Chapter 44

Chapter 44

◎Combined Two Chapters◎

Huiyin was awakened by the chirping of birds and the voices of children. She hadn’t expected it to be broad daylight by then. When she sat up, she was momentarily disoriented, unsure of her surroundings.

Fugui and Qiufeng were sitting not far away, dividing threads on stools. When they heard the noise, they hurried over.

“What time is it now?” Huiyin asked, stifling a yawn. She leaned on a pillow, finally having slept soundly.

Fugui replied, “It’s almost noon, Lady Huiyin. Marquis Zheng Fang has taken the Little Prince to inspect the troops. He said he won’t be back for lunch and asked you to dine with the Lady of the Marquisate.”

Huiyin nodded. Her father had been able to hold on until now entirely due to his old foundations, which was also why both of his daughters were hedging their bets. Especially in recent years, her father had indulged in sensual pleasures and was no longer the man he used to be. Her brother, after all, bore the Pei family name and wasn’t being raised as a potential heir, and her younger brother was too young. The family was in a difficult transitional period.

For instance, in Prince Wei’s army, they used a new type of trebuchet. During a recent skirmish with bandits, when the bandits shot arrows down, they were all destroyed by the trebuchets. Li Cheng, being young and eager to learn, likely made the army under Prince Wei far more formidable than their own.

But she couldn’t express these concerns openly. After washing and dressing, she went to speak with Madame Ji. Madame Ji said, “Now that you are a princess, it’s we who should pay our respects to you. How could you come to us?”

“Mother, we’re all at home. Why worry about such formalities? Besides, I slept in until late morning. I’m already afraid of what people might say.” Huiyin leaned on Madame Ji’s shoulder and acted spoiled.

Madame Ji smiled and said, “You traveled a long way back. It’s only right that you sleep in longer. What’s the big deal? Who would dare say anything?”

The mother and daughter exchanged a knowing smile, seemingly deliberately forgetting about Elder Madame Xu. She claimed to be ill, and Huiyin had sent some tonics over, but no one really cared about her.

Feelings between people develop over time. Elder Madame Xu and Huiyin had little emotional connection, so there wasn’t much of a grandmother-granddaughter bond. Similarly, Grand Dowager Wu had some affection for Li Cheng after the death of his parents, but her indulgence of her greedy servants and her mistreatment of herself, driven purely by self-interest, had greatly disappointed Li Cheng.

As the mother and daughter sat down for lunch, Madame Ji said, “Your father seems to like your husband quite a bit. They discuss history and his past heroic deeds together, but your father also seems a bit insecure.”

It wasn’t that Zheng Fang was insecure; he was just getting old and felt incapable, yet he still had to hold on.

“Mother, my husband is considered both wise and brave in Prince Wei’s army. He’s intelligent and lives and eats with the soldiers, earning their respect. In the future, if father or my brothers encounter any difficulties, don’t hesitate to trouble us.” Huiyin, of course, wouldn’t immediately suggest anything about serving someone.

Even after she became Empress in her previous life, the threat of Wei Duo still existed, and her father would still be afraid. Her position as Empress Dowager was actually precarious.

Now, with a calm heart, Huiyin naturally hoped her family could become self-reliant. But if that failed, they would need to quickly find a backer. Lü Wei and He Guoguo weren’t easy to deal with. Li Cheng was capable. If he makes a firm decision, the Zheng family could still survive.

Madame Ji was very pleased to hear her daughter’s thoughts. “You’re always the one who thinks of us. Unlike your elder sister, who makes your father want to kill Lü Wei one day and asks him to bring her back the next. She’s not capable herself but is good at ordering others around.”

“As a daughter, one should naturally share the worries of one’s parents. By the way, I heard that Lü Wei has been throwing his weight around recently and that He Guoguo is quite dissatisfied. Is that true?” Huiyin sipped her tea and asked.

Madame Ji smiled faintly. “It’s a well-known fact. Besides, Dong Yuniang was a person given to the Crown Prince by Empress He. As the saying goes, ‘Even if you don’t respect the monk, you should respect the Buddha.’ Yet Lü Wei dares to act this way. The Crown Prince used to favor the Crown Princess, but recently, he seems to have grown quite cold towards her. He can only rebel in these small ways.”

