The Princess Royal was the elder sister born to the emperor’s official mother. After the emperor took the throne, he treated her kindly. She also loved socializing and was a well-known figure in the capital.
When she arrived, the relaxed atmosphere on the grass changed. Everyone turned toward her, forming a circle to greet her.
Yan Zhenying quickly pulled Yan Zigui behind Mrs. Song. Rao Xue-niang frowned at her casual expression. “You’re about to meet the Princess Royal. Why do you look like that?”
“Sister-in-law, why don’t we let Big Miss come with me?” Rao Xue-niang suggested. “Once she has proper manners, she can meet the Princess. There will be other chances in the capital anyway.”
“You’d act like you do at home, speaking without thinking.”
Mrs. Song frowned, thinking it over.
Yan Zigui didn’t mind whether she met the Princess or not, but if people questioned her manners, she wouldn’t argue. She didn’t want others to misunderstand her grandmother.
So she gave a faint, half-smile. “Second Aunt, what are you worried about? Afraid I’ll act like a wild girl at Jialan Pass?”
“My mother doesn’t mean that,” Yan Zhenying quickly said.
“Now at the Princess Royal’s house, they are always looking for good daughters-in-law. If the Second Aunt doesn’t let you go, it’s better to take only you, Zhenying,” Wang Lumei said with a light laugh.
Mrs. Song had hesitated before, but now he agreed. “Zigui just returned. She doesn’t know the capital well and might not behave properly in front of the Princess. Later, you can take your third and fourth sisters to play.”
“Sister-in-law…” Wang Lumei was surprised. “Why? I already explained Second Aunt’s concern. Why do you agree with her?”
Yan Zigui didn’t care. She waved to Yan Ziqin. The two held hands and waited until the Princess’s carriage stopped and entered the tent before leaving.
Rao Xue-niang was satisfied but still warned Yan Zigui, “Your mother doesn’t want you to meet the Princess for your own good. Don’t be upset.”
“Look, even the Second Miss, who is careful with manners, gets nervous meeting the Princess. If you make a mistake, the whole Yan family could be blamed.”
Yan Zhenying tugged Rao Xue-niang’s sleeve. “Stop, don’t upset her now.”
When the Princess entered the tent, everyone else was bowing, but Yan Zigui had already turned and walked away with her sisters.
They went to the river to skip stones. Yan Zigui made a thin stone skip seven or eight times before sinking.
Her sisters clapped, shouting how amazing Big Sister was.
They picked up stones to try but splashed them straight into the water.
Yan Zigui laughed and taught them how to flick their wrists properly.
Soon, other children, around seven or eight years old, gathered. Yan Zigui was the best stone skipper, drawing admiration from many.
Wang Quan, a eunuch near the Princess, saw this scene.
“Big Miss,” Bi Yun called, too late to warn her. Yan Zigui’s robe was tucked into her belt, her fingers muddy from picking stones. She thought it would have been better if the lady had just brought Yan Zigui inside.
Yan Zigui turned.
“Big Miss Yan, the Princess requests your presence,” Wang Quan said politely.
Yan Zigui nodded, washed her hands by the river, then stood. “Make sure everyone is accounted for. Without adults, children can’t play by the river.”
Gancao quickly checked her appearance—hair and clothes fine, only mud on the boots. She took a cloth and wiped them while waiting for instructions.
“Everyone’s out enjoying spring. A little mud won’t offend the Princess, right?” Yan Zigui asked Wang Quan with a smile.
“The Princess is very kind. You needn’t worry,” he replied.
Yan Zigui admired Wang Quan’s whisk—long horsehair was rare.
“You know your stuff, Big Miss,” Wang Quan said with a smile. “But it’s not all horsehair—only the outer layer. Inside is normal tail hair.”
“Outer shine, inner usefulness. Clever people handle things cleverly.”
Wang Quan laughed. “You really know how to speak.”
He gestured for her to enter. Maids could not follow. Bi Yun, seeing Yan Zigui talk naturally to Wang Quan, got nervous. “She’s not afraid at all?”
“Not much scares our lady,” Dansha said proudly. “At least I’ve never seen her afraid.”
Inside the tent, Mrs. Song and Yan Zhenying stood near the door. Several other well-off families had women and young girls in front, representing people of higher rank than Yan Zigui’s father.
Yan Zigui noticed a girl on the left winking at her and understood why the Princess wanted to see her.
Someone had obviously reminded the Princess.
Yan Zhenying, though close to the Princess, saw that the Princess barely looked at her. She focused on the girls from the leading families.
Yan Zhenying felt the difference, but when the Minister’s daughter said with a smile, “I heard Big Miss Yan has returned. Why didn’t she come with you today?” she was surprised. Yan Zigui had been away for years, yet people outside her family recognized her.
Mrs. Song explained that the youngest daughter was clingy and couldn’t be separated from her sister. Also, the youngest cried, so it would be improper to bring her in front of the Princess.
“The Big Miss Yan, who left home at two to care for her grandparents, such a dutiful daughter—I must meet her,” the Princess said with a smile.
Someone went immediately to fetch Yan Zigui.
Yan Zhenying worried she might not bow or might be timid, but Yan Zigui strode in, bowed, greeted, and carried herself gracefully.
She could see the Princess’s admiration in her eyes.
Yan Zhenying realized that Yan Zigui was never the timid, unrefined girl they thought. She wasn’t a poor child separated from her parents. She had the confidence of someone accustomed to being cherished.