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

After seeing Xiao Jingyan off, Chu Wanqing sent someone to invite Yun Jin and Yun Lang, saying that the family would have a meal together on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Yun Jin led Yun Lang to the main hall, where Old Madam Yun was already seated in the main seat, dressed in a very festive manner, with a string of red coral prayer beads on her wrist, looking full of energy.

Yunheting, Chu Wanqing, and Yunxiu were all seated. Liu Zhixue was quite sensible today and came over to join in the fun.

When Chu Wanqing saw the two arrive, she quickly invited them to sit down.

Perhaps it was the first day of the lunar month, or perhaps it was because Yun Jin had just been betrothed today, but the meal went relatively peacefully.

Even Grandma Yun was unusually amiable today.

After the meal, Chu Wanqing took Yun Jin back to Qingshui Garden.

After the mother and daughter sat down in the warm pavilion, Chu Wanqing dismissed Qinghe and the maids, then took Yun Jin's hand and asked gently, "Jin'er, on the sixth day of the month, Princess Yi will come to offer betrothal gifts, and they will surely discuss your marriage to Prince Yu. What are your thoughts on the wedding date?"

Yun Jin lowered her eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then looked up and said, "Mother, I don't want to get married too early. Liu Shi is still in the manor. She is ruthless and cruel. I'm afraid that after I leave, she and Yun Heting will join forces to bully you and Lang Ge'er. I'm really worried about it."

Chu Wanqing grasped her hand and said firmly, "Jin'er, your mother is no longer the woman who could be manipulated at will. Now your mother is very clear-headed and will no longer allow Liu Shi to cause trouble in the mansion. You can rest assured when you get married."

Yun Jin shook her head again: "Mother, Mei Xiang, who is by Yun Xiu's side, is the Fifth Prince's person, and Liu Zhixue is also eyeing you covetously, waiting to harm you and Lang Ge'er at any time. I really can't rest easy."

Chu Wanqing was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "But His Highness Prince Yu will be twenty after the New Year, and Prince Yi and Princess Yi must be anxious."

Yun Jin said helplessly, "Mother, then let's postpone it as much as possible."

She thought that perhaps the plan needed to be moved up.

Chu Wanqing, however, was puzzled. She patted her hand and said, "Alright, Mother understands. Also, are you prepared for this matter of learning manners?"

Yun Jin smiled and said, "I have remembered all the rules that Mother had taught me before. However, if Princess Yi arranges someone to teach me, I will learn them."

Chu Wanqing was finally relieved.

The second day of the Lunar New Year was the day to return to the Chu family home.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast, the whole family set off in a grand procession for the General of the State's residence.

Madam Chen took Chu Zheng back to her parents' home, so today only Chu Duanshan and Lan Ying, the two masters, are in the mansion.

After everyone was seated in the main hall, Lan Ying first congratulated Yun Jin, then turned to Yun Xiu and said with a smile, "Xiu'er will be getting married in a few months. Now that you and Jin'er have been betrothed by His Majesty, your grandmother has prepared a dowry for both of you. Although it is not very expensive, it is a token of my grandmother's affection. I will make sure that you two get married in style and that no one looks down on you."

Yunxiu was flattered and nestled beside Lanying, thanking her affectionately.

Seeing that Chu Duanshan and Lan Ying still treated him and Yunxiu the same as before, Yun Heting finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The family of five had lunch at the Chu family's house. Before leaving, Lan Ying gave each of Yun Jin and the other two a red envelope.

After returning home, Yunxiu chattered around Old Madam Yun about how good Lanying had been to her, seemingly declaring in this way that she was the rightful legitimate daughter of the Yun family.

Yun Jin found it laughable. If she knew that she was originally a royal princess, how would she feel?

But she knew that Consort Shu would never reveal this identity, and Liu Zhixue would not bring it up for the sake of her own son. In this life, Yunxiu could only be that illegitimate concubine who could not be brought up in public.

From then until the fifth day of the lunar new year, the threshold of the Yun residence was almost worn down by the crowds.

Yun Heting's colleagues and old acquaintances in the Ministry of Rites, as well as officials he had no connection with in ordinary times, all came to his door to offer their congratulations.

Who would have thought that a mere Minister of Rites could have two concubines in one family?

This made Yun Heting feel more arrogant than ever before, as if he were already the emperor's father-in-law.

The Yun family relatives were also busy, with people coming to visit every day. Once they arrived, they would sit down for tea and meals, sometimes for half a day.

This time, no one dared to underestimate Yun Jin anymore. She was not only the Princess of Ninghai County, but also the Princess Consort bestowed upon her by His Majesty. They were too busy currying favor with her, showering her with compliments as if they were free.

Chu Wanqing didn't want to deal with these snobs, so she simply used the excuse of preparing dowries for Yun Jin and Yun Xiu to leave the task of receiving relatives entirely to Old Madam Yun.

Yun Jin, using the excuse of preparing for her marriage, simply said goodbye and left.

The old lady took on this task, spending her days with the guests and listening to their compliments. Her face was radiant every day, and she even became more amiable towards Yun Jin.

Before we knew it, it was the sixth day of the lunar month.

Early that morning, members of the Yun family arrived one after another, saying that today was the day Prince Yu was coming to propose marriage, and they had to come and share in the joy.

Chu Wanqing was unusually attentive today, carefully preparing tea and snacks, which made Yunxiu somewhat unhappy. She recalled Chu Wanqing's perfunctory attitude on the day she presented the betrothal gifts.

But Chu Wanqing said that it was only the sixth day of the new year, still in the late New Year period, and the family had already made ample preparations, which left Yunxiu speechless.

At 9:00 AM, Princess Yi and Xiao Jingyan arrived.

Yun Heting and Chu Wanqing personally went to the door to welcome the two in.

Princess Yi had the betrothal gifts carried into the courtyard box by box and handed the gift list to Chu Wanqing.

The gift list included a complete set of red gold headdress inlaid with rubies, sixteen bolts of brocade, two sets of red gold headdress inlaid with pearls, ten bushels of South Sea pearls, a pair of jade ruyi scepters, eight large food boxes filled with various wedding cakes and candies, six pairs each of live chickens, ducks and geese, and most eye-catching of all were the pairs of live geese.

Yunxiu stood in the crowd, her smile almost impossible to maintain.

On the day the Fifth Prince came to propose marriage, he presented a pair of jade-carved geese. At the time, she thought it was respectable, but now, seeing the pair of live geese sent by the Prince Yi's residence, the difference is obvious.

The fifth prince told her that since they couldn't hunt wild geese in winter, they could only use jade carvings instead.

But how did Xiao Jingyan manage to hit him?

Princess Yi then took out another jade pendant and said to Chu Wanqing, "This was a gift from the late Emperor when I married Ayan's father. The jade pendants were originally a pair; now I'm giving this one to Jin'er, and his father's one is for Ayan. I hope they can live in harmony and grow old together."

Chu Wanqing accepted the gifts with a smile, and then had Qinghe check the gift list one by one. After confirming that everything was correct, she had someone send the betrothal gifts to Jinshu Pavilion.

Princess Yi then took Chu Wanqing's hand and said with a smile, "Madam Yun, may we speak in private for a moment?"