Yuan Dong sneered inwardly, seeing such a shrewd person, yet he couldn't judge people well. If she had explained her brother's affairs to the princess clearly, and explained everything she had done over the years, given the princess's personality, it would have been easy for her to find a courtyard for them to live in peace.
"Go and find out where Aunt Bai came from."
Xiao Shunzi responded softly and quickly disappeared into the vast snow.
――――――
Meng Qi arrived neither early nor late. Today everyone went directly to Chengtian Hall. She arrived at the west side hall. Although there were many charcoal stoves around, the wind still blew into the open hall, and the people standing at the door held their cloaks tightly.
Meng Qi greeted everyone as she walked. Princess Duan looked at her plump figure and was surprised at first, then she covered her mouth and laughed, "It's only been a few days since we last met, and you've gained so much weight, Sixth Sister-in-law? Did you sneak some food while you were cooking?"
Princess Cheng also turned around and looked Meng Qi up and down, while Princess Jing came over and took Meng Qi's hand. "It looks better to be a little fatter, but how come you're fatter on the outside but not on the face?"
Meng Qi smiled slightly, "That's right. When I was at home, I always felt that I was getting fat and wanted to eat less, but the little weight I lost went all over my face. My mother was so scared that she didn't dare to tell me to eat less, saying that being thin would make me look ugly."
Princess Jing laughed and said, "That's right. Young girls nowadays, in order to look good, try their best to eat less or even not eat at all. As a result, they become less pretty and their health is damaged."
The Crown Princess also came over, and as if she suddenly remembered something, she clapped her hands and said, "Oh, could it be that Sixth Brother's wife is pregnant?"
With these words, everyone was stunned. Princess Duan was the first to raise her eyebrows and looked at Meng Qi with a strange expression.
Meng Qi hadn't expected the Crown Princess to have such thoughts. Just as she was about to make a few words of defense, she heard the Crown Princess say, "Of course it is. It's been almost a year since you and Sixth Brother got married, so there should have been good news by now. Now that's good news, have you asked a doctor to take your pulse? But today is the Emperor's birthday, so it's not convenient to invite the imperial physician to see him."
Meng Qi watched the Crown Princess chattering away, Princess Duan's pale face, and the meaningful looks of Princess Cheng and Princess Jing, and suddenly she didn't want to explain anymore.
Princess Duan looked at Meng Qi's slightly red face with her head lowered, which further confirmed the Crown Princess's guess. She held the hand warmer tightly in hatred.
How could Meng Qi be so lucky? Even though she only got pregnant a year ago, it was still almost three years ago, and there was no sign of pregnancy. The prince had been visiting her courtyard two years ago, but the number of times he had come in the past year or so could be counted on one hand. Even if she drank more medicine, what good would it do?
Meng Qi didn't want them to dwell on this matter. "Oh, I didn't expect that. Don't say anything. Wait until we get back to the mansion and get the doctor. Where are your dishes? We agreed that whoever wins will treat everyone else."
Princess Jing smiled and said, "Of course. What has Sixth Sister-in-law prepared?"
Meng Qi said mysteriously, "I won't tell you, I'm sure you'll be surprised."
Princess Duan asked with a half-smile, "Is it a surprise or a shock?"
"Surprise?" Meng Qi looked puzzled. "On such a happy day, could it be that my second sister-in-law has prepared a surprise?"
Princess Duan shrugged, "But I heard that Sixth Brother's wife even helped the Second Mistress of Prince Shen's Mansion."
Meng Qi smiled slightly. This Bai family member really leaked a lot of information, but it didn't matter. She didn't avoid others in the first place.
"Second sister-in-law is really well-informed. There's nothing I can do about it. I can't cook, but my second sister is an expert. Especially when it comes to things that others have never seen or eaten, she's very clever and can always think of them."
Princess Jing laughed and said, "Oh, you should have told me earlier. I've been so worried about the menu that I haven't slept for several nights. If I had known that the Second Wife of Prince Shen's Mansion was capable of this, I would have gone to invite her in a sedan chair long ago."
The Crown Princess followed suit and laughed, "What did Fourth Sister-in-law prepare? Is it a soup or a stir-fry?"
"Of course it's soup. It's so cold, it's better to eat something hot." Princess Jing replied to the Crown Princess, but her eyes were looking at Meng Qi.
Meng Qi nodded, "We all think alike."
As a few of them were chatting, they heard the sound of whips outside. Everyone stood up and walked towards the main hall in an orderly manner.
The Emperor entered the main hall, accompanied by the Empress and other concubines, followed by several princes. Meng Qi looked up and saw Song Chengze. Among the Emperor's sons, Song Chengze was definitely the most dazzling one.
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