Pei Yuan also saw Ji Jiaying and frowned.

Duke Rong explained, "The Concubine is also back to visit her relatives. It's a coincidence that the two sisters chose a day to get together."

After he finished speaking, he led the people behind him to perform the ceremony. Pei Yuan stopped and said lightly, "Since it's a family dinner, we are all family members, regardless of seniority, so there's no need to perform the ceremony."

Duke Rong was even more pleased to hear this, and he kept saying, "Okay, okay."

Mrs. Tao stood behind him holding her little daughter, with a forced smile on her face, but without the domineering look she had in the past. The only brother she could rely on was dead, her daughter was just a concubine who was not favored in the prince's mansion, and she had no children. Tao felt insecure, and everything she said and did was awkward, like a punctured skin.

Baoning called her mother, Tao said "ah", smiled and said: "Come in, it's almost time for dinner."

She had never been so friendly before, and she felt embarrassed. When she walked, she stumbled and almost dropped the child in her arms. Tao hurried over, handed her little daughter to the wet nurse next to her, and smiled and said: "I'll go arrange the work, you guys take a rest first." Then she left in a hurry.

Seeing Tao's humble look, Baoning thought he would be happy.

She actually had this in mind when she went back to her parents' home. In the past, everyone looked down on her and thought she had married badly. Now that she was in power, she would come back with her head held high. She wanted to make those who had looked down on her in the past feel jealous and envious, but had no choice but to flatter her and kowtow to her.

But now that she really saw it, Baoning was not as happy as she had imagined. She only felt that it was extremely boring and that she seemed particularly petty.

Pei Yuan and Duke Rong walked in front together, talking and laughing, and the women followed a little behind.

Ji Jiaying walked up to Baoning. She was still as arrogant as before. Even though her situation was not as good as before, she still showed no fear. She snorted and asked Baoning, "Why, you must be very proud now?"

Baoning asked without looking away, "Where did you see that?"

"Times have changed. Now you are the most honorable person in the Duke's Mansion. Aren't you proud enough? My mother has to smile shyly when she sees you. Look how much face you have. Yes, you have a lot of face. You become a princess. What good luck. A mediocre concubine's daughter has suddenly become a phoenix." Ji Jiaying glanced at Pei Yuan's back and said with a curled lip, "If I knew that the King of Jibei would be where he is today, you would not have been involved in the marriage. You really should thank me." Baoning

stopped and looked at her for a while, then suddenly raised his hand and wiped her face.

Ji Jiaying was startled and dodged in a hurry. Her face turned red and she said angrily, "Let's quarrel. I ridiculed you and you ridiculed me back! If that doesn't work, let's have a fight. Then you call your bodyguard to push me into the lake again. But why did you touch my face? You female hooligan!"

Bao Ning tapped her fingertips and asked, "Did you see the flying powder?"

Ji Jiaying looked at her warily, "What do you mean?"

"Don't put on so much next time." Bao Ning said with a smile, "You make you look thick-skinned."

"You!" Ji Jiaying gritted her teeth in hatred and rubbed the back of her hand where she had just been touched. "Okay! You win this battle, but don't be complacent. I still have a backup plan!"

After that, she left angrily.

Seeing Ji Jiaying's back turned and disappeared, Xu quickly walked a few steps to Baoning's side and whispered, "Why did you quarrel with her again?"

"It was just a quarrel, I wasn't really angry." Baoning took her arm and squeezed it gently. Seeing that she didn't lose weight, she said happily, "Auntie has been in good health recently. You are weak, so you should eat more in the future." Xu patted her hand and said

, "Don't worry, don't worry."

After a pause, Xu said, "The reason why your fourth sister came home is not as simple as your father said."

Baoning asked in surprise, "It's just a return visit. Is there any other hidden story?"

"He had a quarrel with His Highness." Xu sighed. "It wasn't a big deal. I heard the general idea. It started when the prince entertained General Feng Huchang at home and invited his female relatives to accompany him. The fourth girl was among them. General Feng was a lecher. At the banquet, he praised the fourth girl for her beauty. The prince asked the fourth girl to pour a glass of wine for General Feng. The fourth girl was arrogant and felt insulted. She made a scene on the spot and went home last night."

