In front of the Yi Mansion in the west of the city.
Knowing that today is the day Yi Shangyun returns to her parents' home, the streets and alleys were crowded with neighbors early in the morning, all waiting to watch the excitement.
The crowd had already started talking about it, with all sorts of opinions.
"I wonder if His Highness the Prince of Qin will come today, as we return to our parents' home?"
"The Yi family is so humble, with such low social standing. Today is merely a homecoming visit. How could the King of Qin possibly come in person?"
"On the day of the wedding, didn't the King of Qin personally come to fetch the bride? Today, as she returns to her parents' home, how could he not come? He will definitely come, just you wait and see!"
"Back then, when the noble Princess Dongning came from afar to marry him, His Highness Prince Qin did not even show his face on the wedding day. It can be seen that this young lady of the Yi family is quite to the prince's liking."
"I never would have imagined that our cold and aloof prince, who has been like an iceberg for thousands of years, would end up being taken in by this ugly girl from the Yi family. What did this girl do to deserve this? What incredible luck did she have?"
Everyone shook their heads in bewilderment.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd said, "Hey, do you all still remember that legend about the Yi family?"
"Legend...you mean...?"
"That's right. A few years ago, after the eldest daughter of the Yi family was in a coma for a year, a huge seven-colored phoenix phantom appeared in the sky on a stormy night with thunder and lightning, and landed in the eldest daughter's pavilion. That's when the eldest daughter woke up."
"That young lady... I'm afraid she might be... a demon."
These words immediately drew gasps from the surrounding crowd: "A demon?"
The person spreading the rumor lowered their voice and analyzed, "Think about it carefully. Who can wake up after being in a coma for a year? Besides, before this young lady woke up, she never left her home, but after waking up, both her personality and courage were clearly different from before. Now, she has risen to prominence, marrying into the powerful Qin Prince's mansion. Who is the Qin Prince? He is very likely to... So what is she if not a demon?"
"Or perhaps, he was frightened by that seven-colored phoenix phantom and became possessed?"
...
At that moment, in the carriage that was passing by, both Yi Shangyun and Xuan Yuanhan clearly heard these rumors.
“Cheng Liang…”
Xuanyuan Han frowned immediately, and was about to call Cheng Liang over to handle the matter.
Unexpectedly, Yi Shangyun reached out and pressed down on Xuan Yuanhan's large hand that was placed in front of her knee, shook her head and said, "Yun'er is fine, Your Highness, there is no need to be angry."
“But…” Xuan Yuanhan wanted to say something, but Yi Shangyun stopped him.
Yi Shangyun met Xuan Yuanhan's eyes and smiled, saying, "Just as Your Highness said, they are just some insignificant people who are just gossiping and saying trivial things. How can we let them spoil the good mood of Your Highness and me on our homecoming today?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan could only helplessly retract his order and said to Cheng Liang, who was still waiting outside to receive his command, "It's alright!"
Soon, the carriage from the Prince of Qin's residence finally came to a slow stop in front of the Yi Mansion in the west of the city.
From afar, the head of the family, Yi Shangkun, saw them and led his entire family down the steps to greet them solemnly: "Your humble servant, along with the entire Yi family, respectfully welcomes His Highness Prince Qin and His Highness the Princess Consort."
In an instant, Xuanyuan Han stepped out of the carriage first, then turned back and reached out to help Yi Shangyun down from behind.
He had just spoken coldly to the several servants and masters of the Yi family who were kneeling on the ground, saying, "Get up, all of you!"
Only then did everyone dare to stand up.
Yi Shangyun stepped forward and bowed to each of the people in greeting.
"Father"
"Mother"
"Aunt"
"Xue'er"
"How are you all?"
Yi Shangkun smiled and answered on behalf of the whole family: "Thanks to Your Highness and the Princess, we are all doing well."
The family no longer had to live a life of fleeing to a distant land. Yi Shangyun nodded in satisfaction and smiled, saying, "That's good."
At this moment, Yi Shangkun reached out and invited Xuan Yuanhan, saying, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has had a long journey. Let's go inside and talk first!"
Just as Xuanyuan Han was about to stroll through the door with Yi Shangyun, Yi Shangyun suddenly pulled away from Xuanyuan Han's side, walked to Nian Shi's side, and entered the door while holding her hand and talking to her.
Xuanyuan Han was clearly disappointed to find that his search had failed. He eventually entered the room accompanied by Yi Shangkun.
Only the crowd of onlookers behind them were left dumbfounded and blocked outside the door.
As soon as she entered the room, Madam Nian anxiously pulled Yi Shangyun along, looking her over and asking worriedly, "I heard from your father that you were almost stabbed in the heart with a knife in the Imperial Pharmacy. How are you? How are your injuries now? Let your mother take a look."
Yi Shangyun smiled and stopped her, comforting her, "Mother, don't worry, I'm fine, it's just a minor injury, it doesn't hurt anymore!"
Seeing that Yi Shangyun still seemed calm and collected, thinking that this accident was just a minor matter, Nian Shi suddenly could no longer control the anxiety in her heart these past few days and began to talk incessantly.
