The Empress Dowager was on the verge of despair when she suddenly heard this unexpected and surprising good news, for a moment she did not dare to believe it and was stunned on the spot.

  Song Yi smiled slightly and took a deep breath before continuing: "Miss Su Liu and Miss Su Qi didn't know that today was Fifth Sister's birthday, nor did they know that Fifth Sister had run out on her own. They took Fifth Sister to the outskirts of the city for an outing and just returned now. Upon learning that we were looking for Fifth Sister, they sent someone to explain!"

  "What about Sakura?" The Empress finally burst into tears of joy and asked urgently, "Has she returned? Where is she now?"

  Song Yi Xiao was about to respond when Chang Shi Xue Shi Ren walked in with a solemn expression, bowed hastily and reported in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, someone has arrived from Youzhou!"

  Jin Guo's Chang Gong Zhu was thinking of Nie Wu Xian, and upon hearing the words, she said casually: "Wait a minute... wait! Youzhou?!"

  Jia Yu also came to her senses and hastily asked: "Has the Pei family come to send New Year's gifts? Are Mr. Pei, the university scholar, and Miss Pei doing well?"

  "It's a good New Year's gift." Xue Shiran said bitterly, "But also brought some bad news: Pei University Scholar is gone!"

  The hall fell silent in an instant!

  After a while, Princess Chang finally murmured: "How could it be gone?"

  "Who is this person?" Xue Shiran hesitated for a moment, seeing that apart from Jia Yue, only one Song Yixiao was present, and then said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the man claims to be the nephew of the great steward of the Pei family. This time, the great steward has specially sent him to deliver New Year's gifts and wants to report something to Your Highness!"

  The princess's face was pale for a long time before she said, "What does he want to tell me?"

  "That person said that before his death, Mr. Pei was worried that Miss Pei Wu was still a young girl and had not spent much time with her brother and sister-in-law, so he made a will, leaving half of the family property as Miss Pei Wu's dowry, and the other half would be divided among the four sons according to the rules." Xue Shiran said, "But according to what the butler knows about the four young masters of the Pei family, they absolutely won't agree with this arrangement."

  The most worrying thing is that after the death of Master Pei, the marriage of Miss Pei Wu will be dominated by her brother and sister-in-law. The big steward of the Pei family is worried that at that time, the young masters of the Pei family will coerce Miss Pei Wu to give up her dowry!

  Xue Shiran sighed, "Pei Da is in charge of watching Pei Wu grow up and was entrusted by the old master before his death to take good care of Pei Wu! But after all, he is just a slave, afraid that he can't afford to offend the four young masters of the Pei family and betray Pei University. He can only borrow the opportunity to send New Year's gifts and send someone to ask Your Highness to preside over justice for Pei Wu!"

  "What else can be said? Although Pei You Rui is no longer my daughter-in-law, she is still my adopted daughter. How can I not take care of her?" The Princess of Jin State originally felt guilty towards Pei You Rui. Upon hearing that this adopted daughter had just suffered the loss of her father and was facing the difficulties of being bullied by her brother and sister-in-law, she felt both heartache and remorse, and couldn't help but cry tears like rain, choking with sobs as she said, "Quickly arrange for someone to go to Youzhou, pay their respects to Pei He after his death, and then bring that child back to me. From now on, I, her adopted mother, will be her support. Let's see who dares to neglect her!"

  Song Yixiao pursed her lips and didn't speak: What's the story with Pei Youdui, this adopted daughter? Who in the capital doesn't know about it? If she really gets taken back to the capital and moves into the Jin State Princess's residence, even if the Duke of Changxing and his wife have their own residence at Changxing Manor, it'll be embarrassing enough!

  However, this also means that Jin Guo's determination to maintain Pei Youdui is firm!

  Xue Shiran immediately replied: "Your subordinate obeys!"

  He went to arrange for Pei He's funeral and Pei You Rui's predicament. The double bad news made Jin Guo Long Gong Zhu obviously depressed, especially after confirming Nie Wu Xiang's safety, she didn't even have the interest to ask what happened next, saying: "Is Xiang'er still at the Su's house?"

  Song Yi smiled carefully and said: "Big sister has gone personally to pick her up, and sent the daughter-in-law to tell you, so that you don't have to worry."

  "Take good care of her." The Empress Dowager waved her hand wearily, "I'm tired, I'll go rest for a while!"

