Chapter 7

  Murong Feng took a sip of tea, and actually, this kind of day wasn't bad either. Drinking top-notch tea, appreciating the beautiful scenery, reading authentic ancient books, and playing mind games with people from the past was quite interesting compared to his previous life.

  Waiting for half a day without seeing Murong Feng's response, Murong Xuan lightly coughed and said, "Sister's words, have you listened with your ears and remembered in your heart?"

  Murong Feng smiled faintly, "Sister, why must you worry so much? What I want to do is my own business. At that time, when it was decided that I would take little sister's place in this fiery pit of a place, the sisterly affection had already disappeared. Now, I am still thinking about the Murong royal family. Otherwise, no one would be able to live in peace. So, please trouble yourself to rest assured as the future Crown Princess and Empress, and don't bother to take care of me again."

  "You——" Mu Rong Qian was taken aback.

  "I'm fine," Murong Feng smiled slightly, "Don't worry, sister, I'm fine. It's just that I've just entered the Fourth Prince's mansion and don't know my way around yet, so I won't keep you any longer - Chunliu," Murong Feng called out softly, watching as Chunliu walked in, her voice gentle and calm, "Chunliu, please see the Crown Princess off for me."

  Murong Xuan's eyes widened, just about to speak.

  "Sister, at this moment it's not just the two of us sisters, let's not say more. " Murong Feng smiled softly and then raised her voice, still with a smile on her lips, looking at Murong Xuan, saying, "Please thank the Crown Prince for his kindness in 'mediating' for me, allowing me to enjoy this wealth and glory. Today I'm not feeling well, so I'll have to visit him another day to thank him personally."

  Murong Xuan didn't say a word, but her face struggled to maintain a concerned smile as she turned and left.

  When Chun Liu turned back, Murong Feng had just finished drinking the tea in her hand. She said softly: "Miss, Eldest Miss sent many gifts when she came, do you want to take a look?"

  "Never mind," said Murong Feng lazily. "With such a beautiful scene in front of us, my heart is delighted. Just put those things away."

  This night's sleep was truly good, Murong Feng got up early in the morning, stretched a big lazy waist, and Sima Rui still didn't return all night. Murong Feng was so happy that he couldn't wait for him to be out every day, as long as he didn't come to bother himself, it would be fine. Although there was an edict from the empress dowager in his hand, he would have to spend some words, and if he intended to use force, he would still be unlucky.

  The emperor's will is the emperor's will, and Empress Dowager cannot really not allow her own grandson to be close to his own legitimate wife. Moreover, Sima Rui seems not to be a reasonable person.

  Just after breakfast, Xiao Dezi, the little eunuch from the Empress's side, hurried over and stood in front of Murong Feng, with a flattering smile on his face, saying in a soft voice: "I have seen the Fourth Prince's Consort, I want to thank the Fourth Prince's Consort for helping me out yesterday, letting me avoid a physical punishment."

  Murong Feng smiled, "Chun Liu, when De Gonggong first arrived at the Fourth Prince's residence, go and pick out a few things to give to De Gonggong as a small gift for our first meeting."

  "Ah yo, Fourth Prince's consort is really going to be a disaster!" Little Dezi said with a smile all over his face.

  "De Gong Gong has smiled, De Gong Gong has been in this palace for a long time and has seen all kinds of things, I'm afraid it's just that the gifts I sent are not in De Gong Gong's eyes." Murong Feng smiled slightly, "De Gong Gong should not decline, this is the first time we meet at the Fourth Prince's mansion, let's consider it a token of our acquaintance, and this gift is just adding flowers to the brocade."

  "That's enough, thank you, Fourth Prince's Consort, for the gift." Little Dezi beamed with joy as he accepted the item handed over by Chun Liu, a small and delicate jade incense burner, exquisitely crafted and of high quality.

  Last night, Murong Feng took out some items and put them aside for entertaining guests. This was just one of them. The dowry from the Murong royal family filled dozens of large boxes, plus the gifts sent by various places during the wedding ceremony two days ago, which made Murong Feng dizzy. He casually opened a box, sorted out some things and put them aside, and happened to use them this morning.

