The Grand Duchess of Jin heard her daughter's suggestion, and her face looked very unsightly. After a while, she said: "Old Lady Duanmu will come to the Imperial Capital after the New Year, and your third uncle is currently in a state of emotional turmoil. This will disturb him, isn't it not quite good?"

  Song Yixiao heard the clear resentment in her mother-in-law's tone, and even a hint of fear, and was secretly shocked. Before she could think further, she heard her elder sister-in-law explain: "Yurui is someone you've watched grow up, how can you not know that when you brought her to the capital, it was all for her own good? Now that she's unwilling to come, eight or nine out of ten times it's just a matter of saving face. So no matter what methods we use, I'm afraid she won't be able to get off this pedestal!"

  "But you three uncles also have the surname Jian!" The Princess of Jin State frowned and said, "Yu Rui won't give me face, will she give it to him?"

  The mistress of Qingjiang saw that she really didn't dare, pursed her lips and stopped talking.

  The hall fell silent for a moment, and after a while, the eldest princess of Jin State reluctantly said to Jian Xuwu, "You go ask your third uncle tomorrow, is he willing to lend a hand in this matter?"

  The couple took their leave and retired as it was getting late.

  After going out, Song Yishuo asked her husband in surprise: "What's wrong with you today?"

  "The second husband of my mother, Pei Ze, and Third Uncle were sworn brothers. Jian Yu Bai was silent for a long time before speaking in a light tone as they approached the Yan Guo Gong Fu, 'Pei Ze died from falling off his horse back then, there's a rumor that it was because he discovered Mother and Father... weren't getting along well, so he went out to clear his head on horseback and ended up having an accident! Afterwards, Mother quickly remarried Father, which also vaguely proved this rumor - originally Third Uncle had been raised by Old Lady Duanmu since childhood, although he and Father were biological brothers, they weren't very close. After this incident, their relationship became even more distant.'"

  Afterwards, Jian Li's wife had a difficult childbirth and both she and the child died.

  He was also a sentimental person, unwilling to remarry, and inevitably felt lonely at home. "The eldest uncle's family returned to their hometown with their grandfather more than a decade ago, and the only younger generation that Third Uncle could dote on were us three siblings from the second branch of the family. Among them, my sister was afraid of her mother-in-law and never left the house, so it was impossible for Third Uncle to visit her in the inner chambers; my third brother was always by Father's side learning literature and martial arts, and didn't have much time to meet with Third Uncle; only I, although raised under the care of my paternal grandmother, could occasionally leave the palace for short stays. Father and Third Brother didn't want to bother with me, Mother was busy too, so only Third Uncle was willing to spoil me!"

  In the simple and unadorned tone, there was an unmistakable sense of loss and loneliness. "So I became closer to Third Uncle, which eased the relationship between the two families. However, except for during holidays, the three of them still didn't see each other normally. This time, Big Sister suggested going to ask Third Uncle, but Mother was unwilling - apparently, back then, Third Uncle had made a big scene at the Long Princess's residence over Pei Ze's death, causing Mother to lose face terribly, and it wasn't until Grandfather personally came that he gave Mother an out!"

  Who knows if Jian Li will love Wu Yu and Wu again, for Pei Zhen's niece Pei You Rui, and cause another big disturbance at the Long Princess Mansion?

  But the Princess of Jin State finally chose to seek help from this younger uncle, apparently she had remarried three times and was still raising several concubines, but ultimately not a heartless person. She took the risk of losing face herself, and also wanted to persuade her adopted daughter to return and take care of her.

  Song Yi Xiao didn't expect that her curiosity would lead to asking such an improper question, and she couldn't help but feel embarrassed. But then she thought: "He even shared with me the secrets of his own mother, it's clear that he truly values me in his heart. Next time if there are similar situations where I'm being warm and considerate towards others, I mustn't doubt him again!"

  Thinking of this, a faint sweetness emerged from the bottom of his heart, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve up again.

  After a while they returned to the mansion - as soon as they entered, a servant came to report: "There is a guest from Jiangnan who has just arrived and has been waiting for Master Gong for a long time!"

  "Jiangnan?" Jian Yu Bai's expression turned serious as soon as he heard the words, "Please ask him to wait for a moment, say I'll be right back, change my clothes and then go see him!"

  After entering the inner room, he changed his clothes while telling his wife, "It's probably someone sent by Lord Gu!"

  Song Yi smiled and looked at herself with a confused expression, knowing that she had already forgotten. She added, "It's Gu Shao - your mother's grandfather's good friend when he was alive, my grandfather's greatest opponent in the imperial court. After retiring a few years ago, he originally returned to his hometown of Hongzhou, but because he loved the scenery of Jiangnan, he later went to Jiangnan and built a garden house to live."

  Song Yi Xiao suddenly realized: "You sent someone to look for him?"

  Otherwise, this former dignitary of the imperial court, on New Year's Day, sent someone thousands of miles to find a junior like Jian Xubai for what?

  Jian Xubai grunted a response, took the outer garment handed to him and put it on, then walked over to his wife's dresser, hastily checked his appearance, and said: "I'll go take a look. If that's the case, I shouldn't be late!"

  After all, the Crown Prince is trying to win over Gu Shao, how can he ignore his envoy?

  After Jian Yu Bai left, Song Yi Xiao didn't have time to ponder the matter when Qiao Jin came up to report: "Madam, just now the Yuan family sent someone with a message saying that if you're not busy the day after tomorrow, Duke Bo Ling wants to invite you over for a chat!"

  "This must be Mother's proposal for a closer relationship!" Song Yi smiled and nodded, saying: "Wait a moment, I'll ask my husband. If we don't need to go anywhere to pay New Year's visits the day after tomorrow, and we don't need to wait for anyone at home, then I'll come over!"

