"It's me, Yang Zhao."
Upon hearing his name, the two people inside the room breathed a sigh of relief. After tidying their emotions, they opened the door to welcome him.
Princess Qianling was no longer lying down but was sitting in a rocking chair by the window, covered with a lambskin blanket. Seeing this in late May felt somewhat incongruous.
"The Princess has been a bit weak these past few days, so she's being extra careful to stay warm," Jiang Xun explained. He was remarkably attentive in caring for the Princess, a fact that even Yang Zhao noticed.
He nodded and addressed them both. "I've come today on the King's orders to have General Jiang depart for the southwest immediately. There are important matters there that require your attention."
Having pledged allegiance to Prince Ding's manor, Jiang Xun naturally understood the need to obey orders. However, Princess Qianling had not yet fully recovered, and he was somewhat reluctant to leave at such a time.
He asked, "Could it be postponed for two days, until the Princess is a bit more robust? I'll ride like the wind to get there!"
Yang Zhao was not one to make things difficult for lovers. He smiled and said, "You must arrive before the end of June. Whether you depart in three days or ten is your concern."
This statement offered him considerable leeway, and Jiang Xun was immensely grateful. "Thank you, Brother Yang. I will certainly not delay the King's command!"
Yang Zhao patted his shoulder, then presented another bottle of medicine to Princess Qianling. "This is for strengthening the body. Remember to take it daily once the Princess feels better, and in half a month, your health will surely be more robust than before!"
Jiang Xun was overjoyed. At this moment, nothing was more important than Princess Qianling's health. The actions of Prince Ding's manor further deepened his loyalty!
Princess Qianling accepted the medicine bottle and said gratefully to Yang Zhao, "Please thank Uncle Ding Wang for me. Once I've recovered, I will personally visit to express my gratitude."
"Very well."
After a few polite words, Yang Zhao left the separate courtyard. He did not return to the Min family but went directly to Feng Jinlin's residence. This time, he did not hide his movements but went openly. The reason given was that Prince Ding had recovered and invited everyone for a small gathering at the Min family's residence. It was not a grand banquet, but only a select few received this honor.
Liang Quanbin, as the Supervisor of the Grain Transport Department, was naturally among them, especially since he was the one who had offered the medicine! Generals from the navy, the Feng Jinlin siblings, and Chi Zimo were also esteemed guests. The Cao family, though eager to curry favor, found themselves unable to reach even the Min family, let alone Prince Ding, on a daily basis. Not being able to partake, they did not feel particularly envious. Instead, they were seizing the opportunity to arrange for more Cao family members to enter officialdom, prioritizing the enhancement of their family's reputation and prestige.
When Feng Jinlin received the invitation, he was somewhat displeased. "Is the King's intention not merely to drink, but to invite me, a mere seventh-rank county registrar?"
"Since you know that inviting you is secondary, why bother saying it and humiliate yourself?" Yang Zhao savored his words, teasing him.
Feng Jinlin was once again rendered speechless, rolling his eyes heavenward. However, Qiao Shanwei, who was accompanying him and learning from him, had a profound expression, making it impossible to discern his thoughts at that moment. Yang Zhao had never paid much attention to Qiao Shanwei, assuming he was merely Feng Jinlin's capable assistant. He never imagined that this person would later possess such skills and achieve such success, nearly causing him to drop his jaw in astonishment.
Feng Jinyao, upon learning of Prince Ding's banquet, did not conceal it from Xu Mingyue. Instead, Xu Mingyue, with her sharp perception, seemed to have discerned something. When she was still at home, she often heard her grandfather mention that Prince Ding's marriage had never been settled. At the time, she thought that for such a person with such an illness, it would be best not to involve any women. But now that his health had improved and he was no longer young, finding someone to spend his life with seemed perfectly fine. Her gaze then fell upon Feng Jinyao.
It had to be said that Elder Xu and Xu Mingyue were indeed grandmother and granddaughter; their tastes were astonishingly consistent. Feng Jinyao was not foolish and understood Xu Mingyue's intentions. Before Xu Mingyue could even speak, she said righteously, "Sister Xu, don't you try to push me into a fiery pit just because you're living comfortably. I'm still waiting to travel north and south. If I were to get married now, wouldn't I be confined to the inner chambers for the rest of my life?"
"What are you saying, A'Yao? Jumping into a fiery pit? If the Prince knew you described Prince Ding's manor like this, he would be heartbroken."
"Aren't you my good sister? Why are you speaking up for him!" Feng Jinyao was exasperated. Why did everyone around her think she and Prince Ding were a perfect match and try to persuade her? She, however, did not think so. Calculating, difficult to fathom, immensely powerful, and fond of scheming behind the scenes – could such a person be considered a good match? While she regarded Prince Ding as worthless, outsiders already viewed him as a prize, eagerly awaiting his return to the Eastern Capital to fill his inner chambers with candidates.
Seeing Feng Jinyao's pouting expression, Xu Mingyue couldn't help but chuckle. She had never seen Feng Jinyao react to anyone in such a way before. Either she was indifferent, or she was cold. Yet, her helpless demeanor towards Prince Ding resembled that of a bickering couple. Thinking that it was best to let things unfold naturally, she stopped teasing her. "Alright, the invitations have been sent. It would be inappropriate not to go, especially with others attending. You don't need to fear him making any excessive moves. As for Liang Quanbin, who will also be attending the banquet, you should be cautious. You know what kind of person he is and his background."
Xu Mingyue now spoke of Liang Quanbin with utter disdain and contempt. Poor upbringing, questionable character, swayed by profit, and two-faced. Any one of these traits made her feel fortunate not to have married into the Liang family, otherwise, she would have a headache dealing with such a father-in-law.
"Sister, please don't worry. I'm merely accompanying my second brother. Besides, most of the attendees are men, and I won't be seated with them." This was true. Considering that Feng Jinyao was the only female guest among those invited, Xiao Tingyi had specifically arranged for her maternal aunt to accompany her. Her aunt was a kind-hearted woman, and interacting with her was like basking in a spring breeze. While outsiders believed Feng Jinyao was merely a companion, and Feng Jinlin the main guest, the Min family knew that this banquet was specifically arranged for Feng Jinyao. Xiao Tingyi intended to introduce her to his maternal relatives, and everyone was filled with curiosity about Feng Jinyao! Especially Old Master Min, who knew best how discerning his grandson's taste was. Otherwise, he would not have lived such a simple life for nearly twenty-seven years, without even a maid to attend to his daily needs. Prince Ding's manor was like a military camp, not only unapproachable to strangers but also off-limits to women.