Xiao Yao would never have dreamed that she had been branded as the Seventh Prince's concubine by the Queen Mother Han. What she is more concerned about now is her second brother's marriage. Why is her second sister-in-law refusing to show up despite repeated calls?

Just as summer was about to end and the sisters' summer vacation trip which lasted more than a month was coming to an end, Xiao Yao shook Tong Mingyu's arm again and asked about her second sister-in-law.

"Even if you don't come back today, Mother will send someone to pick you up tomorrow." Tong Mingyu's eyes were tender as she surveyed her daughter's face, which hadn't even gotten a tan after a whole summer of fun. She sometimes wondered why this child looked like neither her nor her husband. When she was little, she looked somewhat like her brother-in-law, but as she grew older, the resemblance became less and less.

My daughter's temperament is difficult to pin down. When she's quietly reading or embroidering, she appears elegant and calm, like an orchid or water lily blooming with a unique beauty. But when she's playful and coquettish, she's so lively, vibrant, and full of energy that you can't take your eyes off her.

Can such a girl be hidden and kept? My husband said that my father-in-law's plan to train a grandson-in-law from an early age was not going smoothly. He had selected batches of children, but none of them caught his eye. Now several men in the family have participated in it, and the scope of selection has been expanded to include outstanding boys from ordinary families. The old man is in full swing to start a new round of screening.

"Have you found any clues about my second brother's case? Whose girl is she? What's her name? Do I know her?"

Tong Mingyu, who was pulled back to reality from his trance by his daughter, was silent for a moment and said, "I will take you to a banquet in two days. Then you can see for yourself if there are any outstanding young ladies from official families. Your second brother said that if mother and sister are satisfied, he will marry her. Otherwise, he won't marry her no matter how outstanding she is."

"Second brother is so nice. Actually, I'm not picky. As long as second brother likes the other person, I don't care even if that lady hates me." Xiao Yao said calmly. She can still live at home for a few more years. If the two sisters-in-law get along well, they can visit each other more often. If they don't get along, they can see each other less often!

"That won't do. No woman who doesn't like the peace of our family is allowed to enter our house. You two should remember this, okay?" Upon hearing that their sister was coming back, the three brothers put down what they were doing and gathered in the upper room of Yayuan to welcome their sister.

"Of course. If it's someone my sister hates or doesn't like, I won't want him no matter what he looks like." Xiao Jun, who has grown into a little boy, patted his chest and made the promise. He has changed a lot as he grew older. The only thing that hasn't changed is his love for his sister. Every time they meet, he hugs her and touches her head and hands. He has been warned by the whole family by pulling her ears several times, but he would rather be scolded and beaten than change this habit.

"Sister, you are so cruel! You have been gone for more than a month. Why did mother give birth to us as a boy and a girl? If they were the same, either I could accompany you to escape the summer heat, or you could go to school with me. Now you have separated us alive, making me so miserable!" Xiao Jun rarely saw his mother and sister together, so he couldn't help but complain and pour out all his dissatisfaction.

"Why don't you ask your mother if she feels wronged? One of you is obsessed with practicing martial arts every day. Either you get bumped here or your clothes and shoes are torn again. As for me, I have to worry all day long whether you will do any tricks again or do anything earth-shattering. Tell me, which one is less worrying? Your second brother and third brother combined are not as troublesome as one of you." Tong Mingyu tapped the forehead of his youngest son and daughter. He still felt wronged. Who could he go to for justice?

"Mom, I've been very good recently." Xiao Yao rubbed Tong Mingyu's waist unwillingly. Being with a pregnant woman and a princess with a quiet personality, even if he wanted to do something fancy, he had to think about it, right?

"I'm also very obedient! Is it wrong to be ambitious?" Xiao Jun walked to the other side of Tong Mingyu and hugged his mother's waist like Xiao Yao. He could also hug his sister at the same time and kill two birds with one stone. He was intoxicated.

"What are you two doing?" Xiao Jingkang was delighted to see the mother and sons dressed in their besties. It was great to have his daughter home. His wife and sons were all smiling more. His daughter was almost nine! After she turned ten, she wouldn't be able to go out much anymore. In a few years... Xiao Jingkang sighed inwardly. It would be difficult to find a good match for his daughter among the children of his father's men or among ordinary people. He wondered if he would find one in the next few years.

He had a vague feeling that his daughter would never marry into an ordinary family, and that all his father's and his own efforts would be in vain.

"Daddy, I miss you so much." Xiao Yao followed suit and hugged Xiao Jingkang. It felt so good to be home, with her parents loving her and her brothers caring about her.

Xiao Jingkang sat down with his daughter in his arms. The only bad thing now was that he could no longer hug his daughter casually. Apart from the father who didn't care at all and the youngest son who was not shy about it, the more rational people in the family began to keep a distance from their growing daughter, and those intimate actions in the past could no longer be done.

"The old marquis has sent someone to pick up the eldest lady." Nanny Zhang lifted the curtain and reported.

"Ping'an, go see your grandfather quickly! If you're late, we will all be scolded because of you." Xiao Jingkang laughed twice and urged.

