The eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month is Jiang Zhiyu's birthday.

Jiang Zhaorong only remembered it after Taohong reminded him.

"Oh, right," Taohong said, rubbing her belly beside him. "Yesterday was Shiwei's birthday, and also her coming-of-age day. It's all my fault for forgetting to mention it to the palace."

"What should we do, Lord Prime Minister?"

Jiang Zhaorong raised his eyes to look at her, and seeing her obviously bulging belly, his eyes froze slightly: "It's not a big deal, I can make up for it for her today."

"This..." Taohong hesitated: "I can make it up today, but I don't have enough time to buy these things and the invitations."

"Why buy all that? It's just a coming-of-age ceremony," Jiang Zhaorong stood up impatiently. "Sulan's coming-of-age gifts are still in the storeroom. Just use those. There's no need to invite any guests. I'll do the ceremony myself."

Tao Hong was secretly delighted, but she still said, "The coming of age is so important to a girl. If the Prime Minister arranges it this way, I'm afraid Shi Wei will see it and secretly get angry with the Prime Minister, and even become estranged from him."

That would be best.

Jiang Zhaorong thought to himself that if Song Shiwei attached great importance to this coming-of-age ceremony, and why it was held so simply, her emotions must have been extremely fluctuating. Perhaps he could find a clue from her.

Thinking this, he interrupted Taohong: "Don't bother talking anymore. The official time has already passed. Why bother with these empty formalities?"

"Send someone to the palace now to report to the Empress Dowager. I'll go see Madam Du."

Taohong smiled and walked him out the door.

After Jiang Zhaorong disappeared from sight, the maid beside Taohong stepped forward and whispered, "According to the report from over there, Madam Du seems to be pregnant."

Taohong gnashed her teeth, "What a coincidence! There's been no news for so many years, and now you're pregnant?"

"Madam, what you mean is...that over there is fake?"

In order to please her, the servants always called Taohong "Madam" in private.

"I don't believe such a coincidence could happen. Tell them to keep a close eye on it. If they find anything amiss, report it to me."

The maid replied yes.

…

In the palace, Song Shiwei, who had been waiting happily for the whole day yesterday, sat from early morning until late at night, but no one from the Prime Minister's Mansion came, and she did not sleep all night.

The swelling on her face from the previous beating had not yet subsided, and there were bruises under her eyes. She dragged her heavy body out and saw Qiu Yi standing outside her door.

"Oh my," Qiu Yi was shocked to see her like this: "What's wrong? Go wash and dress up quickly. Today is your coming-of-age ceremony. The Queen Mother is going to the Prime Minister's residence to personally confer the title of Princess on you!"

Song Shiwei: “!!!”

What? !

She was stunned at first, then her pupils dilated instantly and her heartbeat quickened.

It was as if an electric current ran through my body, and every cell was cheering and celebrating this unexpected joy.

The Empress Dowager was given a hairpin, and in the whole Shengjing, she was probably the only one who could have this honor.

This move of mine was really the right one!

Seeing that she was still stunned, Qiu Yi frowned and called her several times: "Are you happy as hell? Go wash up first. Go back to the Prime Minister's Mansion first. The Queen Mother will be here soon."

Song Shiwei returned to her room, and the moment the cold water splashed on her face, her restless emotions were suppressed.

She was ready to think.

But her coming-of-age ceremony was yesterday. Could it be that I remembered it wrong?

…

At the same time, Xu's house was already bustling with people.

Xu Youran and Jiang Sulan began to greet guests early in the morning, and various gifts were carried into the Xu Mansion in boxes.

Xu Youran looked at the densely packed gift list and was shocked. With so many gifts, they probably wouldn't give out so many even for the princess' birthday.

But soon, Xu Youran knew their intention.

Xing Maozhi stepped forward and bowed to Xu Youran. Beside him was a handsome young man with an upright posture.

"Lord Xing." Xu Youran returned the salute.

"Madam, there's no need to be so polite," Xing Maozhi said, his lips curled slightly. "Why aren't you seeing the Second Young Master and Zhiyu?"

Juvenile fish...

Xu Youran had a plan in mind and said, "Wen Jing and Kang An have some small matters to take care of and will come over later. Zhiyu is preparing her clothes."

Jiang Sulan tilted her head and glanced at her.

As expected of my mother, she can tell lies without batting an eyelid.

She had just gone in to see the young fish, who was still sleeping with her butt up in the air wrapped in a quilt.

Xing Maozhi chuckled, "Women, it's natural to love beauty." Xu Youran echoed a few words, and seeing that he had no intention of leaving, she could only speak, "This must be Lord Xing's beloved son."

"My son is naughty," Xing Maozhi waved his hand. "He's heard about Zhiyu a long time ago and admired her. He's been wanting to meet her. When he heard it was Zhiyu's birthday today, he's been wanting to come since early."

Xu Youran chuckled softly, "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. I don't know the name of Lord Xing's beloved son, and how old is he?"

The handsome young man beside Xing Maozhi stepped forward and bowed to Xu Youran. "Greetings, Madam. My name is Xing Zhao, and I'm a little over sixteen."

Xu Youran nodded slightly.

Over sixteen, and still no achievements...

"Madam, please rest assured," Xing Zhao said with a smile on his face. "I am the eldest son of the family. When Zhiyu marries into the mansion, she will definitely not be bullied in the slightest."

The smile on Xu Youran's face suddenly disappeared.

Jiang Sulan couldn't help but frown.

Xing Maozhi was also stunned when he heard his words. Seeing the expressions of the mother and daughter opposite him, he raised his hand and patted him on the back of the head: "What are you talking about!"

He didn't hold back this time, the sound was so crisp that the guests beside him couldn't help but look over.

"Father……"

Xing Zhao's words died under Xing Maozhi's deathly gaze. Xing Maozhi turned to Xu Youran and said with an apologetic smile, "Please don't be offended, Madam. I'm not good at speaking, and I didn't mean to offend you."

Jiang Sulan snorted softly: "What do you mean he can't speak? I think he is very confident."

"So ordinary, yet so confident."

"you!"

Anyone could hear the ridicule in Jiang Sulan's tone. Xing Zhao blushed and pointed at her.

Xing Maozhi sighed softly, and before Xu Youran could speak, he said, "You can go back first. I can be the only one at the birthday party."

Xing Zhao looked at him in disbelief.

"Okay, I'm leaving!"

He walked away in a huff. Xing Maozhi suppressed his anger and apologized to Xu Youran. "Don't blame me, Madam. I'll definitely teach him a lesson when I get back."

"Master Xing is serious, but Master Xing is the Minister of Justice after all. You must teach your children to be careful with their words and actions in the future."

"Of course, of course."

The guests who were secretly observing them from the side also roughly understood the situation, and looked at Xing Maozhi with an expression of enjoying the show.

Gou Yuanjing stood behind him and took in everything that had happened before.

Want to break up his relationship? No way.

After he sat down, he even laughed and joked.

Xing Maozhi had a smile on his face, but the smile did not reach his eyes.