Fortunately, Xi Kong Yiruo hinted that Song Yixiao would distance herself from Jiang Muxiu in the future, but seeing her hesitant expression, she didn't force it and instead smiled to change the subject: "I've long heard that Sister Song's embroidery skills are exquisite. Today, the birthday gift you're presenting to the Grand Empress Dowager seems to be an embroidered piece? I wonder if we can take a look later?"

  "When can't get sister's praise." Song Yi smiled humbly, "Just the longevity gift has just been presented to the imperial concubine, whether the imperial concubine will take it out to admire later is unknown."

  "There's no need to look at the longevity gift, just take a glance at this embroidered handkerchief in sister's hand and you'll know how ingenious and skillful you are!"

  "Sister, if you don't mind, I'll embroider some for you later?" Song Yi asked with a smile, "But I don't know what kind of pattern sister likes?"

  Xī Kōng Yī Luó also didn't mince words: "My name has a 'luó' character, so I'm more fond of wisteria. As for the color... I like pale blue!"

  After the two settled on this matter, the small gap that had previously been mentioned about Jiang Muxun also dissipated.

  Perhaps because of her identity as the Crown Princess of Zhaoliang, after chatting and laughing with Song Yixiao, although there were still occasional hostile and disdainful glances from around them, no one dared to come up and provoke her again.

  After strolling around the garden, it was estimated that the time was about up, and everyone began to walk back in twos and threes.

  Jin Xun quietly asked Song Yi Xiao on the way: "The princess hasn't arrived yet, is she not coming?"

  The tone was hard to conceal delight.

  "Although the two princesses are younger than the imperial concubine, they are still of noble birth. How can you expect them to arrive early like ordinary guests?" Song Yi smiled but wasn't as optimistic, reminding her in a soft voice, "Besides, if they come too early and something happens before the banquet starts, the imperial concubine will have to make an appearance to smooth things over, and Mother definitely won't just sit back and watch. But if they arrive late, even if things get out of hand, the imperial concubine and Mother will be busy attending to the guests, and may not be able to intervene in time. Who would dare to stop the two princesses then?"

  Jin Xun couldn't help but turn pale.

  Song Yixiao comfortingly patted her hand: "The palace also knows the temperaments of these two princes, and since they're willing to let them come, it's probably because they've already drawn a bottom line. As long as we're cautious with our words and actions, at most we'll just lose some face! After all, the imperial edict for the marriage was issued by Empress Dowager herself!"

  The empress may not be comparable to the princess, but the princess has really caused trouble for the empress, and this is a great loss of face! Especially since the royal family sets an example for the world, how can they afford to lose face to such an extent?

  "But I hope so!" Jin Xun bit her lip and thought, "Why didn't the palace directly intercept the two princesses? Isn't it said that Prince Jian is highly favored by the Empress Dowager, even surpassing the princes and princesses?"

  Even if the Empress Dowager didn't have any ulterior motives, who among the nobles doesn't know that Princess Changxing has been paired with Jian Yubai since childhood? Intimidated by their noble status, they wouldn't dare to spread rumors about them.

  But Changxing Gong mainly found trouble for Song Yixiao, but this rumor may not be stopped!

  Even if the emperor's daughter doesn't worry about marriage, a good jade leaf like you hasn't even fallen yet and already has a reputation for being abandoned... is that really okay?

  The girls left the garden and went to pay their respects to the elderly, including Princess Hengshan. At this time, Wei Mengying was leading two daughter-in-laws to report to the princess that the birthday banquet had been prepared almost ready and the guests had arrived in large numbers.

  In front of everyone, the Empress Dowager didn't want to lose face in front of her daughter-in-law either. Especially since Wei Mengying was pregnant again, she asked a few gentle questions and then said: "You've worked hard, with your current condition you're still busy helping me!"

  "Wei Mengying smiled and said, 'This is what a daughter-in-law should do. Moreover, the eldest branch of the family and the second branch of the family have also helped a lot. As for the front yard, it's the prince who brought Mu Er and Qun Er to take care of things. How can I take credit?'"

