Snow Shadow had previously sent a message to Yixiao regarding her wedding date with Ning Fei. However, considering the travel time, it would have been impossible for Yixiao to make arrangements and arrive in time after receiving the news. As they were speculating wildly, a travel-worn, capable middle-aged man approached quickly, led by the imperial guards. Upon seeing Snow Shadow and Ning Fei waiting outside the wedding hall, he hurriedly bowed and said, “Congratulations on your joyous occasion, General Ning and Madam Ning…”

“Who sent you?” Snow Shadow interrupted him. “Was it Yixiao?”

The man was stunned for a moment before responding with a smile, “This humble one’s surname is Huang, and I am a steward from the Prince’s mansion. When the Junior Consort mentioned that Madam and General Ning would soon be married, the Prince ordered me to deliver congratulatory gifts in advance. Halfway through my journey, I heard that the wedding was just days away, so I didn’t dare delay. I traveled day and night to ensure I didn’t fail the Prince and Junior Consort’s entrusted task.”

Xia Jingshi, who had already left his seat and approached, asked puzzledly, “What did you call Yixiao?”

Steward Huang, noticing his attire and recognizing him as the Marquis of Zhennan, respectfully answered, “In response to Your Lordship, I referred to her as Junior Consort.”

Xia Jingshi’s expression changed slightly, and he said coldly, “What exactly does Feng Suige mean by this?”

Steward Huang, seeing his sudden anger, became flustered, “Your Lordship, please calm down. This humble one… This humble one doesn’t understand…”

The guests inside the hall, who had been paying attention to the conversation at the door, now began to whisper among themselves.

Snow Shadow, confused, tugged at Ning Fei’s sleeve. “What’s wrong with ‘Junior Consort’?”

Ning Fei frowned, his expression serious. “The primary wife of a prince should be called ‘Prince Consort.’ ‘Junior Consort’ is used to address secondary wives.”

Snow Shadow’s eyes widened. “Are you saying Feng Suige has taken Yixiao as a concubine, and Yixiao agreed?”

Ning Fei hesitated briefly before nodding.

Feng Xiyang, who had followed Xia Jingshi out, quickly tried to explain, “Actually, considering Fu Yixiao’s background, for my royal brother to make her a secondary consort is already…”

Before she could finish, an enraged Snow Shadow interrupted her, “What’s wrong with Yixiao’s background? Are noble ladies so great?”

A sarcastic voice came from the crowd of guests in the hall, “The Princess Consort herself is a noble lady, of course, it’s a big deal!”

Xiyang swallowed her anger and tried to explain, “That’s not what I meant. I was saying that for my royal brother to make Yixiao a secondary consort, even just in front of our fath—” She suddenly couldn’t continue. Opposite her, Xia Jingshi’s icy gaze was fixed on her, his thin lips moving but not addressing her.

“Weiran, escort the Princess Consort back to her seat.”

Xiao Weiran responded and stepped forward, but before he could speak, Feng Xiyang suddenly laughed coldly. “Everyone knows deep down that Yixiao can’t be the Prince Consort, so why take your anger out on me?”

The hall suddenly fell silent, even Xia Jingshi was stunned.

Snow Shadow was so angry her eyes turned red, her hand gripping her sleeve trembled slightly, but she couldn’t utter a word of rebuttal. Ning Fei comfortingly put his arm around her shoulder and coldly said, “Yixiao and I grew up together. If she were the type to be content with a secondary position, she would be sitting in this hall now, not sending people from afar to deliver gifts to us!”

As Feng Xiyang was about to speak again, Xiao Weiran had already stepped to the side, separating her from the group at the door. His voice was soft but left no room for refusal, “Princess Consort, it’s better if you return to your seat.”

Feng Xiyang met his gaze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. She turned around with dignity and pride, walking back to her seat. Xia Jingshi had also calmed down by now. “Please, let’s have our guest seated and talk,” he said, leading the way back into the hall.

After seating the pale-faced Steward Huang, Xiao Weiran gently reminded him, “Steward Huang, what you’re carrying on your back is—”

Steward Huang suddenly realized, fumbling to untie a tightly bound package from his back and handed it to Xiao Weiran.

Xiao Weiran glanced at Xia Jingshi, then turned to Snow Shadow and said softly, “Let’s open it here in the hall.” Snow Shadow nodded and, following his lead, unveiled the package, revealing a square, heavy agarwood box. Snow Shadow couldn’t help but mutter, “Goodness, using such a thing to pack gifts. I wonder if it’s filled with ginseng fruit?”

