She had approached this with a host's mindset, wanting to properly entertain this Yao Guniang, never expecting her to be so ungracious. Yingzhen looked at her intently and said lightly, "Then what does Yao Guniang like? We've only just met by chance, so I don't know much about you."
Yao Guniang merely snorted coldly and said nothing. Yingzhen couldn't be bothered to engage further.
Although Old Madam Zhong was a favorite in the Emperor's eyes, their Pingzhang Houfu also came from a noble military family. There was no need for her to be so deferential.
So, she took out a nine-linked ring puzzle to solve. Whether in her past life or this one, she had never been able to solve it—even when playing with her children, she never used this toy. This lifetime, she was determined to learn how to solve it.
The first ring was easy, and she could undo the second as well, but the third proved somewhat difficult. As she fumbled clumsily for a while, a pair of slender hands reached over and deftly solved it in a few quick moves.
Yingzhen looked up to see Yao Guniang wearing a mocking expression. Yingzhen put her nine-linked ring away in a drawer, took out a plate of pastries, and slowly ate them, ignoring her.
She really had no patience to indulge such an ill-mannered girl.
"Gurgle…"
While savoring the pastries, Yingzhen realized the sound came from Yao Guniang's stomach across from her. Yao Guniang's face flushed red, as if stained with the finest rouge. This time, Yingzhen didn't hold a grudge and instead pushed the pastries toward her. "These are yam cakes—not too sweet, and good for the stomach. You can have more."
Yao Guniang ate quickly, almost one bite per cake, yet it didn't seem like she was wolfing them down. It was clear she had been drilled in proper manners to the bone.
In no time, the plate of yam cakes was completely finished. Yingzhen asked again, "I also have some rose cakes. Would you like some?" These rose cakes were often eaten in the palace, and only the dowry attendants of Princess Qinghe knew how to make them.
Unexpectedly, Yao Guniang shook her head again. "No, they're too sweet."
Hearing this, it seemed Yao Guniang had tasted them before. It appeared Old Madam Zhong truly treated her well.
"Do you have meat pies?"
Meat pies? Yingzhen shook her head. "Not right now. Meat pies tend to become greasy once they cool, so they're not very good."
Seeing Yao Guniang's disappointment, Yingzhen added, "I have fresh meat mooncakes. Would you like some?" She loved mooncakes, especially those with fresh meat or pickled mustard tuber fillings, which were her favorites, so she often carried them with her.
Yao Guniang tilted her head. "There are fresh meat mooncakes too?"
When it came to food, Yingzhen became talkative. "I like eating them, so I had people experiment with making them. But I've heard they exist in the south too. My Mother dotes on me, so whenever I like something to eat, she has it made for me."
As she spoke, she handed the mooncakes to Yao Guniang, whose cheeks were stuffed full, resembling a little hamster. Perhaps because she had eaten someone else's food, Yao Guniang's attitude and tone softened considerably.
Yingzhen wasn't difficult to get along with either. Seeing that Yao Guniang was solitary and quiet, not fond of talking, she didn't force conversation to avoid awkwardness. Most of the time, she simply slept or read books casually.
After about five or six days of travel, the carriage suddenly stopped. Su Zhi came over specifically to inform them, "Sister, the Deposed Crown Prince has passed away. All the city gates in the capital are now closed. I'm afraid our household won't be able to enter, so our journey on the road will be a bit longer."
Su Zhi now stayed close to his biological father, completely different from when he used to follow the Eldest Branch around. He wasn't foolish either—he knew his father genuinely cared for him and was nurturing him, so he gladly followed his father's orders.
Yingzhen calculated the timing, remembering that in her previous life, the Deposed Crown Prince had indeed died around this time. It was precisely because of the Deposed Crown Prince's death that the struggle for succession was brought into the open.
She had a rough idea in mind. Seeing Yao Guniang's face turn somewhat pale, she took the initiative to comfort her: "Yao Guniang, you needn't worry. There are many carriages and horses blocking the road now, but if we proceed slowly, everything will be fine once we reach the capital."
"Mhm."