  Hurry up and go to the Yuan family to return the words.

  The person who went to the Yuan's house to report back hadn't returned yet, when Jian Yu Bai sent someone over to report: "Master is accompanying guests, it's fine for Madam to have dinner on her own tonight!"

  "It seems that person is indeed from the Gu Shao faction, otherwise they wouldn't be treated with such courtesy." Song Yi thought to herself, then instructed those around her: "Tell the kitchen to add a few dishes from Jiangnan, and make the flavors lighter!"

  Jian Yu Bai returned to his room very late that night, although he looked tired, his mood was obviously not bad. He pressed his wife onto the couch and kissed her for a while before letting go, smiling: "After the spring begins, I might not be so busy, then we can take some time off together - there are many great places to go on an outing in the suburbs of the Imperial City in March and April!"

  Song Yi laughed and asked curiously: "Has Mr. Gu agreed to come out of retirement to assist the Crown Prince?"

  "How is that possible?" Jian Yu Bai spread out her fingers, inserted them into her long hair, and slowly combed it, lightly laughing as she said, "Someone with Gu Gong's status wouldn't easily reveal his attitude like this. Moreover, with his status, coming out of the mountains is a big deal - without the emperor's uncle nodding in agreement, even the crown prince can't make it happen. However, he sent over this nephew of his, who although only has the title of 'Xiu Cai', was personally taught by him and is quite useful! After introducing this person to the crown prince on the day after tomorrow, I won't have to worry about many things anymore!"

  Song Yi Xiao didn't quite understand these things and wouldn't say much more, only gazing at him with a faint smile.

  Under the lamp, her face was as beautiful as jade, with a slight curve of her apricot-shaped eyes shining brightly, making people think of the warm and sweet breeze that swept through the fallen flowers in the courtyard at the end of spring and the beginning of summer.

  Jian Yu Bai suddenly became aware of it, reached out and pinched her cheek, smiling: "What's wrong?"

  "I was thinking, on a night like this with strong winds and snow, even through the glass window, you can still hear the howling wind and snow. But in this room, because of our love, it's warm and cozy, just like spring. " Song Yi smiled, resting her cheek on one hand, while using the other to draw circles on her husband's shoulder and arm, her eyes gleaming with affection, "Just the two of us... tonight..."

  She said this, Jian Yu Bai had already shown an "I understand" expression, and excitedly started untying his belt: "My dear wife is absolutely right, the spring night is short, how can we waste it?"

  Who would have thought that Song Yi smiled and looked at him, throwing all his clothes onto the footboard, only to say slowly: "Unfortunately, I'm not convenient today!"

  Jian Xu Bai: “………!!!!!!!”

  I've taken off all my clothes and you're telling me this?!

  Facing his suspicious gaze, Song Yi smiled calmly and said: "If you don't believe me, go take a look at the table. It's the ginger and red sugar water that Jin Xun just made for me!"

  Jian Yu Bai walked out of the tent without saying a word, picked up the porcelain pot and poured himself a cup. After finishing it, he threw down the tea bowl with a dark face and turned back to shout: "You're too much!!!!!!"

  "This made Song Yixiao laugh so hard that she was almost rolling on the ground, and when she heard this, she panted and said: "Ah! I...I...I just...just hadn't finished speaking...Who told you to come in such a hurry? Wasn't I just about to remind you?"

  "Are you happy?" Jian Yu Bai stood by the table for a moment, walked back into the room, sat on the edge of the bed, reached out to lift his wife's chin, and said with a hint of a smile, "Is it interesting? Is it fun?"

  He raised an eyebrow, his phoenix eyes gleaming with a cold light, his thin red lips curled into a subtle smile, his expression seeming both indifferent and mocking. His gaze was extraordinary, yet somehow distant and detached.

  Song Yi Xiao saw the situation and thought she had just made a joke, feeling slightly regretful. She was about to apologize to calm him down, but unexpectedly Jian Yu Bai suddenly pressed her onto the couch!

  She let out a low cry of surprise, but he just leaned down and patted her cheek with a playful smile, "In a few days, you won't regret it!"

  He picked up his robe from the ground and strode away with a flourish!

  Hearing movement outside the door, it seems like someone is calling to prepare the bathroom.

  Song Yi Xiao hugged the quilt and sat there for a while before getting up, pouting at the corner of her mouth, making a ghostly face towards the door: "You're allowed to tease me, but I'm not allowed to be in a good mood and tease you back?"

  But thinking of her husband's expression just now, she inexplicably felt a bit uneasy, clenched her fist and rolled around on the quilt several times, secretly deciding, "These next few days I'll coax him well, maybe after a few days he'll forget!"

  Have to admit, Jian Yu Bai is actually not difficult to coax in most cases.

  That night, the two of them fell asleep with complicated feelings. It wasn't until the next morning that Song Yishao found an opportunity to tell her husband about going to the Yuan family: "Are there any more relatives coming in the next couple of days? If not, I'll go and have a clear talk with him, so as to avoid always having it on my mind."

  Jian Yu Bai heard the words, thought for a moment, and said: "I'll take the guest to the East Palace later, you have to stay at home and guard against someone coming. If I come back early, you can go today!"

  He returned from the East Palace almost at noon, which was not early.

  But because Song Yixiao was worried in her heart, she still had someone harness a carriage and go out.

  After arriving at the residence of Marquis Boling, she was indeed directly invited to Yuan Xuepei's study: "You grew up with Xueyao, and you are also Ahxu's wife. I am just a useless person, so I won't be polite to you. That's why I asked you to come here and talk!"

  Yuan Xuepei got straight to the point, "I heard that your mother wants to arrange a marriage between Xueyao and Lu Guanlun. Do you have anything to tell me about this?"