On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

Yang Siyu's bedroom, Lihua Palace.

This place is usually quite bustling with people.

After all, it was the residence of a Noble Consort, so the lower-ranking concubines naturally had to pay their respects and exchange pleasantries frequently.

However, the palace is now sealed off by Lin Yi, and everyone is short of resources.

With fewer people coming and going to exchange gifts, the palace naturally became a bit quieter.

But today, Yang Siyu seemed to have suddenly received some good news. He became very lively and stood at the palace gate, personally directing the palace maids and eunuchs to wipe the inner palace inside and out, from top to bottom, until it was spotless.

She carefully moved away the old porcelain pieces and ornaments, wiped them clean, and then put them back in their proper places, afraid that something might be amiss.

"Make this spot even shinier! Min'er loves it clean."

"Replace the incense burner over there with the finest sandalwood; she has always disliked those vulgar things."

"And also, hurry up and change the gauze curtains in Min'er's room; she doesn't like bright pink!"

Yang Siyu was sweating profusely from his work, but he was happy.

This is the first time our daughter has returned home since she got married, so we must take it seriously.

Besides, who knows what inhumane treatment his daughter has suffered in the Prince's mansion? Now that she has the opportunity to come back, she should naturally stay comfortably for a few days.

Actually, it's not her fault.

These days, rumors about the Regent's Palace have been circulating in the palace non-stop.

There were rumors of the princess being forcibly taken, the princess crying every night, and some even said that the maids in the Regent's Palace were fighting, causing chaos for the princess.

The truth and the falsehood, the reality and the illusion, kept Yang Siyu's heart, as a mother, constantly in turmoil.

She even tried several times to send someone to the Regent's Palace to inquire, but the palace was heavily guarded and outsiders could not get in at all. Later, Nangong Xiong found out about it by accident and said that she was meddlesome and did not know the rules.

But no matter how strict the rules are, they can't outweigh the safety of my daughter.

Yang Siyu arrived at the palace gate and looked around at the Imperial Forest Road on both sides.

Why is there still no sign of Min'er...?

Seeing a palace maid returning with a basket, she stopped her and said, "Hey! Hurry up and go to the small kitchen to see what good dishes are available today!"

The palace maid lowered her head in embarrassment and whispered, "Your Highness, I went to the kitchen to ask, and it's still the same as before. They only have millet porridge, steamed buns, and two plates of stir-fried vegetables."

Yang Siyu's face immediately fell.

Lin Yi, that scoundrel!

They married my daughter, and not only did they not give any dowry, but after so many days, they haven't even sent me anything nice to show their respect.

What a terrible son-in-law.

"Is there no meat left?"

"There's still an ounce or two of pork left, and it smells really pungent..."

"Sigh." Yang Siyu sighed.

When her daughter returned home for her parents' wedding, the mother couldn't even afford to serve her a decent meal. What kind of behavior is that?

"Alright, go tell Likun to take my personal money and go out to buy it! Be quick, Min'er will be back soon."

The palace maid hesitated, "Your Highness, what if we're discovered by the Prince's people if we go out to shop now?"

"So what if they found out!" Yang Siyu glared at her. "Tell the people at the Prince's residence that it was I who was going to cook for their mistress! I don't believe they'll dare to stop me!"

"Yes." The palace maid quickly went to do it.

But who knew that before Li Kun could even leave the house, Nangong Min had already arrived.

The sunlight was just right outside the hall.

Nangong Min was dressed in a simple and elegant princess's everyday clothes, with a few simple silver hairpins in her hair. Her face was without makeup, which made her look even more beautiful.

Liying and Shishi followed behind, each carrying a large bag or bundle, which appeared to be "return gifts" from Lin Yi.

"Min'er!" Yang Siyu's eyes reddened the moment she saw her daughter. Waving her handkerchief, she rushed forward and hugged Nangong Min tightly, her voice choked with emotion, "Min'er, my Min'er! You're finally back! Your mother was so worried about you!"