  The guests all said that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were harmonious, with the mother-in-law being "kind to her juniors, treating her daughter-in-law like her own daughter", and the daughter-in-law being "filial to her elders, serving her mother-in-law as if she were her own mother".

  After this act was finished, the girls came forward to pay their respects to their elders - and couldn't help but bring out another batch of gifts.

  Song Yi smiled and thanked the last elder for the jade bangle, just as she straightened up, she heard a servant hastily entering to report: "The procession of Princess Changxing and Princess Yushan has arrived at the gate!"

  The queen hastily said to Wei Mengying: "You go and welcome her for me!"

  In terms of rank, the princess and the queen are equal, but lower than the imperial concubine; in terms of generation, both princesses are younger. It is said that neither the imperial concubine nor the queen came to greet them, so it was not impolite for the two young ladies to meet them.

  But the first generation of King Hengshan and Emperor Ruizong were only cousins, this hereditary king's seal was purely earned through merit, and had little to do with blood relations. In other words, King Hengshan was nominally Emperor Xianzong's cousin, but their blood ties were actually quite distant.

  In this case, Empress Dowager Cixi did not dare to treat Emperor Guangxu's own daughter as a junior.

  Wei Mengying also understood this truth, responded with a sound, and ordered the two daughter-in-laws, Fourth Young Mistress, and Sixth Miss to go together.

  The princess said: "Let Yixiao go too, she will be married in the second half of the year, and her husband is also the cousin of the princess, it's right to get close!"

  As soon as these words came out, everyone said that the imperial concubine was considerate.

  But Wei Mengying wouldn't be oblivious to the underlying calculation, would she? She smiled and agreed, turned around and walked out the door, then said to Lu Qinger: "Although Mother is well-intentioned, but Your Highness the Princess is of such noble status! Later on, it's still better for you, this child, to take care of things a bit more, lest Laughing Smile, who doesn't often go out, loses face for the Wang Manor!"

  Lu Ke'er sneered and said, "Empress Dowager, you're underestimating Miss Song too much! Not many people can catch the eye of Jian Shu when they go out, is Miss Song really unable to handle a princess?"

  "Did the empress dowager have a good intention and had already entrusted you with this matter?" Wei Mengying smiled at her, but her eyes were icy cold. She said gently, "I was worried for nothing... Well, whatever the empress dowager instructs, that's how it will be!"

  Lu Kui'er originally thought that her stepmother would continue to coerce and bribe, not giving up until she achieved her goal. But unexpectedly, she was very easy-going and gave in, leaving Lu Kui'er somewhat perplexed: "Could it be that she has another trick up her sleeve? But Changxing and Yushan, the two sisters-in-law, were so cunning that even in the palace, there were few people who didn't have a headache because of them!"

  Wei Mengying beckoned Song Yixiao to come over, and she quickly moved her feet to sneak up and eavesdrop - but Wei Mengying had only said one sentence after calling out to her daughter, and by the time she leaned in, both mother and daughter had fallen silent.

  Song Yixiao gave her a faint glance, ignoring her, but in her heart she thought of Wei Mengying's reminder: "The princess is trying to make things difficult for you, don't panic, find a way to lead them to a secluded place, the other girls will take care of it!"

  "Can't the princess just find two guards to knock her out?" Song Yi smiled, puzzled. "But in front of people, the princess is too overbearing, and the attendants on either side consider the master's reputation, perhaps they will advise a little; when they are in a quiet place, the golden branch jade leaf temper comes up, what can't be done? At that time, won't it be a big loss?"

  However, Wei Mengying was very satisfied with this marriage, and she would never deceive her daughter on this matter.

  Song Yi smiled thoughtfully for a moment, an idea floated up, and she couldn't help but frown secretly!

  At this time they had already turned around the screen wall and exited the palace gate.

  On the empty streets, two identical princess carriages were parked. When Wei Mengying and others arrived, the palace maids who were attending to the carriages lifted the pearl curtains and invited the two princesses to alight. On the ground, a red carpet with embroidered lotus flowers had already been laid out, leading all the way to the inner courtyard.

