Needless of the servant"s report, in light of her memories of the previous life, Song Yixiao also knew that Wei Mengying"s delivery would go well so she was not nervous at all even though she decided to pay a visit right away.

She spent a while getting changed back in the bedroom. After learning that Jian Xubai decided to put off his work and accompany her to Prince of Hengshan"s mansion, she asked Jinxun to put the readily prepared cape on her. This time, when Jian Xubai held her into the carriage, he was going to ride a horse himself. Yet, Song Yixiao said to him in a soft voice, “It"s a bit late. I"m afraid that it will be too cold when we come back. Xubai, you may as well go with me by carriage?”

“How can I say no to your kind reminder?” Jian Xubai saw her obscure eyes and put on a faint smile. Then he waved his hand at the servant to take the horse back and he himself entered the carriage.

“Anything you want to tell me?” There was no maid in the carriage so Jian Xubai just whispered to Song Yixiao bluntly after the carriage left the mansion.

“Today Wei Yinlian, sister of the Crown Princess told me about Jiang Muting…” They were afraid to let the carter hear their conversation so inevitably, they sat close to each other. Song Yixiao felt him blow air to her neck and couldn"t help tilting her head. Unexpectedly, as Jian Xubai remained the previous posture, she accidentally let her forehead kissed by him.

This surprising incidence gave both of them a surprise, making Song Yixiao cease for a while. Then she nerved up and continued talking, “I think what Wei Yinlian really wants to talk about is Side Concubine Cui!”

Otherwise, in light of Wei Yinlian"s family background and temperament, how would she be that rash to speak ill of Cui Jianlian before Song Yixiao, a girl that she only met for twice? To discuss about the Eastern Palace might result in serious consequences. As a legitimate daughter of the future empress"s clan, Wei Yinlian must have a good sense of propriety. Otherwise, the Wei Family would make marry someone living far away in lest any trouble would be incurred and she would never be able to hang around freely.

She must have been instructed by the Crown Princess to say so!

Yet, Song Yixiao would love to see Cui Jianlian suffer, but she also knew that the fight of women in the Eastern Palace was closely related to politics! Before learning about Jian Xubai"s att.i.tude, she couldn"t take a stand either.

Hence, what Wei Yinlian said contained two-folded meanings. For one thing, no matter how Cui Jianlian was favored, the Crown Princess was the hostess of the Eastern Palace. Likewise, no matter how Song Yixiao was valued by her husband, as to which one to side with, Jian Xubai, Duke of Yan, was the final decision-maker!

And Song Yixiao couldn"t do anything about it regardless.

Obviously, Sikong Yiluo and Wei Yinlian who had reached a consensus before took the hint and changed the topic tacitly with an excuse of returning to the feast.

Evidently, the Crown Princess had offered the olive branch. Besides, Song Yixiao held grudge against Cui Jianlian for a long time. Now that she told Jian Xubai about what Wei Yinlian said, she also added, “Side Concubine Cui has harbored grudge against me before and she is not like the Crown Princess, who was married to the Crown Prince 8 years ago. Back then, you were still raised by the Empress Dowager, for which you may spend some time with her. If Side Concubine Cui has an in the Crown Prince and we are a couple, it will do harm to you too!”

“The Crown Princess is the legitimate wife of the Crown Prince, who is always known for her virtue. Moreover, she has given birth to the eldest legitimate son, Commandery Prince Zhongling, well favored by His Majesty.” Jian Xubai just replied casually, “Now Side Concubine Cui is only pregnant. It is not certain whether the baby is a boy or a girl and it also remains unknown whether she can deliver smoothly. Why is she in such a hurry?”

Song Yixiao got dazed and failed to understand what he actually meant. While she was still lost in thought, he added again, “Although it is good thing that the Crown Princess feels anxious to deal with Side Concubine Cui, the one who you resent too, do you have to get involved into the trouble?”

