After Li Mai and Zhou Quan got into the carriage, with a thought, Li Mai put the things that Yun Wang had given her into her spatial storage. She didn't need them for the time being, so she would just leave them there.
After saying goodbye to Xu Che and Cheng Jianghai, Li Mai set off with Chu Yan and Zhong Hui.
Li Mai rode in her own carriage, while Zhou Quan drove behind Chu Yan and the others.
The Zhong family residence is located in the southern part of the capital, while the Yun family residence is located in the western part of the capital.
Their carriage traveled for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before arriving at the gate of a grand mansion.
Li Mai lifted the curtain and glanced inside. It was the Zhong residence!
The fact that it was the Zhong family mansion, not the Princess's mansion, indicates that the Princess was not seeking a husband, but rather marrying down.
It seems that Zhong Hui's father must have been no ordinary person.
They got off the carriage at the gate of the mansion, and Zhou Quan followed the carriage in front and drove it through the side gate to park.
"Master, please!" Zhong Hui and Chu Yan respectfully invited Li Mai into the mansion.
Inside the gate, the steward and several maids stood on both sides to greet Li Mai.
Li Mai nodded, signaling the two of them to lead the way.
The two walked side by side with Li Mai, introducing her to the layout and scenery of the mansion as they went.
Although it's called the Zhong Mansion, the layout of the mansion was modified according to the regulations for the Eldest Princess, all to ensure her comfort.
After the introductions, the two asked each other a question that had been bothering them: why she and the King of Cloud addressed each other as brother and sister.
Li Mai then told him about how the King of Yun had recognized her as his god-sister.
After hearing this, the two were happy for Li Mai. "Prince Yun is young and promising. He used to be famous in the capital as a young general. Only after he was injured this year and handed over his military power did he gradually lose his aura."
"Actually, he's quite pitiful. When the girls who used to like him heard that he had become paralyzed, they all rushed to get engaged and married, afraid that he would become dependent on them."
“He was also quite lucky to have met his master,” Zhong Hui said.
Li Mai nodded. "Perhaps this is fate. I just feel that such a talented general should not have died so young. If it can be cured, I am willing to do so. If it cannot be cured, there is nothing I can do."
"Oh right, I forgot to ask you two, how are you cousins?" Li Mai remembered this and asked.
"My father's aunt is my cousin's grandmother," Chu Yan explained to Li Mai.
"Oh, I see. So, you two are actually related by marriage, even though you're not related by marriage!"
“Yes!” The two nodded.
“But because we are about the same age, and our families have been visiting each other since we were little, we grew up together, and our relationship is like that of cousins,” Zhong Hui said.
"Zhong Hui, is your mother a princess with many rules?" Li Mai planned to ask quietly first, and then decide whether to kneel and bow or use the proper etiquette when she met his mother later.
Zhong Hui smiled awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Master. I didn't tell you about my identity before because I was afraid you wouldn't pay attention to me. My mother is not very well-mannered, otherwise she wouldn't have married my father in the first place."
“My home isn’t a royal compound, so when you see my mother, you only need to perform a traditional martial arts greeting. You are my master, so you don’t need to kneel before my parents; they already instructed me to do so,” Zhong Hui quickly told Li Mai.
Li Mai nodded, her impression of Zhong Hui's parents improving considerably.
If they are good people, she can also get along well with this family.
When they arrived at the main gate, they saw a group of people waiting in front of it.
Just then, Zhou Quan, accompanied by Xu Che's guards, came over from the other side.
Zhong Hui and Chu Yan stepped forward and introduced Li Mai to their parents.
Li Mai and Zhou Quan gave them a traditional martial arts bow and exchanged pleasantries.
The eldest princess was elegant and graceful, with the air of a noblewoman.
Lord Zhong had an imposing official air about him, but there was a hint of pure kindness in his eyes. Needless to say, he was a handsome middle-aged man. Just by looking at Zhong Hui's appearance, you could tell that his father couldn't be too far off.
Madam Chu was also quite beautiful, with a kind and gentle smile that gave off a benevolent and compassionate feeling.
The four elders were very kind to Li Mai and his wife, smiling at them and giving Li Mai a careful look. "My son told me that he had found a master on the way back and handed over his jade pendant. It seems that you have gained their approval."
"We are going to assess them today, and we hope Master Li will come to observe the ceremony. We hope this does not disturb you two," the princess said with a smile, speaking on behalf of the other three.
"No need to disturb you, things over there are already finished." Li Mai replied with a smile, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, showing a bit of the air of a master.
Chu Yan and Zhong Hui watched as their master remained composed even when facing their parents, and they admired him from the bottom of their hearts: As expected of their master, his aura is truly different.
"Shall we go inside and discuss this in detail?" The princess gestured for Li Mai to enter.
Li Mai nodded, waiting for the eldest princess to leave first.
After they arrived at the main hall and took their seats, Li Mai and Zhou Quan were invited to sit in the main seats on the left, the Chu couple sat in the lower right, and the Zhong couple sat in the main seats.
Li Mai knew the principle of respecting the left, and seeing how much they respected her, the young master she had picked up halfway through her life, she felt a rare sense of unease.
Next, the formal assessment began.
This was the first time Li Mai had witnessed what the assessment of a large family returning from their travels was like.
Besides the few of them who were seated, there were two rows of people standing behind the chairs on either side of them.
It is said that all the guests are important family members and the elders of the two sons, and they have all been invited to attend the ceremony today.
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