Meeting Again

"Your Princess Consort, the young master is dressed."

Today, we are going to a banquet at the Duke Xingguo's Residence. Lin Yunwan instructed people to prepare clothes for Qi Zaijun early in the morning.

Cuiqin was helping Lin Yunwan with her makeup.

Without turning her head, Lin Yunwan said to the maid behind her, "Bring the young master over."

"Yes."

The maidservant withdrew, but the curtain was quickly lifted again.

Qi Lingheng got up early in the morning and practiced his boxing before coming over. As soon as he entered, he asked, "Are you really going to the Duke's Residence?"

Unfortunately, my Imperial Father summoned me to the palace today.

He came over and did Lin Yunwan's eyebrows.

Lin Yunwan her head, letting him pinch her chin, and said with her eyes closed, "I'll have to go sooner or later."

They were standing very close together, Cuiqin consciously stepped back. When she saw Qi Zaijun coming over by himself at the door, she quickly stopped her young master.

Qi Lingheng wanted to kiss Lin Yunwan, but she blocked him, turning her face away and saying, "I've already put on lip balm."

Qi Lingheng had no choice but to move a little further away, and still said, "If Imperial Father has nothing else, I'll come to the Duke's residence to pick you up."

I need to talk to him today about Qi Zaijun being appointed as the Heir Apparent.

"Good."

Lin Yunwan stood up, Qi Lingheng led her out. When Qi Zaijun saw his father Mother Consort come out, he rushed to the middle, separated their hands, and took one hand on each side.

Qi Lingheng tapped him on the head. "Who taught you that?"

They forcibly pried his hands open.

Qi Zaijun felt wronged. "My grandparents always fight over who gets to hold me, so I just hold one half of them."

Qi Lingheng laughed, "I didn't steal you."

It's getting late.

Lin Yunwan urged the father and son to hurry up.

The family left the Prince's mansion and split into two carriages, one going to the Imperial Palace and the other to the Duke Xingguo's Residence.

We arrived at the Chen family.

Lin Yunwan lifted the curtain and glanced inside. After all, it was her first time here. The main gate of the Duke's mansion was very grand. Today, many of the guests who had come were distinguished people. The main gate was open.

The Crown Prince's Residence's carriage happened to stop right next to hers.

The Crown Prince Consort came down from inside and glanced in this direction twice.

After returning to the capital, Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng, important members of the royal family, recognized each other. She and the Crown Prince Consort had already met before.

Lin Yunwan also looked across at the other side.

The Crown Prince Consort stood there, exuding an air of nobility.

However, she was over forty, had no children, and her husband had been ill for many years.

Her face lacked a certain vibrancy.

"Crown Prince Consort."

Lin Yunwan couldn't pretend not to see him, so she went over to pay her respects.

The Crown Prince Consort returned the greeting, bowing slightly with a faint smile, "My sister has arrived too? What a coincidence, let's go in together."

Lin Yunwan nodded, signaling the maid to hold Qi Zaijun's hand properly.

The two entered through the main gate; both were people of extremely high status, and were led by dedicated servants.

The Crown Prince Consort chatted with Lin Yunwan: "The Crown Prince is unwell and didn't come. Didn't your seventh brother accompany you either? You've only just arrived in the Capital, so you probably don't know that the Duke Xingguo is not like other families. You should persuade the Prince to come."

The tone didn't sound malicious.

Lin Yunwan didn't mention the matter of the reward, only saying, "Imperial Father has summoned the Prince to the palace."

"Oh, I see."

The Crown Prince Consort smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Lin Yunwan had nothing to say.

The Stewardess beside Madam Chen hurried past and was startled when she suddenly heard Lin Yunwan's voice.

"Isn't this the woman I met at Red Elephant Temple the other day!"

After thinking for a moment, the mother felt she had to tell Madam Chen, so she dropped everything and ran back to Madam Chen's side to whisper in her ear.

Madam Chen was entertaining guests when she heard that the woman she had seen at Red Elephant Temple had come to her residence. She spoke to her mother discreetly, away from the guests.

"You came with the Crown Prince Consort? What kind of situation do you look like?"

Mother was quick to speak, "Although she was walking with the Crown Prince Consort, they didn't seem very close. That lady's attire, while dignified, was very plain, not as elegant as the Crown Prince Consort's."

"They probably don't come from a wealthy family; they're likely just a distant relative of the Crown Prince Consort."

The Duke's Residence had seen plenty of people like this, whether they were distant relatives of powerful families or poor relatives, who were just there to freeload at banquets.

The Chen family never paid any attention to anyone who came from a family below the rank of a third-grade official in the capital.

Madam Chen suddenly became very angry. "What's so great about the Crown Prince Consort's relatives? That day at the Red Elephant Temple, they didn't even respect me! They even messed up Bao'er's affairs."

