It's not just Liang Wang who doesn't want to marry Si Kong Yihua.

  A few days later, Le Guo Gong recovered, and Xie Yiren also went out again. First, she visited Song Yi Xiao at the Yan Guo Gong Fu.

  After sitting down and exchanging a few pleasantries, she brought up: "Although the younger sister of the Cai family has been raised in the countryside for many years and doesn't see her older sister often, she is very close to her! These days everyone says she's lucky because after her older sister passed away, not only did she return to the Cai family estate, but also unexpectedly got a good marriage - what do you think? She actually doesn't want to get married, saying that she only considers the Duke of Liang as an older brother."

  Song Yi laughed in surprise: "Does Prince Liang's side know about this?"

  "I already know, can't the palace not hear the rumors?" Xie Yiren said with a bitter smile, "Next month is the grand wedding of King Liang, we should have been on good terms with Princess Chuyu before, although she's gone now, but her younger sister is taking her place in marriage, at least we should go and congratulate! But I'm really afraid that master will stir up trouble without caring about the consequences, and it'll be hard to end it then."

  Although she had only met Si Kong Yi Han twice, and both times were brief encounters. Song Yi Xiao couldn't help but admit that the second young lady of the Si Kong family was indeed someone who could cause a big commotion without regard for the occasion.

  She sighed: "This marriage is actually approved by the Siku family, and there are still a few days before the big wedding. I think the Siku family will have a good talk with Miss Siku."

  Although she felt that Si Kong Yi Han's respect for her elder sister was touching, when it came to the family's future prospects, whether it was the eldest princess of Zhen Yang or other members of the Si Kong family, they would never allow such a deep sisterly affection - no matter how much Si Kong Yi Han made a fuss, after all, she was just a girl who had not yet reached adulthood, where could she withstand the pressure of the family?

  "That's also a good talk!" Xie Yiren was not very optimistic about the outcome, she was the eldest granddaughter of the national duke, and since childhood, she had seen and known much more about the situation of the Sishu family than Song Yixiao. She revealed, "You know why Miss Sishu has been raised in a villa outside the city for many years? It's not that Madam Zhu can't tolerate her illegitimate daughter, but because she was born with a fierce and unruly temperament, even the eldest princess of the True Yang couldn't handle her, so they sent her away from the house to avoid trouble!"

  A girl like that, if she had married into a slightly lower-ranking family at the right age, would have been able to let go. But who would have thought that Sister Shikong's chastity was gone? The Shikong family has only two daughters in this generation; if they don't take her back, how can they continue their alliance with the imperial family?

  Now that the wedding is less than a month away, "with Miss Sisi's temperament, what ordinary means can intimidate her? If we take drastic measures, she'll be married next month, and if there are any consequences or she harbors resentment and makes trouble after marriage, what will you do?"

  Xie Yi sighed and said, "If only Ce Rong's sister had always been safe and sound, that would be great."

  It wasn't this busy back then.

  "Things are hard to predict!" Song Yi smiled bitterly, "That day in the East Palace, I, Sister Cao, Sister Wei, and others were laughing and chatting, making an appointment to gather together once your grandfather recovered. Who would have thought that just overnight, such a big thing happened?"

  The two of them sighed for a long time before calming down with the help of persuasion from those around them.

  "Right, I haven't congratulated you on the tile-laying ceremony yet!" Xie Yiren took a sip of tea and suddenly remembered, "I heard that you went to the Wang Fu in Hengshan to visit on the same day? How was it? Does your younger sister look like anyone?"

  That day's experience wasn't a good memory — Song Yi laughed and fiddled with the bangle on her wrist, saying with a forced smile: "Have you forgotten that I had just returned from a banquet at the East Palace that day and received news to rush to the Hengshan Wangfu? At that time, I was full of wine breath, afraid of disturbing my sister, so I didn't dare get close."

