Jirong smiled and said, “The princess truly has keen insight. This humble woman has been fortunate to receive the First Young Master’s favor and be taken as a concubine.”

“I see. Lady Ji’s fortune is much better than Chunxiu’s.” Facing Yunyi’s words, Jirong lowered her head and smiled, “This humble woman’s greatest fortune is having the chance to meet the princess. When I heard the news earlier, it truly gave me quite a fright. In the past at the governor’s mansion, not knowing the princess’s identity, I committed many offenses. Please forgive me, princess.”

“Lady Ji speaks too seriously.” As soon as Yunyi finished speaking, Jirong continued, “Speaking of which, the princess and Meixue really look alike. Forgive this humble woman’s boldness in asking, but are the princess and Meixue… twin sisters?”

Facing her probing words, Yunyi smiled ambiguously, “Does Lady Ji think that’s possible?”

Jirong was stunned for a moment, then immediately smiled like a blooming flower, “Naturally impossible. This humble woman spoke too much.” Speaking thus, she glanced at the sky with fine snowflakes falling, took an umbrella from a maid’s hand and offered it, saying, “Though the snow isn’t heavy, it’s still somewhat cold when it falls on one’s body. Please take this umbrella to shield against the snow, princess. It would be troublesome if you caught cold.”

Yunyi smiled and said, “Lady Ji is thoughtful, but you should keep the umbrella for yourself. I take my leave.”

Watching Yunyi’s departing figure, a maid beside Jirong curled her lips, “She’s just a princess of a soon-to-be-fallen kingdom. Why does my lady treat her so courteously?”

Another maid picked up the conversation, “Exactly. My lady kindly offered her an umbrella, but she didn’t appreciate it. Does she still think she’s a precious royal daughter? If not for the general’s benevolence, she wouldn’t even have the right to stand here.”

Jirong glanced at both of them and said coldly, “When did you become so talkative?”

Hearing this, the two maids quickly fell silent and dared not speak again. Jirong looked once more at Yunyi’s retreating figure, then with a slight curve of her lips, turned and walked toward a nearby tent.

Lady Zhangsun was holding needle and thread, sewing something. Seeing Jirong enter, she smiled, “Why has Sister Ji come over?” Compared to Jirong, though she was the proper Second Young Madam, she dressed extremely simply—a slate-blue ink-splashed vine-patterned cloud brocade upper garment, below which was a dark green long skirt with subtle silver embroidery. Her hair was styled in the simplest peach-heart bun, and among her cloud-black hair, aside from a jade hairpin, there were only a few small pale blue pearl flowers with no other ornaments.

“Naturally to see you.” Jirong was quite familiar with Lady Zhangsun. After this playful remark, she sat down opposite her and said, “What are you making?”

Lady Zhangsun handed over what was in her hands, “Small clothes for sister-in-law’s unborn child. I don’t know if they’ll fit.”

“Your hands are so skilled, they’ll definitely fit.” Speaking thus, she looked up and stared at Lady Zhangsun, who felt puzzled by her gaze and touched her cheek, “What is it? Is my face dirty?”

Jirong said with a smile, “Don’t worry, your face is perfectly clean. I just can’t understand why, despite having such bright beauty, you refuse to dress up carefully. Every time I see you, you have this plain appearance. Thinking about it, the only time I’ve seen you in formal attire was at your wedding.”

Lady Zhangsun was made to laugh by her words. She cut the thread that was already very short at the needle’s end, and while rethreading it said, “Actually, what does it matter whether I dress up or not? I think this is quite good—clean and refreshing, convenient for everything. My husband also says he likes it.”

Jirong shook her head, “You… I really don’t know what to say about you. Second Young Master, he…” Halfway through her words, she suddenly stopped. Lady Zhangsun waited a while without hearing her continue and asked puzzledly, “What about my husband?”

Jirong hesitated for a long time, then said, “Do you know about Second Young Master’s return?”

After Lady Zhangsun nodded, she continued, “Then do you also know that Princess Jinyang came with him?”

Lady Zhangsun’s eyes moved slightly, then she said, “Princess Jinyang has nowhere to go, so following my husband here for temporary shelter is not improper.”

“If only it were truly just that simple. I’m afraid…” Jirong sighed, “Sister, do you know that Princess Jinyang once served as a dancing girl in the governor’s mansion?”

Lady Zhangsun replied, “I heard about it. She intended to assassinate father-in-law at that time. Fortunately, she didn’t succeed, but Third Brother was killed by her.”

“Exactly. Given what she did then, she wasn’t worth saving at all, yet Second Young Master risked his life and insisted on rescuing her, and now he’s brought her back here.” Speaking to this point, she grasped Lady Zhangsun’s slightly cold hands, “Don’t blame me for being talkative as an older sister, but while one shouldn’t harbor ill intentions toward others, one must guard against them. I was once in the same place as this Princess Jinyang. Trust me, this woman’s scheming is far more than you imagine. She’s definitely not a good person to associate with. You must be more careful.”

Lady Zhangsun said quietly, “I understand. Thank you for the reminder, sister.”

“That’s good.” Speaking thus, Jirong removed a gold butterfly hairpin set with red gems from her hair and inserted it into Lady Zhangsun’s bun, saying with a smile, “Look, isn’t this much better?”

After Jirong left, Lady Zhangsun picked up the small clothes to continue sewing. After just a few stitches, she accidentally pricked her finger, and a drop of crimson blood immediately stained the white small clothes, making her day’s hard work come to nothing. After all, clothes stained with blood were very inauspicious for a newborn baby to wear. After throwing the blood-stained clothes into the nearby bamboo basket, she said, “Bring the remaining plain brocade and cut another piece.”

Her dowry maid Xiuzhu crouched down and said, “Miss, you’ve been sewing all day and must be tired. Why not do it tomorrow instead?”

Lady Zhangsun shook her head, “I’m fine. Just go and bring it.”

“Miss.” Xiuzhu said with heartache, “If you’re truly unhappy, then ask the young master directly for clarity. Don’t always keep everything bottled up inside. If the young master truly has lingering feelings for that Princess Jinyang, then…”

Lady Zhangsun picked up her words, “Then what?”

“Then… then…” Xiuzhu couldn’t say it for a moment, and after a while said angrily, “In any case, the young master cannot betray you, miss.”

Lady Zhangsun smiled slightly, “Alright, I already said I’m fine, but you keep talking endlessly. Hurry and bring the plain brocade.” Just as she was speaking, the heavy curtain was lifted and a figure walked in—none other than Li Shimin.

“Don’t speak carelessly.” After quietly instructing Xiuzhu, Lady Zhangsun stood up and looked Li Shimin over carefully before breaking into a smile, “Seeing my husband return safely, this heart of mine can finally be at ease.”

Li Shimin stepped forward and took her hand, saying gently, “I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Lady Zhangsun smiled and shook her head, “My husband has traveled far and must not have had lunch yet. I’ll go prepare a few dishes right away.”