When Wei Yu heard that the carriage from the princess's mansion had arrived, she hurried to greet it.
Seeing that Gu Jingyu was the only one to get off the carriage, Wei Xi stepped forward and asked, "Sister Jingyu, why are you the only one in the carriage at the Princess's residence? Where is Yun?"
Gu Jingyu bowed to Wei Yu and the wife of Duke Weiguo, saying, "Aunt, cousin, my mother is too busy with work at the end of the year to attend the banquet. My sister-in-law has caught a serious cold and is recuperating these past few days. Jingru stayed behind to play with Nuonuo, so I'm the only one who had time to come."
Wei Xi frowned slightly. "Why did you get sick at this very moment? Is you seriously ill?"
Gu Jingyu said, "Thank you for your concern for my sister-in-law, cousin. She should be fine after a few days of rest."
Wei Xi clenched her hands. She had put so much effort into organizing the plum blossom viewing banquet, just for Yun Xiangye to lose face in front of these dignitaries' wives.
But she actually fell ill. Wouldn’t this party be a waste?
Wei Yu was somewhat unwilling.
All the ladies and daughters from Chang'an City in the Plum Garden wanted to see Yun Xiangye's appearance today.
She wanted to know what kind of beauty she had that could make Prince Ning marry her instead of marrying five noble women in Chang'an City.
When they learned that Yun Xiangye was seriously ill and could not come to the Duke of Weiguo's mansion to appreciate the plum blossoms, people in groups of three or two started talking about it.
"I wonder if this Crown Prince's Consort is truly ill, or if she's just a small-town merchant girl who's too timid to attend a plum blossom viewing banquet hosted by a wealthy family?"
"The Crown Prince's Consort also needs a title from His Majesty. How can that woman be considered a Crown Prince's Consort? After all, she hasn't followed the Three Letters and Six Ceremonies. Perhaps the Princess doesn't even acknowledge her as her daughter-in-law and won't allow her to attend the banquet at the Duke's Mansion, fearing that it would bring disgrace to the Princess's Mansion."
--
Inside the East Palace.
After Gu Yan finished his business conversation with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he asked Zhao Jing, who was standing beside him, "Cousin Jing, do you have any of the pecans that are commonly eaten in Jiangnan?"
Zhao Jing asked Gu Yan, "There are still two pounds left. Why are you asking about this?"
Gu Yan said, "My wife is ill and has no appetite. She just wants to eat the pecans that are unique to Jiangnan. She has searched all the dried fruit shops in Chang'an, but can't find any."
Zhao Jing chuckled. "So that's how it is. These pecans are only eaten by people in Jiangnan. They are rare in Chang'an. I'll bring them to you later this afternoon."
Gu Yan said, "Thank you very much, cousin Jing. I won't bother you making the trip. I'll go with you to the Prince of Chu's mansion to get it."
Zhao Jing smiled and said, "I still have some business matters to attend to. I will send you to the Princess's residence in the afternoon."
Zhao Yun, who was reviewing official documents, looked up and said to Zhao Jing, "Bring some pecans to the East Palace tomorrow."
Zhao Jing quickly responded, "Yes."
--
In Qingfeng Garden.
Yun Xiangye, who was taking medicine, sneezed twice in a row because of the gust of wind brought by Gu Yan's return to the room. She rubbed her nose with a handkerchief and coughed twice.
Gu Yan heard Yun Xiangye sneezing and coughing, so he took out a wool blanket brought as tribute from the Western Regions and covered her with it. "You better be careful and don't catch a cold again."
"Who gave me a cold?"
After taking the medicine for two days, Yun Xiangye regained some strength and was able to argue with Gu Yan.
Gu Yan took the medicine bowl from Yun Xiangye and wrapped her up in a blanket, leaving only her head exposed. He took the medicine spoon and fed her the medicine, saying, "It's not like you haven't messed around in hot springs in Jiangnan before. Who knew you'd catch a cold this time?"
Yun Xiangye blushed, glared at Gu Yan, and coughed, "Where are the pecans? Why aren't there any yet?"
Gu Yan said, "Hickory nuts aren't popular in Chang'an. I've searched many dried fruit shops but haven't seen any. I just asked my cousin Jing in the East Palace, and by some chance, he has some and said he'd send them over this afternoon."
Yun Xiangye choked on the medicine she had just taken and started coughing. "Cough, cough, cough, did you say Cousin Jing is coming over this afternoon?"
Gu Yan said: "Cousin Jing is coming over, why are you so panicked? He is my cousin, he is gentle and kind, you don't have to be afraid of him."
Yun Xiangye coughed for a while. She had met Princess Nan'an three days ago. Presumably, Princess Nan'an had already told Chu Jing her identity.
Chu Jing was still willing to come over, so he must be no longer angry with her.
Besides, so many years have passed and she already has a two-year-old daughter. Chu Jing must have already married and had children, so he wouldn't mind her breaking her oath.
Yun Xiangye leaned forward and drank the medicine that Gu Yan fed her. "Cousin Jing, will you be coming with your cousin's wife later? If there are any female relatives, do I have to entertain them?"
Gu Yan laughed, "Cousin Jing hasn't gotten married yet."
Yun Xiangye raised her eyes and said, "Isn't he more than a year older than you? Why aren't they married yet?"
Gu Yan lowered his eyes to look at Yun Xiangye: "How do you know that cousin Jing is more than a year older than me?"
Yun Xiangye didn't know how to explain to Gu Yan the past between her and Chu Jing.
When I met Chu Jing, I really had no plans to get married.
After all, both her parents had passed away, her sister was still young four years ago, and she had to run the embroidery workshop at home. Yun Xiangye really didn't have the extra energy to think about marrying Chu Jing...
Yun Xiangye thought that it would be difficult to explain this to Gu Yan for the time being. Besides, Chu Jing should have known his identity from Princess Nan'an. He didn't tell Gu Yanming either, probably because he didn't want to mention the past. Yun Xiangye simply didn't explain the relationship.
Yun Xiangye chuckled and said, "I met Princess Nan'an a while ago, and she mentioned that Cousin Jing is a year older than you. How could he not be married at such a young age? Is it like the Crown Prince, where his fiancée's mourning period delays the marriage?"
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