Mengying endured one humiliation after another, but finally stood up with the support of her son and daughter, her anger contained as she asked: "What does this mean, Your Majesty?"

  "You still have the face to ask me?" The imperial concubine slowly put down her tea cup, casting a cold glance at her, and began to scold, "How did you teach your own daughter?! A girl in her prime years should be kept hidden and protected to show her preciousness and importance, but instead you let her run off to the Boling Hou Mansion alone! And she stayed there for several days! Don't tell me you didn't know what's going on at the Boling Hou Mansion now! Although Snow White's leg is crippled, he's still an unmarried man in his prime years! Especially with Prince Ning's fraternal affection, he's always running to that side!"

  "Even if the Yuan family still has an old lady, don't you know about the relationship between Tu Shi and Xue Pei? Xue Pei is a guest who was invited over, let alone asking her for help to cover things up, it's already good that she doesn't kick us while we're down! Who in the capital doesn't know that the young master of that household is now in charge?! Ke Er sisters are still legitimate relatives of the Yuan siblings, I don't even allow myself to visit their mansion personally, but you actually sent your daughter over there!"

  "This is simply an attempt to humiliate our Hengshan Wangfu!"

  The princess smashed the tea bowl in front of Wei Mengying, still not relieving her anger. She personally got up from her seat and walked down to point at her nose, scolding loudly: "This daughter has been raised in the palace for six years. The palace has never shortchanged her food and drink, and even let her attend school with the sisters of the imperial family. Her treatment is not inferior to that of a legitimate princess... I don't ask her to repay kindness in the future, just consider it as accumulating virtue for our descendants! What's the result? You ungrateful thing! And you're still her biological mother, treating your own daughter like this?!

  Wei Mengying was scolded until she was speechless!

  Song Yi Xiao secretly let out a breath of relief, thinking: "It seems that the Empress also saw the intention behind Mother's order for me to go to the Bo Ling Hou Fu. With this person speaking up, if Mother wants to force me to be cold and distant towards Yuan Xue Pei again, I will have a reason to continue refusing!"

  Who would have thought that Taifei would scold Wei Mengying, and then say: "I allowed your daughter to grow up in the palace like a young lady, not to harm my own granddaughter! You didn't teach your daughter well, so she fell into scandal, and it's already affected Ke'er and the others - she absolutely cannot stay in the palace anymore. I'm giving you two options: either send her back to the Song family immediately; or marry her off right away!!!"

  Song Yi smiled with joy: "......!!!!!!!!!".