A few days after the news of the Prince of Yan being registered under the Empress’s name had settled, Jiang Si finally ventured out.

Before going to the Yining Marquis’s mansion, she first visited the East Peace Earl’s residence.

With countless eyes watching the Prince of Yan’s mansion, it would be strange if she frequently visited the Yining Marquis’s mansion without calling on the East Peace Earl’s family.

Although people in their circle vaguely knew that the Prince of Yan’s wife had a lukewarm attitude towards the Old Madam of the East Peace Earl, they were more aware of the deep affection between the Prince of Yan’s wife and the Earl’s father and daughter, as well as her close sibling-like relationship with the Earl’s heir.

Before harboring certain intentions, one could act freely, but now more consideration was needed.

Jiang Si’s arrival was warmly welcomed by Old Madam Feng. Among the female relatives accompanying her were Third Madam Guo and several of Jiang Yi’s sisters who were in the mansion.

“This morning I heard a magpie chirping on a branch, and I wondered what good news was coming. I didn’t expect it to be the Princess Consort’s visit,” Old Madam Feng said, holding a teacup with a loving expression. “Grandmother has been thinking of you these past few days.”

Third Madam Guo, sitting nearby, was impressed by Old Madam Feng’s words.

For a grandmother to say such things to the Fourth Miss without changing her expression, no wonder the sharp-tongued Second Sister-in-law had been confined when told she was under house arrest.

The Sixth Miss, Jiang Pei, had different thoughts.

A woman should be like Fourth Sister after marriage – marrying well and returning to her maiden home with even her grandmother doting on her, not to mention her sisters of the same generation.

And to think that before Fourth Sister was married, she had dared to argue with her—

Thinking of this, Jiang Pei felt it was like a previous lifetime, making her increasingly emotional: no wonder people said a woman’s marriage was like being reborn. The first short dozen or so years of honor or disgrace depended on her maiden family, while the long remaining life’s honor or disgrace depended on the man she married.

Secretly observing that radiant face, Jiang Pei bit her lip quietly.

Fourth Sister was truly fortunate. She wondered what kind of family she would marry into.

As a concubine-born daughter of the second branch, she couldn’t compare to the Fourth Sister, but she was determined to marry better than the Third Sister and Fifth Sister.

As Jiang Pei pondered these things, her gaze toward Jiang Si was particularly eager.

Jiang Si glanced at Jiang Pei, then quickly withdrew her gaze.

If in the past she might have verbally jabbed at Jiang Pei a few times, now she couldn’t be bothered.

“If Grandmother misses me, I’ll come more often in the future,” Jiang Si said indifferently.

Old Madam Feng was delighted inwardly but appeared even more benevolent outwardly: “That would be wonderful. At my age, I don’t hope for much, just that you all can come back to visit often…”

Hearing this, Jiang Pei secretly curled her lip.

Once, when Fifth Sister returned to pay respects to Grandmother at the Hall of Compassion, she arrived just as Grandmother had retired to rest, and ended up not even seeing Grandmother’s face.

Longing for the younger generation to return? That depended on who was returning. If it was Fourth Sister, Grandmother would be happy to go out and welcome her even if knives were falling from the sky.

Jiang Pei became even more determined to marry well.

While Jiang Pei’s thoughts were in turmoil, Old Madam Feng didn’t pay the slightest attention to this concubine-born granddaughter. Noticing that Jiang Si seemed to be in a good mood today, she asked, “Princess Consort, has the Prince truly become the Empress’s son?”

Jiang Si smiled faintly, “The edict has been issued. How could it be false?”

Old Madam Feng smiled, “It just seems too sudden. Not only did Grandmother find it sudden, but your father and Second Uncle were also surprised. How did the Prince suddenly become registered under the Empress’s name?”

Since the news about the Prince of Yan spread, and it wasn’t appropriate to rush to the Prince’s mansion to inquire, she hadn’t slept well for the past two days, tossing and turning while thinking about this matter.

