Madam Chang, who had taken great efforts to send the naughty girl away, took a deep breath, forced a smile, and tried to help soothe the awkward situation as she said, “Sorry for the embarra.s.sing situation a moment ago. My sister-in-law is young and naive, who always says whatever she likes. Kindly don't bother yourself arguing with the likes of her!”

“I understand how suffering she feels.” Song Yixiao, who certainly would not bother to argue with Sikong Yihan, shook her head and continued, “However, as the saying goes, the dead can't be resurrected. Kindly accept my sincere condolence and relate it to your glorious family members.”

Madam Chang moved her handkerchief to and fro awkwardly and said, “You are so kind and generous!” After that, she led Song Yixiao into the mourning hall and added, “The elders of my family have been exhausted in the last two days, who don't have time to discipline her. We surely will escort her to offer you an apology in a few days.”

Song Yixiao once again said that she didn't take what Sikong Yihan had done to her heart. However, after Sikong Yihan made such a big scene, she, who was not familiar with other members of the Sikong Family, could not stand lingering there anymore after she wors.h.i.+pped the deceased and burned incense sticks. Consequently, she exchanged formalities with Madam Chang for a while and requested to leave.

As she walked out, she happened to see Lyuyi, a maid of Xie Yiren, getting off a carriage. The moment Lyuyi saw Song Yixiao, she greeted her in a hurry, “h.e.l.lo, Madam Song!”

“Don't be so polite!” Song Yixiao waved her hands and continued amiably, “Are you here on behalf of Yiren? Does Duke of Lai feel better?”

Back when there had been a party in the Eastern Palace, Xie Yiren had been among the attendees. However, unfortunately, her grandfather, Duke of Lai, had been afflicted with the flu. On one hand, Xie Yiren had to attend to her grandfather; on the other hand; she had feared that she would possibly infect others in the Eastern Palace. Consequently, she had excused herself from attending the party. Since Song Yixiao came across her maid at that moment, of course, she needed to inquire about her.

Lyuyi replied, “Madam Song, Our old master has not recovered from his coughing yet. Our young lady is caught up. That's the reason why she sends me here to attend the memorial ceremony on her behalf.” Following that, she took the initiative to ask about how Song Yixiao was doing in recent days as she explained, “Since our young lady has always kept Madam Song in her mind, she surely will ask me about your details if she knows I came across you today.”

After Song Yixiao heard Lyuyi's words, she praised her smilingly for her thoughtfulness and consideration and asked Jinxun to bestow a pouch on her. Following that, she let down the car curtain.

After they left the Sikong's mansion, Jinxun said, “I wonder why Miss Sikong, who was so considerate and highly cultured, had such a sister. No wonder that Miss Xie made an excuse saying that she had to take care of Duke of Lai and didn't go there to offer her condolence in person.”

“Since they are sisters, intimate affection is between them!” Song Yixiao frowned and added, “Moreover, something did happen to Yiren. You also know clearly how the situation in Duke of Lai's mansion goes. However, your words sound like you were on the scene where she intentionally decided not to offer her condolence in person. I wonder who taught you to be so mean!”

However, as Song Yixiao exhorted Jinxun verbally, she sighed with emotion incessantly in secret at that moment and thought, “Based on how dissatisfied Sikong Yihan is with me, I am afraid that her hatred towards Yinlian is deep in her bones! Regardless of how this issue will end up, the Wei Family and the Sikong Family certainly will hold a grudge against each other… How I wish Yiluo was still alive.”

After she came back to Duke of Yan's mansion dejectedly and got changed, she saw Qiaoqin waiting outside for her obediently and asked, “Why are you here?”

“Regarding what you said last time, I as the maidservant got some information. That's the reason why I am here to report to you.” As Qiaoqin spoke, she glimpsed at people surrounding her out of the corners of her eyes at the same time.

As Song Yixiao saw Qiaoqin's behavior, she waved her hands and ordered others on the scene to excuse themselves except for Jinxun.

After that, Qiaoqin went forward and said, “Back when Lanhui, who serves Her Highness the Dowager Consort, went out some time ago, she ran into the maid who had accompanied Her Highness Daiguo Grand Princess to His Highness's home on her marriage date, and talked with her for quite a while before they parted with each other. Soon after that, the Dowager Consort submitted a formal written statement, requesting to visit Her Majesty the Empress Dowager in person.”