Huiyin thought it made sense, but she said, “Has my elder sister, who is by the Crown Prince’s side, found out anything? What about the He family’s arrangements and the Crown Prince?”

“She’s only concerned with gaining favor and affection. How could she think about anything beyond her own desires? Yet she still expects us to prioritize her?” Madame Ji was at a loss for words.

Xu Shi was still alive, living in her temple and harboring hopes of rising again through her daughter, though she wasn’t foolish enough to think it would be easy.

After the meal, it was heard that Xin Shi had come over. She had specifically invited Huiyin to listen to a play. Huiyin certainly wouldn’t refuse her sister-in-law, especially since Xin Shi had been busy the day before. The two sisters-in-law had gotten along well enough.

When Pei Shuo married, Madame Ji had given him a residence in Tongling Ward. Last year, Xin Shi had connected the neighboring house, making it even larger. Xin Shi had specially built a theater there and was explaining as she spoke.

“We’ve invited the Four Joy Troupe. Princess, it’s been two years since you’ve been in Jizhou. Why not listen to some local plays from Jizhou? The movements are quite wonderful.” Xin Shi introduced.

Huiyin nodded slightly.

Today, she was undoubtedly the center of attention. Xin Shi had invited guests from her parents' home and local gentry families. Among them was a young woman who, for a moment, reminded Huiyin of Yin Liyi.

Xin Shi introduced her, “This Madam Zhang is from the Cui family of Boling.”

The local aristocratic families of Zhang and Cui in Hebei were quite renowned, and the two often intermarried. Although Huiyin didn’t recognize this Madam Zhang, she assumed that anyone invited by Madam Xin would certainly be of high standing.

Madam Zhang hurriedly came forward to pay her respects. Huiyin smiled and gently waved her off: “Madam, there’s no need for such formality.”

In truth, Huiyin wasn’t particularly adept at socializing. Deyin was more skilled at socializing; she knew how to make friends quickly, what to wear and say for different occasions, and even how to play games. Huiyin had once admired Deyin greatly for this, but now she could handle social situations with ease. She had come to understand that without the backing of real power, all these so-called social skills meant nothing.

If you have influence, even a casual remark can draw admiration.

Now, even though she admitted she didn’t understand opera, everyone was eager to explain it to her, treating it as an honor to do so.

Next to her, Madam Xin’s mother, Elder Madam Xin, spoke to Madam Ji: “Now that the princess has returned to her parents' home, I wonder if we might have the honor of hosting Her Highness.”

Madam Ji explained: “In a few days, they will head to the capital for the emperor’s birthday celebrations, so they won’t be staying long. I also mentioned that the relatives at home are all waiting for you to return so we can have a lively gathering, but the prince and princess are busy; we can’t delay their important affairs, can we?”

Madam Xin immediately understood. Neither side genuinely wanted this, but both had found a way to give the other a graceful exit.

The table was filled with the pastries, teas, and wines that Huiyin loved when she was still in the boudoir. Though she didn’t like drinking alcohol, she particularly enjoyed iced grape beverages or wine. As soon as she finished a cup, the servants behind her would refill it. Huiyin drank half a cup more, and when the opera performance was nearly done, she went to see her nephew, Guge. The child resembled his mother, Xin Shi, but was noticeably thinner, which was more typical for a child his age.

Madam Ji looked at her grandson and sighed: “Look how thin Guge is. He had diarrhea for many days and even hit his head. I don’t know how your sister-in-law takes care of him.”

“Mother, no mother would deliberately harm her own child. It’s normal for children to have bumps and bruises. Even Jinger traveled so far with me, and I couldn’t bear to see him like that.” Huiyin gently squeezed her nephew’s small hand.

She had brought a gift for her nephew, including writing supplies, a longevity lock, gold and silver bracelets, and a box of intricate toys like clay whistles, kites, nine-linked rings, and ceramic rattles. She even brought two carts of exquisite soft silk clothes for the child.

