Chapter 600: Building a Princess Mansion for the Daughter

**Chapter 600: Building a Manor for the Princess**

Princess Qing’an tossed and turned all night, finally slipping into a light sleep only in the early hours of the morning.

When she awoke the next day, her eyes were shadowed by dark circles. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Qing’an sighed helplessly and applied some powder to cover her fatigue.

After breakfast, Princess Ying sent a servant to the Yu residence—to first inquire whether the family was available and would welcome their visit.

Princess Ying had no intention of letting the Yu family think that the House of Ying relied solely on its royal status without observing proper decorum.

While attending to matters at her estate, Princess Ying waited for the messenger to return.

Qing’an, however, was restless, pacing around the room until her mother became dizzy watching her.

“Enough, my dear daughter. Are you trying to make me faint?” Princess Ying sighed. “Sit down, stop pacing, or your feet will ache later.”

Qing’an pressed her lips together and finally sat, but soon gripped the armrests and asked, “...What if they think our status is too high…”

Princess Ying was at her wit’s end.

Her Qing’an had been born a princess—how many suitors would give anything to win her hand? And yet now, smitten as she was, her daughter worried that her noble status might be an obstacle.

Princess Ying thought to herself. At least Yu Yongliu was an upright man—had he been a scoundrel, he could have swindled her daughter out of everything.

“Qing’an,” Princess Ying said sternly, addressing her by title. “A woman must hold herself with dignity and self-respect in this world. Your high status is a mark of nobility, not a flaw. Carry yourself with the grace of a princess. If Yu Yongliu truly lacks the sense to appreciate you, that is his loss, not yours.”

Qing’an bit her lip and gave a small nod.

The servant sent to the Yu residence soon returned with a smile. “Your Highness, the Yu family said they have no engagements today and would be honored to receive you at your convenience.”

Pleased, Princess Ying nodded, rising with the support of her maid and adjusting the pearl flowers in her hair. “Qing’an, remember this—no matter how much you admire Yu Yongliu, you must never forget who you are. There is no reason to diminish yourself for any man.”

Qing’an lowered her head. “Mother, I know all this, but…”

But emotions could be so irrational.

The mere thought that Yu Yongliu might not return her feelings filled her with bitterness.

Qing’an swallowed back her tears. “Mother, don’t worry. I know I am a princess of the royal family. If Yu Yongliu truly has no interest in me, I won’t cling to him. There are plenty of worthy men in the world—I won’t insist on tying myself to just one.”

Satisfied, Princess Ying nodded and led Qing’an out, with servants carrying the prepared gifts, toward the Yu residence.

The Yu family’s mountain retreat lay about half a mountain away from the Ying estate. Princess Ying and Qing’an were carried in sedan chairs, arriving after the better part of an hour.

Yet it was Magistrate Yu Yongliu himself who came out to greet them.

When Qing’an stepped down from the sedan and saw him, her earlier resolve to “not tie herself to one tree” immediately fled.

She almost lost her footing.

Princess Ying, far more composed, raised an eyebrow but kept her composure. “Ah? Magistrate Yu Yongliu? I thought yesterday was your day of rest?”

Yu Yongliu hesitated to explain. He had been about to leave for his office when the Ying household’s messenger arrived. On impulse, he had his chief attendant request leave on his behalf at the Hanlin Academy and stayed behind.

Now that Princess Ying had asked, Yu Yongliu paused before replying, “I was planning to go, but an unexpected matter arose, so I took the day off.”

Generally, proper etiquette would not pry further into such private matters.

However, Consort Wang’s eyes gleamed intently. For her daughter, she set aside decorum and gently pressed with a smile, “May I ask what the matter is? Since Lord Yu is here to welcome us, we wouldn’t want to delay any important affairs of yours.”

Yu Yongliu, who remained unflappable even in the imperial court, now felt a light sweat breaking out on his forehead under Consort Wang’s meaningful smile. He was unsure how to respond.

Noticing his reaction, Consort Wang seemed to have gained some insight. She smiled knowingly but refrained from further questioning, saying instead, “…It seems it won’t be an inconvenience. Then, we’ll trouble Lord Yu to lead the way.”

Qing An looked at her mother admiringly.

In all her encounters with Yu Yongliu, this was the first time she had seen him flushed with discomfort!

Yu Yongliu silently stepped aside and motioned for them to go ahead.

Consort Wang walked ahead with regal poise, while Qing An followed half a step behind.

Determined to “get to know him better,” Consort Wang took the opportunity to ask Yu Yongliu several questions along the way.

Yu Yongliu answered each one in turn.

Consort Wang was thoroughly satisfied with him and shot Qing An a knowing glance, as if to say, “My daughter has excellent taste.”

Qing An’s ears had turned pink ever since she saw Yu Yongliu, and now, under her mother’s meaningful gaze, her neck flushed too.

The group soon arrived at the estate’s main courtyard, where Wei Pozi, along with Bai Xiaofeng and Su Rouer—the two daughters-in-law who were not pregnant—waited at the gate to greet them.

Xingxing was also present.

“We greet Consort Wang and Lady Qing An.”

Wei Pozi led the Yu family women in paying their respects.

Consort Wang smiled warmly and helped Wei Pozi up. “Madam Wei, you are too kind. We came to express our gratitude—there’s no need for such formalities.”

This was Wei Pozi’s first time meeting Consort Wang, and she was struck by the noblewoman’s warmth. Her admiration for Consort Wang soared instantly.

Once inside, Consort Wang dropped her formal airs and made friendly small talk with Wei Pozi and the others—first about the capital’s scorching heat, then about the countryside’s peaceful charm. Within moments, the Yu family women relaxed, their tension easing.

Consort Wang’s gaze lingered on Bai Xiaofeng.

Earlier, Wei Pozi had introduced her, so she knew this was Yu Yongliu’s birth mother.

If things progressed smoothly, she might one day become her daughter’s mother-in-law.

Her visit was partly to assess whether Bai Xiaofeng and the Yu family were truly as amiable as rumored in the capital.

If they turned out to be superficially polite but difficult to get along with—and if her daughter remained determined to marry Yu Yongliu—she would ask Emperor Jiazheng to have a manor built for Qing An, where the couple could reside separately.