Qixiang mentioned the matter of Hua Ru's marriage at the beginning.

  "It was a difficult time then, and I didn't dare to come near you, sister, for fear of disturbing everyone's good mood. Please don't blame me for being slow."

  "It's always a good thing to get pregnant, just be more careful yourself."

  Didn't want to quibble over these small things, but the mask of a good person must be worn well, so Hua Ru Chun could only endure and put on her best attitude to respond.

  "Is the kid behaving now? Not causing you trouble anymore?"

  Qī Róng smiled blissfully and rubbed her belly, her eyes scanning Huā Rú Chū's flat stomach with a hint of mischief. She puckered up and said with a smile: "The most difficult time has already passed, and you don't have to be envious, who knows, maybe there's already a little nephew in your tummy now!"

  How could you know that I envied what I saw? Hua Ru Chun's face turned red with anger, "It can't be that fast."

  "It's not necessarily the case, some people with a lot of good fortune can get pregnant after just one night of favor, and Sister-in-law is indeed a person with a lot of good fortune. Eldest Brother also dotes on Sister-in-law, so it shouldn't be difficult to have a little nephew."

  Hua Ru Chu just smiled and didn't know how to continue the conversation either.

  It sounds like flattery, but she always feels it's not quite right.

  Qī Zhēn couldn't bear her smug face as if everything was perfect, besides, it's still unknown whether the baby in her belly is a boy or a girl!

  "Su Dao said: 'Elder sister Rong has been pregnant for only four months since she entered the door, I suppose my brother-in-law treats you very well too. Younger sister really envies elder sister's good fortune.'"

  Qī Róng's smile froze, she knew her own family's affairs best. What kind of moral character that man had, she was clearer about than anyone else.

  It's really good, why would she let her become a mother as soon as she entered the door, and before that, there was already an aunt who became pregnant first, but she has always been strong-willed, these things are too embarrassing to tell her family.

  Although Ming Zhi knew nothing about these things, after hearing her say so, the fire in his heart was still hard to suppress.

  Isn't this exactly hitting where it hurts?

  She endured and endured, and then Qi Rong forced out another smile and perfunctorily got through it.

  Before long, Qi Rong stood up and bid farewell.

  Hua Ru Chū handed over the well-packed pastries to her maid and had them delivered to the entrance of the flower hall.

  Seeing them off at the gate, Qi Zhen hummed and said: "I dislike her pretending to be a good girl the most. At home, she always thinks she's right, and others are just children who don't understand anything. Hmph, I'm glad she got married."

  With a smile, he pinched her face and Huajun pulled her back into the house.

  The girls quickly tidied up the house and cleaned up all the melon seeds and fruit scraps from earlier.

  "You also said that I'm different in private and in public, but you're not either. When I first met you, you didn't even have the courage to look up at me or make eye contact with me, and when you spoke, it was always with your head down. If I hadn't known you were the legitimate young mistress, I would have thought you were a bullied concubine-born daughter!"

  "It's not that I'm being spoiled by my sister-in-law, it's just that I'm like this in front of you. During this time, I've been following my mother to learn how to manage the household and I've learned a thing or two. My mother was right. If I were to get married and still be like this, I would be taken advantage of to death. The Qi family rose to prominence through military achievements, even if we have declined, as a daughter who has married out, I must not bring shame to the Qi family's name."

  Here is the translation:

  "Speaking of which, Qi Zhen suddenly smiled. "Sister-in-law, thank you for becoming my sister-in-law. If it weren't for you asking grandmother, I would still be forced by my mother to learn those things. I know my own temperament, and if grandmother hadn't appeared that day, in the end I would have given in and continued learning those things I didn't love."

  Hua Ru listened quietly, calmly accepting her words of gratitude. "After all, she is your mother, and she did it for your own good in her own way. Don't hold grudges or resentment; that's too exhausting. It's better to let go of those things that make you uncomfortable. Your future husband was chosen by your brother and approved by the crown prince, so they won't dare treat you poorly. As long as you fulfill your duties and don't give anyone reason to criticize you, then your life will be smooth sailing."

  Qī Zhēn listened attentively with a sincere heart. After finishing, she kowtowed and said, "Thank you, elder sister, for your golden words and jade-like advice. I will remember them all."

  "Why be so polite." Pulling the person to her side and sitting down, Hua Ru Chu couldn't help but sigh, "Your brother isn't here, those three concubines are so quiet it's making me feel anxious."

  "Did they give you trouble when I was away?"

  "It's not worth mentioning, but after all, there's a bit of commotion." After a pause, Hua Ruochu lost her smile, "Really, what's the point of telling you these things? You're just a young lady, don't bother with these matters."

  "It's inevitable to face these things once you're married, so it's better to learn something."

  Wrapping her handkerchief around her hand, Qi Zhen also lost interest and remembered that this wasn't in her own courtyard, so she changed the subject again. "Sister-in-law, haven't you gone out for a while? Is it because of me..."

  "What's the matter with you? The weather is too hot and I'm lazy to go out. The tea garden has been arranged, I don't need to go, it's fine. On such a hot day, who would want to run around all day?"

  "It's not because I'm good, but why hasn't brother come back yet? He's been out for a long time."

  "Are you tired?"

  "Yeah, a bit. I've been looking at account books all morning and my eyes are getting blurry."

  "Get up and walk around, don't sleep, Yun Shu, go and hurry up the kitchen, serve the meal quickly."

  "Yes."

  Yun Shu had just walked out of the door when she saw Chun Yu leading Xiao Ya Tou carrying dishes and rushing to help roll up the bamboo curtain.

