After breakfast that day, Song Yixiao sent Cui Quan to the Wei family: "You tell Wei Xiaojie clearly what Mr. Lu said, and tell her that I am already powerless in this matter. If the Wei family wants to, they have no choice but to follow Mr. Lu's request and find an excuse to break off the engagement!"

  Also afraid of Wei Zhuang's desperation, "Fortunately, my cousin is not yet at the age of coming of age, and a few years of youth can be dragged on. The imperial capital has never lacked excitement, and now there is no face to see, in a few years, how many people will remember? Even if they remember, time has passed, and it's hard to stir up any waves. After getting through this difficult period, maybe one day we'll have the chance to be together, please remind her: Heaven will not cut off all roads for a person!"

  She can only do this much now, after all, she can't surpass Wei Mengying at the moment - if she could surpass her, she wouldn't be able to disobey her mother for the sake of her cousin.

  She went out to deliver the message and didn't come back until after noon, saying that Wei Zhuo's reaction wasn't too intense, just saying thank you for her good intentions. As for what to do next, she had to think carefully about it with her elders before making a decision.

  Song Yi Xiao heard this and secretly worried, but also felt helpless.

  Jin Xun saw that she was feeling down, so he made small talk: "The chrysanthemums in the courtyard are blooming beautifully now. It reminds me of Young Mistress Yuan, who used to live in Bi Lou and loved chrysanthemums the most."

  "These days have been busy, I wouldn't have remembered if you hadn't mentioned it." Song Yi smiled after hearing this and indeed shifted her attention, personally going to the courtyard to take a look at the chrysanthemums. She picked out several pots of precious and high-quality ones, "Let's send them to Boling Houfu for Yuan sister to appreciate, and ask about her recent situation on my behalf. It's been a long time since we last met!"

  Jin Xun had just left when someone came to report: "A woman has arrived at the gate, claiming to be a servant from the seventh young lady of the Su family. She says she has brought a message for the seventh young lady."

  "Last time, Su Shaoming and Su Shang promised that when they met the Empress yesterday, they would mention my appointment. Could it be that there is already a response to this matter?" Song Yi smiled and thought to herself, "Please ask her to come in!"

  After a moment, an old woman with a gentle smile walked in and, after making the proper curtsies, said: "My young mistress has sent me to inform you, milady: Her Majesty the Empress has ordered her personal palace maidens to urge the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Justice, and within two or three days, your official title should be bestowed upon you!"

  Song Yixiao had previously quarreled with Jian Xu Bai, and deliberately got close to the Su sisters. Now that her relationship with her husband is improving, she couldn't help but think of him again. So when she heard what the woman said, not only did she not feel any joy, but instead felt a strange sense of guilt.

  "It's really troubling Miss to have come all this way!" But she also knew that she couldn't show any signs of regret, so she forced a smile and said some words of gratitude towards the Su sisters and the Empress Dowager, then added, "And it's also troublesome for Mother to have made a special trip here!"

  She glanced around and cleverly took out a purse containing gold coins and handed it to the old woman.

  The old woman did not decline, thanked him generously and politely, said a few words of courtesy, and then took her leave.

  "Congratulations, Grandma!" After she left, Qiao Xin and others all came up to congratulate Song Yixiao with a joyful expression - although it was said that from the time Song Yixiao was carried into the Yan Guo Gong Fu, it would eventually become the imperial edict. However, on the day of the formal imperial edict, one day is just Grandma, and it can't be considered a real noblewoman, how can this not make people feel regretful?

  Now that it can be considered a reliable message, how can the maids not be happy? After all, being an attendant of a rich lady and being an attendant of a first-rank lady are different in status when going out!

  "Today I just got the news, but it's a bit too early to be happy!" Song Yi smiled, but her mood was not as relaxed as theirs. The Su family helped quickly, but they wouldn't do it for nothing, and she didn't know how to repay this favor in the future.

  She was thinking to herself, but said aloud, "Wait until everything is settled, then I'll give you the lucky money!"

  Qiao Xin smiled and replied, then asked if they wanted to add a few dishes to celebrate in the evening. Song Yi thought that Jian Yu Bai had previously been furious about this matter, and although last night, thanks to Ji Su's matchmaking, the two of them had a tendency to reconcile, but it wasn't good enough to be completely unguarded. If he found out now, they would probably cause more trouble!

  If you still want to celebrate, then you're definitely not looking forward to a good day.

  So he firmly stopped it, emphasizing that nothing had changed, and also ordered that this news was not allowed to be revealed to Jian Xu Bai.

