The reason Zhu Xiuxiu thought this way was entirely due to Ji Youzhi’s unreserved praise for the Ji siblings at dinner.
Furthermore, she had noticed that Old Madam Ji had taken a liking to Xie Pan’Er and suspected she might intend to play matchmaker between Ji Youzhi and Xie Pan’Er.
That was why she considered adding fuel to the fire.
But unexpectedly, Ji Youzhi, that blockhead, actually snatched up the title deeds and WHOOSHED away in a flash. It appeared he had flown off to find Xie Si.
Zhu Xiuxiu stood rooted to the spot, stomping her foot. She was so astonished she hadn’t managed to call out and stop him in ti!
"So clueless!"
「The next day,」 Old Madam Ji summoned Liu Neng and handed him a list.
"Buy the best items on this list. If you can’t find sothing, go to the third son. Once everything is prepared, send it to the eldest son and his wife," she instructed.
Upon seeing the items on the list, Liu Neng couldn’t hide his delighted surprise. "These are all tonics for pregnant won! Could it be that Eldest Mistress is with child?"
Old Madam Ji looked surprised.
"Ah! Did I not tell you about this?
The reason the eldest son and his wife didn’t return with us is that my eldest daughter-in-law was found to be pregnant on the way back to the capital.
They are staying in Yang City for a while. Once the pregnancy is stable, they will go to the Illusion Sect to recuperate. They will return to pay homage to our ancestors after the baby is born!"
"That’s wonderful! The Ji Family finally has a new generation! This is truly a blessing from the heavens and from the late Old Master!"
Hearing Liu Neng ntion her late husband, a shadow of sorrow touched Old Madam Ji’s face.
"He would have been overjoyed to hear this news," she murmured.
Liu Neng hastily responded, "I will imdiately have soone prepare incense, candles, and spirit money to pay respects at the Old Master’s grave."
Old Madam Ji opened her mouth to say it wasn’t necessary, but before she could speak, Liu Neng had already scurried out.
Liu Neng had the items prepared and sent to Ji Youran and Wang Dongxue. Then, he went alone to pay respects at his late General’s grave. He chattered on before the tomb, and when he spoke of Ji Youran soon having a child, tears stread down his face. It wasn’t clear if they were from emotion or the stinging smoke from the incense, candles, and spirit money.
「The Double Ninth Festival arrived quickly.」 Old Madam Ji donned her First Grade court robes and entered her carriage first.
Then, Xiaosuisui and Xie Pan’Er shared a carriage, with Xiaosuisui cradling her Xiaobai.
Last were Zhu Xiuxiu and Huo Xing’Er.
Nanny Zhang, accompanied by Yunxiang and Yun Duo—two attendants who had left the Palace with her—took another carriage.
"Today is the Princess’s first ti entering the Palace. Before the banquet begins, she must go to Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. You must all be exceptionally vigilant. Do not panic, and do not be careless or distracted. Perform your duties well. If anything unfavorable happens to the Princess, seek His Majesty’s help imdiately," Nanny Zhang instructed Yunxiang and Yun Duo in the carriage.
"Yes, Nanny! We understand!" they replied.
In Xiaosuisui’s carriage, Xie Pan’Er was also whispering to Suisui.
"Princess, after we enter the Palace, we must first go to Cining Palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. At that ti, you will have to remove your mask. But you cannot take it off as soon as we enter. You must wait until there are no maids or other outsiders in the Empress Dowager’s presence before you do so," she explained.
She had diligently studied the palace rules these past few days. Of course, she wouldn’t dare speculate on the Emperor’s thoughts, but she felt she had so grasp of an old lady’s—the Empress Dowager’s—mind.
If the Empress Dowager saw the scar on the Princess’s face, she would undoubtedly be displeased, though she would also surely feel pity for her.
Gaining the Empress Dowager’s sympathy was certainly good. However, if the Empress Dowager later discovered the scar was fake, she would definitely conclude that the Princess had deliberately concealed it and that the Ji Family was resorting to trickery.
But if the Princess revealed the scar was fake at an opportune mont, and with a reasonable explanation, then her true appearance would be favorably noted by the Empress Dowager.
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