  "Come on, miss is urging."

  "Miss, today I made two dishes of fish and spent a bit more effort, so it's a bit late."

  People in Hebei province love eating meat, and few people eat fish.

  Yangzhou people love to eat fish, and one kind of fish can be made into a table of different flavors.

  After arriving in Hebei Province, Hua Ru had very few days of eating fish, and he could count on his fingers.

  "Is there fish in the kitchen today?"

  "No, it was sent by Ma Guanjia's people to the gatehouse, and Yunhu from the gatehouse sent it to the second gate."

  Hua Ru furrowed her brow and looked at Yun Shu, "Will this be okay?"

  Yun Shu continued to pick at the needlework in her hand, replying, "It's nothing, I asked Yun Hu and he said that Qi Guan Jia instructed him that unless it was extremely urgent, he could make an exception for you."

  Hua thought it was no big deal, just a few fish, a small matter, and continued to eat the fish with peace of mind.

  Chun Yu carefully picked out the thorns for Qi Zhen, they were all seasoned and knew how to pick without missing any, their movements were also quick.

  Qī Zhēn rarely eats fish and doesn't think he likes it much, but seeing his sister-in-law eating with such relish, he unconsciously picked up a pair of chopsticks and put some in his mouth.

  Mmm, delicious.

  A braised fish dish with a milky white broth that requires time to prepare, and a red-braised dish that smells fragrant just by smelling it. Extremely appetizing.

  The two sisters-in-law ate until their bellies were round and full.

  "Take it away, you can share it among yourselves."

  Spring jade curtsied and said, "It's great, I haven't had fish for a while, thank you Miss."

  Yun Shu glanced at her. "First go and get some plum juice for Miss to digest."

  "Go ahead and go."

  Let all the maids go have dinner, and there are only two sisters-in-law left in Xiaohua Hall.

  Someone held a fan in their hand and fanned themselves with it.

  "Sister-in-law, why is it that everything tastes good when I'm at your place? I didn't used to like eating fish before. Always thought it had a fishy smell."

  "That's not done well, Yangzhou people know how to eat and have fun. There is a store that specializes in whole fish banquets, which is very famous in Yangzhou. Moreover, Yangzhou is adjacent to the Grand Canal and has a large area of water, as the saying goes, 'rely on water to eat'. In order to fill one's belly, one must think about it in this water."

  "I'm so envious, I wish I was born in Yangzhou too."

  Hua Ru couldn't help but smile wryly at the childish words. Outside, who knows how many people envy them for having a good birth and being born into this noble family.

  They chatted for a while longer and then had some plum soup. Feeling that they were no longer so bloated, the two of them went to rest together.

  But in the Second Prince's mansion, Tao Jia was accompanying the Second Prince for a meal.

  The servant had been waiting for a while with messages coming and going outside, but even if his feet were numb from standing, he didn't dare disturb the Second Prince during his meal.

  "Is there news from the Chiang family outside?"

  The housekeeper looked at him and said respectfully: "Yes, Dong An is back."

  "Let him in."

  "Yes."

  The housekeeper made a gesture to him, and Dong An rubbed his feet with the toe of his shoe, then lifted the curtain, lowered his eyebrows, and bowed his head.

  "Wishing you a peaceful winter, greetings to the Second Prince, and greetings to Consort Shu."

  "What's going on?"

  "Report to the Second Prince, things didn't work out. According to people from the Jiang family, Qi Daguizi has already made a verbal agreement with someone else. Now that Qi Daguizi is not in Taiyuan, we have to wait for his return to get an accurate answer."

  The second prince's face sank, and Qi You took action too quickly, was he on guard against him?

  Tao Jia gently grasped the Second Prince's hand and gave him a charming smile, asking the person still kneeling on the ground, "Does Old Lady Qi have any intention of making a move?"

  "Reporting back to Consort Ye, according to their account, it was initially agreed upon, but in the end, the eldest grandson's wife of the Qi Manor suddenly appeared and said that Young Master Qi had already made a verbal promise to someone else. Only then did Old Madam tactfully decline."

  "Is this the wife of Zhang Sun? The one who caused a sensation in the whole city with her magnificent wedding procession just the other day?"

  "Yes."

  "The second prince suddenly said: 'The tea leaves that have been very popular in the palace recently are superficially presented by the crown prince, but according to my investigation, this matter is inseparable from the Qi Manor. At first, I thought it was Qi You who used some capable person, but later I learned that Qi You's wife often goes to that tea garden, more frequently than Qi You himself. Jiajia, do you think it's possible that the tea leaves were actually made by that woman? People from Yangzhou and Haizhou have been dealing with each other for a long time, and they always have some strange skills.'"

  Tao Jia has been thinking about this matter recently. The tea leaves, which were obtained with the identity of the second prince, are not difficult to get, although there is not much, but after drinking it only once, she almost shed tears. The familiar taste and the faint bitterness that is familiar when entering her mouth make her feel close.

  She couldn't help but suspect that there were others like her who had come here too.

  She originally thought she would only be happy, but after being happy, it turned out to be surprising.

  It's always best to have a fellow countryman from the same place.

  But her advantage is no longer unique, that person may know more than her, be better at plotting, and be more capable of replicating the things from the original world.

  If she was a woman, the second prince would definitely not let go if he knew.

  Will she still be able to monopolize the favor of the Second Prince at that time?

  The royal family is heartless, she must have put in a lot of thought to get to where she is today and gain the attention and favor of the second prince.

  Can't let it be taken away, absolutely can't.

  PS: It's going to be pink! Come every day and shout it out, hehe.

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