When Xin Shi came in and saw her mother-in-law holding the child and her sister-in-law looking at Guge with affection, she felt warmth in her heart. Xin Shi had been thinking long-term. After all, this region of Jizhou would eventually belong to Zheng Wuheng, with Pei Shuo currently holding it on his behalf. In the future, the elder brother would have to defer to the younger. Her husband might not accept this easily.

In this vast world, with various powers vying for control, one had to choose between joining the crown prince, Prince of Wei, Wei Duo, He Guoguo, or even warlords like Lü Wei. Xin Shi thought that since her sister-in-law had married the Prince of Huaiyin and seemed to be greatly favored, perhaps her husband could also pledge himself to the Prince of Huaiyin. The prince had spoken confidently at the banquet yesterday and showed great courage, leading two thousand soldiers without fear even when passing through Qingzhou. Such bravery wasn’t something ordinary people possessed.

With such a heroic brother-in-law and her sister-in-law thriving in the ancestral lands of her maternal family, Xin Shi thought it wouldn’t be impossible for her husband to pledge allegiance to the Prince of Huaiyin. This way, Madam Ji wouldn’t be too upset either.

So, Xin Shi became even more enthusiastic toward Huiyin. Huiyin, of course, understood her thoughts. She was waiting until Li Cheng truly took power, at which point she could formally extend an invitation.

But for now, being outnumbered and without real power, she couldn’t make guarantees to her natal family. She had to proceed slowly; otherwise, the variables would be too great, and things could backfire.

Thus, Huiyin brought up a light topic: “By the way, Sister-in-law, is Madam Zhang from the same branch of the Cui family as my younger brother’s fiancée?”

Xin Shi smiled: “They both seem to come from the main branch of the Qinghe Cui family, but Madam Zhang is from a concubine’s line. The woman my younger brother is marrying is from the legitimate wife.”

Madam Ji added with a slight smile: “You may not know this, but Madam Cui comes from the prestigious Longxi Li family, which shares the same surname as the imperial family, making her lineage highly distinguished.”

“To me, whether someone is from the main line or a secondary line isn’t as important as having a good heart.” Huiyin, who once cared about these things, now believed that having a righteous heart was more important than anything else.

That said, there were still subtle differences in status. For example, Huiyin and Deyin didn’t have a large status gap, but Huiyin had brothers, while Deyin didn’t, which made Deyin’s words carry less weight. If one was born to the main wife and had a brother who might be the future head of the family, that person’s influence would be different.

After returning from her elder brother’s home, Jinger was clamoring for his mother. Huiyin spent the entire afternoon playing with her son. It was only when the sky began to darken that Li Cheng returned.

Li Cheng strode in, one corner of his clothes tucked into his waistband, looking even more refreshed.

Huiyin stood up, wrung a towel, and handed it to him: “Why are you back so late? Where did you all go today?”

Li Cheng wiped his face and couldn’t help but smile: “I went to inspect the Jizhou army. I even arranged for my soldiers to have a friendly match with the Jizhou army. Your father agreed to it.”

“That’s wonderful. My father wishes for someone like you to be by his side, but he has a weakness: his resolve isn’t firm, and he’s easily swayed by others. As his son-in-law, with both literary and martial abilities, don’t be too formal.” Huiyin hoped they could maintain a good relationship.

Speaking of Zheng Fang, he wasn’t inherently evil. People criticized him for killing Lu Ji because they saw him as impulsive and self-serving. But in this complex world, who can truly be relied upon for loyalty?

Even Prince of Wei had taken a significant amount of Prince of Wu's territory, and Li Cheng didn't dare to say anything.

Before coming to Huiyin's parents' home, Li Cheng had assumed the Zheng family would be very defensive toward him, but it turned out they were quite sincere. He cleared his throat lightly, "They didn't treat me as an outsider."

Huiyin nodded. "That's good. I just asked my mother, and she said my younger brother is preparing to get married in half a month. We can attend both the Emperor's birthday celebration and my brother's wedding, and then return."

