In the end, they still let the third princess in.
Anyway, everyone in the capital knew that when Qi Yunxiao was disliked by the Qingping Marquis's mansion, only the Third Princess extended a helping hand to Qi Yunxiao.
So now that Qi Yunxiao has become the heir of the Qingping Marquis's mansion, it's not surprising that the Third Princess would come to visit him.
Qi Yunxiao led the Third Princess to sit in the front hall, while Shen Qingyu went directly to the backyard to make room for her cousins.
"What are you doing here?" Qi Yunxiao's tone had calmed down.
The Third Princess also became serious: "Did you take Xiao Ba away?"
"Um."
Qi Yunxiao's simple word relieved the Third Princess: "It's good that you took it away."
After the new emperor ascended the throne, the eighth prince was almost secretly placed under house arrest in the palace, living in constant fear.
If it weren't for the Empress Dowager protecting him, who knows if he would have survived.
Many people privately speculated that the Eighth Prince would definitely not live to adulthood.
"After the new emperor ascended the throne, did you ever enter the palace?" Qi Yunxiao asked, seemingly casually.
The Third Princess slumped, her posture distorted: "I did go into the palace once, but I only saw the Empress Dowager and exchanged a few words with her... I didn't see any of the other concubines."
Surprisingly, when the new emperor ascended the throne, the position of empress remained vacant, and no empress was appointed.
The few concubines were all people from his time as a prince, and they had not entered the palace through the imperial selection process.
Therefore, the Empress Dowager became the woman with the highest status in the harem.
However, their position is somewhat awkward.
The Third Princess felt admiration: "Now that Xiao Ba has been brought out, the Empress Dowager can finally rest assured."
But Qi Yunxiao's focus was not on this: "There is a Consort Rong in His Majesty's harem. Have you ever seen her?"
The Third Princess slowly shook her head, her face full of doubt: "It is said that this Consort Rong is in very poor health, and she has been recuperating for many years. She never interferes in affairs and never shows her face."
That's it.
This seemingly insignificant concubine was able to receive the new emperor's personal accompaniment to visit her former children...
You can imagine how much she was favored!
But this is, after all, stealing a subject's wife, which is shameful to admit, so perhaps it's best to handle it discreetly?
Seeing that he remained silent, the Third Princess couldn't help but press, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this Consort Rong? Should we investigate her?"
Qi Yunxiao shook his head: "No need... I'll stay in the capital for a few more days and then head back."
"Go back where?" The Third Princess hadn't even reacted yet.
"Go back to the countryside. Go back to the village."
The Third Princess stared in disbelief: "You really consider that place your home? The capital is your home! It's where you grew up! Have you been bewitched by that woman?"
“That’s your cousin’s wife! You should show her some respect!” Qi Yunxiao rebuked with dissatisfaction.
Third Princess: "!!!"
"Don't think I don't know. Your child is over six years old, and you've only been back twice in six years! What are you pretending to be so loving as a couple?"
Qi Yunxiao: "..."
This is a guilt I will always feel in my heart; I feel ashamed and embarrassed whenever I talk about it.
However, recalling Shen Qingyu's unyielding demeanor when her temper was provoked, the Third Princess suddenly laughed: "Your wife has quite the sharp tongue."
Qi Yunxiao wholeheartedly agreed: "That's right!"
"In the village, she practically terrified all the women with her scolding!"
The Third Princess looked at Qi Yunxiao strangely, as if he were an idiot.
Is this something to be proud of?
As they were talking, footsteps came from outside the door. Shen Qingyu stood at the entrance of the hall and asked, "Is dinner ready? Would this cousin like to stay for dinner?"
Before Qi Yunxiao could speak, the Third Princess immediately interjected, "Stay for dinner!"
Okay, then let's "dinner is ready, let's go eat."
Shen Qingyu stir-fried bean sprouts, blanched lettuce, and steamed yam and meat patties that she had grown in her own space. The yams were dug up from the mountain and planted in her space.
Stir-fried pork, fragrant and spicy.
The braised pig ears and braised meat were made into a spicy flavor, and I cut up a whole big bowl of them.
The whole family ate until they almost swallowed their tongues!
The third princess buried herself in her food, thinking as she ate: how to come to her cousin's house for meals more often in the future.
I used to find Shen Qingyu disagreeable, but after taking a bite of this braised pork... she's actually quite nice.
Especially cooking skills.
As Erbao ate, he muttered, "I haven't had such delicious food in so long! Mom's cooking is still the best..."
The mad Taoist laughed and cursed as he ate, "You heartless bastard! Didn't you eat well at Prince Cheng's mansion? You ate your fill of that eight-treasure rice! Who was the one who had a stomachache from being so full last night?!"
Qi Yunxiao's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at the Mad Taoist: "Prince Cheng?"
How did the Mad Taoist get in touch with Prince Cheng?
This is the legendary idle prince, who is the least ambitious.
Why would someone who has no ambition seek out a mad Taoist priest?
Aren't people who seek fortune telling insatiable and always want to become better and stronger?
Then I remembered that the hunter who took in Shen Qingyao had last met Prince Cheng... was he really ambitious?!
Erbao chimed in, "It's that young nobleman who twisted his ankle."
Qi Yunxiao and Shen Qingyu: "..."
The mad Taoist waved his hand: "He's just an unlucky fellow, thinking he's so smart and powerful!"
Everyone at the table was stunned for a moment by these words.
There's a saying in the capital: "The mad Taoist priest may seem to talk nonsense and offend people, but he never lies in his profession."
Qi Yunxiao casually changed the subject: "Why do today's dishes taste almost the same as what I eat at home? They even taste better than what I eat at home."
Shen Qingyu nonchalantly lied through her teeth: "Really? It seems the capital is indeed different; the food is better than in town."
The third princess swallowed a mouthful of braised meat, inhaling deeply as she looked at Shen Qingyu with eager eyes: "Sister-in-law, can I come to your house for dinner these next few days?"
Shen Qingyu looked at Qi Yunxiao.
Qi Yunxiao resolutely refused: "No way!"
The Third Princess glanced at the braised meat in the bowl, then at Qi Yunxiao's indifferent face, and finally decided: shameless.
"Sister-in-law, I've never eaten such delicious food before! Please let me eat it! I'll pay for it!"
As the dignified Third Princess, she can definitely afford to eat.
However, Shen Qingyu was in a difficult situation.
“My second daughter has finally reunited with me for a few days, and I haven’t been in the mood to cook these past few days. If you come over, I might take the children out shopping.”
"What about meals? You'll have to come back for meals eventually, won't you?" the Third Princess persisted.
"Aren't there any restaurants or hotels outside?" Qi Yunxiao poured cold water on the idea.
Third Princess: "..."
what to do?
Such delicious food, and we'll never have another chance to eat it again?
Before the Third Princess could figure it out, there was another knock on the door.
It's lunchtime, who's so inconsiderate to come here?
Just as Qi Yunxiao was about to open the door, the Mad Taoist, while putting several thick slices of braised meat into his bowl, laughed and said, "I'll go open it, I'll go open it. They're looking for me."
Qi Yunxiao stopped in his tracks and saw the Mad Taoist quickly go to open the door.
An old man's voice came from outside the door: "Old Taoist, is that you? What... what have you made? It smells so good! I can smell it through the wall!"
It's our next-door neighbor!?
Everyone was astonished: Is the smell of this braised meat really that appealing?
They even managed to hook them over through the wall?
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