Su Yunmo kicked Ye Ningyuan, "It's your turn to speak."
"Alrighty~" Ye Ningyuan stood up, very energetically saying, "Imperial Uncle, Sister Meiyan is truly beautiful. Yuan'er wants her to come to the Cloud Wing Prince's manor."
Emperor Ye Yao thought it was a child's prank and laughed, "If you were a boy, Imperial Uncle would naturally grant your wish and give you this daughter-in-law. It's just a pity you won't have this fortune in this life."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Ye Ningyuan smacked her lips, "It doesn't matter if I don't have fortune. I can let her marry my father, and I can call her 'mother'."
Prince Yun Wing spat out a mouthful of wine.
Everyone was shocked.
Hu Bao's face turned green.
Even Emperor Ye Yao twitched the corner of his mouth.
Su Yunmo glanced at her, full of admiration, "You truly are your father's good son."
This person probably took more beatings than herself growing up.
Emperor Ye Yao glanced at Prince Yun Wing and helped him out of the awkward situation, "Your father, as an elder, how can he compete with my imperial princes?"
"If you truly like the Southern Border's County Princess, you can visit her often after she marries your imperial brothers."
Ye Ningyuan pouted, "But if Imperial Uncle marries her to Imperial Brother Yu, Yuan'er won't be able to visit her."
Emperor Ye Yao was puzzled, "Why is that?"
Ye Ningyuan crossed her arms, her words carrying some genuine feeling, "Imperial Brother Yu always has such a stern face, he's terrifying. Yuan'er doesn't dare to visit his home."
Su Yunmo nodded in agreement.
Seeing the little dumpling silently concur, Ye Jingyu's face instantly darkened.
Ye Ningyuan added, "If it were Imperial Brother Lian, then Yuan'er could still visit often. Imperial Brother Lian is easy to talk to, and Yuan'er also likes the Empress very much."
Luo Yun'e's eyes flickered rapidly.
Judging by the County Princess's tone, her impression of Cheng'er was much better than Ye Jingyu's. If she truly liked that Southern Border princess, perhaps with more interaction, the Cloud Wing Prince's manor could become a complete asset for Cheng'er.
Ye Ningyuan's gaze swept over the Empress's face, and she sighed, "It's a pity that Imperial Brother Lian's Princess Consort is not willing to take Sister Meiyan into the manor. In that case, Yuan'er can only settle for the next best option and let my father take her."
"No need. This King believes the Southern Border's County Princess and Prince Lian are very well-matched," Prince Yun Wing said, word by word.
Ye Ningyuan shrugged.
Lin Yuning's teeth itched with hatred, "Imperial Uncle, how can this be? If the Southern Border's County Princess enters the manor, she can only be a secondary consort. How would the Southern Border royal family agree to this?" She couldn't possibly give up her position as the primary consort to this Meiyan, especially with a child on the way. This was royal blood.
Prince Yun Wing glanced at her unhappily, "Since Prince Lian's Princess Consort claims to be pregnant and unable to manage household affairs, it's just right for someone to enter the manor to help you. It's killing two birds with one stone."
"Prince Yun Wing speaks wisely," Luo Yun'e suddenly interjected, "This Empress also feels this is just right. Princess Consort Lian can then focus on her pregnancy with peace of mind, which is also beneficial for her."
Lin Yuning's body stiffened, and she widened her eyes in disbelief, "Mother Empress!"
"Enough. Your words don't count. This still depends on the Southern Border's County Princess's wishes," Emperor Ye Yao said slowly. "If the County Princess wishes to enter Zhaoyao, she can only do so as a secondary consort."
Lin Yuning stared intently at Meiyan, desperately hoping she would refuse.
Hu Bao also frowned. The Emperor of Zhaoyao, from initially accepting the Empress's opinion to now agreeing to a secondary consort, felt they were trying to make them retreat, not wanting to accept anyone from the start.
"Replying to Your Majesty, my daughter will obey Your Majesty's decree. It is my daughter's honor to serve Prince Lian," Meiyan replied softly.
Lin Yuning's heart sank into despair.
Emperor Ye Yao then turned to Ye Jingcheng, "What does Prince Lian think?"
Ye Jingcheng's eyes flickered, and he cupped his hands, "Everything is as Father Emperor decides."
"Your Majesty fostering a marriage is a good thing. Upon returning to the Southern Border, this humble one will surely commend Your Majesty's wisdom to the King of the Southern Border," Hu Bao said, cupping his hands.
Then, the ceremonial music resumed, and the banquet continued. Everyone became cheerful, except for Lin Yuning, who bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes filled with mist.
Ye Ningyuan sat down, propping her chin on her hand on the table, and reached out to Su Yunmo, "Hand it over."
Su Yunmo glanced at her, "Hand over what?"
"The reward," Ye Ningyuan raised her eyebrows. "I helped you, so you must give me a reward."
Before Su Yunmo could speak, she added, "Don't tell me you didn't plan to give me a reward. If that's the case, I'll go back on my word." Ye Ningyuan leaned closer, smiling slyly, "If I stand up now and say I want to matchmake Prince Yu with that woman, I think Lin Yuning would be very happy."
Su Yunmo's eyelids twitched, "What do you want?"
"You know what I want. I already said I fancied that bead," Ye Ningyuan rubbed her hands together, looking greedy. "Things from the Southern Border royal family must be top-tier treasures!"
"No," the little dumpling flatly refused. If the box wasn't opened by her intentionally, it was highly likely that the Southern Border people were behind it. They must have a reason for this arrangement. If she took the bead back to show Linlang, she might find some clues.
"Fine, if you don't give me anything, a kiss will suffice as repayment for this favor," Ye Ningyuan pouted, pointing to her lips, and slurred, "Kiss here."
A gaze filled with murderous intent suddenly struck. Ye Jingyu's teacup cracked under his grip.
Su Yunmo stared at Ye Ningyuan for a moment, then tossed the pearl to her, "You're welcome. Stay away from me."
Ye Ningyuan reflexively caught the pearl and said aggrievedly, "You'd rather give me a treasure than kiss me? Do you dislike me that much?"
Su Yunmo nodded solemnly, "Yes."
Ye Ningyuan: "..." This was truly heartbreaking.
"No, I don't want this thing anymore. I want you to kiss me!" Ye Ningyuan, unwilling, puckered her lips and kept leaning towards the little dumpling.
Su Yunmo held her face with one hand, her scalp tingling, "Scram!"
One wanted a kiss, the other refused. They bickered for the entire banquet. By the end of it, Ye Ningyuan was so exhausted she had collapsed on the table. The little dumpling had already fallen asleep in Zhou Wanyou's arms.
As the banquet concluded, Prince Yun Wing walked over from his seat, greeted Zhou Wanyou, and carried Ye Ningyuan away. The little dumpling was also carried back to the General's manor.
The next morning, as she opened her eyes, she saw Zi Yuan. Zi Yuan was guarding by the bedside, her hands propping her chin, smiling, "Mistress, you're awake? Your subordinate greets you."
The little dumpling blinked her eyes, rubbed them with her small hands, and looked at Zi Yuan for a while before closing her eyes again. It seemed she was dreaming, and Zi Yuan in the dream was well-behaved.
"Mistress, it is your subordinate who has returned," Zi Yuan helplessly picked the little dumpling up from the bed.
Su Yunmo opened her eyes, looked at her for a moment, yawned, and pouted, "So it wasn't a dream."
Zi Yuan looked aggrieved, "Today is a good day. Your subordinate just wants you to have a good mood as soon as you wake up."