It turned out it was not just Prince of Liang who was unhappy about the marriage.

Duke of Lai recovered from his illness a few days later. Consequently, Xie Yiren started to hang out and connect with others and came to Duke of Yan's mansion to visit Song Yixiao.

After she took her seat, she exchanged a few formalities with Song Yixiao and said, “Although Yiluo's illegitimate sister had been living in the villa outside all the time and didn't meet Yiluo frequently, it turned out she had deep affections for her sister! Everybody had been talking about how lucky she was these days. Because of her legitimate sister's death, not only did she go back to Sikong Family's mansion, but also she was offered a good marriage out of the blue. However, do you know what happened in the end? She was complaining, saying she didn't want to marry Prince of Liang, whom she only considered as her brother-in-law.”

Song Yixiao asked surprisedly, “Did Prince of Liang know about this?”

“Even I knew about it, let alone those in the palace. They certainly had heard of the news!” Xie Yiren forced a smile and added, “The grand wedding of Prince of Liang will be held next month. We were on good terms with Yiluo previously. Although she was deceased now and it was her biological sister who would take her place to get married, normally, we should go there and offer our congratulations! However, what I fear is that Sikong Yihan will make a big scene unscrupulously. At that time, the situation will be a messy one.”

Although Song Yixiao had just met Sikong Yihan twice in a rush, she agreed with Xie Yiren that Sikong Yihan was indeed someone that would make a big scene regardless of the occasion.

She let out a sigh and said, “After all, her family members are in favor of this marriage. There are a few days to go before the wedding takes place. I think the Sikong Family members will have a good talk with her.”

In her opinion, however touching Sikong Yihan's affection and respect for her legitimate sister was, when it came to the future of the family, whatever it was the Great Grand Princess Zhenyang or other members of the Sikong Family, n.o.body would put up with the kind of affectionate sisterhood like this. However hard Sikong Yihan was complaining, she was just a girl less than 15 years old, who surely could not overcome the pressure from her family.

“In my opinion, they can't talk it out!” Xie Yiren was not optimistic about the result at all. As Duke of Lai's legitimate granddaughter, she had been experienced and knowledgeable ever since her childhood. Consequently, knowing the situation of the Sikong Family better than Song Yixiao, Xie Yiren continued, “Do you know why the Second Young Lady Sikong had been living in the villa outside the city? It was not because Madam Zhu couldn't put up with an illegitimate daughter but that she was so inherently bold, vigorous, and fierce that even Great Grand Princess Zhenyang could not stand her anymore. Consequently, the Sikong Family sent her away. As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind.”

“Although she was such a girl, if she got married to somebody from a less distinguished family at her suitable age, the Sikong Family could totally get rid of her. However, unexpectedly, Yiluo pa.s.sed away at this critical moment. There were only two girls among the current generation of the Sikong Family. If they didn't get her back home, how could they continue the alliance marriage with the Royal Family?”

“There is less than a month to go before the wedding takes place. Based on Sikong Yihan's temperament, she certainly won't be awed by the ordinary tricks. If the Sikong Family treated her harshly, what should they do if her future husband found out the bruises on her body next month? Or what if she made a big scene and held a grudge against them after getting married?

Xie Yiren let out a sigh and said, “How I wish Yiluo were still safe and sound!”

If so, so many current issues would not have taken place.

“You never know what happens next!” Song Yixiao said bitterly, “Yiluo, Yinlian, and I chatted with each other happily in the Eastern Palace that day, promising that we should have an exclusively internal party after your grandfather was recovered. However, it occurred to n.o.body that such an accident would take place overnight.”

They kept sighing emotionally for quite a while. It was not after their respective maids comforted them that they calmed themselves down.

“By the way, I haven't congratulated you on your mother's delivery.” Xie Yiren took a sip of tea and thought of something as she added, “I heard that you went to Prince of Hengshan's mansion to check on her on the same day, right? How was it going? Who did your younger sister take after?”

What Song Yixiao had experienced that day was not a good memory at all. She played with the bracelet on her wrist and smiled ambiguously as she said, “Did you forget all what happened that day? After I just came back from the party in the Eastern Palace, upon receiving the news, I rushed to Prince of Hengshan's mansion. At that time, the smell of alcohol was all over my body. Fearing that the smell might irritate my younger sister, I certainly dared not get close to her.”

She, who was unwilling to talk more about her visit that day, gave out a perfunctory answer and diverted the topic as she said, “I got several paintings two days ago. You told me that you liked paintings last time. How about we appreciate them together now?”

