Jinguo Grand Princess and the Pei Family were on good terms, so Jian Xubai should show respect for his mother. He lifted the curtain and took a look only to find that the horseman was the chief house steward of the Pei Family. Then he replied with a slight nod, “Let him come near for a talk!”

“It's my honor to meet you, Your Highness, Mistress.” The Chief House Steward arrived before the carriage, greeted and then expressed his congratulations, “Wish you a happy life and hope you to have children soon!”

Then he started to talk of his intention of coming, “It is said that Your Highness and Mistress went into the imperial palace for expressing grat.i.tude yesterday and thus got the white jade ginsengs from His Majesty. Today my master has seen a doctor and the prescription happens to require the very herb. However, we don't have it in stock, so I've been sent here to ask whether you can give one to my master.”

Jian Xubai took a tumble and yet didn't ask further. He only took out the brush and ink from the hidden drawer of the carriage and wrote a note in a hurry. Then he had it stamped with his personal seal and sent two guards to escort him towards Duke of Yan's mansion for fetching the ginseng.

Then after the Chief House Steward left gratefully, he put down the curtain and explained to Song Yixiao, “It's Grand Secretariat Pei, father of my foster sister, who is sick.”

The cause of disease was needless to mention. Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao were aware of it. When Jiang Muting was not announced to be Princess Consort of Wei, which was only spread privately, she felt too embarra.s.sed to hang out anymore after failing to be chosen. Moreover, Pei Yourui and Jian Yiyou's marriage was even stated in an imperial decree!

His daughter's marriage was ruined. How could he not feel torn with anxiety?

Song Yixiao couldn't say anything about it so she only said, “How about send them more medicine after arriving back home?”

“Okay.” Jian Xubai agreed. Then he leaned against the carriage and stayed silent with his eyes closed.

Song Yixiao didn't talk to him then and started to look at the vista in the street through the slit of the curtain.

After returning to Duke of Yan's mansion, they inquired the person-in-charge of the warehouse and learnt that the Chief House Steward of the Pei Family only took away a ginseng. Then Song Yixiao asked Jian Xubai whether to send them more medicine.

“Mother is always healthy while Uncle Limiao is not.” Jian Xubai hedged, “Don't reduce the share of Uncle Limiao.”

Song Yixiao took away two from the share of Jinguo Grand Princess and asked the servants to send them with some more medicine to the Pei Family.

After she finished ordering, Jian Xubai asked casually, “You've disposed of Cuipiao?”

Hearing that, Qiaoqin, Jinxun and the other close maids of Song Yixiao immediately got anxious, praying that Song Yixiao's answer wouldn't irritate him.

“Isn't that what she hopes to get?” Song Yixiao put on an innocent look, “Otherwise, why didn't she show any respect for me in public?”

“After all, she is designated by Grandmother. Don't forget to make an apology to her when you go into the imperial palace.” Jian Xubai was poker-faced to hear that and only said casually, “In this case, others can't accuse you of showing no respect for Grandmother!”

Song Yixiao answered, “Sure.”

She expected that he would talk more. After all, Cuipiao had served him for so many years.

However, Jian Xubai put an end to this topic and then said, “I had some time yesterday so I wrote the memorial to the throne to request for the imperial mandate on behalf of you, which will be submitted later. If you can't write a thank-you letter addressed to the throne, you may as well ask my mother or sister-in-law.”

When he left, Qiaoqin and the other servants advanced to compliment with delight, “You've been married only for three days and His Highness is about to apply for the imperial mandate for you. Evidently he shows great concern for you!”

“I don't know how to write the thank-you letter indeed.” Song Yixiao just smiled and said, “Make some preparations and I will pay regards to Mother tomorrow!”

By “Mother”, of course she meant Jinguo Grand Princess. However, after Song Yixiao arrived at the Grand Princess's mansion the next day and greeted her mother-in-law, she presented the white jade ginseng and was granted to sit down for a talk. Yet, she didn't mention the thank-you letter but to kneel down and say, “I'm here to apologize…”

The Grand Princess said in surprise, “It has only been a few days since you got married. How come you are apologizing to me?”

