Song Yixiao came out of the pavilion that time, because Madame Kong from the Hengshan Wangfu helped mediate, the Song family insisted that her fate clashed with her grandmother Madame Pang, so it was not suitable for the grandmother and granddaughter to meet. Since getting married, the social niceties on the Song side were perfunctory, people sent gifts but didn't attend in person, which actually saved her a lot of trouble.

  Even if it's been a year since she got married, even if she doesn't get along with her mother-in-law, she should still go to the Song family gate with Jian Yu Bai and kowtow, ask about her well-being.

  "But I really don't want to go!" Song Yi sighed silently, still remembering the experience of sending her stepmother and half-sister back last time. When she was alone, no matter how much her father lost face, it was okay, but if she lost face in front of her husband...how could she get out of this situation?

  Although Jian Yu Bai had long known that Song Yuan didn't like her, this didn't mean she wasn't concerned about letting her husband see her humble side.

  "As for his mother's side... Even if the Empress Dowager didn't send a message, it wouldn't be possible for the Hengshan Wangfu to not receive him on New Year's Day. However - Wei Mengying also has her own family, doesn't she? So Song Yishang also didn't know whether tomorrow's visit would be to the Hengshan Wangfu or the Wei residence."

  If going to the Wang's mansion in Hengshan is still okay, the two families are now on different paths anyway, so it's just a matter of going through the motions; if going to the Wei's house, Song Yishang thought about Wei Zhuo's affairs and felt that she couldn't take this step no matter what.

  She lazily leaned back and reluctantly ordered Cui Xian: "Later, you go and ask, when will mother go to the Wei family tomorrow?"

  Wei Mengying didn't know whether it was because of lingering anger or some other reason, but this year she simply didn't plan on returning to her maternal home. As for the external reason, she dragged Song Yishao into it as an excuse: "My son has just gotten married and this is the first time he's bringing his wife back home for New Year's greetings. My family members all told me not to go back this year so that both kids won't be disappointed!"

  Wei's family could only follow her words.

  So on the next day, Song Yixiao and Jian Xubo packed up their things and set off straight for the Wang Mansion in Hengshan.

  "This outfit is not bad, lovely and charming, it's dazzling to look at!" After the New Year's ceremony was over, Wei Mengying asked King Hengshan to help entertain Jian Xubai, while she took her daughter to the back hall to chat. After sitting down, she looked at Song Yiliao's outfit with a light smile and said, "But most importantly, my child is born well, whatever she wears looks good!"

  Song Yi Xiao's last meeting with her was to force Wei Cui to back down, now she is thinking of making amends with her own mother, and upon hearing this, she said without hesitation: "This is also my good fortune, passed on from Mother's looks!"

  "Looks are born with, but this temperament is cultivated later in life. My daughter can be considered a rare talent with both beauty and brains!" Wei Mengying said with a smile - the mother and daughter mutually complimented each other for a while, when someone came to report: "Your Highness, Duke Boling and Miss Shu have come to pay their New Year's respects. The Grand Empress Dowager says that the Duke is not feeling well, please go over to receive his respects!"

  "Wei Mengying exclaimed in surprise: 'They actually came back for the New Year? On the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, I sent someone to ask at the Hou Mansion, and they said the master had not returned. I thought they would stay at Zhan Chun Guan until after the Spring Festival before returning!'"

  Song Yi Xiao smiled and said: "They came back on New Year's Eve, they told me before."

  "Really!" Wei Mengying nodded and said to her, "Just now you have already met the princess, if you go again now, I'm afraid the princess won't be very happy. Why don't you just wait here for me? I'll take your younger brother and sisters to make an appearance, and come back right away!"