  Xiao Dezi smiled and said in a low voice, "I'm here to deliver the imperial edict from the Empress Dowager. This morning at breakfast, the Empress Dowager told me, 'I think that Feng'er is really a lovely person, I've been thinking about her, Xiao Dezi, go and invite her to come to my place.' So, I rushed over to invite the Fourth Prince's Consort to follow me to the Xiangfu Palace. It's not that I'm boasting on behalf of the Fourth Prince's Consort, but there are so many consorts in this palace, yet the Empress Dowager only has you in her heart. Since I started serving the Empress Dowager, I've only seen you, Fourth Prince's Consort, and I don't know how many other consorts will be envious."

  Murong Feng smiled and said, "Thank you, Duke De. I'll just tidy up here and then follow you."

  Back in the room, Murong Feng changed into a light blue dress, her hair tied up with a water-blue silk ribbon and secured with a blue pin. The tip of the pin was adorned with a delicate chain that swayed gently like a raindrop.

  Sitting in front of the empress, Murong Feng's expression was light and gentle, soft and peaceful, blending with his clothes as a whole, without luxury, but with a unique temperament that stood out.

  The empress dowager looked at her for half a day, smiling and saying: "Looking at you like this, your Feng'er is not inferior to Murong Xue in any way. It's true that she was raised in the inner chambers and people didn't know about it. Rui'er is indeed very fortunate to have met such a lovely person as you."

  "Grandma is praising." Murong Feng smiled slightly.

  "Has Rui'er not returned to the mansion again last night?" The Empress Dowager asked with a knowing tone.

  Murong Feng thought to herself: I'd rather he never returned to the manor. But she said, "Don't worry about it, Grandmother. When I was young and living with my aunt, she would often tell me that one shouldn't force things, and that one should neither be overly sad nor happy about anything, as everything is predetermined by fate. The Fourth Prince originally intended to marry my younger sister, but since you liked me, Grandmother, you naturally thought I was the better choice. He probably had his heart set on Murong Xue, but ended up marrying me instead - it's no wonder he's unhappy. Just let him be. If I'm fated to be with the Fourth Prince, he'll come back to me; if not, then there's nothing to be done about it, and you shouldn't blame him, Grandmother."

  The empress sighed softly, "Alas, it's also because I spoiled him too much since he was young, and that's how he became the way he is today."

  "Grandma, don't blame yourself. Such a small matter can't reveal one's true nature. Besides, the Fourth Prince is just more straightforward than ordinary people and hasn't done anything outrageous or unfilial. There's no need to be so sad." Murong Feng spoke softly and slowly.

  When the Empress Dowager heard Mu Rong Feng say this, she felt very relieved in her heart. Although she said that Sima Rui was not good in this and that, she couldn't bear to hear others complain about him. The words and sentences of Mu Rong Feng clearly showed a bias towards Sima Rui, making the Empress Dowager feel more affectionate towards Mu Rong Feng.

  "Maple, you're really a lovely girl. The Empress Dowager will surely take charge and not let Rui'er wrong you." The Empress Dowager couldn't help but say.

  Murong Feng smiled lightly, "Grandmother, you're really willing to worry, but I'm not in a hurry. Let's not talk about these annoying things, Grandmother. You've always lived in the palace, would you like to hear some interesting stories from outside? I've heard and seen many interesting things since I was young living with my grandmother. If it won't bore you, listen to me tell them to you."

  "All right." The empress nodded happily, having stayed in the imperial palace for so many years, who dared to speak to her like that? Usually, she saw her own children and grandchildren or peers, concubines of her children and grandchildren, who were not respectful and cautious, let alone speaking, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly, not to mention those slaves.

  If there is one person who dares to be reckless in front of her, it is probably only Sima Rui. Therefore, towards this abnormally behaved grandson, she instead has more tolerance and indulgence, as well as affection.