"I embroidered new purses for Dad and my brothers, and a new handkerchief for Mom. Xiaohui, go get them." Xiao Yao said as she tidied her clothes and prepared to go out.

"It's great that my sister has grown up! She has a new purse, and in two years she will have new clothes to wear, right?" Xiao Jun said happily.

What's good about that? You've been separated from your sister for a month and you're already thinking like this. In a few years, once you and your sister are separated, it won't be as simple as seeing each other for a month or two. Xiao Jingkang looked at the two little children whispering affectionately, feeling lost. No wonder they all wanted to have sons. The feeling of adding a new member to the family is definitely not the same as sending a daughter off to marry. He wondered if he could bear it when that day really came.

After resting at home for a few days, it was time to go to the banquet.

In order to meet her future sister-in-law, Xiao Yao put a lot of effort into dressing herself up. She wore a cherry red gradient dress, and on both sides of her head were flower-shaped buns made of the braids she asked Xiao Hui to braid. A headband with pearls sewn on it was used as the stamens of the flower, and long tassels hung below, swinging back and forth as Xiao Yao moved.

Even Li Jiaoying, who is good at dressing up and loves dressing up, praised Xiao Yao's new hairstyle. She is already at the age of a budding flower, and when she dresses up like a fresh flower, she is a beauty. Who can take their eyes off her!

Qin nodded repeatedly. Today they were going to Lord Zheng's residence, which was the home of the prince's father-in-law. How could there be no noble people here?

Tong Mingyu went out with her daughter amid everyone's praises, feeling mixed emotions. The more outstanding her daughter was, the more uneasy Tong Mingyu felt. She wanted her daughter to be noticed, but she also feared that she would be targeted by someone her family couldn't afford to offend.

"Don't leave your mother's side and don't walk around." Tong Mingyu was really worried about her daughter and kept reminding her. She even told the maid Xiying to just follow her daughter and not to serve her.

"I will be a good girl today. Can you reveal some information about my second sister-in-law? Just a little bit will do!" Xiao Yao compared the length of her little finger. Her requirements were not high at all, right!

"You're so smart, guess it yourself! All I can say is that that lady will be here today too. It's time to test your judgment. Don't let us down!"

"How can you be like this? If I guess wrong, my second brother will blame me. How can you bear to see your daughter embarrassed?"

Tong Mingyu smiled but didn't answer. Her daughter had always been naughty and mischievous, and the family had been helpless. Today was a chance to give her a hard time. Furthermore, she wanted to see if she and the girl from the Liu family would get along, and if they had a chance to become sister-in-law. Her son had said that if Ping'an had no impression of Miss Liu, or didn't like her, then the marriage wouldn't happen.

When the mother and daughter arrived at Zheng's house, there was already a long line of cars at the gate, and the yard was bustling with people coming and going.

Tong Mingyu first went to see the old lady of the Zheng family. The living room was full of beautiful women, including many princes and women from the duke's mansion.

"This must be the eldest daughter of the Xiao family! Let me take a look, she's so pretty." A beautiful woman in her thirties grabbed Xiao Yao's hand before Mrs. Wen, and her eyes glanced over Xiao Yao with exploration and amusement.

Xiao Yao cast a questioning look at her mother. Who was this person? She didn't even know her, okay? She was being so attentive to her for no reason. Why on earth was she treating her like this?

"This is the Princess of Qi." Tong Mingyu gave her daughter an answer after being surprised. She didn't know what the Princess wanted to do, so she could only take it one step at a time.

"Xiao Yao greets the Princess." Xiao Yao bowed to the Princess of Qi. After three years of learning from Nanny Ruan, Xiao Yao now has mastered all kinds of movements and etiquette very well. Not to mention that she has become very skilled in them.

My son is quite discerning. The girl from the Xiao family is really good-looking. With her status, she can barely make do with marrying into the Prince's Mansion. It's just that she is a little young. So, in the next two years, I will choose a few suitable people to serve my son. After all, I can't ask my precious son to stay alone in an empty room when his child is still young!

Xiao Yao took the opportunity of bowing to withdraw from the reach of Princess Qi. She was still very resistant to such close contact with someone she met for the first time.

"Princess Jing and Princess Yi'an have arrived."

Everyone in the room showed surprised expressions. They were already surprised that Princess Jing came. This Princess Yian never attended banquets, so why was she here today?

Yin Qianhua, dressed in a cherry red palace dress, walked in hand in hand with Yun Ruonan, who was wearing a pink skirt. Everyone stood up and lined up according to their status to welcome the distinguished guests.

"Greetings to Princess Jing, and greetings to Princess Yian." Everyone in the room bowed in unison.

"Everyone, get up!" Yin Qianhua glanced around, her gaze fixed on Xiao Yao. Everyone then realized that the two, one large and one small, were wearing the same colored clothes today. The difference was that Princess Jing was wearing a pure cherry red, while Xiao Yao wore a gradient color. The top half of her dress was the same color as Princess Jing's, and the color of her skirt gradually faded to a light pink at the hem.