Ding said apologetically to Jiang Yinjin, "Ahem... Yinjin, it's like this. Her Highness the Princess has ordered that after the Crown Prince is sent away, we should go to the Princess's residence to keep her company. I wonder if you would like to go with us?"

Chen Mianmian sighed inwardly—So, in the end, she couldn't escape it after all? The heroine still had to go to the princess's residence and meet Princess Rui'an?

In fact, Madam Ding was unwilling, but Jiang Yinjin was, after all, the heir apparent's legal wife. Every time she went out, she would take her son's concubine with her, but not her legitimate daughter-in-law. If this got out, people in the capital would question her and damage the reputation of the Marquis's mansion.

A calculating glint flashed in Jiang Yinjin's eyes, but her face remained gentle and smiling. "Of course, your daughter-in-law is willing."

"..." Ding Shi—sigh, she still agreed.

Well, he was learning mahjong for the princess's sake anyway, so how could she stop him?

The princess was indeed more worthy of being flattered than she, a lowly lady of a marquis's household, so why should she be jealous?

"Okay, do you need to go back and prepare? We need to prepare for the possibility that we won't be able to come back tonight."

"May I ask what Mother has brought with her? Whatever Mother brings, I, your daughter-in-law, will bring as well." Despite saying this, Jiang Yinjin had already found out that the two of them were not bringing any luggage to the Princess's residence.

In a princess's mansion, where one lives in luxury and ease, how could there be a shortage of food, clothing, and other necessities for a few guests?

Ding said, "I didn't bring anything. I'll use whatever the princess's residence has."

Jiang Yinjin: "They didn't even bring their daughter-in-law."

Seeing that Jiang Yinjin did not need any extra preparations, Madam Ding ordered a carriage to be prepared, and the group headed to the Princess's residence.

The only difference was that Ding no longer rode in the same carriage as Shen Mianmian, but instead rode in the same carriage as Jiang Yinjin.

On the way there,

The atmosphere inside the two carriages was completely different.

Inside Ding's carriage, it was almost completely quiet except for the sound of the wheels rolling on the road. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat upright in the carriage, barely exchanging a word.

Even when she occasionally spoke a few words, she was always respectful and polite, and every move she made was graceful and elegant, a typical noblewoman's demeanor.

Ding secretly groaned in her heart—she used to enjoy the rides with Mianmian, leaning against the carriage, watching the scenery and chatting, which was very pleasant.

She wouldn't dare be with her daughter-in-law, after all, her daughter-in-law came from a prestigious family, and she, as the mother-in-law, couldn't bring shame to her son.

On the other hand, Chen Mianmian was much more relaxed.

"Hanrong, take out the candied fruit and eat it."

Hanrong was taken aback. "Huh? Is Auntie carsick?"

When noblewomen traveled, they would always bring sweet and sour fruits to prevent discomfort caused by the bumpy ride in the carriage.

Chen Mianmian raised an eyebrow. "Can't you eat candied fruit if you're not carsick? Candied fruit is a snack, not motion sickness medicine. Hurry up and take it out and eat it."

Hanrong could only laugh and cry as she took out a small ceramic jar, uncorked it, and a sweet and sour fruity aroma wafted out, making one's mouth water.

Shen Mianmian, with her sharp ears, heard the sound of Granny Li swallowing – because Jiang Yinjin had two maids, the madam's carriage couldn't accommodate everyone, so Granny Li came to Shen Mianmian's carriage.

Of course, Li Mama didn't need to be separated from Madam, but Madam Ding considered that it might be awkward for Mianmian to be with Yinjin's maid, so she thoughtfully asked Li Mama to come over.

Coincidentally, Granny Li's favorite food was candied fruit.

Chen Mianmian used a handkerchief to wet her fingers, then pinched a piece of candied peach and handed it to Granny Li, saying, "Granny, have some candied fruit."

Granny Li swallowed hard again. "You may eat, Madam. I won't eat."

Chen Mianmian lied in a serious tone, "Granny, you don't know, when I came out with Hanrong, we always ate candied fruit together. If you don't eat it, Hanrong will probably feel embarrassed to eat it too."

As he spoke, he gave Hanrong a look.

Hanrong immediately chimed in, "Yes, Granny, please eat with me, otherwise I won't get to eat."

Unable to refuse the kind offer, Granny Li had no choice but to accept the candied fruit from Concubine Shen.

Chen Mianmian took out a second piece of candied fruit and handed it to Hanrong.

Hanrong was about to refuse when she saw her aunt wink at her—if you don't eat, you'll give yourself away.

Hanrong could only accept the candied fruit, and Chenmianmian took out another piece before eating it herself.

The three of them enjoyed their candied fruit while riding in the car.

Chen Mianmian laughed and said, "Are you bored? If you are, I'll tell you a joke to pass the time, and we can even have some candied fruit with it."

A gentle breeze drifted in through the carriage window. Granny Li, enjoying her favorite candied fruit, was in high spirits. "My lady can tell jokes? Then this servant is truly eager to listen."

“Alright, listen carefully,” Chen Mianmian then told an old joke she had heard before, “There was a pregnant woman who gave birth prematurely, at seven months. Her husband was worried that the child wouldn’t survive. The wife comforted him, saying, ‘Husband, don’t worry, my grandfather was also born prematurely at seven months.’ The husband was overjoyed and asked, ‘Did your grandfather survive?’”

Granny Li and Hanrong were taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

As Chen Mianmian munched on her candied fruit, she mused to herself, "People in ancient times really do have a low threshold for humor." When she first read those ancient jokes, she had remained expressionless the entire time, wondering how such things could possibly make people laugh.

Human experiments have shown that it can indeed make people laugh, proving that the ancients were right.

Afterwards, Shen Mianmian told the two of them a few ancient jokes that modern people would find unfunny, which made Li Mama and Hanrong laugh all the way to the princess's residence.

Upon arriving at the princess's residence, both carriages stopped.

The three of them wiped their fingers clean with a damp cloth, adjusted their facial expressions, and then got off the carriage.

After getting off the carriage, Granny Li went to serve the lady.

Chenmianmian led Hanrong behind them.

Led by servants from the princess's residence, the group entered the inner courtyard of the princess's residence with familiarity with the route.

As they walked along the road, Ding noticed that Li Mama had a smile on her face and a rosy complexion, so she asked, "What happened when you were in the back carriage just now?"

Granny Li replied softly, "Nothing happened. My aunt just told me jokes the whole way."

Ms. Ding was surprised. "A joke? She can tell jokes?"

Thinking of the laughter and joy they had shared along the way, Granny Li wished the carriage could travel for another hour. "Yes, Consort Shen took out some candied fruit and shared it with me and Hanrong. We ate the candied fruit while listening to Consort Shen tell jokes. Consort Shen's jokes are excellent."

As he spoke, an uncontrollable smile appeared on his face.

Ding was feeling incredibly frustrated—she had been sitting stiffly the whole way, while they were enjoying candied fruit and listening to jokes. She really wanted to get on that carriage too! But she couldn't let Yin Jin ride alone. Sigh… why didn't Mian Mian tell jokes before? When could she avoid Yin Jin and ride with Mian Mian? She also wanted to eat candied fruit and listen to jokes at the same time.

Jiang Yinjin, with her sharp ears, caught the conversation between the mistress and servant and cursed inwardly—vixen! seductress! vixen! She's infuriating! She's already seduced Bai Qingzhou, and now she's trying to seduce the mistress too?

She suddenly worried... what if the princess had also been seduced? No, she absolutely couldn't let that slut succeed!