Luckily, Sikong Yiluo gave Song Yixiao a hint that she should distance herself from Jiang Muting. However, upon seeing Song Yixiao's hesitant appearance, she didn't force her. Instead, she changed the topic smilingly, "I've heard that you are good at embroidery. Today, the birthday gift you presented to Her Highness the Dowager Consort today is a piece of embroidery? I am wondering whether I can see it with my own eyes later."

"I am so flattered." Song Yixiao said humbly, "Yet, the birthday present has been given to the Dowager Consort. It remains unknown whether Her Highness will take it out and have a look."

"Actually, no need to see the birthday gift. Judging from the embroidered handkerchief in your hand, I can tell that you are really crafty."

"If you like it, how about embroidering some for you?" Song Yixiao asked smilingly, "What kind of patterns do you like?"

Sikong Yiluo answered bluntly, "My name contains a character 'Luo' (lit. wisteria), so I prefer wisteria. As to color, I like purple!"

After they made an agreement on it, the estrangement between them due to Jiang Muting also faded away.

Sikong Yiluo was going to be the wife of Prince of Liang. As a result, after she chatted and laughed with Song Yixiao, no one dared to provoke Song Yixiao even though they still gave her the hostile and disdainful look.

They spent a while in the garden. When it was almost time, people started to go back.

On the way back, Jinxun asked Song Yixiao in secret, "Her Highness the Princess hasn't come yet. Does it mean that she will not come?"

Her voice was full of rejoicing.

"Although the two princesses are juniors to the Dowager Consort, they are honorable regardless. How can you expect them to arrive early just like ordinary guests?" Song Yixiao, not as optimistic as her, reminded her in an indifferent voice, "Moreover, if they arrive early and the feast hasn't started, the Dowager Consort has to mediate if any dispute. Mother will not stand aside. However, if they arrive late and make a big fuss, the Dowager Consort and Mother must be too busy dealing with the other guests to mediate in time. By then who dares to stop the two princesses?"

Jinxun was astounded with a pale face.

Song Yixiao tried to soothe her by patting the back of her hand, "These two princesses' characters are well known in the imperial palace. Since they are allowed to come, they have certain rules to follow. As long as we behave well and talk carefully, we can be disgraced at most! After all, the imperial decree of granting the marriage is issued by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Daughter-in-law was no match for a daughter, but if a daughter did make a big trouble for a daughter-in-law, it would bring great shame on the family! In particular, the royal family was the role model for the people. How could they act regardless of the dignity?

"I hope so!" Jinxun bit her lips and thought, "Why aren't the two princesses stopped directly? I thought Duke Jian was much favored by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. Even the princes and princesses cannot beat him?"

Even if the Empress Dowager didn't show favor for Song Yixiao because of Jian Xubai, it was well known among the n.o.bility that Princess Changxing and Jian Xubai were believed to be a loving couple. Given their social ident.i.ty, even if they didn't get married, no one dared to gossip about them.

However, if Princess Changxing did make trouble for Song Yixiao, the rumor might not be able to avoid!

Even if the princess had no worry about marrying, was it okay that a princess was known as being abandoned before getting engaged?

The girls left the garden to pay regards to Dowager Consort of Hengshan and other seniors. Now Wei Mengying reported to Dowager Consort with two daughters-in-law that the birthday feast was more or less ready with almost all the guests arriving.

Before so many people, the Dowager Consort couldn't show disrespect for her daughter-in-law. In particular, Wei Mengying was pregnant. Hence, the Dowager Consort exchanged some pleasantries with delight and then said, "Thank you for your hard work. You are pregnant and still help me with all the preparations!"

Wei Mengying said with a smile, "You are welcome. Besides, my two daughters-in-law have helped me a lot. His Highness also helps receive the guests at the front yard with Guanmu and Guanqun. How can I take the credit?"

