After a tiring day and being pregnant, Song Yihuan nestled in Ji Lingchuan's arms and slept soundly all night. When she woke up the next day, it was almost noon.
Although she was now a princess of a country, and her status was extremely noble even after marrying into the Prince Ning's Mansion, exempt from many common etiquettes, she still tidied herself up and went with Ji Lingchuan to pay respects and offer tea to the Prince and Princess Ning.
"Father, Mother, please have some tea."
In the front hall, Song Yihuan presented the tea in her hand to the Prince and Princess Ning. They took the tea one by one, sipped it, and then placed a thick and generous red envelope in her hand.
"The princess has come all the way to marry into the Yu State. From now on, you two will live in the Princess Mansion. Your mother and I won't interfere in your affairs at all. Come and visit whenever you like. Just consider the Prince Ning's Mansion as your own Princess Mansion. Don't be constrained."
The Prince Ning said in a gentle voice.
Song Yihuan had had few contacts with the Prince Ning. When she stayed in the Prince Ning's Mansion before, she hardly ever met him. It was not until the autumn hunt that she knew what the Prince Ning looked like.
At that time, the Prince Ning gave her the impression of being serious and cold, just like an older version of Ji Lingchuan. He didn't seem to be an easy - going person. But today, he didn't seem that hard to get along with.
Song Yihuan nodded. "Thank you, Father. I understand."
The Prince Ning then looked at Ji Lingchuan. "The princess has traveled a long way to marry into the Yu State. She has endured much hardship. Chuan'er, you should take good care of the princess in the future. Don't let her be wronged in the Yu State."
Ji Lingchuan bowed his hands. "Son will always remember Father's teachings."
The Princess Ning had talked a lot with Song Yihuan last night. At this moment, she didn't say much more. She just smiled and said, "You two can live your own life behind closed doors. Whether it's good or bad, Mother won't interfere. But there's one thing. Come and sit with me often. As I'm getting older, I like to have a lively atmosphere. The livelier, the better."
Song Yihuan knew that she was eager to see her grandson, so she also agreed with a smile.
Song Yihuan's pregnancy was a great joy for the Prince Ning's Mansion. In the past two days, Song Yihuan's status in the Prince Ning's Mansion had surpassed that of the Prince and Princess Ning, and she had become the most respected person.
The third day after the wedding was the day to return to the bride's family, and it was also the day for Song Yihuan and Ji Lingchuan to leave the Prince Ning's Mansion.
After bidding farewell to the Prince and Princess Ning, Song Yihuan and Ji Lingchuan got on the carriage and, with a great deal of luggage behind them, headed towards the Princess Mansion.
Shen Jiang was assigned by Feng Tingyun to Song Yihuan's side. She would stay in the Yu State to take care of Song Yihuan and would be the chief female official in the Princess Mansion from now on.
As for Bai Xisong and several other generals from Yanyun, after Song Yihuan and Ji Lingchuan returned to the Princess Mansion, they came to bid farewell to them.
"The princess and the consort's wedding is over. Our mission is also accomplished. We need to rush back to Yanyun as soon as possible and report to His Majesty. We won't stay in the Yu State any longer."
Bai Xisong smiled. "I'll also inform His Majesty of the news that the princess is pregnant."
Song Yihuan nodded and asked someone to hand them the prepared luggage.
"General Bai, have a safe journey. When you get back to Yanyun, please tell my elder brother on my behalf that we miss him very much. We'll go and visit him when we're free."
Song Yihuan and Ji Lingchuan personally saw Bai Xisong and the others off outside the capital city. They didn't turn back until the carriages were out of sight.
Looking back, Ji Lingchuan saw that Song Yihuan had shed tears at some point. He quickly pulled her into his arms and wiped away her tears.
"What's wrong? Are you really that reluctant to part with them?"
Song Yihuan cried. "I don't know why. Whenever I think that I won't be able to see my elder brother for a long time, I can't help but cry. You know, he's blind. Will there be treacherous officials around him deceiving him? Without anyone to talk to, will he feel lonely?"
Ji Lingchuan couldn't answer her questions.
As a ruler, how could he have only loyal officials around him?
He said, "Your elder brother is extremely intelligent and capable. You should have more confidence in him. By the way, I've prepared another surprise for you in the capital city. Do you want to go and take a look with me?"
Song Yihuan was distracted by his words. With tears hanging on her eyelashes and a red nose, she looked extremely cute.
"What surprise?"
Ji Lingchuan took her hand and led her into the carriage, heading towards a mansion in the capital city.
The carriage stopped in front of a very familiar house. Through the carriage window, Song Yihuan knew where he had brought her.
She had been here before. She remembered that it was after the case of the old canal was solved. She was so hungry that her stomach was growling. Ji Lingchuan had brought her here to eat something. The cook was very skilled, and the dishes he made were delicious and looked appetizing.
She still remembered that Ji Lingchuan called the cook "Brother Jiang".
Suddenly, a somewhat familiar voice came from beside her. "Husband, where should I put these things?"
"Coming, coming. Oh, why are you doing it yourself? Put the things down quickly. I'll do it!"
"Husband, your legs are not very convenient. I can carry these things."
"Put them down. I married you not for your strength. Go back to the house and rest and have some water."
Seeing Song Yihuan's surprised expression, Ji Lingchuan reached out his hand to her. "Come on. It's time for you to meet her."
With Ji Lingchuan's help, Song Yihuan got out of the carriage. She clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and walked into the small courtyard.
A couple in the yard were organizing the ingredients together. Although it had been four years since they last met, Song Yihuan recognized the woman at a glance.
"Fuling." Song Yihuan called out her name.
Hearing this address, the woman stopped what she was doing. She turned around. When she saw Song Yihuan, the wooden basin in her hand fell to the ground, and her eyes were filled with tears.
"Fourth Miss!"
The woman said in a trembling voice and rushed forward excitedly.
"Miss, is that you? Is it really you? You're still alive. That's great!"
"Fuling, we finally meet again."
The mistress and the maid hugged each other tightly in the small courtyard regardless of their status and cried loudly.
Inside the house, Song Yihuan and Fuling, who had calmed down their emotions, sat on either side of the table and chatted about the old days.
Back then, Fuling was shot and seriously injured by Cui Muyuan in Xingzhou. When her life was hanging by a thread, she met Ji Lingchuan. Ji Lingchuan arranged for people to save her life and secretly sent her back to the capital city for protection, waiting for the day when she could testify against Song Nanxin and Cui Muyuan.
When she was in the capital city, she was taken care of by Jiang Heng. After she woke up, to repay Jiang Heng's kindness, she stayed to help him. Gradually, they fell in love, got married, and had a child.
Fuling also learned that Song Yihuan had become a princess of Yanyun and married Ji Lingchuan, and Song Yixuan had become the heir of the Yong'an Earl's Mansion. She was happy for the siblings.
Just as Song Yihuan wanted to talk more with Fuling, she heard the crying of the child, asking for his mother.
After making an appointment for the next meeting, Song Yihuan left with Ji Lingchuan.
Listening to the child's crying getting weaker and weaker, Song Yihuan thought of Chun Xing, as well as Gu Yunzheng and Cao Jinyu.
When she and Qi Lei faked their deaths and left, Chun Xing was also in the know. Her plan wouldn't have succeeded without Chun Xing. After she jumped off the cliff, she never saw Chun Xing again, for fear that someone might find her through Chun Xing.
Since then, their contact had been cut off. She didn't know where Chun Xing was now.
What about Gu Yunzheng and Cao Jinyu? How were they doing after their marriage?
Anyway, she was back in the capital city. There would be plenty of time for them to meet in the future.