"Brother Chuan, I heard that Ruyun left in tears. Just now, Madam Shen personally brought her over. Is it because the Shen family is causing trouble?" Yuan Fuling asked.

Song Hengchuan shook his head: "My mother-in-law came to pay her respects to my mother. She also brought a lot of jewelry for my third sister, and my mother also gave Ruyun a red gold phoenix hairpin."

Yuan Fuling smacked her tongue.

In just a few short hours, their relationship has improved?

Duke Jingguo was still basking in the joy of Princess Jiahua's invitation to dinner. Over the years, he had only dined with the princess a handful of times.

“Husband…” Yuan Fuling sniffed, feeling a little aggrieved: “Seeing your family reunited makes me truly happy for you. As long as the princess can calm down, my suffering is nothing. It’s just that Yao’er has been crying since this morning, and I really can’t comfort her. Could you please go and see her, husband?”

Song Hengchuan frowned, secretly sighing that Song Yao was being incredibly inconsiderate by causing trouble at this time.

“Brother Chuan, you watched Yao Yao grow up. She’s afraid that you’ll abandon her after you have Yue’er. She’s crying her heart out. Being demoted from the legitimate wife to a concubine’s wife, she’s very unhappy.” Yuan Fuling looked at Song Hengchuan with red eyes.

Seeing Song Yao's eager gaze, Song Hengchuan had no intention of refusing. Thinking that it was still early for dinner, he nodded and agreed to go see Song Yao first.

Yuan Fuling then smiled with relief: "If Yao-jie knew you went, she would definitely be happy."

...

Yuehuayuan

As darkness fell, a large table laden with delicious food appeared, looking incredibly appetizing. Princess Jiahua sat in the main seat.

Song Yue sat to one side, with Song Huan to her right and Tao Shi and Shen Ruyun opposite her.

Another half hour passed.

Princess Jia Hua's expression gradually darkened. She looked at Xiu Shu and asked, "Where are the Duke and the eldest son?"

"Your Highness, the Second Miss is unwell, and the Duke and the Eldest Young Master are keeping her company at Qionghua Courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Princess Jiahua picked up her chopsticks: "Let's not wait any longer, let's eat!"

Seeing this, Shen Ruyun couldn't help but feel resentful that her husband was being foolish. It was clearly Yuan Fuling's trick to deliberately delay the two of them and refuse to let them go.

Having finally managed to mend relations with Princess Jia Hua, they're about to be upset again.

Everyone at the dinner table had their own thoughts, but Song Yue and Song Huan ate happily. Song Huan, her mouth full of oil, said somewhat indistinctly, "The food here at my aunt's house is a hundred times better than the food in my mother's yard."

These words are a genuine expression of emotion.

Princess Jiahua smiled and personally served Song Huan a bowl of soup. Tao Shi was flattered and said, "Sister-in-law, this girl is innocent and naive. Please don't take it to heart."

Princess Jiahua smiled and said, "I really like Huan-jie. She is sincere and straightforward. If you like her, you can come to my aunt's house to eat every day."

In her past life, Song Yue was bullied by everyone in the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, and only Song Huan secretly brought her food and applied medicine to her wounds.

Once, Song Yue was pushed into the lotus pond, and it was Song Huan who bravely saved her. However, from then on, Song Huan was targeted and confined to the courtyard until her marriage.

For this reason alone, Princess Jiahua will protect Song Huan for the rest of her life.

"Thank you, Auntie." Song Huan continued eating, then pointed to the chicken leg in her bowl and generously shared, "Third Sister, you're too thin, do you want some?"

Song Yue shook her head: "You eat, I've already filled my stomach."

After saying that, Song Yue let out a burp, and Song Huan finally believed her. She lowered her head and started munching on the chicken leg, looking completely carefree.

Half an hour later, Princess Jiahua watched as the two children had almost finished eating before putting down her chopsticks and ordering the food to be removed and replaced with tea and snacks.

Song Huan reached out to take it, but was glared at by Tao Shi and immediately withdrew her hand, obediently leaning against Song Yue's back, idly playing with the other's hair.

There was still no movement outside Yuehua Courtyard.

Princess Jia Hua said, "Let's call it a day."

Only after the princess spoke did Madam Tao pull Song Huan away. Shen Ruyun deliberately stayed behind, glanced at the anger hidden in Princess Jia Hua's eyes, took a deep breath, and left.

After the people left, Princess Jiahua's anger vanished instantly. She hadn't wanted to see the father and son in the first place, so it was better that they didn't come.

"Is Mother angry?" Song Yue asked, tilting her head back.

Princess Jiahua shook her head and gently touched Song Yue's ear: "What's there to be angry about? I stopped caring a long time ago. Just remember, don't put all your heart into men in the future, they're all unreliable."

Song Yue nodded without hesitation.

...

After leaving Yuehua Courtyard, Shen Ruyun hesitated for a long time before deciding to go to Qionghua Courtyard. Before she even entered, she heard laughter and cheerful voices coming from inside.

She frowned.

“Young Madam, the eldest young master has gone too far. If the princess finds out, she will definitely be angry,” the maid said.

Shen Ruyun was somewhat disappointed. This was the first time Princess Jiahua had hosted a banquet, which was an excellent opportunity to ease tensions, but it had been missed.

A nameless rage welled up inside her, and she was furious at their lack of ambition!

"Let's go back."

Back at Tingyuxuan, Shen Ruyun was not sleepy and waited for another hour before Song Hengchuan returned.

As soon as Song Hengchuan entered the room, he saw his wife sitting on the bed with a pale face. He quickly took two steps forward and asked, "Did Mother make things difficult for you again?"

Shen Ruyun shook her head, sat up straight, and asked, "Didn't my husband say we were going to Yuehua Pavilion today? Why did you suddenly stay at Qionghua Courtyard?"

Song Hengchuan said matter-of-factly, "Yaoyao was demoted from the legitimate wife to a concubine's wife, so she was not happy. She cried for several hours and I couldn't coax her. After all, she is my own sister, how can I not care? As for the meal, we can eat it another day."

Hearing this, Shen Ruyun knew that saying anything more would be futile.

"Is that why your mother took her anger out on you?" Song Hengchuan gripped his wife's hand tightly. "I will explain to your mother myself tomorrow. Ruyun, I'm sorry you had to suffer."

In the Shen family, Shen Ruyun had also witnessed how Shen Shangshu's concubines often used various despicable means to compete for his favor.

But she always sided with her mother.

Shen Ruyun gently reminded him, "Husband, your biological sister is your third sister, your mother is a princess, Aunt Yuan is just a concubine, and your sister Yao is an illegitimate sister. They are not nearly as close as your third sister."

Upon hearing this, Song Hengchuan objected, his face tense: "Ruyun, Aunt Yuan is like a mother to me. If it weren't for her taking care of me in every way, I wouldn't be where I am today. Besides, Yaoyao is considerate and sensible, and she deserves to be loved more than that troublemaker Song Yue."