Qingjiang Jun Zhu listened to Zhao Wang's explanation, her mouth slightly curved, and said: "But I just brought my fourth brother and fifth sister over yesterday, planning to stay at Bu Yue Xiao Zhu for a few days."

  "Brother-in-law only seeks peace and quiet, sister-in-law, this Chunyuan Pavilion is quite large, just allocate a small room to him and the book boy. Zhao Wang said with a smile, "It's not necessarily necessary to live near the hot spring, I don't think it will affect your reputation, sister-in-law?"

  "That's no problem!" The Qingjiang County Master secretly let out a breath of relief, although it was said that one of her younger brothers had married the same sister as the King of Zhao; another younger brother had long since taken a stand on the side of the Crown Prince, but the County Master herself was like her mother, the Princess of Jin, and did not get involved in court politics.

  So since she accepted the Yuan family siblings to come over and soak in the hot springs, she naturally wouldn't refuse the empress's nephew's request to stay over - especially since this matter was personally brought up by the empress herself and Zhao Wang personally sent someone over.

  But Qingjiang Junzhu didn't mind the political stance of the newcomers, yet she had to take responsibility for her sister-in-law and younger sister: that Yuan Xuepei couldn't even stand up without support, and was counting on the hot springs at Zhuanchun Hall to alleviate her rheumatism; living near Buxue Xiaozhu was still okay; but Su Shaoge, a young man with all four limbs intact, how could he be the same!?

  This was discussed with King Zhao and it was decided that Su Shaoge would be arranged to stay far away. She nodded, "The Lounong Pavilion is less than 10 miles from the Bu Yue Xiao Zhu, it's spacious and bright, the scenery around is also good. Although there is no hot spring, being in the south of the mountain and facing the sun, the land energy is warm and comfortable, and the floor is paved with dragon scales, making it an excellent place to study!"

  Zhao Wang thanked her and said: "My brother brought a lot of books, I need to help him settle in, and also bother my sister for a few days!"

  "You're going back right away, I won't let you: on such a cold day, riding from the Imperial Capital, how old are you? Dare to not rest for a day or two before leaving, what if you get tired on the road?" Qingjiang County Master slightly leaned forward, smiling and reaching out to tidy up his fur coat's wind-blown hairs. "Let's have lunch at Bu Yue Xiao Zhu!"

  Take another glance at Su Shaoge, who is still standing upright in the distance, "Let Su Er come over too - after all, it's also a relative, and it's only the first day, eating a meal is necessary, and if it gets out, no one can say anything!"

  As Zhao Wang went to inform Su Shaoge, the Qingjiang Junzhu let her attendants lower the carriage curtains, took over the hand warmer handed by the maid, and sighed with some emotion: "In a flash, Zhao Wang can ride alone from the imperial capital to here!"

  The maid smiled and said: "Your Highness is also twelve years old, considered half an adult!"

  "I always thought he was just two or three years old, a little bigger than a snowball, and would stretch out his hands for a hug whenever he saw someone." The Qingjiang County Master's face clouded over as she spoke: her nephew, six years younger than her son, had unknowingly grown up and after the beginning of spring could even enter the court to compete with his older brother, the Crown Prince; but her own son would never grow up!

  The county master suppressed her depressed mood and said to Song Yi with a smile: "In the future, when you take Fifth Sister out for a walk, don't go to Louchong Pavilion."

  Song Yixiao nodded and said, "Second Master Su asked you for a place to stay, he's looking for a quiet place, so he can't go disturb you!"

  They returned to Bu Yue Xiao Zhu when Nie Wu Xing was still not awake. The four of them chatted on the hall for a while, and just as lunchtime was approaching, Nie Wu Xing hurriedly entered with her maid - only saying "I got up too late today", and upon seeing two men in the hall, she let out a startled cry, about to retreat when her eyes locked onto Zhao Wang, pointing at him: "Huh, is that you?"

  Qingjiang Junzhu slightly furrowed her brow and gave Song Yi a subtle, enigmatic smile.

  Song Yixiao was a bit unsure of what Eldest Sister meant, but she immediately came out to mediate: "No need for Fifth Sister to withdraw, these two are our relatives. This is Zhao Wang Gongzi, we met him at the palace on the day of the Holy Birthday; this is Su Er Gongzi, he's the son of the Duke of Ji State and the nephew of Her Majesty the Empress, so we should call him 'cousin'."

