An invitation from the Prince Ning's Mansion? Doesn't that mean it was sent by the Princess Consort of Prince Ning?
Qi Lei paused and subconsciously looked at Song Yihuan. Song Yihuan smiled and said, "This invitation came just in time. Father can now take Xuan'er and Xiangxiang to the wedding feast with a proper reason."
It was also Qi Lei's wish to attend Song Yihuan's wedding. He smiled and said, "Exactly. Please put it away for me for now."
After everything was arranged properly, Qi Lei dismissed Steward Zuo. He stood up and said to Song Yihuan, "Huan'er, which courtyard did you and your mother live in before? Take me there to have a look."
Song Yihuan led Qi Lei, Song Yixuan and Xiangxiang to the small courtyard where she and Rou had once lived.
The small courtyard was once called the Qinghe Courtyard. It got this name because there was a lotus pond nearby.
Four years ago, after Song Yihuan left, this small courtyard was guarded by Ji Lingchuan. Although the mansion had been deserted for many years, this small courtyard still remained the same as before.
Leading Qi Lei into the courtyard, Song Yihuan introduced everything to him one by one.
"This plum tree was planted by mother and me together. It has grown so tall over the years."
"Mother liked to sit in the yard and embroider when she was free. I liked to lie on mother's lap and learn embroidery from her."
Qi Lei listened attentively. As Song Yihuan spoke, the image of Rou's every move and every smile in this small courtyard emerged in front of his eyes. Before he knew it, his face was covered with tears.
He stroked the trunk of the plum tree and choked out a soft call of "Xiaowei".
Seeing this, Song Yihuan winked at Song Yixuan and quietly left with Xiangxiang, leaving Qi Lei alone in the small courtyard.
Song Yihuan was much more familiar with the Earl's Mansion than Song Yixuan. She led him to the courtyard prepared for him. This was once prepared by Marquis Ding'an and Meng for Song Nanzhe.
In addition to the main house and the side rooms, there was also a study hidden under the bamboo, making it elegant and quiet, which was just suitable for Song Yixuan's character.
This was the first time Song Yixuan had such a spacious courtyard. After entering the door, his eyes could no longer leave the lush green bamboo, the study and the two - story attic in the yard.
Seeing Song Yixuan's fascinated look, Song Yihuan rubbed the top of his head and asked with a smile, "Do you like it?"
Song Yixuan nodded, his eyes showing his love for this courtyard clearly. "I like it!"
"From now on, you will be the heir of the Earl's Mansion. In the future, you will inherit the title. You said you wanted to pass the imperial examination and become the number one scholar. You must work hard."
Song Yixuan said seriously, "Yes, Xuan'er knows. Xuan'er will definitely study hard and become the number one scholar in the future to bring glory to the Earl's Mansion."
Although Song Yihuan was nominally the Princess of Yanyun, she was also a young lady of the Earl's Mansion and had her own courtyard in the mansion.
Song Yihuan was very familiar with the location of this courtyard. It was the one where Song Nanxin had once lived.
However, after being renovated, it was completely different from before. Whether it was the pattern of the windows, the style and placement of the utensils, or even the incense burned in the room, everything catered to her preferences.
She knew that all these were prepared in advance by Ji Lingchuan. He wanted to completely destroy this courtyard that originally belonged to Song Nanxin and turn it into her property. What puzzled her was that she had never told Ji Lingchuan about these things, but he could accurately grasp her preferences, leaving her with no room for complaint.
However, she would not stay here for long. After the wedding, she and Ji Lingchuan would probably live in the Princess Mansion permanently, and this place would be left empty.
She carried Xiangxiang to the bed and coaxed him to sleep. Song Yihuan's thoughts could not help but drift.
She wondered how Ji Lingchuan was doing after he returned to the Prince Ning's Mansion.
What did the Princess Consort of Prince Ning think of this marriage?
...
In the Prince Ning's Mansion, Ji Lingchuan's sudden return threw the mansion into chaos.