  Song Yi laughed and sent her mother-in-law off, only then did she come out of the inner chamber - on the way to the second gate, she ran into Changxing Princess who was hurrying along.

  "Have you informed Mother about Wu Mei's whereabouts?" Princess Changxing saw her and slightly furrowed her brow, stopping in her tracks to ask.

  Song Yi Xiao stopped in her tracks and bowed slightly, nodding her head: "Not bad!"

  "It's indeed a swift report!" Changxing Princess snorted, saying disdainfully, "That was my own cousins who reported it, and you're also trying to steal the thunder?"

  Song Yi Xiao glanced at her and said, "Mother hasn't eaten all day, just worrying about Fifth Sister. In this situation, knowing the good news, of course, it's better to report as soon as possible! When the Su family sent someone to say that Fifth Sister was with their Sixth Miss and Seventh Miss, Third Aunt, you weren't even there, nor did you know when you would return, how could you delay?"

  She also said, "You are not only the daughter-in-law of your mother, but also her own niece. If you don't make any contributions, will your mother not love you?"

  Changxing Princess snorted and said: "You're quite sharp-tongued! But the reason I wasn't here was because I went out to look for Fifth Sister - what about you?"

  "I found it together with my elder sister." Song Yi smiled slowly and said, "If Third Aunt thinks I'm not careful, why doesn't she go ask my elder sister?"

  The princess's inquiry was rebuffed, her expression growing even more unpleasant. "Fine! I won't discuss that with you," she said. "I only ask: the person who was personally received by Secretary Xue in the side hall just now, was he sent by the Pei family or not?"

  Song Yi Xiao suddenly realized her true intention, and calmly said: "Pian Tang? I didn't go to Pian Tang, how would I know? Besides, I don't even recognize a few members of the Pei family."

  "What are you pretending to be?!" Changxing Princess sneered, "Xue Zhangshi came out of the side hall and rushed straight to the back hall, obviously going to find Mother to report - calculating the time, you were just in front of Mother selling well and pretending to be clever, how could you not know?!"

  "Since Third Sister is so concerned about the Pei family, why not go ask Mother for advice in person?" Song Yi smiled. Originally, she didn't have a good impression of Princess Changxing, but after hearing Xue Shiran talk about Pei You Rui's misfortunes, it was hard not to feel contempt for the culprit. She said sarcastically, "After all, Mother only has two adopted daughters. If she knew Third Sister was so concerned about Pei's family, she would definitely be delighted and happy, right?"

  "You!" Princess Changxing was furious, raising her arm - Song Yi smiled coldly at her, sneering: "You dare?"

  Her father-in-law, mother-in-law, elder sister-in-law, second sister-in-law and husband are all well. What right does Changxing Princess have to scold her when she is later than so many people? If this golden girl dares to lay hands on her, she will dare to fall down and pretend to be weak until the end!

  "You wretch! Don't think that just because you're new and fresh to Jian Yu now, you can be carefree for the rest of your life!" Princess Changxing's hand froze in mid-air for a moment, but ultimately didn't dare to strike, gritting her teeth as she said, "We'll see about that!"

  Song Yi Xiao looked at her back and smiled lightly: "What's the point of watching anymore? You're still losing to me, aren't you?"

  Before she had even finished speaking, Princess Changxing, who was already several steps away, almost stumbled and turned her head to glare at her for a moment before spitting out a vicious curse and storming off!

  Song Yi smiled and twitched her mouth, smoothed out her skirt, then floated away.

  When she returned to the Yan State Duke's mansion by carriage, Jian Xu Bai had already received news and came back. As soon as he saw her, he hastily asked: "Fifth sister really met the Su sisters, nothing happened?"

  "The person sent by the Su family to inform my mother said so, but whether it's really that coincidental, I don't know." Song Yi smiled and shook her head, "However, that person repeatedly emphasized that Fifth Sister is safe and sound, I think this point should be fine——just now when the Su family came to report, Eldest Sister was also there, she said today they made such a big fuss looking for Fifth Sister, if we all go together to see Fifth Sister, she might get anxious. So she told me to inform Mother, and she went alone to the Su's house to fetch her, telling us not to go visit again today, and wait for news from her tomorrow or the day after."

