At this moment, Ji Qingge spoke slowly.
"Actually, I should call you cousin. You must have heard that your mother is still the Grand Princess of Xiliang, the biological daughter of my Imperial Grandmother. I was raised by my Imperial Grandmother since I was young. She is now old and perhaps cannot hold on any longer. Her only wish is to see her sister. However, I have already investigated and found that my aunt has been dead for many years. Fortunately, she gave birth to you, which is why I brought you to Xiliang to see my Imperial Grandmother."
As Ji Qingge spoke, his voice choked slightly, and he lowered his head as if in great sorrow.
Yun Xiao was somewhat surprised. She didn't believe there could still be such family affection in royalty. But seeing the slight tremor in Ji Qingge's hand holding the teacup, she could tell he was trying hard to suppress his emotions.
Yun Xiao felt a bit moved. After all, that person was her mother's mother. She believed her mother must have died in great pain, so perhaps she should fulfill one of her wishes.
"I will see her, but after I do, you must send me back to Dongqin immediately. Otherwise, I will not let you have peace in the Prince of Li's mansion."
"Alright."
Upon hearing Yun Xiao's words, Ji Qingge responded readily. He looked up, his face still wearing a gentle smile. Yun Xiao almost suspected the previous scene was an illusion. Just as she was about to curse him out, she saw something glistening at the corner of Ji Qingge's eye and stopped herself in time.
"When will I see her?"
"Tonight. Because your arrival was known, my father is hosting a family banquet specifically to welcome you."
Yun Xiao's expression turned somber and gloomy upon hearing this, and she furrowed her brows. "I will only see one person, not anyone else."
"My father is your maternal uncle. When we were young, he had a very good relationship with my aunt, so he also wants to see you. In fact, it will just be a few family members, no one else."
Ji Qingge's lips curled into a playful smile. Seeing this little girl who seemed fearless of everything, he was surprised that she also had things she feared. The moment she heard about the family banquet, she immediately reacted, her face even showing a hint of paleness.
"Uncle?"
Yun Xiao's scalp tingled. She didn't understand how, in the blink of an eye, she had become the biological niece of the Emperor of Xiliang. The Emperor heard she had arrived and was holding a family banquet. What was going on? She rolled her eyes and stared at the gauze canopy above, sitting motionless.
Ji Qingge's smile widened. He had never seen anyone so interesting. He stood up. "I will have someone attend to my cousin. Tonight, I will send someone to fetch you to the palace."
Yun Xiao turned her head and sighed. She was so angry she almost tore her hair out. Why did she have so many royal relatives appear out of nowhere?
"Don't tear your hair out, it won't look good if it falls out."
Ji Qingge's voice had already drifted away. Yun Xiao was stunned, realizing she had indeed been tearing her hair. Seeing Ji Qingge walk away, she called out to him indignantly, "If you hadn't caused me trouble, I wouldn't be tearing my hair. If I become ugly, Ji Qingge, you won't have an easy time."
Another burst of laughter echoed from outside.
The maids in the Prince of Li's mansion were dumbfounded. Who was this woman?
Although the Prince had always been gentle and courteous, he always kept his distance from people. It had been a long time since they had seen him smile so happily and so unreservedly.
Several maids walked in orderly, bowing their heads respectfully.
"Miss Yun, shall we help you get up?"
The clothing of Xiliang was somewhat different from that of Dongqin. Dongqin primarily used silk, with exquisite and simple craftsmanship. However, Xiliang used Yanxia Luo, with intricate workmanship. The layers of Yanxia Luo resembled white clouds, trailing down to the floor.
Wearing this white feather robe, Yun Xiao felt as if she were immersed in a pile of white clouds. She turned to look at the glazed dressing mirror inside the room.
The woman in the mirror had her cloud-like hair piled high, slightly disheveled. A pale pink silk flower was pinned to her temples, making her appear graceful and captivating. The white Yanxia Luo, wrapped around her in layers, made her look like an orchid in a secluded valley, delicate and beautiful, with a refined and graceful aura.
She realized she looked quite good in these clothes, appearing fresh and beautiful.
However, she preferred simple clothes. These beautiful and ladylike clothes seemed only suitable for those born into royalty, as they were too inconvenient for movement.
"Miss Yun, you look so beautiful."
The maids behind her murmured intermittently, giggling and covering their mouths.
They didn't know who this young lady was. Intuitively, they treated her as the woman the Prince of Li favored, and therefore treated Yun Xiao with great courtesy.
Yun Xiao glanced sideways at the maids around her. They were all pretty and delicate, and very skilled at reading people's expressions.
"Alright, since this is the Prince of Li's mansion, take me for a walk."
"Yes, Miss Yun."
Xiliang and Dongqin had fundamental differences. Dongqin was still a land of abundance, rich in silk and jadeware.
The people were well-fed and clothed. However, Xiliang was different. Not far to the west of the country lay a vast desert, covered in windblown sand year-round. In calm weather, it was fine.
But if there was wind, within a day and a night, the earth would be covered with a layer of yellow quicksand, like a yellow carpet. Just clearing this would be a costly and labor-intensive task.
Therefore, Xiliang had its sights on Dongqin. For many years, they had wanted to break through Dongqin's border cities and capture a few to allow Xiliang to shift eastward, thus escaping the hardship of sandstorms.
The weather today was clear and sunny, with a gentle breeze, and not a speck of dust. Within the Prince of Li's mansion, the atmosphere was grand and imposing. The scenery and structures were all simple and magnificent.
Yun Xiao wandered around the Prince of Li's mansion. Everyone in the mansion, from top to bottom, curiously observed the woman who had inexplicably appeared, guessing her identity.
At first, people thought she was the woman the Prince favored, and by the end, she became the woman closest to the Prince's heart.
Rumors were terrifying. In less than half a day, Yun Xiao became a prominent figure in the Prince of Li's mansion. Wherever she went, the servants bowed respectfully and acted cautiously. Of course, she was unaware of these things. Her only thought was:
This Prince of Li's mansion was different from others. The servants and maids here were all polite and knew the rules.
As evening approached, Prince Li, Ji Qingge, finally appeared and accompanied Yun Xiao to the palace.
The carriage that Prince Li rode in was very luxurious, with ornate felt screens on the outside, inlaid with emeralds at the top, and delicate palace lanterns hanging from the four corners.
The interior of the carriage was even more extravagant, equipped with everything, like a small living room. One side had a soft couch covered with an entire leopard skin, its black and white markings exuding a rugged and wild beauty.
Ji Qingge sat on this leopard skin, making him appear even more gentle and refined.
Yun Xiao was somewhat dazed by what she saw. She really couldn't connect the elegant person before her with the black-clothed figure from that night. Such an elegant person was actually skilled in martial arts and knew how to use poison.
As Yun Xiao was observing him and contemplating,
Ji Qingge's clear voice rang out, "What are you still standing there for? Sit down."
Yun Xiao did not sit on Ji Qingge's couch but on another embroidered stool, turning her head to observe the furnishings on the other side.
There was a low table, with brush, ink, paper, and an ancient jade inkstone. A porcelain vase with powder glaze held a few flower buds.