Nangong Min, held in her mother's arms, couldn't help but tear up.

Marrying into the royal family may seem glamorous, but in reality, every step is fraught with danger. Now, seeing her mother again, all sorts of grievances and sorrows welled up at once.

"Mother, your daughter is unfilial and has caused you worry." Nangong Min's voice choked with emotion as she was about to kneel down before Yang Siyu.

The latter quickly helped her up, saying, "Min'er, get up quickly!"

Nangong Min stood up.

The mother cupped her face in her hands and looked her up and down.

Seeing that her daughter looked alright and had no injuries on her face, she was finally relieved.

"You've lost weight, my Min'er, you've lost weight..." Yang Siyu touched her daughter's cheek with heartache. "Did that beast Lin Yi bully you? Tell your mother, and I'll risk my life to get justice for you!"

Nangong Min felt a warmth in her heart and shook her head: "My daughter has not been wronged. The prince treats my daughter very well and has not bullied her."

"Come on, let's go inside and talk." Yang Siyu was somewhat skeptical, and hurriedly pulled his daughter's hand into the bedroom.

After entering the palace gates, the mother and daughter sat on chairs in the central hall.

Yang Siyu asked again, "Really not? Did he hit you? Did he yell at you? Did he prevent you from eating or anything like that?"

Nangong Min was both amused and exasperated by her.

"Mother, you're overthinking it. The Prince really treats me very well. Not only does he not bully me, but he also entrusts me with managing all the affairs of the Prince's residence."

Yang Siyu still clearly didn't believe it: "What? He put you in charge of the household? That's the Regent's Palace! How could he let a newlywed princess be in charge?"

"It's true, Mother. The Prince said that men should be in charge of external affairs and women should be in charge of internal affairs. From now on, I will be in charge of all matters in the Prince's Mansion." Nangong Min nodded and roughly recounted her experiences in the Prince's Mansion to her mother.

She briefly mentioned how she put Yang Mi in a good position, how she promoted Shu Ying, how she won over Yi Fei, and even how Lin Yi dealt with the accountant.

Of course, she would never tell anyone that she was spanked during their consummation of the marriage and that she called him "Father Emperor."

Yang Siyu was completely dumbfounded, unable to reconcile the "trustworthy and ruthless" Lin Yi described by his daughter with the "ruthless and cruel" regent rumored to be a killer.

"Min'er, is what you're saying true? Didn't he force you to say it?"

Nangong Min smiled helplessly: "Mother, think about it, if the Prince really mistreated me, why would he allow me to return home?"

"That's true..."

Yang Siyu was slightly relieved, and then took his daughter's hand and examined her carefully again.

The daughter's eyes seemed to have gained a sense of composure and maturity, and lost some of her girlish fragility.

"Good, good! My Min'er has grown up and become sensible! She managed the Regent's Palace so well right after getting married. She truly deserves to be my daughter!" Yang Siyu said, tears welling up in her eyes again.

It was both joyful and heartbreaking.

The daughter he had spent years nurturing and poured his heart and soul into raising was taken away by that brat Lin Yi, pot and all.

That's enough, it's done now. As long as my daughter is doing well, that's all that matters.

With the current political turmoil and the royal family and the Lin family being irreconcilable enemies, it's a good thing that our daughter can enjoy a life of luxury in the royal palace.

Thinking of this, Yang Siyu felt a little relieved and took Nangong Min's hand, asking her all sorts of questions and showing concern.

He asked about everything in detail, from Lin Yi's temperament and personality to the food, clothing, and daily necessities of the Prince's mansion, and even the rules and etiquette of the maids.

Nangong Min answered all the questions patiently, trying her best to portray Lin Yi as someone who was "domineering but very kind to her."

Because Lin Yi is now her everything.

She couldn't allow her mother to misunderstand Lin Yi in any way, and she certainly couldn't let her mother do anything that would be detrimental to Lin Yi.

As a son, protecting my mother is my duty.

But as a wife, protecting her husband is also her duty.