In Yongning District, the Yao family had selected their most luxurious carriage for the day, which was now parading ostentatiously down the main street.
“Father, have you been here before?” Yao Xin asked excitedly.
Yao Xin was the eldest son of the Yao family, and thus Yao Chengcheng’s legitimate elder brother. Yao Baowang glared at his son: “The main street of Yongning District is surrounded by the mansions of imperial relatives and nobles. How could I have been here?”
Yao Xin cleared his throat softly: “I haven’t either, Father. Is it alright for us to be dressed like this today?”
Ever since receiving the news that they were to visit the Prince’s mansion, the entire Yao family had been preparing non-stop. From what clothes and shoes to wear to which carriage to take and what etiquette to follow, the whole family had rehearsed everything once.
This was the Prince Regent’s mansion!
Yao Baowang felt as if his family’s ancestral graves were emitting green smoke—no, more like flames!
His name was truly auspicious—”Wang” (prosperous). His official career was clearly about to prosper as well!
The Yao family had come in two carriages, with the womenfolk in the rear carriage, which carried Old Mrs. Yao, Madam Wu, Du Ping’er, Yao Duoduo, and others. Old Mrs. Yao was a rural grandmother, but she felt her fate was truly blessed. Her son had earned the title of Jinshi and an official post through his own abilities, and now her granddaughter had become a lady of the Prince’s mansion! Life was truly becoming more promising by the day!
“Remember your manners when we arrive at the Prince’s mansion later,” Old Mrs. Yao spoke up.
Madam Wu smiled: “Mother, rest assured. Your daughter-in-law will remember.” After speaking, she glanced at Du Ping’er. “Sister, although Chengcheng is your own flesh and blood, you must remember that we are in public. Do not lose your composure.”
Du Ping’er understood Madam Wu’s veiled warning. She smiled slightly and nodded in agreement.
Only Yao Duoduo felt both excited and somewhat awkward.
The Prince had actually agreed to receive them for her sake!
What right did Yao Chengcheng have?!
How did she have such good luck?!
Once they arrived at the Prince’s mansion, she would see for herself whether the Prince truly doted on her to such an extent!
Finally, the carriages stopped at the side gate of the Prince’s mansion.
The Prince Regent’s mansion alone had sixteen gates for entry. Given the Yao family’s status, they could at most enter through the lower three gates. However, today, Fuman greeted them from the first lower gate, which further convinced the Yao family that Yao Chengcheng was highly favored.
Meanwhile, in the rear garden, Yao Chengcheng stared blankly at the more than twenty varieties of tea and pastries laid out before her.
“What is all this…?”
Aunt Liu smiled: “This is the Prince’s mansion’s way of receiving guests, to entertain your family.”
Having heard that Aunt Liu was also a long-serving attendant of the Prince, managing all matters within the mansion’s inner quarters, Yao Chengcheng’s eyelid twitched: “Aunt, isn’t this a bit excessive?”
“Not at all. You are the first lady of the Prince’s mansion. This also reflects the Prince’s dignity.”
The Prince’s dignity… alright then.
Yao Chengcheng silently accepted it.
Finally, footsteps could be heard in the distance. Chunyan ran over and whispered: “They’ve arrived.” Yao Chengcheng then stood up and went out to greet them.
As soon as she appeared, all the members of the Yao family knelt down in unison—
“Greetings, Lady.”
Yao Chengcheng: “Please rise… we are family, no need for such formality…”
These were all the rules she had hastily learned. Hearing her words, Yao Baowang stood up, beaming with delight.
“Um… Father.” Yao Chengcheng addressed him.
Yao Baowang was overjoyed: “Yes!”
“Grandmother, Mother, Mother…”
Yao Chengcheng greeted everyone in turn. When she called out “Mother,” she took a few extra glances at Du Ping’er. Standing beside Madam Wu, Du Ping’er’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, but she only nodded with great restraint.
Aunt Liu stepped forward: “Since you are all the Madam’s family, you are esteemed guests of the Prince’s residence. This old servant will attend to your seating. However, the Prince is unwell today and may not be able to join us. Please make yourselves at home.”
Yao Duoduo raised an eyebrow. The Prince isn’t coming? See, he doesn’t value her that much after all!
Yao Baowang, however, found this perfectly normal. After all, this was the Prince Regent—not someone who could casually come out to meet them. Having served as an official for many years, Yao Baowang understood clearly that the moment he set foot in the Prince’s residence, it would become a topic of conversation in the future.