  Nie Wu Yan just came in and paid his respects, but his face was always a bit strange, and he looked distracted until he sat down.

  "Let's have a meal!" Qingjiang Junzhu saw this scene and felt more embarrassed, so she changed the subject, "He Bone and Zhi Yong must be hungry after trudging through the snow? The chef I brought this time is not very good at making Qingzhou dishes, and I don't know if Zhi Yong is used to eating them?"

  Su Shaoge hurriedly expressed that she wasn't picky about food and said that the chef of Qingjiang Junzhu's household definitely had no problem with their culinary skills.

  After the polite conversation, the table in the flower hall was already set up, and the servant came to invite everyone to take their seats. After finishing dinner, rinsing their mouths, and clearing their throats, the young lady of Qingjiang Manor picked up her tea cup, indicating that the two uninvited cousins could take their leave.

  After sending off Zhao Wang and Su Shaoge, the county master rubbed her forehead, casting a sideways glance at Nie Wu Xian, who was still bowing his head to tie his belt, feeling very headache.

  Helpless as the elder sister, when her mother was struck by the bad news from Youzhou and temporarily couldn't take care of teaching her little daughter personally, she had to stand up despite the headache!

  Qingjiang Junzhu glanced around, indicating that everyone should retreat and leave only Song Yixiao by her side as a helper later. She beckoned Nie Wuyan to come forward, held her hand, and spoke with a gentle smile: "Fifth sister, I saw the way you looked at Zhao Wang just now, it seems like you've met him in private before?"

  Nie Wu Yan said somewhat unnaturally: "Didn't Fourth Aunt just say so? On the day of Her Majesty's birthday, I...I was momentarily confused..."

  "Except for that time, you've seen him again later, right?" The tone of Qingjiang Junzhu was very gentle and soft, but exceptionally certain. "The other day when you ran out of the mansion, it wasn't the Su sisters you met, but him, wasn't it?"

  Song Yi Xiao was shocked and subconsciously looked at Nie Wu Xiang - indeed, Nie Wu Xiang's face changed greatly, pursed her lips tightly, and only spoke after a long while: "......Yes."

  Qingjiang Junzhu and Song Yixiao's hearts sank at the same time, and they asked in unison: "How did you meet?"

  "What does 'Big Sister and Fourth Aunt' mean?" Not wanting to hear Nian Wu Yan's words, she showed a look of disgust, suddenly pulled back her hand, and sharply said, "I didn't think I was superior to him - what status do I have that I don't understand myself?! It's just that when I came in, I didn't expect there would be other people here, let alone someone I've met before, so I showed a bit of surprise! You two are putting on this show, are you afraid I'll lose face for the Jin State Duke's Manor?!"

  Qingjiang Junzhu didn't expect this younger sister to suddenly become so outspoken, and hastily said: "Fifth sister, don't misunderstand! I was just asking..."

  "What's there to ask!" Nie Wu Xing said coldly, "I overheard your conversation just now. Fourth sister has also met that Su Er Gongzi in private! And I didn't see eldest sister sending away the servant and questioning fourth sister alone! Why is it my turn to be asked? Isn't it because you think I'll only lose face!"

  "Gritting his teeth, he said, 'Do you want to know what happened? That Prince Zhao is also in this Chun Spring Pavilion, why don't you go ask him instead of coming to interrogate me? Are you looking down on me or thinking I'm easy to bully?!'"

  Miss Qingjiang's eyes almost welled up with tears upon hearing this - if she hadn't been treating her sister with genuine kindness, why would she bring along her brother's wife and a son with defects to stay here in the cold?

  Now her sister was single-mindedly treating herself as an enemy, and Qingjiang Junzhu felt like her heart was about to shatter!

  Song Yi couldn't help but speak up to smooth things over: "Fifth sister, you don't know that after you left the mansion the other day, Mother was so scared! We were all worried about you! So when Eldest Sister found out that you had met with Prince Zhao, she just wanted to ask you some questions, purely out of concern for you, and nothing else! As for saying that you're losing face, that's even more absurd - who doesn't know that you're Mother's treasured daughter? Yesterday, Mother directly said that if any of us daughters or daughters-in-law had any mishaps, she wouldn't acknowledge any of us!"

  It was not Song Yixiao who had been secretly talking to the person in charge, but rather Nie Wuyan. Upon hearing this, she seemed to have stopped her outburst and coldly said: "Anyway, on my birthday, I also saw my own status! Now, for the sake of Mother's words, you're concerned about me again, what's the point?"

