Tonight's dinner was set in the center of the camp. A roaring bonfire burned in the middle of the open space. A high platform stood to the north, on which was placed a magnificent set of tables and chairs—a special throne reserved for the emperor.
Below the imperial throne, several other sets of tables and chairs were arranged in a circle around the bonfire, allowing the emperor to overlook his subjects from above.
By now, not only Song Yihuan and her companions but also the others had gradually gathered around the bonfire. Song Yihuan was about to sit down with Song Nanxin when someone rushed up from behind and called out to her.
"Fourth Young Lady."
A glint of bone - chilling hatred flashed across Song Yihuan's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She stopped in her tracks, turned around, and curtsied to Meng Shi, saying, "Yihuan pays respects to Mother."
When Meng Shi arrived, Song Yixuan, who was beside the Princess of Ningqin, also stopped and bowed respectfully to Meng Shi, saying, "Xuan'er pays respects to Mother."
The Princess of Ningqin asked, "Madam Hou, this is..."
Meng Shi paid respects to the Princess of Ningqin and put on a kind - looking expression. "Thank you, Princess, for taking care of Yihuan and Xuan'er on this journey. These two children must have caused you a lot of trouble, right?"
A faint smile played on the lips of the Princess of Ningqin. "It's hardly any trouble. On the contrary, they've relieved a lot of my boredom. Otherwise, this journey would have been so dull."
Meng Shi gritted her teeth in secret hatred. How could she not hear the Princess's protection of the siblings in her words?
After Ruan Yiniang's reputation was cleared, the Princess of Ningqin seemed to care more and more about these two "good - for - nothings".
If this continued, how could Nanxin have a good life in the Prince of Ningqin's Mansion? She knew only too well the capabilities of this little minx, Song Yihuan.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Meng Shi took Song Yihuan's hand and patted it. "Thank you, Princess, for not disliking my two children. We've troubled you enough on this journey. Now that all the families are accompanying His Majesty for the dinner, it's not appropriate for us to continue bothering you. How about letting these two children join us and sit on the side of the Marquis Mansion?"
"Coincidentally, I've missed these two children, and I have a lot of intimate things to say to them."
As the legal mother of Song Yihuan and Song Yixuan, Meng Shi's words were reasonable. Even the Princess of Ningqin found it hard to refuse.
Moreover, the reason she had brought the two siblings along this time was to find a suitable husband for Song Yihuan and get her married earlier. It would be best for Meng Shi, the legal mother, to handle this.
However, when her gaze passed over Song Yixuan, she couldn't help but feel pity. "Miss Huan, since your mother misses you, you should sit with her and strengthen your bond."
Since the Princess of Ningqin had spoken, Song Yihuan had no choice but to follow. As long as her younger brother could stay beside the Princess of Ningqin, that would be fine. There was no safer place than by the Princess's side. She could handle that venomous woman, Meng Shi, on her own.
"Yes, Princess," Song Yihuan replied, nodding.
Ji Lingchuan frowned and subconsciously glanced at Song Yihuan.
After visiting the Marquis Mansion of Ding'an, he could better understand what life was like for her there. The misunderstanding in the Marquis Mansion towards her and Ruan Yiniang was so deep. As the mistress of the mansion, could Madam Hou be unaware?
But Madam Hou never stopped it. Instead, she let the rumors spread. Who knew if she was even fanning the flames behind the scenes?
However, given their current status, he couldn't stop this. He could only watch helplessly as she left.
The worry on Song Yixuan's face beside the Princess of Ningqin was the same as Ji Lingchuan's. But he knew that at his young age, worry alone was useless, and there was nothing he could do to change the situation.
Song Yihuan followed Meng Shi towards the seats of the Marquis Mansion of Ding'an. Along the way, she could feel the gazes of the people around her.
She sneered inwardly, roughly guessing Meng Shi's intention of suddenly asking her to sit on the side of the Marquis Mansion.
Wasn't it because she had received the emperor's praise? Meng Shi wanted to use her to glorify the face of the Marquis Mansion of Ding'an.
She was really good at using her.
It was a pity that there was no mother - daughter affection between her and the legal mother, only a deep - seated hatred.
The Marquis of Ding'an was already waiting at the seats. On this trip to Xingzhou, Song Nanzhe, the heir of the Marquis of Ding'an, was also among the entourage. Perhaps he had been specially instructed by Meng Shi. This time, when he saw Song Yihuan, he no longer spoke rudely to her. Instead, he said obediently,
"Zhe'er pays respects to Fourth Sister. Fourth Sister, you've been accompanying Big Sister with Fifth Brother these days. Zhe'er misses you so much."
Song Yihuan looked down at this "younger brother" who was much fatter than Song Yixuan, reached out her hand, and stroked his face. She smiled and said, "Really? Fourth Sister also misses Sixth Brother very much. Sixth Brother seems to have grown taller since we set off. It's really a cause for celebration."
The family maintained their false smiles and sat down. The others also rushed over one after another. When everyone had arrived, the emperor finally came under the escort of the Prince of You and the officials of Xingzhou.
"We welcome Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live long and enjoy boundless blessings."
Ji Zihuan surveyed the people below, taking everything in. Especially when he saw Song Yihuan sitting on the side of the Marquis Mansion of Ding'an, his smile deepened.
"All of you may rise."
Ji Zihuan was about to reach adulthood. Although he had ascended the throne as a young man, the four - year experience had given him the dignity and demeanor of an emperor. He picked up his wine cup, thanked the accompanying officials below, counted their hardships in detail, and then announced the start of the banquet.
Tonight's banquet was a whole - sheep feast. There was also a unique goat - milk wine from Xingzhou on each seat, and Song Yihuan also had a serving.
Song Yihuan had never told anyone that she had a very special little habit—she liked to drink.
The first time she drank was in Uncle Qi's shop. Uncle Qi was busy greeting the customers, and she had helped him. It was hot that day, and she was thirsty. So she casually picked up a bowl of "water" that Uncle Qi had placed on the chopping board and gulped it down.
As soon as she took the first sip, she realized it wasn't water and was immediately choked and coughed violently. Uncle Qi saw this and laughed at her. She found the taste rather strange and took a few more sips.
Since then, she would occasionally steal a few sips of wine from Uncle Qi.
Looking at the goat - milk wine in front of her now, memories that she had forgotten for a long time gradually came back.
She remembered that on the day Ji Lingchuan returned in triumph, the Prince of Ningqin's Mansion held a banquet to welcome him. As the half - sister of the heir's wife of the Prince of Ningqin and living in the mansion, she had a seat at the banquet.
When it was time to toast, she took a small sip of the wine in her cup at the welcome banquet. After she left the banquet, she completely forgot what happened next.
Could it be that there was something wrong with that cup of wine?
She remembered that it was her elder sister who had personally led her to that seat. The wine and food were already on the table at that time.
This meant that her elder sister had planned everything and was just waiting for her to fall into the trap.
Song Yihuan came back to her senses when she suddenly heard someone sneer beside her. "Everyone is raising their cups to toast His Majesty, but Miss Song Si is slow to pick up her cup. Does she have any dissatisfaction with this banquet?"
She looked up and saw that everyone at the table had raised their cups except for her. And Ji Zihuan, sitting on the main seat, was looking in her direction.