Jian Xubai lifted his wife"s white chin with his eyes full of disdain, “Your grudge against Side Concubine Cui is hard to resolve, but I don"t need you to bow to her. Besides, she is only a side concubine of the Crown Prince now, who can hardly create difficulties for you! Even if she becomes a concubine of the emperor, with the empress above her, what can she do to you?”

“But the Crown Princess… She should be the one who dreads that Side Concubine Cui may rise in the future!” As he saw that Song Yixiao raised her chin and got away from his fingers with an embarra.s.sed face, he just sneered, “Even if you can"t wait to lend a favor to the Crown Princess, what can you do? Even I cannot intervene with the women fight over the Crown Prince"s favor, let alone you.”

He put down his hand and closed his eyes, leaning backwards and saying casually, “What the Crown Princess is worried about is not Side Concubine Cui but the prospect of Commandery Prince Zhongling. However, now the grandfather of Commandery Prince Zhongling is in good condition and we are young too, is it too stupid of us to make a bet so early?”

Song Yixiao turned ashamed into anger due to his words, “Cui Jianlian, a beautiful girl, is a cousin of the Crown Prince and has the backing of the n.o.ble Consort. Now she is pregnant within half a year after she came into the Eastern Palace. If she is not eradicated now and becomes powerful later, is there any chance of doing anything to her?”

Actually, now she also felt that it was too rash to get involved into the fight over the throne just in order to avenge herself on Cui Jianlian. She was a bit dizzy with her hatred indeed. However, Jian Xubai"s bearing was so annoying to her!

More annoyingly, after hearing her angry words, Jian Xubai only snorted, “Hum!”

He didn"t even open his eyes!

He couldn"t even be bothered to argue with her!

Song Yixiao felt a sense of suppression in the chest when the carriage arrived at Prince of Hengshan"s mansion!

She took a deep breath and took out a mirror from her sleeves. After practicing how to smile for a while, she put on a happy smile. Then she was about to get off the carriage when she saw that Jian Xubai took a delighted glance at her and yet became aloof and reserved after he noticed the mirror!

He must be deliberate!

Song Yixiao felt so frustrated and was about to glare at him. Yet Jian Xubai got off the carriage first and waited outside to hold her as a good husband!

“Do you think that I cannot get angry with you as you do so?” Song Yixiao gritted her teeth in secret and intended to pinch his arm when she put her hand on his arm. Unexpectedly, just as she moved her fingers, Jian Xubai grabbed her wrist instead and took the chance to press her pulse, making her unable to exert any strength and almost fell into his arms from the carriage!

“Be careful!” Jian Xubai reminded her in a soft voice and helped her get off the carriage, asking with concern, “Are you tired? Are you okay?”

Amidst talking, he kind of nipped at her waist. Instantly, Song Yixiao felt that the others were staring at them with a different look!

These people appeared like taking the hint of this loving couple!

As a married woman, she hadn"t consummated her marriage but she had learnt about what she should learn before getting married. How could Song Yixiao not know what these people were thinking about now?

At the moment, she was wondering whether she should bury herself or Jian Xubai into the ground.

Luckily, Lu Zimu came to welcome them, helping her out, “Xubai, please come with me. Father has gone out for some errands. Only my brothers and I are at home. Please forgive us!” Then he turned to Song Yixiao, “Yixiao is not an outsider. I will cut off the pleasantries. You may as well go to the back yard to visit Mother and the baby!”

Song Yixiao replied to him with forced calmness, bashful and embarra.s.sed. It was not until she entered Wei Mengying"s dwelling that she thought of her mother"s shrewdness and finally calmed down.

“Everything with Her Highness goes well, except that she is too exhausted. Now she is not awake.” Probably because she had been struck by too much today, after getting married, only Ms. Bo advanced to receive her, “How about taking a look at the young lady? Her eyebrows resemble yours very much! Only by a glance, others will know you two are birth sisters!”

