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

Yunxiu was stunned upon hearing this. She instinctively opened her mouth, wanting to ask, "What does Your Highness mean?" Then she realized, the headmistress, the palace rules... this... this meant she was to be married off to the Fifth Prince?!

Having figured it out, her knees buckled and she knelt down, her voice trembling as she said, "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for your grace!"

Seeing her reaction, Consort Shu smiled slightly and waved her hand, "Get up. Go back and prepare properly."

Yunxiu kowtowed again before standing up, taking two steps back, and turning to follow the female official out.

After leaving Yongning Palace, she handed the brocade box in her hand to Meixiang, who was waiting outside the palace gate, and whispered, "Take it. Let's go, out of the palace."

The female official led the way, her attitude even more polite than before, escorting her all the way to the palace gate, smiling and saying, "Miss Yun, please take care."

Yunxiu instructed Meixiang to take a purse from her sleeve and place it in the official's hand, thanking her repeatedly.

The lady-in-waiting accepted it with a smile, bowed, and turned to leave.

Only after she boarded the carriage and the curtain was lowered did Yunxiu finally let out a long breath. She wanted to laugh, but dared not laugh out loud.

She wanted to tell Meixiang, but Meixiang was someone the Fifth Prince had given her, and she didn't want the Fifth Prince to think she was impatient, so she held back in the end.

She wanted to tell Liu Zhixue, but the imperial decree hadn't been issued yet, and everything was still uncertain. In the end, she held back and endured it all the way to the Yun residence.

The carriage stopped in front of the Yun Mansion.

Yunxiu got out of the carriage and walked quickly inside. She wanted to find her father, but he had been able to walk for the past two days and had already gone to court, so he was definitely not at home right now.

She hesitated for a moment, then said to Meixiang, "You go back first, I need to talk to my mother about something."

Meixiang bowed and returned to Xuezhai first.

Yunxiu then turned and walked towards Qingshui Garden alone.

Chu Wanqing was leaning against the couch drinking tea when she saw her enter. She beckoned for her to sit down beside her and asked softly, "What did Consort Shu say?"

Yunxiu sat down beside her, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chu Wanqing: "Mother, Her Majesty said she's going to assign me a tutor!"

Chu Wanqing was taken aback: "Teaching Matron?"

Yunxiu nodded vigorously: "Mother, that's what Her Majesty said. She'll arrange for a tutor to come to the manor in a few days to teach me palace etiquette! Mother, what does Her Majesty mean by this?"

Chu Wanqing looked at her, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said reproachfully, "Silly child, Her Majesty has approved your marriage to the Fifth Prince. The tutors have already been sent, and the imperial decree should arrive in the next few days. Just relax and wait for your wedding."

Yunxiu's heart finally settled, and her voice brimming with undisguised pride: "Mother, what should I prepare? I know nothing..."

Chu Wanqing patted her hand gently and said, "Go back and rest well, get plenty of rest. You'll be busy when the head tutor arrives. As for the dowry, your mother will discuss it with your father later. As for everything else, the palace will arrange it. Just focus on learning the rules well and don't bring shame to the Yun family."

Yunxiu nodded repeatedly, sat for a while longer, and then reluctantly got up to say goodbye.

Back at Xuezhai, she closed the door, hugged the pillow tightly, buried her face in it, and laughed silently.

She wanted to shout, to yell, to tell the whole world that she was going to marry the Fifth Prince.

But since the imperial decree hadn't been issued yet, she could only lock herself in her room and secretly laugh to herself.

……

After Yunxiu left, Consort Shu leaned against the couch, her fingers lightly tapping the table. She had thought about it for a long time and decided to settle things today.

She summoned a lady-in-waiting and instructed, "Go to the Imperial Study and tell His Majesty that I would like to invite him to dinner this evening. Ask if he has time."

The emperor was reviewing memorials in his study when he heard voices outside. He waved to Fu Lai, "Go see who's outside?"

Fu Lai hurried off, and returned a moment later to report: "Your Majesty, Consort Shu sent someone to invite you to dinner. They'd like to ask if it's convenient for you?"

The emperor paused in his writing, looked up, and knew that Consort Shu probably had something to discuss with him.

He thought for a moment and said calmly, "Tell her I'll come over when I'm done with my work."

When Consort Shu heard that the Emperor had agreed, she immediately began making arrangements.

As dusk fell, the emperor entered Yongning Palace.

Consort Shu greeted him at the door, smiling and bowing: "Your Majesty, you have worked hard. I have prepared a few side dishes, all of which are Your Majesty's favorites."

The emperor nodded, washed his hands, and sat down at the table: "Oh, you made this yourself, didn't you?"

"Yes, it's been a long time since I've cooked, so I'm a bit rusty. Your Majesty, would you like to try it and see if it suits your taste?" Consort Shu sat down opposite him and personally served the emperor some food, placing it in his bowl.

The emperor took a bite and nodded: "Not bad."

The two ate their meal and chatted idly.

The emperor didn't say much today, and Consort Shu smiled along, but in her heart she was thinking about how to start the conversation.

When they had almost finished eating, Consort Shu put down her chopsticks, looked at the Emperor, and said softly, "Your Majesty, there is something I wish to say, but I am not sure if I should."

The emperor raised his eyelids slightly and said in a calm tone, "Just say what you have to say. Why are you being so coy?"

Consort Shu smiled awkwardly and said, "Your Majesty, it's actually about Fan'er. This child is not young anymore, and he's growing up day by day, yet he doesn't have anyone who cares about him. As his mother, I'm very worried."

The emperor looked at her and asked directly, "Has he taken a fancy to anyone?"

Consort Shu was secretly delighted, but she remained outwardly calm and carefully said, "Fan'er did mention to me that he is fond of the eldest daughter of Lord Yun Heting."

The Emperor's gaze swept over Consort Shu's face, as if recalling something: "Yun Heting's eldest daughter? Is she Yunxiu, the one known as 'the most beautiful woman in the capital'?"

Consort Shu quickly waved her hand and laughed, "It's not that exaggerated. She's just pretty and charming. It's all just rumors spread by outsiders."

The emperor looked at her meaningfully, tapping his fingers lightly twice on the table: "I remember, her mother is Chu Duanshan's daughter, isn't she?"

Consort Shu's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and smiled, saying, "Yes. But those are all her maternal grandparents' families. After all, she is a married daughter, and they can't compare to her son."

The emperor did not reply, but picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and looked deep in thought.

Consort Shu didn't know what he was thinking, and didn't dare to urge him, so she just waited quietly.

After a long while, the emperor finally spoke: "Why does Fifth Prince like that girl?"

Consort Shu quickly replied, "Fan'er said that he saw that girl at the palace banquet that time and remembered her. He was too embarrassed to say anything until this time when I was anxious to find him a wife, so he told me."

She paused, a hint of melancholy in her voice, "Your Majesty, I have no other wish in this life but that Fan'er marry a girl he loves and give me a grandson. That would be enough for me. Since Fan'er likes that girl Yunxiu, I beg Your Majesty to grant Fan'er's wish."