Upon learning that the Xie family would be staying at the Prince's Mansion for a few months, Song Yaozhu personally arranged their accommodations and servants, ensuring everything was thoughtful and appropriate.

Even the lunch served was prepared to suit the Xie family's taste.

Xie Liwei stood in front of the dining table, looking at Song Yaozhu with a smile on her face, and asked, "What kind of drug did the Princess Consort administer?"

Song Yaozhu: "...A mute drug!"

She glared angrily at Xie Liwei.

The Xie family members watched the interaction between the couple and exchanged bewildered glances. They felt as if they'd already been fed something unknown before even having a proper meal...

After everyone was seated, the clan leader took the seat of honor, with Xie Lu and Xie Liwei sitting to his left and right respectively. Song Yaozhu sat down next to Xie Liwei, and then they began to eat and talk.

Their conversation revolved around the academy, and Song Yaozhu listened silently.

"The dishes are quite good today. We haven't been to the capital for many years, and we didn't expect that Granny would still remember our tastes!"

They would only come over once every three years, when they escorted students to the capital for the imperial examinations.

Granny Qin chuckled from the side, "Today's dishes were prepared under the supervision of the Princess!"

"Oh? My sister-in-law has actually eaten food from Chenliu before?"

Xie Liwei also looked at Song Yaozhu.

She calmly replied, "It's not that I've eaten there. The chefs at the Prince's Mansion are from my hometown. But from what I've seen, they've put in a lot more effort."

"Haha, it seems that Brother Li is usually quite lenient with the servants!"

"They remember the kindness of their master, and when they heard that the clan elders were coming, they naturally worked even harder."

"Sister-in-law, you have such a sweet tongue! Come, come, I must reward them handsomely!" With that, Xie Mingyue untied her purse and tossed it to the servant, "Go! Everyone in the kitchen will be rewarded today!"

With such a good start, the atmosphere during the meal became even more lively, just like a real family.

After the meal, Song Yaozhu led them to the courtyard she had arranged.

Xie Mingyue was stunned by this thoughtfulness. She put her arm around Xie Liwei's shoulder and said, "It's only because I married a wife that I feel like I've come home! Thinking back to the past when I came to visit you, the food and lodging there were not as good as what I got at the inn!"

Xie Liwei: "......"

You're exaggerating as if I used to abuse you!

"You've married a good wife, sir. I'm so envious!"

"Okay, I'll write to my sister-in-law later and tell her that you envy me for marrying such a good wife."

"Hey! You're so ungrateful!"

That evening, Song Yaozhu rubbed her tired legs; she had spent the entire day either standing or walking. Caijin brought her some foot bath water, and as her feet immersed in the hot water, half of her fatigue disappeared.

Xie Liwei pushed the door open and came in at that moment, and she looked at him in surprise.

"Didn't we say we were going to play a few rounds of chess with my cousin?"

Why are you back so soon?

"My brother said he can't leave you alone in an empty room."

Song Yaozhu: "......"

These are words that her cousin would say.

"You've been quite attentive to your father and brothers today," he said sarcastically.

“We are husband and wife, and your father and brothers are my father and brothers. Isn’t it a wife’s duty to be filial to them?” she retorted.

Xie Liwei didn't reply, but instead said, "You may leave."

Upon hearing the sound, the maidservant inside the room withdrew. He then said to Song Yaozhu, "Come and make the bed. I will sleep on the couch tonight."

Song Yaozhu ignored him completely; she was always the one bossing her younger brother around. How dare he try to climb over her!

"Since the princess does not respond, I will assume that you wish to share a bed with me."

Song Yaozhu immediately dried her feet with a towel, took out a mattress from the cabinet and spread it on the chaise longue. Then she quickly got into bed, saying, "I'm going to sleep, Your Highness, please make yourself at home!"

He looked at her as if he could no longer order her around.

The lights in the inner room were turned off, and Xie Liwei's smile finally appeared. He slowly walked to the side room to wash up, and then got onto the couch.

Nothing was said that night. It wasn't until Song Yaozhu woke up the next day that she remembered to ask him about the exam the day before.

"Most of those who came to give gifts yesterday were wealthy merchants from the capital. They have wealth but no power, and they are eager for their sons to obtain official titles so that they can escape their status as merchants. Some of them are indeed quite talented, but they are still far inferior to those from aristocratic families."

As Song Yaozhu listened, she was thinking about some things.

Education was a privilege reserved for the elite, with powerful families virtually monopolizing the imperial examinations. The lower classes, especially farmers and laborers, were almost entirely illiterate. In comparison, these merchants, who were able to send their children to school, had already broken through a certain class barrier.

The powerful clans were the greatest obstacle to breaking this monopoly; they were also the greatest obstacle to imperial power.

"My father and several clan elders discussed it and decided to open a branch of Nanshan Academy in the capital. Those promising students will be given the opportunity to audit classes, and if they achieve excellent results in the semester exams, they can become full-fledged students."

The family that gave her the string of flowers yesterday granted him permission to listen in on the proceedings.

This is a very good idea; it can save face for those aristocratic families without denying opportunities to others.

The imperial examinations should be conducted nationwide, not a means for aristocratic families to monopolize the court. Yuwen Wuji must understand this as well, which is why he will silently support Nanshan Academy's actions.

This would pit the Xie family against the other powerful families, giving him an opportunity to target them.

But it's uncertain who's taking advantage of whom.

Song Yaozhu was truly shocked. Even though her father and the others were not in the court, they were still working for the people.

"The princess seems rather somber?"

Song Yaozhu shook her head. "It's just a pity that the prince, who also comes from a noble family, turned his sword against his own kind."

Xie Liwei's face darkened. "How many Xie families do you think there are in this world? Look around the world, the common people have suffered under the rule of powerful families for too long!"

"Yes, yes, you have dealt with the powerful families for the sake of the people, and helped the Emperor solve many of his biggest worries. How can we not know that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold?"

Xie Liwei chuckled lightly. Was she afraid that the Xie family would be used as pawns by others and sacrificed in vain, and was she testing whether she had any backup plans?

"Some sacrifices are unavoidable."

Since she's in such a hurry, let her be!

As expected, Song Yaozhu's face darkened.

"Your Highness, the carriage is ready. We should head out soon!"

Song Yaozhu snorted, pushed the bowl away, and went out.

Xie Liwei slowly put a piece of tofu with scallions into his mouth, finished the last mouthful of porridge, and got up satisfied.

Once inside the carriage, Song Yaozhu angrily clutched her hand warmer, thinking to herself that she would take her anger out on them when she got back to the Song family!

They walked in silence. Xie Liwei wondered to himself if he had angered her too much.

When they arrived at the Song family's residence, the eldest branch of the family was already waiting at the door to greet them.

Song Yaozhu glanced at the people at the door; Song Wenyue was not there.

"Where is my fourth sister?"

Mentioning Song Wenyue, the members of the eldest branch of the family all looked rather unwell.

Yesterday, she was escorted back by Eunuch Gao, who served the Imperial Concubine. Eunuch Gao smiled and said to Madam Song, "Madam Song has raised a fine daughter!"

The Song family members immediately turned pale.

Song Wenyue didn't know what she had experienced in the palace, but she fell ill after returning. The atmosphere in the entire Song family was unusually gloomy.

"Your sister is ill, so we're not coming to greet her," Madam Song explained awkwardly.

"Oh dear, how did you suddenly get sick! Take me to see a doctor!" she exclaimed in utter astonishment.

Xie Liwei: Could you be any more fake?

The eldest son of the Song family said: "There's no need to force her like that. I thought you wanted to take advantage of her illness to kill her."