The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Remembering Yunxiu's matter, Yun Heting sat up straight and looked at Liu Zhixue, asking, "Zhixue, are you confident about our Xiu'er marrying the Fifth Prince?"

Liu Zhixue paused for a moment before looking up at him: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Yun Heting sighed, "I heard that the Eldest Princess intends to marry Princess Yamin to the Fifth Prince. If that's the case, how can our Xiu'er possibly compete for it?"

He paused, then lowered his voice, "So I was thinking, should we consider... the Third Prince?"

Liu Zhixue shook her head: "The Third Prince has become increasingly arrogant in the past two years, and the Empress's family is also very flamboyant. The Emperor is already quite dissatisfied with them. The Third Prince's path to the throne will not be so smooth. It's better to choose the Fifth Prince, who has a higher voice among the people."

Yun Heting frowned: "But what about the Eldest Princess..."

"The Fifth Prince will not marry Ya Min," Liu Zhixue interrupted him.

Yun Heting was taken aback: "Why are you so certain?"

Liu Zhixue said calmly, "Because Consort Shu will not agree."

Yun Heting asked, puzzled, "Why...?"

Liu Zhixue thought to herself that the Eldest Princess had her own motives for wanting the Fifth Prince to ascend to that position. Although she and Consort Shu were on good terms, they each had their own agendas and neither wanted to be controlled by the other. But she couldn't say this.

She thought for a moment and then changed her approach: "Ya Min is arrogant and disdainful of others. Consort Shu wouldn't want her as a daughter-in-law. She would much prefer someone like Xiu'er, who is well-educated and reasonable."

Yun Heting nodded thoughtfully: "What you said makes sense."

Seeing that he believed her, Liu Zhixue said, "Having more options is not a bad thing, but the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince are bound to clash in the future, so let's not consider them."

Yun Heting hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then... how about considering Prince Yu? What do you think?"

Liu Zhixue's heart skipped a beat, but she remained outwardly calm: "Prince Yu? He doesn't vie for the throne, what's the point of marrying him?"

Yun Heting said awkwardly, "That's true." He paused, then added, "You should pay more attention to Xiu'er's matter."

Liu Zhixue nodded: "Okay."

……

Now let's talk about the Zheng family.

The Zheng residence was bustling with activity today. Craftsmen sent by the Construction Bureau were busy in the courtyard, with materials piled up all over the ground, and the clanging and hammering sounds could be heard incessantly.

The Zheng family had many servants who worked quickly. In just over an hour, the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) and fire wall in the main room of Old Madam Zheng were completed and started to burn.

The room was warm and cozy, but there was still a slight earthy smell. The window was slightly ajar for ventilation.

Zheng Hong and several women gathered in Madam Zheng's room, praising her incessantly.

Wang touched the warm wall of the fireplace and laughed, "This is a wonderful idea. From now on, we can get through the winter wearing just a light jacket indoors."

Mrs. Li chimed in, "That's right. Before, when we used charcoal braziers, the house was covered in ash, and we were always worried about carbon monoxide poisoning. This is much better; we can light a fire outdoors, so there's no smoke inside, it's not choking, and we can burn anything."

Zheng Hong sat on the heated kang, feeling the warmth emanating from beneath him, and stroked his beard, laughing, "This idea came from a retainer named Fu Ping in Prince Yu's residence. I never expected there to be such a capable person in Prince Yu's household."

Madam Zheng leaned against the headboard and said with a smile, "No matter who came up with it, it's a blessing that we can use it."

The brocade arrived around this time.

She led Chunxi and Dongxue into the main room, guided by a maid.

As soon as you step inside, a wave of warmth washes over you, a stark contrast to the cold outside.

She stepped forward to greet Madam Zheng, Grand Tutor Zheng, Madam Wang, and Madam Li, and then greeted Chen Mengyao.

When Madam Zheng saw her, her eyes lit up. She beckoned for her to sit beside her and asked with a smile, "Jin'er, how is it? Is my room warm?"

Yun Jin reached out and touched the fire wall, smiling, "It's so warm."

Madam Zheng smiled smugly: "These are the heated brick beds and walls that His Majesty has introduced. You can build them in your residence later."

Yun Jin smiled and didn't mention that her house had been completed yesterday.

Old Madam Zheng took Yun Jin's hand and said, "Jin'er, now that you're here, please take my pulse."

"Okay." Yun Jin said, taking out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handing it over with both hands. "Grandmother, it's getting cold, and it's inconvenient to brew medicine, so I made some pills for you. These are easy to take, one pill a day after meals."

Madam Zheng took it, opened the bottle, and smelled it. There was a faint medicinal fragrance. She nodded in satisfaction.

Wang, standing nearby, chuckled and teased, "Jin'er, isn't there one for me?"

Yun Jin hurriedly took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handed it to her: "My godmother's, how could I forget? This is yours."

Madam Wang took it and said with a smile, "That's more like it."

Yun Jin took their pulses again. Madam Zheng's pulse was much more stable than last time, and Wang's inflammation had subsided considerably.

She withdrew her hand and said, "I'll come back in a couple of days when the house is warmer, and then I'll give Grandma another acupuncture treatment. That should be enough."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng beamed with joy: "It's all thanks to Jin'er that she's accepted you as her granddaughter. It's this old woman who's benefited."

Seeing that they were chatting about everyday things, Grand Tutor Zheng made an excuse to get up and go to his study.

After he left, Chen Mengyao took Yun Jin's hand and asked in a low voice, "Jin-meimei, it's the Princess's birthday in a few days. Have they sent invitations to your household? Are you going?"

Yun Jin sighed helplessly, "I'm logging off. My name is on the post."

Chen Mengyao frowned: "This must be Yamin's idea. Don't go, it's definitely a trap."

Yun Jin shook her head: "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. I can't hide from her forever."

Madam Zheng nodded approvingly: "Jin'er is right. If she wants to target you, you can't avoid it. You'll run into her sooner or later, so you might as well face her openly."

Madam Wang added, "If she wants to target you, she can't escape those methods. Be careful. Your second aunt and I will be there that day. Stay with us, and we'll protect you."

Yun Jin felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, saying, "Thank you, godmother."

She remembered the cotton-padded trousers and explained the method and cutting diagram again, then had Chunxi go with the household's sewing room to explain the method once more.

Lady Wang listened carefully and then had her maid write it down, saying she would teach it to all the servants in the mansion.

Chen Mengyao pulled Yun Jin into the warm pavilion next door to talk.

The door closed, and both of their voices lowered.

"Jin-meimei," Chen Mengyao said, sitting on the couch, hugging a hand warmer, her voice tinged with disappointment, "my father has sent a letter."

Yun Jin turned her head to look at her: "What did you say?"

Chen Mengyao sighed: "He already knows I've come to my maternal grandparents' house. He said he won't force me to get married anymore, and my marriage will be entirely up to my maternal grandmother."

Yun Jin said, "This is a good thing. He should have come to his senses by now, right?"

Chen Mengyao sneered, her eyes slightly reddening: "He hasn't figured things out at all; he's clearly scared. He's afraid his maternal grandfather will be angry with him. He's coming to Beijing at the end of the year to report on his work, and he wants to stay in Beijing. He wants me to put in a good word for him with his grandfather."

Yun Jin looked at her and asked, "Then will you help him?"