Huiyin wondered if this timeline might be a bit too long, and wasn't sure if Li Cheng would agree.

Unexpectedly, Li Cheng readily agreed. "That's fine."

"But is everything alright in Xuzhou?" Huiyin asked.

Li Cheng was indeed worried, but if he eliminated Lü Wei now, his prestige would rise, and no one would be able to replace him. This was his plan, and he sensed his father-in-law agreed.

So, he reassured Huiyin, "Everything's fine. Don't worry, enjoy the time with your parents."

Huiyin nodded.

Elder Madame Ji was full of vitality. In the evening, they had planned for a simple meal, but she prepared a small banquet instead. Huiyin and Li Cheng attended, and with the music, it became a joyous gathering.

However, to Elder Madame Xu, this felt like mockery. Nanny Luo couldn't help but say, "Actually, Second Miss also sent tonic. Why don't you go out and meet them? Would they dare to disrespect you?"

Elder Madame Xu glanced out the window. "I heard the Prince of Huaiyin treats Second Miss very well?"

"Yes, he came to pick her up in the evening and brought gifts for everyone in the household. Even the servants received fine fabrics from Jiangnan, let alone the others." Nanny Luo also felt regretful. If the eldest miss had married the Prince of Huaiyin, she would likely have children by now.

Elder Madame Xu decided to stop pretending to be sick. She wanted to see if this Prince of Huaiyin was genuinely good to her granddaughter.

The next day, Huiyin and her husband met Nanny Luo, who conveyed that Elder Madame Xu's health had greatly improved and that she wished to see her great-grandson.

Huiyin smiled. "I actually wanted to pay respects to grandmother on the day we returned, but I was afraid of disturbing her due to her illness. Now that she has recovered, I will go with the prince to pay our respects."

As soon as she finished speaking, Nanny Nan looked troubled. "Your Highness, why would you and the prince go in person?"

"She's our family grandmother; why put on airs?" Huiyin shook her head.

Nanny Luo was startled and realized that both she and Elder Madame Xu had forgotten. This wasn't just any married-off lady returning to her family; it was the prince and princess. There was a distinction between ruler and subject.

She quickly said, "Although the princess is approachable, our elder Madame Xu insists on observing propriety. She will come to see the young prince later."

Huiyin didn't refuse further. Once Nanny Luo left, Li Cheng was visibly annoyed.

No wonder Huiyin said Elder Madame Xu was difficult. Even during a princess's return to her family, there was still an air of superiority. He had to meet this elder Madame Xu properly.

Because of Nanny Luo's message, Elder Madame Xu realized she had breached etiquette. Though reluctant, she came over under the pretext of seeing Jing'er and certainly didn't want to perform the formal greeting. Huiyin didn't intend for her elder family member to kneel and quickly stepped forward to help Elder Madame Xu up. "Grandmother, there's no need for such a formal gesture. You are my elder; this is absolutely not allowed."

"Etiquette cannot be neglected, Princess is too kind." Elder Madame Xu had never liked Huiyin. She knew Huiyin's respect was just pretense. If she truly respected her, why put on airs?

Elder Madame Xu said in a seemingly affectionate tone, "I felt unwell when you returned, as I was concerned about passing my illness to you."

Li Cheng smiled. "It's a filial duty to pay morning and evening respects, but we rushed back, carrying the dust of the journey, and were also concerned about passing on any illness."

Elder Madame Xu couldn't help but notice Li Cheng. She had thought Crown Prince Li Heng was unparalleled in handsomeness, noble and elegant, and few could match his appearance. Unexpectedly, Li Cheng was also very handsome, with a dashing demeanor, clear brows, and sharp speech. Though raised in Jiangnan, he spoke Mandarin very well.

If De Yin had married the Prince of Huaiyin as planned, just look at this precious little one, so endearing!

Bringing her thoughts back, Elder Madame Xu began to reminisce. "I heard your maternal uncle's family is from the Cui family of Qinghe?"

Li Cheng smiled. "This prince's uncle is General Bo Ling Cui Xun."