After Song Yixiao sent Xie Yiren away, she fumbled out a list of gifts, which had been drawn up for the wedding of Sikong Yiluo in advance. Taking Sikong Yihan's character and temperament into consideration, she made adjustments to the list discreetly. It was not until 3 p.m. that she finally worked out a final list.

At that time, Jian Xubai was off work, bringing a piece of news home, “The Ministry of Rituals set a formal date for Princess Changxing's wedding, which would fall on the sixth day of November. You should communicate with Sister and Second Sister-in-law and prepare some congratulatory presents in advance. Based on those ones they have prepared, the number of gifts on our side could be somewhat less.”

“November 6th?” Song Yixiao felt that the date sounded quite familiar and asked, “Is it two days prior to the Holy Birthday Festival?”

However, upon deliberation, she found out it was not a surprise at all that Princess Changxing's formal wedding date would fall on that day. Since people across the capital city were all talking about how the illegitimate daughter of the Sikong Family would get married on behalf of her sister heatedly, of course they paid limited attention to the formal date of Princess Changxing's wedding. Moreover, if Princess Changxing got married before the Holy Birthday Festival, her publicity would be overshadowed by the noisiness of the grand festival. Although the fact that Princess Changxing had stolen her husband from somebody else could not be erased, at least, she could deceive herself.

“Then I will visit Sister first tomorrow.” Song Yixiao nodded and thought of something all of a sudden as she asked, “At first, mother had agreed that we should send the servants in our mansion back to the village to take care of grandfather. However, she changed her mind now and decided to send these people to serve Yiyou. The way you see it, was it connected to the fact he was going to marry Princess Changxing?”

If it were not Princess Changxing but Pei Yourui, who the Emperor had appointed Jian Yiyou to marry previously, would be Jian Yiyou's wife, he would be just an ordinary young master from a n.o.ble family. In that case, putting the questions of whether he was qualified to be servsed by so many servants or whether he could afford them or not aside, even if it was an order from Jian Pingyu, with so many people rus.h.i.+ng to Jian Yiyou's house for shelter and protection, it would be a question as to whether he could win them over.

After all, Jian Pingyu was a veteran statesman who had served two emperors in a row at that time, commanding all the business across the whole court and making hundreds of civil officials succ.u.mb to him. As for the servants who had served him, although they were servants, they certainly would look down upon the masters from ordinary n.o.ble families. Jian Pingyu's legitimate grandson was no exception!

However, if Jian Yiyou were a prince consort, based on how the current emperor would give the princess the preferential treatment, even if Jinguo Grand Princess were deceased someday, Jian Yiyou would lead a smooth life in his career.

In that case, at least, he would be more confident to convince those servants to a.s.sist him, let alone winning them over.

That was exactly what Song Yixiao was concerned about. She asked, “You just said that Prince of Zhao, Princess Changxing's brother, intended to compete for the position of the crown prince. Now Yiyou got not only a royal wife but also the help from the talents serving Grandfather before. In that case, what if in the future…?”

“I don't worry about that at all.” Jian Xubai added indifferently, “As for how to deal with that, I have my plan. You don't need to worry about it anymore!”

Bringing contempt upon herself, Song Yixiao felt unhappy in secret and said coldly, “Then are there any other things that I don't need to worry about? Kindly enlighten me at one time so that I won't interfere with your business!”

“As for the ins and outs of the Yiyou's issue, it's inappropriate for me to tell you the details now.” Jian Xubai, who could tell her fury from the way she had talked, lifted up his eyebrows and continued with an ambiguous smile on his face, “As the hostess of my mansion, there are so many other things that you need to pay attention to. Don't ever hope you can just throw up your job because of what I said! There is no blessing like that!”

Song Yixiao, who didn't know how she should respond, left in anger and thought, “If I just swallow my pride easily this time, I will be depressed!”

As a result, after she walked out, she deliberated for a while, sneered, and walked in the kitchen without hesitation.

When it was time for the dinner, as usual, the couple sat in the drawing-room, waiting for the servants to serve dishes.

Jian Xubai didn't find anything peculiar at all when the first course was served. When the second one was placed on the table, he glimpsed at it. Hardly had the third course been put on the table that he frowned, diverted his eyes, and stared at his wife as he said, “Why are there…so many shrimps for dinner tonight?”

There were braised prawns, steamed shrimps, fried prawns, steamed egg with shrimps, crystal shrimp dumplings, sweet and sour shrimps, steamed prawns with chopped garlic, shrimp-stuffed tofu, and so on. Even the main course was steamed mushroom and shrimps porridge!