Qiaoqin continued, “After the Dowager Consort presented herself before Her Majesty, she came back to the mansion, ordered Her Highness the Princess Consort to meet her, and dismissed others not concerned, including Lanhui. It was unknown what they had discussed. All I know is that back when Her Highness the Princess Consort excused herself, the look on her face was quite peculiar, which could not indicate whether she was happy or not.”

As Song Yixiao listened to Qiaoqin's words, she pondered on it at the same time, stroking the wall made up of porcelain, which was engraved with malus spectabilis of ruby red color, with her slender and snow-white fingers incessantly. It was not until a while later that she spoke, “You have been by my mother's side for several years. The way you see it, is there anything that can make her look so moody?”

“I, as a maid, am too slow-witted to guess what Her Highness is thinking about.” Qiaoqin hesitated for a while and added, “However, in my opinion, whatever it is the Dowager Consort or Daiguo Grand Princess, I am afraid that… Neither of them could convince Her Highness to drift apart from you.”

In Song Yixiao's opinion, Dowager Consort of Hengshan certainly couldn't make her step daughter-in-law obey her order. Otherwise, it would be somebody else rather than Wei Mengying who would be the current Princess of Hengshan.

As for Daiguo Grand Princess… If Wei Mengying dreaded her, it would be more impossible for her to be aloof from Song Yixiao. After all, Song Yixiao's mother-in-law, Jinguo Grand Princess, was the only one who could hold Daiguo Grand Princess other than the Empress Dowager!

Since neither of them was the reason why Wei Mengying had changed her att.i.tude toward her daughter and son-in-law, then… the answer was ready to come out, which turned out to be the Empress Dowager.

Song Yixiao recollected the scene where she had presented herself before the Empress Dowager and said, “Although Her Majesty looked amiable, after she heard from my mother-in-law about my mother's delivery, she neither showed her concern nor bestowed any gift. Instead, she replied casually, saying that she had got no clues about it, and changed the topic of the conversation. Following that, she talked about Lu Guanlun's marriage with great interest and concern… In this case, her att.i.tude can't be more self-evident.”

In fact, she wasn't quite surprised about the kind of situation like this. “Back when Jian Xubai listed out his requirements for his future wife, he mentioned that the family background of his wife should not be too distinguished. Since he was raised by the Empress Dowager, of course, she favored him. Even though the achievements, which my half-blood brother had made, could not prove that I came from a distinguished family, my brother was kind of my connection in my natal family. Consequently, the Empress Dowager would choose Lu Guanlun for the sake of Jian Xubai!”

Deep inside her heart, she had disfavored the idea of choosing Lu Guanyun to be the heir of the prince all the time. As she speculated based on the current situation, she felt relieved instead.

However, upon deliberation, she became more confused and said, “If the Empress Dowager decided to choose Lu Guanlun as the heir of the prince instead of Guanyun and asked Dowager Consort of Hengshan to exert pressure on Mother, how come that Mother looked peculiar? Even if she dared not to reveal her anger because of her fear of Her Majesty, anyway, she should be greatly disappointed, shouldn't she?”

Song Yixiao added, “Moreover, if she decided to shut her daughter and son-in-law out at this critical moment, isn't she afraid that Her Highness would vent her anger on her grandson and granddaughter-in-law instead after she knew what she had done, thinking that Mother was unhappy with her order?”

The way Song Yixiao saw it, there must be some inside stories. However, since the information Qiaoqin had inquired about was limited, she had no choice but to stop speculating further.

She made up her mind that she should talk with Jian Xubai about this later, seeing whether he had any advice.

“Let's call it to a halt. You can report to me if you get any update.” Song Yixiao took a sip of tea and brought up the issue of staffing change in her mother-in-law's mansion as she said, “Since my mother-in-law has new properties, she is short of manpower. I have asked the Chief House Steward to pick out a batch of manpower from my mansion and send them over there. In this case, I am in short of manpower too. You check on the people who accompanied me here on my marriage date and list them out if you see anyone who is suitable for serving in the backyard!”