Huiyin noticed that Li Cheng referred to himself as "this prince" when speaking to Elder Madame Xu, but when talking to his mother, Madame Ji, he called himself "your son-in-law." The difference was quite significant, but one couldn't fault him for maintaining his status as a prince.

"Oh, what a coincidence! Your younger brother is marrying the daughter of the main branch of the Canghe family. It's truly a case of kin marrying kin. I believe your uncle also had a daughter who married into the Zhang family," said Elder Madame Xu, trying to show off her knowledge of familial relations.

Li Cheng nodded. "After the passing of my father, the Prince, and my mother, the Princess, we haven't kept in touch due to the distance. I wasn't aware of the affairs in my uncle's household, but this time, I plan to visit him with the princess." In truth, after the death of the Prince and Princess of Wu, Li Cheng had written to his uncle, but Cui Xun always made excuses and was unwilling to truly support him, not even willing to make a trip. At that time, Li Cheng was isolated and had grown indifferent to this uncle.

These matters were not something he could discuss with outsiders, especially since after the conquest of Xuzhou, his uncle had written several times.

Recalling that his mother was raised by his uncle and aunt, Li Cheng couldn't bring himself to completely sever ties.

Elder Madame Xu, hearing this, circled back, "Just have some congratulatory gifts prepared and sent over."

These familial matters didn't make Elder Madame Xu seem like a major issue to Li Cheng. As long as they maintained a courteous facade, everything would be fine as long as she didn't act out. He would treat her with normal respect.

However, Elder Madame Xu couldn't hold back. She glanced at Huiyin and said with a smile, "This second granddaughter of mine has always been mischievous. If she offends you, Prince, please don't take it to heart. Just let me know."

"Please rest assured, Elder Madame Xu. The princess is gentle and virtuous. She is kind to me and the people of my fief, and she is well-loved," Li Cheng naturally spoke well of Huiyin. He wasn't foolish enough to think speaking ill of his wife would elevate him.

Elder Madame Xu smiled. "Yes, this granddaughter of mine has always been charming. There was a young gentleman who was so infatuated with her that he was willing to die for her. I told her parents that such a clever and lovely child shouldn't be married off hastily. Coincidentally, my natal family, the Xu family of Donghai, came to our Jizhou, which led to your perfect match."

Li Cheng had heard about this from Huiyin before. Apparently, there were those who called her a temptress, which was why Huiyin rarely socialized afterwards. She was admired by someone who, when she didn't reciprocate, vilified her.

If Li Cheng had only known about Elder Madame Xu through Huiyin's words, hearing her mention it now made him narrow his eyes. This old woman is overstepping. Despite my courtesy, she now speaks in a sarcastic manner.

Huiyin was also angry. As the saying goes, family shame should not be aired in public. While Elder Madame Xu had been distant and cold to them at home, she had never acted like this outside. Huiyin was worried that Elder Madame Xu might speak ill of her to Li Cheng, but to say such things in front of her, implying she was fickle, was clearly intentional, meant to undermine her in Li Cheng's eyes.

Nanny Luo, standing next to Elder Madame Xu, knew that the old lady was upset. Neither the Marquis nor his wife cared about the eldest daughter's well-being, and the second daughter's return with an air of nobility was clearly a challenge, deliberately making the elderly suffer.

If the Prince of Huaiyin could see through the second daughter's true nature, it would be a blow to Madame Ji.

Unexpectedly, Li Cheng, furious, smiled instead, "You are mistaken, Elder Madame Xu. This has nothing to do with the Xu family of Donghai. After much inquiry, this prince learned that the princess is the most beautiful woman in Jizhou and a paragon among women. Thus, I asked Uncle Wang of Wei to propose marriage for me. At that time, it was said that there were two young ladies in your family, but it was Huiyin that I favored and had always wished to marry. Thankfully, fortune smiled upon me, and my dream came true. I married the woman I had always desired."

Upon hearing this, Huiyin felt her heart swell with warmth, as if it had been filled with honey. She glanced at Elder Madame Xu, whose face turned pale with anger, and thought, "Now you've brought shame upon your beloved granddaughter!"