In the evening, Princess Qinghe sent Aunt Xue over with a charcoal brazier. Suxin brought over the meal, while Yingyue and Lin Wan came to her place to eat together. Lin Wan was extremely enthusiastic toward Yao Guniang. Unable to get close to Old Madam Zhong, she had to find another approach. These past few days, she had noticed that Old Madam Zhong cared deeply for this grandniece, so she seized opportunities to get closer.
"Yao meimei, look, this pipa prawn is quite delicious. Try some." Lin Wan personally served her a dish.
Yao Guniang paid little attention. As Lin Wan grew increasingly enthusiastic, Yao Guniang glanced at her and said, "Could you stop bothering me?"
Lin Wan's hand, holding the serving chopsticks, froze mid-air. Yingyue couldn't help but chuckle. It was Yingzhen who smoothed things over: "Cousin Lin, Yao Guniang has never liked talking much with others. It's not directed at you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Yao Guniang directly pick a piece of braised pork from her bowl. Yingzhen felt somewhat awkward. It wasn't until Yingyue and Lin Wan left that she asked Yao Guniang: "Why did you act like that earlier? She was just being a bit enthusiastic."
But Yao Guniang sneered: "Your cousin probably wants to marry Zhong Hun as his second wife. She's trying to use me. You should be more careful."
Yingzhen responded with a light laugh: "Since you know, why say it out loud? She's in an awkward situation and wants to carve out a path for herself. As long as she doesn't hinder others, just pretend you don't know."
"Are you sitting with me for the same reason?"
Yingzhen immediately waved her hands: "I would never become a second wife, rest assured." No matter what Lin Wan did, she wanted to make her stance clear to the Zhong family's relatives—she had no issue with Zhong Hun himself but simply didn't want to be a second wife.
Seeing her avoid it like the plague, Yao Guniang nodded as if in approval. "Zhong Hun is as old as your father. It's not suitable."
"You're calling him by his full name now, Yao Guniang. You can say that in front of me, but if others hear it outside, they'll surely say you lack manners. You're not young anymore, and you'll be living in that household from now on. Don't be too impulsive."
Yao Guniang had an unreadable expression and simply said, "Understood."
Yingzhen thought she was also a pitiable girl. Although Old Madam Zhong doted on her, living under someone else's roof was never ideal. She kindly advised: "I'm not criticizing you. It's just that we're both girls, and being women is already difficult enough. We must be even more careful."
"Thank you."
Seeing Yao Guniang smile, she thought to herself, this was the first time she had seen Yao Guniang smile! She truly looked beautiful.
As the two were talking, they heard a familiar whistling sound. Yingzhen beamed and lifted the carriage curtain—sure enough, it was Second Brother. Yingzhen giggled: "Second Brother."
Su Jin and his sister had hardly ever been apart, and he secretly missed her. Yingzhen knew this well, but she also understood that boys were often too shy to express their feelings, so she took the initiative.
"Second Brother, how have you been these past few days? If you're tired from riding, go inside the carriage and rest—you're still growing. Also, I heard from Aunt Xue that she made prawn-stuffed pipa pastries. If you eat them, don’t drink any wine afterward, or you might break out in a rash."
Su Jin was quite pleased. "Alright. Are you cold here, Sister? Should we add another charcoal brazier?"
"No need, it’s plenty warm here."
…
It wasn’t until the procession started moving again that Su Jin rode back. Yingzhen turned and saw Yao Guniang looking at her. Yao Guniang remarked, "Your family seems quite harmonious, but I wonder if it’s genuine or just for show?"
This girl was rather sharp. Yingzhen looked at her and said, "In this world, whether it’s relatives or friends, relationships are mutual. Having blood ties doesn’t guarantee closeness, nor does lacking them mean distance. It all depends on the hearts of both parties."
"Really?" Yao Guniang murmured.
Yingzhen smiled. "Of course—" Mid-sentence, a sudden cramp in her lower abdomen struck—oh no, her monthly cycle had arrived.
She looked pleadingly at the taller Yao Guniang. "Do you have Chen Mama?" She truly had no preparation at all, having completely forgotten.
Yao Guniang shook her head in confusion. "What’s Chen Mama?"
Yingzhen said urgently, "It’s a menstrual cloth!"
But how would I, a man, know about such things!