Her eyes flashed with a sharp light. "I'll see how the Crown Prince Consort protects her today!"

This is going to teach that woman a lesson she won't forget!

The mother said tactfully, "After all, they're relatives of the Crown Prince Consort. You're only doing this because of the Crown Prince..."

Madam Chen gave a cold laugh and remained silent.

Some things don't need to be said explicitly.

Everyone knows the Crown Prince is useless, which has caused the women in his harem to be unable to bear children. Furthermore, the Crown Prince and Prince Huan have a poor relationship.

It's one thing if it's the Crown Prince Consort's own family, but what face does the Chen family need to give to her Crown Prince Consort relatives?

"I'll wait for her to come."

After uttering those harsh words, Madam Chen turned and returned to the banquet.

"The Crown Prince Consort has arrived!"

When the mother saw the Crown Prince Consort arrive, she couldn't wait to tell Madam Chen, even though the maid who was leading the way for Lin Yunwan hadn't even gotten close yet.

When Madam Chen saw Lin Yunwan in the banquet hall, she sneered, "I knew it was her as soon as I heard her voice."

Lin Yunwan and the Crown Prince Consort arrived together, and Madam Chen went out to greet them.

The Crown Prince Consort and the Duke's Residence's family were old acquaintances, and Madam Chen greeted her with great respect, "Greetings, Crown Prince Consort."

The Crown Prince Consort smiled and said, "Madam Chen, why are you being so polite?"

She helped Madam Chen up.

Madam Chen turned her gaze to Lin Yunwan, her expression anything but friendly.

Lin Yunwan knew that Madam Chen recognized her, and smiled slightly, "Madam Chen."

It really was her.

Madam Chen's gaze turned cold, a half-smile playing on her lips, "This lady's voice sounds very familiar."

Lin Yunwan said frankly, "I did meet Madam Chen once at Red Elephant Temple that day."

She even dared to admit it!

Madam Chen quickly retorted, "That's no coincidence. I didn't even get to see you that day."

The Crown Prince Consort was completely bewildered and asked Lin Yunwan, "What's going on?"

Madam Chen's sarcastic tone was inappropriate.

Now in the Capital, who would dare offend her seventh sister-in-law?

Madam Chen asked with a smile that concealed a dagger, "Your Crown Prince Consort, may I ask what relation this lady is to you?"

The Crown Prince Consort suddenly smiled, "Madam Chen, that's a strange question. You invited the guest yourself, so why are you asking me?"

Now it was Madam Chen's turn to be completely confused.

Who invited her?

The mother muttered quietly beside her, "Isn't this a relative of the Crown Prince Consort's family..."

The Crown Prince Consort finally understood where the misunderstanding lay.

She had no idea how such a misunderstanding could have occurred!

The maidservant from the Duke's Residence, trembling, stepped forward. "Madam, this is the Prince Huan Consort..."

Madam Chen was stunned for a moment before looking at Lin Yunwan.

Lin Yunwan's expression was indifferent, but then she suddenly smiled.

"Princess Consort Huan..."

Even Madam Chen stammered.

The Crown Prince Consort finally understood what was going on. She sighed inwardly, thinking that the Chen family had always been arrogant and domineering, and this time they had brought this upon themselves.

"Madam Chen, won't you invite us in?"

Lin Yunwan was getting hot standing outside.

Madam Chen's face paled slightly, and she said in a flustered manner, "Please come in, Your Princess Consort. Please come in, Crown Prince Consort."

Lin Yunwan led Qi Zaijun inside, but they didn't see anyone from the Lu family.

The Lu family members were still on their way. Ge Bao'er took Lu Changzong with her, while Lu Zhengliu was in another carriage.

Lu Changzong lowered his head, looking sullen.

Ge Bao'er asked him, "Why are you still unhappy about seeing your maternal grandmother?"

Lu Changzong muttered, "I said I wanted to bring Xiao Xuan along!"

Ge Bao'er immediately flew into a rage. She held back for a moment and said, "The Duke's mansion is not like our own home. How could you bring a mere maid here?"

"Aren't you Concubine too? How come you're allowed to go?"

Lu Changzong said angrily.

Ge Bao'er was so angry her heart ached. Her face was pale as she asked, "Who taught you this! Is this how you talk to your mother! I went to great lengths to send you to the Mingshan Academy, and this is the kind of vulgar language you've learned?"

Lu Changzong said impatiently, "I just heard it from my classmates at the Mingshan Academy."

Ge Bao'er gritted her teeth.

Lin Yunyi, it was that group of scholars he instigated again!

She truly hated the Lin Family.

When Lin Yunwan was burned alive, why didn't she take her younger brother with her?