Contentment

"I heard that the Second Miss Son-in-law Wen have consummated their marriage."

Cuiqin returned to the Lin Residence to visit her family.

Her family is now highly valued, and naturally knows a lot about the Lin family.

Cuiqin talked about many things in bits and pieces, and finally she brought up Lin Yunjiao.

She added, "However, the Second Miss's mother-in-law is quite formidable; I heard the Second Miss argues with her every day."

Lin Yunwan put down the account book in her hand, showing some interest.

"She dares to talk back to her mother-in-law? She's got some nerve."

With filial piety as a constraint, even if Lin Yunjiao went home and cried, no one in the Lin Residence would speak up for her.

Now Zheng Shi has no room to speak; who can she rely on?

Cuiqin sighed, "That's right. I heard that after she went back to her parents' home a few times, the master initially spoke up for the Second Miss, but later he stopped going. Every time the Second Miss came back, he sent her back home."

Xiruo had also interacted with Lin Yunjiao and knew what kind of person the Second Miss was.

She said dismissively, "Even if Master could speak up for the things the Second Miss has done, he couldn't!"

Cuiqin asked, puzzled, "I heard that the Second Miss had a fight with Madam after she came back. After the fight, she never went to see Madam again, and she only goes to Master when she has something to do at home."

Lin Yunwan and Xiruo exchanged a glance.

Xiruo laughed, "It seems that Madam is reaping what she sowed!"

"They wanted to harm the Princess Consort, but ended up harming their own daughter. Now that the Second Miss knows the truth, she must hate the Second Madam to death."

Cuiqin had heard too much about the Zheng Shi mother and daughter at the Lin family; she was tired of it.

"This servant will go out and bring in a basin of charcoal."

It was snowing heavily outside, but the house was warm. The charcoal had been burning for most of the day and was almost gone.

As soon as Cuiqin went out, A Fu arrived.

He came in and said, "Your Princess Consort, the Prince said that your uncle has invited you to dinner and has asked you to dress up and go over there."

Qi Lingheng was in the yamen at that time.

Xiruo lifted the curtain and went out to ask, "Has the Prince returned?"

"The Prince said he didn't have time to reply and asked the Princess Consort to go ahead. The Prince went directly from the yamen to the Zhao Residence."

"Knew."

Xiruo went inside, grabbed a hand warmer, and handed it to A Fu, saying, "Look how cold you are. Sit down and have a cup of tea to warm up!"

A Fu, holding the hand warmer, said with a grin, "This servant will not drink the hot tea, Your Princess Consort, this servant will take her leave."

Lin Yunwan responded from inside.

The table was covered with the Prince's mansion's account books, which had been moved from the Prince's mansion in the Capital and filled an entire room.

Xiruo bent down to tidy up a few books and said, "You can read them another day!"

Lin Yunwan nodded, looking somewhat preoccupied.

The Wang family's accounts weren't bad, but they weren't what she wanted either.

The Prince has never married, and with no one truly capable of managing his household affairs, it's normal that things aren't going well.

"That's enough. You don't need to wear this hairpin anymore."

Lin Yunwan sat in front of the bronze mirror, feeling that she didn't need to dress too formally.

Cuiqin hesitated, holding the Dian Cui hairpin. "But the Prince said you are as radiant as the morning sun, and you only look your best in your finest attire."

"The Prince said that? I didn't know that."

Lin Yunwan a little surprised.

Cuiqin then placed the hairpin in Lin Yunwan's hair and said with a smile, "The Prince did say it, but not to your face."

It was just something she casually mentioned to her personal maid one day.

Lin Yunwan was in a great mood, and she left with a beaming smile.

The servants hitched up the carriage, and she went out through the front door, where she saw another carriage parked at the entrance.

"Why is the Prince's carriage here?"

Lin Yunwan stepped down the snow-covered steps, her maidservant supporting her.

Qi Lingheng got out of the carriage and came over to take her hand.

"Weren't you not coming back?"

Lin Yunwan was pleasantly surprised.

Qi Lingheng had been waiting for her to look like this, and chuckled softly, "I had A Fu lie to you."

Once inside the carriage, Lin Yunwan looked somewhat helpless. "How old are you? Still joking with me."

Qi Lingheng ordered the carriage to leave, leaned back inside, and said with a faint smile, "What, you're allowed to tease me, but I can't tease you?"

"When did I ever tease you...?"

Lin Yunwan suddenly remembered that when the Prince first came to her house, she knew he was no ordinary person, yet she still asked him, "Whose child are you? How did you sneak into my house?" and even asked him if he was a thief.

He still looked up at her, standing defiantly on the steps, saying that he was a prince, the emperor's legitimate Legitimate Son.

But he no longer had that arrogant, disdainful air of a nobleman.

"Your Prince is far too vengeful."

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly, her lips pursed.

"That's always been my way."

Qi Lingheng took her hand and asked slowly, "So tell me, what grievances did you suffer at the Lin Residence?"

Lin Yunwan was taken aback.

I don't know which matter he was referring to, but why is he still thinking about it?

Qi Lingheng reminded her, "On our wedding day, I noticed something was off about you. It's been over a month since we got married, and you haven't mentioned it to me once, Your Princess Consort."

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly, "It's just a small matter, no need for you to worry about it."

Qi Lingheng's voice was gentle and deep. "Yun Wan, I want to worry about you."

Lin Yunwan, then blushed and looked away.

I really don't know how he has the nerve to say things like that so often...

The carriage moved slowly, Lin Yunwan held his hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.

Upon arriving at the Zhao family, the couple finally let go of each other's hands.

"It's kind of Prince Princess Consort, to come all this way in such heavy snow."

Madam Zhao instructed her maid to go and help the two of them remove their cloaks.

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly, "It's only right that Yun Wan and I come to visit our maternal uncle's wife maternal uncle."

Lin Yunwan went over to greet them, "Maternal uncle's wife, maternal uncle."

Zhao Jingyi couldn't wait any longer. He put down the hand warmer and said, "Hurry up! The pot is hot, we're just waiting for you."

He learned a new way of eating from outside, and on a whim, he called his nephew and nephew's wife over.

Everyone sat down together to eat hot pot, with fresh lamb and beef.

After a satisfying meal, they moved to the Warm Pavilion to talk. Zhao Jingyi, watching the loving couple, and already a little tipsy from the wine, had a fleeting thought.

What a coincidence that his nephew brought this woman to him and then married her?

"Maternal uncle's pot is pretty good."

Qi Lingheng and Lin Yunwan returned to the Prince's Mansion and wanted the Kitchen to prepare the same dinner as the one their maternal uncle had served them.

"My maternal uncle's parrots and Mynah are quite nice too."

Lin Yunwan had a slightly teasing tone.

I had heard that the Empress's younger brother was quite unruly, and now I can see for myself.

Qi Lingheng smiled and said, "My uncle has always been like this."

It was getting late, Lin Yunwan was a little tired, so she went to wash up first.

It was cold, and no one could stand it. Qi Lingheng didn't plan to go to the study anymore. After washing up, he came back and saw Lin Yunwan playing the zither with great leisure.

"Since leaving the capital, I haven't heard such a beautiful 'Guangling San' for a long time."

After the piece ended, Lin Yunwan ordered her maid to put away the zither, and sighed, "It's been a long time since I've played it..."

"There is nothing?"

Lin Yunwan and said, "I haven't had such a pleasant day."

Qi Lingheng sighed softly and said, "There is still one thing that's bothering me."

Lin Yunwan asked seriously, "What is it?"

Then he said meaningfully, "I have no children yet."

Lin Yunwan: "..."