Chapter 263 Envy

Shen Wan stared at Xie Jingyu in a daze.

Only then did he realize that the old lady did not really want the princess to entrust the task of preparing the birthday gift for the Queen Mother to Xie Jingze and Song Nanyue.

This is just to tell Duke Song and the Queen Mother that the prince and princess will not let Xie Jingze and Song Nanyue get involved in the power of the Jingbei Palace.

If there is any problem with the birthday gift prepared by the princess, the queen mother will definitely punish her severely, and the old lady will take the opportunity to add insult to injury and pave the way for the subsequent fight for the housekeeper's power.

It was just that little trick that could confuse Shen Wan and the princess, but Xie Jingyu saw through it at a glance.

It was precisely because they did not really have any expectations that they were so surprised when Xie Jingyu persuaded the princess. In their opinion, Xie Jingyu would never agree. After all, it was not difficult to prepare a birthday gift for the empress dowager. They could just pick anything in the warehouse and present it to her.

Xie Jingyu accompanied Shen Wan to the viewing tower for a while, and then returned to Zhaolanxuan.

But just as he reached the door, the prince sent someone to call Xie Jingyu to the military camp, and he did not return until the evening.

The next day was the day Xie Jingze accompanied Song Nanyan back home, and Chen Wan did not go to pay her respects to the old lady.

Chen Wan was pregnant, and the princess asked her to go once every three to five days. Chen Wan didn't want to stay with those people, so she naturally didn't go if she could avoid it.

But Xie Jingyu has been getting busier and busier recently. Today, the prince didn’t look for him, but the emperor did.

But he still came back to have lunch with her. After lunch, Chen Wan felt sleepy and prepared to take a nap.

Just as he lay down, Chun'er came in quickly and told Chen Wan that the wedding date of Chen Li and Princess Jiangling had been set.

Before Shen Wan could ask, Shanhu spoke first, "Which day?"

"The twenty-eighth of this month."

"The Duke's wife specifically asked Taoist Qingyuan to calculate the date. If she marries Princess Jiangling on this day, not only will her life be smooth sailing, but she'll also have two children in three years."

“…”

Chen Wan never believed that the Taoist priest had any real ability.

But since it concerns my eldest brother, it has to work no matter how hard it tries.

In twenty days, my eldest brother will get his wish and marry Princess Jiangling.

Shen Wan was happy for them from the bottom of her heart.

Thinking that he hadn't been back to Duke Dingguo's Mansion for a few days, Chen Wan decided to go back tomorrow.

If Chen Wan wanted to return to Duke Dingguo's Mansion, neither the princess nor Xie Jingyu would stop her. The next day, Xie Jingyu accompanied Chen Wan back.

When they were returning, Shen Li happened to be leaving the house. Shen Wan smiled and asked, "Brother, are you leaving the house?"

Shen Li is in trouble.

Prince Yong invited him to go boating and fishing in the lake, and he had to go.

Xie Jingyu accompanied Shen Wan to the Duke of Dingguo's Mansion, and he had to accompany her.

Chen Li said, "How about my brother-in-law go boating with me, and then come back to pick up my sister after lunch?"

Shen Wan looked at Xie Jingyu, "Then you go with my eldest brother."

That's all I can do.

Shen Wan returned to Duke Dingguo's Mansion, Chen An protected him in secret, and Xie Jingyu left with Shen Li without any worries.

On the way out of the city, Shen Li smiled and said, "Is it difficult to see your father?"

It's indeed difficult.

Xie Jingyu had always wanted to tell Chen Ji about the jade pendant, but he never found the chance.

Shen Ji's military camp was not in the same location as the prince's. Xie Jingyu had gone to look for Shen Ji twice these days, but he hadn't seen Shen Ji.

It was a day off today, and I thought Shen Ji should be at home, but he wasn't there either.

Chen Li laughed and said, "Don't talk about you. I often don't see my father for several days."

"By the way, what do you want to talk to your father about?"