  Qingjiang Jun Zhu wiped away her tears and was about to speak when Nie Wu Xian stood up, saying "I'm tired, I'll take my leave first!"

  Watching her leave without hesitation, Song Yi couldn't help but fall silent.

  After a while, Qingjiang Junzhu finally stopped sobbing and smiled at Song Yi with red eyes: "Do you know? I was the one who fell in love with the county horse at the age of twelve."

  Song Yixiao understood her meaning, Nie Wuyan and Zhao Wang had both reached the age where they could be said to be of marriageable age. The former was also always confined in the Long Princess's mansion, not seeing outsiders, and even her half-brother from a different father didn't often meet with her. She was most likely to fall deeply in love at first sight with the first person of the opposite sex she came into contact with - but how could Zhao Wang possibly marry a private-born daughter?

  "Whether it's true or not, I'm afraid it can't be rushed." Song Yi smiled thoughtfully for a moment and carefully chose her words, "After all, Fifth Sister was originally timid, and on the day of her birthday, she was again heartbroken. Now she has grievances against us, if we suddenly tell her these things, I'm afraid she won't listen..."

  Qingjiang Jun Zhu said listlessly, "How could I not know? But look at the strange expression on Wu Mei's face just now. Let alone us two, even Zhao Wang and Su Er must have some idea in their minds. What I'm afraid of is..."

  She fell silent for a moment before speaking, "The words Mother said the day before yesterday are now known to everyone outside. Although Fifth Sister is nominally an adopted daughter, Mother has always doted on her like a beloved daughter! The Emperor's uncle has always respected Mother, you know that."

  Zhao Wang, who is planning to take the throne of Chu State, has no reason to let go of Nie Wu Xian, this helping hand that has been delivered to his doorstep. As for what normal people all know, Nie Wu Xian's background makes it impossible for her to be a princess consort, but a girl trapped in love cannot be judged by common sense: foolish women who willingly offer themselves up without reputation or status and lavish their affections on their lovers have never been extinct from ancient times to the present!

  “……My fifth sister used to be very obedient, it seems that she was too heartbroken the day before yesterday, so she reacted so fiercely.” Song Yi smiled and fiddled with the jade bangle on her wrist, sighing deeply. “Although Zhao Wang has to stay here for a few days, Lian Nong Ge is far away from us. We won't take Fifth Sister there——if Zhao Wang takes the initiative to come over, Elder Sister, you can find an excuse to get rid of him. With his identity, how can he bear to be rejected again and again? In this way, the two people won't see each other, and as time passes, they will forget about it.”

  Qingjiang Junzhu said bitterly: "Now it can only be like this - however, as for the affairs of the previous dynasty, if there's a chance, it's better to let Wu Meimei know a bit about it!"

  At least, can't let Nie Wu Yan be sold and also help Zhao Wang count the money!

  Song Yi smiled and nodded: "I understand!"

  The two of them were worried about Nie Wuyan when they returned to their own room, and after a "bang" sound as she bumped into the door, she listened carefully for a moment, confirming that there was no one outside the door. However, her expression suddenly changed, and she covered her chest with her hand, still feeling frightened: "Fortunately, Eldest Sister and Fourth Aunt didn't catch up to interrogate me - otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to hold on!"

  Yahuan said softly: "I see that both the county master and Mrs. Song are very sympathetic to you, shall we stop while we're ahead?"

  "I was thinking the same thing!" Nie Wu Xian was helped to the edge of the table by her, had a bowl of hot tea to calm down, and only then did her face have some rosy color. She said anxiously, "But he, but Prince Zhao Wang repeatedly instructed me that mother and brother and sisters, in order to find me, almost turned the entire capital upside down! In this situation, if I go back and admit my mistake, for eight days and eight nights they won't finish scolding me! From now on, don't even think about showing your face in front of brothers and sisters - can only continue to be obedient, all the way until they forget about looking for me, just hoping that I will let bygones be bygones, and when that time comes, lightly apologize, everyone will only be relieved that I finally calmed down, where would they have the energy to look for fault?"

  She said nervously, "It's only been two days since I left, and I don't want to make a fuss. Do you think they won't settle accounts with me?"

  Wanxiang also heard: "Miss didn't go out today, the county master and Mrs. Song came over, I said you were still angry?"