  "Slow down, girl!" Song Yixiao also knew that the King of Hengshan's wife didn't like her, and she didn't want to upset the old lady on New Year's Day - especially since the wife was considering Yuan Xuepei, and had even called over Wei Mengying, who was a cousin. As for Jin Shi, who was of the same generation as herself, it wasn't worth mentioning. Although Song Yixiao was quite tactful, when she thought about what Jin Shi had done, she really feared that if she saw her face to face, she wouldn't be able to help but tear into this poisonous woman!

  It's not good to make such a big deal out of this in the first month!

  Wei Mengying went into the inner room to change her clothes, and ordered people to carry in the eighth young lady Lu Cong'er and the ninth young lady Lu Cui'er. Since the seventh young master Lu Guangyun had been summoned by the imperial consort earlier, there was no need to bring him along this time. The group of people left with a flourish.

  After a while, when they came back, the three brothers and sisters of Lu Guanyun had disappeared, but Yuan Xueying, with a respectful face, was led into the house by Wei Mengying.

  "The old lady said that the house was a bit quiet with just one person, so she invited Yun and the others to come to the courtyard to liven things up." Wei Mengying smiled slightly, waved her hand to signal her daughter not to get up, and let Yuan Xue also sit down. She took the tea from the servant and took a sip, then said with a warm smile, "I'll take this opportunity to be lazy too, and chat with you all!"

  Song Yi laughed and was secretly surprised: "Two younger sisters are still in swaddling clothes, how can they play with the eldest grandson? Especially since Mother usually keeps a close eye on Yun'er, even if Eldest Young Master's wife is Mother's person, she can't get close to Yun'er——what does this have to do with us, and why can't we be disturbed?"

  She couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.

  Yuan Xueying's understanding of Wei Mengying was not as good as Song Yixiao, but in fact she had a good impression of this Wei aunt. After all, during the few years she lived in the Hengshan Wangfu, Wei Mengying took care of her food and clothing very thoughtfully.

  So she heard and laughed: "Auntie is really hardworking to take care of the whole family, otherwise I'll ask Shan Yi to give you a shoulder massage?"

  As he spoke, he began to roll up his sleeves.

  Wei Mengying naturally smiled and stopped, saying that she was filial and sensible, and then scolded Song Yi: "You're so cruel! My niece is more considerate of me than you!"

  Song Yixiao had a good relationship with Yuan Xue, so she wouldn't be jealous. Hearing this, she smiled and said: "Whether it's your daughter or my niece, the result is the same! Just pretend to be confused and think that I and Sister Yuan are both filial daughters!"

  "You're still as muddle-headed as ever! Wei Mengying didn't care if her words would anger her daughter, and instead gazed at Yuan Xueyao with loving eyes, sighing, "If your two younger sisters can be even half as good as you in the future, I'll be completely satisfied!"

  "How come my mother is suddenly praising my cousin so much?" Song Yi smiled, knowing that her own mother never did anything without a reason. Before this, she had been nice to Yuan Xueying, but not overly enthusiastic. Now, she was suddenly stepping on her own daughter's toes to praise her niece - there must be some calculation behind it.

  She really didn't know what was going on in her heart. "I just came to pay a New Year's visit, do I have to fight with my mother again?"

  When Song Yixiao was entangled, Yuan Xueyao also sensed that something was wrong and began to apologize repeatedly. Wei Mengying saw the situation and simply sent everyone away, opening the door and saying: "Xueyao, I heard that your brother plans to talk about a marriage for you among the new jinshi after the beginning of the year?"

  Yuan Xue'er was caught off guard and suddenly became red-faced, awkwardly saying: "I don't know what to say to Auntie!"

  "Aunt, you've also seen me grow up, this is a lifelong matter, I don't have the qualifications to speak, but today, on New Year's Eve, I want to sell my old age and add another mouth! Wei Mengying and Yan Yuese said, "You are two years older than Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao has been married for a year now, you haven't even fixed your relatives yet - this can't be delayed any longer! No wonder your brother is anxious to introduce someone to you!"

