Yun Chu followed Lin Shi into the Eldest Princess’s manor.

By this time, many guests had already arrived in the courtyard. As soon as they entered, many people came forward to exchange pleasantries.

“Madam Yun, it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen you.”

“This must be Chu’jie. In the blink of an eye, she’s grown so much. Time truly waits for no one.”

“This must be Ran’jie. I remember she should be sixteen now. She’s grown so graceful and elegant.”

The Yun family was a first-rank general’s manor. Old General Yun had established countless military achievements, and General Yun currently guarded the border. The Yun family’s position in the court was unshakeable.

With so many people coming forward to greet them, it wasn’t surprising.

Those people spoke to Lin Shi with a hint of flattery, but when their gazes fell on Yun Chu, they carried a trace of sympathy.

The legitimate daughter of the General’s Manor had not only married down into a humble family but had also lost the qualification to be a mother, and therefore had no choice but to raise illegitimate sons and daughters under her own name.

One lady’s gaze fell on Xie Ping: “And who is this?”

Lin Shi smiled: “This is my granddaughter.”

Xie Ping stepped forward and curtsied slightly, which counted as greeting everyone.

The people present all revealed expressions of surprise.

They only knew that the General’s Manor’s legitimate daughter was raising a bunch of illegitimate sons and daughters under her name, but they didn’t know that an illegitimate daughter had already grown this big.

She was only half a finger shorter than Yun Chu. If not for the childishness still on her face, they would look like two sisters of similar age.

The sympathy in those people’s eyes deepened even more.

Lin Shi’s chest felt blocked with pent-up frustration. When she married her daughter down into a humble family years ago, first it was to avoid arousing the Emperor’s suspicion, and second because Xie Jingyu was indeed quite good.

But who could have imagined that Xie Jingyu already had three children before marriage… If Chu’er hadn’t lost her qualification to be a mother, she would definitely cause trouble for the Xie family no matter what…

Lin Shi smiled faintly at everyone and led Yun Chu in another direction.

“Chu’er, do you see those two ladies over there?” Lin Shi spoke. “One is Madam Zhang. Her husband is a seventh-rank Erudite of the Imperial Academy. Their legitimate eldest son just passed the scholar examination last year. I’ve met that young man—he knows when to advance and retreat, quite good. The other is Madam Qian. Her husband is a fourth-rank Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. His two legitimate sons are already married. Only one illegitimate son is of marriageable age…”

Hearing this, Xie Ping looked up in shock.

Along the way, she had naturally heard Lin Shi and Yun Chu talking, so she knew that the main purpose of coming to the Eldest Princess’s manor was to arrange a marriage for Yun Ran.

Yun Ran was at least a young miss from a first-rank general’s manor. Listen to what kind of matches Madam Yun was seeking—a scholar from a seventh-rank household, an illegitimate son from a fourth-rank household… In her view, even the legitimate son from a fourth-rank household wasn’t worthy of a miss from a first-rank general’s manor.

But then she thought about how even the General’s Manor’s legitimate daughter—that is, her legitimate mother—had only married into the Xie family. Thinking of it this way, it seemed not entirely unacceptable.

Yun Chu’s gaze fell on Madam Qian’s face. In her previous life, this Madam Qian had been Yun Ran’s mother-in-law.

Setting aside what Yun Ran’s husband was like, just the evil deeds committed by this Madam Qian alone couldn’t be told in ten days and ten nights.

Her half-sister had a gentle temperament and was subjected daily to rules set by Madam Qian, tormented beyond recognition.

In the fourth year after marrying over, she had just become pregnant without anyone knowing and was punished by her mother-in-law to kneel. She knelt in the cold snow for three hours. Not only did the child miscarry, but her half-sister also contracted a terrible illness. She lay bedridden for three or four years before dying…

“The Qian family won’t do.” Yun Chu spoke. “As for the Zhang household, we need to inquire more carefully before deciding.”

Lin Shi had been most satisfied with the Qian family and couldn’t help asking: “Why?”

Yun Chu shook her head: “Mother, have someone investigate Madam Qian and you’ll know.”

