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

Yun Heting rubbed his temples. He had been busy since he entered the palace early in the morning, and he had hardly had a moment's rest. He was really exhausted.

He patiently said to the old lady, "Mother, it's New Year's Eve today. What can't we talk about after the New Year? Wanqing is right. Jin'er's status is different now. Princess Yi will take care of her manners and etiquette. Why do you have to interfere? In the end, you'll only end up doing all the work for nothing. You should go back and rest. There's a family banquet later. We can talk about it after the New Year."

After saying that, he glanced at Liu Zhixue's face, then turned and walked towards his own courtyard.

Grandma Yun stood there, watching his retreating figure, her chest heaving. Suddenly, she turned around, grabbed Liu Zhixue's hand, and said in a voice full of resentment, "Look at this, this is my son. My own son, whom I carried for ten months and gave birth to. I worry about him, and he complains that I'm meddling. If I had known this would happen, I would have kept him in our hometown instead of having to put up with all this nonsense here."

Yunxiu quickly stepped forward to support the old lady's arm and gently advised, "Grandmother, please calm down. Father has been busy in the palace all day and must be exhausted to say such things. Please don't take it to heart."

She paused, then changed the subject, sighing, "I don't know what Mother was thinking. If Grandmother took a little more care, she could save herself some trouble, right? But she just had to upset Grandmother."

Grandma Yun immediately found comfort, patting Yun Xiu's hand and saying, "Xiu'er is so sensible. If your mother had half as much understanding of this old woman as you, I wouldn't be living such a miserable life."

Liu Zhixue gently tugged at Yunxiu's collar, stepped forward, and supported the old lady's other arm, advising her:

"Grandma, please calm down. It's New Year's Day, there's no need to be angry. Madam doesn't want you to worry, so you can enjoy your peace and quiet. Besides, both young ladies are princesses, so you can just enjoy your good fortune."

Hearing this, the old lady finally found a way out. She let out a sigh of relief and said, "Fine, they won't let me get involved, and this old woman is too lazy to bother with it. After all this commotion, my old bones are about to fall apart. Zhixue, Xiu'er, you two should go back too. I'm going back to lie down for a while; we still have New Year's Eve dinner tonight."

The two insisted on escorting the old lady to their own yard before leaving.

The old lady went into the inner room, changed into her everyday clothes, lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed), and soon began to snore.

After all, she's been up since dawn, and being older, she simply can't keep going.

Yunxiu sent Meixiang back to Xuezhai first, while she followed Liu Zhixue to her courtyard.

As the two entered the room, Yunxiu could no longer contain herself and said angrily, "Mother, I never expected that she would be betrothed to Prince Yu! Prince Yu even said in front of His Majesty that he admired her, what right does she have? From now on, she will look down on me even less."

Liu Zhixue took her hand, pulled her to sit down beside her, and said softly, "Silly child, what do you have to worry about? Prince Yu is just a prince, no matter how noble he is, he can't surpass a prince. You are destined to be a phoenix, you are the future wife of the Fifth Prince. The Fifth Prince is His Majesty's son, a proper prince."

"No matter how capable Prince Yu is, would His Majesty really pass the throne to him? It's just an arranged marriage; what's there to worry about? She'll be her Prince Yu's consort, and you'll be your Fifth Prince's consort. Who's superior and who's inferior is still uncertain. The one who laughs last is the true winner."

Yunxiu felt a little relieved, but she was still insanely jealous.

Today in the main hall, she witnessed the tender look in Xiao Jingyan's eyes when he looked at Yun Jin, and saw Princess Yi's undisguised affection for Yun Jin. She couldn't shake the feeling of resentment in her heart.

Looking at her like this, Liu Zhixue sighed, pulled her to her side, and said softly, "Xiu'er, you must remember, it's not important who you marry, but who will have the last laugh after you're married. She has her advantages, and you have yours. You are the future Fifth Prince's principal wife, and if the Fifth Prince ascends to that position, you will be the Empress."

Then, when she sees you, she will have to kneel and bow. How glorious she is today, how she will bow before you tomorrow. Endure for a moment, and you will earn a lifetime of respect.

Yunxiu's pent-up anger finally dissipated somewhat. She leaned on Liu Zhixue's shoulder and said coquettishly, "Mother is right, I was short-sighted. By the way, Mother, why did you stop Grandmother from getting angry earlier? Wouldn't it have been better to let her make a scene?"

Liu Zhixue's eyes flickered. Of course, she couldn't tell Yunxiu about her plan. She just smiled and patted her hand, saying, "There's no need to rush things. Some things can't be rushed. Xiu'er, just focus on becoming the Fifth Prince's consort, learn the rules well, and win over the Fifth Prince's heart. I'll take care of everything else. Go back and rest. You must be tired after a long day."

Yunxiu nodded, stood up, bowed to Liu Zhixue, and then turned and returned to Xuezhai.

After Yunxiu left, Liu Zhixue changed her clothes, washed her face, and then lay down.

Today I accompanied Old Madam Yun to the palace. She stood for several hours and was really exhausted. She hadn't stood like that for a long time since she came to the Central Plains.

Liu Zhixue lay down, and soon she too fell asleep.

On the other side, Chu Wanqing pulled Yun Jin and Yun Lang out of the old lady's sight and slowed down.

She glanced at Yun Lang and saw that his eyelids were drooping, yet he was still forcing himself to follow behind. She smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair, saying, "Lang-ge'er, you must be exhausted after a long day in the palace. Go back and rest. There's a family banquet tonight; Mother will have someone call you then."

Yun Lang was indeed exhausted. He nodded and said, "Yes, Mother. I'll head back now. You and my sister must be worn out from today in the palace, so get some rest."

After saying that, he led Fusheng towards his own courtyard.

Chu Wanqing watched him walk away before taking Yun Jin's hand and heading towards Qingshui Garden.

Upon entering Qingshui Garden, Chu Wanqing changed her clothes, then took Yun Jin's hand and made her sit beside her before asking, "Jin'er, what exactly happened in the palace just now? Mengyao was gone for so long before returning, and her expression was off. Tell your mother honestly, did something happen?"

Yun Jin sighed inwardly. Although Chu Wanqing was her mother, she couldn't tell her about Chen Mengyao.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Chu Wanqing, but this matter concerned Chen Mengyao's reputation, so naturally the fewer people who knew about it, the better.

The fact that Yunxiu and Xiao Yifan's identities were switched, and that Xiao Yifan's identity was a mystery, was truly unbelievable. If I told her about it now, she probably wouldn't have a peaceful New Year.

Thinking of this, she smiled and shook her head: "Mother, nothing happened. Sister Mengyao did go to the Imperial Garden to admire the plum blossoms, but she took the wrong path."