Master Luyuan frowned slightly and said, “Princess Duan, I am not unaware of your worries. But as a mother, you should trust your son. Since Prince Zheng has decided to go to war, he must have his reasons. As elders, we should support him instead of worrying too much.”
Princess Duan was still dissatisfied: "It's easy to say, but swords have no eyes on the battlefield. What if something happens to him? How can I explain it to my late husband?"
Seeing this, Gu Qinlan gently tugged at Princess Duan's sleeve and said softly, "Mother, Master Luyuan is right. Since the Crown Prince has decided to go to war, we as family should support him. Moreover, the Crown Prince has been intelligent and brave since he was a child. I believe he will definitely return safely."
Princess Duan glanced at Gu Qinlan and said in an unhappy tone, "But Qinlan, you are my daughter-in-law, and you should understand my concerns."
Gu Qinlan smiled gently and said, "Mother, I understand your worries. But please believe that the Crown Prince will return safely. Moreover, I believe in the strength of the Western Wei army, and they will definitely protect the Crown Prince."
Master Lu Yuan nodded approvingly: "The Crown Princess is right. The Western Wei army is strong, and Crown Prince Zheng is both brave and resourceful. I believe that this trip to the northern frontier will surely be a triumphant return."
Princess Duan glanced at Master Lu Yuan, then at Gu Qinlan, and her worries gradually dissipated. She sighed softly and said, "Alright, since you both say so, I'll believe you."
Seeing this, Master Luyuan smiled slightly and said, "Princess Duan, rest assured, I will pray for Prince Zheng in secret, hoping for his safe return."
Princess Duan nodded, a determined glint in her eyes: "Alright, then I'll trouble Master Luyuan."
At this moment, the crowd at the entrance of Prince Duan's mansion gradually dispersed. Master Luyuan bid farewell to Gu Qinlan and turned to leave.
As Gu Qinlan watched Master Lu Yuan's retreating figure, she secretly sighed in her heart: This legendary Master Lu Yuan truly lived up to his reputation. His appearance not only relieved Princess Duan's worries but also made the atmosphere in the entire Duan Prince's mansion more relaxed.
...
After a busy day, Gu Qinlan felt physically and mentally exhausted. Hongye and Fuyu knew her condition best. Seeing her exhausted, they quickly stepped in, one on each side, to support her as she slowly moved towards the new house.
"Miss, you must be exhausted today," Hongye said with concern, her brows furrowed slightly and her eyes filled with worry.
Gu Qinlan smiled gently, trying to appear relaxed: "It's alright, it's just a busy day, I can manage."
As they spoke, the three arrived at the door of the bridal chamber. Gu Qinlan looked up at the bridal chamber, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes. She gently pushed open the door, and a faint fragrance wafted out. Hongye and Fuyu hurriedly helped her inside.
Gu Qinlan sat down on the edge of the bed, and Hongye and Fuyu immediately took off her shoes so she could lie down comfortably. Looking at Gu Qinlan's tired expression, Hongye couldn't help but sigh, "Miss, why are you so tired?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and looked at Hongye, saying, "Hongye, I know you mean well, but I can't always rely on others. I need to prove that I can stand on my own."
Hongye gently shook her head, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes: "But, Miss, this is the Duan Prince's residence, and you are the newly arrived Princess Consort. You must be careful in everything you do."
Gu Qinlan held Hongye's hand and said with a smile, "Hongye, you don't need to worry too much. I know my place and I will be careful. Besides, I believe that as long as we are united, there is nothing that cannot be solved."
Hearing Gu Qinlan's words, Hongye felt slightly comforted. She looked at Gu Qinlan, her eyes full of worry and concern: "Miss, you must take care of yourself."
Gu Qinlan gently patted Hongye's hand and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I will."
At this moment, Fuyu walked to the window, looked at the night outside, and suddenly said, "Miss, the moonlight outside is so beautiful, why don't we go for a walk?"
Gu Qinlan glanced out the window, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes: "Good idea. Now that we're at the Prince Duan's residence, we should familiarize ourselves with the surroundings."
The three women chatted and laughed as they left the bridal chamber and walked along the corridor of the Prince Duan's mansion. Moonlight shone on them, illuminating their three beautiful figures.
Hongye couldn't help but ask, "Miss, why aren't you worried about what others will think of you, living alone in your empty room?"
Gu Qinlan smiled and said, "Hongye, does what others think matter? We live our own lives, and we are responsible for our own happiness. As long as we are happy, what does it matter what others think?"
Hongye and Fuyu exchanged a smile, agreeing with Gu Qinlan's words. They continued their stroll under the moonlight, chatting and enjoying the night view of the Duan Prince's Mansion.
Suddenly, Gu Qinlan jumped onto Hongye's back and said with a smile, "Hongye, carry me for a while, I want to feel your strength."
Hongye was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and hugged Gu Qinlan: "Miss, you're getting more and more mischievous. Be careful not to fall."
Fuyu reminded her from the side, "Miss, you should be careful. After all, you are new here and not familiar with the situation of the Prince Duan's residence."
Gu Qinlan patted her chest confidently: "Don't worry, with me here, there's a solution to everything."
Hongye carried Gu Qinlan on her back, with Fuyu supporting her from behind. They laughed and chatted all the way, attracting the attention of passersby. They strolled under the moonlight, as if they had returned to their carefree girlhood.
Just then, a figure appeared before them—Zheng Dinglian's younger sister, Zheng Huiyi. She frowned as she sized up Gu Qinlan, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
Gu Qinlan immediately jumped off Hongye and straightened her clothes.
Zheng Huiyi glared at her and said expressionlessly, "Sister-in-law, Mother wants to see you. She wants you to go to Rongxi Hall."
Gu Qinlan didn't think much of it, nodded slightly, and said, "Okay, I understand!"
Gu Qinlan, accompanied by Hongye and Fuyu, stepped into Rongxi Hall. There, she saw Princess Duan sitting upright in a chair, her face ashen and her eyes cold. Gu Qinlan immediately composed herself, maintaining a half-squatting posture, and respectfully bowed to her mother-in-law: "Daughter-in-law greets Mother."
However, Princess Duan remained silent, deliberately delaying her from urging her to get up.
Gu Qinlan remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was secretly pondering the reasons behind it all.
Hongye and Fuyu exchanged glances, feeling anxious and worried for Gu Qinlan. They both knew that such a situation would not be easy for Gu Qinlan to handle.
Seeing this, the servants around Princess Duan gloated and whispered among themselves. Gu Qinlan took in their expressions, which only strengthened her suspicions.
She secretly guessed that Princess Duan might have been instigated by someone with ulterior motives; otherwise, given her personality, she wouldn't have set rules for her daughter-in-law and put her in a tough spot on their wedding night.
Gu Qinlan slowly straightened up, looked at Princess Duan, and said softly, "Mother, on our wedding night, your daughter-in-law has come to pay her respects. I wonder if you have any advice for me?"
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