Lin Shi had originally planned to take Yun Ran to meet Madam Qian, but hearing Yun Chu say this, she immediately abandoned the thought. The group of four sat down in their seats.

Just as they sat down, they saw the Eldest Princess arrive.

Beside the Eldest Princess were two men dressed in magnificent robes—the Third Prince, Prince Pingxi, and the Fourth Prince, Prince An’jing.

Everyone rose in unison to pay their respects.

“We pay our respects to the Eldest Princess, to Prince Pingxi, to Prince An’jing!”

The Eldest Princess smiled and raised her hand: “No need for such formalities at my manor. Everyone, please sit.”

The noble ladies attending the banquet all understood clearly that the Eldest Princess’s banquet this time was primarily to seek suitable princess consorts for Prince Pingxi and Prince An’jing.

Although Prince Pingxi had established illustrious military achievements, because he had a son and daughter, he wasn’t everyone’s first choice. Therefore, everyone’s gazes were ardently directed toward Prince An’jing.

“Third Brother, what did you bring Yuege for?” The Eldest Princess looked somewhat annoyed at Prince Pingxi. “Are you afraid people won’t know you have a son? Afraid that some lady might want to marry her daughter to you?”

Prince Pingxi picked up his wine cup and took a light sip: “He insisted on following. What could I do?”

The Eldest Princess’s gaze fell on the exquisitely carved child. If this child’s features didn’t look exactly like Third Brother, she probably couldn’t generate any fondness for him.

“Yuege.” The Eldest Princess called out. “Are you looking for someone?”

Chu Hongyu hastily withdrew his gaze and revealed a harmless smile: “Imperial Grand-Aunt, I just think it’s very lively here. May I go play?”

“Then go play.” The Eldest Princess pointed to a matron beside her. “Follow the Young Lord carefully. Don’t let him bump, knock, or fall anywhere.”

Having received permission, the little fellow set off on his short legs and ran toward the side.

Yun Chu’s gaze involuntarily fell on the little fellow. It wasn’t until the child disappeared down the small path that she realized she had been staring at that child for quite a while.

“Prince Pingxi went to the battlefield with your father when he was fifteen.” Lin Shi said in a low voice. “He’s always been a steady child. I don’t know how he suddenly has a son and daughter. The children’s birth mother is unknown, yet he was still made heir apparent. The major families in the capital probably won’t easily marry their daughters to become Princess Pingxi…”

Yun Chu nodded in full agreement.

In her previous life, until she died, Prince Pingxi had never married.

Major families were unwilling to have their daughters marry over and become stepmothers. The young ladies from minor families weren’t appealing to Prince Pingxi either.

As Yun Chu was talking with Lin Shi, from the corner of her eye she saw Xie Ping’s eyes constantly fixed on the Fourth Prince, Prince An’jing, at the head table.

She tugged at the corner of her lips. Sure enough, just like in her previous life, Xie Ping had fallen for the Fourth Prince at first sight.

At this moment, the Fourth Prince suddenly stood up and left his seat.

Yun Chu sensed Xie Ping beginning to grow restless.

Since that was the case, she would help things along.

She put down her chopsticks: “Mother, I feel it’s a bit stuffy here. I’d like to go get some fresh air.”

Lin Shi said urgently: “Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Let me tell the Eldest Princess and we’ll leave first?”

“Just going out for some fresh air will be fine.” Yun Chu stood up. “Ping’jie, accompany me for a walk. We’ll return shortly. Mother, don’t worry.”

Xie Ping’s face showed delight.

Yun Chu led Xie Ping away from their seats. Tingshuang followed behind the two of them.

Having just walked to a nearby courtyard, Xie Ping exclaimed: “Mother, my earring fell off. What should I do?”

Tingshuang lowered her head: “This servant will go back and search for Eldest Miss.”

“How could I trouble Sister Tingshuang?” Xie Ping said. “It probably fell among the flowers and trees. I can search for it myself.”

This time coming to the Eldest Princess’s manor, only Lin Shi and Yun Chu each brought one maid. There was no one to attend Xie Ping, so she walked back alone.

Tingshuang felt this was somewhat inappropriate and was about to speak when she saw Yun Chu shake her head. She then swallowed back the words she wanted to say.