However, Xue Yuhan didn't do as Xue Yuxuan had said and become the daughter of the eldest branch. Instead, she said that since the laws of the Great Zhou allowed women to set up their own households after reaching adulthood, she would do so and live alone.
Xue Yuxuan didn't dare to vent his anger on others. He just said viciously, "In that case, you may leave. Don't take anything. The maids and nannies around you were all arranged by your stepmother. You're not allowed to take them either."
In fact, Xue Yuhan only had one maid and one nanny, both arranged by Shao back then. They had nothing to do with Xiao. But after the family split up, Shao had given their indenture contracts to Xiao.
Hearing her father say this, Xue Yuhan didn't hesitate. She took off all the hairpins and ornaments on her head and body and threw them in front of Xiao. "Since I'm going to set up my own household, I naturally won't take a single thing from you. These were actually given to me by my grandmother and aunt before, but I'm returning them to you."
Xue Yujiao immediately shouted, "Your clothes. Since you're leaving, you can't take your clothes either. Take them off!"
Xue Yuhan glanced at her, let out a cold laugh, and looked up at Xue Yuxuan. "I've called you father for nineteen years. If you say I have to return my clothes too, I'll take them off right here!"
Xue Yujiao still shouted, "Of course you have to take them off. Everything on you belongs to our family! Humph, you're just a concubine's daughter. Without you, all those things would be mine."
Afraid of further embarrassing her daughter, Xiao quickly covered her mouth and dragged her inside.
Seeing that Xue Yuhan was really so heartless and was actually reaching out to pull the belt of her clothes, Xue Yuxuan didn't dare to really force her. He just said repeatedly, "No, no, no..."
Xue Yuhan still sneered. "You said so. This is the only set of clothes I have, and I'm not carrying anything. If you don't believe me, just send a woman to search me."
With things in such a mess, Xue Yuxuan just glared at her hatefully. "Let's see where you can go without a home! You said you'll set up your own household, so you're not allowed to go to your uncle's house or accept their relief."
Xue Yuxi immediately replied on behalf of his sister, "Don't worry about my sister. She's not alone. She has me. Today I'll go to my superior and get this month's salary. We can settle the three of us down."
Xue Yuhan smiled at her brother, then helped Aunt Bai beside her. She smiled brightly and generously at Aunt Bai and said, "Mother, from now on, I don't have to call you aunt anymore. But just relying on my brother's salary, I'm afraid I'll make you suffer."
Bai held her indenture contract and cried loudly with her face covered.
Xue Yuhan added, "Don't be sad. It's just difficult for now. I'll definitely work hard and pass the exam to become a female official next year so that you can enjoy a good life."
Bai looked up and stroked her daughter's face. This was the first time she dared to stroke her daughter in public and call her by her name. "I'm not sad. I'm happy. It doesn't matter if life is hard. As long as we're together, it's good, it's good."
When Shen Yuning looked up again, she couldn't see Liang Hong. She couldn't help but feel a bit emotional. General Liang was a loyal lover, but unfortunately, fate played tricks on them. She didn't know if there was still a possibility for such an ill - matched couple in the future.
Yin Zi obediently followed Shen Yuning to the Xue family. He apologized to the old lady nicely, saying that he was too busy to come and visit her.
The old lady of course understood that now the regent was in charge of all the affairs in the court. She thought that it was already amazing that he had come to pick up Shen Yuning today, not knowing if it would delay his official business.
However, thinking of this, the old lady's face beamed with joy. It showed that he valued Yuning very much. After learning that Yuning was pregnant, he had dropped everything and rushed over in a hurry.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zhu Bin and Xue Yuxin secretly arguing on the other side.
Xue Yuxin was extremely unhappy. She said that even the regent, who was so busy, had come to see Yuning, but Zhu Bin, who wasn't that busy, had come late. He had only arrived after they had returned to the Xue family.
Zhu Bin was heroic and bold in public, but in front of his little wife, he only dared to lower his head and admit his mistake. There was not a trace of the might of a general.
The old lady was very happy. Seeing that they were all well, she felt much more at ease.
After Shen Yuning returned to the palace, when the queen learned that she was pregnant, she took even better care of her. She sent all kinds of good things to the Yuming Palace, wishing that Shen Yuning could resign from her post immediately and focus on raising the baby.
Lü Tao smiled from ear to ear. "Look at these top - grade bird's nests and other tonics. They've all been sent to our palace. It shows how much the queen values our mistress."
Hearing this, Shen Yuning was a bit surprised. "All of them?"
Lü Tao nodded. "Yes. When I went to get things today, I heard them say that there's nothing left in the inner treasury and the imperial kitchen. They're all supplying our small kitchen in the Yuming Palace."
Shen Yuning's face darkened, but she didn't say a word.
Lü Tao asked doubtfully, "Princess, is there something wrong?"
