Xiao Shun and Ren Yaohua were both decisive and efficient people, so after Xiangqin got engaged, both sides started preparing for the marriage very smoothly.

Xiao Shun held an official position in the Yanbei Palace, so Xiangqin's marriage was considered a high-ranking one, and the wedding was more formal than that of an ordinary maid. Despite this, Ren Yaohua still set the wedding date in October. Xiangqin was very sad for a while, thinking that her master was eager to kick her out of the house. It was not until Sang Zhen persuaded her that her master asked her to marry early in order to take care of the second young lady who was pregnant that Xiangqin became happy again.

Although Ren Yaohua acted disdainful towards Xiangqin, the maid, she was very generous when giving her a dowry. In addition, Ren Yaoqi, whether out of her own feelings or because of Xiao Jingxi's appreciation of Xiao Shun, also added a lot of dowry to Xiangqin. As a result, the wedding of Xiangqin, the first maid, was no less grand than that of a lady from an ordinary wealthy family, which really made many people envious.

At the same time, the Yun family and Zhao Yingqiu were also busy with the wedding. After Zhao Yingqiu's wedding date was set, she rarely went out. Although the Zhao family prepared a generous dowry for her, Zhao Yingqiu still insisted on embroidering her wedding dress and wedding quilt herself, as well as shoes and socks to present to her uncle-in-law when she got married.

Yan Ningshuang and Zhao Yingqiu have a good relationship. They were close friends when they were in Beijing. Yan Ningshuang has been a little depressed recently, so she often goes to the villa to visit Zhao Yingqiu, and the two talk together to relieve their boredom.

That afternoon, after lunch, Yan Ningshuang went out to the villa to talk to Zhao Yingqiu. Zhao Yingqiu was doing needlework with two maids. Zhao Yingqiu was quite skillful, and the pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water on the wedding handkerchief were embroidered vividly by her.

Yan Ningshuang sat aside and watched, and suddenly asked: "Yingqiu, why did you come to Yanbei?"

Zhao Yingqiu paused her needlework, then looked up at Yan Ningshuang and said with a smile, "This is the Queen Mother's wish. How can I disobey her?"

Yan Ningshuang was lost in thought. Hearing this, she spoke gloomily, "Back then, the Empress Dowager issued an edict to select prominent ladies to come to Yanbei. The families who submitted their applications were either concubines' daughters who weren't favored at home, or legitimate daughters who had lost the support of their maternal clan. None of the truly favored women were willing to come. Only I... only I knelt before the Empress Dowager and begged for three days before she agreed. I had my own reasons for coming to Yanbei, but why did you come? You're favored at home, and the Empress Dowager loves you. If you stay in the capital, you'll definitely find a good marriage. With the Li family on your side, your husband's family won't dare treat you poorly."

Zhao Yingqiu was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly and looked up. "I grew up in the capital. The farthest place I've ever been is Zhaode Temple, eighty miles away from the capital. So I've always longed for Yanbei. Why? Isn't it good for me to come to Yanbei? I can also keep you company."

Yan Ningshuang was in a bad mood and did not notice Zhao Yingqiu's deliberate ambiguity about her question. She just said to herself, "I just feel sorry for you. I heard that the eldest son of the Yun family has been unwilling to get married because he has a lover. If you marry him, aren't you afraid that you will only be able to sleep in the same bed but have different dreams?" As Yan Ningshuang spoke, she thought of her own marriage, and a trace of pain appeared in her eyes.

Zhao Yingqiu smiled, lowered her head and continued threading the needle, her hand holding the needle and thread still steady: "Is it too early to think about these things now? This is a matter for the future."

Yan Ningshuang looked at Zhao Yingqiu and sighed, feeling a sense of sadness that they were both connected by the same fate.

Zhao Yingqiu suddenly said, "By the way, will Yanbei be bustling again soon? I heard people below me say that the imperial court and the Liao Kingdom will soon reopen border trade. I guess there will be fewer wars."