  "But I also want to say this: As the saying goes, 'it's easy to paint a dragon or a tiger, but hard to paint their bones', one can know a person's appearance but not their heart!"

  "Newly appointed scholars come from all directions, many of whom have been traveling for a year and a half to arrive on time. We, on the other hand, are all born and raised in the imperial capital, and no one knows what they were like before. How can you possibly get a clear picture of someone in just a few days after the list is announced?"

  "Besides, you're young and beautiful, your brother is a hereditary marquis who dotes on you so much - can the one who wants to be your husband not pretend?"

  Song Yi Xiao didn't dare to eat and interrupted, "Mother, speaking of this marriage, the maid who served Father for many years, Xi Cui, also told me that she wanted to get married a few days ago! I couldn't find a suitable family for her at the time, so I was just about to ask Mother to teach me today!"

  Wei Mengying glared at her: "What's wrong with the way you're talking? I'm discussing Snow's marriage, and you bring up a maid? If Snow didn't have a good temper, she would have slapped you by now!"

  Knowing that this daughter may not listen, Wei Mengying didn't beat around the bush after scolding her. She directly asked Yuan Xueyao, "In my opinion, it's better not to let your brother worry about it - as the saying goes, 'kinship is added to kinship'. Guanlun is your first cousin, and you two are also childhood sweethearts. What do you think of him?"

  ...This sudden sentence not only made Yuan Xueyu stunned, but also surprised Song Yishang!

  After a moment, Yuan Xueyu's face turned red as she said: "Aunt, marriage is a major event, parents are in charge! My father and mother are no longer here, now it's my elder brother who takes the place of my father - You're asking me this, it really puts me in a difficult position!"

  Wei Mengying smiled and said, "You get along with Xiaoxiao like sisters, so I won't hide it from you: the reason I suggested this is mainly because soon, the king will grant Crown Prince Rong a title. My own Yun'er is still young, and in the future, who knows if she'll have to rely on Crown Prince Rong's wife? So I hope that the future crown princess can get along with me - of course, if you're not willing, then just consider it an aunt's foolish mistake, don't mind it for Xiaoxiao's sake, okay?"

  She was an elder, and they all said so. What could Yuan Xueying do? She had to repeatedly express that she didn't mind at all.

  The three of them didn't mention the matter again, but instead changed the subject to somewhere else. A moment later, someone was sent from Yuan Xuepei's side to call for Yuan Xueyu, and Yuan Xueyu left with a sigh of relief. As soon as she disappeared into the doorway, Song Yixiao anxiously grabbed her mother and asked: "Mother! Do you want Sister Yuan to marry Young Master Lu?! What do you really want?!"

  "What do I want?" Wei Mengying's voice suddenly turned cold, her face also dark and gloomy, as if the warmth from a moment ago never existed. She spoke sharply, "I'd rather ask you what you want - helping your cousin who we've hardly ever gotten along with to scheme against me, your own mother, is one thing, but now because of that Yuan sister of yours, you're yelling at me on New Year's Day, am I raising a daughter or what? It's as if I owe you for eight lifetimes!"

  "Mother, I didn't mean it that way!" Song Yi laughed and suppressed her anxious mood, repeatedly apologizing - after coaxing for a while, seeing her mother's face slightly clear up, she continued to ask, "How did you think of letting Yuan sister be your daughter-in-law? The Marquis of Boling is on the side of the Crown Prince!"

  Wei Mengying smiled and said, "A daughter who is married out is like water that has been splashed out, once she marries into the Jian family, she becomes a member of the Jian family. If she were to marry into the Hengshan Wangfu, then naturally she would be a member of the Wangfu - as long as she doesn't interact with her brother too much in the future, relying on the Wangfu's wealth and influence, it won't drag them down! After all, the Yuan siblings are the biological children of the Empress Dowager, so the relationship between the two families can't be severed, right?"

  Song Yi smiled and said: "You say Lu San Gongzi wants to be the heir... is that true?"