Baoning was speechless. Ji Jiaying was indeed capable of doing such a thing. Her mind was actually very simple, but it was different from that of normal people.

Baoning frowned and said, "It's just that pouring wine for a general is indeed a bit humiliating. She is a concubine after all."

Xu sighed, "So what if she is a concubine? It's just a nicer title. To put it bluntly, she is just a concubine. How can she be respected too much? Only the fourth girl is stupid and courageous, so she dares to make such a fuss. If it were someone else, they would have endured it."

Baoning sighed.

They were silent all the way. When they were about to reach the door of the banquet hall, Xu finally couldn't help it. She pulled Baoning aside and whispered in her ear: "I have said so much to you indirectly, did you take it to heart? You have to keep an eye on your prince and don't let him take a concubine. It's not good for you or that girl. Also, I have always been embarrassed to tell you, don't just be on guard against women, be on guard against men as well, don't let others take advantage of you...That Wei Meng has been very close to the prince? There are rumors in the capital that General Wei is not disciplined and seduced the prince...You must interrogate him carefully when you go back!"

Baoning was shocked: "What?"

...

After dinner, the women left the table to chat in other rooms. Only Duke Rong, Pei Yuan, and Ji Yan were left at the table.

Pei Yuan recalled the look Bao Ning had given him just now. No matter how he thought about it, he felt something was wrong, and he drank absent-mindedly.

Duke Rong had been suppressed by Mrs. Tao for nearly twenty years, and fear was almost ingrained in his bones. Although Mrs. Tao no longer oppressed him, he was still submissive when Mrs. Tao was around. He didn't dare to drink freely until Mrs. Tao left. He got drunk after just a few drinks.

"Aunt..." Duke Rong cried when he was drunk, "I'm sorry for you! I'm sorry for my daughter too!"

Pei Yuan cheered up and comforted him, "Don't cry, father-in-law. How have you ever been sorry for me? Eat your food quickly." He put a piece of green vegetables into Duke Rong's bowl with chopsticks.

"It's good that you don't blame me." Duke Rong excitedly held Pei Yuan's hand, "When you were sick, I should have fulfilled my duty as a father-in-law, at least to give you some financial help, but my tiger wife, she didn't allow me! I dare not act rashly, I can only wrong you, and also wrong Bao Ning, so that you even have to look at other people's eyes when you go home..."

Pei Yuan said: "My father-in-law is suspicious, I don't care."

They held hands, Pei Yuan's mind was in a mess, one moment he wanted to comfort Duke Rong, and the next moment he thought of Bao Ning's eyes, and he didn't notice that Ji Yan next to him was also looking at him strangely.

"You don't know..." Duke Rong wiped the corner of his eyes, drank another glass of wine, and said loudly, "You don't know how happy I was after my eldest brother-in-law died!"

"..." Ji Yan shuddered. The more he talked, the more unorthodox he became. He quickly supported Duke Rong and wanted to take him to rest. "Father is drunk. Stop talking." "Now

that Tao Maobing is dead, my wife has no backing to support her. She can only rely on me and dare not yell at me anymore!" Duke Rong pushed Ji Yan away and shook his head. "Who would have thought that I was still afraid of her? When she glared at me, I trembled. Is it because I am used to being bullied and have become low-spirited? I really am..." Duke Rong beat his chest and stamped his feet. "I have no face to face my ancestors!"

Ji Yan was dumbfounded. Duke Rong had almost never been drunk in these years because of Tao's control. Who would have thought that he would be so bad when drinking. Not only did he talk nonsense, but he was also so strong that he could not be pulled away.

Duke Rong grabbed Pei Yuan's wrist with tears in his eyes: "Aunt, I only ask you one question, you must answer me."

Pei Yuan said: "Ask it."

Duke Rong asked: "When Baoning hit you, did he kick your left buttocks or your right buttocks?"

...

Pei Yuan called the servants and moved Duke Rong to the bedroom with great effort and let him sleep.

