“Your Highness.” He Lian Zhang quickly stood up and bowed to pay his respects upon seeing Zong Zheng Lin enter the room dressed in a dark cyan regular attire.
“Why, is the tea not brewed well?” Zong Zheng Lin didn’t immediately instruct him to rise. His gaze fell on the teacup beside his hand, which contained floral tea brewed by Mu Xi Yao with ‘great care’. There was still over half of it remaining.
It seemed that the head of He Lian House failed to appreciate Mu Xi Yao’s tea-making skills.
In the evening, Cheng Qing finally got to see his dad, whom he loved to cuddle with the most. His cheerfulness made Mu Xi Yao feel slightly jealous.
This clever child had a sharp little mind. Despite Zong Zheng Lin being away for so many days, he still recognized him. As soon as he saw his dad, Cheng Qing tumbled down with a thud, but luckily the Sixth Highness acted quickly. Otherwise, the little bun would have gotten a bump on his head.
Mu Xi Yao was quite curious about the private conversation Zong Zheng Lin had with He Lian Min Min. Unfortunately, the boss didn’t allow her to inquire further and only said that things she should worry about had been taken care of. Afterward, she only needed to rest peacefully in Danruo Courtyard until she gave birth.
Mu Xi Yao pouted. This was a classic case of the boss destroying the bridge after crossing the river1. He had just returned, but already left her with no place to stand. She was about to continue pestering him when she was scared into silence by the words coming above her head.
Has His Highness returned? He Lian Min Min was suddenly startled. Her first reaction was not joy but panic.
“Mistress, why do you look so troubled? Isn’t His Highness’s return something to be happy for? Now that there is a pillar in the residence, you don’t have to endure gossip and criticism from others, do you?” Feng Momo didn’t understand He Lian Min Min’s worries, so she comforted her based on her own perspective.
Mu Xi Yao blinked with those dark and shiny eyes of hers, her brows furrowed, staring at Wei Zhen until he quickly lowered his head.
With this kind of appearance, it was no wonder His Highness couldn’t hold out against her. Fortunately, Master was not present at the moment, otherwise, he would have received another cold gaze.
“Speak up, do you know anything about the matter today? What is He Lian House planning?” Consort Shu stared at He Lian Min Min, her face filled with displeasure. Such a big matter, yet she had been left in the dark. Did they take her seriously or not?
He Lian Min Min knew that her family had not handled things correctly as they had gone straight to Imperial Noble Consort and Fu Zhaoyi to plead their case, bypassing His Sixth Highness and Consort Shu. It was only natural for Consort Shu to be furious.
“One of them is the Second Miss of He Lian Residence, He Lian Wei Rui, who is also shu sister of the Sixth Prince’s Princess Consort,” Fu Zhaoyi replied coldly, her demeanor still proud and aloof. “Miss Wei Rui had written a book called《New Interpretation of Buddhist Scriptures》, which was highly praised by the current Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy2.
“As for the other person, she also has a close connection with the Sixth Princess Consort. Why don’t you guess who it is?”
“Could it be that He Lian House has produced two talented women? Which sister of the Princess Consort is she?” Cao Chonghua3 asked curiously.
Zong Zheng Ying looked at the backs of Consort Shu and He Lian’shi with a sullen expression, her eyes filled with hostility. She had underestimated Zong Zheng Lin’s Principal Consort! She didn’t expect to almost land herself in trouble.
“Your Highness, Bengong heard that the Imperial Garden has recently acquired a batch of rare hibiscuses and was planning to go have a look. Does Princess have any interest in accompanying Bengong and providing an opinion on them?”