  She didn't want to talk more about this topic, so she casually said, "I got a few paintings two days ago. You mentioned last time that you like painting, do you want to take a look together?"

  After seeing off Xie Yiren that day, Song Yi laughed and took out the gift list originally prepared for Si Kong Yirou's coming-of-age ceremony. She carefully considered Si Kong Yirou's temperament and character, deliberating back and forth until it was finalized at noon.

  At this time, Jian Xuwu also dispersed and brought back a message: "The Ministry of Rites has already selected the day for Changxing's descent, which is on November 6th. You should communicate with your elder sister and second sister-in-law, and prepare some gifts that are slightly less than theirs."

  "November 6th?" Song Yi smiled and felt that this date was very familiar. "Isn't it just two days before Shengshou Festival?"

  But thinking about it, it's not surprising - now everyone is discussing the marriage of the Shang family's daughter, and naturally, they are paying less attention to the fixed marriage date of Princess Changxing; then, by coincidence, before the descent of the Holy Birthday Festival, using the bustle of the Holy Birthday Festival to cover up the news, although it is still impossible to erase the fact that Princess Changxing snatched someone's husband, it can at least muddle through.

  "I'll go visit my sister tomorrow then." Song Yi smiled and nodded, but suddenly remembered something. "Mother had initially agreed to let the servants in the mansion return to their hometowns to take care of Grandfather's grave. But now she has changed her mind and decided to have them serve as attendants for Third Brother instead. Do you think it has anything to do with Third Brother's wife?"

  If Jian Yiyou was not the son of Princess Chang Xing, but rather someone who married Pei You Rui through an arranged marriage, he would just be a common noble. Not to mention whether or not he has the qualifications to have so many slaves, nor whether or not he can afford them, even if there were orders from Jian Ping Yu for those people to surrender, it's still a question as to whether or not Jian Yiyou could control them!

  After all, Jian Pingyu was a veteran of two dynasties in his heyday, a figure who dominated the imperial court and made officials bow their heads. Having served such a master, even as a slave, how could one look down on ordinary nobles? The same goes for Jian Pingyu's eldest grandson!

  But even if Jian Yi became the son-in-law, according to the imperial court's preferential treatment of princesses, even if Princess Jin went to the capital in the future, his official career would still be smooth sailing.

  Not saying so won them over and at least increased their confidence in assisting.

  She worried, "You just said that the younger brother of Princess Changxing, Prince Zhao, had his sights on the Eastern Palace, but now Third Brother has taken control and also obtained the help of the people left behind by our grandfather. In the future..."

  "It doesn't matter." Jian Yu Bai said indifferently, "I have my own plans for this matter, you don't need to worry about it!"

  Song Yi laughed and said with a cold face, "So what other things shouldn't I worry about? Please tell me all at once, so I won't interfere in unnecessary matters!"

  "The inside story of this matter is not suitable to tell you now." Jian Yu Bai heard the annoyance in her tone and raised an eyebrow with a hint of a smile, "You are the mistress of this household, there are many things that should concern you, why would you want to take on more trouble for just one sentence?"

  Song Yi smiled silently, unable to respond, and angrily swept her sleeve as she left - it was too depressing to swallow this breath!

  So she went out and thought for a while, then sneered and walked into the kitchen without hesitation.

  It was time for dinner, and as usual, the couple sat in the flower hall waiting for someone to serve the meal.

  After the first dish was served, Jian Yu Bai didn't think much of it; after the second dish was placed on the table, he took a glance; but when the third dish came out, he furrowed his brow and stopped looking at the dishes, instead turning to his wife: "Tonight... why are there so many shrimp?"

  Braised big shrimp, steamed shrimp, fried shrimp pieces, fresh shrimp steamed egg custard, crystal shrimp dumplings, sweet and sour shrimp, garlic shrimp, shrimp paste tofu... even the staple food is mushroom and fresh shrimp congee!