After she gave out this order, servants held several pots of golden-bright and dazzling chrysanthemum in their arms and walked in, saying the flowers were from the Song Family. A servant said, “According to the visitor, the Song Family would hold a birthday party for their elder lady next month. As Madam Lu was decorating the courtyard and saw the chrysanthemum was flouris.h.i.+ng, she sent a few pots here for your appreciation and amus.e.m.e.nt.”

“Grandmother's birthday party?” Song Yixiao thought of this important occasion and reminded the maids around her, “Stipulate another list of gifts!”

She glimpsed at the several pots of chrysanthemum and said, “Take out some cubilose bestowed by Her Majesty last time along with some toys for little girls and send them together to the Song Family.”

Since her stepmother Madam Lu was determined to make friendly contact with her, Song Yixiao, who could not avoid her, had no choice but to act in concert with her. Even so, the gap between the Song Family and her certainly could not be made up by petty favors. Consequently, even though she was unwilling to be impolite towards the Song Family in social interactions, she felt uncomfortable in secret.

That day, as Jian Xubai came back to the backyard and saw a pot of chrysanthemum Song Yixiao had placed inside the bedroom specifically, he asked where the flower was from, Song Yixiao replied, “My stepmother sent them to me. She is in a quite difficult situation. While being pregnant, not only does she have to help organize the birthday party for my grandmother, but also she needs to pay attention to whether I have any seasonal flowers to appreciate or not.”

“Since you don't like to be disturbed by the Song Family, it will do if you remind your father subtly later on, right?” As Jian Xubai took off his robe, he continued at the same time, “I ever heard of what your father's temperament was. If he knows you look down upon the gifts sent by your stepmother, he certainly will ask her to stop it.”

“I have no ways to see him in person.” Song Yixiao lifted the corner of her lips and added, “To help my grandmother live a healthy and long life, it will be unsuitable for me to go back to the Song's mansion. Although it works for me to stop him on the way, you know clearly how he will treat me. If he thinks I am disrespectful towards my stepmother, he probably will embarra.s.s me in public!”

After hung his robe on the hanger, Jian Xubai rolled up the sleeves of his intermediate robe, lifted up the curtain, and stood beside the bed. As he stared at his wife, who had taken hold of the bed in advance, he said with a faint smile on his face, “There it is. I wondered why you had moved a pot of chrysanthemum inside the bedroom. Could it be that you hope that I can play the bad cop for you?”

Song Yixiao fawned over him and said, “However displeased my father is with me, he surely dares not to embarra.s.s you.”

Jian Xubai bent over and patted on the edge of the bed as he said, “It's not difficult for me to get your request done.” He slightly lifted up the corner of his lips as the candlelight at a short distance shone on his face. Amid the warm and nice halo, his face looked like jade. However, his almond-shaped eyes, which were as bright as the stars, were expressionless, making his profile, which had been originally handsome and graceful, somewhat cold.

He said pleasantly yet mischievously, “However, why should I help you?”

“Just forget it if you are not willing to help me with that.” After Song Yixiao heard his reply, she retrieved the expectant look on her face and added gently, “Let's settle down to business. Aunt Daiguo contacted the Dowager Consort before. After that, the Dowager Consort presented herself before Her Majesty… I am thinking about whether this information is connected to the scene where people from Prince of Hengshan's mansion were unwilling to let us stay there for dinner.”

Song Yixiao changed her mind so easily. She had smiled radiantly and brightly a moment ago and looked solemn and grand later, making Jian Xubai absent-minded for a while before he came to his senses. It was not until he got on the bed with a somewhat ghastly look on his face that he said lazily, “If so, it's more likely that Aunt Daiguo intended to help Prince of Wei make a connection with Prince of Hengshan's family. However, they never get themselves involved in the compet.i.tion for the position of the Crown Prince. Aunt Daiguo will probably get disappointed.”

“In that case, the reason why my mother was distant from us was that she feared that she would be involved in the unrest of competing for the position of the Crown Prince, right?” Song Yixiao muttered to herself in secret, “Since Jian Xubai is on the Crown Prince's side…”

As she thought of this point, she could not help asking, “Back when we expressed our profound grat.i.tude to His Majesty last time, I found out he liked the Crown Prince very much. I remember it happened just a few days ago, right? Could it be that the Crown Prince has lost His Majesty's favor and his position is unstable now?”