Pei Yuan stood under the eaves to blow the wind for a while, and frowned when he thought of Duke Rong's crazy words at that time. He thought it was ridiculous. It was shameful for a man to be like this. He didn't dare to fight back when he was beaten and scolded, and he didn't even dare to drink. He finally drank once, but he made a fool of himself and cried like a bereaved parent. He thought

of Baoning and was silent for a moment. Did Baoning ever hit him when she was angry? Probably not. Pei Yuan excused her and only hit him on the head with a rattle a few times. It was not considered a fight and it didn't hurt. Most of the time, Baoning was still gentle and considerate, giving him a warm and sweet feeling.

But in the future, the behavior of hitting the head with a rattle must be stopped.

Can't lose family education and make people laugh!

Pei Yuan had already forgotten the strange look Baoning gave him at the banquet. He was immersed in his own thoughts, turned around and walked to the backyard.

He actually had an appointment today, and it was not convenient for him to meet at his own house. It would be less likely to arouse suspicion if he came to the Duke's Mansion.

Pei Yang was already waiting for him. He looked much older, more stable, and taller than the last time he saw him with his flamboyant red hair.

Pei Yuan approached him, patted his shoulder, and asked in a low voice, "Why do you have to see me today?"

Pei Yang said, "Fourth brother, yesterday my father issued an edict to confer me the title of King of Linfen."

"I know, it's a good thing." Pei Yuan smiled, "When do you want to leave?"

Pei Yang pursed his lips, "Time is tight, I'll leave tomorrow."

Pei Yuan stopped smiling, "So soon?"

"Fourth brother, you also know my mother. She is not in good health. Her only wish is that I can be crowned as a king as soon as possible and take her to the fiefdom to recuperate." Pei Yang lowered his head and smiled bitterly, "She doesn't let me get close to you, fearing that if we get close, it will arouse jealousy and I will be targeted. Fourth brother, I didn't deliberately avoid you these days, but my mother is watching closely... In fact, when choosing a fiefdom, my father gave me several options, and my mother asked me to choose the weakest Linfen. She said that I was useless and couldn't defend a big place, so I lived a life of drunkenness and sleeplessness in a small city. Although people looked down on me, at least I lived comfortably."

"I understand your mother's thoughts." Pei Yuan said, "It's okay to live a life of drunkenness and dreaming, but don't put your life in the hands of others, and train your soldiers well."

Pei Yang said seriously: "I remember."

His expression became more solemn: "In fact, this time I came, in addition to saying goodbye, I have two things to tell you."

Pei Yuan said: "You tell me."

"Recently, the palace is not peaceful." Pei Yang frowned, "The queen's madness seems to be worse. Not only is she crazy, but she also gets dizzy from time to time. Concubine Gao can't hold it back anymore, and there may be some big moves next. My mother and I are in a hurry to go to the fiefdom, not only to recuperate, but also to avoid disasters. The Mid-Autumn Festival Palace Banquet is coming soon, Fourth Brother, you must be careful."

Pei Yuan nodded: "I remember it."

"Another thing..." Pei Yang hesitated and asked through gritted teeth, "Fourth brother, what have you been busy with these days?"

Pei Yuan said, "There may be a war in the south, and I'm busy counting the troops and arranging logistical matters. It's a bit complicated, and I'm also doing some private matters. Any questions?"

Pei Yang nodded and said, "You are often in the barracks, so it's not surprising that you don't care about those rumors in the market."

"What rumors?"

Pei Yang said loudly, "The news that you are homosexual has spread!"

Pei Yuan looked at him in shock.

Pei Yang said, "It is said that General Wei is a blue-eyed beauty with a sweet body fragrance. Under his rough appearance, he hides a soft heart. He has been secretly in love with you and has been infatuated with you. You have an affair and even have an illegitimate child? It is a boy named Yuanyuan. He lived with you in the villa in Lihu for a period of time, but was finally driven away by the furious sister-in-law."

Pei Yuan instantly reacted to the look in Baoning's eyes at that time.

Pei Yang looked at him eagerly and asked, "Fourth brother, is this true, or did someone do it on purpose to ruin your reputation?"