“It is not convenient to me.” Song Yixiao felt relieved to hear that her mother was sleeping but she vetoed Ms. Bo"s suggestion after hesitating for an instant, “Today I went to the banquet held in the Eastern Palace and had some liquor there. I came here in such a hurry that I didn"t even take a bath when I went back home. I don"t want to let the smell of liquor affect my sister!”

She was afraid that her smell of liquor or even the illness Qi from Sikong Yiluo might affect a newly-born baby, which could be a big problem!

Having heard of the explanation, Ms. Bo didn"t dare to let her go to the baby"s room and instead, asked her to have tea in the wing hall. It was no point having tea alone. Then Song Yixiao inquired about the birth process and the baby"s appearance. When she heard Lu Guanyun"s voice among the noises outside, she asked, “Is it Guanyun?”

“Let me have a look!” Ms. Bo was away for a while and came back to report, “Master Guanyun wanted to visit Her Highness and the young lady. As he heard that you were here, he felt like coming here to meet you. However, Master Guanyun hasn"t finished his homework so he has to go back to do the rest homework first.”

Song Yixiao felt a bit strange. This half-brother, who was only four years old now, was much pampered by his parents. How was it possible that he had so much homework to do? Moreover, Lu Guanyun always clung to her. Since he learnt that his sister was here, he would never just leave directly as per his character! Why would he leave without coming into the room?

However, on second thought, she couldn"t find a reason why Ms. Bo would drive a wedge between her and her brother, saying with her head raised, “Doing homework is more important. We can meet next time.”

Ms. Bo smiled and didn"t respond to her words. Instead, she said, “I"m afraid that Her Highness won"t wake up tonight. How about you go back first?”

Song Yixiao was surprised instantly. In a hurry Ms. Bo explained to her, “It"s not that I want to expel you rudely but that Her Highness has ordered before delivery that you are married now and shouldn"t come to the prince"s mansion. Even if no seniors are in Duke of Yan"s mansion, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and Her Highness the Grand Princess will be disgruntled after knowing about this as they are well informed!”

“Ms. Bo, you are the one who accompanied me throughout the childhood, making you half of my senior. Why will I doubt that you are trying to expel me?” Song Yixiao narrowed her eyes and smiled faintly, “Mother tells me that it is of high risk for a woman to give birth. I am really worried if I don"t come here to check on her. Now that I"ve learnt that Mother and the baby sister are both fine, I"ll be relieved then!”

Amidst saying, she stood up, “Anyway, I should leave now.”

Ms. Bo let out a sigh of a relief and said smilingly, “Let me see you off then!”

They hadn"t walked far when a little maid advanced with a gold-varnished hamper, which Song Yixiao thought should be for Wei Mengying. Unexpectedly, after the maid went forward and made a curtsey to Ms. Bo, she put down the hamper.

“You used to love eating osmanthus cake made by Her Highness"s chefs.” Ms. Bo explained, “It happens that the chefs have just made some. You may have it with His Highness in the carriage back to the mansion.”

Song Yixiao didn"t reject the offer and yet hinted at Jinxun to take it, “I do feel hungry. Thank you then!”

Ms. Bo felt embarra.s.sed to hear this but she didn"t invite Song Yixiao to dinner, “Your Ladyship, be careful of the road under your feet, where new bricks have just been placed!”

After leaving Prince of Hengshan"s mansion with Song Yixiao, Jian Xubai ripped open his round collar by a bit and complained in a low voice, “It"s only a meal! Do you really dislike the food in Prince of Hengshan"s mansion so much that you insist on eating at our own home at such a late time?”

“No matter how displeasing the meal in the prince"s mansion is, I"ve been used to it after six years!” Song Yixiao stared at the hamper on the carpet and sneered, “They just don"t want to invite us to dinner. You are a duke anyway. How can you insist on staying there for a meal?”

Jian Xubai frowned and put down his hand, asking in a deep voice, “How come?”

“It should be me asking the question!” Song Yixiao was still a bit obsessed with setting against Cui Jianlian but she knew her birth mother well, “Are you in any trouble at court? Or why did my mother expel me?”