Returning home, Su Xiaoqi recounted the day's events to Shen Yun.
Shen Yun, in turn, shared his own news.
This year's Bathing of the Buddha festival would not be a grand affair due to the former emperor's mourning period, which had not yet reached one hundred days.
Instead, it was to be celebrated more modestly among the common people.
Court officials and their families were strictly forbidden from participating.
A larger celebration would be held next year.
Discussions about returning to the Ning King's manor were nearly complete.
Moreover, tomorrow was a holiday, and the Ning King was scheduled to visit their residence, intending to invite her for acupuncture.
Su Xiaoqi spread her hands. "One more session of acupuncture, and he might just remember everything from the past."
She was currently debating whether to let him recall or not.
Shen Yun stated, "Mother has grieved alone for him for sixteen years. It is time he experienced what his mother has felt."
Thus, Shen Yun's intention was also to have the Ning King remember.
They couldn't let their mother suffer alone.
Su Xiaoqi was silent for a moment. "Do you believe the Ning King at the time truly cared for Mother?"
If he hadn't thought so, why would he have said what he did?
"I believe in the Ning King's character. It is the others in the Ning King's manor that I do not trust," Shen Yun answered with certainty.
It seemed he had conducted some investigation into the Ning King.
Su Xiaoqi nodded. "That's true. Mother has always been intelligent; she wouldn't be deceived by false affections!"
The next day, the Ning King arrived early in the morning.
Su Xiaoqi glanced at the sky, noting that it had only just begun to lighten.
Checking the time, she confirmed it was indeed just past the first hour of Chen.
This was far too early for a social call.
Shen Yun also felt a touch of annoyance. He wished he had arranged a specific time with the Ning King; it was such an abrupt disturbance to their morning slumber.
Having finally found a holiday, he had hoped to spend more intimate time with his wife to advance their plans for having children.
It turned out the Ning King had come for breakfast.
After his last visit and having tasted the Shen family's cooking, he found the food in his own manor utterly unpalatable.
Thus, upon making arrangements with Shen Yun yesterday,
He had been so excited that he couldn't sleep for most of the night, rising before the first hour of Mao.
Initially, he intended to go as soon as it was light.
However, seeing that it was still dark outside, he felt it improper and instead stayed home, reading by candlelight for a while.
Yet, after more than half an hour, he had only managed to flip through two pages.
With no other recourse, he ordered his carriage to be prepared and hurried to the Zhuangyuan Mansion.
Unexpectedly, the distance between the two residences was too short; the journey took less than two quarters of an hour.
Alas, he mused, having been composed for most of his life, he had acted impulsively at this crucial moment.
He felt a pang of embarrassment, but managed to maintain his composure.
He successfully enjoyed the Shen family's breakfast.
Indeed, even their congee was different from others.
And the steamed buns, pastries, and pickles were all delicious.
He ate three bowls in one sitting.
Even his attendant beside him began to worry.
Fearing that he might overeat and feel unwell later.
However, the Ning King declared he was fine.
He was simply happy.
After the meal, Su Xiaoqi proceeded with his acupuncture.
With this session, the course of treatment would be concluded.
The medicinal properties of the Wangyou grass would have largely dissipated by now.
He informed Su Xiaoqi that he could now recall some things.
However, similar to before, the memories were only faint impressions.
He only knew that he had been with a woman, that they had a son, and that when he left, she was pregnant with another child.
Synthesizing this information, he knew that the woman was Madam Zhao.
He subconsciously superimposed Madam Zhao's face onto these recollections, and it felt perfectly natural.
He felt that even if his memories were not fully restored, he understood what had happened.
Upon recalling how his own elders and family had schemed against him, causing him to be branded as a man who abandoned his wife and children,
And forcing his biological children and the woman he loved most to suffer outside for over a decade...
How could they have the heart for it!
The Ning King's heart felt as if it had been steeped in bitter water; he smiled, but it was a bitter smile.
He desperately wished to see Madam Zhao again and speak with her.
He presented this request to Shen Yun, but as expected, it was refused.
"Why?" he asked, why couldn't he see her?
"Because when Mother most wanted to see you, she couldn't. Therefore, when she no longer wishes to see you, there is no need to meet again!"
Shen Yun's words were devoid of mercy, striking the Ning King's heart with waves of pain.
He felt immense sadness and distress, but he was powerless.
After the treatment concluded, Shen Yun did not keep him for lunch.
He politely bid him farewell.
The Ning King wished to linger a bit longer, but Shen Yun stated he had visitors arriving.
The Ning King considered offering to wait at the manor, but then he saw the carriage from the Xiang Prince's manor approaching.
They had come to fetch Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi to the Xiang Prince's manor.
The Ning King looked at Shen Yun and his wife with surprise.
"You and the Xiang Prince's manor..."
Shen Yun thought of Su Xiaoqi and replied, "If Your Highness wishes to know, you might as well ask the Princess Consort when you return."
As the carriage departed, the Ning King stood frozen.
He truly couldn't comprehend how Shen Yun and the Xiang Prince's manor could be connected.
However, he still instructed his attendants behind him, "Send someone to inquire!"
Returning to ask the Ning Princess Consort was something the Ning King would definitely not do.
Let alone at this time, he rarely exchanged words with her even during normal circumstances.
Lately, with Su Xiaoqi's acupuncture treatments, he had gained a deeper understanding of his past memories, making him even more reluctant to be around the Princess Consort.