“It's about Cuipiao.” Song Yixiao chose not to add any tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs. After all, there were so many servants in Duke of Yan's mansion and yet very few of them were trustworthy. Hardly could she try to keep any secret!

She told the Grand Princess what happened on the night of the wedding ceremony and that Cuipiao still talked impolitely to her after Jian Xubai ordered this maid to listen to her. In the end, she said, “I know that she is designated by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and I shall treat her well! Nevertheless, it was such a shame for me and I had to…”

“It's no big deal.” The Grand Princess answered with hesitation, “Xubai has told you that you are the one to manage the maids! Is there any problem with you teaching her a lesson? Don't take it too personally. My mother appointed Cuipiao to work in Duke of Yan's mansion just because the maid served Xubai carefully and she decided to grant the maid a special favor. Generally, an imperial maid may have a chance to leave the palace at the age of 25. Yet, the maid was lucky enough to be appointed to work in the duke's mansion. As long as you agree, she can get married earlier! However, this shameless chick has made trouble for you!”

The Grand Princess's reply was within Song Yixiao's expectation. In general case, the seniors would show extra kindness to the new daughter-in-law but some unusually annoying ones. In particular, the Empress Dowager and Jinguo Grand Princess forced the Jian Family to arrange a wedding for counteracting bad luck so that she could marry Jian Xubai earlier and help manage the household affairs for him. Why would they object to Song Yixiao's attempt to secure a leading position in the mansion?

Although her husband was not cooperative enough, she complained about it anyway in the guise of apologizing for beating Cuipiao.

She pretended to be relieved with a sigh and said thank-you to her mother-in-law.

The Grand Princess patted the back of her hand smilingly to show her closeness and then inquired about Song Yixiao's feelings over the past few days, “Now that you are the mistress of Duke of Yan's mansion as well as the legitimate wife of Xubai. Do not make yourself suffer in your own home!”

“Thank you for your reminder!” That was exactly what Song Yixiao wanted to hear. Then she immediately put on an embarra.s.sed look, “Everything is fine except that Xubai told me to get rid of the redundant servants in the mansion in case that the imperial censors may impeach him. However, as far as I learn, most of the servants in the mansion used to serve Xubai's grandfather so we must treat them well. I have thought of a few solutions but none of them are perfect. Could you please tell me what to do?”

Obviously, she said so to sound out the Grand Princess's thought. After all, the Grand Princess loved her son very much but she just let the servants in Duke of Yan's mansion p.i.s.s off Jian Xubai, which was rather questionable.

The Grand Princess heard that and stayed silent for quite a while before she took a sip of the tea, “Back then, given that Xubai was raised in the imperial palace, Xubai's grandfather thought that Xubai couldn't supervise the servants in the mansion all the time and it would be a big problem as time went by. Therefore, he kept the old servants he thought highly of in the mansion.”

“Xubai always remembers his grandfather's love for him.” Song Yixiao talked barefaced nonsense respectfully.

“However, apart from Xubai's grandfather, Xubai's eldest uncle and third uncle also lived in the mansion at that time. Now you and Xubai are the only owners living there. Indeed the servants are too many.” The Grand Princess put down the tea bowl and looked over Song Yixiao, saying, “For the sake of Xubai's official career, it is okay to send away the redundant personnel! The problem is how you are going to settle them down. If you cannot settle them down well, you may be criticized for being conscienceless, right?”

Song Yixiao just mentioned that it was Jian Xubai's intention to cut down the personnel. Yet, now the Grand Princess asked her how to settle down the redundant personnel. Obviously, she had seen through Song Yixiao's scheme.

Luckily enough, she sounded rather calm and didn't seem to be angry. Song Yixiao pondered and decided to take risk in light of her ident.i.ty of a new daughter-in-law. She said honestly, “Xubai's grandfather didn't take many people with him when he got retired and returned to his hometown for the sake of Xubai. How can we not pay back for his love? Those people used to be Xubai's grandfather's trusted subordinates. How about sending them to serve him? What do you think?”