  Jian Xū heard that Qing Jiang Jun Zhu had taken over the matter, and he let out a sigh of relief. He felt guilty and said: "These days have been really busy, today was a momentary lapse in judgment, which made Wu Mei sad - but to secretly leave the mansion on a snowy night, this method is also too improper!"

  "After all, 'quarreling with family members is just a temporary estrangement, how can it lead oneself into danger?'"

  Song Yixiao sighed and said: "This matter of the fifth sister is now basically settled, it's okay. But our sworn sister is also in a precarious situation!"

  Jian Yu Bai exclaimed in surprise: "Didn't they return to Youzhou long ago? Could it be that the Pei family treated them poorly?"

  "Pei University Scholar is gone." Song Yi smiled gloomily and said a sentence, Jian Yu Bai was also speechless for half a day.

  She told the whole story from beginning to end, and finally said, "I'm a bit worried about Mother: today, for the sake of Fifth Sister, Mother didn't eat much all day, and was always worried! And just as I went to inform Fifth Sister of the good news that she's safe, Mother still hadn't cracked a smile when Xue Zhangshi went to talk about Second Sister's affair! This is really a case of great sorrow followed by great joy..."

  The eldest princess of Jin State is already forty-eight this year!

  If Zhuo Ping'an wasn't flawed, the main wife of Qingjiang County would have wholeheartedly wanted to find a talented and beautiful daughter-in-law for her son. The eldest princess could have become his great-grandmother!

  At this age, even if one has been pampered and indulged in luxury, how can they withstand the stimulation of great ups and downs?

  Jian Yu Bai was silent for a long time before saying, "The good doctor who made the appointment with Mother is usually meticulous, and tomorrow should be the day he comes to take Mother's pulse."

  The status of a princess is noble and dignified, with no lack of food or clothing. Every day, she is surrounded by a large group of people, and as a son-in-law, in most cases, there is no need to exert oneself.

  Because of Nie Wu Yan and Pei You Rui's matter, the couple both felt a bit downhearted. After dinner, they didn't say much and went to bed early.

  The next day, Jian Yu Bai went out early in the morning before dawn to attend court, while Song Yi Xiao got up at dawn - she only remembered after waking up that Nie Wu Xiang had made such a fuss yesterday and didn't know if she would return to the Jin Guo Long Gong Zhu Fu today, probably too busy to come find her to learn dance.

  In other words, she can still sleep for a while today...

  But they all got up anyway. Song Yi Xiao wasn't a lazy person either. He shook his head and let the people below come up one by one to discuss matters.

  After finishing the household chores for the day, Jin Xun handed over a warm cup of rose tea, and a little maid came in to report: "Madam, the Princess of Qingjiang has sent someone over!"

  Song Yi Xiao merely said it was to discuss Nie Wu Yan's situation and hastily said: "Quickly bring him in!"

  Who would have thought that someone would come to her and, after paying their respects, say: "My family's county head wants to take Miss Nie to the Spring Occupying Pavilion for a short stay of a few days, I wonder if I could invite Mrs. Song to join us?"

  "Shall we stay for a few more days?" Song Yi smiled and said, "The Occupying Spring Pavilion is indeed a great place, if possible, I'd love to go play. But during this time, my husband's work has been busy, almost every day he has to get up early and come back late - If I were to leave on this festival, I'm afraid it would add trouble for him!"

  "That person sighed and said: 'Madam, you don't know that yesterday the entire capital was stirred up because of looking for Miss Nie. You also know Miss Nie's temperament, so it would be embarrassing for her to continue staying in the capital. That's why our family's young miss can only take her out of the city temporarily. The young miss went to the Occupying Spring Pavilion, and my family's young master will definitely go too! But what if my family's young master needs the young miss to accompany him? Wouldn't Miss Nie be left unattended then?"

  Song Yixiao thought for a moment, then the man continued, "Madam Shou Chun has four young ladies and gentlemen under her knees, none of whom have come of age. Even if they went to Zhuanchun Hall, their own children couldn't take care of them, let alone Miss Nie? And Princess Changxing is also staying in the imperial capital to celebrate the birthday of her uncle, Duke Ji of Rui State - Duke Ji's birthday is five days later, so it's not good to leave either. The princess thought for a long time and could only ask you to take the trouble!"

  Recalling her mother-in-law's rage from the previous day, Song Yi smiled wryly and bit her lip. After a moment, she said, "I need to pack some clothes and also send someone to inform my husband!"