Su Xiaoqi received word that the midwife who delivered Liang Xi'er more than ten years ago had been summoned.
Her arrival thoroughly verified Liang Xi'er's identity.
Liang Xi'er sought out Su Xiaoqi.
She said that people from the Xiang Prince's manor wanted to take her and her mother back to the manor.
She didn't know what to do.
Su Xiaoqi smiled, "The Prince's manor is a place of such prestige, yet our Xi'er hesitates."
Liang Xi'er replied, "The manor's prestige is only what outsiders see. I actually find it less comfortable than the large courtyard we lived in before, and certainly not as good as the Liuyuan or your place, Sister Xiaoqi."
In short, she felt ill at ease.
Even though her maternal grandmother, the Princess Consort, had repeatedly told her.
That there were no outsiders in the Prince's manor and she could do as she pleased, live as she pleased.
But that was, after all, a Prince's manor.
The etiquette and propriety were deeply ingrained.
It was impossible to truly do as she pleased.
Furthermore, her mother, who had drifted for many years, was no longer accustomed to life in the Prince's manor.
Especially when some people would constantly point fingers at her.
She was mentally strong enough not to mind, but her mother couldn't bear it.
Therefore, she wanted to move out with her mother.
"There are many courtyards in Liuyuan, and since you're going to manage affairs there, why not live there? It would be convenient for both sides," Su Xiaoqi suggested.
Liang Xi'er quickly agreed.
She had come today precisely to ask Sister Xiaoqi for this convenience.
She did not agree at all with the Prince of Xiang's suggestion of living in the Prince's manor.
The manor was beautifully built, but it wasn't her home.
She was just afraid that Sister Xiaoqi, upon learning she was a county princess, would no longer allow her to manage Liuyuan.
So she had come specifically to ask.
She hadn't expected Sister Xiaoqi to remain unchanged in her sentiments despite her changed status.
She had worried unnecessarily and felt a little embarrassed.
"I've always said, no matter what your status, as long as you recognize me as your sister, there will always be a place for you here," Su Xiaoqi now understood that Liang Xi'er had been overthinking.
She took the opportunity to make things clear.
Liang Xi'er nodded, indicating she understood.
She would tell the Prince and Princess Consort about it when she returned.
As it turned out, when Prince Xiang heard Liang Xi'er say she wanted to leave the manor with her mother to live elsewhere, he was startled and said unhappily,
"Why leave a perfectly good Prince's manor to go where?"
Liang Xi'er said they would return to Liuyuan.
"Liuyuan? What are you going there for?" Princess Consort Xiang also seemed puzzled.
She understood the thoughts of Liang Xi'er and Huan Niang.
If not for the fact that the mother and daughter had to accompany her these past few days, they would have been unable to stay here any longer.
Now, they were finally leaving.
She had long heard Liang Xi'er mention wanting to leave, and she had already thought of gifting them a five-courtyard mansion from her dowry.
Only now did she realize they intended to move to Liuyuan.
As a resident of the capital, Princess Consort Xiang naturally knew about the popular recreational estate that had been all the rage for over a year.
She asked the mother and daughter why they wanted to live in Liuyuan.
Liang Xi'er then remembered that she hadn't yet told them that she was helping to manage the daily affairs of Liuyuan.
Upon hearing this, Prince Xiang and his wife learned that Liang Xi'er was not only a manager of Liuyuan but also one of its owners, holding a stake in it.
Prince Xiang and his wife looked at the young girl, who was only fourteen years old, truly young compared to them.
The two were immensely shocked.
"I've been to Liuyuan, it's very nice, and very expensive. For my Xi'er to have a share there!" Princess Consort Xiang's face was filled with pride after her surprise.
She often met with her good friends to play at Liuyuan.
She just hadn't encountered Xi'er, otherwise, they would have been reunited sooner.
She expressed her regret, but then saw Liang Xi'er take out a black card made of rosewood from her embrace.
"Grandmother, this is a small token of my filial piety as your granddaughter." This was with Su Xiaoqi's consent.
"Oh, a black card..." Princess Consort Xiang rubbed the black card in her hand, her face beaming with joy.
She might not necessarily use the card, but receiving it made her very happy.
It was a gift from her granddaughter.
Her best friend, Madam Song's granddaughter, was still only learning to embroider and play the zither at home.
While her capable granddaughter was already managing Liuyuan.