The guests all said that the Dowager Consort and Wei Mengying got along well. The mother-in-law showed understanding for her daughter-in-law and treated her just like her own daughter; the daughter-in-law treated her mother-in-law with filial respect as if she did to her birth mother.

Afterwards, the girls went forward to present the gifts to the seniors. They had to offer some presents upon meeting.

Song Yixiao received the jade bracelet of the last senior with grat.i.tude. She just stood up when she heard a servant rush inside and report, "The honor guards of Their Highnesses the Princess Changxing and the Princess Yushan have arrived at the entrance!"

The Dowager Consort hastened to say to Wei Mengying, "Receive them on behalf of me!"

In terms of ranking, the princess was at the same ranking as the princess consort, even one ranking lower than the dowager consort. In terms of seniority, the two princesses were juniors. Actually, it would be proper that only the two young mistresses went out to receive them without the Dowager Consort and the Princess Consort going along.

However, the first generation of Prince of Hengshan and the first founder of the Rui Dynasty were merely brothers of the same clan. The hereditary t.i.tle of prince was gained by credits, which didn't have much to do with the blood relation. In other words, Prince of Hengshan was nominally the cousin of Emperor Xianjia but their blood relations.h.i.+p was distant.

Under the circ.u.mstance, the Dowager Consort didn't really take the birth daughters of Emperor Xianjia as the junior.

Wei Mengying also understood that. After saying yes, she ordered the two daughters-in-law, Fourth Commandery Princess and Lu Chai'er to go with her.

The Dowager Consort said, "Ask Yixiao to go with you too. She will get married in the second half-year and her fiancé is also the cousin of the princesses. They should get along frequently!"

When she said that, she was acclaimed to be thoughtful.

However, Wei Mengying had seen through the scheme. She agreed smilingly but when she left the room, she told Lu Kou'er, "The Dowager Consort means well but Their Highnesses are such n.o.ble persons! You had better spend more effort in helping me receive them. Yixiao seldom goes out so she may act improperly, which may disgrace the Prince!"

Lu Kou'er sneered and said, "Mother, you've underestimated Miss Song! She rarely goes out but she can still be chosen by Xubai. How can she not be able to receive the princesses?"

"It turns out that your grandmother has told you what to do before?" Wei Mengying looked at her smilingly and yet with her eyes full of grimness, saying in a soft voice, "I shouldn't have worried too much... Fine, just do as your grandmother orders!"

Lu Kou'er thought that given this stepmother's character, she must keep threatening and would not stop until she reached her goal. Unexpectedly, Wei Mengying made a compromise nicely. Lu Kou'er thought to herself in confusion, "Does she have anything up her sleeve? Yet, Changxing and Yushan are so annoyingly sa.s.sy that all the people in the imperial palace feel a headache!"

When Wei Mengying waved her hand to summon Song Yixiao, she hastened to move forward and tried to eavesdrop. However, Wei Mengying only said one sentence to her daughter. When she advanced forward, Wei Mengying and Song Yixiao had stopped talking.

Song Yixiao glanced at her casually and just ignored her. Yet, she was thinking about Wei Mengying's order, "If the princesses try to make trouble for you, don't panic. You just manage to lead them to somewhere lonely and I will take it from there!"

"Will Mother find two guards to stun the princesses?" Song Yixiao was confused, "But if they are too over, their maids may give them some advice in consideration of their reputation. Yet, in a lonely place, what they may do out of anger is beyond imagination. By then, won't I suffer a lot?"

However, Wei Mengying was very pleased with her marriage. She couldn't lead her daughter to trouble at the moment anyway.

Song Yixiao pondered for a while and thought of an idea. She couldn't help frowning in secret!

Now they walked across the screen wall and got out of the gate of the prince's mansion.

In the street that had been cleared off were two teams of honor guards of the princesses. When Wei Mengying and the others arrived, the maids of honor lifted the pearl curtain and conducted the two princesses off the carriage. The ground had been paved with the scarlet brocade carpet with twisted lotus pattern, which led towards the inner yard.

