As the women were conversing, Jinshu came to report that the eldest young mistress of the Song family had entered the palace and was now preparing to go to Laiyi Pavilion to seek Song Wan.

Upon hearing this, Song Wan rose and went to Changxin Palace to receive Ming Xiang.

Seeing Song Wan, Ming Xiang smiled gently with pursed lips.

She had become increasingly charming, her eyes and brows full of the pampered innocence and tender affection of one thoroughly doted upon. At a glance, Song Wan could tell she was living very happily with her elder brother, and couldn’t help but feel genuinely pleased for them both.

“Greetings, Sister-in-law.”

When the two reached a place with no one around, Song Wan blinked and teased with a smile.

Ming Xiang’s cheeks flushed pink as she gave her a light push. “Such teasing… Sister-in-law deserves a scolding.”

As soon as she spoke, Song Wan noticed Ming Xiang’s speech had become much more fluent. More importantly, she now carried herself openly and gracefully, her dignified manner infused with a young woman’s unique gentle charm, no longer showing the shy timidity of her unmarried days.

Song Wan leaned close to her and said softly, “It seems Elder Brother dotes on Sister-in-law greatly.”

“You… since entering the Eastern Palace… have become much more lively than before.”

“The Crown Prince… also dotes on you.”

The young lady before her blinked, her eyes full of playful teasing. Song Wan’s face suddenly turned red as she looked away.

Ming Xiang guessed she was missing her husband deeply and couldn’t bear to tease further. Entering Laiyi Pavilion, the two finally began conversing more easily.

“I now… speak daily with… the servants in the residence and… my husband. I’ve become… much more practiced.”

Song Wan said, “Sister-in-law’s voice is sweet. You should speak more to delight everyone’s ears.”

“I wonder if Sister-in-law’s household management is going smoothly?”

Ming Xiang nodded. “After Father handed… the household affairs over to me… the steward nannies below… have been cooperative. And with Nanny Song… assisting from the side… I’ve managed quite capably.”

Originally she had thought she might face some difficulties from Madam Song, but unexpectedly Madam Song had not left her room until just before the Empress’s death.

It was only for the Empress’s funeral rites that she entered the palace, her face haggard, to pay her respects.

After Madam Song “recovered from her illness,” she remained silent all day and never interfered with household affairs, which saved Ming Xiang considerable worry.

However, these matters she couldn’t properly discuss with Song Wan.

They were juniors after all, and had no grounds to criticize their elders, so she mentioned it only briefly before moving on.

“I previously… arranged a match for… Song Nian. After the Empress’s mourning… ends, it should be settled.”

“Oh? Which family?”

Ming Xiang smiled faintly. “The Duke Yingguo’s residence.”

Song Wan’s eyes lit up with a smile.

The Duke Yingguo’s residence had many children, including quite a few outstanding young men. Song Nian was legitimate-born and from Song Fu’s branch, so the match must be with a young man from one of Duke Yingguo’s other branches. Though from a collateral line, the person Ming Xiang selected must have an excellent temperament.

Though Song Wan couldn’t claim to have much sisterly affection for Song Yao and Song Nian, she was still happy to see them find good matches.

“He’s my… seventeenth younger brother. He has an excellent temperament.”

Ming Shiqi was born to the fourth branch of Duke Yingguo’s residence. Though from a collateral line, his temperament was steady and his manner humble and gentle—he would certainly get along harmoniously with Song Nian. Moreover, just for her sake, the fourth branch would not look down on Song Nian in the future.

Originally she had thought arranging a legitimate Song family daughter with a collateral branch of Duke Yingguo’s residence would meet with family opposition, but unexpectedly Song Lan’an only asked a few questions before agreeing.

“The person Sister-in-law has chosen will surely be right.”

After conversing a bit more, Ming Xiang made to leave. Song Wan thought for a moment and spoke to detain her. “There are several remarkable women in the Eastern Palace. I wonder if Sister-in-law would like to meet them?”

Before marriage, Ming Xiang had been strictly confined by Duke Yingguo’s residence. She had neither close friends nor anyone to confide in. Though Song Wan could now be considered a friend of sorts, her own temperament was somewhat reserved and not sufficient to truly draw Ming Xiang out.

“Their temperaments are kind and they’re quite interesting people. If Sister-in-law meets them, you’ll surely like them.”

“If Wan’er… likes them, I’ll like them too.”