As she spoke, she reached out to undo the latch. The box opened to reveal two thin, old books. Just as Ning Fei’s face showed confusion, Snow Shadow and Xiao Weiran exclaimed in unison, “The sole copy of ‘Poluoan’!” Xia Jingshi raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Indeed, a fine gift!”

Xiao Weiran handed the box to Ning Fei and picked up one of the books, carefully flipping through a few pages. He sighed, “Let me read it first.” Snow Shadow, clutching the other book, glared at him, “No way, I’ll read it first, then I can lend it to you.” Xiao Weiran, unusually serious, said, “Then one for each of us, we’ll swap after we finish.” “Don’t even think about it,” Snow Shadow flatly refused.

As they were at an impasse, Ning Fei chuckled beside them, “Weiran, look at this.” Immediately, a wave of envious exclamations arose from the military officers in the hall. Xiao Weiran, forgetting the book in his hand, curiously leaned in, “Is it real?” Ning Fei handed over a dark, heavy dagger still in its sheath, “It should be genuine.” Snow Shadow, squeezed in beside them, glanced at the dagger, and said, “Advisor Xiao, this dagger seems to be quite valuable… Isn’t it inconvenient for you to look at it like this? Why don’t you put the book back in the box first?”

Xiao Weiran absent-mindedly agreed and was about to hand over the book when he suddenly realized and pulled it back, “I almost fell for your trick.” Snow Shadow stomped her feet in frustration, but Xiao Weiran pretended not to notice. He suddenly smiled and said, “That girl Yixiao has always been partial. We really can’t let her off the hook this time.” As he spoke, he took out two letters sealed with wax from the box Ning Fei was holding. “One of these is addressed to Your Highness,” he hesitated for a moment before presenting it to Xia Jingshi with both hands, “but it’s not in Yixiao’s handwriting.”

“It’s Prince Feng’s handwriting,” Xia Jingshi said after a glance, tucking the letter into his robes. He gestured to the master of ceremonies, “Why haven’t we started yet? We’re about to miss the auspicious time.”

“Was this the kind of gift my husband originally hoped Xiyang would prepare?” Feng Xiyang suddenly asked in a low voice, taking advantage of the noisy music. Xia Jingshi gave her a cool glance and said, “Perhaps she’s just borrowing someone else’s gift to curry favor, but as long as the sentiment is there, what’s given doesn’t matter.”

“Sister,” Qin Qi, properly carrying a sinew-horn bow on her back, bounced along behind Fu Yixiao, “Why don’t you try? If you went, you’d surely outdo that so-called Shusha First Arrow!”

“I haven’t touched a bow and arrow for years. It’s fine for daily play, but I’m afraid I’d embarrass myself in a real competition,” Fu Yixiao responded absent-mindedly, wandering through the flower garden.

That day, Feng Qishan agreed to Qin Qi’s request to learn archery from Feng Suige, but Qin Qi used Feng Suige as an excuse to follow Fu Yixiao around every day. Although the Prince’s mansion was quite large, no matter where she tried to hide, Qin Qi would find her. Seeing Qin Qi’s innocent and admiring gaze, Fu Yixiao couldn’t bring herself to speak harshly—truly a self-inflicted predicament, she thought, rolling her eyes at the sky.

“Yixiao,” Feng Suige appeared at the other end of the garden, “Little Qi, why are you here too?”

“Brother Feng!” Qin Qi joyfully ran towards him, “There’s going to be a martial arts competition in a few days. I’ve been trying to persuade Sister to participate.”

“Oh?” Feng Suige raised an eyebrow, looking at Yixiao. “If you feel cooped up in the mansion, it wouldn’t hurt to participate.” Qin Qi quickly chimed in agreement.

Yixiao flatly refused, “Participating in such events is just for fame, fortune, and status. Do you see me lacking in any of those now?”

Feng Suige smiled slyly, “There is indeed one thing you’re still missing.” Seeing Yixiao’s confusion, he pointed at her earlobe.

Yixiao took a step back, “Little Qi, why don’t you keep your Brother Feng company? I suddenly feel tired and want to take a nap.”

“Fu Yixiao!” Feng Suige saw she was about to escape and quickly caught up, blocking her path. “You promised to get your ears pierced!”

Yixiao took another step back, laughing dryly, “I did promise, that’s true, but I didn’t say when I’d do it…”