"He was almost stabbed in the heart with a knife, and he said he was fine. How could I not worry?"
She glared at Yi Shangkun beside her and continued, "It's all your father's fault. I told him I wanted to go to the Prince's Mansion to see you, but he kept stopping me. He said everything there was the best and I didn't need to worry about it. But how could I not worry? These past few days, I haven't been able to eat during the day or sleep at night."
Seemingly on the verge of tears, Madam Nian said through her tears, "My child, why do you always refuse to listen to advice these days? You always act so carefree and fearless. You weren't like this before! You used to be so cautious in everything you did, even when you were bullied, you would always hide and avoid it. Now, you're always either standing up for others or taking the fall for them. What do you plan to do in the future? Why do you always do these outrageous things that are typical of a young woman? You're really driving me crazy! If anything were to happen to you, how could we face you..."
Seemingly realizing he had said something wrong, he glanced at Yi Shangkun and finally said, "You can't do that again, understand?"
Faced with Nian's emotional outburst, Yi Shangyun could only say, touched and obediently, "I understand. I'm sorry for making you all worry about me!"
However, it was precisely these heartfelt words from Lady Nian that stirred up Xuan Yuanhan's deep thoughts.
He suddenly remembered the talk of the common people about the cloud on the clothes, and the words that Nian was saying at this moment were exactly the same, very similar.
In this way, it seems that Yi Shangyun is indeed very different before and after waking up, but why would a person change so much?
What exactly happened in Mingyue Pavilion that night? Did Yi Shangyun even know?
From her gaze and demeanor throughout, Xuan Yuanhan was certain that she seemed to know nothing.
However, based on these rumors and the words and actions of the Nian family that he had witnessed, Xuan Yuanhan couldn't help but wonder what Yi Shangyun had gone through.
After a rather grand family banquet for the Yi family.
Xuanyuan Han was invited by Yi Shangkun to a guest room that had been prepared in advance to rest for a while.
Yi Shangyun and Lady Nian returned to Mingyue Pavilion, where she had lived before her marriage. Lady Nian asked, "How has the Prince of Qin treated you?"
Thinking back on the past two days spent together at the Prince of Qin's residence, the sight of his sleeping face when she woke up in the morning light, and the inexplicable sense of security she felt when she leaned close to him, a blush suddenly rose to Yi Shangyun's cheeks, and she let out a sweet sigh: "Mmm."
Lady Nian then asked, "And what about the Imperial Concubine Dowager?"
"Your Highness..."
Just as Yi Shangyun was about to speak, Yan'er, who came in from outside the door with a plate of tea, fruit and snacks, interrupted her: "Hmph... On the second day after Miss's wedding, the Dowager Consort made a fuss and told Miss to move out of Prince Qin's bedroom, Lin Yuexuan. Now, Miss is living alone in Yunshui Pavilion."
Yi Shangyun immediately scolded her, "Yan'er, stop talking nonsense."
Yan'er said dismissively, "Why should Yan'er shut up? Is there anything wrong with what Yan'er said?"
"Yan'er, you..." Yi Shangyun was about to reprimand her, but was pressed by Nian Shi again: "Is everything Yan'er said true? Did the Dowager Consort really do that?"
Yi Shangyun could only reply earnestly, "Your Highness, she's only doing this for my own good! After all, I just had a miscarriage and it's inconvenient for me to serve Your Highness to bed. The fact that we sleep separately is also to prevent..."
The rest of the words were a little hard to say, so Yi Shangyun simply took Nian's hand and comforted her, saying, "Mother, don't worry, His Highness really treats me very well!"
After careful consideration, Lady Nian realized that Xuan Yuanhan was in the prime of his youth, full of vigor, and Yi Shangyun's body was not yet fully recovered. The concerns of Consort Chun seemed to be reasonable, so she could understand her good intentions and said, "Since His Highness is so sincere towards you, then I am relieved!"
So he suggested, "Why don't you let Yan'er help you get some sleep? You must be tired after traveling such a long way."
At this moment, Yi Shangyun seemed to suddenly remember something, stood up abruptly, and said, "Oh right, I almost forgot. I'm not tired, I want to go for a walk in the street."
"Go out? It's noon, the sun is blazing outside!" Mrs. Nian said in surprise.
As Yun said this, he walked towards the door.
Madam Nian could only anxiously call out to Yan'er, saying, "Yan'er, hurry up and follow. The sun is strong outside right now. Please shield Miss from the sun and don't let the heat hit her."
"Yes, Madam." Yan'er replied, dropping her work and hurrying after her, calling out to Yi Shangyun's retreating figure, "Miss...Miss...wait for me!"
Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of the courtyard after going downstairs, she bumped right into Xuan Yuanhan. Yi Shangyun felt as if her head had been hit so hard that she almost felt a thud. When she looked up and saw that it was Xuan Yuanhan, she hurriedly said, "Your Highness, why are you here at Mingyue Pavilion instead of taking a nap in your room?"
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