Ming Xiang smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. “I’ll meet them.”

Ming Xiang had also heard that each of the Eastern Palace’s liangdi and liangyi had unusual qualities. Though common gossip spoke of them with insulting words, Ming Xiang knew Song Wan wasn’t someone who spoke without reason. If she said this, it must be because those women had exceptional qualities.

With a spark of curiosity kindled in her heart, Ming Xiang followed Song Wan to Shang Rong’s quarters.

Shang Rong had awakened. When they entered, the young ladies were still chattering away in conversation.

“Greetings to… Liangdi Shang, Liangdi Wu…”

“You’re Song Fu’s wife?”

Ming Xiang nodded, unsure how Liangdi Shang knew Song Fu. Only after hearing Song Wan’s explanation did she look at Shang Rong with some surprise.

“Earlier Youjun said she was hungry, so I had the small kitchen prepare some pastries for you all to eat together.”

Knowing Shang Rong tired easily, Ming Xiang nodded in agreement and followed Song Wan to sit beside Lu Youjun.

Lu Youjun had a lively personality. Seeing Ming Xiang’s speech impediment, she paid it no mind and pulled her along to talk about the fried cakes and golden silk pastries she’d eaten. Wu Xixiang listened from the side, laughing and scolding, “Youjun has a story for every dish she mentions. Who knows if they’re true or false? She makes everyone’s mouth water, but we can’t even taste them.”

Ming Xiang said, “I want to eat them too.”

“Of course they’re real.”

Lu Youjun gestured with her hands. “That golden silk pastry was this big. The outside was deep-fried golden and crispy noodle threads, with honeyed jujube paste filling inside. When you bite into it, the noodle threads on the outside go crack-crack-crack and fall off. Oh my… it’s so crispy that…”

“The honeyed jujube paste has to be soaked in the finest honey beforehand.”

“Once the whole jujube is infused with honey fragrance, you slowly steam and mash it into a paste to wrap in cooked dough… Ah!”

Just as Lu Youjun was speaking with her mouth watering, suddenly a fingernail-sized mole cricket flew from somewhere and landed on her hand. Startled, she shook it off violently, then immediately covered her mouth tightly and crouched to the side.

Ming Xiang was closest to her. Seeing her react so strongly, she quickly grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it out.

After the teacup was thrown, it happened to land perfectly over the mole cricket.

“Youjun, are you all right?”

Song Wan stepped forward to help Lu Youjun up. She was trembling with fright, her soul having fled who knows where. Only when Qi Qingling disposed of the teacup did she barely come back to herself.

“I’m most afraid of… snakes, insects, rats, and ants…”

Her face was deathly pale. The way she had immediately covered her mouth upon seeing the mole cricket made Song Wan’s heart ache terribly.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s been dealt with.”

As Song Wan comforted Lu Youjun, Zhang Baozhen looked at Ming Xiang with surprise. “Madam Song is truly formidable. That move just now was really impressive.”

Ming Xiang’s face showed some embarrassment. “Of the six arts of… a gentleman… my… archery is strongest.”

Hearing this, Shang Rong said with a smile, “The descendants of a duke truly live up to their reputation.”

“It’s nothing… special. My several elder brothers… are the impressive ones. They can pierce… a willow leaf at a hundred paces.”

The Duke Yingguo’s title had been earned by their ancestors through battlefield slaughter, forged with blood. As his descendant, Ming Xiang had naturally never neglected her riding and archery skills.

Even the daughters in the residence were expected to mount horses and draw bows.

Song Wan also seemed to be learning about Ming Xiang for the first time, her eyes full of pleasant surprise.

After this little episode, Ming Xiang quickly grew close with everyone and conversed even more enthusiastically. It wasn’t until dusk fell and she had to leave the palace that they reluctantly parted ways and returned to their respective quarters.

Song Wan returned to Laiyi Pavilion. Looking at its quiet emptiness, she actually found herself missing Shen Qianyu.

She had originally thought she’d long grown accustomed to day after day of loneliness and monotony. Who would have known that without that person by her side repeatedly asking about trivial matters, she would find it so difficult to adjust?

Thinking about it, Song Wan smiled with pursed lips.

Little did she know that Shen Qianyu felt it even more acutely. Even when Qin Rao was calling to him, he was still distracted, his heart and mind constantly wondering whether his Wan’er had eaten well and slept well, and whether she was thinking of him…