Prince Mu successfully shifted the task of inviting Marquis Guanjun to Prince Rui. After pondering for a long time, Prince Rui still couldn’t bear to use up that favor from the past, so he headed to Li Jiǎo’s quarters.

When Li Jiǎo saw Prince Rui approaching, her heart leaped with joy, though her face still maintained a dignified and gentle appearance as she paid her respects.

“No need for excessive courtesy.” Prince Rui extended both hands to help her up.

The distinctive masculine scent reached her, causing Li Jiǎo’s face to flush slightly red.

Although Prince Rui was somewhat older, he was in his prime years. With his slender build, he looked like an elegant scholar. If not for her status as a concubine, she would be quite satisfied.

The young lady was fair and beautiful, with skin that could be broken by a blow, like a blooming flower that stirred one’s heart.

Prince Rui stared at Li Jiǎo for a moment, becoming slightly absent-minded.

Li Jiǎo noticed this and lowered her eyes with a shy smile, feeling somewhat pleased with herself.

His Highness was satisfied with her appearance, so why wouldn’t he touch her?

“Ahem, Jiǎo-niang, are you getting used to life in the prince’s residence?” Prince Rui coughed lightly and asked, sighing inwardly.

It had been too long since he’d been near women. His self-control had weakened considerably, and he’d nearly lost composure in front of a young girl – it was truly inappropriate.

Fortunately, in just over a month, he could return to normal.

The medicine Physician Li had given him was to regulate his body, not to make him pure-hearted and ascetic. He discovered that as the deadline approached, his self-control was becoming increasingly poor.

Speaking of it, he was wronging this young girl. He never touched her body and couldn’t explain it clearly – he wondered what she thought about it.

Hearing Prince Rui’s gentle inquiry, Li Jiǎo’s eyes reddened as she said softly: “I’m getting used to it.”

Prince Rui took her hand and sat down, smiling: “If you’re getting used to it, why are you crying?”

Li Jiǎo quickly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and said bashfully: “Although the prince’s residence is wonderful, I lived at my natal home for over ten years. I miss Grandmother, Father, and the others somewhat.”

Prince Rui’s residence had no princess consort. The vast residence was managed by a concubine who had been with Prince Rui the longest. To maintain good relations, she naturally wouldn’t interfere too much with a newcomer, but Li Jiǎo didn’t even qualify for a three-day return visit.

Unable to return home, no matter how well she was doing, how did it matter? It was merely wearing fine clothes at night.

Prince Rui laughed upon hearing this: “Homesick? Then go home and visit today. I’ll have the residence steward accompany you back.”

Li Jiǎo’s heart leaped with joy as she lowered her head and smiled: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Prince Rui reached out to lift her chin and chuckled: “Why lower your head?”

Li Jiǎo’s eyelashes fluttered lightly as she slowly raised her eyes: “Your Highness—”

“Since it’s rare for you to return, staying a while longer won’t matter. Why don’t you stay for dinner before coming back?”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Li Jiǎo was overjoyed.

Being able to stay for a meal after returning to the Li residence would be enough to show others His Highness’s favor toward her.

“What’s there to thank me for?” Prince Rui squeezed Li Jiǎo’s hand, then changed his tone: “By the way, Prince Mu and I will jointly host a banquet to receive the Xijiang envoys. We sent an invitation to your third sister as well, but later the chief secretary reported that Third Miss Li wouldn’t come. When you return this time, earnestly invite her. Having both sisters at the banquet would provide companionship.”

Li Jiǎo was slightly stunned.

A banquet? No one had mentioned it to her before – was Li Zhao also supposed to attend?

Seeing Li Jiǎo dazed, Prince Rui explained: “Among the Xijiang envoys is a Xijiang princess, so this banquet specifically invited some noble ladies to accompany her. Third Miss Li is Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée – it would be unseemly if she didn’t come.”