In the Pine and Crane Courtyard, the Princess Consort of Prince Ning grabbed Ji Lingchuan's sleeve and cried her heart out.
"My son, you've finally come back safely. Do you know how worried and scared I've been in the mansion these four years?"
Prince Ning didn't lose his composure like the Princess Consort, but his look at Ji Lingchuan softened a little. He couldn't help but scold him, though:
"It's good that you're back. Your mother is right. You've been fighting on the frontiers these years and rarely sent back any letters. Your mother has inquired about you from many sources. She's been so worried about you that she often couldn't sleep at night. Especially when she heard that you were captured by the Beidi people, she cried every day and knelt in front of the Buddha, praying for your safe return."
"No matter how much resentment you have in your heart, you shouldn't have made your mother so worried. After you come back, you should accompany your mother more and don't make her sad anymore. Do you understand?"
Ji Lingchuan had found his true love and had lived with Song Yihuan, Qi Lei and others in Sucheng for some time. He could increasingly feel the warmth of family affection and the importance of relatives.
Song Yihuan could be filial to Qi Lei who had no blood relation with her. Even someone like Feng Tingyun could treat Song Yihuan and others as real relatives. But he had been scheming against his own mother and competing with her.
He knew that he had indeed gone too far over the years. Especially the fact that he was captured by the Beidi people, he deliberately let Fuzhou send the news back. He just wanted the Princess Consort of Prince Ning to know that life was unpredictable, and not to be so persistent about the family status gap anymore, and not to mention his marriage anymore.
Now that he was also a father, he could increasingly understand that a mother's worry for her son was a natural and proper thing, and there was no fault in it.
He steadily supported the Princess Consort of Prince Ning's elbow with his palm, bent down slightly, wiped the tears from her face, and said in a deep voice, "Mother, son knows his mistake."
After all, the Princess Consort of Prince Ning cared about her son. Her emotions were soon soothed by him. She pulled him and asked about his well - being. She checked his body to see if there were any obvious wounds. Finally, she mentioned the marriage alliance between Yanyun and the State of Yu.
"Aren't you supposed to escort the wedding convoy of the Princess of Yanyun all the way? Why did you come back alone now? Where's the princess?" the Princess Consort of Prince Ning asked.
Ji Lingchuan said, "The wedding convoy will arrive at the post - station in Yingning Town in a few days. I came back first to prepare for the wedding. When the auspicious day comes, I'll lead people to Yingning Town to welcome the bride."
The Princess Consort of Prince Ning nodded after hearing this and said, "Don't worry. Mother has prepared everything properly. On that day, I will definitely welcome the princess into the mansion in a grand manner."
Ji Lingchuan said, "The Princess of Yanyun has a special status. Although the wedding ceremony will follow the rules of the State of Yu, after the wedding and the consummation of the marriage, we won't live in the mansion permanently. The princess has her own mansion."
Although the Princess Consort of Prince Ning was regretful that she couldn't see her son and daughter - in - law often, after going through so many things, she was no longer as stubborn as before. As long as her son and daughter - in - law were in the capital, they could always meet often. It didn't matter if they didn't live together.
However...
The Princess Consort of Prince Ning couldn't help but look at Ji Lingchuan. There was no sign of embarrassment or dislike on his face. His eyebrows were filled with the joy of being a bridegroom, which was completely different from before.
When Ji Lingchuan was about to say goodbye and leave, she finally couldn't help asking, "Chuan'er. Aren't you going to look for that person anymore?"
The Princess Consort of Prince Ning knew that Ji Lingchuan refused to accept the fact that Song Yihuan was dead and had been sending people to look for her whereabouts.
Ji Lingchuan looked deeply at his mother and said, "No. With the Princess of Yanyun, I have no more wishes in this life."
"Is the Princess of Yanyun really to your liking?"
Ji Lingchuan smiled. "Of course. She is the only one I want in this life. When you see her, mother, you will surely like her too."