Xie Jingyu looked at Chen Li, "Do you know about Wan'er's half jade pendant?"

Shen Li, “…???”

"What half jade pendant?" Chen Li looked confused.

“…”

Xie Jingyu thought Shen Li would know something, but it turned out that he didn't even know about the jade pendant.

Chen Li said, "I've heard that jade can protect people from disasters, but how can a broken jade pendant be used as a talisman? Have you been fooled by my sister?"

Although a certain gentleman had been fooled by Shen Wan many times, he felt that this matter was true.

Chen Li knew nothing about it, so Xie Jingyu didn't tell him. After leaving the city, the two of them had a horse race.

As for Chen Wan, after watching them ride away on horseback, he took Shanhu into the mansion.

Entering the inner courtyard and reaching the garden, Yun came over. Seeing Shen Wan, she was happy but also disapproving, "Why are you back when you're pregnant?"

Shen Wan said, "My daughter misses her mother."

Yun scolded her, "I just saw him a few days ago."

Shen Wan held her arm and said, "I miss you even though I've only just met you. It would be best if I could see you every day."

Yun also hoped to see her daughter every day, but that was impossible. "It's a bumpy ride in a carriage. If you miss your mother, I'll go see you."

The mother and daughter walked forward, talking and laughing, and Shen Wan asked, "Where's my cousin?"

Yun smiled and said, "The Zhou brothers and sisters are coming to the capital today. Your cousin went to Shili Pavilion to greet them early in the morning."

Lord Zhou had already arrived in Beijing a few days ago, followed by the Zhou brothers and sisters. The other members of the Zhou family would have to wait until their place of stay was ready before coming.

Yun said, "Your father and Lord Zhou went to look at houses. Your father sold the house to the east to the Zhou family. They live closer and it's convenient for them to come and go."

Shen Wan knew about the house in the east.

Before the Duke Dingguo's Mansion split up, it had many descendants. As the old lady was getting old, she had to prepare for the division of the family early.

It is convenient for brothers to live together and travel together, so if there is a house for sale near Duke Dingguo's Mansion, as long as it is of suitable size and location, Shen Ji will buy it.

In the previous life, the house was given to the fourth branch. Now, only the eldest branch is left in the Duke Dingguo's Mansion. If the family is to be divided in the future, it will have to wait until Shen Li has several sons, which will be at least several decades later. Shen Ji thinks it is a waste to leave the house empty.

The Zhou family saved Ye Caiwei's life and raised her for so many years. They should give the house to the Zhou family as a thank you gift, but Lord Zhou refused to accept it.

After much arguing, everyone finally gave in and the Zhou family bought it at the original price.

Shen Wan said enviously, “From now on, my cousin will be much closer to my parents than I am.”

Yun said, "Your father also hopes that you can be closer to him, but the Dingguo Mansion and the Jingbei Prince Mansion were both bestowed by Emperor Taizu, so you can't move."

...I can move it but I can’t.

Who would move just for her convenience? All the married and unmarried people in Kyoto would be jealous and hate her to death.

Besides, if you accommodate her, you still have your elder sister.

With Ye Caiwei away, Chen Wan clung to Yun Shi. The mother and daughter had endless private conversations. The small kitchen made some pastries that Chen Wan liked and brought them over. Just as Shen Wan picked them up, a maid came in and said, "Madam, the Duke's wife, the wife of the Marquis of Zhaoping slapped the wife of the Marquis of Yongqing..."

Shen Wan, “…???”

Because Shen Yu, Lady Zhaoping and Lady Yongqing met at a banquet at someone else's house, and both of them ignored each other, so how could they fight?

Yun frowned, "What's going on?"

The maidservant said, "The wife of the Marquis of Zhaoping was selecting fabrics at Jinsi Pavilion to make clothes for the baby in the eldest aunt's belly. The wife of the Marquis of Yongqing happened to be there too. When she saw her, she was sarcastic and spoke dirty words. The wife of the Marquis of Zhaoping was so angry that she slapped her..."