According to information gathered from various sources, Marquis Guanjun valued his fiancée greatly. As long as Third Miss Li attended the banquet, Marquis Guanjun would naturally come. That way, he wouldn’t have to humble himself to invite Marquis Guanjun.

Upon hearing Prince Rui’s words, Li Jiǎo’s heart ached as if pierced by needles.

Because she was Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée, even a dignified prince had to specifically pay attention to whether she would attend the banquet. Why did Li Zhao have such good fortune?

“What’s wrong?” Prince Rui asked.

Li Jiǎo came back to her senses and smiled: “Your Highness, rest assured. After I return, I’ll speak properly with Third Sister.”

She couldn’t lose her composure. The road ahead was still long. When His Highness ascended to that position, even if she couldn’t become empress, a consort position was assured. By then, what would the wife of Marquis Guanjun amount to? She would still have to bow and pay respects before her.

Prince Rui patted Li Jiǎo’s hand and walked out.

Li Jiǎo saw him to the door and watched for quite a while before returning to her room to dress and groom herself.

Ever since Bing-niang hit a wall and committed suicide, and had to appease the families of the two maids Bing-niang had stabbed to death, Old Madam Deng was in quite a poor mood.

Paying out real gold and silver to appease the maids’ families wasn’t a big deal, but the two young maids were in their prime youth, at an age like flowers – dying so violently was truly regrettable.

This was all Second Master’s doing!

Old Madam Deng was getting on in years, and after dealing with this string of vexing matters, her body couldn’t take it. Since yesterday, she hadn’t been feeling well.

When she heard a maid report that the prince’s residence had sent someone with a message that Concubine Jiǎo wanted to return to her natal home to visit, the old lady immediately frowned.

What was the eldest granddaughter coming back for? A concubine being able to return to her natal home at will – there was definitely something wrong with this.

The old lady was shrewd with age and quickly reached this conclusion after a moment’s thought.

Accompanied by the prince’s residence steward and bringing many gifts, Li Jiǎo returned to the West Residence. Walking on the Li family’s narrow bluestone path and surveying the cramped courtyard, a sense of superiority arose naturally.

The entire West Residence wasn’t even as large as the prince’s residence garden. What was the point of living in such a place for a lifetime?

And these servants, during those disappointing days before New Year, when she occasionally came out for walks, had to endure their various kinds of looks. How about now? Weren’t they all looking at her with envious gazes?

She was truly fed up with the West Residence’s poverty!

Thinking about meeting Grandmother, Li Jiǎo stood at the entrance of Qingsong Hall and smoothed her hair, secretly taking a deep breath.

Her grandmother was an eccentric person who most despised concubines and would certainly disapprove of her granddaughter becoming one.

But why didn’t Grandmother think about it? She was serving as a concubine to a prince – no matter what, she was much better than those proper wives from small families, let alone being married off to some estate in the capital’s outskirts.

This time back, she wanted to have a good talk with Grandmother and definitely convince her. With natal family support, she could hold her head higher in the prince’s residence.

Li Jiǎo prepared herself mentally to face Old Madam Deng, but was directly told by a senior maid that the old madam was ill and couldn’t see anyone.

Having been refused entry, Miss Li felt extremely frustrated. In front of the prince’s residence, the steward and others, she couldn’t show her displeasure, so she could only instruct people to treat the prince’s residence staff well while she took her maid Xing’er to find Qiao Zhao.

“The eldest miss is looking for our miss?” Binglu stood at the door with arms akimbo, looking wary.

Blue veins bulged at Li Jiǎo’s temples.

This maid had a face that needed disciplining – why was she still living well until now?

“I haven’t seen Third Sister for some time and missed her, so I thought I’d visit while back at the residence.”

Binglu secretly pursed her lips.

Missing our Third Miss? Don’t be ridiculous – she’d be a fool to believe that!

“Eldest Miss, what bad timing. Our miss has gone on a date with Marquis Guanjun.” Binglu said with a beaming smile.

Go find Marquis Guanjun to demand her back if you can.