“Since you have thought it through, so be it.” The Grand Princess rolled her bracelet and then nodded her head, “Well, you and Xubai got married before Yiyou to counteract bad luck for Xubai's grandfather. Now that you've been married to Xubai, I can send someone to pay him a visit and see whether it works. And I can let him know about your filial piety in pa.s.sing!”

Song Yixiao was not sure whether the Grand Princess was satirizing but she didn't care either. She just expressed her grat.i.tude respectfully and tried to find other topics to continue the conversation. The Grand Princess suddenly asked, “Did the chief house steward of the Pei Family come to you yesterday?”

“Grand Secretariat Pei is sick and he needed the white jade ginseng as the guiding drug due to understock of the Pei Family. They learnt that His Majesty granted the ginsengs to Xubai and me so they came to us for one ginseng.” Song Yixiao didn't know about the Grand Princess's opinion on the annul engagement for Jian Yiyou's marriage, so she replied carefully without showing her att.i.tude.

“Sigh!” The Grand Princess frowned and sighed with mixed feelings. “As to this matter, I feel sorry for the Pei Family!”

It was hard for Song Yixiao to respond to her so she chose to stay silent.

Luckily, the Grand Princess didn't need her reply either. Then she continued, “Now Yourui is Xubai's sister too. From now on, if she or the Pei Family has any problem, you must do the favor if you can!”

Song Yixiao agreed respectfully.

Then the Grand Princess briefed Song Yixiao about the traditional code of conduct in the imperial clan, except that she mentioned nothing about the relatives of the Jian Family.

Song Yixiao guessed that it must have something to do with the fact that Jian Likuang was not the original husband of the Grand Princess. Jian Pingyu was of poor birth but he used to serve two emperors anyway, making the Jian Family an influential family in court. Yet, his legitimate son born by his first wife was forced to divorce the legitimate wife and to marry the Grand Princess who was ten years older than him. How could he not feel resentful?

Not only Jian Likuang but also the other family members including relatives and friends didn't like the Grand Princess for that. Although they didn't dare to speak out their resentment due to fear for the imperial power, inevitably they would get distant.

Of course, maybe it was only because the Grand Princess looked down upon them.

They talked for nearly half of the day. After having lunch together, Song Yixiao left there.

After saying goodbye to the Grand Princess, Qiaoqin reminded Song Yixiao in a hurry, “The thank-you letter…”

“Don't worry.” Song Yixiao didn't feel flurried at all, “Now the memorial hasn't been submitted yet. I can come to ask her when I receive the imperial t.i.tle officially!” After all, her mother-in-law was not rigorous. It wouldn't hurt for her to pay a few more visits!

More importantly, she must demonstrate her capability to Jian Xubai!

“But although the Grand Princess allows to send away the redundant servants, I won't take the blame for arrogating all the powers to myself!” Sitting in the carriage, Song Yixiao thought with her eyes closed, “Before I got married, Mother told me to be gentle, generous and sympathetic, or I could never be reputed for being virtuous.”

All in all, fierceness must be hidden well!

After returning to Duke of Yan's mansion, she learnt that Jian Xubai was working in the study so she had the chefs make some dessert and brought it for him.

Jian Xubai immediately frowned at the sight of her. Obviously, he didn't like being interrupted.

After she closed the door, he asked coldly, “What's the matter?”

“I have talked to your mother about the redundant personnel in the mansion and our worry about being impeached.” Song Yixiao placed the dessert at the corner of the table so as to avoid reaching his doc.u.ments. Then she poured herself a bowl of tea and held it up, saying casually, “And then I mentioned that your grandfather was ill before. Despite the effect of our wedding, he still needs considerate care after he is recovered. Although your uncle will take good care of him for sure, if his old servants can go to accompany and serve him, he will get well soon. Mother has approved of my advice. What do you think?”

As he heard Song Yixiao out, Jian Xubai's face got softened and smiled, “Just do as you say then!”

“This is an act of filial piety and you should be the one to announce it.” Song Yixiao didn't only want to gain his approval by telling him about this, “After all, your grandfather fell ill before I married you. If I step out this time, you may be accused of showing inadequate concern for your grandfather, right?”

“Noted.” Jian Xubai glimpsed her jokingly, “Since you are so considerate to me, I will not let you down!”