  Even so, Song Yi Xiao still felt somewhat uneasy in her heart.

  After all, the last time at Taoli Building, Jian Xu Bai knew it as soon as he turned around. Now this Yan Guo Gong Fu is like a sieve, and Su's wife entered the mansion with so many pairs of eyes watching, how can it be kept secret?

  "It's not a solution to just keep people locked up in this mansion." Thinking of this, Song Yi couldn't help but feel that "according to what Jian Yu Bai had previously revealed, after driving out all these people who are loyal only to Cao and Han from the camp, we can recruit new personnel and cultivate loyalty! Although I wasn't allowed to interfere with things at first, the backyard was promised to be mine, as long as I manage it carefully, I'm not afraid of being unable to give orders - this is what a proper mistress of the house should look like!"

  By then, Jian Yu Bai Xiang was familiar with her every move, but it wasn't that easy!

  In this way, if the husband is unreliable in the future, whether they go their separate ways or are at odds with each other, there will be hope.

  Now, she couldn't even decline to have dinner with others and come home late, but Jian Yu Bai knew about it; while Jian Yu Bai went out every day, where did he go, who did he see, what did he do, she was completely in the dark, relying solely on his own words?

  These days of life and death, honor and humiliation hanging by a thread, with no power to resist, she had already lived through them in her past life!

  "Turn back and have a good discussion with Jian Xu Bai - if possible, it's better to get rid of him as soon as possible!" She thought to herself, "Since we're going to give in anyway, why bother making them unhappy for a while and delay our own life?"

  After thinking for a while, Song Yishang felt a bit tired and was about to go back to the inner room to rest. Jin Xun returned to report: "Young Mistress Yuan likes the flowers you sent, Grandma, but she says she doesn't have anything good to give in return right now, so this time she won't give any gifts. When I was leaving, Meiyan sister forced a purse into my sleeve, and I couldn't decline. It wasn't until after I left that I opened it, and inside were a pair of agate pendants."

  She took out both the embroidered pouch and the red gold pendant.

  "Since Eldest Sister Yuan gave it to you, then just take it!" Song Yi Xiao knew that the Yuan family wasn't in a difficult situation and that Yuan Xue Pei was someone who doted on her younger sister, so giving away a pair of golden earrings wouldn't be a big deal for Yuan Xue Lian. She nodded carelessly and said, "Next time when Eldest Sister Yuan's people come to our place, don't be stingy with the purse either."

  Jin Xun smiled and replied, "Grandma, there's something else: when Miss Yuan asked me about your recent situation, she learned that the Pei family brought three boxes of things to our mansion, entrusting you to handle them. Among them are many fine pearls and jade hairpins. She asked if it would be possible to show her a few pieces?"

  "Does she want to buy cosmetics?" Song Yi smiled and curiously asked, then suddenly realized, "She's getting married soon, she must be preparing a few dowry items!"

  Originally, Pei You Rui brought things over to sell them.

  If Yuan Xueyao can see it, it will be a happy ending for everyone.

  So Song Yixiao immediately said: "What's the point of just looking at the names on the list? I'll send someone to tell her later, if she has time, it's better to come and take a look herself. If you like something, feel free to buy it, I'll set the price, all according to market price!"

  "Grandma, if we sell it like this, even if Miss Pei doesn't say anything, what about the master's side?"

  Jian Xū Bái obviously sympathized with the Pei family father and daughter, and didn't buy those three boxes of things himself, also fearing that it would hurt their self-esteem. However, this doesn't mean he will refuse to compensate the Pei family for the selling price!

  So how can we give them the market price? It's got to be marked up a bit!

  "I only let Yuan sister sell at market price, but I didn't say to give Yi sister the market price!" Song Yi smiled and scolded, "At that time, add 20% from the house and make up for it——all of you keep your mouths shut and don't let it out!"

  The three boxes sent by the Pei family, that one box of pearls and jade, are not ordinary things, each piece can be called priceless.

  Song Yixiao decided to sell it to Yuan Xue at the market price, seemingly without a discount, but in fact she had already helped her out greatly. After all, in this imperial capital, there were many rich people who would never worry about selling good things at a high price, let alone a whole box of them to choose from?

  Furthermore, considering Yuan Xueying's temperament, she wouldn't take advantage of such an opportunity either.

  I thought I still needed some time to figure out the market, before starting to sell, but unexpectedly, sending flowers to Yuan Xueying opened up the situation.

  "This matter also inspired Song Yixiao: 'In the future, those high-ranking families' weddings and longevity celebrations must be paid attention to!'"

  For these two things, people are often willing to spend more money, which is a good opportunity for sellers to charge high prices.