  "I've heard that shrimp is nutritious, and since you're always busy with work and overexerting yourself, you should eat more of this kind of beneficial food." Song Yi smiled and picked up her chopsticks, picking out the largest piece of fried shrimp for him. "This dish was made by your wife's own hands, won't you try some?"

  Add blockage to this matter, use your heart, there will always be a way——who made this guy disdain her fried shrimp last time? Since he dislikes shrimp so much, Song Yixiao deliberately set up a table full of shrimp feast today!

  Jian Yu Bai nodded after looking at her for a while, his eyebrows slowly relaxing: "Alright!"

  Watching him savoring the fried shrimp, Song Yi always felt that something was off.

  But then she thought of the people around her who hadn't retreated, so she let it go and hurriedly scooped another spoonful of egg custard for him, smiling brightly: "This is the cook's specialty, husband must try!"

  Next is steamed prawn, "This is light and refreshing, husband don't miss it!"

  Then there's shrimp paste tofu, "You've always liked this dish, would you like to try some, husband?"

  Song Yi laughed and enthusiastically recommended each dish, piling up a small mountain in Jian Yu's bowl until it was full to the brim. Only then did she reluctantly stop, smiling and saying: "Husband, eat while it's hot! If it's not enough, I'll serve you more!"

  "Good!" Jian Yu Bai didn't know if he was already full or what, but this time he just calmly and quietly glanced at her, then lowered his eyes and focused on eating. Song Yi Xiang imagined his true feelings at this moment and felt that she had spent the whole evening taking care of him, and hadn't even eaten a few mouthfuls, which was completely worth it!

  The dinner that evening was spent in Jian Yu Bai's silent taciturnity and Song Yi Xiao's joyful excitement.

  After dinner, the two of them took a bath and changed their clothes. When they returned to the room, Song Yi smiled and slammed the door shut with a "bang". Her sharp gaze turned to him, making him feel a little scared, and he warned: "What do you want to do?"

  "Why is it all shrimp for dinner tonight?" Jian Yu Bai walked up to her, with a hint of a smile, "I'll give you another chance... are you sure you won't tell the truth?"

  He said as he leaned down, staring into his wife's eyes - Song Yi Xiang was sitting on the soft couch under the west window, twisting her wet hair, and when she heard this, she put down the handkerchief with a guilty conscience, shrinking back: "I've eaten it all, what's the point of pursuing the root?"

  Jian Yu Bai reached out and grabbed her shoulder, exerting a slight force to pull her into his own arms. He then sat down on the soft couch, holding her in his lap, gently stroking her back with an occasional pause, gazing at her with only a smile but no words.

  He was wearing a crimson undergarment outside his clothes, with only one garment covering him, and the sash was loosely tied.

  Song Yi Xiao struggled a few times after being pulled into his arms, and the belt came undone, revealing the loose undergarments and a large expanse of exposed chest.

  The young man under the lamp had a fair complexion, with eyebrows and eyes like a painting, but his clothes were disheveled, yet he had a kind of allure.

  His eyes were cold and piercing, and Song Yi couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine as he stared at her.

  After a long stalemate, she finally couldn't hold it in and lost her temper: "Who told you to let me touch the nails? Besides, I didn't force you to eat those shrimp either!"

  "You're really disappointing me!" Jian Yu Bai heard this and stopped rubbing her back, saying instead, "I was just making an excuse to tease you, and you actually believed it?"

  Song Yi Xiao's face turned pale with rage for a moment, as if she was about to spit blood: "You're saying?!"

  "Ah, I don't dislike eating shrimp at all!" Jian Yu Bai said with a pleasant smile. "In fact, when I said I didn't like to eat fried shrimp last time, I was waiting for you to do this... You've been quiet for so long, I thought you had seen through me. It seems that as a husband, I underestimated my own cleverness!"

  Song Yi laughed: "Haha!!!"

  Mom! That "guaranteed effective" medicine you mentioned?! Give it to me first, and then we can be distant from each other, okay?!