The second day after returning to the capital, Su Li brought gifts to the Princess Royal's residence.
Everything she brought back were small trinkets from Northern Chu.
While not particularly valuable, they were rarely seen in the capital of Da Liang.
Everyone naturally showed more interest in things they rarely encountered.
Su Xiaoqi also brought a comprehensive selection, from the food Northern Chu people ate and the tea they drank, to horse milk wine.
As well as some flatbreads from the grasslands, and small toys that children in Northern Chu liked.
In short, a whole cart was filled with assorted items.
When the Princess Royal saw the gifts, she chided Su Xiaoqi for being too formal, remarking that she had just sent a cartload of gifts over yesterday.
Why was she sending another one back?
Su Xiaoqi quickly explained that she hadn't put any thought into this cartload at all.
It was all prepared by her mother, Yu Jing.
"Alas, you mother and daughter have only just reunited and are about to part..." the Princess Royal sighed.
She had been very happy for Su Xiaoqi upon learning of her identity.
But the thought that mother and daughter would have so little time to spend together was a great pity.
"It's nothing, I'm actually used to it," Su Xiaoqi said, shaking her head nonchalantly.
She was already past the age where she needed her mother's constant presence to grow up.
Therefore, although she still felt a natural affection for her mother,
She had largely come to terms with it.
Seeing Su Xiaoqi's calm expression, the Princess Royal knew she wasn't speaking idly. It seemed she had already adjusted beforehand, and she felt relieved.
She believed that with Su Xiaoqi's open-mindedness, she would easily come to terms with this aspect.
However, her current thoughts were about the Ning King's residence.
And the urgency in wanting to see her was also related to the Ning King's residence.
"Xiaoqi, you have no idea how lively the Ning King's residence has been recently," the Princess Royal couldn't hide her amusement.
She still held a grudge for how Princess Qionghua had bullied her precious daughter, Princess Fu'an, back then.
"Oh, what's happening at the Ning King's residence?" Su Xiaoqi had only been back for a day and hadn't even managed to hear all the news about the important people around her.
She naturally wouldn't bother to pay attention to people she had no connection with, so she was truly unaware of what the Princess Royal was talking about.
"The Ning King's Consort and the Ning King have had a major falling out over Princess Qionghua's affairs, and now they almost divorced because of Princess Fu Ning." The Princess Royal made no effort to conceal her joy.
What was wrong with her being more gloating?
After all, she hadn't refrained from mocking the Ning King's Consort to her face.
"Oh, what has Princess Fu Ning done this time?" Su Xiaoqi knew that Princess Qionghua was not a proper person, but she thought Princess Fu Ning should be alright.
She wouldn't be so clueless as to cause trouble for the royal household from time to time.
"Someone must have bewitched her, because she started bringing many young, pure men into the Ning King's residence from outside.
Initially, the matter was handled quite discreetly.
But her own elder brother saw it and reported it to the Ning King's Consort."
As a result, the Ning King's Consort couldn't control Fu Ning, and Shen Fu didn't mince words either, directly telling the Ning King.
Su Xiaoqi's eyes widened as she listened.
If the Princess Royal hadn't told her personally,
She definitely wouldn't have believed it.
Was this gossip so explosive?
This was not only something that couldn't be done in this era, but even in modern times, such a thing wouldn't be done.
A princess, actually keeping male consorts in her residence behind her family's back.
And the key point was that these male consorts were forcibly brought in from outside through improper means.
Could there be anything more sensational than this?
"Uh, playing that big?" Su Xiaoqi was at a loss for words.
The Princess Royal snorted, "Fu Ning has always had a malicious nature.
I'm not surprised at all that she would do such a wicked thing."
Su Xiaoqi thought that if she had an older sister like Princess Qionghua, how could she herself be any better?
From that moment on, she felt that if no one could discipline her in time, she would surely commit more heinous acts in the future.
She hadn't expected her to dare to abduct people and keep male consorts now.
Who gave her the courage?
Su Xiaoqi was curious about her fate.
"She's been confined and sent to a manor in the outskirts. It's being reported that she's fallen ill.
I suspect if she doesn't mend her ways, she might not recover from this illness," the Princess Royal's tone shifted from gloating to a hint of sadness.
It was understandable. As mothers, their daughters' backgrounds and ages were similar.
As a mother, she couldn't help but feel some emotions.
"I don't think so," Su Xiaoqi said, though she didn't want to say such things. But thinking of Princess Qionghua's behavior,
Even if she changed, it would only be superficial.
Before long, she would knowingly repeat her mistakes.
After a long time of committing evil deeds, some people no longer know how to be normal.
It was clear that Princess Qionghua was one of those people.
This time, Su Xiaoqi truly hoped the Ning King would take action and deal with her.
Otherwise, once their own affairs were mostly settled, the Ning King and the Old Ning King would surely come looking for Shen Yun, urging him to return to the royal residence.
Before, they could always find excuses to avoid moving into the Ning King's residence.
But now that the obstacles to their entry into the royal residence were cleared, they would temporarily have no reason to refuse.
Su Xiaoqi placed her hand on her lower abdomen. Regardless of whether she moved into the Ning King's residence or not, she would definitely protect her child.
She would not allow anyone to harm him.
As they were talking, Ji Chenggang arrived.
He was likely just off duty, still wearing the embroidered python robe of the Brocade Guard, with a Xiu Chun Dao at his waist. When he first walked in, his expression was solemn.
Upon seeing the Princess Royal, the corners of his eyes curved, and a smile bloomed.
It was so gentle, so affectionate.
Su Xiaoqi was captivated at once.
She winked mischievously at the Princess Royal, saying she was going to see Princess Fu'an and Prince Bao.
The Princess Royal chided her, calling her a mischievous imp for finding amusement in her situation.
Su Xiaoqi just covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed.
After leaving the room, she even stole a glance back.
She saw Ji Chenggang acting like a loyal dog in front of her, gentle and sincere, as if she was the apple of his eye, cherished and doted upon.
Compared to the former驸马 Liu Junsheng, apart from his good looks, when he faced the Princess Royal in the past, although he also wore a smile,
That smile somehow felt fake to everyone.
Su Xiaoqi smiled and thought that the Princess Royal had truly found her happiness.
Sometimes, people shouldn't just judge by appearances.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, who would have believed that the ruthless and decisive special agent leader outside could be so tender and affectionate?
Su Xiaoqi thought, Princess Fu'an and Bao Ge'er ran over. They were very happy to see her and eagerly ran to hug her.
Zhang Yu, who was beside them, became nervous.
He raised his hand to stop them.
However, Su Xiaoqi opened her arms to the siblings.
But the siblings seemed to have received instructions from the Princess Royal. They stopped abruptly about five paces away from her and looked at her belly, tilting their heads.
"Sister Xiaoqi, we heard you're pregnant. Mother said you can't be like before when you have a baby in your belly," Bao Ge'er said with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
Su Xiaoqi chuckled, took his hand, and guided him to gently hold her in her arms, saying, "It's not that I can't be held, you just have to be gentler."
"Okay, I'll be gentle," Bao Ge'er said innocently, mimicking Su Xiaoqi's tone.
What a lovely child.
Princess Fu'an had also become much more cheerful. After Su Xiaoqi let go of Bao Ge'er, she also stepped forward and hugged Su Xiaoqi.
The three of them smiled at each other.
As long as the heart is sincere, some emotions can transcend age and gender.