“That's because I heard that shrimps were nutritious. Since you are occupied with work the whole day, working yourself too much, of course, you should take in more kinds of food like this which is beneficial to your health.” Song Yixiao picked up the ivory chopsticks smilingly and refilled his bowl with a fried prawn, which was of the biggest size, and said, “I made this course by myself. Shouldn't you taste it, Xubai?”

When it came to how to bring vexation to Jian Xubai, Song Yixiao could always find ways out as long as she was more discerning. After all, Jian Xubai had disliked the fried prawns she had cooked last time so much, making her decide to work out a tableful of dishes today on purpose, which were all made up of shrimps!

Jian Xubai stared at her closely for a while and stretched his eyebrows gradually as he said, “All right!”

As Song Yixiao saw him enjoying the fried prawns with keen pleasure, she sensed constantly that something seemed to have gone wrong.

However, as she thought of the fact that the servants surrounding them had not retreated yet, she was relieved. After that, she ladled out a spoonful of egg custard and said smilingly, “This is the female chef's signature dish. Xubai, never should you miss it!”

After that, she refilled his bowl with steamed shrimps and said, “This dish is light and refres.h.i.+ng. Xubai, you certainly have to try it out!”

The shrimp-stuffed tofu was the next. “I always like this course so much. Xubai, how about you taste it?”

Song Yixiao kept recommending each course to Jian Xubai with keen interest until the dishes in his bowl piled up like a small hill and she could not refill any dishes any more. Even so, she felt unsatisfied as she said smilingly, “Xubai, finish the dishes when they are hot. If you want more, I will refill for you!”

“OK!” It was unknown whether Jian Xubai was extremely angry or he had other thoughts in his mind. At that moment, he glimpsed at her peacefully, drooped his eyes, and focused on the dinner. As Song Yixiao guessed his current mood, she thought it was pretty worthwhile for her to dedicate herself to taking care of him tonight without even having time to feed herself.

The dinner that day came to an end amid Jian Xubai's silence and Song Yixiao's elation.

After dinner, they finished taking showers and getting dressed respectively and came back to the room. “Bang!” As Song Yixiao saw her husband closing the door and staring at her sharply, she felt somewhat frightened and said warily, “What do you want to do?”

“Why were all the dishes tonight made up of shrimps?” Jian Xubai walked to the front of her and continued with an ambiguous smile on his face, “Give you one more chance… Are you sure you insist on keeping the truth from me?”

As he spoke, he bent over and stared at his wife closely, who was twisting her wet hair while sitting on the soft cus.h.i.+on by the western window. As Song Yixiao heard his words, she put down the handkerchief diffidently and moved slightly toward the internal part of the cus.h.i.+on as she replied, “Since the dinner was over, why did you insist on getting to the bottom of it?”

Jian Xubai stretched his hands out, clenched at her shoulders, exerted his power somewhat forcibly, and pulled her into his arms. After that, he lifted up his robe, sat on the soft cus.h.i.+on, set her on his lap, and stroked her back on purpose, staring at her smilingly without saying anything at all.

At that moment, besides the intermediate robe, he was only shrouded with a scarlet-colored gown. Since he was going to rest himself, the strap of his clothing was tied loosely.

After Song Yixiao was pulled into his arms, she struggled there for a while, making the strap of Jian Xubai's clothing fall apart. After that, his loosely tied intermediate robe and a large portion of his chest were exposed.

Amid the light, the young man was fair-skinned. His eyebrows and eyes looked as pretty as a picture. However, as he was sloppily dressed, he looked peculiarly tempting.

As Jian Xubai stared at Song Yixiao playfully and harshly, amid his staring, she could not help feeling anxious in secret.

They were in a stalemate for quite a while. In the end, it was Song Yixiao who could not stand it anymore. She admitted her mistake as she said, “After all, it was you who rebuffed me harshly. Moreover, I didn't force the shrimps on you!”

“You disappointed me so much!” As Jian Xubai heard her words, he stopped stroking her back at last. However, following that, he said, “I just found a random excuse to get you tricked. That was all. You didn't buy it, did you?”

It took Song Yixiao a while to come to her senses. She asked regretfully, “Could it be that…?”

“Ah, here it is. I don't hate shrimps at all!” Jian Xubai added happily, “To be honest, ever since I told you I hated the shrimps last time, I had been looking forward to your revenge… However, you haven't had any moves at all for so long. Originally, I thought you had seen me through. Based on what happened today, I, as your husband, think I underestimated my alertness before!”

What Jian Xubai had said made Song Yixiao speechless.

She thought, “Mom, where is the drug, which you said could ensure natural death? Could you please give me the drug first before turning the cold shoulder on me?”