Chapter 19 Returning to the Prime Minister's Residence
The next morning, Ye Wanning finished tidying up and led a large group of people to the Prime Minister's residence.
Although she said she was going back to her parents' home, Ye Wanning felt a little guilty. She glanced at the crowd behind her, and it looked like they were going to challenge someone!
Outside the Prime Minister's residence, Ye Qingyuan had already prepared to welcome him. He had considered that Prince Jin might be worried about Ye Wanning coming alone and might come along, but he really didn't expect that the Fourth Prince would also come. Ye Qingyuan frowned. What was going on?
"Welcome Prince Jin, Princess Jin, and the Fourth Prince."
"Father, what are you doing?" Ye Wanning quickly went over and helped Ye Qingyuan up. "After all, you are our elder, so Wenzhen and I should bow to you!"
Ye Qingyuan smiled and said, "Ning'er, you're wrong. After all, you are now a princess and I am a subject. We still need to observe proper etiquette."
Ye Wanning looked at him and said, "I was just worried that you would be too tired."
The people standing nearby felt a chill run down their spines as they watched Ye Qingyuan and Ye Wanning sing in unison.
Perhaps the two of them were getting tired of pretending, Ye Qingyuan patted Ye Wanning's hand and said, "Don't stand here, come in and sit down."
“Father is right.”
As soon as they entered the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence, the First Madam took Ye Wanning's hand and asked her with concern, "Wanning, you've become more and more beautiful since I last saw you."
Ye Wanning smiled and said, "Of course. Since I went to the Prince's Mansion, my food, clothing and daily necessities have been much better. I'm being well taken care of than before, and I look much more energetic, so naturally I'm prettier."
When Ye Wanning said this, everyone in the room was stunned. Wasn't this a clear statement that the Prime Minister's Mansion had been stingy with her in the past?
The First Madam's face stiffened. After a moment, she coughed lightly twice, "Ahem."
As if realizing she had said something wrong, Ye Wanning feigned surprise, covering her mouth and looking around in panic. "Don't misunderstand, I never said that the Prime Minister's residence mistreated me. They treated me very well!"
Hearing this, Su Wenyan covered his mouth and chuckled. This imperial sister-in-law was truly amusing. Wasn't this blatant attempt to hide something obvious? She was putting on a very good act! She was just as good as his imperial brother. He turned to look at Su Wenzhen, who was still pretending to be silly and suppressing his laughter, and suddenly a feeling arose in his mind. No wonder his imperial brother was so attached to his imperial sister-in-law; it turned out they were kindred spirits! He pursed his lips. It really is true that birds of a feather flock together!
Seeing that Ye Wanning's words were going in the wrong direction, the First Madam had no choice but to change the subject, "Hehe, speaking of which, Wanning has rarely come back to the Prime Minister's residence since she married into the Prince's Mansion. You have no idea how much your father and I miss you."
"Is that so?" Ye Wanning sneered, then said, "I really appreciate your kind words, Auntie, but there are too many things to do at the Prince's Mansion, and I don't have much time to go back and visit. Besides, Granny Sun and Cui'er have both gone to the Prince's Mansion with me, so I don't have any worries about the Prime Minister's Mansion!"
The First Madam's face darkened. Ye Wanning's words were clearly mocking her. Just because she was a concubine's daughter, did she think she was something special after marrying into the Prince's mansion? How utterly lawless! She looked at Ye Qingyuan and found him leisurely drinking tea. Suddenly, she remembered what he had said to her last night.
"Madam, I'm afraid you'll have to suffer tomorrow. Ye Wanning is still very useful to us, so you'll have to coax her well tomorrow!"
The First Madam frowned. She truly didn't understand what use the princess consort was to this foolish prince. But... since the master had already said so, she sighed softly. As the mistress of the Prime Minister's residence, she had to consider the bigger picture, and this was all she could do. After a pause, the First Madam composed herself and turned to Su Wenzhen, saying, "Prince Jin, Wan Ning has always had this kind of temperament—stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside. Now that she's entered the Prince's residence, if she offends anyone, you must be lenient with her."
