“Your family and my family have been friends for generations, and we are as close as sisters. Sister Jiang is Sister Hui’er’s cousin, and Sister Hui’er is about to marry the eldest prince. What else could we be but family?”

Seeing Lin Ruyin's surprised expression, Yonghe quickly changed the subject.

"I see. No wonder I feel so familiar with Miss Jiang."

Lin Ruyin smiled at Jiang Shuyue, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.

Seeing that Jiang Shuyue had a unique hairstyle, it was neither a married woman's hairstyle nor the kind of hairstyle that an ordinary unmarried woman would have.

Lin Ruyin withdrew her questioning gaze and looked around. From the murals to the tables and chairs, everything exuded exquisite luxury.

Her uncle was a businessman, so he could naturally tell that the restaurant was quite valuable.

"This restaurant is truly magnificent. In a place like the capital where land is incredibly valuable, it must have cost Miss Jiang a considerable amount of money to open such a luxurious restaurant."

Even Lin Ruyin, who had seen luxurious restaurants before, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

Jiang Shuyue smiled faintly, "I couldn't open such a big restaurant on my own."

Lin Ruyin nodded slightly, "No wonder, Miss Jiang is able to invest, she must be quite capable."

Yonghe sipped his tea slowly, listening to the two chatting with a smile.

Since they had just met, they ran out of things to talk about after only a few words.

I overheard something outside just now, and it seems that this Miss Lin has feelings for the Emperor.

A moment later, the room fell silent. Lin Ruyin sighed.

"I've come at the wrong time. My brother isn't home, and the mansion is deserted. I don't know when my aunt and cousin will come to the capital to stay for a long time."

Yonghe was completely bewildered. "Lord Lin is sick, yet he's not resting at home?"

“That’s right. The housekeeper only said that my brother went out to recuperate, but didn’t say where he went.” Lin Ruyin frowned slightly, looking worried.

Yonghe quickly reassured him, "Lord Lin should be fine. Perhaps he just took a day off to be lazy and was just playing around."

Yonghe knew all too well how his elder brother, the Emperor, had exploited Lin Xiangzhi.

Jiang Shuyue learned from their conversation that this Miss Lin was Lin Xiangzhi's younger sister.

As the music ended, a waiter came upstairs to ask if the dishes could be served.

Yonghe said to the waiter, "Add two more servings of food."

He then said to Jiang Shuyue, "It's rare for us to get together at a restaurant, Sister Jiang, please stay and have lunch with us."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I won't stand on ceremony."

The princess was hosting a welcome dinner for her friend, but Jiang Shuyue couldn't possibly take the initiative and insist on treating everyone. Instead, she had the waiter bring up a jar of fruit wine as a small token of her appreciation.

With a waiter helping to grill the meat, there's no need for maids to serve you in the house.

Yonghe arranged for her maids, Qiuju, and Lin Ruyin's two maids to dine in a private room next door.

During the meal, the princess and Lin Ruyin praised the restaurant's dishes highly.

Jiang Shuyue wasn't one to show off or be clever; she attributed all the credit to the manager and the cook.

Yonghe knew that Jiang Shuyue was a low-key person, so even if she knew some inside information, she would pretend not to know if Jiang Shuyue didn't say anything.

After the meal, the three drank a cup of tea before taking their leave.

On the way back, the two got into the carriage, and Qiuju couldn't wait to say, "Miss, did you hear that? That Miss Lin is after the Emperor."

"So what? There are plenty of girls who want to be with the Emperor, what does it have to do with me? This Miss Lin is quite pretty and is good friends with Princess Yonghe, so she has a high chance of entering the palace in the future."

Qiuju looked worried. "The Emperor keeps coming to the mansion. What's going on? Miss, you still have to arrange a marriage."

Jiang Shuyue pinched the bridge of her nose. "He is the Emperor and Sui Sui's father. We can't just kick him out."

This is a world with clear hierarchies; one must uphold one's own principles without breaking the rules of others.

She just wanted to live her life quietly, hoping that a hundred years later, things would return to their original course.

...

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager did not rest for a moment after returning to Yannan.

They hired an official matchmaker to quickly complete the pre-wedding procedures.

Su Huai-ren was so moved by the imperial edict that he was reinstated to his original post that he was moved to tears.

“My dear wife, we have finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. I can die without regrets if I can return to the capital in my lifetime.”

"Pah, pah, pah! Tomorrow is our daughter's wedding day. Saying such unlucky things is bad. Quickly knock on the wood." Madam Su glared at her husband and pulled Su Huai Ren to the table.

Su Huai-ren raised his hand and tapped the table three times, saying, "It was my careless talk, a slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue. Our family is having a smooth and prosperous year, with good fortune coming one after another."

“That’s more like it. My son’s career in the capital is going well, Hui’er has met a good match, and you’ve been reinstated. I’m just waiting to go back to the capital to enjoy my life.”

Madam Su smiled broadly, but after a moment, as if she remembered something sad, the smile on her face vanished instantly.

"I wonder how Yue'er and Sui Sui are doing. She always reports good news and never bad news. When will Sui Sui be recognized by her ancestors? How will the Emperor settle Yue'er?"

“Yue is a resourceful person. Look, find me evidence to clear my name. If she hadn’t come up with a solution, the Emperor wouldn’t have issued this imperial decree.”

Su Huai-ren comforted Madam Su.

Madam Su looked somber. "I just can't help but think about these things. In my heart, Yue'er is just like Hui'er. I hope she is happy and has no regrets."

There was no one else in the room. Su Huai-ren put his arm around his wife and gently patted her back with emotion.

"Everything will be alright. When we return to the capital, we will repay her properly. I know perfectly well that if it weren't for Yue'er, we would not know where we would have wandered off to with other refugees."

"My wife has suffered with me all these years."

"We are husband and wife, and we should share joys and sorrows. Stop talking, the messengers who will deliver the betrothal gifts will be here soon."

Just as Mrs. Su was about to push her husband away, Su Hui's voice rang out from the doorway.

"Father, Mother, the Prince's Mansion has sent betrothal gifts. Go out quickly to greet and settle them in."

Seeing her parents hugging, Su Hui turned away awkwardly.

Su Huai-ren blushed and hurriedly let go of his hands.

He coughed lightly, sounding unnatural. "Your mother is reluctant to see you get married, and your father is comforting her."

Madam Su glared at Su Huai Ren, "My daughter will be staying in Yannan from now on, and I'll hardly see her even once a year. Of course I'll miss her."

Su Hui turned around and took Madam Su's hand. "The Prince said that we should go to the capital for a while every year. Mother, don't worry about me. My elder brother should be getting married soon. Father and Mother should go to the capital as soon as possible to find a good girl for him."

Su Hui knew that Su Nan and Sui Sui were studying at the Imperial Academy, but she was even more concerned about her older brother and Sister Yue'er.

Madam Su patted her daughter's hand. "Mother understands. Now that you're in the Prince's mansion, you must be filial to your elders and respect your husband. The Prince's mansion is so grand, it's different from our humble household. If you don't understand something, ask your elders for help."

Su Jin nodded, "I understand. The Empress Dowager may stay in Yannan for a while longer. The Empress Dowager will take care of the affairs of the mansion, and I will gradually learn to manage them as well."

She was happy to have the Empress Dowager in the mansion, but the Empress Dowager would eventually return to the capital.

As the principal wife of Prince Kang, it was only a matter of time before she took charge of the household affairs and managed the family's finances.

Just as Madam Su was about to give some more instructions, she heard hurried footsteps in the courtyard.