  Changxing Princess was born in the central palace and was four months older than Yushan Princess, so she naturally came out first.

  She is the same age as Song Yixiao, with skin like snow and a beautiful figure. Her eyes sparkle like water when she glances around, and her high nose and chin give her an air of nobility and dignity that commands respect.

  The Yu Shan princess, who was a step behind, was completely different from her sister. Although she was also a beautiful woman with an apricot face and peach cheeks, she was born delicate and small, with a smile at the corner of her mouth, and a hint of cleverness between her eyebrows, which made her seem approachable and easy to get along with.

  "Trouble Princess Wei again!" The two princesses saw Wei Mengying and slightly nodded, but neither made a gesture of courtesy nor called her aunt, showing their distance.

  Wei Mengying's expression remained unchanged, and she smiled as she said a few polite words. Seeing Princess Changxing seeming to scan the crowd, she hastily added: "Her Majesty was just thinking of Your Highnesses! The sun is strong at the entrance, please hurry in so you won't get sunburned!"

  "Invite the two sisters-in-law!" Lu Ke'er, however, didn't want Song Yi Xiao to get away with it so easily. She narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Right, have you met Miss Song? This is Jian's fiancée, and she'll be your sister-in-law in the future!"

  As soon as these words came out, both Princess Changxing and Princess Yushan stopped in their tracks and turned to look at Song Yi together!

  "Kou'er, you really don't understand!" Wei Mengying still smiled, but her gaze at Lu Kou'er was cold and stern. "Your grandmother has already spoken, today let Xiaoxiao help take care of the two princes, what's your hurry? Now that summer has begun, the sun is scorching hot, if the two princes get heatstroke, wouldn't it be our fault for not being good hosts in the palace?"

  Lu Kui'er's goal was to make Princess Changxing notice Song Yixiao. Now that the goal has been achieved, she doesn't want to argue with her stepmother in public again. Just as she was thinking of making a concession, she heard Princess Changxing say calmly: "We're not even married yet, and now my cousin wants us to call her 'sister-in-law'? This is too much! It's like she's afraid that Brother Jian will regret the marriage!"

  These words sounded like a mockery of Lu Ke'er, but the ones who were truly embarrassed were Wei Mengying and Song Yixiao.

  Wei Mengying suppressed her anger and smiled faintly: "Kou'er, why don't you hurry up and apologize to Princess Changxing?"

  Lu Ke'er's eyes rolled, and she smiled as she curtsied to Princess Changxing, saying: "Cousin, don't be annoyed! I just casually said that. Miss Song has always been the most proud and noble, how could she possibly wish for Brother Jian to take her in immediately?"

  But instead added fuel to the fire.

  Changxing Princess showed a satisfied expression, and with a hint of a smile, she glanced at Song Yi's pale face. With a flourish, she raised her wide sleeve: "Don't keep the Grand Consort waiting any longer, let's go quickly!"

  She is the darling of Emperor Xian, and it's already a condescension for her to personally find fault with a humble servant girl. This is just a meeting at the door, and they're already at each other's throats - how unseemly! Giving her a bit of face would have been enough.

  Let's get through this formal occasion first, and then we can appreciate the "thoughtfulness" of Queen Mother Hengshan and her grandson later!

  Song Yixiao is smiling today, can't someone specially "attend" to her?

  Wei Mengying blinked her eyes and immediately acted as if nothing had happened. With a smile, she led the way: "This way, Your Highness!"

  He only glanced at Lu Ke'er when he entered the door, his eyes were cold and emotionless, which made Lu Ke'er slightly surprised, then she curled her lips in disdain: With her grandmother's protection, what is she afraid of?

  She was originally the legitimate daughter of a noble family, and her aunt was even an imperial concubine!

  "How dare you glare at me?" Lu Qianer muttered, "In my opinion, you'd better save your energy and go cry to your biological daughter instead!"

  With Princess Changxing's means, unless she suddenly changed her nature, otherwise Song Yixiao wouldn't have escaped with half her life today!