Princess Changxing was born by the Empress, who was four months older than Princess Yushan, so she walked ahead.

As old as Song Yixiao, she had white skin with graceful bearing. Her eyes were so beautiful that everyone would fall for her. Moreover, as she lifted her chin, due to her exalted bearing, she looked so impressive and dignified.

Princess Yushan behind her was nothing like her elder sister. Pretty as she was, she was dainty and cute with a smile on her face. Her eyes were beaming with shrewdness, which made her even more approachable.

"Thank you, Princess Consort Wei!" Upon seeing Wei Mengying, the two princesses both greeted with a nod. They didn't mean to curtsey or call her auntie, which served to show the distant relations.h.i.+p between them.

Given Wei Mengying's subtlety, she wouldn't express her dissatisfaction for that. She exchanged pleasantries smilingly. When Princess Changxing seemed to stare at the crowd, she hastened to say, "Mother was talking about Your Highnesses! It is too sunny today. Please go into the mansion now in case you get sunburnt!"

"My dear cousins, please!" Lu Kou'er didn't want Song Yixiao to get away easily, so she narrowed her eyes and said grinningly, "By the way, have you met Miss Song before? This is Brother Xubai's fiancée, aka, your future cousin-in-law!"

Upon hearing that, Princess Changxing and Princess Yushan both stopped and looked to Song Yixiao simultaneously!

"Kou'er, you are too insensible!" Wei Mengying was still smiling. Yet, when she looked at Lu Kou'er, her eyes were so cold, "Your grandmother has asked Yixiao to help receive Her Highnesses. What's the rush? Now it is summer and it is too scorching hot! If the two princesses get sunburnt, we must take the blame!"

Lu Kou'er did so for the purpose of making Princess Changxing notice Song Yixiao. Now that her purpose was served, she didn't want to oppose against her stepmother in public. She wanted to walk through it when she heard Princess Changxing say casually, "They are not married. Isn't it too improper for us to call Song Yixiao cousin-in-law? Are you afraid that my cousin will break the pledge of marriage?"

It sounded like throwing out innuendoes against Lu Kou'er but Wei Mengying and Song Yixiao were the ones who felt embarra.s.sed.

Wei Mengying resisted her anger and said with a faint smile, "Kou'er, apologize to Her Highness Princess Changxing now!"

Lu Kou'er rolled her eyes and made a curtsey to Princess Changxing with a smile, saying, "Please don't be angry! I was just saying. Miss Song is the most reserved and purest girl. How can she be eager to be married to Brother Xubai?"

It was like pouring oil on the flames.

Princess Changxing appeared pleased and glanced with a faint smile at Song Yixiao who was pale, flicking her sleeves, "Don't make the Dowager Consort wait for too long. Let's go!"

She was the apple of Emperor Xianjia's eye. She had demeaned herself by making trouble for a daughter of an official. Wouldn't it be a disgrace on her if she blew up upon the first meeting? It was enough to give a head-on blow at the first encounter.

It wouldn't be too late for her to walk through before she accepted the kindness of Dowager Consort of Hengshan's grandchild.

Song Yixiao was obliged to "receive" her, wasn't she?

Wei Mengying narrowed her eyes as if nothing had happened. She showed the way smilingly, "Your Highness, this way!"

When she entered the mansion, she cast such a cold glance at Lu Kou'er that Lu Kou'er was slightly shocked. Yet, Lu Kou'er thought to herself with a disdainful smile that she had nothing to fear with the protection of her grandmother.

She was the legitimate daughter of the first wife of the prince and her auntie was the n.o.ble consort!

"How dare you stare at me?" Lu Kou'er thought disgruntledly, "In my eyes, you had better save it and sob for your birth daughter!"

In light of Princess Changxing's scheme, unless her character was changed, Song Yixiao would suffer a lot today!