Once everyone was seated, the Yao family was momentarily stunned by the array of exquisite bowls and plates before them. In truth, from the moment they entered, they had already begun to feel dazzled.
The Prince’s residence was truly vast—so much so that they were nearly overwhelmed. Yao’s grandmother even whispered that walking through the residence felt longer than strolling through a marketplace!
Yao Duoduo didn’t want to admit her jealousy, but she had never seen, let alone tasted, any of these pastries before! Even the crystal bowls holding the pastries were items they couldn’t afford to use outside!
She struggled to hold back but ultimately couldn’t resist, gritting her teeth as she said, “Little sister, you truly live a life of luxury in the Prince’s residence. I’m afraid you’ll grow more and more distant from your own family from now on.”
Yao Duoduo’s very first sentence dripped with envy, something Yao Chengcheng found entirely unsurprising. These two sisters had never been particularly clever, and their rivalry resembled two amateurs squabbling.
Yao Chengcheng looked at her and smiled faintly. “Elder sister, aren’t you happy that I’ve entered the Prince’s residence?”
Yao Duoduo: “…”
Madam Wu quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “How could we not be happy? We’re all delighted! Our entire family is overjoyed!”
Yao Baowang also cleared his throat lightly. “Duoduo, what kind of talk is that? It’s only because Chengcheng entered the residence that our family has this opportunity to visit. How could we grow more distant! Right, Chengcheng?”
Yao Chengcheng curled her lips slightly, unwilling to respond to this remark. She understood the Yao family’s true nature all too well. In her original life at home, she had been an overlooked concubine-born daughter, always at risk of being sacrificed for the family’s benefit.
Now that she had soared to the heavens like a phoenix, the entire family had flocked to her side.
Yet, there was one exception. Yao Chengcheng noticed Du Ping’er, whose gaze reminded her of her own mother—a genuine concern for her daughter, not flattery or a desire to gain something from her…
After a moment’s thought, Yao Chengcheng said, “Father, I’d like to speak with my birth mother alone. Why don’t you and Grandmother enjoy the meal here?”
Upon hearing this, both Du Ping’er and Madam Wu widened their eyes. Du Ping’er appeared visibly nervous, fearing this might be “improper,” but Yao Chengcheng insisted, “I may have few chances to return home and see Mother in the future. Don’t you want to talk with your daughter, Mother?”
Du Ping’er’s eyes reddened slightly. “Of course… of course, that would be wonderful…”
After speaking, she glanced at Madam Wu, who, though displeased, had no say in the matter here.
Yao Chengcheng led Du Ping’er elsewhere, while the rest of the Yao family craned their necks as if trying to stretch them two inches longer.
Once they reached a pavilion, Du Ping’er hurriedly grasped Yao Chengcheng’s hand. “My dear, are you doing well in the Prince’s residence…?”
The term “my dear” caught Yao Chengcheng off guard, because her childhood nickname… was also this.
Facing this mother, Yao Chengcheng actually felt guilty, because she was no longer the original person and didn’t know where the original had gone. But she couldn’t bear to tell Madam Du the truth, so she could only fulfill the filial duties on behalf of the original…
“I’m doing fine, Mother… and you?”
“I’m good, I’m very good.” Du Ping’er sobbed while wiping her tears. Yao Chengcheng hesitated for a moment before reaching out to wipe them away.
This scene reminded her of her own mother, who had passed away long ago, and Yao Chengcheng’s heart ached slightly.
“I’m doing well in the Prince’s residence. You must take good care of yourself at home, Mother. I think… once I become a Lady, no one will dare to bully you anymore…”
Du Ping’er looked up with reddened eyes: “No one bullies me. I’m just happy, Chengcheng. In the Prince’s residence, you must live well with the Prince, understand? These past few days have felt like a dream to me. I never imagined you’d be chosen to become a Lady, but seeing how beautiful my daughter is, it’s only fitting that you’re blessed with good fortune! But I’m also worried. I worry that when the Prince marries his official Princess Consort in the future, will he treat you poorly? Will he look down on you?”
Yao Chengcheng: “…Mother, aren’t you overthinking things a bit?”
Du Ping’er seemed to have gotten to the main point and quickly wiped her tears: “How could I be? The Prince is twenty-two this year. He should have married long ago. It’s likely the Princess Consort will enter the residence within the next year or so. You must be careful. If things don’t work out… you should hurry and have a child first…?”
Yao Chengcheng: “…”
How did the conversation suddenly shift to having children? Isn’t that jumping way too far ahead!