But she was, after all, Yao's daughter. Her younger brother was still young and unmarried, and didn't understand social etiquette at all. The funeral had to be held, but she was still injured and it was not appropriate for her to show up. So Su Jiafeng took the initiative to offer to help her with her father's funeral arrangements.

Xin'er was extremely grateful and thanked him repeatedly.

Su Jiafeng was busy for seven days before the funeral was finally over.

After the funeral, Su Mingfeng found the two of them and said that Xin'er's father had passed away and she had to observe mourning for him, so the marriage was temporarily put on hold.

Xin'er had no objections; on the contrary, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had already felt awkward, but now that she had this as an excuse, she didn't have to bother responding anymore.

Since the incident was sudden, Su Jiafeng expressed her understanding and did not insist.

Xin'er planned to move back home, but he was worried that something might happen to her, so he wouldn't let her leave and insisted that she stay here.

Xin'er didn't object on the surface and agreed to let him stay at the Zheng family's house temporarily, but she already had other plans in mind...

Before we knew it, it was already winter. The first snow of the year came a little early. When Hongli got up to enter the palace, snowflakes began to fall. The fierce north wind howled wildly, making the snowflakes dance wildly and the sky was filled with white.

When he finished the morning court session and stepped out of the palace gate, the ground was already wet, and a thin layer of snow covered the glazed tiles on the roof.

Hongli, dressed in a sable coat and with an umbrella held by a eunuch, strolled in the wind and snow. His handsome face exuded an air of nobility.

After the court session, Emperor Yongzheng summoned the Grand Councilors to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to continue discussing state affairs. Hongli did not leave the palace but went to the inner palace. He first paid his respects to his late father, Consort Tongjia, who had raised him, and then paid his respects to his birth mother, Consort Xi.

As his mother, Consort Xi rarely saw him, only once or twice a month, and could only exchange a few words with him when he came to pay his respects.

Hongli also wanted to pay his respects to his mother every day, but palace rules did not allow it, so he could only follow the rules.

With nothing else to do, Consort Xi asked him how he had been doing lately and whether he had any close friends in the household.

The first person Hongli thought of was Su Yushan, but he did not mention her to his mother. He only said against his will, "The maid Gao is intelligent and gentle, and has won my heart."

So she is Gao Bin's daughter! Consort Xi smiled and replied, "I saw this girl during the selection of concubines. She is indeed a beauty, with gentle and unassuming features. I also like her very much."

When the imperial concubine selection was mentioned, Consort Xi smiled gently and said, "The selection will be held again next spring. You are of marriageable age, and next year your father will choose a lady to be your consort!"