Liang Xi'er said she was an ordinary woman and had even begged for food outside before meeting Sister Xiaoqi.
It was Sister Xiaoqi who had given her a second life.
Upon hearing this, Princess Consort Xiang said very solemnly, "Our family indeed owes her a great deal."
She thought of her own son's feelings.
Coupled with the words of Master Yuanhui, she had an idea.
She did not hide it from Liang Xi'er and her mother.
She stated it in front of them.
"What do you think, is your maternal uncle a good match for Miss Mingzhu of the Shen family?"
Liang Xi'er was taken aback, and then quickly and seriously told her grandmother,
"No, Grandmother. Sister Mingzhu's marriage is being handled by Aunt Zhao and Sister Xiaoqi, so we probably don't have a say.
And most importantly, Sister Mingzhu herself must be willing."
"Troublesome. A woman's marriage is decided by her parents and matchmakers, what need is there for her own willingness?" Prince Xiang, standing by, became displeased.
This Shen family is so troublesome.
"You stay out of this. Your women and your daughter have already caused enough suffering to my son.
From now on, you will listen to me.
I will handle my son's happiness myself!" Princess Consort Xiang was even more displeased.
Speaking of this matter, although Prince Xiang was also a victim,
The one who had harmed his legitimate son was his concubine.
He couldn't retort and could only bow his head in acceptance, not daring to say more.
Liang Xi'er saw that her grandmother seemed to have a thoughtful plan. She considered that her maternal uncle was good in both character and appearance.
Furthermore, he had noble status. She also hoped that her close friend Mingzhu could become her aunt.
However...
She felt conflicted.
Because there was something she harbored in her heart that she had never told anyone.
She felt that Brother Jia An from Aunt Chen's family seemed unreliable.
At that time, she hadn't yet taken charge independently, and everyone treated her as a child. She had seen it then but hadn't taken it to heart.
Now, thinking about it, this matter needed to be thoroughly investigated.
She hinted at it to Princess Consort Xiang once, and she immediately agreed:
"How about this, you must not let this matter spread. I will send someone to investigate first. If that young Master Chen is a good man, we will pretend this never happened.
And we won't try to break up a happy couple.
If he is truly as you described, then... we owe the Shen family a lot of kindness, and it's time we repaid some of it."
This was precisely the logic, and everyone felt there was no problem.
Meanwhile, Chen Jian'an, who was being spoken of by the Prince Xiang's manor, was studying at the Imperial Academy.
He had received notification from Shen Yun and the method of studying he taught him, and he had successfully enrolled in the Imperial Academy.
There was a special imperial examination this autumn, and he could remain in the capital to take the provincial examination.
A group of scholars, after a day of rigorous studies, were chatting in the courtyard.
Suddenly, a young servant by his side waved from the doorway.
He quickly stood up and walked over.
"Young Master, she's here," the servant Shou'er said somewhat uneasily.
"Didn't I tell her to wait until my day off to see me? Why is she here again?" Chen Jian'an was somewhat annoyed.
Shou'er shook his head, saying he didn't know.
He had gone out to fetch the pastries sent by Miss Shen, and as he was about to come in, he saw the young maidservant sent by her peeking around the gate of the Imperial Academy.
To avoid being seen and causing any bad impression, he had already led her to a small alley next door.
But the other party insisted on seeing him first.
Chen Jian'an frowned, thinking he shouldn't see her, but he was afraid she would impulsively barge in.
He could only walk out angrily.
Upon entering Wenqu Alley, he immediately saw a woman dressed in a rose-red dress.
She was plump and curvaceous, with a charming and alluring appearance.
Every frown and smile of hers was full of allure.
The first time he saw her, he hadn't felt anything, only that she was beautiful.
But he hadn't been moved, after all, such a beauty was very far from him.
But they met again and again.
Especially since she had actively pursued him.
He lost his composure and engaged in intimate acts with her.
After that, she began to cling to him.
She had secretly followed their party from Mianzhou City all the way to the capital.
She had done all this behind his back. It wasn't until they reached the capital that he saw her and realized she had also come to the capital.
He was terrified.
He knew that at this time, he had already met Shen Mingzhu, whom he had longed for.
Although their families had not gone through any formal betrothal procedures, they had a tacit understanding of their relationship.
He regretted not being able to control himself at that time.
Now he had gotten himself into such a romantic entanglement.
Even now, he didn't know how to get rid of her!