Shen Yuning shook her head. She always felt that it wasn't a good thing to send everything at once. If the queen really valued her, why didn't she send a few days' worth of supplies at intervals?
Maybe it was just because she was over - thinking during pregnancy. The queen really treated her well. Maybe it was just because she loved her too much that she wanted to give her everything at once.
Since Shen Yuning was pregnant and the baby in her belly was the regent's heir, everyone in the Ministry of Justice didn't dare to be careless. Lord Li even wanted to give Shen Yuning a long vacation so that she could give birth to the baby safely and then consider whether to return to work.
Fortunately, Chen Wenpo wasn't a muddle - headed person. He just reduced some of Shen Yuning's workload and didn't allow her to stay in the office after work.
Shen Yuning didn't feel tired. But if she was too tired, she would feel stuffy in her chest and want to vomit, so she didn't dare to overwork herself.
By the time it was almost the New Year, Shen Yuning's belly was just starting to show slightly.
On a day off, a maid from the central palace came to pass on a message, saying that the queen invited her to have a gathering.
Lü Tao happily helped Shen Yuning change clothes and said, "The queen values you. I guess it's about the New Year's Eve palace banquet. She wants you to discuss it with her."
Shen Yuning shook her head. Although the queen always liked to discuss such things with her, she was always afraid that Shen Yuning would be tired, so she always came to the Yuming Palace to discuss with her. Only when she really couldn't get away would she ask Shen Yuning to go to the central palace.
Today, there must be something important.
As soon as she arrived at the central palace, the aunt beside the queen greeted her with a gentle smile as always. "Princess, you're finally here. The queen has been waiting for you for a long time."
The queen was waiting for her not in the main hall but in the side - hall.
Before she went in, she heard the queen's gentle voice. "Really? That's so interesting."
Shen Yuning was stunned. There was someone else?
When she went in, she saw a rather heroic girl sitting on a chair below the queen, talking non - stop about something and making the queen laugh heartily.
When the queen saw Shen Yuning, she quickly stood up and greeted her. "Yuning is here? Come here. Let me introduce you. Qiao'er, this is Shen Yuning, the regent's princess. Yuning, this is Tong Xianqiao, the daughter of Lord Tong, the prefect of Wuyun."
So this was the Miss Tong who had been conferred the title of county princess and whom Xue Yuxin had told her about.
The two saluted each other. Tong Xianqiao was really an interesting person. She looked like a child. She circled around Shen Yuning and laughed. "The girls in your capital are really so beautiful. I've never seen such fairy - like people in Wuyun. Look at the regent's princess. Her appearance is truly unparalleled in the world."
Even though Shen Yuning wasn't a person who easily showed her emotions, she blushed at Tong Xianqiao's exaggerated praise.
The queen also laughed so hard that she bent forward and backward. "Yuning, isn't my cousin a live - wire?"
Shen Yuning smiled helplessly. "The county princess has a generous and straightforward personality. Everyone will like her. Now that the queen has the county princess, she won't feel bored in the future."
The queen waved for Tong Xianqiao to come over, stroked her head and said with a smile, "Yes. With such a live - wire around, I might get really annoyed later."
Tong Xianqiao then acted coquettishly. "Your Majesty the Queen, if you say so, I won't agree."
The queen tapped her on the forehead and pretended to be angry. "Still calling me Your Majesty? I'm your cousin. From now on, just call me cousin."
Tong Xianqiao then obediently called out, "Cousin."
Looking at this, Shen Yuning thought that the queen at this moment looked very different from her former dignified self. It seemed that only now was she truly at ease and truly happy.
This daughter of the Tong family, who had been conferred the title of county princess, attracted everyone's attention in the capital after making an appearance at the palace banquet.
Tong Xianqiao praised the girls in the capital for being one more beautiful than the other. But in fact, the girls in the capital all looked similar, gentle and delicate, looking timid and shy. Tong Xianqiao's arrival was like a very different scenery.
She was like a thorny rose running into a circle of noble lilies. The bright red rose was so eye - catching. Its intense color made not only men but also women can't help but be attracted.
This county princess was also related to the queen, so her status was extremely noble.
Originally, because a mansion for the county princess was to be built and the future husband of the county princess would be treated like a son - in - law who married a princess, the noble families didn't pay much attention to this county princess from Wuyun.
But now, seeing the county princess being favored and her unique charm, many young men's hearts fluttered. They went back and pestered their parents, wanting to get noticed by the county princess as soon as possible.
Although many match - makers came to pass on messages, the queen didn't agree to any of them. She just explained with a smile, "Xianqiao has just turned sixteen and is new here. There's no need to be in a hurry about her marriage. She has to adapt first. After she's found someone she likes, I'll arrange the engagement for her."
Everyone was shocked again. Did the queen mean that this out - of - town county princess would be allowed to choose her own husband? It was really like the treatment of a princess.