The Prince of Yan becoming the Empress’s son was certainly a great thing, but considering the long term, it was hard to say whether it was fortune or misfortune.

If another prince were to ascend the throne, the Prince of Yan, as the Empress’s son, would likely be dealt with, and at that time, it might even implicate the Earl’s family.

However, if the Prince of Yan advanced further, the Earl’s family would rise with the tide, with endless benefits.

Not to mention, if the Fourth Girl became Empress, according to custom, the eldest son would be titled Cheng’en Earl, and by then, the East Peace Earl title might fall to the second son.

Two titles in one family – what glory and honor that would be.

Hearing Old Madam Feng’s question, Jiang Si knew what this old lady was calculating, and couldn’t help but laugh coldly inside.

Wanting to bask in the glory without suffering the consequences – where in the world was there such a good deal?

Even if A’Jin won and bestowed a title on her father, the vacant title would be discarded rather than benefit Second Uncle.

She still remembered the account of how Second Uncle’s family had schemed against her father in her previous life. It was just that there were too many things to deal with in this life, and the second branch couldn’t stir up trouble now, so she was leaving it for later reckoning.

“The imperial will is hard to fathom. Grandmother is asking me, but how would I know?” Jiang Si replied.

Old Madam Feng faltered, her expression becoming awkward.

The Fourth Girl didn’t want to speak about it, and with the accusation of speculating about imperial thoughts thrown at her, there was nothing she could do.

Seeing that Old Madam Feng had become more docile, Jiang Si smiled sweetly, “I still need to visit the Marquis’s mansion to see my maternal grandmother, so I won’t stay long.”

Old Madam Feng tried to keep her a while longer, but seeing Jiang Si’s insistence, she quickly said, “Let your eldest sister see you off.”

“No need. I’ll come again another day. Making such a fuss every time makes me feel uneasy.”

Walking out of the East Peace Earl’s mansion gate, Jiang Si let out a breath and hurried towards the Yining Marquis’s mansion.

The Marquis’s household had already received the news, and the head steward had been waiting outside the main gate for a long time. Seeing the carriage from the Prince of Yan’s mansion approaching from afar, he instructed servants to go inside and report while going forward to welcome her.

“Is my maternal grandfather in the mansion?” Jiang Si asked.

The head steward quickly replied, “The Old Marquis was about to go out, but when he heard that the Princess Consort was coming, he didn’t leave.”

Jiang Si soon met the Old Yining Marquis couple.

“Maternal grandmother, you seem to have lost weight. Have you not been resting well these days?”

The Old Madam of Yining Marquis smiled, “At this age, sometimes sleep is restless. It’s nothing serious.”

“You still need to take care of your health.”

“Don’t worry, this old woman still wants to see you give the Prince a little prince soon.”

The Old Yining Marquis glared at the Old Madam, “Women always talk about these things.”

The pressure on a royal daughter-in-law without children must be great, and the old woman had to bring it up to worry their granddaughter.

The Old Madam glared back, “If not this, what should we talk about? This is women’s talk, why are you a man interfering?”

Jiang Si couldn’t help but laugh, “Maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, don’t argue. A’Huan is still young, and the Prince says there’s no rush.”

Given how A’Jin still occasionally neglected A’Huan, she couldn’t imagine how that irresponsible father would behave if there was another son.

The Old Yining Marquis’s expression turned serious, “Si’er, remember this: no matter what great success you achieve, in your maternal grandmother’s and my hearts, nothing is more important than your safety and well-being. Don’t stray from the right path.”

“Rest assured, I understand everything.”

The Old Yining Marquis nodded slightly and stood up, “You stay and chat with your maternal grandmother for a while. I just remembered I haven’t fed the birds yet.”

Watching the Old Yining Marquis walk out, the Old Madam pursed her lips, “He bought a parrot and it became his favorite. Don’t mind your maternal grandfather.”

It was just a parrot, and she was getting on in years. If this had happened when she was younger and the old man had doted on another woman like this, she would have thrown a knife at him.