He sometimes even wondered how he had ended up marrying her.
When he couldn't figure it out, he felt an urge to unleash his anger.
His subordinates were efficient; they quickly discovered the reason behind Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi's recent closeness with the Xiang Prince's manor.
It was because when Shen Mingzhu was being harassed at Chen Jin Ji, the heir of the Xiang Prince's manor had intervened to help, and the Shen family had then paid a visit to express their gratitude, leading to the two families growing closer.
"Oh, so that's how it is." Upon hearing that the person who had harassed Shen Mingzhu was his own daughter, Princess Qionghua, the Ning King immediately frowned.
"She's already of age. Why is she still as ignorant and lacking in judgment as before?
She's about to be married, yet instead of cultivating her virtues within the manor, she's causing trouble outside every day."
The Ning King was displeased.
He sent a message back, instructing the Ning Princess Consort to keep a close eye on Qionghua and forbid her from running wild outside as before.
The attendant listened and left with a look of difficulty.
He was already prepared to be scolded by the Ning Princess Consort.
It was always like this.
When the King was dissatisfied with the Princess Consort or their children, he wouldn't speak to the Princess Consort himself.
Instead, he would have them, the subordinates, deliver the message.
And then they would be subjected to a barrage of scolding from the furious Princess Consort.
After being reprimanded, and critically, no one dared to mention this to the King, so they had to endure it themselves.
Alas, while following the King had its advantages, acting as a messenger in such matters was quite humiliating.
It was all because the Princess Consort was duplicitous.
She presented one demeanor before the King and another before them, the servants.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun believed the matter with the Xiang Prince's manor was long settled and that they were merely invited today as witnesses.
However, they learned that when Liang Jingting had brought them yesterday, the Prince and Princess Consort were not present.
This was because they had gone to the palace.
Xiao Xique was unwilling to go then, stating they could reschedule for another day.
With no other choice, Liang Jingting had to escort the mother and daughter to Chen Jin Ji for temporary accommodation.
Today, he had specifically detained the Zhuang Prince and his wife.
He was now going to pick up Huan Niang and her daughter.
Xiao Xique had sent a message asking if Sister Xiaoqi could accompany them.
Su Xiaoqi understood Xiao Xique's feelings. After informing Shen Yun, Shen Yun, feeling uneasy, requested leave, and they hurried over.
They met Huan Niang and Xiao Xique at a teahouse outside the Xiang Prince's manor.
Upon receiving news from Liang Jingting, they were asked to enter the manor immediately.
This time, to avoid any complications, Su Xiaoqi had already prepared money for Shen Yun to tip the gatekeeper.
But before Shen Yun could even hand over the reward money through Zhang Lei,
The gatekeeper, upon hearing that people from the Shen family had arrived, immediately opened the gate himself, respectfully and warmly inviting them in.
Su Xiaoqi glanced sideways.
Only then did she realize that the gatekeeper had been replaced.
She smiled and, holding Xiao Xique's hand, followed the welcoming manor steward into the courtyard.
The residents of the Xiang Prince's manor were all waiting in the flower hall of the front courtyard.
This was because Liang Jingting had kept them, stating only that he had something important to inform them.
However, he had not specified what that matter was.
Consequently, the Xiang Prince and Princess Consort sat in the flower hall, looking at each other expectantly, unsure of what to say for a moment.
"Ting'er, you've been close to Physician Shen recently. Do you know what matter he seeks me for?" The Xiang Prince, unaccustomed to waiting, looked at his son.
In fact, given his temperament, he would not normally have afforded any respect to Shen Yun, a third-rank physician.
However, firstly, his Princess Consort had insisted he come.
Secondly, Shen Yun had indeed gained the trust of his imperial nephew recently.
Even members of the royal family like themselves had to stand aside.
"Reporting to Father, this son is also not entirely clear. However, someone has already entered the courtyard, and they will be here soon.
You may wait a little longer and you will know." Liang Jingting naturally knew, but he preferred not to reveal it until the last moment.
Meanwhile, the Xiang Princess Consort was inexplicably feeling a surge of nervousness.
She tightly gripped her bone china teacup, watching the father and son engage in meaningless conversation. Hearing a commotion from outside,
She seemed to have a premonition and immediately rose to greet them.
After seeing the Shen couple walking ahead, her gaze fell upon the woman in the fragrant yellow dress walking behind them, and the young girl she was holding.
Her body began to tremble violently, her figure swayed, and she gritted her teeth, biting her lip fiercely, thus preventing herself from breaking down in tears on the spot.
If she hadn't steadied herself by holding onto the doorframe, she would have almost collapsed.
The Xiang Prince and Liang Jingting behind her immediately stepped forward, supporting her from both sides.
At the same time, they saw the four people who had reached the corridor.
With the support of the Xiang Prince and his son, the Xiang Princess Consort finally managed to stand straight. She said, "Ting'er, help me go and greet them."
Saying this, however, her body felt weak, her steps unsteady, and for a moment, she couldn't move.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi had already noticed her agitation and realized that she was unable to move due to overwhelming emotion. She turned to Huan Niang and said,
"The Princess Consort has recognized you..."
Huan Niang, however, seemed to be suddenly startled, stopped in her tracks, and dared not move forward.
She was experiencing a touch of apprehension before her hometown.