"How could I not allow my own wife?" Su Wenzhen rolled her eyes, but kept her head down, as if she hadn't heard what the First Madam was saying.
Su Wenyan smiled and took over the conversation, "Madam Ye has probably forgotten that my second brother doesn't understand what you're saying."
The First Madam was startled. She turned her head and saw Ye Qingyuan frowning. She thought to herself, "Oh no!" Right now, everyone probably suspects that she is deliberately mocking Prince Jin! She looked at Ye Wanning and saw that she looked unhappy. She didn't know what to say, afraid that if she spoke again, she would offend this little princess. So she shut her mouth and stopped talking.
The atmosphere suddenly became stiff. Ye Wanyi stood to the side, frowning. Ye Wanning was becoming more and more unruly. Her father had personally greeted her upon entering the Prime Minister's residence, and her mother had chatted with her gently, yet she was putting on such an air. Since Ye Qingyuan hadn't said anything, she couldn't do anything inappropriate. She thought she might as well try to ease the tension herself. After a moment's thought, she asked, "It's been a long time since I've had a heart-to-heart talk with my younger sister. If she doesn't mind, would it be possible for us to go aside and have a private chat?"
The First Madam chimed in, "That's excellent too. Wan Ning, why don't you go chat with your sister for a while? You've all married out, leaving her all alone in the Prime Minister's residence. She often complains that she's bored and wants to find you to cheer her up!" As she spoke, she smiled and looked at Ye Wan Yi, thinking that she was indeed a good daughter.
Ye Wanning frowned. A heart-to-heart talk? She looked at Ye Wanyi, "What's there to talk about? It's just some trivial matters of the Prince's mansion. Sister is still an unmarried young lady. She wouldn't understand these mundane things like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea even if I told her!"
Ye Wanyi was speechless for a long time after being choked by Ye Wanning's words.
Ye Wanning added, "Sister, if you feel bored, why don't you find someone to marry soon? I'm already married, but Second Sister still hasn't found a husband. People will laugh at you if they say that the dignified Second Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion can't get married. That would be incredibly embarrassing!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Wanyi's face stiffened, and the First Madam gave an awkward smile, "This... if Wanning is worried about Second Sister's marriage, she can help Second Sister find a good match!"
Hearing this, Ye Wanning's mind raced. "A good candidate?" she said, grinning and pointing at Su Wenyan. "Isn't this one? The fourth prince of Chu! He has everything: talent, looks, and is a member of the royal family. Isn't he a good match for our second young lady of the Prime Minister's residence?"
Seeing Ye Wanning pointing at him, Su Wenyan was shocked and shouted, "I don't want to marry her!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Wanyi blushed instantly. What did the Fourth Prince mean? Did he think that she was not good enough for him, given her talent and beauty?
Seeing the whispers around him, Su Wenyan inwardly groaned. His sister-in-law was really something, turning the conversation to him so suddenly. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and quickly explained, "It's not that I think the Second Miss of the Prime Minister's Residence is bad, it's just... it's just that I feel I'm not old enough to get married yet..."
No matter how the Fourth Prince explained, Ye Wanyi still felt wronged. After all, she was still an unmarried young woman. Regardless of the Fourth Prince's reasons for saying those words, it would sound terrible if word got out. How could she face people after this? The more Ye Wanyi thought about it, the more embarrassed she became. In the end, she could only run out of the main hall with a red face and tears in her eyes.
Watching Ye Wanyi's retreating figure, Su Wenyan was so anxious he was scratching his head and cheeks. Explaining wasn't an option, nor was not explaining...
"Fourth Prince, I apologize. I failed to discipline my daughter properly. Yi'er has a rather bad temper..." Looking at Ye Wanyi's retreating figure, Ye Qingyuan sighed deeply.
Su Wenyan blushed and mumbled, "It's nothing, it's nothing... In the end, it's still my fault..."
Ye Qingyuan didn't say anything, put down the cup in his hand, glanced at Ye Wanning, and said, "Ning'er, come with me."
Ye Wanning raised an eyebrow. "Yes." I won't offend others unless they offend me. I want to see what tricks you're up to!
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