  "From tomorrow on, prepare the pastries and tea that Sister Yuan loves to eat." Song Yi smiled and called the kitchen staff over, instructing them, "Ask Jin Xun for specifics, she's always been familiar with Sister Yuan's maids and knows her preferences best."

  "I know your preferences best, Granny!" Jing Xun said with a smile, before turning around to lead the kitchen staff downstairs to give them instructions.

  At this time, Jian Xuwu also returned with a paper package in his hand: "I heard from colleagues that the rice cake made by this family is not bad. The women in their family all praised it. It just so happens to be on the way, and I'll bring you a portion to see if it suits your taste?"

  "You're busy with work, why worry about this?" Her husband was so considerate, Song Yi couldn't help but feel delighted. She took the rice cake from him, but didn't hurry to open it. Instead, she helped him take off his outer shirt and ordered a servant to bring over a hot towel, which she used to gently wipe his face. Only then did she untie the string on the oil paper package, her smile radiant as she said, "It smells really good... you try some too?"

  He picked up a piece and fed it to Jian Yu's pale lips, waiting for him to take a bite before savoring it carefully - to be honest, the rice cake tasted ordinary, even worse than the cooking skills of the national duke's kitchen.

  Thinking of Jian Yu Bai, who had the title of Guo Gong, his status was noble, but in reality, he only held a fifth-grade official position. His colleagues were not necessarily powerful and wealthy, and what they considered delicious might not be so for Song Yi Xiao, who had been raised like a princess in the palace!

  However, since it was her husband who had specially brought it for himself, Song Yi smiled and gave a thumbs up, eating two pieces before stopping.

  "Is there anything going on at home today?" Jian Yu Bai was being fed by her, and had eaten more than half of it - he thought it didn't taste good, so he stopped eating. He took the handkerchief from the maid's hand, wiped his fingertips while asking, "Just now on the road, I seemed to see guards heading towards the Boling Hou Mansion?"

  "It's going to the Yuan family." Song Yi smiled and nodded, telling him about Yuan Xueying wanting to buy a pair of earrings from the Pei family. "I was thinking that since it's almost spring, Duke Boling will start preparing for Sister Yuan's marriage soon, so it's reasonable for her to add some dowry now! So I plan to invite Sister Yuan over tomorrow and let her pick out a few pieces herself."

  Jian Xubo said: "Sell it to her at market price and it's done."

  "When I give it to Sister Yi, I plan to add 20% more. What do you think?" Song Yi smiled and tucked the greased paper with the rice cakes into her sleeve, calling someone to take it away, then turned around and said, "If there's too much more, I'm afraid Sister Yi will be suspicious even if she's not in the Imperial Capital."

  "Done as you said." Jian Yu Bai took a sip of tea and continued, "There's no need to sell all the things Xue Pei likes. Given our relationship with her siblings, when she gets married, we'll have to give her dowry anyway. Let's keep a few pieces for now, it'll save us trouble preparing later."

  Song Yixiao smiled and leaned in, because when talking about Yuan Xue's marriage, she naturally thought of the upcoming wedding of Si Kong Yi Hua, so she snuggled up to her husband, holding his arm and coquettishly said: "In a few days, it will be the day of Prince Liang's wedding to the second daughter of the Si Kong family..."

  "You're not familiar with Miss Sikuang either!" Jian Xu Bai had been waiting for this moment for several days. Although he was in a good mood, how could he easily let her off the hook? He calmly said, "The one who has a relationship with you is Big Sister Sikuang. It's only been a few days since she passed away. You've just finished mourning and now you're going to congratulate her, isn't that inappropriate?"

  Song Yixiao realized he was intentionally making things difficult, and just as she was about to explain herself, she suddenly remembered the encounter from that morning, and a clever idea struck her. She swallowed back what she had been about to say and glanced around, signaling for the maids to withdraw.

  As soon as the door closed, there were only two people in the house. She decisively pounced on Jian Yu Bai's chest, grasping his neck and kissing him on the lips. After a moment of awkward entanglement, she saw that Jian Yu Bai's expression didn't change, but his eyes sparkled with surprise, and his arms tightly wrapped around her waist. With a sly smile in her heart, she softened her voice and asked with flirtatious eyes: "Husband, can I really not go?"

  "Go, go, go!" Jian Yu Bai's heart had almost melted into water, soft and mushy. He couldn't help but want to pour out all his love in front of his wife, where he wouldn't be able to say a single "no". He said without hesitation, "Wherever you want to go, just go! Whoever dares to stop you, just ask me!"