“Ever since the Crown Prince was 4 years old, he had been raised by His Majesty, who imparted knowledge to him in person and stayed by his side. You can imagine how the connection between His Majesty and the Crown Prince looks like!” Jian Xubai continued unconcernedly, “Aunt Daiguo humiliated n.o.ble Consort Cui in the early days, making them hostile against each other up till now. Of course, she needed to be worried about her future. However, based on her temperament, she could not put up with offering a humble apology. As she thought it over and over again, she inevitably liked to choose a new crown prince, which His Majesty also found a headache!”

Song Yixiao thought in secret that since the current emperor was one that had rooted his scores of siblings out at one time, he certainly would not be indecisive when it came to the kind of important thing like this.

It was very probable that the Emperor intended to take advantage of Daiguo Grand Princess and Prince of Wei to let the Crown Prince face some challenges.

After all, as Jian Xubai had said, the current crown prince had been conferred with such a t.i.tle when he was 4. On his way to the crown prince, Emperor Xianjia was the one who escorted, protected, and showed him the direction, making his journey a smooth one. Although people spoke highly of the Crown Prince on usual days, after all, Emperor Xianjia would be more relieved if the Crown Prince could handle the challenges by himself.

“Daiguo Grand Princess was not necessarily ignorant of this truth. However, if she had not done so, based on how Emperor Xianjia placed great emphasis on the Crown Prince on usual days, Prince of Wei would not even have had one chance at all! Although Prince of Wei was regarded as the Crown Prince's rubbing stone, after all, he still got a slim chance.”

As Song Yixiao tried to think over the situation, she remembered Jian Xubai's advice for her two days ago all of a sudden and said, “You said last time that Prince of Zhao was becoming stronger, right? Could it be that he also intended to tread on the muddy water this time?”

Jian Xubai nodded slightly, making her heart sink.

Although Prince of Zhao was just 12 years old, when it came to how honorable the ranking was, Prince of Wei could not be put on a par with him. After all, Prince of Zhao was a legitimate son of the Intermediate Palace.

Moreover, he was Emperor Xianjia's only legitimate son.

His mother was a descendant of the Su Family in Qingzhou, which was a well-known family across the world as well as one of the outstanding founders of Great Rui when the autocratic and known families were in power.

His uncle, Duke of Ji, was a leading tyc.o.o.n in the military.

His cousin, Su Shaoge, was acknowledged as a great talent to be ranked as No. 1 in the imperial examination.

When it came to Prince of Zhao himself, he was also well known for his smartness, diligence, handsomeness, and good temperament.

If Prince of Zhao also intended to compete for the position of the crown prince…the official circle of Great Rui would surely be filled with undercurrent surges.

“No wonder my mother even refused to see me face to face last time!” Song Yixiao sighed in secret, “Prince of Wei alone might not do anything to the Crown Prince. However, if Prince of Zhao joined the compet.i.tion, it would be hard to tell how the situation would go!”

Based on Wei Mengying's character and temperament, since the Crown Prince was not perfectly safe and Prince of Hengshan's family had a code of ancestors that they should not take part in the compet.i.tion for the position of the crown prince, she did not need to take the risk at all. If she denied any connection with her daughter and son-in-law, of course she would not be implicated if the Crown Prince failed in the future. However, if the Crown Prince was the winner, neither would she suffer any losses at all. After all, she was Song Yixiao's biological mother. Song Yixiao even felt inappropriate to get rid of her stepmother, who was not easily hurt by criticism, let alone her biological mother.

“However, according to Qiaoqin, after my mother was ordered to visit the Dowager Consort, she looked seemingly happy as well as gloomy. The reason why she was gloomy should be that Her Majesty supported Lu Guanlun to be the heir of the prince. Well, as for the reason why she was happy, what was it exactly?” Although Song Yixiao kept pondering on the reason, she just could not figure it out. “Even if the current crown prince ascended the throne in the future, he might not necessarily violate Her Majesty's order! If it was either Prince of Wei or Prince of Zhao who was the winner, what happened then would have nothing to do with her either!”

All of a sudden, the look on her face was ghastly. She thought, “Could it be that my mother, who looked up to both of them, had backed them?”